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LS. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 3.

pe. REPORTS

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST,

WAL EE Pe ATT EHS.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERY MENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1883.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 3.

REPORTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

WE eA SS .

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1883.
5135

ae

MAR 14 19Gg
D, ot D,

Pay!
Mo 4

Lary,
/

9, 07,S8.

Bee rE OE SUBMIT EAE.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., October 10, 1883.
Sir: I have the honor to submit for publication the third Bulletin
‘from this Division, prepared under your instructions.
Respectfully,
C. V. RILEY,

Entomologist.
Hon. Go. B. LORING,

Commissioner of Agriculture.

PAB LE Or-CONEENTS:

FURTHER NOTES ON THE ARMY WORM.

EXPERIMENTS WITH PYRETHRUM.

NOTES ON FOREST-TREE INSECTS.

THE COTTON WORM IN SOUTH TEXAS IN 1883.

TEST OF MACHINERY FOR DESTROYING THE COTTON WORM.

THE TREE BORERS OF THE FAMILY COSSID#.

TESTS OF SILK FIBRE FROM COCOONS RAISED AT THE DEPARTMENT.

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This Bulletin contains some recent notes on the Army Worm, espe-
cially with reference to its food-plants and to its injuries in the cranberry
bogs of New Jersey during the summer of 1882, such injury by this in-
sect not having been previously recorded. There are some additional
experiments with pyrethrum, with a view of ascertaining its effect on
different insects, and some notes on insects injurious to forest trees.
All these notes were prepared for the Annual Report, but were neces-
sarily excluded for want of space.

A report by Dr. E. H. Anderson of observations on the Cotton Worm
the present summer in Southern Texas will prove interesting, as show-
ing what is being done in that section, and as illustrative of the per-
sistence of false theories long after they have been exploded. In his
correspondence and earlier reports Dr. Anderson has always held to
the view that the pupa of Aletia hibernates, and he has given in this
report the testimony of several planters to that effect. We publish his
report as it was written, as this is our rule in such cases, but we wish
the reader to remember that the hibernation of the chrysalis has been
definitely disproven, and that it is now an established fact that hiber-
nation takes place in the moth state, and that the pup which fail to

give forth the moth before severe frost invariably perish.
The machine described and illustrated in our last Annual Report for
spraying cotton from below had been perfected to a large extent with-
out accurate field test of its practical working. We very much desired,
therefore, to learn whether any improvements could be made in its
several parts or what faults it possessed as a working machine, and as
soon as news came that the worms had begun to work around Selma,
Ala., Dr. Barnard was sent down with the instructions which accom-
pany his report. The advantages of the machine, and they are many,
have already been set forth in the Annual Report for 1881-82; but the
report of Dr. Barnard would seem to show that considerable modifica-
tion in the details, especially of attachment, is necessary. Future ex-
perience may lead to the abandonment of the attempt to spray cotton
from the ground up, on account of the irregularity of the rows in the
average cotton-field, and the adoption of lateral or oblique spraying
from nozzles that do not drag entirely on the ground, but hang some
inches above it. The objection which the average cotton-field offers
will not hold so strongly in case of a crop of potatoes, where the plants
are much lower and in muck more uniformly-spaced rows. The results
of Dr. Barnard’s further experiments show that the objections to the

>

8 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

stiff connection, for the reasons set forth, may be overcome when in the
cotton-field.

The late Dr. James 8S. Bailey,* of Albany, N. Y., was commissioned
some time ago to prepare a full account for publication by the Depart-
ment of the wood-boring lepidopterous larvee of the family Cosside, as he
had given much attention to this group and was familiar with all of the
North American species. It was his intention to have prepared such
an article, giving particular attention to life-habits. Unfortunately his
health from the period of his instructions to his recent death was such
that he was unable to fully carry out the plan, and we furnish the re-
port incomplete and falling short of what it would have been had he
lived. We publish it as it was written, and do not desire to be held re-
sponsible for his views. The principal species discussed, Cossus center-
ensis, was first described by Mr. J. A. Lintner in the Canadian Ento-
mologist for July, 1877, where many of the facts were given that were
detailed by Dr. Bailey in a later article in the same periodical for Jan-
uary, 1879, and in the report here published.

This Bulletin concludes with a report by Dr. William MeMurtrie, pro-
fessor of chemistry in the Illinois State Industrial University, upon
certain measurements and tests made by him at our request to deter-
mine the relative fineness and strength of the fibre of samples of raw
silk raised at the Department. A noticeable result of these experi-
ments, as may be seen by reference to the accompanying tables, is
that the fibre from worms fed exclusively upon Osage orange is shown
to be somewhat finer, and, on the average, equal in strength to that
obtained from the mulberry-fed individuals. We also give a plate from
photographs taken by Dr. MeMurtrie, illustrating the dual nature of
the fibre.

CO.) Vine

* Dr. Bailey died July 1, 1883.

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

IN THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION.

FURTHER NOTES ON THE ARMY WORM.

In the last annual report of the Department we published the most
important portion of the chapter on the Army Worm in advance from
the Third Report of the United States Entomological Commission. 1n
this article we give some additional notes, together with an account of
the rather abnormal occurrence of the worms in the summer of 1882 in
certain cranberry bogs in New Jersey.

|THE ARMY WORM IN 1883.

In spite of the fact that the spring of 1883 was favorable for the
development of the Army Worn, its scarcity almost all over the coun-
try has been remarkable. In few years within our recollection have
there been so few complaints of damage by the worm. In fact. no well
authenticated case of injury has come to our notice,* though in the lat-
ter part of June it was rumored to be present in force in Eastern
Pennsylvania. In the vicinity of Washington, in localities where last
year the moths were extremely numerous, but few individuals have been
found.

EXPERIMENTS UPON FOOD-PLANTS.

The normal food-plants of the Army Worm are found among the
grasses and grains, not a single species of either, so far as known, com-
ing amiss. Wheat and oats seem to be their favorite among the small
grains, though rye and barley are also taken with less relish. German
millet, corn, and sorghum are eaten by the worms, particularly when
young and tender. They were found in 1881 feeding to a greater or less
extent on flax in Illinois, although this is mentioned by Fitch as one of
the crops which the worms will not touch. They have also been re-
ported to eat onions, peas, beans, and other vegetables, though prob-
ably only when pressed with hunger. As stated in our Kighth Missouri
Report, upon the reliable authority of Mr. B. F. Mills, of Makanda, IIL,
they have also been known to eat the leaves of fruit trees. Ordinarily
clover is disregarded by the worms, though they occasionally nibble at
it. A timothy field is often eaten to the ground, leaving the clover
scattered through it standing. In this connection it may be well to

*Since this was written it has been reported as injurious at East Windsor, Conn.,
during June.

(9)

10 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

state that on the Department grounds at Washington the newly-hatched
worms have been found in a folded clover leaf, feeding thus protected,
and under such circumstances as rendered it probable that they had
been hatched there.

Mr. Loekwood stated in his report (see last Annual Report of this
Department) that even the common rag-weed (Ambrosia artemisiefolia)
was eaten clean by the worms, and also that the worms in passing
through a strawberry patch devoured both the leaves of the plant and
the unripe fruit.

In order to establish upon proper authority the facts concerning what
the Army Worm will and will not eat when pushed by hunger, we con-
ducted during the summer of 1881-82 a series of experiments upon dif-
ferent plants, placing each plant in a separate breeding-cage with a few
healthy half-grown larve. The results show an unexpected power of
accommodation to plants in many families, and no resultant variation
in the imagines worth mentioning.

The results are summarized below :
PAPAVERACE&.—Papaver somniferum. (Garden poppy.)

Of four larve all attained full growth and entered the ground. Three
moths issued.

CRUCIFER &.—Brassica oleracea. (Cabbage.)

The four larve in this case moved restlessly about for the first day
without feeding. The second day they began to feed, and by the fif-
teenth all had changed to pupa. In this state two died, but the other
two issued as moths.

CRUCIFER#.—Raphanus sativus. (Raddish.)

Of four larve two lived to issue as moths; one died in the pupa,and
one in the larva state.
MALVACEA.—Gossypium herbaceum. (Cotton.)

All died after feeding slightly.

VITACE&H.— Vitis labrusca. (Grape.)

All died without feeding. —

LEGUMINOS&® —Pisum sativum. (Garden pea.)

Of five larvee, all fed abundantly ; transformed and issued as moths.
LEGUMINOS ®.—Phaseolus vulgaris. (Garden bean.)

All died without touching the leaves.

RosacE&.—Fragaria virginiensis. (Strawberry.)

The four larvee experimented on all fed for from seven to ten days
and then died without transforming.
RosacEA.—Rubus strigosus. (Raspberry.)

Of eight larve, all fed well and all transformed to pupe; only four,
however, issuing as moths,

FOOD-PLANTS OF THE ARMY WORM. 11

UMBELLIFER ©®.— Daucus carota. (Carrot.)

The four larve begun feeding on the second day; all transformed ;
two died in the pupa state and the other two issued as moths.

UMBELLIFER.©®.—Pastinaca sativa. (Parsnip.)

Of four larve, one died before transforming, one in the pupa state.,
and the other two issued as moths.

Composit. &.— Lactuca sativa. (Garden lettuce.)

Of four larve, one was destroyed by the others before they commenced
to eat; the others all fed to full growth, transformed, and issued as.
moths.
CHENOPODIACE®.— Beta vulgaris. (Garden beet.)

Of four larve, after feeding slightly, three died after six days; the
remaining one fed more extensively, transformed to pupa, and issued.
as an apparently healthy moth.

LILIACEX®.—Allium sativum. (Onion.)
All fed; two died as larvee, and the other two completed the round:
and issued as moths.

CONIFER &.—A bies canadensis. (Hemlock.)
All died without feeding.
THE ARMY WORM IN THE CRANBERRY BOGS OF NEW JERSEY.

In June, 1882, there appeared on the Rockwood cranberry farm, near
Hammonton, N. J., an insect enemy which, according to the reports
received from Mr. Rockwood, first destroyed the rushes and afterwards
the young cranberry vines, thus doing considerable injury. Specimens
sent by Mr. Rockwood proved to be the larve of a species of saw-fly,
which, however, in captivity refused to feed on the cranberry vines.

The following correspondence on this subject explains itself:

HAMMONTON, ATLANTIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY,

July 4, 1882.
To the Entomologist, Agricultural Department :

Sir: I send by this mail a box of worms which have done me great damage on a
cranberry bog. Some say that they are the Army Worm, but they did not come as
anarmy. They are on seyeral cranberry bogs around, but no one has seen them trav-
eling. They are first found on the bog, and are found of all sizes, from } inch long to
14 inches, and appear to have been hatched where they are found. The young have
only been seen on rushes in the ditches where water stands or was. The old spread
over the bog, eating first in preference grass, and then attacking the vines. They eat
the new, tender growth. The young are transparent and greenish, the full-grown
blackish. The large are active, moving rapidly. When touched they drop off the
vines and curl up. They work toward evening and apparently in the night. They
were first seen about June 20. We have killed some with Paris green, but they seem
to be disappearing, even where no Paris green has been used. We find dead bodies
where we have not used the poison ; but we still find the young and some old, although
not as many as a few days ago, Please tell me what you know about them.

espepttnlly, CHAS. G. ROCKWooD
) . ° ae °

P.S.— We have been unable to find a grown one at the time of day we got those I
send with this. They seem to touch nothing but grass and cranberry vines.

£2 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION,
July 6, 1882.
Mr. Cuas. G. Rockwoop, Newark, N. J. :

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 4th instant, with accompanying box, duly to hand.
The worms you send, and which are so destructive to your cranberries, are the larve
of a saw-fly (family Tenthredinide ; order Hymenoptera) belonging apparently to the
genus Dolerus. Ihave found the same larva feeding on Juncus at Saint Louis, but
it has not before been reported to attack cranberry plants. The subject is therefore
of great interest to me, and you would greatly oblige me by sending on as many of
the worms as you are able to find, packed according to the above-printed directions.
I would also be thankful for any further observations you could furnish on the habits
and development of this pest.

Yours, truly,

Cy Ve Rene
Entomologist.

NEwARK, N. J., July 7, 1882.
CG. V. RILEY, Esq., Entomologist, ete. :

DEAR Str: Your favor of the 6th received. I have written to my farmer to send
you more specimens. We thought when I was there that the worms had nearly done
their work; and at noon, when we tried to find them to send you, we could only find
the old ones. I had earlier in the day found one old one, before I thought of consult-
ing you. They had been on the land about two weeks, and at one time parts of the
bog were black with them. Worms supposed to be the same had been on a neighbor-
ing bog two or three years ago, and disappeared about July 1. They have not been
seen there either year since, although the owner thought he found their eggs. The
same worms (so supposed) have been this year on farms 5 or 6 miles from us. They
are also on the cranberry bogsnear byus. Weare inthe pine barrens. The cranberries
are surrounded with dikes or dams, so as to be completely covered with water in the
winter, from, say, December 1 to May 10, more or less, according to seasons and accord-
ing to the facilities of each location, each not having equal supply of water. We did
not get ours fairly flowed last year till near the end of December. I think the water
was off by May 10 or 12, having been let down gradually to addle the eggs of insects.
We found on July 4, in searching for full-grown insects, dead bodies all in shape, but
which when handled fell to pieces. Ihave told my farmer if he found others to send
them to you.

The cranberry is an evergreen. The worms preferred grass and ate the grass grow-
ing among the vines first, and then took only the new this year’s tender growth of the
vines and the buds for this year’s fruit, leaving the vines just as they were before the
season’s growth began. The old growth was not touched.

On the reeds where we found the young worms we found no evidence of the young
worms eating the reeds. In one instance, near the worm, I noticed a little place
three-eighths inch long where, the reed had been gnawed, and it may have been done
by the worm.

Respectfully,

CHAS. G. ROCKWOOD.

P. S.—As to the damage, about three-fourths of the buds for this year on my land
have been eaten, and three-fourths of the new growth for next year’s bearing. My
crop will therefore be cut down three-fourths of the expected yield of 2,000 bushels.

The new growth has time yet to grow again and form buds for next year. That
you may judge of the importance of this matter, I will say that the loss may be esti-
mated in money at, say, $2,000.

THE ARMY WORM IN CRANBERRY BOGS. 13

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION,
July 7, 1882.
Mr. Cuas. G. Rockwoop, Newark, N.d.:

DEAR SiR: In regard to the saw-fly you sent me as injurious to cranberries, I will
say that in my breeding jars they refuse to eat the cranberry plants. It now occurs
to me that you may have possibly overlooked the real authors of the mischief, and
that the saw-fly larve have merely fallen upon the cranberry plants from some other
plant. I beg you now to ascertain whether the larve really feed on the cranberries.
By doing so you will greatly oblige.

Yours, truly,
C. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.

NEWARK, N. J., July 10.
C, V. RiLery, Esq., Entomologist :

DEAR Str: Your favor of the 7th instant has been received. There is no doubt that
the worm of which I sent you the young did the mischief by eating the vines. Isup-
pose that my farmer happened to put in the box only old cranberry vines. They do
not touch the old vines, but eat the young shoots off this year’s tender growth, and
only after exhausting the supply of grass which grows among the vines. But eating
the new growth takes the fruit buds and destroys this year’s crop, and takes also the
growth which is to bear next year. The worms wndoubtedly feed upon the vines. They
leave upon the ground many leaves, but must consume largely.

When I was there, in spots not reached by the worms the new growth arose solid
above the old vines, say, 4 inches, so that nothing else could be seen. On the other
side of the ditch would be a patch eaten clean down to the old vines, leaving them as
they were when the water was taken off and before new growth has started, and the
whole patch 4 or 5 inches lower in solid growth than the untouched patch adjoining,
and of difterent color.

Respectfully,
CHAS. G. ROCKWOOD.

We visited Mr. Rockwood, at Newark, N. J., shortly after the receipt
of his last letter, and concluded from further information obtained that
the saw-fly larve were certainly not the authors of the mischief, but
that the Army Worm in all probability did the damage. Yet, as doubt
remained, we were anxious to settle the question, and sent Mr. E. A.
Schwarz to make examination on the spot. The following is the report
of his observations:

Sir: In accordance with your directions I have made a study of the injury done to
Mr. Rockwood’s cranberries as far as it was possible at the time, the insect that did
the damage having disappeared more than six weeks previous to my visit at Ham-
monton.

The Rockwood cranberry farm is divided into squares, each of about 50 acres, sur-
rounded by high dikes, and intersected by numerous irrigation ditches. Two or three
other squares are just being constructed, but are not yet inclosed with dikes. The
cranberries being fully formed at the time of my visit, August 1, there was no diffi-
culty in taking in at a glance from the high dikes the extent of the damage done by
the insect. It was apparent that the damage was confined to a number of the smaller
squares formed by the irrigation ditches. On some of these hardly any berries were
to be seen, while other squares adjoining the damaged ones, and only separated from
these by the narrow ditch, were not injured at all. On the newly-constructed squares,.
where there is an abundance of grass, the newly-planted vines had severely suffered.

14 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

There is but little grass on the cranberry bogs under cultivation, and it was found
that those squares had suffered most on which there was most grass, while on those
squares where the cranberry vines had nearly exterminated the grasses very little or
no damage at all had been done.

No living specimens of the insect that really did the damage could be found, as was
to be expected after the lapse of more than six weeks, the worms haying been seen
on the bog about June 20; but the following traces thereof were discovered: 1. The
ground on the damaged squares was literally strewn with excrement, which, though
much decomposed at this time, was unmistakably that of a Lepidopterous larva; 2.
Numerous heads of a Noctuid larva were found on the ground, most of them in a badly
decomposed state, and but a few among them in fair condition. These heads were
so abundant that there could not be the least doubt that they belonged to the de-
structive larva. The Sarracenias growing in some places in the bog each contained
numerous specimens of the decomposed larve, but in the course of the examination
a few fairly well preserved specimens were found; 3. Of pup, or rather empty shells,
very few could be found, and it appears that the wet ground had prevented the worms
from entering the same, and that they mostly perished above ground without trans-
forming; 4. A number of empty Microgaster cocoons, indistinguishable from those of
M. congregatus.

I will also remark in this connection that I found two specimens, the only ones I
saw, of the saw-fly sent by Mr. Van Hise as the originator of the damage. It was
feeding on a species of Scirpus (?) which grows in the irrigation ditches.

The cultivated bog is flooded with water during winter and spring to a depth of
-several feet, so that no Lepidopterous larve can hibernate in it. The uncultivated
part is also under water most of the time mentioned, but not so thoroughly as the
cultivated portion. Outside of the cranberry lands there is but little graminaceous
vegetation in the pine barrens. On the 10th of May the water is drawn off from the
bog, an operation which is accomplished in little more than 24 hours. After this
the cranberry vines and other vegetation start vigorously, the grasses, one or two
species of which grow in thick bunches, being there much fresher than anywhere else
in the neighborhood.

From Mr. Rockwood’s and Mr. Van Hise’s observations there can be no doubt that
the larve first devoured every blade of grass on the squares where the eggs were de-
posited and that they afterwards, from mere want of other food, began to attack the
cranberry vines. They destroyed only the young vines (i. e., those which should have
been bearing this and the next seasons), eating the young, fresh leaves before these
had fairly opened. At the time of my visit these young twigs had the appearance of
being cut with a knife. Mr. Van Hise further states that he saw the worms appear
in great numbers at the edge of the irrigating ditches, a great many of them being in
the water and on the rushes growing in the ditches. This observation is no doubt
correct, as the worms, after passing through one of the squares, finally congregated
at the edge of the irrigating ditch and tried to get across, and in doing so got at the
rushes, which at the time of my visit still bore evidence of their attack. In general
the irrigation ditches were evidently an eectual barrier against the progress of the
worms, and whether they succeeded, in one or two instances, in crossing the ditches,
or whether the damage on the adjoining squares was caused by worms that hatched on
the same, could not be ascertained. At any rate their feeding on the rushes in the
water was the reason of the confusion in regard to the saw-fly lirve. Mr. Van Hise,
being instructed to collect specimens of the cranberry enemy at a time when the real
depredators had disappeared, naturally did not find any other worms on the rushes
than the saw-fly larvee, which seem to have been very numerous in the beginning of
July.

In regard to other injurious insects observed by me on the cranberry bogs, I would
mention that at the time of my visit serious damage was done by various species of
locusts ( Aerididw), by eating large holes in the berries. Mr. Van Hise resorts to the

x

THE ARMY WORM IN CRANBERRY BOGS 15

following remedy against this pest: In company with another person he drags a long
rope across the bog, thus driving away many of the locusts, or at least disturbing
them. He says that if this operation were repeated about twice each day the damage
would be considerably reduced, as the disturbed locusts do not settle down again to
their destructive work until after the lapse of several hours.

No “berry moth” could be observed on Mr. Rockwood’s cranberry farm, but con-
Siderable damage had been done earlier in the season by another Tortricid larva,
which webs together the terminal leaves of the young vines. At the time of my visit

- not a single living specimen could be found, but I believe that an additional flooding
of the bogs would prove a good remedy for this pest.

Respectfully, E. A. SCHWARZ
. . ’

Assistant.
prof. €. V. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.

A careful examination of the more or less irrecognizable specimens
found by Mr. Schwarz left little doubt in our minds that the species”
was the genuine Army Worm, a few of the heads making this decision
possible.

It is evident from the facts observed by Mr. Schwarz that the moth
had flown from some distance, for the records for that year, as indicated
in our last report, show that the insect was quite prevalent throughout
that portion of the United States at the time.

REMEDIES.—It follows from the facts obtained that one of the best
ways of preventing injury to cranberries in the future is to keep the bog
as free as possible from foreign plants, and that the injury may be limited
by increasing the number of irrigating ditches and by keeping these free
from weeds and other obstructions.

Another method to prevent the recurrence of such invasion of the
Army Worm suggest itself: The water is drawn off from the bog
ou May 10, and the plants not flooded again for the rest of the season.
The irrigating ditches are then only kept filled with water in given quan-
tities, according to the character of the season. Now, the water can be
drawn off earlier than has hitherto been done, without injury to the
plants, and, what 1s more important in this connection, the water can
be let on again without injury to the plants at any time before bloom-
ing, 7. e., about the last week of June. If the eggs are laid by the moths,
as was evidently the case in 1882, during the month of May, it is ap-
parent that a flooding of the bog some time during the month of June
(the water to be kept on the bog, say, for about two days) would drown
out the worms before they have eae to do the damage.

Wherever an abundant water supply is at command in spring and
early summer, and under control, as is the case on the cranberry farms
near Hammonton, a repetition of the damage done by the Army Worm
could thus easily be avoided. Should the worm appear during or after
the blooming season little or nothing could be done against it; but it is
probable that at this time the damage done by the worms would be much
less serious than earlier in the season, as the leaves on the bearing vines
will then be too hard to be very attractive.

16 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
EXPERIMENTS WITH PYRETHRUM.

We treated so fully of this insecticide in our annual report for 1881-2
that the value of the powder and the modes of using it are now pretty
well understood. The following account of experiments made by Mr.
Howard will, however, prove interesting, as we had them instituted in
order to show how the different larvee experimented with were severally
affected by it. .

1. SPECIAL EXPERIMENT WITH CUTLERS’ POWDER NO. 1.

September 20, 11.45 a.m.—Three healthy, half-grown larve of the
Fall Web-worm (Hyphantria textor) placed in small glass tumbler, and
a very small quantity of Cutlers’ No. 1 puffed on the anterior abdomi-
nal segments of each; tumbler covered with glass slip.

In four minutes one seemed affected; moved the head quickly from
one side to the other, arched the back, and made rapid jumping move-
ments as if trying to get rid of the powder. In 6 minutes all were sim-
ilarly affected. At 7 minutes the one first mentioned was struggling
violently and incessantly, jumping and writhing the whole body, now on
its back and again on its side; no intervals of rest except momentary
in this extremely rapid motion.

In ten minutes became quieter, but was still bending the body in all
directions ; incessantly writhing like a mammal poisoned with strych-
nine.

12.2.—Motions have become more spasmodic and jerky, and have lost
to certain degree the smoothly writhing character.

12.10.—Motions much slower and consist of a slow writhing of the
whole body.

12.18.—Motion still slower; the true legs trembling violently at in-
tervals.

12.28.—The motion of the body has become very slow, but the legs
are constantly twitching. The rectum is somewhat everted and the ab-
dominal segments have become somewhat contracted.

12.50.—The body is still more contracted, though still moving slightly,
the legs still trembling somewhat.

1.40.—The abdomen is still more contracted, but a slight motion is
left, which shows that the final paralysis is that of exhaustion rather
than of tetanus.

2.00.—Apparently almost dead; only a slight occasional motion of
prolegs and mouth parts, with an occasional twitch of one of the true
legs.

3.20.—A very slight motion still perceptible; the bodies have
shrunken to very small proportions.

September 21,9 a. m.—Still a slight motion of legs and mouth parts,
and one moves also one of its prolegs.

1.15 p. m.—No change.

EXPERIMENTS WITH PYRETHRUM. 17

3.00.—Still no change.
September 22, 9.30 a. m.—No motion left except a very slight occa-
sional twitching of the anterior prolegs.

2. PARALLEL EXPERIMENT IN OPEN AIR:

September 20, 11.45 a. m.—A larva similar in all* respects to the pre-
ceding was dusted in the same manner with the same powder, in the
same quantity, at the same time.

In 10 minutes it began to show signs of uneasiness. In 13 minutes
began to struggle. The spasms increased in violence until 12.50 when
they began to subside. There were still strong writhings at 3.30, and
the body had only just begun to contract; while the confined worms
had reached a similar condition at 12.30.

At 9 a. m., September 21, the body had shrunken enormously, but
there was still motion of the entire body.

3.00 p. m.—No perceptible change.

September 22, 9.30 a. m.—Dead. This seems strange in view of the
fact that the confined larve which were strengly influenced by the pow-
der at a much earlier period are still alive.

EXPERIMENTS 3 AND 4.

The following experiments were made with nine samples of powder :
Ist, the ordinary powder sold by Cutler Bros. & Co., of Boston, next,
five samples labeled Cutler Bros. No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. No. 4, and No. 5,
sent to the Department for comparative test; 7th, pyrethrum imported
by Lehn & Fink, of New York City, in 1881; 8th, the 1882 importation
of the same firm; and, 9th, a powder made from flowers raised by Pro-
fessor Riley in 1882.

In experiment 3, six young larve of Hyphantria textor, about one-
fourth grown, were placed in each of nine labeled, closed tin boxes
(11 «8.53.5 em.), and a small quantity of each sample of powder was
dusted on the dorsum of the anterior abdominal segments-of the worms
in each box.

In experiment 4, three half-grown larve of the same insect were used
in the same boxes and dusted in the same manner. Each worm received,
as nearly as could be judged by the eye, the same quantity of the pow-
der.

5135 2

18

BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

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20 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
. EXPERIMENT NO. 5.

September 22.—Twelve larve of Plusia brassicw and four of Pionea
rimosalis were placed in one of the tin boxes and sprinkled in the usual
manner with Cutlérs’ No. 5, the powder which had given the best re-
sult in the last experiment.

In 5 minutes the Pionea larvee were affected, and in 10 minutes the
small Plusias; the full-grown Plusias not until 25 minutes. The effects
upon all were very marked. The rectum was everted, and large quanti-
ties of a greenish liquid were ejected from the mouths of the Plusias.

At 35 minutes two of the largest Plusias still appeared normal. The
skin of the Plusias being so delicate the heart beat was watched without
much difficulty. In the normal individuals the pulse was found to
‘ange, after numerous trials, from 44 per minute to 65, averaging about
56.

The pulse of one of the large worms in its first spasms marked 164,
and 8 minutes later it had fallen to 150, and in 15 minutes later still to
140. }

In asmaller one, which had passed through the first convulsions and
had become feeble, the pulse was almost imperceptible from weakness,
and though still very fast (1386 per minute) had evidently fallen.

At the expiration of 18 hours the Pioneas were all dead, and 4 of the
smaller Plusias were also dead. Two of the Plusias had spun up and
the remaining 6 appeared perfectly healthy and normal. The pulse of
these last varied from 44 to 64.

September 24.—Three more of the larve spun up, and the first two
transformed to healthy pup. ;

September 25.—The three larvee which spun up on the 24th have trans
formed to healthy pupre.

September 27.—The remaining larva which recovered from the dosing
is still strong and active.

September 28.—This larva has also spun up and transformed to a
healthy pupa.

EXPERIMENT NO. 6.—EXPERIMENT WITH CUTLERS’ “SPECIAL INSECT
POWDER FOR ROACHES AND WATERBUGS.”

The base of this powder is Dalmatian pyrethrum, but from the odor
it apparently contains some red pepper.

September 22.—A full-grown larva of Hyphantria textor was placed in
a closed glass jar and thickly dusted with this powder, which stuck to
the hairs in masses. It was seized with no convulsions, and September
27, after 120 hours, is still alive, though much shrunken and feeble from
starvation. The powder apparently had no effect upon it.

September 22.—Four full-grown cockroaches were placed under an in-
verted tumbler, and a small quantity of this powder puffed in from an
insufflator. In 15 minutes all were taken with spasms, and in an hour

EXPERIMENTS WITH PYRETHRUM. ZA,

were lying helpless upon the table, although still retaining considerable
vitality. In twenty hours they were dead.

EXPERIMENT NO. 7.—EXPERIMENT UPON LARVA OF DATANA MIN-
ISTRA.

This experiment was conducted in the same manner as Experiment
No. 4. Three full-grown larvee of Datana ministra were placed in each
of nine tin boxes and sprinkled in the same manner with the same
amount of the different poisons. The boxes this time, instead of being
covered with their own tight tin covers, were covered with slabs of glass,
which, on account of the irregularities in the edges of the boxes, did not
fit tightly, and allowed for a pretty free circulation of air. But this per-
haps was compensated for by the fact that the covers did not have to be
lifted to observe the condition of the larve. The fact should be remem-
bered in comparing this experiment with No. 4. The following table
shows the result, and it will be noticed that the Datana is susceptible
in a remarkable degree to the action of the pyrethrum when compared
with Hyphantria or Plusia:

BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

22

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EXPERIMENTS WITH PYRETHRUM. 25
EXPERIMENT NO. 8.

September 28, 10.50 a. m.—Seventeen full-grown larve of Datana
ninistra placed in a large breeding-cage open at top, and a small quan-
tity of Cutlers’ No. 5 blown in through an insufflator, making an at-
mosphere of dust.

11 a. m.—Some half dozen are writhing. uneasily.

3 p. m.—Four are in convulsions.

September 29, 10 a. m.—T wo are practically dead, only a slight motion
of the thoracic legs remaining; two more on their backs, and only mov.
ing slightly. The rest are evidently somewhat affected, but retain their
normal position, and are capable of strong motion.

3.30 p. m.—One dead; five others badly affected.

September 30, 9 a. m.—No change.

October 1, 9 a. m.—Five more dead.

October 2, 9 a. m.—Six more dead. The others appear perfectly nor-
mal.

NovrEe.—This experiment possesses much interest when compared with
experiment 7, as indicating the effects of the powder in a tightly-closed
box and in an open cage, the latter approaching open-air conditions.

EXPERIMENT NO. 9. -

September 29, 2.30 p.m.—A limb of hawthorn in the open air crowded
with the Hawthorn Schizoneura (Schizoneura lanigera ?) puffed upon
copiously with Cutlers’ No. 5, so that every individual must have had a
dose.

October 1, 9.30 a. m.—Could see no effect whatever. The lice were
just as numerous and just as healthy.

NOTES ON FOREST-TREE INSECTS.
By A. S. PAcKARD, Jr., M. D., Special agent of the Division.
AFFECTING THE CEDAR OR ARBOR VITA.

EUPITHECIA MISERULATA Grote.

Although the moth is very common, occurring all over the Eastern
United States, flying about and entering our houses through the sum-
mer, the caterpillar is rarely met with, though it is liable to prove lo-
cally injurious to cedar hedges and ornamental trees. We have reared
the moth from caterpillars found on the low bush juniper (Juniperus
communis), and descriptions of the larva and chrysalis will be found in
Bulletin 7 of the U. S. Entomological Commission, p. 248. The follow-
ing descriptions were drawn up from a specimen living during the last
week of August, the chrysalis appearing September 30 on the cedar in
Maine, the moth appearing the following spring, early in May, in con-
finement: 5

Larva.—Body slender, the sutures between the segments well marked and stained
with yellow. The head small, rounded, not bilobed, and not so wide as the body,
Uniformly pale green, exactly concolorous with the leaves of the cedar, on which it
feeds. The lateral fleshy ridge of the body is marked with greenish-yellow, forming
a prominent, interrupted, greenish-yellow lateral line. Supra-anal plate very short,
smooth, obtuse at the apex, the edges marked with greenish-yellow. Anal legs thick
and short, not broad; no dorsal warts or tubercles, the body being smooth. Length

12mm,

Pupa.—Green, slender. Length 7-8™™,

AFFECTING THE FIR, SPRUCE, AND HEMLOCK.
EUPITH#CIA LUTEATA Pack.

This is a common caterpillar on evergreen trees, excepting the pine,
and is described in Bulletin 7, U. S. Entomological Commission, p. 237.
The caterpillar is rather flat, the surface granulated, the body reddish
and bearing a remarkable resemblance to a red, dead fir leaf. It turns
to a chrysalis late in August and early in September in Maine, and the
moth appears the following May and June.

The moth differs from Hupithecia miserulata in the much longer, more
pointed fore wings. The palpi are also larger, acute, and black. It
has four regularly-curved, parallel black lines on both wings; it is also
characterized by the broad, clear, flesh-yellow or luteous band situated
between the discal dot and the extra-discal line. Expanse of wings
eee

(24)

~

NOTES ON FOREST-TREE INSECTS. 25
AFFECTING THE PINE.
THE PINE CARIPETA.
(Caripeta angustioraria Walk.)

This is frequently met upon the white pine (Pinus strobus) in August
and September throughout the New England States, and as late as the
first week in October in Rhode Island. Specimens become full-fed by
the Sth of August in Maine, and before entering the chrysalis state spin
a whitish web, with minute meshes, not a loose web. On the day follow-
ing the chrysalis appears, and the moth appears in May and June of the
following year. It is one of our most showy geometrid moths.

The larva.—Body rather large and thick, thickest on the segment bearing the first
pair of abdominal legs. Head nearly as wide as the prothoracic segment, very
slightly angulated on each side of the vertex, mottled with dusky spots or marbled
with transverse, parallel waved lines. The prothoracic segment rather small, not an-
gulated in front, provided above with small warts. On each abdominal segment a
high, transverse, prominent, smooth ridge, somewhat saddle-shaped and bearing at
each end a piliferous wart. On the third and second segments from the end no such
ridge, these being replaced by piliferous warts, the two on the penultimate segment
being rather high and situated near together. Behind these two tubercles on a trans-
verse wrinkle are two small dark warts, and on a succeeding wrinkle are six warts.
On the supra-anal plate are four warts, and on the end, which is obtuse, are four small
hair-bearing warts. There are similar hairs on the edge of the anallegs, which have
a deep crease parallel to the front edge; the lateral ridge is large and rough and inter-
rupted at the segments. The body elsewhere is variously tuberculated, with hairs
arising from the warts. The body in general is pale whitish-gray, with a lilac tint or
slate color, variously marbled with dark-brown and sometimes with a decided reddish
tint. Length 32™™,

Pupa.—Rather stout. Brown, with an obscure dorsai row of irregular spots form-
ing a nearly continuous line or band; a lateral row of large, obscure spots; second
abdominal segment from the end of the legs with two warts beneath. Length 15™™,

The moth.—It differs remarkably from any other species of the family by the rich,
opake, velvety, ochreous fore wings, with the three broad silvery lines and large dis-
cal dot. The head, antennz, and thorax are pale ochreous. Fore wings opake, deep
ochreous, paler at the base; on the inner fourth is a white line forming a single large
and acute angle on the median vein, along which it is prolonged beyond the basal
third of the wing, extending out nearly as far as the discal dot, though situated be-
low it. There is a large, irregular, silvery-white discal dot and just beyond a
broad silvery line, diffuse on the outside; it curves inward just below the median
vein and slightly inward opposite the discal dot. Half-way between this line and the
outer edge of the wing is a row of irregular white spots, from which sometimes run
whitish streaks to the fringe, which between the white spots is ochreous-brown.
The hind wings are pale whitish-ochreous above ; beneath, washed with yellow-ochre-
ous upon and on each side of the venules. Expanse of wings 36™™ (1.60 inches).

AFFECTING THE OAK.
THE OAK-LEAF CRYPTOLECHIA.

(Cryptolechia schlagenella Zeller.)

This is a remarkable insect, both as a caterpillar and moth. It is not
uncommon in the larval state on the oak, where we have seen it in Maine

26 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

and Rhode Island in September. It feeds between the leaves, drawing
them together with silk threads. When about to pupate it turns over
a portion of the leaf nearly an inch long, lines the interior of the cell
thus made with silk, and the moth appears the following spring. We
have compared the moth with a type specimen sent to us by the late
Prof. P. C. Zeller several years ago, and now in the museum of the Pea-
body Academy of Science, Salem, Mass., and it is undoubtedly that
species, though the row of blackish dots so distinct in the fresh speci-
men reared by us is not to be seen in the type specimen ; otherwise it
agrees exactly with the latter. It is not an uncommon insect, but, so far
as known, more curious than destructive, though it may at times disfig-
ure the leaves of valuable shade trees.

The larva.—Head large, broad, and flat—as broad as the prothoracic segment; pale
horn or whitish color, surface rough; in front crossed by two dark reddish-brown broad
lines which form two large shallow scallops; the front line extends along the sides,
including the eyes and the front edge of the clypeus; the other is broader, forming two
scallops and crossing the apex of the clypeus. On each side of the head below the
front line is a short, nearly straight, brown-black line not reaching as far as the eyes.
The median suture of the head is rather deeply impressed; the vertex on each side is
a little swollen and marked with eight or nine dark reddish-brown more or less con-
fluent spots. The posterior edge of the head is edged with black-brown. The body
is somewhat flattened, pale pea-green, a little paler than the under side of the leaf,
Prothoracic segment without a shield, but broad, flat, and green like the rest of the
body. On the sides of the three thoracic segments is a dark tubercle tinged with
reddish between, forming a lateral thoracic line. No dorsal tubercles, but pale hairs,
as long as the body, arise from minute points, which are obscurely indicated.
Length, 23™™,

The pupa.—Body very thick and stout; the head broad,» and the abdomen short and
thick; the end of the body very blunt, the tip broad and obtuse, somewhat tubercu-
lated, not spined. The wings reach to the end of the fifth abdominal segment, and
on the under side of the sixth and seventh segments are two dark, ventral, small cal-
losities ; the tip is broad, truncated, rough, and dark. Length 10™™; thickness 3.5™™,

The moth.—A very large species for the family to which it belongs. Head with the
scales between the antenne and on the vertex loose and thick, not smooth as in Ge-
lechia. Palpi long and slender, smooth, the third joint very long and slender, over
one-half as long as thesecond. It is so large and the fore wings so broad and oblong,
that at first if might be mistaken for a Tortrix.

Body and wings snow-white. Fore wings snow-white with two smoky, twin dots
at the base of the wing near the costa; two smoky spots inside of the middle of the
wing on the internal edge. Beyond the middle of the wing are five or six indistinet,
pearly, smoky spots, the central one apparently forming the discal dot. Two faint,
curved, smoky lines parallel with each other and with the outer edge, neither of them
reaching the costal edge of the wing, and the inner less than one-half as wide as the
outer. On the outer edge of the wing, on the white fringe, is a row of about five con-
spicuous dark brown spots; the base of the fringe is smoky, forming a faint line.
Body, hind wings, abdomen, and legs snow-white; antennie light brown. On hinder
part of the thorax, very distinct when the wings are closed, is a large prominent tuft
of broad brown scales, which send off different metallic colors, especially steel-blue.
Length of body 9-10"; of fore wing 11™™; expanse of wings 24™™,

|
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.

Ee oS

THE SPRUCE BUD-WORM IN MAINE. 21

FURTHER FACTS REGARDING THE EXTENT OF THE RAVAGES OF THE
SPRUCE BUD-WORM IN MAINE.

The following facts regarding the extent of the ravages of this cater-
pillar on the coast of Maine were gathered during the summer of 1883,
and for want of space omitted from the report published in that of the
Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture.

The westernmost locality at which the spruce bud-worm was observed
was on Peak’s and other islands in Portland Harbor, the spruce not
extending in any great quantity west of that city. The spruces about
Sebago Lake were also destroyed by this worm or a similar caterpillar,
in 1878, as we are informed by Rev. Mr. Kellogg, a Mr. Townsend be-
ing his authority. Around the shores of Casco Bay and on many of
the islands, especially Birch Island, Orr’s Island, Jewell’s Island, and
Great or Harpswell Island, also on Harpswell Neck, Mere Point, Prince’s
Point, as well as other peninsulas extending into Casco Bay, wherever
the spruces and firs grow thickly, extensive areas of these trees were
observed; also similar masses of dead spruce were observed along the
Maine Central Railroad, from Portland to Brunswick, and thence to
Bath; also on the shores of Cathance River, at and near Bowdoinham,
Me. Wherever the fiords or narrow bays and reaches extend inland,
in Cumberland and Sagadahock, as well as Lincoln Counties, the spruce
and fir forests clothing their shores had been invaded by this destruc-
tive caterpillar. Wherever the spruces were abundant on the Kenne-
bec River, below Bath, particularly on the eastein side, at and near
Parker’s Point, and also at and west of Fort Popham, there were ex-

. tensive patches of dead spruces. Similar but smaller masses of dead

spruce were observed along the steamer route from Bath to Boothbay
Harbor, at and to the eastward of Southport; none were observed on
Mouse or Squirrel Islands. In the course of a journey, at the end of
July, from Brunswick along the coast to Eastport, we were able to ascer-
tain the eastern limits of the ravages of this worm. Several clumps of
spruces which had just dieG were seen on the Knox and Lincoln Railroad
before reaching the Wiscasset Station. At Waldoboro’, southeast from
the station, was an extensive area of dead spruces which presented the
same characteristic appearance as in Cumberland County, and for two
or three miles beyond Waldoboro’ there were to be seen large masses of
dead spruces and firs. Beyond Warren no dead spruces were to be seen ;
none were observed about Rockland, Camden, Blue Hill, or the islands
of Penobscot Bay; none on Mount Desert, or the islands from Mount
Desert to East Machias, nor on the road trom East Machias to Lubec,
although the predominant growth is spruce. No dead spruces were to
be seen about Eastport, nor along the Saint Croix River, to Calais, and
none along the railroad from Saint Stephens to Vanceboro’ and thence
to Bangor. From personal observation and inquiry it is safe for us to
report that east of the Penobscot River, in eastern Maine, south of
Aroostook County, there are no areas of dead spruce. Returning to

28 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Brunswick from Bangor, the characteristic patches or large clumps of
dead spruce and fir were not seen until we reached a point south of
Richmond, and near Bowdoinham, on and near tide water on the Cat-
hance River. The general absence of any extensive areas of dead spruces
around the Rangeley Lakes and the White Mountains has already been
referred to in our report. It thus appears that the injury from this worm
has been confined, at least south of Aroostook County, to an area on
the coast extending from Portland to Warren, and extending but afew
miles inland from the sea or tide-water.

The injury resulting from the attacks of the bud-caterpillar are char-
acteristic, as we have stated, the trees dying in masses or clumps of
greater or less extent, as if the moths had spread out from different cen-
ters before laying their eggs and the caterpillars, hatching, had eaten the
buds and leaves, and caused the trees to locally perish. From all we
have learned the past season we are now convinced that the spruce bud-
worm (Tortrix fumiferana) is the primary cause of the disease on the
coast. As remarked to us by the Rev. Elijah Kellogg, of Harpswell, Me.,
who has observed the habits of these caterpillars more closely than any
one else we have met; where the worms have once devoured the buds the
tree is doomed. This, as Mr. Kellogg remarked, is due to the fact that
there are in the spruce but a few buds, usually two or three at the end
of a twig; if the caterpillar destroys these the tree does not reproduce
them until the year following. If any oue will examine the buds of the
spruce and fir they will see that this must be the case. Hence the ease
with which the attacks of this caterpillar, when sufficiently abundant,
destroy the tree. We have not noticed that the spruce and fir throw
out new buds in July and August after such an invasion, the worm dis-
appearing in June. On the other hand, the hackmatack or larch when
wholly or partly defoliated by the saw-fly worm (Nematus) soon sends
out new leaves. By the end of August we have observed such leaves
about a quarter of an inch long. In the following spring a larch which
has been stripped of its leaves the summer previous will leave out again
freely, although the leaves are always considerably, sometimes one-half,
shorter. Now, if any one will examine the leaf buds of the larch it will
be seen that they are far more numerous than in the spruce and fir or
other species of the genus Abies, being scattered along the twig at inter-
vals of from a line to half an inch apart. Hence the superior vitality of
the larch, at least as regards its power of overcoming or recuperating
from the effects of the loss of its leaves in midsummer. Besides this,
the bud-worm of the spruce and fir is most active and destructive in June,
at the time the tree is putting forth its buds, while the hackmatack,
which drops its leaves in the autumn, has become wholly leaved out
some weeks before the saw-fly worms appear. For these reasons, while
the spruce and fir usually die if most of the leaves and buds are eaten
after the first season’s attack, the larch may,usually survive the loss of
leaves for two seasons in succession.

THE HACKMATACK OR LARCH SAW-FLY. 29

In addition to the facts regarding the great abundance of the bud-
worm we may cite information given us by Prof. L. A. Lee, of Bowdoin
College, who observed the bud-worms in June, 1880, upon the spruces
at. Prince’s Point, Brunswick, and had no doubt but that they were suf-
ficient to cause the death en masse of these trees. In 1885 we visited the
locality, and many of the trees had been cut down for fuel.

From Rev. Mr. Kellogg we learned the following interesting facts re-
garding the appearance of a similar, most probably the same, species of
caterpillar, even upon the same farm that was ravaged in 1878, early
in this century. According to Capt. James Sinnett and Mr. John Jor-
dan, of Harpswell, the spruces of Harpswell and Orr’s Islands were de-
stroyed in 1807. Captain Bishops, whose son made the statement to
Mr. Kellogg, cut down the dead spruces on these islands and worked
six weeks boiling the sea-water with fuel thus obtained, in order to make
salt. This was during the embargo which lead to the war of 1812 with
Great Britain. It is interesting to note that the bud-worm in 1878 ap-
peared on the same farm on which the spruces had been destroyed by
a worm in 1807, or about eighty years previous.

FURTHER DATA REGARDING THE HACKMATACK OR LARCH WORM.

The following facts were gathered during the summer of 1883 in Maine
and New Hampshire, and other points in New England and New York,
and are here put on permanent record.

We have already stated in the Entomologist’s report that the larch
saw-fly (Nematus erichsonii?) begins to deposit its eggs at Brunswick
about the 20th of June. During a journey to the Rangeley Lakes and
the White Mountains thissaw-fiy was observed depositing its eggs, July:
1, at Phillips, where it was observed to be abundant. It was also ob-
served on the 2d at the Mountain View House, Rangeley Lake; also on
the larches along the Five- Mile Carry from the Middle Dam to Umbagog.
It was also observed depositing eggs in trees at Errol, N. H.; and
along the route from Errol to Berlin, N. H., it was observed at work
July 4, while a number of dead trees were noticed which had died
from the effects of their attacks during the preceding season. We
learned that they had been destructive last year in Cambridge, N. H.

Karly in July these worms were also observed by us on the Huropean
‘jarch in Lawrence, Mass., and they were abundant on the European
larch on the grounds of Andrew Nichols, esq., of Danvers, Mass. July
16, the larcbes along the track of the Eastern Railroad from Saco to
Portland were observed to be brown, having been partly defoliated by
the Nematus larva; some of the trees were almost entirely stripped.

During the last week in July we went from Brunswick to Rockland,
and thence along the coast to Eastport, returning to Brunswick by way
of Calais and Bangor. The larch is a very common tree in the eastern
portion of Maine, especially along the coast, on the islands, and in the
northeastern and northern part of the State. It is comparatively rare
west of the Kennebec River. It appears, then, that throughout the State

30 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

the larch was this summer partly stripped, and.a small proportion of
the trees were killed. The growths and forests of larch at this time as-
sumed a peculiar light yellowish- brown appearance, as if a light fire
had passed through the trees, scorching them and causing them to
change their color. This singular tint was characteristic of the larches
wherever we went. We noticed this appearance in the larches from
Brunswick to Rockland, at Camden and Blue Hill; also on Deer Isle and
adjacent islands; also at and about Southwest and Bar Harbors, and
other points on Mount Desert Island and the islands eastward; also at
Machiasport; but along the road from this town to Lubec the larches had
suffered less than at other points in the eastern part of the State. At
Saint Stephens injured larches were observed as well as at Vanceborough
and the counties west of Mattawamkeag, thence to Orono and about ban-
gor, and between that city and Waterville.

From Mr. ©. G. Atkins, United States assistant fish commissioner,
we learned that the larch worm was abundant, stripping the trees, at
Bucksport, and also at Cherryfield, Machias, and New Sharon.

General C. F. Walcott, of Boston, who, in September, 1583, spent sev-
eral weeks at and about the Forks of the Kennebee, informs us that he
noticed numerous dead hackmatacks in masses on Wood stream, which
enters Wood pond, which is a part of Moose River. He did not, how-
ever, see any dead spruce in this region in clumps or masses, although
his guide, an experienced boss lumberman, informed him that a great
many spruce trees were dying in that region.

In the Adirondack region, from Scroon Lake to North Elba and about
Mount Marey, the larches were universally attacked by this worm, as
we are informed by George Uunt, esq., of Providence, R. I., who made
a journey of about 100 miles through this region in July.

ee

REPORT UPON THE COTTON WORM IN SOUTH TEXAS IN THE
SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER OF 1883.*

By Dr. E. H. ANDERSON, of Kirkwood, Miss.

KIRKWOOD, MIss., June 16, 1883.

Str: I have the honor herewith to make to you the following re-
port:

Having received on the 30th March my commission from the Depart-
ment and your instructions to visit Southern Texas to investigate Ale-
tia, especially as to its advent and all circumstances having an influ-
ence upon it, as well as to make diligent inquiry as to poisons and ma-
chinery for distributing them, I left home on the 2d April and reached
Houston, Tex., on Thursday the 5th. I remained there several days,
interviewing some of the more prominent citizens, especially those
thought to be the best informed upon the worm question.

I soon discovered that these gentlemen were more familiar practi-
cally with the insects and machines and remedies for poisoning them
than those of my latitude, and in fact were old veterans in the warfare
waged by thein against the Cotton Worm. Judge J. W. Johnson, now
editor and proprietor of the Houston Post, was the first whom I chanced
to meet. He, however, had not prosecuted the study of Aletia far
enough to add any knowledge to its natural history, but had paid con-
siderable attention to machines and poisons. I visited his warehouse

* Tn obedience to the following instructions:

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, March 20, 1882.

Sir: Linclose your appointment for three wonths, beginning April 1. You will at
onee proceed to Southern Texas and institute a thorough inquiry on the following
points: First. The earliest appearance of the Cotton Wormin particular sections, and
all attending circumstances as to character of soil, elevation, and other surroundings,
such as will throw light on the reason for such first appearance; second, the exact
condition of things in Southern Texas in reference to remedies, and the machinery in
vogue for applying them.

In reference to this last part of your work I want notes of experience from such
practical planters as you may meet—what preferences, in other words, as to remedies
applied and means of applying them their experience of the last two or three years
has led to. At the close of your work you will please make a full report as to these
two phases of the Cotton Worm question for that particular section.

(05, Wig decd bang.
Entomologist.
Dr. E. H. ANDERSON,
Kirkwood, Miss.

(31)

an BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

with him and examined his poisons and machines, in both of which he
is doing an extensive business. He has a large supply of pure arsenic
on hand, as well as a compound poison, manufactured by himself, of
which he sells large quantities. He presented me with a large box,
which I left in the hands of Dr. Ridley, near Hempstead, to be tried
and reported upon, which report will be duly forwarded. Judge John-
som’s machine for spraying has been described both in your Bulletin
No. 3 and Agricultural Repert, 1879. He claims, however, an improve-
ment in the branch-pipes, and has arranged the machine to be worked
automatically by the pitman or by thedriver. is machine is certainly
an admirable one, and at the reduced price of $40 is now being rap-
idly sold. As the season was too early for its practical application I
can sav nothing of its operation in the field. I had an interesting in-
terview here with Gen. T. B. Howard. He seems to take a great in-
terest in the discovery of Mr. L. C. White, of Jasper, Jasper County,
Texas, who professes to have originated a worm-proof cotton by pro-
ducing a hybrid from Jamestown weed (Datura stramonium). He
thinks his experiments with the seed have verified Mr. White’s theory.
I suggested that as they belonged to two different families of plants I
could not understand it, but he still thinks Mr. White has accomplished
it, as the seed he gave him produced a plant like cotton, except that it
had the odor of Jamestown weed and the worms would not eat it,
though they eat other cotton planted side by side with it. Mr. White,
I learned, had offered his seed to the Department.

I also interviewed at Houston Dr. R. T. Flewellen, to whom I had
been referred as better posted on the subject of Aletia than any one
there, or perhaps in Texas, as he had made the insect his study for a
number of years, and had published his observations and some inter-
esting facts. He soon convinced me that his method of investigation
was careful and thorough, and that he had by experiment arrived at
certain facts not stated by others, and which alone could be accounted
for upon local and climatic causes. I held several interviews with him,
in order to elicit all of his views and methods, and invited him to visit
Fort Bend with me, which he did, and we thus had the opportunity of a
free exchange of opinions and discussion of the opinions of others. As
to hibernation of the chrysalis in Southern Texas, his experiments, he
says, leaves no doubt. The life term of the moth he believes to be lim-
ited to twelve days, twelve in summer and six in winter, as he could
never carry one beyond this. This would be due to climatic influence,
admitting it to be so.

While in De Witt County I addressed him a letter requesting an an-
swer to certain interrogatories. His reply reached me at Houston, and
from it Iecopied his remarks on hibernation in a letter to you. He in-
advertently made his experiments commence in 1868 and end in 1879,
when they were made in less than one year; that is, his chrygalides were
put up in the fall and were carried through the following winter and
summer. I have sent this to him for revision.

se il i ee

THE COTTON WORM IN SOUTH TEXAS. 3a

I next went to Virginia Point, to visit Judge William J. Jones, a
former correspondent of the Department. My interviews with him
were most interesting, and were made exceedingly agreeable by his kind
and affable manner. His experience with Aletia has been extensive,
and has embraced a number of years, during which he has watched its
coming and progress closely, and has contended with it most vigorously
and persistently. He is regarded on this subject as high authority, and
is the originator of an improved variety of cotton, Texas sea-island.

I questioned him closely in reference to his having observed Aletia
larva descend by a web to the earth to pass through chrysalis. Although
observing that as a rule the chrysalis is made on the plant, he has ney-
ertheless seen it make the descent and pass into chrysalis on the earth.
This would be an exceptional case. Although not using scientific meth-
ods in his study of Aletia, he has been a close observer, and has made
himself familiar with its habits. He has used lights extensively, and
believes strongly in their efficacy. He has also experimented largely
with poisons, always with the result of killing the worm, and occasion-
ally killing his cotton likewise. This led to careful experiments, con-
ducted by himself,.and to the adoption of the following formula, viz:

To 5 pounds of pure, unadulterated arsenie add 1 pound sal soda; boil in a tin
vessel holding 5 gallons of water till the whole is thoroughly dissolved. If dry, one
quart of this mixture to be put in 40 gallons of water well strained. This will spray

one acre. If showery weather, add an additional pint. This will not cost over 3
cents an acre, and will kill in twelve to fifteen hours.

As this place has suffered from the Cotton Worm in past years, no
cotton being planted there this season, it will not be amiss to mention
some of its topographical features. Judge Jones’s plantation is located
on the extreme southeastern point of Galveston County, bounded on the
- east, south, and west by Galveston Bay, and extending to its margin.
It forms, in fact, a peninsula, and is comparatively isolated. The soil
js rich, black prairie, abounding in shells and lime. The banana, orange,
oleander, and cape jessamine, and other tropical fruits and flowers grow
luxuriantly. The Gulf breeze is perpetual. The temperature in winter
rarely descends below 32° F. The shrubbery as well as the native
larger growth and matted weeds would afford admirable shelter for
hibernation. It is Judge Jones’s opinion that the insect hibernates here
and does not come by immigration. He believes likewise that it hiber-
nates as chrysalis, but offered no facts in support of this theory that
could be regarded as conclusive.

The next place visited by me was the plantation of Col. L. A. Ellis,
at Walker’s Station, Fort Bend County, situated in the Brazos bottoms,
3 miles from the river, having in cultivation 3,000 acres, 1,000 of which
was in cotton. The season being a backward one, the cotton was small,
and an examination furnished nothing of interest.

As the crops here are annually visited by the worm, which, in seasons
favorable for its propagation, does great damage, I noted the topog-

5135 3

34 - BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

raphy. Oyster Creek, quite a large stream, runs through this planta-

tion from north to south, and has upon its banks a varied growth of

native and luxuriant vegetation. Among the trees live-oak, cotton-
wood, pecan, and hackberry are the most conspicuous. From its serpen-
tine course, forming many densely shaded curves, it would afford at
many points admirable protection to insects or animals. The large
size of the gin-house and corn-cribs situated near by the creek would
also afford the best of winter quarters. Winter temperature and all
local circumstances favor the belief that Aletia passes the winter here
in some form.

From this point I went on to San Antonio, finding cotton too small
for observation; but, as all climatic influences seemed favorable, de-
termined to remain there a short time and await answers to correspond-
ence and then go to the most promising field. While there interviewed
General H. T. Bee, among others, and felt quite interested in his account
of his cotton experiments in Leon and Durango, Mexico. The appear-
ance upon cotton the first year, two hundred miles from any other cot-
ton, and where cotton had never been planted before, leads to the pre-
sumption that the worm was indigenous and had fed upon other vege-
tation previously. General Bee still seems to think that it is generated
by some peculiar condition of the cotton plant, on the evolution theory.
All local circumstances here, the mildness of the climate during winter,
the profusion of flowers furnishing nectar perpetually, and from the
succulent perennial vegetation, it would appear to be the paradise of
insects.

One marked feature here is what they call the sea-breeze, which is.
almost perpetual and only interrupted during the prevalence of a norther,

which is always of short duration and scarcely worthy of the name. -

Without this breeze their climate would be intolerably hot.

Finding no field for observation here I went to De Witt County,
where I heard the first bale of cotton always came from. Stopped a
day at Cuero to see J. C. Hatton, to whom I had been referred. Found
him interested on the subject of the worm and conversant with poisons.
He recommends the following, viz:

No. 1. Arsenic 1 ounce; hot water to dissolve; boil until dissolved. For one:

barrel and one acre.
No. 2. Arsenic 1 ounce; to be dissolved in hot water and put into one barrel of

water; London purple 1 pound to be added cold and well stirred in. To be used on

one acre.
He also showed me several pumps, made of block tin, but none supe-

rior to those exhibited and described in Bulletin No. 3. Told me Mr.
J. D. Anderson had requested me to visit him, as he thought he had
the worm. On visiting Mr. Anderson’s field the first object that at-
tracted my attention was the rattoon sprouts from the stalks of the pre-
ceding year. On first examination found the eggs of Aletia much more
crowded than usual, and upon footstalk as well as leaf, showing a marked
preference for this cotton. Specimens of this were sent you at the time.
There were occasional stalks found in the middle of the rows, while the

'
q
.

THE COTTON WORM IN SOUTH TEXAS. 3D

new crop, then (25th April) 10 inches high, and beginning to form, had.

single eggs only scattered here and there. The only apparent differ-
ence was that the foliage on the sprouts was more bushy. These
sprouts, I was informed, appear annually, often as early as January im
that locality, invariably in March and April, though I must state that
I visited a field planted in cotton the previous year, about 2 miles
distant, and at an elevation of 20 or 25 feet above the level of the first-
named field, and exposed on all sides, where the stalks had not beem
plowed up, She all were dead.

This field of Mr. Anderson’s is on the Guadalupe River, and strictly
bottom prairie, varying from black waxy to light wee and all ex-
tremely fertile. The field extends from the river on an west to the
hills on the east, where the land breaks off into upland wooded prairie,
of lime and gravelly geological formation. The hill skirting the tieid
has at its base a luxuriant undergrowth, among which may be found
many native brilliant flowers, and over which flourishes the live oak
with its parasitic moss, the cotton-wood, hackberry, and others native
to the clime. The country to the south along the Guadalupe is low
and level, while to the southeast it presents rolling wooded prairie.
Here the gulf breeze predominates, Indianola on the Gulf being but 27
miles distant, and makes the climate delightful. Here, as reported to
you in detail, I found the first brood of Aletia in all its stages, except
moth, though knowing the moth to be there by the freshness of the
eggs, unless all of that brood had perished. Mr. Anderson informed
me that previous to the appearance of the worm a number of the chrys-
alids had been plowed up, and that this was a matter of annual obser-
vation, and he had no doubt that the first brood of worms came from the
moths that issued from the chrysalids plowed up in March and April,
and that the worms often appeared as early as the Ist of April.

Learning how early the old cotton-stalks often sprouted, the early
appearance of the worm, the mildness of their winters, the thermometer
never falling below-19° F., the porous and loose character of their soil,
‘and as the boll-worm does not affect their cotton, and could not be mis-
taken in chrysalis for Aletia, it would seem highly probable that the
chrysalis would survive their short winter in that locality. Neverthe-
less, after the most diligent search I could not procure one, nor could I
rely sufficiently upon the accuracy of their knowledge of the chrysalis
to accept their statements as conclusive; and if the chrysalis did sur-
vive the winter up to the 1st of April, I was there too late, as all had
emerged as moths.

I visited other places in the neighborhood, but this serves as a type
for all.

Mr. Anderson had constructed under his supervision a machine for
spraying, that seemed to me to possess advantages over any other that
I have seen, both as to its capacity to spray a larger area in a givem
time and for cheapness. As he has promised to furnish me a draft I
will not attempt a description. I will here copy his recipe for poisons:

36 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Early in the season, when cotton is young and tender, one ounce of arsenic boiled
in ene gallon of water five minutes and then put in a barrel of cold water will de-
stroy the worms. But in order to make it more efficient, add one-fourth pound Lon-
don purple, mixed up in cold water, This will go over an acre of land when properly
applied. When the cotton is older and the worms more numerous double the poison ;
no danger of hurting the cotton. The worms are about nine days hatching, and as
heavy dews and rains will wash off the poison it must be applied every three daysin
hatching season. The proper time to commence poisoning is when the millers or
moths are depositing their eggs. They can be seen at work after sunset and before
Sunrise.

[regard as important this gentleman’s views, as he is a thoroughly
practical man, and has the energy to execute as well asthe intelligence
to formulate his ideas methodically.

From this point I went to Fort Bend on the Brazos, and remained sev-
eral days with Colonel Cunningham, adjoining Colonel Ellis’s, the two
plantations cultivating 2,000 acres of cotton. This was early in May,
4d inguired for the largest cotton, and on visiting the field found a few
worms, Specimens of which were sent to you. This was the first brood,
and unsuspected until found by me. This field was located near Oyster
reek, and had upon it the decaying trunks of live oak, still covered
with moss, and pecans. It was designated as mulatto land, and very
rich, lying between Oyster Creek and the Brazos. The general features
were such as observed upon Colonel Ellis’s plantation adjoining. The
mildness of winter temperature here, the many secluded spots, the abun-
dance of native perennial flora, and the almost perpetual southern gulf
breeze, aS well as the great mass of stubble, rendering the soil extremely
porous, would all favor the different theories entertained as to Aletia.
While passing through many portions of Southern Texas, of both bald
and wooded prairie, now devoted to ranches, I could not but pause
to admire the profusion of wild flowers of infinite variety, intermingled
with native grasses, giving an additional charm to the iandscape, and
furnishing food for both insect and animal. Here the moth could find
a congenial winter home, if nature has endowed it with such longevity.

‘Next visited Hempstead. As I have reported to you from that point
in detail in my correspondence, will now give a mere synopsis. Found
the first brood there on the highest point in the field, where bone phos-
phates had been used as a fertilizer, and where cotton was then, May
14 forming. This plantation was upland wooded prairie, 3 miles from
the Brazos, at an elevation of 30 or 40 feet above river, and about 70
above sea level. The soil may be called sandy loam, and quite fertile.
The size of the cotton had much to do with the presence of the worm,
but there were, perhaps, other agencies that aided in hastening it there.
It was found near an abrupt break on the crest of the hill which had
become overgrown with rank vegetation, and which sheltered a portion
of the field under its lea. Here either chrysalis or moth would have
been protected against the inclemency of winter. Here, likewise, all
the surroundings were favorable for the preservation of insect life. It
as a coincidence not without significance in my experience that the first

THE COTTON WORM IN SOUTH TEXAS. sé

appearance of the worm here, as well as elsewhere, was coincident with
plowing while the land was wet and temperature ruling high, thus induc-
ing an abnormal temperature by disturbing natural capillarity. The
present temperature, May 15, corresponds with the temperature of Madi-
son County, Mississippi, in August, when worms make their appearance
there. I here first tried the experiment of burning molasses placed in
a pan over a lamp chimney, placing on the ground another plate con-
taining molasses and coal-oil. First night caught two moths, second
night caught ten. Would recommend in all cases, the burning of mo-
lasses, aS it is my belief that the aroma is more attractive than light.

These were the first moths caught, though lights had often been pre-
viously used. Will here remark that every field I visited in Texas was
infested with ants, varying from the largest to the smallest size, and
differing in color. They are great pests and not only damage stands
of cotton by cutting it down, as the cut-worm does, but one species
sometimes excavates considerable areas with its subterranean houses,
and thereby ruins both corr and cotton. They doubtless, from their
predaceous habits, destroy a great many worms, and the farmers say
they do. }

My next visit was to Columbia, Brazoria County, where I inter-
viewed several of the most intelligent citizens, and visited a field on the
Brazos in company with Col. John Adriance, an old and highly intel-
ligent planter. Here I found the worm on cotton near the river bank,
specimens of which [ sent you, though they had doubtless webbed up
before reaching you. This brood was about to pass into chrysalis, as
it was at Hempstead, showing it to be about contemporaneous. No new
features to be observed here. The opinion prevails that the insect win-
ters here.

I next visited Judge William J. Jones in quest.of Anomis exacta, but
had a fruitless search, as he planted no cotton this season. As the
specimen sent to you by him, two years ago, was among a lot of chrys-
alids. gathered both on the Brazos and at his home place, and as he had
never seen the larva of exacta,to know it distinctly from Aletia, he would
have been unable to identify it.

Next proceeded to Columbus, on the Colorado. The soil here was
lighter colored and more sandy than on the Brazos, in fact so loose as
to be drifted by the prevailing winds. It nevertheless possesses great
fertility. I found cotton here of good size and forming, and soon found
the worm. Saw here the same topographical features and physical
agencies as elsewhere that seem to influence the life of Aletia.

Went on to San Antonio and saw near Seguin in an upland field near
the Guadalupe River some of the largest cotton 1 met with, but saw
there nothing of interest to report.

Would have continued my observations in Southern Texas until the
end of June, but as I found the insect wherever I went, as far north
even as Hempstead, I determined to return to Mississippi, to watch its
incoming there, as that is still an unsettled question.

38 - BULLETIN NO, 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

My conclusion is that the southern belt of Texas, as high as 30°
north latitude, offers Aletia a secure winter retreat, and that it there
passes through its different stages under the influence of temperature;
and although cotton is its preferred food, yet it is capable of being sus-
tained upon other plants, selected by the instinct of the parent moth,
until the incoming of cotton.

The fact has been established that it was indigenous and perennial in
the Bahamas, and from my observation, and all information gathered
in Texas, I think the same rule would apply there.

Finally, regarding yourself as the highest authority upon this subject,
as well as all others connected with your Department, I can reconcile
your last utterance upon the hibernation of Aletia, as far as facts are
concerned, with the theory advocated in this report and deducible from
all information gathered in my recent visit to Texas. You say ‘‘there
is nothing more fully established now than that the moth hibernates
principally under the shelter of rank grass in the more heavily timbered
portions of the South ;” and also that “‘ you had been able to obtain the
anoths during every month.” The only difference is a perpetuation of
the cycle of transformation instead of a true hibernation in that latitude.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of high respect,

Yours, truly,
EK. H. ANDERSON.
Prof. C. V. RILEY, Entomologist.

EXPERIMENTAL TESTS OF MACHINERY DESIGNED FOR THE DE-
STRUCTION OF THE COTTON WORM.

Report by W. S. BARNARD, Ph. D.*

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION,
Washington, D. C., August 15, 1883.
Sir: Under your direction I have prepared and hereby submit the
following report on the experimental tests made during the last three
weeks near Selma, Ala.
Respectfuliy,
W.S. BARNARD, Assistant.

©. V. RILEY, Entomologist.

'

ie EO Ra.

The Cotton Worm machine described in the annual report for 1881-82,
and now subjected to field tests, is shown to be suited only for cotton
so planted that the rows are spaced apart very equally, since it lacks
adaptability to the usual great differences of interspaces between the
rows. Unfortunately, nothing very closely approaching ideal straight-
ness of rows or equality of width between them can be detected in the
South, even in-such fields as are said to be “ planted perfectly true.”

* Letter of instruction.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
July 14, 1883.

Srr: You will proceed to Selma, Ala., on the 18th of this month to carry out in detail
the verbal instructions which I have given you. These are, chiefly, to take with you
or send all the machinery necessary to put together and operate the spraying machine
illustrated on Plate IX of our last annual report. You will test this machine thor-
oughly, in order to settle by experience the numerous points that have not yet had
practical field demonstration. Thus, the most satisfactory form of nozzle, whether
for London purple, Paris green, or kerosene emulsion, the number of rows it is found
best to spray at once, the relative effects of finer or coarser sprays, and particularly
the effect of petroleum, etc., etc. Be particular to ascertain the actual cost and
actual area covered by a given amount of liquid. You will spend no time in testing
other devices or modes of poisoning.

* * * * * * *

Respectfully, LEY
OC), AVE TUL Ne

Entomologist.
Prof. W.S. BARNARD,

Assistant, Entomological Division.
(39)

40 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

In the more evenly disposed cotton, stiff fork apparatus, made light and
shorter, to supply only four rows at each drive, and hung loosely upon
hooks instead of eyes, without the ratchet lever elevator, and capable
of being easily slid by hand to the left or right, as infringement on row.
crooks from time to time required, proved susceptible of use with due
watchfulness ; but the eight-row machine was too heavy to be thus

shifted by hand, and being stiff-backed with rigid descending pipes, no

eight consecutive rows could be found regular enough to be callipered
for much distance by this device. The inflexibility also prevented con-
formability of the apparatus to inequalities of the ground, an eleva-
tion straining hard on one descending pipe, lifting the others from the
ground, etc., and the light, flexile, jointed nozzle-arms, being borne
upon severely by the stiff pipe system, soon became impaired, whereas.
they had formerly and have since worked well on the yielding stem-
pipes of the adjustable machines which were tested at the time of the
Atlanta exposition, as well as in these last experiments. For under-
spraying, this old-fashioned, stiff, cross-pipe system is shown to be wrong,
as originally foreseen, unless some power can be brought to bear to en-
force a system of greater straightness and equality in planting cotton.
A considerable amount of the irregularity in rows has been attributed
to the “ constitutional perversity and crookedness of the nigger,” ap-
pearing from the bad execution of his instructions. But even if this could
be corrected it is not the matter of vital importance, for the planter
himself, as well as the field-hand, is guided by a natural principle
which will always control and stand against any contrary theoretical
or mechanical rule. According to “ the strength of the ground,” the size
of plant it will produce, willthe rows run wider or narrower in any par-
ticular “cut” or part of a “cut.” This accounts for the diverging and
meandering rows, forthe many “cuts” of a plantation differing among
each other in their row-widths as observed everywhere.

As to conveyances for underspraying apparatuses, it was found not
desirable to use a wagon or cart of ordinary width (5 feet) in cotton
only 3 feet wide or less, because of the much injury done to the plants
by the wheels. Most of the cotton in the Carolinas, Georgia, Ten-
nessee, Alabama, and Mississippi comes within these dimensions ; hence

a shorter special axle for the cart or wagon wheels should generally
be employed in any conveyance for the apparatus. But where se-
verely threatened by worms the ordinary wagon or cart will do less
damage than the pest in any kind of cotton; and it is on this ac-
count that wagons are already used to a considerable extent for trans-
porting poison and broadcast spraying devices in all kinds of fields,
Mr. A. T. Jones, near Selma, uses four mules on his heavy spraying
machine. But ordinarily the common plantation cart will be found the
most suitable vehicle. This or the lumber wagon will straddle rows
4 feet apart or over without injury to the plants except in turning,
and that is surprisingly small, being least with the cart. With shafts

]

TESTS OF MACHINERY FOR POISONING COTTON WORMS. 41

placed in the usual position the mule must travel on a row to have the
two wheels straddle it properly, and this not practical. I obviated the
objection by a pair of rough shafts set to one side, one shaft coming
from the center of the cart and the other standing outside of the wheel ;
thus the mule is held nearly in front of one wheel and midway between #
pair of rows. In practice it is shown that the slight side-draft caused
by this arrangement amounts to almost nothing. And it should be re-
membered that it is common in the North to use side shafts on sleighs,
buggies, &c. The apparatus is easily pulled by one mule, which should
travel preferably in front of the right wheel.

The personal labor required is such that the pumper may also drive
and keep an eye on the machine behind. It is most convenient wher
the stirrer, pump, and barrel are placed near the left side of the cart with
the lever or pump-handle standing crosswise. The operator then only
looks to the right and the left instead of having to look backward. The
mule, accustomed to working in cotton, follows between the rows as a
rule without being guided, and the pumper is free to turn him at the
ends. In this manner one man can use the apparatus alone without
working any harder than he should. Still, it is generally preferable to
have a boy attendant to assist at times, and where a larger pump with
avery wide system of pipes to supply a large number of rows is engaged
it will be well to have two men to take turns at pumping in cases where
a pump motor is not provided. With such labor, the adjustable under-
spraying machines which I have devised and shall notice below were
operated, the best hand being a mulatto who worked for fifty cents @
day, which is a common price for cotton-field hands. Thus the labor
cost is small, and one or two men witha machine can do much more and
better spraying than a large gang does by ordinary methods.

The rapidity depends altogether on the width of the pipe-system, or
number and width of rows supplied, or the size of the cotton, of the noz-
zle-discharges and of the pump, on the velocity or pressure applied, and
on the speed of the mule. It may vary with any one of these details, I
had only one pump, this rather small, and could not try the effects of
different sizes. There was not much diversity in the cotton and it was
below medium size. At Selma, I labored under difficulties from bad
workmanship, from lack of available mechanics for constructing the
devices, on which account there were bad joints in the apparatuses, which
leaked some, and which would loosen and at times come apart when
high pressure was applied, thus causing stoppages in the work. Under
the circumstances the question of time and scope could not be very sat-
isfactorily tested ; but as to the very fine small sprays for small cotton
the following conclusions result from this experience :

Taking nearly average sized cotton, and the parts of the apparatus of
medium capacity, an acre and a half was poisoned in one-half an hour,
24 feet wide being poisoned at a single drive, and the rows were quite
short. Twice this rapidity can be attained.

42 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

The quantity of liquid and poison used also depends on the various con-
dlitions stated as determining the rapidity. The amount of liquid’ to the
acre, aS near as could be estimated under the circumstances, ranged
from 10 to 40 gallons, according to the size of the spray-discharge and
of the cotton. The quantity of poison is in direct proportion thereto,
being one-eighth to one-half a pound of London purple, or one-fourth
to four-fourths of a pound of Paris green to the acre.

The stirrer-pump device is a most perfect thing for the purpose and
gave the greatest satisfaction. This contrivance is described and illus-
trated in the annual report for 1881—’82 (pl. ix, pp. 159-161). The pump
has heavy metallic valves, and its piston-head has no soft packing, so
there is nothing about it that can get out of order. Yarn packing is
used in the stuffing-box at its top. Being double acting it throws a
strong and constant stream. Only one trunnion-eye need be moved,
and a single iron wedge, instead of two, is sufficient for setting it. The
wedge has on its head a catch whereby it is easily pryed out, and an eye
‘by which it is chained fast to prevent losing it. In place of the wooden
stirrer bar formerly employed I have made an iron one having a spring
at the middle to clamp snugly in the eye at the bottom of the pump.
This will not weaken with age or break. The cord or chain for pulling
out the bar is not essential, as by having the end bung-hole of two
inches diameter a pair of tongs or pinchers can be inserted to take hold
of the end of the stirrer and extract it. The main hose or pipe has a
serew union, by which it is easily separable from the pump.

The descending pipes between the rows should have flexion and tor-
sion in their joints or segments or hangings. The ground beneath
the cotton-rows is highly ridged, and the mid-furrow between each
pair of rows is deep. The ground thus formed operates upon the
lower parts of each descending pipe or its appurtenances, when suita-
bly shaped, so as automatically to guide the pipe and its nozzles
between the rows, and to follow any crooks therein even when the
conveyance is not driven in conformity with such irregularities. This
automatical adjusting is allowed to a large extent even when the
top of the descending pipe is firmly or non-adjustably attached, pro-
vided that the descending pipe be flexile in some part of its course.
This was shown in the earlier flexile forked machines which were
tested for this Department near the Atlanta exposition. For the ob-
ject in question the descending pipe may be flexile throughout, but it
is more commonly preferable to construct this pipe of stiff segments
having one or two flexile joints, or very short hose segments; one at
its top, and another at about two-thirds or one-half of the way down-
ward therefrom. It is also generally best to make these flexile seg-
ments or joints of three-ply or two-ply hose, and only of such length
as to allow them to bend like knee-joints, and to suffer a semi-rotation
or semi-torsion. This construction prevents the trailing-fork or other
end part from getting turned upside down, or from remaining in wrong

TESTS OF MACHINERY FOR KILLING COTTON WORMS. AA

attitude after dragging among or over the plants in turning, and it
always tends to spring or throw the nozzles back to such positions that
they deliver a properly-directed spray into the plants. Where torsion
without bending is desired in these flexile places a rod extending
through the interior may be employed somewhat as described for cross-
pipes and nozzle-arms in the special report of the United States Ento-
mological Commission that has been prepared. The arrangements and
constructions referred to have been carefully tested this season to cor-
roborate the results of previous experience. The principle involved
is simple and practical in its operation, having been tested at Atlanta,
and again this year at Selma, Ala.

The flexile nozzle-arms of the Y-shaped trailing forks which were
originally designed with flexile stems worked satisfactorily thus at-
tached; but when these fork-arms were tested on a stiffly hung pipe,
the spring-rod inside soon proved too weak. The strong pendant
T-forks with curved or sloping side-arms made stiff proximally, and hav-
ing 3-ply hose for their distal half or two-thirds, stood severe usage by
all methods, since they were made of stronger tubing and had much
stouter spring-rods within. The spring-rod in each arm had its distal end
soldered in a short piece of tube abutting against the stem of the nozzle.
Forks of whatever construction will be guided more by the ridges if
the arms extend in a somewhat upward direction before becoming hori-
zontal at the ends beneath the plants, as the median part of the fork
can then sink into the mid-furrow and be guided by its sides. Prob-
ably nothing better than the pendant Y-forks and T-forks can be de-
vised for spraying upward through the center of the plant. An addi-
tional pair of short arms or of nozzles may be used with advantage to
discharge from near the median line in divergent direction upward
through the tops of the plants. The simplest plan is to join these or
the simple eddy chambers directly to the stem-pipe or its extension, low
down. Such nozzles may be attached side by side, or in what I call a
tandem gang. ‘This is a series of short tubes coupled end to end, each
bearing an eddy-chamber discharge. These may be rotated on their
axes and so are adjustable to different angles. Those who prefer to
underspray the top of the plant and care less for its base will find the
tandem arrangement by itself the best device for that purpose for throw-
ing from the ground, though the forks answer as well when elevated,
and may also be used beneath the base.

The eddy-chamber nozzles seem the best sprayers available for ap-
plying the poison. These nozzles have been tested this season with the
discharge-hole of various sizes, from one-sixty-fourth to one-eighth of
an inch diameter. The smaller orifices give the finest sprays conceiva-
ble. Indeed, with high pressure, the spray vanishes into vapor and
steam which does not fall, but rises to seek the clouds. From this the
dam) particles of poison powder must separate and fall. But with or-
dinary pressure too fine a spray is not attained.

44 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

With the fine strainer on the suction end of the pump, clogging mate-
rials in the water are prevented from entering the pipe system or the
nozzles. Additional smaller gauze strainers were attached to the ends
of the metal tubes in one set of pipes. They keep out dirt, etc., when
the pipes are separated, but may not prove of importance. The proper
method is to have a completely closed system, with folding joints that
never need to be separated, so the whole can be folded into a small com-
pact package for transportation by rail or to the field. Such a system
has given great satisfaction by its convenience, as well as by allowing no
obstacles to enter the nozzles. In spite of the most perfect precautions
clogging will occur at the outset or before high pressure is attained,
chiefly from the scales of iron separating from the interior of the pipe
as loosened by rusting and jarring. With the finest nozzles (one sixty-
fourth inch discharge) these seem to cause no more difficulty than with
a Standard beveled one-sixteenth inch discharge. The nozzle faces may
be removed to let out any obstacles which with low pressure are apt
to clog the outlet and stop the internal rotation. But a high pressure
should always be used, and when this is once up the outlet may be
pricked with a pin, and it will discharge with an almost explosive force,
instantly starting an inconceivably rapid internal rotation, which, while
sustained with due pressure, will by its centrifugal action prevent any
particle from again finding the center of rotation from which the dis-
charge takes place. This is especially true of the smallest nozzles,
having an outlet just large enough to admit the insertion of a pin. As

previously set forth, the inner edge of the outlet should generally be |

square or sharp. In the eddy chamber a great hydraulic pressure is
generated, so great that by thumb pressure the discharge cannot be
stopped. The power therein accumulated under high pressure is suffi-
cient to cut through and disintegrate any obstructing particles or trag-
ments, except those of the hardest kind, which are so heavy as to fly off
from the center by their weight and momentum when the velocity
of rotation is once up or quickly starts. :

The top adjustments of the descending pipes are very important.
These tops may be variously hung, combined, or constructed. A knowl-
edge of the irregularities of ordinary cotton fields, such as.appear chiefly
in crooks of the rows and in variations of width between them, prevents
the idea of a stiff, unadjustable attachment of the tops of the pipes,
which must travel between and more or less against the rows. Con-
formity to all inequalities of the ground, its numerous ups and downs, its
dead furrows, ditches, stones, and stumps, should likewise be attained.
It must also be evident that a large, stiff apparatus is difficult to haul
about, as it cannot be taken entire through gates except with much la-
bor. Of course it is possible to disjoint the parts beforehand, and then
screw them together tight afterwards when the field is reached. This,
however, is hardly practicable. In fact the separating and joining of
stiff metal joints by field hands isa failure. Plumber’s tools are neces-

TESTS OF MACHINERY FOR KILLING COTTON WORMS. 45

sary for thispurpose. The field laborer of the Southscrews up the joint
too tight, too loose, or in such form as to spoil the screw-threads. Again,
the joints become rusted together and a vise must be engaged. The
stiff system also requires that very heavy pipe be used, as the leverage
on long pipe arms enables them to suffer great strain, to become broken
oft easily at the end where the thread for the joint is cut, whereas with
flexile joints no leverage power but only tensile strain can be brought to
bear. In the latter case very light tubing can be employed with economy
in material, cost, labor, and salvage of cotton. Moreover, only by such
light flexile apparatus can any considerable number of rows be treated
at once from beneath. These facts have been substantiated by tests of |
stiff and of flexile apparatus this season more fully than they were by
the Atlanta tests, in which one light machine undersprayed eighteen
rows of cotton, a strip twenty yards wide, at a single drive. The tests
this year have been not only of stiff connections, but also of the con-
structions whereby adjustability of the descending pipes is effected au-
tomatically and by hand. These have already been noticed above or
in the previous reports in so far as they pertain to the stem or body of
the pipe or its distal appendages ; hence, next in order may be considered
more specifically and in natural sequence the construction and arrange-
ments of the tops of these pipes as planned and tested by me:

I. The stiff hanging tubes have been tried, as already set forth, in
firm union with a stiff back-pipe or cross-pipe such as appears in many
of the patented sprayers, as Johnson’s, Daughtrey’s, etc., while suffi-
cient objections to this arrangement for underspraying have already
been presented. It is the first construction which naturally suggests
itself to any plumber or other mechanic, but presents no special adap-
tation for the purpose, as has been shown this season and previously.

Il. The extremest opposite construction to the foregoing is attained
by having radiating flexile tubes from the main to the descending pipes,
instead of a straight and stiff cross-pipe. By this arrangement the
hanging pipes are swung apart or nearer together independently, and
set on a cross-bar or on diverging bars, at spaces to suit rows having
different courses or widths.

By way of variation the tubes may radiate only for a part of the
distance, and for a space run close beside each other along a supporting
bar before reaching the descending parts. The parts upon the support
are preferably of metal, and slide readily in peculiarly locked hooks, as
simple, easily separable attachments, specially devised for this purpose.
Where the descending parts have flexibility to some extent they may
drag inthe cotton in turning, as stated above. It is shown that they thus
dono noteworthy harm to the plants; also that they themselves do not
sufferinjury. This flexile construction is simple, and generally preferable
in combination with the flexile connectives between their tops. But
should any prefer that the hanging parts be elevated above the plants in
turning, this is easily done. Forsuch purpose, and to shorten the lever-

46 BULLETIN NO. 8, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

age in lifting, the descending part should preferably have a flexile joint
just below midway, to bend like a knee when the lift is made. The upper
half of the descending pipe is rigidly continuous with the stiff parallel
part, forming therewith a bent angle, while the proximal end of the
parallel part is turned backward as a hollow tubular crank, having its
handle-end communicating with one of the radiating or slack hose pipes,
which allow the stiff parts to be shifted laterally. By swinging the back -
ward crank-shaped part of the pipe over to a forward position, into a
catch, the hanging parts of the pipe are swung upward above the plants
and sustained there. This season two, three,and four of these crank-
ended pipes were tried, combined with the same bar. When the
horizontal part of such a pipe is short or not too heavy it will be shifted
laterally automatically by the trailing part by the method already
noticed; but where the pipe is too heavy or rough to slide easily the
hand of the pumper must occasionally be used upon the proximal or
crank end to shove the pipe into such position as will suitably adjust
the nozzles to the rows.

In the divergent arrangements thus indicated the shifting or lateral
adjustability is permitted by opening or shutting the angles between
the diverging tubes, and this is, in its operation, in some sense, analo-
gous to taking out and letting out slack in the connecting parts between
the nozzles. By asurplus amount of inflection or slack, by joint or other
flexibility, in a tube or tubes connecting the tops of any two neighbor-
ing pipes, whether right, left, or mesial, in a system, the two can be sep-
arated, approximated, or independently adjusted to the extent desired.

3y this method the stiff pieces sliding on the bar and supporting the
pipe-tops can be short, light, and arranged somewhat end to end, joined
in tandem order, with intermediate flexile crooks that may be extended
or shortened as operated by the automatic action of the trailing branch.
These tandem gangs of light, sliding segments for supporting or sup-
plying the tops of the pipes, have stood a satisfactory test in the cot-
ton this season.

Such parts may also be arranged on bars having a slope backward
or downward, as on the A-frames, or other kinds of frames, or they can
be set in a somewhat zigzag manner on a cross-bar. This use of a
slope gives certain advantages, and characterizes some varieties of
apparatus closely related to that just noticed. In these, the pulling
of the downward pipe, by its gravitation or friction, causes its top
piece, which has an inclination to slide on the slope, to travel in a
diagonal direction along on the support and across the rows ; but work-:
ing in opposition thereto is a pull-line or cord having one end ona
winder near the hand of the pumper. Letting out the line allows the
pipe to travel farther along the slope, and winding it up draws the pipe
in the opposite direction. Thus any pipe at a distance can be easily
shifted and set at a point to suit by letting out or drawing the line. This
principle I have executed in three ways: In the first, the supply tube

TESTS OF MACHINERY FOR KILLING COTTON WORMS. AT

supports the hung-pipe and slides in eyes situated diagonally with re-
ference to the hung-pipe. In the second, the pipe-top is supplied by a
flexile piece of hose, and is supported by a long slide-rod on one or
two of its sides, and inserted through loose eyes placed diagonally from
the course of traction, as in the foregoing case. | In the third instance.
the top is similarly supplied by a hose, but is hung by a peculiar locked
hook, eye, or loop which glides loosely on a stiffly-set diagonal bar. The
simple wooden A-frame answers, and a series of small sloping metal bars
of gas-pipe were arranged on a wooden cross-bar. This device worked
well. Many kinds of winders would apply, but asimple plan is to wind
the small rope or cord around a pair of large eye-screws placed 3 inches. .
apart. The set line can be attached at any point along the sliding
parts. Behind the proximal end of the range, through which any
pipe-top is to be allowed to slide, the line may pass through a large
screw-eye and thence to an extension of the pipe-top above the axis on
which it is hung. Then the pipe may be drawn to this place, and by an
extra pull its top will be brought down to the eye and the lower parts
of the pipe will be tilted upward above the plants for turning, when this
feature is desired.

Concerning the use of kerosene upon cotton, the following should be
stated: About 10 gallons were applied, half undiluted and half in
emulsion variously diluted. The undiluted petroleum destroyed about
10 per cent. of the foilage sprayed by it. The undiluted milk-kerosene
emulsion ruined only about 2 per cent., and this diluted injures less and
less according to the attenuation, but all treated was injured to at least
a slight extent. The sprays were hardly satisfactory, as the tubing.
would not permit the high pressure necessary for a very fine mist, and
the indications are that with the finest spray the strong kerosene and its
slightly diluted preparations may possibly yet become used, in proper
hands with great caution, upon the crop, but additional experimental
tests are needed.

The apparatus taken, with the different machines constructed at Selma
and overcoming the objections herein set forth, have been shipped to the
Department. .

The leading conclusions from the experiments upon the special points
in my instructions may be extracted from the above and briefly sum-
marized as follows:

At Selma, I operated the machine taken from the Department and
tested the points in question, so far as circumstances permitted. The
distinctive feature of the machine, its stiff supporting pipes, unfitted it
for the work to be accomplished. As fields could not be found having
rows practically of the same regular width as the spaces at which the
downward pipes were held stiff by their supporting pipe, that permitted
no independent lateral adjustment of the tops of the hanging pipes with
reference to each other or to the rows having different or varying widths,
this vital impediment at the outset frustrated its use and the obtain-

“A8 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

ment of results dependent thereon. The tests showed that with a pipe-
system, without lateral adjustability at the top, very few rows, usually
not more than four, can be treated atonce. In this small form the whole
pipe system can occasionally be moved laterally by hand as the row
irregularities require it.

The forks were operated dragging upon the ground, and also set at
different heights. ‘he ratchet for vertical adjustment subserved this
purpose satisfactorily. Where it is desired to spray the base and interior
of the plants from beneath, the nozzle arms must necessarily be car-
ried near or on the ground, and with medium to small cotton this method
also sprays the tops sufficiently well, out if the growth be heavy and
dense it proves better to set the forks higher for more thoroughly poi-
soning the tops.

The stirrer pump worked admirably ; but a larger pump of the same
kind was necessary to treat a greater number of rows, to ascertain how
large a number it is possible or advisable to spray at atime. While the
large pump was being constructed and shipped the time limited by my
orders expired.

Four rows may be set as the number it is most practical to treat at a
time with the kind of machine in question.

The springs of the fork-arms should be larger and have a longer bend
than in the samples taken, since the unyielding attachment of the stem.
pipes to the stiff supporting pipe above throws on the springs much
greater strain than occurs in the machines having descending parts
hung to operate independently of each other.

Until my time had expired worms were not abundant enough to study
the effects on them of the coarser and finer sprays applied, but the
coarser spray Was more injurious to the foliage with poisons, and still
more so with petroleum.

The standard form of eddy-chamber nozzle was used with discharges
of different sizes. The smallest discharge holes, of 2; to ;, of an inch
diameter, with very high pressure, gave the most satisfactory results.

The “ actual cost, and the actual area covered by a given amount of
liquid,” vary greatly with the width between the rows, the sizes of the
sprays and of the plants, with the number of nozzles, with the amount
of pressure applied and the volume capacity of the pump, the velocity
at which the machine is drawn, ete. On account of the complexity of
the question, and especially because of leakage from imperfect pipe-
joints and for want of other and larger apparatus, the question could
not be solved with any exactness.

ON SOME OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COSSIDA, WITH FACTS IN
THE LIFE HISTORY OF COSSUS CENTERENSIS Lintner.

By JAMES 8. Barutey, A. M., M. D., Albany, N. Y.

Cossus centerensis (Plate 1) was discovered by Dr. Theodore P. Bailey
in1877. Formany years previous I had observed that many trees of the
Populus tremuloides had perished from some cause then unknown. The
ceutral shoots of other trees of the same species were dead, and it would
only require a few years to finish their destruction. Perforations were
found in the trunks of these trees, some of recent date and some over-
grown with bark, leaving the cicatrices plainly visible.

In July, 1876, a brittle pupa-case of the Cossus was found projecting
from one of the openings, which gave the first clue to the nature of the
borer and destroyer of the timber.

On the 10th of June, 1877, a fresh pupa-case was discovered, and on
the 14tk of the same month the first Cossus was captured, resting upon
the same tree trunk. Every season since this capture the Cossus has
been taken, but in some years in greater numbers than others.

The Cossus usually comes forth between the setting and rising of the
sun, and when the trees are visited daily the protruding pupa-cases left
behind by the escaped imagines informs the collector how many of the
nsects he may expect to find.

Their color similates so closely the color of the bark of the trees that
it requires good eyes and very close observation to find the moths.
One unaccustomed to collect them might view an infested tree for a
long time and not find a Cossus, when several would be discovered by
an expert. An uneven protuberance on the bark, or the short stump
left of a decayed broken limb are favorite resting places for the insect.

The moth at firstis rather sluggish, and can be easily captured. After
it has been abroad for some days it is wild and more or less muti-
lated. This Cossus is not attracted by sugar, as might be expected
from its aborted tongue.* The moth seems to belong to the genus Cos-
sus Fabr., and not to be congeneric with Xystus robinie. The head is
short, eves naked, labial palpi small, appressed, scaled. The thorax is
thickly sealed, the scales gathered into a ridge behind, and is squarer

* The writer is desirous of producing all the known facts in reference to this insect
in this paper; therefore the descriptive parts which have been published before are
reproduced,

(49)

4

Fyels

50 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

in front than in Vystus, not so elongate or so elevated dorsally. The
male antenne are bipectinate; the lamellze rather short and ciliate.
The female antenn are serrated. It is allied to the European Cossus
terebra F., but is a larger insect. It differs from C. querciperda Fitch
by the absence of any yellow on the male hind wing, and by its darker
color and closer reticulations.

In color this species is black and gray. The edges of the thorax and
collar are shaded with gray, more noticeable on some specimens than
others. The primaries are covered with black reticulations, which are
not always identical in their minor details in different specimens, nor
sometimes on both wingsin the same specimen. Beyond the cell there
is a transverse continuous line, broader than the rest, and outwardly
bent over median nervules. The brown color is blackish over nearly
two-thirds of the primaries from the base, and outwardly gray; hind
wings rounded in both sexes, with blackish hairs at base, pale and sub-
pellucid, with short gray fringe, before which there is a narrow black-
ish edging. The abdomen is blackish. The males are smaller than the
females. The smallest male expands about 40™™, the largest female
over 60™™ (see Plate I, Figs. 10,11, and 12). While thus far the Centre
(N. Y.) locality has proved to be the chief home of this Cossus, it will
undoubtedly be found elsewhere wherever the Populus tremuloides
is found. Several pupa-cases of this species have been found in the
corporate limits of Albany. Usually trees of less than 1 foot in diameter
are attacked, although in che instance a pupa-case was found in a tree
measuring 16 inches in diameter.

It is a very different matter to observe the changes of insect life from
the eggs to the imago when feeding upon the foliage of vegetation than
where the larvee have bored deep into a tree trunk and feed upon the
ligneous fiber and its circulating fluids. To obtain this information it
has been necessary several times each year to cut down trees bearing in-

dications of its ravages, and to dissect them into fragments the size of

kindling-wood. The mouths of October, April, and June were selected
as suitable times for such investigations. October 14 we visited a tree
for the purpose of obtaining caterpillars, and from a limb 4 feet in length
six caterpillars were taken, two of which were occupying cells as seen in
the engraving.

April 2 we cut from a tree a limb 3 feet in length, and in it we found
seventeen caterpillars of three distinct sizes, indicating a growth for each
year. The larger ones were not fully grown. All of them were actively
passing through their tunnels in the wet wood, through which the sap
was freely flowing. Not any of the caterpillars were occupying pupa-
cells at this time. June 12,1881, we again visited a tree when the insects
were emerging. The tree selected was far advanced in decay, from the
effects of the tunneling of the larvee; only about 4 feet of the trunk was
alive, with a few lateral branches in foliage, scarcely enough to support
its respiration. In the trunk were found fresh pupa-cases, pup, and

es

ON THE NORTH AMERICAN COSSID.E. 51

caterpillars. Again three crops of larvie were found; the larger ones
were inactive and lying in the sap-wood, with their heads close to the
bark which was gnawed nearly through to the outer surface. These
caterpillars had evidently taken their last position preparatory to their
final transformation into pup. Pup were also found occupying the
same position, and when the bark was removed were visible.

The larvataken October 14 from its burrows is 45™™ in length, of a pale
flesh color. It is a little broader anteriorly. The prothoracic segment
is blackish brown above, the dark color edged with a dirty orange shad-
ing. The head is mahogany brown, shining, slightly roughened. The
mandibles are black, with strong teeth. The surface of the head gives
rise here and there to single scattered hairs. The antenn are three-
jointed; the second joint gives rise to a single long hair. The seventh
eighth, ninth, and tenth abdominal segments are provided with false
feet. The segments are marked with a lateral row of brown dots above
the reddish stigmata, and there is a row of similar dots, two to a segment,
on each side of the dorsal line. These dots give rise to single pale hairs.
The larva moves with freedom either backward or forward. The bur
rows which it excavates are about 15™" in width and terminate in the
pupating cell, which is about 40™™ in length, smooth; the extremity
towards the opening is closed by a wad of finer and then coarser filings
of the wood. The coarser splinters are not detached entirely from the
wood, but are split up by the larve all around the top of the cell, and
project like bristles, appearing somewhatas those wooden toy trees which
are made for children, and which are formed by shaving down the wood
and leaving the shavings adhering by one end. These splinters make
a firm wad. Against them are piled a quantity of finer chips or thin
filings, which are loose but pressed together.

The cell (Plate 1, Fig. 7) isabout 40™™ from the outer bark of the tree,
and the chrysalis (Figs. 8 and 9) makes its way to the air through the
burrow, by means of its teeth on the segments and the spinose process
on the front, by which it forces itself, by stretching and contracting the
abdomen, through the wood scrapings which close the cell, until if comes
to the end. We have noticed a fine thread of silk proceeding from the
spinneret of the larva, although in the cocoon we have found no silk
whatever. The cocoon or pupa-cell seems to have been formed by wedg-
ing first coarser and then finer strips of the wood together, and seems
to be merely a more carefully and smoothly finished enlargement of the
original burrow.

A specimen of the pupa which I have examined is about 30™™ in length,
narrow, brownish black, shining rugose. The clypeus presents a strong,
broad, spinous process, supported at base by lateral projections. On
the under side it descends into a wide suleation terminating in a broad
projection. The capital appendages are visible, and here and there arise
isolated hairs as in the. previous stage. The abdominal segments are.
provided with teeth over the dorsum, decreasing in size to the stigmatal

52 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

line. The anal segment is provided with two unequal-sized terminal
teeth on each side of the vent. (Plate I, Figs. 8 and 9.)

The chrysalides vary much in size, and some of them are infested with
an ichneumon fly, which preys on the caterpillar. A pupa was observed
endeavoring to make its way to the surface of the bark, but seemingly
unable to extricate itself, when assistance was rendered by enlarging
the orifice. It was laid in a paper box for hatching. A few days after-
wards many minute ichneumons were observed resting upon the wal]
near the box. On examination they were found to be escaping through
minute holes in the pupa, which would barely admit a No. 3 entomolog-
jcal pin. Fifteen of these perforations were counted in this pupa. I
presume that the larva of the Cossus is pursued in its burrows by the
parent parasite. If so it is curious that the Cossus pupa is not killed
by the parasites until it has worked itself up to the mouth of the tun.
nel, thus allowing the ichneumon flies to escape outside.

When ready to emerge, the pupa, by means of stout cusps on its ab-
dominal segments, works itself to the end of the opening, and with its
pointed head-case the thin portion of bark which has been left by the
eaterpillar’s instinct is severed and removed. It pushes itself through
the opening as far as the base of the abdomen, by a sort of rotary mo-
tion, which acts in its mode of cutting like a carpenter’s center-bit. The
thoracic end of the pupa after exposure a short time to the air becomes
dry and splits, and the moth escapes, climbing up the bark of the tree,
shaking out its wings, until developed. After the moth has escaped the
empty pupa-case may still be seen protruding from the entrance of the
tunnel. It is not true that Cossus centerensis prefers dead wood to bur-
row in. It isa fact that it is most frequently found in partially decayed
trees, for after the larvie obtain a lodgment by its perforations in di-
verse directions through the heart and alburnum, admitting air and
water, it causes irreparable decay. There are three species of poplar
found in the vicinity of Centre,* viz, grandidentata, dilatola, and tremu-
loides, but as yet C. centerensis has only been found in the Populus
tremuloides.

It is stated by Harris that C. ligniperda deposits her eggs on the bark
near the root of the tree, which I believe is the habit of most of the
borers. It would seem from the following that it is not the invariable
mode. In splitting open a tree trunk on June 12 a Cossus was observed
to fly from the cleft, which on being captured proved to be a female.
It was supposed she had taken possession of a tunnel for the purpose
o depositing her eggs. The loose débris from the excavations was
gathered together, an examination of which revealed Cossus eggs,
(Plate I, Figs land 2.) The female was confined in a box; the next
morning she had deposited fifty-two eggs; some of them were attached
to the sides and others on the bottom of the box. Some of the eggs

*Now called Karner.

ON THE NORTH AMERICAN COSSIDA. 53

were deposited singly and some in confused heaps, and were attached
to each other and to the box with a viscid substance.

Another female was captured June 20, and in forty-eight hours after.
being pinned she had deposited sixty eggs, which varied somewhat in
color from the former.

The Cossus after being pinned is very restive, especially while de-
positing her ova and by the constant motion of the oviposter in endeav-
oring to extrude the ova. The looxe abdominal seales are removed and
attached to the eggs by the moist viscid fluid with which they are cov-
ered, and which often gives them the appearance of being clothed with
scales. A few of the ova collected this season have this appearance,
but a strong Jens exposes the true condition. C. centerensis is not so
prolitic as some of the other species of Cosside. C. robinie Peck and
C. querciperda Fitch have been known to extrude upwards of three
hundred ova. In European species over one thousand ova have been
found on dissection. The ruin of whole forests of timber in which these
insects revel is doubtless prevented by the destruction of the eggs by
ants and birds, the size of the eggs being sufficient to form a tempting
morsel. In a state of nature the female Cossus deposits a small num-
ber of her ova upon each tree which she visits until her supply is ex-
hausted.

This season the enlarged perforations through the bark show unmis-
takable evidence that the trees had been recently visited by wood-
peckers, which could find little difficulty in procuring an abundance of
full-grown larve.

C. centerensis is found throughout the region known as the pine bar-
rens, which cover an area of perhaps 12 square miles between Albany
and Schenectady. The soil of this region seems especially well adapted
to the growth of the timber which it supports.

At the present time no correct observations have been made in ref-
erence to the molts of the caterpillars, but information on this subject
will soon be obtained from Mr. A. H. Mundt, of Illinois, who has had
opportunities of observing, up to the fourth molt, the caterpillars of
C. robinie, which are found in the willows and poplars in his vicinity.

Cossus centerensis appears every year, and from observations and from
numerous examinations of the trees by actual sections during the three
months of the year enumerated, I am convinced that the caterpillars
are not fully matured until the end of the third year, when they arrive
at their perfect or winged state. The pupa state is comparatively
short, lasting less than a month before the moth appears. From figures
3, 4, and 5 of Plate I we see representations of caterpillars found Octo-
ber 14, which establish the fact beyond dispute, through observations
extending over many years, that it requires three full years for the cat-
erpillar to arrive at maturity.

54 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
COSSUS ANGREZI Bailey.
(Plate II, Fig. 6.)

We repeat the original description of this species, given in Papilio for
June, 1882 (Vol. II, No. 6, p. 93):

COSSUS ANGREZI. n.s.?. Head somewhat narrow on the vertex. Collar and head
yellowish gray, thorax black; the edges of the tegulw shaded with yellowish gray.
Fore wings with a nearly white ground, shaded with black, and with black reticula-
tions. Hind wings yellowish gray, mottled with blackish outwardly. The fore wings
have the costal edge pale, marked with black; the black shading obtains on costa at
apieal third, and over the whole wing at terminal third, extending obliquely down-
wards and inwards; there are a series of interspacial longitudinal black streaks be-
fore the margin, more or less defined. Fringes whitish, dotted with black opposite
the ends of the veins, which latter conversely are whitish. Thorax shaded with yel-
lowish gray behind. Abdomen dark gray. Beneath the wings repeat the markings
very distinctly, owing to the strong contrast of the pale ground color with the black
markings. Expanse, 82™". 1 9. Wells, Elko Co., Nevada. From the late Mrs.
Caroline Chase. Type, coll. James 8. Bailey.

This I believe is a true Cossus, although the ¢ is not known to me.
The shape of the wing is as in centerensis. The structure is that of
Cossus, and not of Prionoxystus. The thorax is subquadrate, the vest-
iture short and thick. The interspacial black dashes along the prima-
ries subterminally distinguish it specifically. The pre-apical transverse
black streak or line resembles that of C. centerensis. The hind wings
are faintly reticulated. The ground color is a yellowish white. The
biack blotches on fore wings of robinia are here wanting, while there is
a diffuse discal shade blotch, another above and beyond it on costa, and
the wing shows a wide, soft, blackish shading, obliquely edged inwardly
aud covering the outer portions of the wing. Except the antennae my
tvpe is perfect. Beneath it is strongly marked, and reminds one of
C. vebinie Peck, but the shape of the wing is not like that species.
The thorax is black above, not gray with black stripe on tegule, and
the collar is discolorous, pale yellowish gray. This species ought to be
recognizable. The shape of the thorax is like Cossus, as is the vestiture,
so that I am not prepared to find that the male has the peculiarities of
C. robinie and querciperda Fitch. I hope Western collectors will solve
the question. But I cannot regard angrezi as having anything to do
with the question of a Western representative of robinie. From Her-
rich Schaefer’s figure, and what has been published, I believe that robi-
nie is found across the continent.

PRIONOXYSTUS ROBINLA Peck.

I have a female with extended ovipositor. We have probably only
one species, reaching from California to the East, and this is phytophagie,
feeding on the oak, willow, as well as the locust and other trees. No
difference by which these forms can be separated is appreciable. The
female is redescribed as crepara by Dr. Harris. The insect was common
in 1882 in different localities in New York State.

ON THE NORTH AMERICAN COSSIDZ. 55

STRUCTURE.—The female antenne are pectinate. The terminal seg-
ment of the abdomen narrows and becomes elongated and cylindrical
towards its extremity. The male secondaries are half the size of the
female’s and obliquely and sqarely cut off along external margin, being
also discolorous and of a bright yellow. The thorax is long and
narrowed, elevated in front of the fore wings. The head is longer

-and more projected compared with Cossus, the prothorax narrowing
anteriorly, neck-like. The labial palpi are longer and more distinct.
The fore wing is more produced apically, longer and narrower ; the outer
edge less full and more oblique. The vestiture is sparse, thin, flatly
laid on in body and wings. The hard chitinous tegument is less
hidden, and the whole insect has a certain coleopterous aspect, remind-
ing us of the wood-boring Cerambycida, such as Prionus, quite strongly.
The aspect is not moth-like, but hard and chitinous. Just as there isa
certain resemblance between different species feeding on a particular
plant, as the pine-feeders, so do all borers have some points in common.
The generic characteristics all hold good with the second species of this
genus,

PRIONOXYSTUS QUERCIPERDA Fitch.
(Plate II, Fig. 4.)

This species is smaller than robinia, the 2? expanding 46 or 47™™, the ¢
about 10™™ less. The male hind wings seem translucent, but on hold-
ing them obliquely in certain lights the yellow tint may be seen plainly.
This smaller and rarer species occurs also in Texas. It is freer from
reticulations and more transparent than any other form.

We have representatives of four genera of Cosside in the United
States, viz., Hypopta, Cossus, Prionoxystus,and Cossula. As tothe species
described under Cossus, several are incompletely described, and none
are now so well known as C. centerensis, which has been studied by my
son, Dr. Theodore P. Bailey, and myself.

COSSULA MAGNIFICA Bailey.
(Plate II, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)

[This species was described by Dr. Bailey in Papilio for July, 1882
(Vol. II, No. 6, p. 94), with notes upon its habits. ‘The larva bores into
live-oak (Quercus virens) in Florida. No new matter was prepared on
this species at the time of his death, and we do not consider it necessary
to repeat the original description.—C. V. R. |

REPORT ON THE EXAMINATION OF RAW SILKS.
By
WILLIAM MCMURTRIE, E. M., PH. D.
Professor of Chemise in Illinois Industrial University.

CHAMPAIGN, ILL., February 8, 1883.
Sir: I have just completed the examination of the samples of silk
you offered for measurements of fineness and tensile strength of the
fibre, and I take pleasure in submitting herewith the results we have
been able to obtain, together with a brief description of the methods
employed in the examination, and some considerations of the relations.

exhibited in the results.
Very respectfully,
Wa. McMURTRIE.

Prof, C. V. RiLeEy,
U. S. Entomologist.

REPORT.

Description of the material.—The material furnished for the examina-
tion about to be described consists cf eight samples of cocoons of vari-
ous races of silkworms, grown in thiscountry in different localities, with
different kinds of food. Each sample was inclesed in a box bearing an
inscription by which the sample was distinguished, and the latter is to
be found in Table Lat the bottom of the column, giving the results of the
measurements of the fineness of the respective samples. No measure-
ments were made to determine the size of the cocoons or the weight of
the silk they are capable of yielding, for the latter would involve the
use of appliances not at our disposition. But it may be said that they
were of good size, perfectly firm and uniform, clean and of good color ;
in fact, from all appearances, evidently of excellent quality. This con-
stitutes all the information we have concerning the history of the co-
coons.

Object of the ecamination.—The examination, as requested, was more to
determine the quality of silk grown in the United States as compared
with that obtained in European culture. For the purposes of the com-
parison we must refer to the published works giving the fineness and
strength of the European raw silks, since we have had no material with
which to determine the necessary data. From the appearance of the
cocoons, however, there can be little doubt that the comparison will
prove favorable to the American product.

(56)

i"

ne ead

ee Se | oe ©

THE MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF SILK FIBRES. Oe

Preparation of the material for ecamination.—As has already been in.
timated, we were provided with no special apparatus for reeling the silk
from the cocoons, and specimens for the measurement of the fineness
and one set for determination of the tensile strength were obtained by
simply cutting open the cocoons, separating the layers by pulling them
apart, and taking portions of fibre at random from each part. No at-
tempt was made to determine in this examination differences in the
quality of the fibre dependent upon the location of the part in the strati-
fication of the cocoon, and hence the period of the spinning operation at
which it was formed, both because the time at our disposal for making
the examination had been limited and because this did not constitute
a principal object in the examination desired. There is no doubt, how-
ever, that an investigation with this regard would furnish results of
great interest and value.

The fibres separated in this way were designated as “ dry ;” that is, no
moisture was employed in their separation. It is well known that the
strength of the cocoon depends upon the glutinous character of the fibre
on the instant of its issue from the spinnerets of the insect, and that the
glutinous matter covering the fibre and forming a portion of its constit-
uent structure readily softens in warm water. And it is further well
known that this principle is applied practically in the industrial pro-
cesses of silk reeling. To determine what influence this may have upon
the fibre, we submitted a series of the cocoons to the action of warm
water, and when they were sufficiently softened secured the end of the
fibre and wound it upon slips of card-board, thus applying in a crude
way the process of reeling. The fibre so obtained has therefore been
designated as “‘ wet.” The influence of the treatment to which the fibre
is subject in this process of separating it will be discussed later on, and
is manifest in the results given in Table II.

Measurements of fineness.—If the fibre of raw silk be examined with a
microscope of sufficiently high power, it appears to consist of a more
or less flattened strip, somewhat depressed through the middle, so that
its cross-section may be likened to the longitudinal section of a dumb-
bell (co), as shown in the figure. Thisis explained by the fact that the
fibre in the glutinous condition is discharged by the worm in spinning,
from the spinnerets located on the under side of the head, near the man-
dibles. As they pass out and are stretched by the worm in its to-and-
fro motions in spinning, the two fibres are cemented together more or
less firmly according to the rapidity of spinning.

Sometimes these primary fibres, as they may be termed, are separate
and free from each other, and each is an almost perfect elongated cylin-
der. But in most cases they are firmly joined, and the two form a
compact whole, constituting the raw fibre of the cocoon. It is plain,
therefore, that this raw fibre is not cylindrical but ribbon-shaped, and
that it has two lateral axes of different lengths, so that on some accounts

» a single measurement of a fibre does not represent its fineness, while at

58 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

the same time there is danger that in taking the measurements with the
microscope the longer axis of the fibre may be taken in some cases, while
in others the shorter axis may be inadvertently chosen. Sov also it
may to some appear extremely desirable that in order to fairly deter-
mine the fineness of the fibre both axes should be measured, and there
is much of reason in this opinion. On the other hand, if we bear in mind
that the breadth of the ribbon will depend upon the diameter of the in-
dividual fibres constituting the raw fibre, it will be seen that the breadth
of the fibre, or its longer. lateral axis, may be accepted as a fair repre-
sentation of the degree of fineness of this condition of the staple.

The method of taking the measurements of fineness is therefore as fol-
lows: The cocoon is cut open and separated into the different layers of
which it is made up. A small tuft of fibres is then cut from each, taken
at random. ‘These are then cut to suitable length and mounted upon the
glass object slide for microscope, immersed in Canada balsam, and covered
with a thin glass circle. When the cover is in place the slide is gently
warmed and laid aside for the balsam todry and harden. When ready
for the purpose each slide is placed upon the stage of the microscope,
the fibres successively brought into focus, and the width of the image at
its widest part measured by means of an eye-piece micrometer, which
has been standardized by means of a stage micrometer graduated to centi-
millimeters. The relative measurement taken in this way is reduced to
the absolute standard and the result entered in the record. The object
of taking the width of the image at its widest part is to obviate the
danger of measuring the image of the fibre turned more or less with
its edge toward the eye, a difficulty that would materially vitiate the
result. .

In experiments made in this connection, as well as in the measure-
ments of wools and cottons ina similar way, it has been found both ad-
visable and necessary, in order to arrive at satisfactory conclusions con-
cerning the property under consideration, to make measurements of at
least thirty fibres in each sample. For purposes of comparison every
measurement is entered upon the record, which is given in the following
table:

THE MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF SILK FIBRES. 59

TABLE I.—Measurements of the fineness of raw silk.

Catalogue number of sam-
ples.

II.

8 Gf

Actual measurements in

if
|
|
centimillimeters. ;
|
|
|
|

BS SE 9 89 KS NO 92 90 2 DD GO BD LD 0 GO NS 89 LD LD G9 LY G9 LD G9 19 9 LY OD BO NY GO ND Ge BY GO ND GE OO TU LO BO OO GOD GP EE LD BD
< U 2 oh a vor

DONWON N19 WINTON WN LOW LOR 819
ze ;
i=)

io)
=
o

PWN I WU WN WWM N NWN WN WINN wh
Dee
A

or oc

THO ADD IOI TH HI
ONTOS Ors orks Or

WNW WN WI BN CWI ME NNN WNW NN WNW NWN NNN NINN HO UNWIN WI IIS IIS wo
H
bo
oO

( 00 75
AVONRSoOeese a= = sooo eons 2. 878 2. 748
nD + rime n 7 TES : n =
d © 2 cy) zg
= ea? |, E Si eles
= eagle na | = ee ea | a | Sa as
| ta. a3 ES a ag 5s m aa BS
etek Dea 3a ae 4B =a =a Gn AZ
dene 6.8 she 2 A Ae 68
~ oO 22 ° Pom?) Sq S +o Aue! S
| aP Os aq ae Ong aa av on ea
| 8 4 | as | 3 ey |neetncy [iene Su | ae
| o ° =) ) e° °
A a 9 A a q A a Ee
| oR Hw 4 a 4 A Re na} 4
- ali roe | - | Beate tat
Reeapitulation :
Hivrhest=-2..22ssces. | 3.875 4, 625 | 1. 8208 ein | 3.50 | 13779 738
Mowegt--+--ss<<.s-0---|) 2.00 2.25 | 0.0858 qiss | 2.125 | 0.8366 riss
Average. :---2------2.. | 3.015 2. 878 | 1.1330 ziz | 2.748 | 1.0818 pot

Number of measurements |
above average....--....

19

30

a

Number of measurements |
below average......-.-..

31

20

| Yellow Japanese; mul-

Yellow Japanese; Os-
age orange.

Riley’s yellow Japa-

nese; Osage orange ;
11 years.

60

\

BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

TABLE I.—Measurements of the fineness of raw silk—Continued.

|
|
|

Catalogue number of sam-_ nate aVis We
ples. | : Yellow. White
| |
2.375 125 2.00

NINN NNNT
o ~l oO
So o S

RIESE NNWNUNNNNNNNN
oo ns ce
A543
on uo

(
2
| 3
2.
2
| 2
| 2.
2.
2. 3.
|| 2. 2,
2 2.
| 2, 3)
| Ps Zs
| eh 2. 37%
2.375 75 2.00
| 2. 75 2. 50 2. 50
| 3.00 2.50 2. 00
2. 875 2. 00 2. 50
| 2.79 2.79 2. 50
| 2.25 96! 2,25
2.75 2. 875 2. 50
{| 2.75 2.50 | 2.125
| 2.50 2. 375 | 3. 00
2.75 2. 50 | 3. 25
Actual measurements in | | 2. 25 2. 25, | 2. 375
centimillimeters. —) | 2.125 2. 50 | 2.75
| 2.625 2. 50 2.50
| | 2.75 2.375 3. 00
| 2. 875 2. 50 | 2. 25
2. 625 2.75 2. 50
2. 50 2. 50 2. 50
| 2.75 3.25 2,125
2. 625 3. 00 2.125
2.75 1. 875 | 1. 875
| | 2. 50 a5, | 2.75
2.375 2.75 2.25
| | 2. 50 2. 375 | Paty
2. 50 2.75 2.75
2.25 2. 625 2.315
| 3.25 2. 375 2.25
| 2. 625 2. 50 2. 50
2. 00 Ca) 3. 25
2.50 2535 2.78 :
| 2.125 3. 00 3. 125 5
2. 625 2. 19 3. 00 ¥
| 2, 50 2, 625 | 2,25 q
| 2.75 2. 50 2, 25
2.375 2. 00 2.75 b
2.50 2. 25 3. 00 t
U| 2.375 2. 875 2. 50 ‘
PAW ETAL Clee tee) emer atee oats 2. 513 2.465 2. 528 ;
]
D Se : n al } D SH :
oye ee lbgeeteesial i B75 tie
me | Ba. Wa lee. ee | aot ceeuinbee ,
5 [ale ao Ts = Lea = 5
a | 22 | #2) Be | $2 | 22 | Be | G2 | Se
o = (| O:n 3D eA Spal oO Ba out
AS 1) ER Wet ote age | cee eto] ig a eee
S38 [ol eaitee: || c.) | onal eee
A A a q | A A aA A
| a a al = iH A il
Recapitulation : | |
Hiohestosess ss ees 4-8 | 192795'| | © otae| 3821 Mele Tad 7k, | 3:25. | 1.2785 | ie
Toweste sce sees e284 0/7874 | sae5 | 1.75 | 0.6889] >| 1.875 | 0.7380 ea
Average saaodessodsogs | 0. 9893 T0io 2.465 0. 9704 To0s0 | 2.528 | 0. 9952 | woz
Number of measurements
above average...--...-- 21 30 17
Number of measurements
below average........... 29 20 33
Riley’s white Japa- | wasnach’s black Thi- | Fasnach’s black Thi-

nese ; Osage orange; | het bet.
11 years. | 4 | ,

MEASUREMENTS OF THE FINENESS OF RAW SILK.

TABLE I.—WMeasurements of the fineness of raw silk—Continued.

Catalogue number of sam-
ples.

VI.

Ae

61

Vill.

Actual measurements in

=

99 $9 69 G9 G9 SOND GODS GO PONS LOND OS BS CE BOD G8 GE LD 8 Fo ND ND 1D So NO GO NO NOI 9 POND TOPS G9 G9 GN GO I
go 99 99.99 99 908 bo gees
or

£9 8 G9 NO OF G9 NO BE 99 90 RO NORD 90 RO 29 IN RD BO 99 BO OE 9 OE LO 99 92 99 99 DONS G9 G9 G9 DODD ID G9 G9 9 89 G9 LO LD 2.9 GO LY OD
C to A 5
or

bo
=
on

00

WWNMONN WON NN NW NN YWNNWNNNNNNNNWNNNWNN NNN NNN NWNNNUNNWNNNN!
)
uo

centimillimeters. 00 25 50
625 00 | 50
75 00 | 75
50 875 375
875 00 50
| 25 75 50
| 875 875 00
| 50 75 00
| 50 25 25
875 20 00
| 25 50 25
75 125 25
| 50 75 | 25
| 875 25 | 75
25 75 | 50
| 50 50 | 25
| 00 25 625
| | 50 00 75
| 00 75 00
I 3. 00 00 25
2. 50 50 | 375
3.00 75 | 00
| 2. 50 125 | 50
|| 2. 50 25 25
l 2.75 375 25
ee ps eee) A See eA
ANVOIAGE se a= Siecmecscces 2. 86 3. 088 | 2. 485
| L Se ey 2 s | © Z levis
[eS Sy a eI Coe ee Sra Gecem la
= | ae is Se is eee cia ee a: a
Pee esas ibe es (Weta aes) bee Bir Biae hig
A | a a A A A eg: a
a = | | | mn _ et e | = -
_ pees See Ps z i: |e.
|
Recapitulation : | |
HUpHOa(ee soa. soe: 3.50 | 1.3779 See ade oh 16732 siz | 2.50 | 1.3779 ake
TRO West saeeee ck eee ZOO NONTS TAs | tbersteey |) S28O5i ae OrS858" I) see Hl) 2s 00)" | ON 7874 rae
AN OLALO fica easeehlee 2. 86 | 1.125 gia | 3.038 | 1.1960 sas | 2-485 | 0.9783 TOIT
ae | mela’ f
Number of measurements | 5;
above average........... 27 20 29
Number of measurements
below average........... 23 30 21
Cronies! Crozier’s, Croziers,

French, from Cevennes.

French Black.
Worms white.

French Black.
Worms dark.

62 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

The table will for the most part explain itself. The records of actual
measurements are stated in centimillimeters, and at the foot of each col-
umn of these is given the average of the thirty measurements represented
in each one respectively.

In the recapitulation we give reductions of these averages to thou-
sandths of an inch, and to fractions of an inch expressed in the vulgar
fraction, in order that the figures may be more easily comprehended by
all to whom they may be presented. In the same section we have given,
similarly reduced, the highest and lowest measurements taken on each
sample, while in down lines will be found a series of figures showing
the number of measurements found above and below the average re-
spectively. These serve to show at a glance the range of the measure-
ment, and therefore express the degree of evenness and regularity found
throughout the length of the fibre of each sample. They will therefore
serve, to some extent, as an indication of the comparative value of the
several samples.

At the extreme bottom of each column is given a copy of the inscrip-
tion found on the box ineclosing the sample represented. For the better
comparison of the several samples we may submit the following con-
densed table giving the averages of the measurements stated in centi-
millimetres and thousandths of an inch:

| or on.

| BE Bos

| 28 | ge

}28 | fae

Number of samples. peer ee

| Wao | Doe

See | See

PSS) 8 ¢-

qa | qh
1 pe oAsoSGOR SON SED DOGHOOS FODG Goose naa DSBboc obeor to AdbooSEanooserolesom@ep Sede coon. monsusc 3.015 | 1.1870
Meno Se Hsbsoe ccawseboone obooo SeeacaceE Sooo UUnnDaconounc sabSnSseocesemcctodasesedondans 2.878 | 1.1330
1000. opopeas secon Spee dnoped pe cordosc> cbboos mbodn OSE oc onoe obo sesaneacocuos scene sceEsgs 2.748 | 1.0818
IO soo see sqooEDdobonebs Gos enoars obpecobdnanonsoocb GagbesbenooSEpUUCCaDbooonesasDEeoooo | 2.513 0. 9893
WES GiGi ose: GopmboeadS0o cesso5 Gobneas Sduo sono ducacusce sconcoshoconseccedep ses. 2. 465 | 0. 9724
WSIS Sas re pboooncecne cobeesocbnade cuoobs aSscube nhc Sempron esasorosnecdenas sooaoce | 2.528 | 0.9952
Wala Roan 5 - seeooeSoonepeeccséisese> BSsSrciandseocasp nos Sooee socesocodanciben ada essesanncade 2. 86 1. 1259
Wal 0 be aas tosencese ano cdgonneoc ods SoseSb a oshoso pene op cub bHposoroueTsposnncooo sans dood 3.0388 | 1.1960
WADE Gees bedoonoacosboeTo0os = on0uD San doc OO GbCE SULU soo dosObEcasoadaSdeneesddeb 70000: 2.485 | 0. 9783.

The differences here shown appear to be sufficiently wide to illustrate
any differences in the condition of feeding and management to which
the worms may have been subject during their development, but the
data we have will not warrant our entering into any discussion of these
interesting relations. There can be no doubt, however, that the com-
plete history of the worms will furnish material for exceedingly inter-
esting and valuable comparisons in this particular.

Measurements of strength and stretch.—The determinations of the tensile
strength of the fibres were effected by the aid of a dynamometer spe-
cially constructed for use in the examination of wools and cottons,
and described in “A Preliminary Report on the Examination of Cotton”
submitted to the Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture in 1882. This

TESTS OF THE STRENGTH .OF SILK FIBRES. 63

instrument is so constructed that the strain to which the fibre is sub-
jected to break it, and the stretch it sustains previous to rupture, are
simultaneously taken and recorded, and we have, therefore, to present
in this connection two sets of results.

In making these tests the following method was employed: In the
first place the cocoons were cut open and their layers separated, or they
were submitted to the action of hot water and the fibres wound off upon
pieces of card-board, each process furnishing the “dry” and ‘ wet”
specimens respectively described in a preceding paragraph. From the
loose fibre thus obtained sections of suitable length were taken at ran-
dom for the individual tests, the ‘‘wet” specimens having been previ-
ously thoroughly dried. The two clamps holding the fibres in the in-
strument during the tests were carefully set at a distance of 20 milli-
ineters apart, so that this distance represents the length of the fibre
submitted to the strain. Experiments with woolen fibres showed this
distance to give the most uniform and satisfactory results, and is, there-
fore, accepted as a standard for all our work. Although no special ex-
periments were made with this regard on the silk examined, there is
little doubt that it would be found equally satisfactory.

In this part of the examination as in the measurements of fineness,
we have adopted 30 as the best number of fibres to be tested to secure a
satisfactory average, and as before, each separate result obtained was
entered upon the record to be employed in any comparisons that it may
appear to be desirable to name. For their more ready comparison the
results obtained with the “dry” and ‘ wet” specimens, respectively, are
placed side by side. The following table contains the results we have
obtained:

BULLETIN NO. 3, .DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

64

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65

STRENGTH OF SILK FIBRES.

OF THE

TESTS

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‘pennymoO—MTIS MV tO ALONAALS

40 LNAKGLOSVAN— IL MVE

BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

66

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‘penayu09—YWTIS MVU JO HLDNAULS AO LNANAYOSVAN IT AIAN

67

STRENGTH OF SILK FIBRES.

TESTS OF THE

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NYWAYOSVAN Il Wav

LO

68

‘pentyWOO—WTS MVU AO HLONAALS

TESTS OF THE STRENGTH OF SILK FIBRES. 69

Here, as before, we have given the actual measurements taken, the
strains being stated in grams and the stretch in millimeters and per
cents. In the recapitulation we have prepared a statement showing
the averages of all the measurements taken with each sample respect-
ively, as well as the highest and lowest results obtained in each, the
strain in each case being reduced to grains and the stretch to per cents
ot the length. This will make the figures more intelligible to all who
may be interested in them, and will render a comparison much more easy.
In the lower lines we find a statement showing the number of measure-
ments found above or below the average, as the case may be, for each
sampie.

In explaining the method of measuring the fineness reference has
been made to the peculiar structure of the fibre, resulting from the
mode of itsproduction. This structure was decidedly marked in “ dry ”
No. V. Here very many of the fibres were split either before the test
or became split by the strain or at the instant of rupture. We find
upon comparison of the results obtained in the tests of the split fibres
in tests of whole fibres from the same cocoons that the latter are very
considerably stronger than the former, though as regards the percent-
age of stretch there appears to be no very material difference between
the two. And another peculiarity in the reiations of the two is that the
strength of the whole fibre appears from the averages to be about double
that of the split fibres. Let us bring these averages together for more
ready comparison. It will suffice to express the strain as grams:

| |
Split, | Whole,
grams. | grams.

Wa OS VREMeLLON)) err atheist occas enc «sine “cc mete etaea'a sa bot au abide ciemewioimane wate 4, 28 | 3. 32
W(GHAT VAIS) 3S So LOSES BS ee ie me Mai ae RO ee a ee RR 8 ee S| 1th 3. 85 | 6, 29

On the other hand it may be mentioned that the uniformity in the
strength of the fibres as regards the strain they are able to bear pre-
vious to rupture, as represented in the number of measurements found
above and below the averages respectively, appears to be greater in the
split fibres. The most important difference appears therefore to be in
the strain representing the strength of the fibre, showing the 1mpor-
tance of the more complete cementation of the fibres together as they
issue from the spinnerets of the worms ; and we may also learn from this
something of the importance of maintaining the healthy and vigorous
condition of the worms during their development, and more especially
during the period when they are spinning their cocoons. The vigor
and activity of the insects at the time may be very materially stimu-
lated by careful regulation of the temperature, ventilation, and light,
and not only the value of the fibre with this regard, but the condition
and appearance of the cocoon, upon which its market value largely
depends, may be modified by these relations. In this rather critical

70 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

period of the insect’s existence, when from the circumstances the extreme
care maintained throughout its development is likely to be relaxed, the
silk-grower should be particularly watchful and observe the greatest
care in keeping up the most favored conditions for the changes the
young insect is about to undergo during the period here referred to.

These considerations will also serve to attract attention to the im-
portant influence of the methods employed industrially in reeling the
silk from the cocoon upon the value of the staple. We have seen that
when the separate fibres issuing from the spinnerets of the worm are
fairly cemented together they are stronger than when they are not thus
combined. And if we look over the Table II, given above, we shall find
that when the cocoons have been wet, or have been soaked in hot water
in order to separate the fibre, the latter as a general rule is stronger
than when it has been separated dry. In the process of reeling the
fibre becomes thoroughly soaked and saturated with water, so that the
glutinous character becomes perfectly developed. As a result the
primary fibres are more completely cemented together, while the ulti-
mate fibres bronght into contact passing to the reel are combined so
perfectly thata maximum of strength must be secured. The influences
of moisture upon the strength of the fibres will be noted upon compar-
ison of the averages givenin Table II. For convenience in making this
comparison we have collected the necessary figures in the following
table:

Average strain required
for rupture.
No. of samples.

Dry reeling. Wet reeling. |

Bbc RS SoCs PRES eT Rt REE DT Se et ea IR 06s Par rng pe ey OS A 2g 8. 36 11. 43
dhs Shs a ae a mere nme eRe cee, We, Ve SOON Epa ct bela ie 8. 25 12. 39 |
EMT © Seo tease ciate cre cetta eel Site sie sc a: Nomentet ee ease (a Moe cin ere Mona aerate cts ea San 5. 78 9. 36
EAE SSA ee ee ae ORS | Se Eek RT RO RI Let mere Se ne OCF 7.68 9.33 |}
Vi (yellow) Se oie. sxars:are) Mepeiae wise aye esto He cl meee Enis mee ences rete Sate os Gast eter 8. 32 ie 80 |
wa pth ale alata reo talshel ow Meroe ee te les ofe eats eet aie cre olanar oe ee oa aetna renitean ed - rv ee ot |
Be Ee Ee RS CRI aaa ae NRE eer o> tiie SO Aue a ee rk ee Dal .18 }
G0 6 Es ieee ne ere est ie era ken OR oe Cua el a oer Rae yn ae 9. 56 11. 05 }
AVALOS oes SoM a, orate areas AEB cle es obs eee on ite Ot SAS See eine oe eee 8. 59 6. 97 |

We find here that, as a general rule, the higher results are in favor
of the fibres that were reeled wet. The exceptions found are in sam-
ples V (yellow), VI, and VIII, and these may doubtless be explained by
facts in the history of which we are not in possession,

In the table of results obtained with the dynamometer we have, as
in the preceding relating to fineness, given in the recapitulation the
highest and lowest as well as the average of the measurements taken.
Below these may be found statements showing the number of measure-
ments found above and below the average respectively. These figures
serve to show the uniformity of the fibres with regard to the qualities
represented, The extension of the fibre under the strain necesssary to

a aa

TESTS OF THE STRENGTH OF SILK FIBRES. (ia

rupture is expressed in millimeters in a length of twenty millimeters of
fibre, as well as in per cents. No special experiments were made to
determine the limits of elasticity, and though the stretch will vary
somewhat with the length of fibre held between the clamps of the in-
strument, limiting thus the character of the results, yet for the purpose
of comparison the figures we have given will prove amply sufficient,
and they will clearly show the differences in the quality and value of
the samples submitted to examination.

Other qualities of the fibre and the cocoons have suggested them-
Selves for investigation in the course of this work, but their examina-
tion has been precluded by the limited time at our disposal for the
present study of this staple. We, therefore, submit these results in the
hope that they may serve the ends desired.

EXPLANATION TO*BRLATES:.

PAA T EP I:
COSSUS CENTERENSIS.

. Group of eggs as deposited, natural size.

. Egg magnitied 9 diameters.

. Caterpillar from time of emerging to October 14—four months’ growth
. Caterpillar of one year and four months’ growth.

. Caterpillar of two years and four months’ growth.
Mature caterpillar, three years old; ready to pupate.
. Pupal cell.

. Male pupa.

. Female pupa.

. Male Cossus, unspread.

. Female Cossus,

. Female Cossns, showing ovipositor.

ODWANPEwWWHe

Hee
on >=

IPIAINAP ID) ILI.
COSSULA MAGNIFICA.

1. Pupa case of Cossula magnifica.
2. Cossula magnifica. Male.

3. Cossula magnifica. Female.

4. Cossus querciperda. Male.

5. Cossus querciperda. Female.

6. Cossus angrezi. Female.

PayACh Ee ite
SILK FIBRES.

1. Fibre of white Cevennes race.
2. Fibre of Crozier’s black race.
(Both figures magnified 240 diameters. )

(72)

Bulletin 3, Division of Entomology, Department of Agriculture.

Plate I.

9

COSssSUS CENTERENSIS.

I
|
4
i

Sarena on aa

Bulletin 3, Division of Entomology, Department of Agriculture. Plate II.

i, 2, 3. CossuLA MAGNIFICA. 4, 5. COSSUS QUERCIPERDA. 6. CossUs ANGREZI.

Dept.of Agr Entomological Division— Bulletin 3. Plate

AFloen& Co Lithocaustic, Baltimore.

SWaEIKG SENS rune

A.

Abies canadensis as a food-plant of the Army
Worm, 11

Acrididz, various species, injurious to the cran-
berry, 14

Aletia. See Cotton Worm.

Allium sativum as a food-plantofthe Army Worm,
11

Ambrosia artemisiefolia as a food-plant of Army
Worm, 10

Anderson, Dr. E. H., report on the Cotton Worm

in Texas in 1883, 30
Anomis exacta, 36
Army Worm.
food-plants of, 9, 11
barley. 9
eabbage, 10
carrot, 10
clover, 10
corn, 9
cotton, 10
cranberry, 11, 14, 15
flax, 9
fruit-trees, leaves of,
9
garden beet, 11

lettuce, 11 |

pea, 10
poppy, 10
German millet, 9
oats, 9
onion, 11

parsnip, 11 |

raddish, 10

Trag-weed, 10
raspberry, 10
rye, 9
sorghum, 9
strawberry, 10
timothy, 9
wheat, 9

further notes on, 9

in cranberry bogs of New Jersey, 9
in 1883, 9

B.

Bailey, Dr. James S., death of, 8
reference to report by, 8
report on some of the North
American Cosside, 49
Barnard, Prof. W.S., report by, 38-47
Berry moth of cranberry, 15
Beta vulgaris as a food-plant of the Army Worm,
11

Brassica oleracea as a food-plant of Army Worm,
10

5135 6

|

C.

Caripeta angustioraria—
description of larva, 24
pupa and moth, 25
injuring the pine, 24
the pine, 24
Cerambicide, 55
Cossidz, report upon, 8
number of eggs deposited by various
species of, 53
Cossula magnifica, 55
Cossus angrezi, description of female, 54
centerensis, 8, 54, 55
chrysalis of, infested by an ichneumon
parasite, 52
description of larva, 51, 53
“moth, 50
pupa, 51
distribution of, 53
duration of larval life, 50
pupa state, 53
mode of issuing, 51, 52
not as prolific as other species, 53
preferences of, 52
resemblance to the bark of trees, 49
crepara, 54
eggs of, 52
mode of deposition, 53.
ligniperda, habits of, 52
querciperda, 50, 53, 54
robiniz, 53, 54
terebra, 50
Cotton-growing district of South Texas, descrip-
tion of, 34
machine for spraying from below, 7
moth, alleged limit of life, 31
rows, crookedness of, 38, 39, 46
ridges and furrows of, 38, 41, 43
size and width of, 38, 39, 46
Texas sea-island, a new variety, 32
worm, formula of poison for destroying, 32
its distribution in Texas, 36
machinery for poisoning the, 7, 31,
38-47
poison, 33
report upon, in South Texas in
1883, 30
Cranberry injured by Army Worms, 11
injured by various locusts, 14
insect remedies, 15
_ tortricid, larva of, 15
Cryptolechia schlagenella, 25
description of larva, 25
pupa, 26
moth, 27

(73)

74

D.

Datana ministra, experiments with pyrethrum
upon larva of, 21, 23

Datura stramonium hybridized with cotton, 31

Daucus carota as afood-plant of the Army Worm,
11

Dolerus, a supposed species of, falsely accused of
injuring the cranberry in New Jersey, 12

E.

Eddy-chamber nozzles, 42, 43, 47
Emulsion of milk and kerosene, 45
Eupithecia luteata compared with E. miserulata,
24
injuring the fir, spruce, and hem-
lock, 25
miserulata, 23, 24
description of larva, 24
pupa, 24
injuring the cedar, 23

F.

Fall web-worm, experiments with pyrethrum up-
on, 16

Fragaria virginiensis as a food-plant of the Army
‘Worm, 10

G.

Gossypium herbacium as a food-plant of Army
Worm, 10.

Jal

Hawthorn Schizoneura, experiments with pyre-
thrum upon, 23

Howard, L. O., experiments with pyrethrum, 16

Hyphantria textor, experiments with pyrethrum
upon larva of, 16, 17, 20

Hypopta represented in the United States, 55

Jf

Ichneumon, a species of, infesting chrysalis of
Cossus centerensis, 52

J.

Jamestown weed, alleged hybrid with cotton, 31
Joues, Mr. A. T., poisoning method used by, 39

K.

Kellogg, Rey. Elijah, statements by, concerning
the spruce bud-worm, 27, 28
Kerosene, effects of, on cotton, 45

L.

Lactuca sativa as a food-plant of the Army
Worm, 11

Larch worm, further data concerning, 28

Leucania unipuncta. See Army Worm

Locusts, various species, injurious to the cran-
berry, 14

London purple vs. the Cotton Worm, 40

M.

Machinery for poisoning the Cotton Worm, 38-47.
See Poisoning machinery ‘

INDEX.

McMurtrie, Dr. William, reference to report by,
report on silk fibers, 568

Microgaster congregatus, 14

Milk-kerosene emulsion, 45

N.

Nematus erichsonii, 29
egg-laying ot, 29
Nozzles for poisoning, 42, 43, 47

Ps

Packard, A. 8., jr., notes on forest-tree insects,
23-29
Papaver somniferum as food-plant of Army
Worm, 10
Paris green, Army Worms killed with, 11
for Cotton Worm, 40
Pastinaca sativa as a food-plant of the Army
Worm, 11
Phaseolus vulgaris as a food-plant of the Army
Worm, 10
Pionea rimosalis, experiment upon, with pyre-
thrum, 20
Pisum sativum as a food-plant of the Army
Worm, 10 F
Plusia brassice, experiments upon, with pyre-
© thrum, 20
Poison for destroying Cotton Worm, 32
Poison, recipe for early spring, against Cotton-
Worms, 35
Poisoning machinery for the Cotton Worm, 38-47
adjustability and flexility, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46
best nozzles, 42, 43, 47
clogging of nozzles, 42, 43
cross-pipes, 38, 43, 44, 46
elevating, 44, 45, 46
hose, 41
inclined-pipe supports, 45
joints, 43, 46
nozzle arms, 38, 41, 42
nozzle gangs, 42
pipe hooks, 44
stirrer pump, 40, 46
strainers, 42
top adjustment, 43-46
milk-kerosene emulsion for, 45
Populus tremuloides injured by Cossus center-
ensis, 49
Prionoxystus represented in United States, 55
robiniz, 54, 55
food-plants, 54
description of imago, 55
querciperda, description, 55
Pyrethrum, experiments on Datana ministra, 21
Hyphantria textor, 16
Pionea rimosalis, 20
Plusia brassicie, 20
Schizoneura sp., 23

R.

Raphanus sativusas a food-plant of Army Worm,
10

Raw silk. See Silk

Rockwood, Charles G., letters from, 11, 12, 13

Rubus strigosus as a food-plant of the Arm y

Worm, 10
Ss.

Saw-fly on cranberry, 12
extent of injury, 12
mode of attack, 12
not the depredator, 13
refusal of cranberry leaves by larva of, 13
the larch, 28
‘Schizoneura, experiments with pyrethrum upon,
23
Schwarz, E. A., report of, on observations in the
cranberry fields of New Jersey, 13
Silk, measurements of—
fineness, 57
tables, 59, 60, 61
strength and stretch, 62
how obtained, 63
tables giving results, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
preparation of, for examination, 57

INDEX.

15

Spruce bud worm, further facts regarding the
extent of the ravages of, 26

Stirrer pump for poisoning, 40.
machinery

See Poisoning

i be

Tortricid larva on cranberry, 15
mode of attack, 15
Tortrix fumiferana on the coast of Maine, 27

We

Vitis labrusca as a food-plant of the Army Worm,
10

| Xystus, 50

—
veo

1
‘
:
i
t

See ae ee

age S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 4.

REPORTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST,

TOGETHER WITH

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE ON MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS,

WASHING TON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1884.

ye

i> DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 4.

Ree Or TS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST,

TOGETHER WITH

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE ON MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1884.
8993—Bul. 4 5

eae nee eee 2) C6 Awe

DETT ER OF SUBMIETT AL.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., January 8, 1884.
Sir: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 4, from
this Division, prepared under your instructions.
Respectfully,
C. V. RILEY,
' Entomologist.
Hon. Gro. B. LORING,
Commissioner of Agriculture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

REPORT UPON CRANBERRY AND Hop INSECTS.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Rocky MOUNTAIN LOCUST AND OTHER INSECTS IN THE
NORTHWEST DUFING THE SUMMER OF 1883.

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS UPON INSECTS INJURIOUS TO COTTON,
ORANGE, AND SUGAR CANE IN BRAZIL.

REPORT ON THE EFFECTS OF COLD ON THE SCALE INSECTS OF THE ORANGE IN
FLORIDA.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE CULTIVATION OF PYRETHRUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

5

os

INTRODUCTION.

This Bulletin contains a report by Mr. John Bb. Smith of his summer’s:
observations upon insects injurious to the Cranberry in New Jersey
and Massachusetts and to the Hop-vine in parts of New York; some
notes by Mr. Lawrence Bruner of observations on the Rocky Mountain
Locust and other insects in the Northwest in 1883; a preliminary report
by Mr. John C. Branner on the results of his journey to Brazil as an
agent of this Division, in connection with Mr. Albert Koebele, to study
insects injurious to Cotton, to the Orange, and to Sugar-cane; and a
report by Mr. Joseph Voyle on the effects of cold on Scale-insects. It
concludes with extracts from the correspondence of the Division, includ-
ing unpublished reports on experiments in the cultivation of Pyrethruimn
in different parts of the United States.

The damage to cranberry vines by insects, always severe, has been
increasing of late years; yet our knowledge of the life-habits of the
species concerned in the damage has been quite fragmentary. Beyond
afew notes by Glover and Packard, and a short article by Dr. J. H..
Brakeley, little has been published. I have long felt the need of more
accurate knowledge of the insect drawbacks to cranberry culture and
the best means of avoiding them, and Mr. John B. Smith, of Brooklyn,
N. Y., was, therefore, specially charged with investigating them the
past summer. His report will greatly help to a final and complete
knowledge of the subject. Mr. Smith was also charged with the investi-
gation of the insects injurious to the Hop-vine, and his report thereon
is an important contribution to our knowledge of a subject that has so
far received but little attention.

Mr. Bruner, with one assistant, explored, during the past summer,
that section of the West between Central New Mexico and Idaho, fol-
lowing up the Rocky and the Big Horn ranges. On account of sickness
he was unable to fully follow the latter part of the route mapped out
for him, but succeeded in examining much territory that had previously
not been examined. The chief object of the trip was to ascertain the
status of the Rocky Mountain Locust, and, incidentally, to study the
insects affecting the chief crops of the plains and mountain regions. AS
already indicated in my annual report, the results justify the conclusion
that there will be comparative immunity from the ravages of the Rocky
Mountain Locust in the trans-Mississippi country during the present
year, 1884.

7

8 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Mr. Branner’s report is preliminary to a more extended one, but gives
a definite idea of what work was accomplished during the Brazilian trip,
and, with the statement of his instructions, will indicate the objects of
the trip and the important bearing of the information on the work of
the Division.

Mr. Voyle, in his report, gives the results of experiments by which he
has determined the amount of cold which Scale-insects can bear, thus
settling a point which has long been in dispute among orange-growers.

CoV. axe

REPORT UPON CRANBERRY AND HOP INSECTS.

By JOHN B. SMITH.
i

Sir: Herewith I transmit my report on cranberry and hop insects, to the study or
which, under your direction, I devoted the past summer. The notes with which you
furnished me, and the aid and information given me during the summer in several
difficult matters, materially lightened the work, and enabled me to report more fully
than would have been otherwise possible. The damage done to both cranberries and
hops this season was great—greater than it had been for years past—and fully justi-
fied your selection of these plants as requiring special investigation. For the deter-
mination of larve which I failed to raise to maturity, and for the notes on the insects
raised from larve sent you, I desire also to express my thanks.

Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. SMITH.
Prof.j;C. V. RIcry,

United States Entomologist.

CRANBERRY INSECTS.

To ascertain the history of these insects, I visited some of the cran-
berry bogs of New Jersey, and some of the Cape Cod bogs. At Cape
Cod, Hyannis was the center of my investigations, and thence I visited
the bogs at Harwich and vicinity, and Cotuit and vicinity. To Mr.
George J. Miller, at Hyannis, I am indebted for information as to the
location of the larger bogs, and as to the persons best able to aid me ;
to Captain Ames, at Cotuit, and Captain Cahoon, at Harwich, I am in-
debted for much information; while to all others, growers and those in-
terested in the cranberry culture, I owe thanks for uniform courtesy and
ready assistance. My researches in the New Jersey district were princi-
pally carried on in the vicinity of Hornerstown and Prospertown, and
most largely on the Lahaway plantations, where Dr. J. H. Brakeley, him-
self no mean entomologist, and a very careful observer, gave me all as-
sistance in his power, aided me in my experiments, and placed at my
disposal his house and all his bogs. To him and to Mr. J. T. Brakeley
I would express my sincere thanks for their courtesy. A diary kept by
Dr. Brakeley, recording the first appearance of the insects in the various
stages, the times of greatest plenty and the number of broods, together
with the experiments looking toward their destruction and their success
or non-success, proved of great service to me, as I knew thus, at least
approximately, what I had to expect. The insect enemies of the cran-
berry are not alike in New Jersey and Cape Cod in all respects. The

9

10 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

“ Fire Worm” (Anchylopera vacciniana Pack.) and the ‘Berry Worm ”
they have in common, and these are the most generally destructive in-
sects. The most important of these is—

THE VINE WORM OR FIRE WORM.
(Anchylopera vacciniana Pack.)

This insect, the “Vine Worm,” of Massachusetts, and “ Fire Worm” ot
New Jersey, is in its perfect state a moth or miller, expanding less than
half an inch, of a dark ash color, the fore wings being paler, dusted with
brown and reddish scales, with white, narrow bands on the costa, alter-
nating with broader, yellowish-brown bands, five of which are distinctly
larger than the others; from four of them irregular, indistinct lines or
bands cross the wing; the first is situated just beyond the inner third
of the wing and is sometimes entirely and often partially obsolete,
the portion nearest to the inner margin being usually distinct, while
toward the costa it becomes obsolete. The second line is the largest
and is distinctly bent once near the middle of the wing; the angle is
rather darker than the rest of the band. The third line is oblique and
becomes faint and sometimes obsolete before reaching the inner angle,
and is forked on the costa. The fourth line is short, apical and diffuse.
The apex of the wing is dark-brown and is acute and somewhat pro-
duced, while the margin below is somewhat excised. The secondaries
are uniformly dark or smoky brown.

There are two broods of this insect; the first appears early in June
and continues throughout the month, and the second appears the mid-
dle of July and continues to the middle of August. Stragglers are
found from the end of May to the end of August, or even later.

The larva, when full grown, is slightly less than half an inch in length,
of a rather dark-green color with a black, corneous head and collar; itis
rather slender, very sparsely hairy, the hair being placed on small tu-
bercles, and the head is not narrower than the middle of the body.
The chrysalis is slender, the body being contracted at the base of the
abdomen, on the rings of which are dorsal rows of spines.

On May 22, I visited Dr. Brakeley’s bog, and obtained some larve about
half grown from a small space which had not been flowed during the
winter; May 23 one of the larvee began to spin a slight cocoon, closed
at both ends; May 25 it changed to a chrysalis, three-eighths of an inch
in length and of a reddish-yellow color. June 2 the imago appeared.

At the time of my first visit to Dr. Brakeley’s bog the water had not
yet been entirely withdrawn, though the higher portions had been dry
for nearly ten days. In those places where the water had just receded
I found a large number of eggs of this insect. ‘Phe egg is about 0.25"™
in diameter, of a waxy-yellow color, very flat or lentil-shaped, and
closely attached to the leaf; in fact, it most nearly resembled a fly-speck.
Further up, where the water had been off some time, I found young

THE FIRE WORM OF THE CRANBERRY 1}

larvee, and even where the water had scarcely receded, larvee evidently
two or three days old were found. Close search revealed the fact that
inmany of the larvee had hatched beneath the surface of the water, and
had perished from want of air. A majority of the eggs found contained
fully developed but dead larvee, while in many cases the larva had
hatehed and had lived for a day or two between the upper and lower
surfaces of the leaf, before dying of lack of air. This first brood, as a
rule, feeds for a day or two, or even longer, between the surfaces of the
leaf, then climbs to the tip and spins up the terminal leaves, but does
not usually eat off the tip so as to prevent further growth of the plant.
As the plant develops, the more tender leaves only are attacked, and
either the upper or under surface of the leaf is eaten. The larva never
eats entirely through the leaf, but to the center only, and often only a
few bites from different parts of the leaf. This first brood, as a rule,
does no great damage, even though very numerous, because the larvee:
feed very largely on the old leaves, and become full-grown just about the
time that the vines begin to grow vigorously. About the 10th of June,
or before, the moths of this brood appear in force. While I had seen
that the larve were very numerous, I was yet perfectly astonished at
the vast number of imagines I found flying in the dusk, for an hour and
a half before darkness set in. At other hours of the day they can
searcely be induced to rise, but at this time they rise in swarms and fly
and hover very much after the fashion of the mosquito.

The duration of the life of the moth appears to be about five or six
days, and their eggs may be found everywhere ; scarcely aspray escapes;
and I have found as many as fourteen on a single spray and four on a
single leaf. By the 15th of June the moths were most plentiful, but they
continued more or less abundantly throughout the season. About the
beginning of July the second brood of larvee appears, vastly more nu-_
merous than the first; its power to do damage is very greatly enhanced,
and a difference in habit and more opportunity for destruction render
it still more dangerous. The cranberries blossom just about the time
when the second lot of larve begin to hatch, and the young larve im-
mediately attack the blossom or young berry, eating just enough to
destroy vitality,and then attacking another blossom. When theerries
and blossoms are either all destroyed, or the berries have fairly set, the
larve no longer trouble them, but attack the leaves; and now they are
not content to spin up only the tips and touch only what they eat, but,
instead, they web up all the leaves of a spray and take a bite here,
another there, and a third elsewhere, until they have destroyed every
leaf on the spray. Where the vines are thick, two or even three sprays
are spun together by a single larva which, by nipping from all the
leaves, will destroy every one; the leaves lose vitality and turn brown
rapidly, and the bog looks brown and dry “as though a fire had swept
over it.” Not leaves only, but berries also, are thus spun up and killed
in like manner. Nor does it take the larve long to do their work. Dr.

12 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Brakeley, well as he knew the enemy, was caught napping; on one bog
he noticed the larve, but apparently not in force or doing any damage ;
busy with other bogs, he saw this, three days after, almost entirely eaten
up. Senator Emsen, on a Saturday, noticed the larve on a 40-acre
bog; he decided to attend to them in a few days, but three or four days
thereafter the larve had destroyed the entire bog and were beyond
being attended to.

The larvee, when full grown, do not pupate in their habitations, but
drop to the ground and spin up in any rubbish at hand. Theend of July
and the beginning of August bring the second brood of moths, and
until the middle of September they can be found on the bogs. By that
time the eggs are all laid, the last straggler disappears, and the vines
begin to recover; and by the end of September, except for the absence
of berries, there is little to show the amount of damage suffered by the
bog. But the new crop is provided for; everywhere upon the leaves
are the small yellow eggs, innocent enough in appearance, but these
quietly maintain their vitality throughout the winter, under water,
ready to awaken to life and mischief in the early spring. During the
past season this insect has been unusually plentiful; everywhere on all
the bogs visited by me they had done damage, some places more, some
places less. They usually appear in one spot in a bog in small num-
bers—a stray moth or two having found their way to it—attract no par-
ticular attention until suddenly their progeny will devour the entire bog
year after year. Occasionally they disappear as suddenly as they ap-
pear. One bog not far from Cotuit had never yielded a crop; year after
year this insect had destroyed it, until the owner had almost despaired.
This season he had made the most extensive arrangements to fight
it—was prepared at all points to do battle, and calmly awaited its
coming—but in vain; scarcely a larva was to be found on the entire
bog, and on August 9, when I saw it, the vines were full of berries
and everything pointed to a large crop.

REMEDIES.

An insect so destructive as this has, of course, been the subject ot
many experiments looking to its destruction, but they have been usually
unsuccessful in the main end in view, viz., Saving the crop, and this not
because of any fault of the remedy, but simply because it was not applied
at the right time. I made experiments with several insecticides, and
ascertained what had been used by others, and was in most cases able to
discover the cause of failure. The remedy recommended by Packard,
and after him by Mrs. Treat and Mr. Saunders, is flowing the bog and let-
ting it remain under water for two or three days. Unfortunately the
vast majority of bogs require a week or more to flow them and half that
time to run dry again, while many bogs could not be flowed at all in the
summer. Nor could a bog be safely flowed at any time after the buds
had formed and the blossoms had appeared; the result would be a de-

THE FIRE WORM OF THE CRANBERRY. 13

struction not only of the insects but of all hope of a crop as well. After
the berries have fully formeda, the bog cannot safely be submerged, for the
hot sun would cause them to “scald.” In one case in Cape Cod during
a heavy rain-storm a bog was partially flowed; the sun came out strong
before the water could be all drawn off; nearly half the berries were
scalded. Yet the water can be advantageously used in two ways.
Where there is an abundant supply it should be drawn off very early,
say the middle of April or even earlier if the season is advanced. In
parts of a bog not submerged, larve were found in considerable num-
bers on the 16th of April, and of these the imagines emerged June 2, or
thereabouts.

Careful watch should be kept for the appearance of the larvie, and
when they are abundant and presumably all hatched, the water should
be put on for twenty-four hours or longer. No harm will be done by
allowing the larve to feed a few days before putting on the water, as
they have only the old leaves, and do not eat off the terminal bud.
Flowing a second time at this season will do no harm, as the sun is not
hot enough to hurt the vines or the new shoots if they have appeared.
The period of time required for the larvie to hatch, varies with the tem-
perature of the air, and with the temperature of the water with which
they had been covered. This course has been tried by several growers
with complete success. The larve are of course not all destroyed, but
so few survive that no great damage is done, and they can be treated
as hereafter described. Mr. Hopkins, of Hornerstown, reflowed his.
bog late in June or early in July for the second brood. I am informed
that scarcely had the water covered the vines than the larve began ap-
pearing at the surface; it is their habit whenever their habitation is
disturbed to slip out of the same and drop to the ground; the water
was a disturbing element, and following their usual practice they
found themselves afloat. Only a part of the bog could be flowed, and
when the water was drawn off, a line of dead larve was heaped on the
side toward which the wind had carried them. The weather was favor-
able, and there was no scald, but still a large portion of the berries were:
destroyed. On July 10, I examined the bog and could easily trace the
line to which the water had reached. Scarcely a larva was found in the
flowed portion, while the high parts to which the water had not reached
were rapidly being eaten up. Last season, as I am informed, the in-
sects being plentiful, the bog was entirely flowed; the insects were de-
stroyed, but so was the crop. With a level bog and a large supply of
water, a bog could be safely flowed for forty-eight hours at any time
except when flowering, if a cool spell be selected for that purpose.

Where water is scarce and the bog cannot be readily flowed, another
course must be pursued. Instead of drawing the water early, it should
be kept on as late as possible, and should be drawn off very gradually
from below. The reason for that is that the water becoming warm will
cause the development of the larva in the egg, and will then suffocate

14 BULLETIN NU. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,

the larva as soon as it breaks the shell, or, indeed, in the egg. As the
surface water is always warmest, it should be retained as long as pos-
sible and the cooler water drawn off from beneath. This can be easily
done by building a second gate, not reaching to the bottom, outside the
main gate, at a distance of about one foot from it. The water will rush
in from below, rise to the level of the inside gate, and overflow with-
out materially disturbing the surface water. This plan has been pur-
sued by Dr. Brakeley, and on his bogs I had a chance to test it. May
22, the water had been about half drawn off, it having reached a tem-
perature of 80° two inches from the surface. On that day I examined
for eggs and larve in various portions of the bog. Where the water
had not touched, the larvee were abundant and half grown; where the
water had covered, but had been off a week, no larve were found, and
but few perfect eggs; while, on the contrary, many eggs in which were
fully developed and defunct larve were found. Still there were eggs
enough left to furnish a very respectable lot of larvie, as will hereafter
appear. Going down close to the water line many eggs were found
largely containing fully developed but dead larvie, but some also liv-
ing; a few instances were seen where the larva had hatched beneath
the water, had lived and eaten between the surfaces of the leaf for ¢
day or two,.and had then succumbed. One instance was noted where
the larva was yet alive, and in the cavity in the leaf. This use of the
water is not of course as successful as the first plan suggested, for
while it destroys a large number of insects in embryo, a large number
escape, owing to the difficulty of raising the water on an unequal bog
to a sufficiently high temperature. Many bogs have 10 to 12 feet ot
water at the gates, and the vines at the edges scarcely covered; of
course the deeper parts of the bog will not be warmed for a long enough
time to force the development of the larvae beneath the water far enough
to destroy them, and many will thus escape. Ona level bog, where the
water covers the vines but a few inches, there is much greater hope of
complete success.

On June 6,1 again visited the bogs, and for several days expert-
mented with insecticides. I found on those portions of the bog which
had not been flowed full-grown larve, some pup, and a few imagos;
on the portions which had been flowed, larve in all stages of growth;
and on the portion first laid dry, some pup. The dates here given refer
to the appearance and development of the inseet on one particular bog
only; the dates vary according to circumstances on other bogs.

White hellebore had been used by Dr. Brakeley in previous seasons
with good success, and as soon as the larve became dangerous he
turned his attention to them. On the part not flowed larve were abun-
dant in May, and they were given a dose of hellebore; to ascertain
what effect it had I covered aspace of about three square feet, and this
was thereafter not dosed.

The hellebore was applied in the form of powder, with a bellows con-

THE FIRE WORM OF THE CRANBERRY. 15

taining a receiver attachment, as explained in the annexed figure, a
being the receiver in which the hellebore is placed from above, ) the
tin nozzle into which it drops through the
narrow aperture at the bottom, and c the
mouth of bellows. When examined in June
the protected space was completely stripped
of leaves, while the portion treated to hel-
lebore, though badly damaged, showed the
gris & benefit of the treatment. To ascertain the
Fig. 1.—Powder bellows. effect of hellebore on the larve I placed sev-
eral in a box of which the bottom had been dusted with hellebore. At first
they paid no more attention to it than to so much dust; in ten minutes,
after a continuous travel through the stuff, they began picking up parti-
cles with their mandibles; in twenty minutes they were very uneasy, and
eradually became paralyzed, but were alive for more than an hour after-
ward. Ultimately the larvee all died. The experiment was carried on
in the openair. As to its effect when applied on the bog: It was applied
twice on a portion of the bog where the larve were unusually abundant,
and each time it seemed to reduce the number of larvee, and undoubtedly
did prevent their eating as much as they otherwise would have done,
yet in the very spots where it had been thus freely used the moths
appeared a few days later (June 11) by thousands. This was the result
wherever it was used; it undoubtedly did much good, but I believe less
by killing the larve than by forcing them to leave their poisoned quar-
ters to seek food on the lower parts of the vine where they could do
less harm. <A drawback in applying this and other insecticides is that
it is necessary to force it into the habitations of the insect, which is a diffi-
cult matter; moreover itis much more difficult to reach the second brood
than the first, because the first spins up at the start only a leaf or two
at the extreme tip, and must soon come out for food; the second brood,
on the contrary, when it does begin to spin gathers up two or three
sprays—enough for three insects—and so need not at any time come
within reach of the poison, no matter how liberally applied outside
its habitation. Iam satisfied that not only contaet with but the act-
ual eating of white hellebore is requisite to destroy the insect. I con-
sider hellebore valuable, but not the most valuable insecticide.
Bisulphide of Carbon.—Mr. Havens, of Prospertown, used a prepara-
tion said to be of this poison and handed me some to experiment with,
but without giving me any further information as to the nature of the
preparation, which was in the form of a brownish powder; it was tried
on several larvze, as in the case of the hellebore, and proved rather more
active, but having the same general effect. I believe it to be open to
the same objection there is to hellebore.*

*This could not have beeu the bisulphide of carbon.—C. V. R.

16 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Copperas.—This poison is recommended as a certain cure by Senator
KEmsen, and he shows his faith in it by using it himself and recommend-
ing it to all others; but all experiments so far tried have failed to de-
monstrate its value as an insecticide—this insect of course in view. Dr.
Brakeley has given it a thorough trial, and deems it valueless, and oth-
ers give similar testimony. Decisive of the matter is the testimony of
Mr. Emsen’s secretary and manager. This gentleman informed me that
he had transplanted some vines in a large jar, had placed therein a num-
ber of larve and so thoroughly soaked the whole with a solution of cop-
peras that {he leaves turned black; in a few days the larvee had devoured.
everything, and were still perfectly healthy and ravenous.

Tobacco.—This is the favorite Cape Cod remedy, and the testimony
gathered there is all in its favor. The tobacco is steeped in boiling
water in the proportion of 14 pounds to a gallon, and sprinkled on the
vines, a gallon to a rod. The testimony of all who have so used it is
to the effect that it kills the larvee wherever it reaches them, but they find
it somewhat difficult to reach them. There isa gentleman in Dennis,
on the Cape, who makes somewhat of a business of preparing the decoc-
tion, and he claims that it is infallible. I was unfortunate in reaching
Dennis at camp-meeting time, and did vot succeed in finding this gen-
tleman. Refuse tobacco of all sorts is used.

Paris green.—This poison has been used in a few instances that I
know of, and probably in a quiet way to a considerable extent on the
Cape. In New Jersey its use has been confined to a few, but wherever
it has been used it has been a decided success. I have seen bogs on
which it was used, parts only having been treated with it, and the dif-
ference in the appearance of the vines was striking: where it had been
used the vines were green and flourishing, while elsewhere they were
dry, unsightly, spun up and defoliated. It has been used stirred in
water, a large tablespoonful to a pail of water, sprinkled on with a
broom, and mixed with plaster, or rye flour. The latter is the prefer-
able way. On Cape Cod the solution is preferred, in New Jersey the
dry mixture is more favored. One grower mixed 3 pounds Paris green
with 200 pounds cheap rye flour and scattered it broadcast while the dew
was on the vines; it formed a slight paste and adhered everywhere ;
soon after not a larva was found on the part so treated. The advantage
of this poison over all others is that it does not lose by exposure to the
air as do all those previously mentioned: its disadvantage is that, ap-
plied when the berries have become fully formed, it sticks to them so
closely that the gentleman referred to found the berries picked off the
poisoned sections all more or less coated with the poisoned paste, which
had dried on so closely that a heavy rain had not washed it off. Yet this
poison may be safely applied early in the season to combat the first
brood, before the berries have formed.

Pyrethrum, or Persian Insect Powder.—With this I have made a num-
ber of experiments: first as to its killing power. A few grains were

REMEDIES AGAINST THE CRANBERRY FIRE WORM. 17

dusted on the bottom of box and several larvee were introduced. In
seeking to escape, all came in contact with afew particles: the effect
was seen in half a minute; the larva began to squirm and to eject a
greenish fluid from its mouth; in three minutes it was paralyzed; in
fifteen minutes quite dead. Tried in a solution, one-quarter pound to 2
gallons of water, a singlesmall drop produced a like effect, and this ap-
parently irrespective of the spot where it touched the larva. Applied on
the bog its effect was less satisfactory; the difficulty of reaching the
larva in its hiding place was great and the powder lost power very rap-
idly : still a great decrease in the number of larve was noted. LI tried it
both in solution and putting on the powder pure. Later, Dr. Brakeley
continued the experiments during my absence; the powder was thor-
oughly mixed with two and one-half times its bulk of cheap rye flour
and applied with the bellows on a few rods of bog; at first no effect wae
perceptible, but two weeks thereafter the limits of the patch to which
pyrethrum had been applied were distinctly traceable ; where it had been
used the vines were bright and fresh and were sending up vigorous
shoots, while the surrounding space was all eaten up. The same mix-
ture wastried on two larve which were placed in a vessel dusted with it.
In a short time they became nervous, began a vigorous battle, and in a
few minutes succumbed, though they did not die for some time there-
after.

Carbolie acid.—With this I made a few experiments which proved
eminently unsatisfactory, killing the plants when strong enough to
hurt the insects, and becoming harmless to insects and plants at about
the same point. Squibb’s solution, containing 1 per cent. of the crude
phenols in water, was used as a base.

Kerosene.—With this the most extensive experiments were made, as
it seemed to me best calculated to reach the insects; the vines are not
easily affected by it, and it is penetrating enough to soak through a leaf
or two and reach the insect in its hiding place. A number of experi-
ments were tried to test its killing power. Animperfect emulsion of 2
parts kerosene to 1 part of milk was first used and diluted with 20 parts
of water; a small drop was applied to a number of larvae; the effect
was instantaneous ; the larvee seemed paralyzed at once, though they did
not die for some time. A number of sprays of which the leaves at the
tip were turned and spun up by larve were gathered, and a drop of the’
mixture was applied at the tip; the oil penetrated at once through
every part of the leaves touched, and came into contact with the larva
immediately, paralyzing it at once so that it could not leave the head, or,
in some cases, it attempted to escape and was disabled before getting
out. An emulsion of 2 parts kerosene to 1 part milk was made, mixed
with 16 parts of water to one of the emulsion, and applied to the vines
with a Lewis syringe. In the evening they were examined and a num-
ber of dead larve were found ; traces of the oil could be everywhere seen,
and where a drop had fairly struck a tip the larva was dead; for three

8993—Buli. 42

18 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

days dead larvee were found (June 7 to 11), but thereafter no further ef-
fects were observed. Afterward the mixture was applied on a larger
scale by Dr. Brakeley to the second brood, but with less success, be-
‘ause the amount of kerosene reaching the vines was insufficient to
penetrate through the numerous shields of leaves protecting the larva,
and so a large proportion escaped; another attempt, using but 10 parts
of water to one of the emulsion, succeeded better and did not injure the
vines. Mr. Bullock, of Prospertown, tried the mixture, 1 part emulsion
to 10 of water, and says that it destroyed the larvie ; but while it did no
injury to the vines it seemed to check the growth of the berries; I am
informed that they eventually ripened but were undersized. No such
effects followed the use of a 1 to 15 mixture used under my direction,
but it was not so effective on the larva. Afterwarda small space was
treated with a 1 to 10 mixture where the larve of the second brood were
nearly full grown, and the result was all that could be expected ; most
of the larve were destroyed and the vines were not hurt; berries un-
fortunately had been previously destroyed by the insects. The effect
of kerosene on the eggs was then tried; pure kerosene was first directly
applied to a few, and the effect was to destroy the vitality of the egg
at once, it becoming loosened at the edges and flattening toward the
eenter. The emulsion, diluted with 16 parts of water, was then applied
to about two rods where eggs were numerous; for afew days thereafter
eges decreased in number, and no imagines were found on the spot; at
the end of four days, however, the spot was as much frequented as ever
by the moths, andeggs became more numerous ; I then waited until the
moths had nearly disappeared (August 20-25) and again applied kero-
sene to another spot of 4 or 5rods, applying slightly more than a gallon
to arod and making the mixture 1 to 10. As the moths had not all
disappeared and I was desirous of making my results exact, I marked
a number of sprays and counted the eggs, marking only sprays contain-
ing a number (4-14), and setting close to them a stick marked with the
number of eggs on the spray. The marked plants were treated pre-
cisely as was the balance of the patch, and the next day I examined the
result; in a few instances the total number of eggs on the spray hadin-
creased, but fully 30 per cent. of the number marked on each spray had
lost vitality, flattening out and whitening at the edges; next day nearly
all had succumbed and the marked sprays were carried off to watch fur-
ther developments; the leaves touched by the kerosene were easily
distinguished, and in each case every egg on every leaf which had been
touched by the kerosene first became depressed in the center, then
loosened and white around the edges, and finally dried up, leaving only
a small, glistening spot on the leaf; on leaves which the emulsion had
not touched the eggs underwent no change whatever. Early in October
(5th to 7th) Iagain examined the space treated; the vines had all re-
covered from the damage done by the larve and were promising well for

REMEDIES AGAINST THE CRANBERRY FIRE WORM. 19

next season, and the most careful examination discovered but a very
few eggs.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Despite the success attending the use of some of the above insecti-
cides, the damage done by the larva of this insect this season was im-
mense—much more extensive in New Jersey than on Cape Cod, but suf-
ficiently great even there. One of Dr. Brakeley’s bogs, which for a fair
crop should produce 1,500 bushels and has yielded 2,000, yielded this
year less than 200 bushels; one 40-acre bog was almost entirely eaten
up, and bogs of excellent vines, which easily produce 200 bushels to the
acre, this season yielded but 40 to 50 bushels; only a few bogs were
exempt, and the damage done amounted to many thousands of dollars.
Many of the growers are becoming disheartened because, though they
kill millions of larvee, yet they still lose their crops. The difficulty is not
with the means employed but with the time at which they are applied ;
the greatest damage is done by the second brood of larve in the first two or
three days of their life, because then, before spinning up leaves, they eat
into the buds, flowers, and young berries, a single larva in one day
sometimes destroying two or three berries or blossoms and being then
of a size so small as to be scarcely perceived ; their appearance is noted
when they begin to spin up the leaves and vines, and war is waged
against them, but it is then too late, the greatest damage is done, and
growers wonder why so few berries set. To be successful in saving a
crop the war must be vigorously carried on against the first brood and
against the imagines resulting therefrom. From the observations made
and recorded above, and having followed Dr. Brakeley’s efforts pretty
closely during the past year, as wellas from the experiences of others
reported to me, I advise the following course as most likely to be suc-
cessful:

The water, if used as first proposed, 7. e., reflowing when the larve
begin to appear, will afford a nearly complete remedy, but even then
the surviving members of the first brood must be attacked, for a single
female produces from 20 to 25 eggs, and a few hundred escaped larvee
form the nucleus of a destructive second brood. Where the water can-
not be so used, it should be held very late, and drawn off gradually,
the object being to raise it, to as high a temperature as possible, in order
to hasten the development of the larva and destroy itin embryo. When
the water is off, the vines should be daily examined, so as to note the
first appearance of the larva; the time will vary according to the tem-
perature of the air, as well as that of the water which had covered them.
In from three to ten days the larvie will be all hatched ; at first they will
burrow in the leaf, and then ascend to the tip, and their presence can
then be readily noted by the fact that the under side of the leaves
can be seen; the top will be found drawn together, and the larva in-
side ; a little experience will enable any one to tell at a glance; as be-

20 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

fore stated, they do little injury now, and the danger seems small. One
gentleman informed me that there were only a few larve on his bog,
and he was rather sorry, as there were not enough to experiment with;
I visited his bog a day or two afterward and found larve pretty evenly
distributed over the bog, but doing no great damage. Some time after-
ward they had all disappeared, and the gentleman was jubilant. He
was correct; they had gone—into the pupa state. The moths emerged,
and in due time the second brood of larve. I did not thereafter hear
any complaint of lack of insects to experiment with.

To return. It is at this time that they must be attacked, and best of
ali with kerosene; this will penetrate through and saturate the leaves,
and, if liberally and carefully applied, will kill by far the greater part of the
larve. The kerosene emulsion should be made with two parts kerosene
to one part sour milk, and churned with a force pump; the “aquapult” or
‘‘Lewis” will answer. Ifthe milkis heated and the vessel containing the
kerosene warmed, ten or twelve minutes, and sometimes less, of churning
will suffice to complete the emulsifying process, and the result will bea
soft butter which will mix perfectly with water; it should be dissolved
with a small amount of water, and then any desired quantity may be
added; the most effective proportion for this insect at this stage is ten
parts of water to one part of the emulsion. This will not hurt the vines,
and should be applied thoroughly, with a syringe or a pump with a
sprinkler attachment, if possible. A second application a week later
might be advisable to reach any larve that had afterwards hatched or
previously escaped. If the water has been drawn off gradually the
larvie will continue to hatch for as many days as the water occupied in
receding, and the same number of days is gained in combating them.

Another plan would be not to await the hatching of the larvae, but
immediately after drawing the water and ascertaining the presence of
living eggs, to apply Paris green mixed with cheap rye flour, while the
vines are wet with dew or rain, and thus poison the food the young larve
will be compelled to subsist on. No danger of poisoning the berries is
to be apprehended at this stage, but perhaps the former plan is as cer-
tain in results; it is entirely without danger, and theretore preferable,
A few larvee will probably escape and pass into the chrysalis state, which
they do usually on the ground among the rubbish. It is now necessary
to watch for the first appearance of the moths, and as fast as they ap-
pear they should be caught with hand-nets; the time will be between
the Ist and 15th of June, usually about the 10th. I noticed that the
first moths that emerged were males; three evenings I caught speci-
mens, and all were males. Dr. Brakeley had been in the habit of using
a rather cumbrous machine mounted on wheels to catch the moths, and
the first evening of using this all that I examined of the captures were
males. On June 9 I found the first female, and found the same evening
male and female in coitu. The female I dissected, and found the eggs
still immature ; later I caught and confined several females, and in all

REMEDIES AGAINST THE FIRE WORM 43 |

cases they proved to be impregnated, but none laid eggs until the second
day, and on examining the vines it was not until four days after the
moths first appeared that I succeeded in finding anegg. There are,
therefore, certainly two or three days during which, if the moths can
be caught, they may be prevented from laying eggs. There was a space
of a few rods on one of Dr. Brakeley’s bogs on which the moths appeared
very abundantly. At first, with the moth-catcher used by him, and
which it required two men at least to manage, several hundred were
caught in an evening, but so many escaped that I suggested large hand-
nets; these were made about 14 inches in diameter, of mosquito-netting
doubled, and with handles about six feet in length; three men were
armed and sent to the infested place, and each caught several thousand—
estimate.

There is only an hour and a half or two hours just before dark when
this method can be employed, for during the day the moths do not rise;
but just before and during the twilight they are easily disturbed and
will readily rise, flying low and slowly, and hovering very much like
mosquitos, which, by the by, often made their presence among them
unpleasantly prominent. Walking slowly over the bog, hundreds of
them are disturbed and rise up before one, and by sweeping with the
net from side to side, and just over the vines, the great majority of them
can be caught. ‘Two or three evenings will suffice to clear as large a
spot as there is force to get over, and if the retreat of the water has
been gradual the moths will appear in most abundance a day or two
apart at different points, and time to combat them will be gained. It
must be borne in mind that every female destroyed in time lessens the
second brood by 20 to 25, and may save just that number of berries.

The moths of this brood disappear in about eight days, though strag-
glers remain much later, and where the water has been gradually with-
drawn, as recommended, the broods may lap. After the moths entirely
disappear the vines should be closely examined for eggs; if they are
found abundant, and the vines are not in blossom or the buds fully
formed, a heavy dose of kerosene should be applied, which will destroy
most of the eggs. Ifthe buds are fully formed or the vines have begun
to blossom it is not advisable to apply kerosene, as it may retard the
development or injure the buds or blossoms. If all these measures have
been carefully taken the second brood will be very light, and will do
very little damage, even if not further disturbed; but the fight should
not be abandoned here; watch closely for the first appearance of the
second brood, which will probably be simultaneous with the blossoming
of the vines. As already stated, the insect lives for a few days exposed,
eating buds, blossoms, and young berries; its work can be noted by
prematurely brown, dried-up blossoms, and the insect should now be
attacked either by pyrethrum or Paris green, preferably the former. If
pyrethrum be used it should be mixed with two and a half times its
weight of poor flour, allowed to stand twenty-four hours in a close ves
sel, and liberally applied when the vines are dry. It is now compara-

22 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

tively easy to reach the larva, and nothing acts more rapidly and cer-
tainly than pyrethrum. If Paris green be used it should be used in
solution and applied with a pump or syringe with sprinkler attachment ;
the ‘“ aquapult” is excellent for that purpose, and the ‘“* Whitman” an-
swers every demand. Two or even three applications may be necessary
to follow up the constantly hatching worms, but the result will repay
for the labor expended. Should, by some combination of misfortunes, all
these methods have proved vain, and the insect be still in force, I would
recommend repeated heavy doses of the kerosene mixture (1 to 10),
which will destroy them, though it may somewhat damage the crop ;
should, after all, moths appear in any number it would be good policy,
after picking, and a few days before putting on the water, to apply
kerosene to the vines for the purpose of destroying the eggs.

It may be objected that all this requires a great deal of labor and con-
siderable expense; true as to the former, for it requires constant vigi-
lance and the prompt application of the remedies from the time the water
is first drawn to the time when it is again put on, yet if the work is
carefully and conscientiously done early in the season, little indeed will

remain to be done after the first brood has passed away, because it is
utterly impossible that many can survive so vigorous a campaign as that
I have mapped out; and as to expense, a dollar an acre will pay for the
kerosene mixture. Paris green costs but a trifle, and but a very small
quantity is required, while pyrethrum costs 25 to °30 cents per pound at
wholesale, and can Be mixed with two and a half or three times its bulk

of cheap rye flour. Nor will it be necessary to carry on so vigorous a

campaign for many years, as the insects will become so scarce that it
will require only a very small expenditure of time and money to keep
them in thorough subjection, while the increased crops will repay all
labor or expense incurred.

I have given no place to tobacco or hellebore in the above campaign,
because they are more expensive and, in my opinion, less effective than
the preparations above recommended.

One more method I find in my notes as having been successfully tried,
easy and simple enough in appearance, but which I hesitate to recom-
mend, because I did not myself see it used, @. e., simply with a kitchen
oon to sweep off the tops of the vines. te is gravely asserted that
this has been done, and a bog thereby cleared of larvee ; that there were
no larve on the bog I can certify, because I saw it. Whether there
ever were any, or whether the sweeping destroyed them, I will not ven-
ture to say; I leave it to be tried by others.

TERAS OXYCOCCANA* Pack.

This insect is not found at all in Massachusetts, so far as [ have been
able to ascertain, but is abundant everywhere in New Jersey. The
species is rather interesting and anomalous in that it has two very
distinct forms—a gray winter form and a yellow summer form. This

* Tortrix vacciniivorana Pack. ; 7. malivorana Le BE Tr. cinderella Riley.

Ff

DIMORPHISM IN TERAS OXYCOCCANA. 23

dimorphism is unusual in the family, and though some time since re-
corded by Professor Riley, has not been accepted by Professor Fernald.
Dr. Brakeley had several years ago reached that conclusion. The gray
moth is called by Packard “the Glistening cranberry moth,” and de-
scribed. as follows:

The body is of a dark slate color, and the palpi, which are large and project well
beyond the head, are of the same color, with a few bright reddish scales at the end
of the second joint. The tuft of hair on the abdomen is much paler than the rest of
the body and of the same color as the legs and the hind wings, being of a glistening
gray color. The fore wings are of a uniform reddish brown color, with a peculiar
glistening or greasy hue. The red tint is due to scattered, bright red scales, There
are no other spots or markings on the wing, and the fringe is mottled with red and
gray scales as on the wings. On the hind wings the fringe is long, silky, glossy, gray-
ish white. Beneath, the fore wings are pale gray, the hind wings being paler than
the fore wings. Length of the body 0,25, expanse of the wing 0.640f aninch. It may
be readily known by the peculiar, shining, greasy look, and by the rich red scales scat-
tered over the plain, unadorned fore wings.

Dr. Packard records his specimen as having been found in October,
and the description shows it to have been a fresh specimen, and judg-
ing from the size, probably a female. Of those collected by me, the
females are, as a rule, considerably larger than the males, though there
are large malesand small females. After a few days the moths largely
lose their red scales, which rub off very easily, and they appear then
of a uniform gray slate color.

These insects, emerging from the chrysalis in October—in my experi-
ence, on the 9th and after—pass the winter in this stage, seeking shelter
in crevices, outhouses, and rubbish heaps. Dr. Brakeley informs me
that he has often seen them in his cranberry house, and on bright,
sunny days in winter flying at the edge of woods. In the spring, about
the middle of April and to the first of May, they deposit their eges
and disappear. After the beginning of May they are rarely seen. By
the 15th of May, or a few days before, the eggs hatch and ‘the larva
commences its career precisely as does the Anchylopera, except that it
does not first burrow into the leaf. Some collected by me changed to
pupe May 24, and transformed into moths June 4; these moths were
smaller in size than the gray specimens and entirely different in color,
being yellow, with ochreous mottlings, but no distinct markings on the
fore wings, and silky white on the hind wings and body. On fresh
specimens the ochreous or reddish seales are dense, and give the insect
a deeper color; flown specimens lack these scales and appear uniformly
yellow. The sexes do not differ in size, and none expand more, and
many less than 0.5 inches. None of these insects showed the slightest
tendency to the slate-colored form. The second brood of larvie ap-
pears toward the end of June or early in July, and has precisely the
same blossom- and berry-eating habit as the Anchylopera ; in fact, I found
that the berry-eating larve were mostly those of this species. They
continue this until nearly half grown, and then spin up sprays and leaves,

24 ‘BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

as does the Anchylopera. Toward the end of July the larve pupate,
either in their habitations or on a leaf close by—never on the ground.
The second brood of moths emerges in August (18th to 23d), and the
moths of this also are uniformly yellow; one specimen only which I
found had the hind wings and body dusky, but this escaped through
the meshes of my net while I was examining it. These moths oviposit
in the early part of September and produce larvee about the 12th. The
chrysalis is formed late in September or the first of October, and the
moths emerge about the 9th or a little later. This brood of moths is
uniformly gray. I did not meet with a single exception, and that it is
the result of the eggs laid by the yellow form I am perfectly positive,
for not only were there no gray moths on the bog to produce them, but I
watched the yellow forms oviposit, obtained some eggs from females in
confinement, and sent them to Washington to be reared, and Professor
Riley informs me that gray individuals were obtained from them.* The
moths continued to emerge and were flying on the bog when the water
yas put on.

The egg of this species is precisely like that of the Anchulopera in form
and color, but is very slightly larger; it is laid on the under side of a
leaf, asin that species, and at about the same time, so that practically it
is impossible to distinguish the two; the larva also much resembles that

“In the ‘General Index and Supplement to the nine reports on the Insects of Missouri,” 1881, in
speaking of Tortria cinderella Riley, we remarked as follows (pp. 82-83) :

‘‘From specimens reared from cranberry-feeding larve received from Mr. John H. Brakeley, of Bor-
dentown, N.J., Iam satisfied that this is the same species briefly characterized by Pac kard in the first
edition of his Guide (p. 334) as Tortrix oxycoccana, and that T. malivorana LeBaron (my Rep. IV, p. 47) is
but a dimorphic, orange form, subsequently described by Packard as T. vacciniivorana (Hayden’s Re-
port of the U. S. Geol. and Geogr. Survey of the Territories, 1878, p. 522). The orange and ash-gray spec-
imens are thus bred both from Apple and Cranberry. I have reared both forms from Cranberry and
from Apple, and they are undistinguishable in the larvaand pupa states. The gray form is often more
or less suffused with orange scales and the orange form less frequently with gray scales. This is the
most remarkable case of dimorphism with which T am familiar in the family, and points strongly to
the important bearing of biological facts on a true classification. The dimorphic coloring is not sexual,
but occurs in both sexes. The eggs of this species are very flat, circular, and translucent, with a diam-
eter of 0.7™™, and are laid singly on the under side of the leaf near the mid rib. The species belongs to
¢he genus Teras, and as Packard's specific name oxycoccana has priority, the insect should be known as
Teras oxycoccana, Pack. The insect, according to Mr. Brakeley, who gives an account of it in the
Report of the Seventh Annnal Convention of the New Jersey Cranberry Association (1879, p. 7), com-
monly affects, also, the high-bush whortleberry. The gray form of the moth is most frequent in au-
tumn.”’

Prof. C. H. Fernald, in his ‘‘ Synonymical catalogue of the described Tortricidse of North America,
north of Mexico," 1882, as stated by Mr. Smith, still retains the four insects as distinct species, and
thus doubts the correctness of our conclusions. We therefore took pains to putthe question to so fulla
test as to leave no reason for doubt. Mr. Smith’s experience in the field, as above shown, is confirmatory;
but from material which hesent on to Washington, we not only actually bred the orange form from the
first brood of larvee received in May and produced from the hybernating slate-colored form, but also
the slate-colored form from lary hatched from eggs laid by the orange form. Over two hundred spec-
imens, reared from larve received in August, and produced by the second brood of orange moths are
all referable to the slate-colored form. In fact all the moths which issued after September 23 were of
this form, though there was but a difference of five days between the issuing of the last yellow and the
first gray specimens, the latter continuing to issue through October. Many of the gray specimens,
especially those which first appear, are so suffused with orange or reddish scales as to appear somewhat
intermediate between the two extremes, but there are none which are not at once referable to the gray
form. It is in fact an interesting case of seasonal dimorphism, and how far it is influenced by tem-
perature, future experiment, which we hope to make, will determine.—C. V. R.

REMEDIES AGAINST TERAS OXYCOCCANA. 29

of the Anchylopera in habit and general appearance; the head and neck,
however, are honey-yellow instead of black; the body is of a somewhat
paler green, and the larva when full-grown is larger—nearly half an
inch in length. The head is nearly as wide as the first segment; and the
body tapers gradually to the tail, and is furnished with fine, sparse, pale
hairs arising from promjnent tubercles; the four dorsal tubercles are
arranged in a trapezoid with a deep crease between the anterior and
posterior pair; the anterior three pairs of feet are tipped with black. On
each side of the base of the head is a lateral, S-shaped, blackish-brown,
linear band, the upper part of the S terminating on the top of the occi-
put, the line being most distinct on the side of the head. The ocelli are
black. The pupa is brown, rather slender, and has the head prolonged
into a large tubercle surmounted by a large, round and roughened knob ;
there is an angular projection on each side of the head, forming a shoulder
to it. ‘The wing-covers reach to the end of the third abdominal ring,
while the antennz reach to the end of the second pair of feet, which are
parallel to the end of the second abdominal ring. There are two rows of
teeth on the upper side of the abdominal rings; they are obsolete beneath,
the posterior row being indicated by two remote, minute tubercles.” Itis
about two-fifths of an inchlong. There is noappreciable difference in size
between the larva of the gray or winter form and that of the summer
form, but the pupa of the latter is rather smaller.

ENEMIES.

Unlike the Anchylopera, which appears free from insect enemies, this
insect is preyed upon by two parasites: a dipterous larva belonging to
a species of Tachinid and the larva of an Ichneumonid.*

These parasites I have found in the second brood only; all my larve
of the first and third broods completed their changes, while those of the
second brood were almost all infested with parasites, and these I appre-
hend will do much to prevent this species from becoming as plentiful as
the Anchylopera.

REMEDIES.

A bog that can be completely flowed need never suffer much from this
insect. All thatis necessary is to keep the water on in the spring until
after May 1. By that time the surviving moths will either have per-

ished without depositing eggs at all, or they will be compelled to de-
posit them on the apple trees or whortleberry bushes; the latter being
probably their original food before the abundanee of cranberries enticed
them to the bogs and led to their Sauer increase. This remedy has

* None of the specimens of the Tachinid bred by Mr. Smith had the wings dnculogeee and all were
otherwise so shriveled and imperfect that determination is impossible. The Ichneumonid is Macro-
centrus delicatus Cr., figured in our Fifth report on the insects of Missouri as parasitic on the Apple
Worm (Carpocapsa pomonella). It is an interesting fact, as bearing on the unity of habit in the same
genus, that we have likewise reared Macrocentrus from two other Tortricids, viz,, Grapholitha cary-
@una Fitch and Tortriz paludana Rob.—C. V. R.

26 BULLETIN NO. 4, PiVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

been some time known to growers in New Jersey, and they have used the
water in this way with uniform success; a few moths of the second
brood find their way on the bogs, but not in sufficient numbers to do
any great damage. As their habits are otherwise the same as those of
the Anchylopera, the remedies recommended for the latter may be as
well used for this insect. .

The moth is attracted by light and a fire; or, better, a torch of pitch
pine with a basin of tar underneath, at intervals around a bog, will at-
tract and des.ivy large numbers in the early evening, soon after dark-
ness fairly sets in.

THE CRANBERRY SPAN WORM.
(Cymatophora pampinaria Gn.)

The moth expands about 14 inches, and is of a pale ash-gray color,
sprinkled with black scales; the wings are produced at the apex, and
the margins are dentate, most distinctly so on the hind wings. The
fore wings are crossed by two distinct black lines; the inner, one-third
from base and curved inward toward the center of the wing; the outer
is one-third from the margin, and is curved first toward the margin and
then inwardly toward the base of the wing. There is a less distinct
and somewhat diffuse line between these lines, and there is a jagged
pale line between the outer black line and the margin. At the margin
is a distinet, scalloped black line. The hind wings are marked in much
the same way, except that the lines are straight. Beneath, the wings
are of a uniform pale gray, relieved on the anterior pair by a black dis-
cal spot.

|This insect, [am assured by growers, appears on the bogs twice in the
course of the season, once in late June or early July, and again the
latter part of August. The larvre appear in June and again about the
middle of July; when full-grown they are rather more than an inch in
length, of a livid reddish gray, smooth and slender, with five pairs of
legs; the anterior three pairs on the three thoracic segments, one pair
on the eleventh and the other on the last segment. The head is deeply
indented above, and the anal plate is long, acute, and considerably pro-
jecting. The anterior part of the first segment is darker reddish brown,
and there are two dorsal rows of very fine brown spots, and a wider
row of a darker color at the sides; the stigmata are deep brown.

The second brood of these caterpillars becomes full-grown early in Au-
gust (8th-11th), and transforms into a short, stout, reddish-brown pupa
less than half an inch in length and rather rough and punctured. The
pup are naked and are found in the sand about an inch beneath the
surface. They are said to transform into moths toward the end of Au-
gust, but how they pass the winter I was not able to ascertain.

These insects are, I am informed, found upon the bogs at Cape Cod in
small numbers every year, but from their color, which resembles that of a

e

oo ery ae

THE CRANBERRY SPAN-WORM. 754
*

eranberry twig, and their habit of clasping the twig with their anal iegs
or claspers and stretching out from it perfectly straight and motionless,
they are very often overlooked, and it is not until they become very
numerous that they attract attention. Usually they are checked by
parasites, which prey upon them, but in some spot, almost every year,
they become numerous enough to be destructive. This year it was a
bog at Cotuit under the charge of Capt. S. Ames. On August 9, in his
company, I visited this bog. No sooner did we come in sight of it than
the space covered by the insects was seen. Elsewhere of a deep, rich
green, where they were working everything was of a bare, yellow brown:
Reaching the bog I found where these insects were working that abso-
lutely every green thing had been eaten up; not a leaf, not a bud re-
mained; even the soft terminal shoots had been eaten off and only the
hard, dry twigs remained. At first I could see no larvee, but on closer
examination I found that what I had taken as bare twigs sticking out
were really larvie; a dozen of them were sometimes found on a single
spray, and not a spray escaped. Captain Ames says they started from
a place about a rod square, ate that all up, spread out alittle, and then
started in a direct line across the bog. At this, time they had nearly
completed their journey, and were about full-grown. Reaching what
might be called the head of the army, every spray was found loaded
with larve; yet so deceptive was their appearance that it was at first
impossible to realize their vast number. <A small fire was built in that
portion of the bog just passed over, the wind carrying the smoke through
the advance guard of the host. In a moment everything was in motion ;
the very plants seemed alive from the host of larve crawling among them,
The only thing at all comparable to it which I had witnessed is the
march of the army worm. Going back over the eaten portion, almost
everywhere I chose to dig, pup were found about an inch beneath the
surface. The number of moths that would be produced should these
pupe all transform would be frightful. Luckily, the larva seems sub-
ject to attacks of parasites, and while I did not myself succeed in raising
these parasites, a lot of larvie sent to the Department to be raised may
have done better.

REMEDIES.

Where these insects cover an entire bog nothing in the way of a crop
can be hoped for, and the best thing that can be done is to flow the bog.
Where they cover but a part of the bog, or where it cannot be flowed,
Paris green should be used, preferably mixed with rye flour, and it should
be liberally applied. No danger can result, because no crop can be
picked off the portion attacked by them. If they are noticed when they
first begin to work, and cover but a small space, kerosene prepared and
used as suggested for the Anchylopera is preferable. Being open feed-
ers there is no difficulty in reaching them, and the action will be rapid
and certain. Instead of Paris green, pyrethrum may be used; it is.

28 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
¥

quick and certain in its action where it touches the larva, and, liberally
applied, it would undoubtedly destroy the vast majority of them.
Where the larvee are scattered singly over the bog they usually escape
notice entirely and do no appreciable damage.

An insect common to the Cape and New Jersey, though much more
destructive on the Cape, is

THE CRANBERRY FRUIT WORM.*

The moth producing this pest expands rather more than half an inch,
has narrow fore wings, and broad, somewhat triangular, hind wings; the
head is broad, the eyes large and black, and the palpi project well beyond
the head. The color of the body and secondaries is a rather pale gray,
with a slight metallic glisten, more pronounced on the thorax, where
white metallic scales are intermixed. The fore wings-are rather
darker gray, with a more decided metallic luster; along the costa is a
snowy white margin, most distinct and widest at the middle of the
wing, narrowing and sprinkled with gray scales at the base and apex.
There is a darker, transverse shade very near the base; a more distinct,
darker, transverse band just inside the middle, and an oblique and less
distinct shade from the apex to the inner margin, more diffuse near the
middle of the wing. Above the center of the wing, at the outer third, is
a rather long, paler spot, constricted at the middle, at each end of which
is a blackish spot. Beneath, the wings are of a uniform glistening gray
color, darker on the fore wings. The fringes on both wings are concol-
orous. This insect appears on the bogs late in June and early in July,
with the first appearance of berries; it is shy, flies rapidly, and is not
easily captured. When and where the egg is deposited is not yet
known, but probably on the young berry. The young berry-worm ap-
pears as soon as the berries are well set, eats out the center only, and
then migrates to another berry. The vacated berry turns red and event-
ually shrivels up and drops. The larva, on entering the new berry, care-
fully spins up the aperture made to effect an entry with a dense web of
fine, white silk, so that it is sometimes difficult to see where the hole was
made. In this berry it becomes half-grown, and, working out, leaves a
jagged opening, and again enters a new berry; the berries are by this
time well grown, and sometimes the larva reaches its full size in this
third berry. The place of entry is as carefully closed as in the previous
case, and soon the berry begins to show a red color, denoting to the prac-
tised eye the presence of the enemy, but to the uninitiated appearing
only to be nicely ripening. Where the larva does not completeits growth
in this berry, it migrates to another, this time not closing the port of
entry. The berries are by this time nearly fully grown, and about the
latter part of September or the beginning of October the worms are fully

* This is a Phycid belonging apparently to Myelois, but as only one poor and damaged specimen was
. . : v
obtained, we cannot now properly characterize it.—C. V. R.

THE CRANBERRY FRUIT-WORM. 29

grown, leave the berry, and go into the pupa state. Dr. Brakeley, who
has raised the insect, and from whom I obtained a part of the above his-
tory, says that the larva pupatesin the ground, and the moth emerges
next spring. The larvie appear to differ greatly in rapidity of growth,
as in early August, when I examined many hundreds at Cape Cod, all
sizes were represented, from the mite but a line or two in length to the
nearly full-grown larva half an inch in length and completely filling the
interior of the berry. The full-grown larva is half an ineh or a little
more in length, of a bright green color, often with a reddish tinge, most
prominent on the dorsum. The head is narrower than the first segment,
and is of a paler, more yellowish color, except the mouth, which is
brown; the segments are transversely wrinkled, and are clothed with a
few sparse and rather long hairs. As a whole, the insect is more com-
pactly built than either of the preceding, and is of the same thickness
throughout.

The damage done by this insect in the cranberry bogs of Cape Cod
this season is very large. In New Jersey scarcely a specimen could be
found, and nowhere was it plenty. On August 7 to11, I visited the
Cape Cod bogs. Searcely one but was infested by this insect, and many
were so badly attacked that not 20 per cent. of the berries were sound;
in one bog near Hyannis, which had escaped the fire-worm, the berries
on August 8 were 90 per cent. red, and apparently ready to gather;
closer examination developed a berry worm in almost every berry, and
there was every likelihood of the whole crop being eaten, as the worms
were scarcely half-grown.

REMEDIES.

An Ichneumon fly is said to prey on this worm, but I did not succeed in
breedingit, andit cannot apparently bedepended upon to keep the species
within limits. I could not find that any remedies against this insect
had been successfully used. Tobacco had been tried, but without suc-
cess, and the same result attended the use of Paris green. Flowing has
been tried, but where the water has been left on long enough to destroy
the insects, it has also destroyed the berries. The fact is that it isa
matter of great difficulty, if not absolute impossibility, to reach this
insect in the larva state. The fact that it lives in the berry, and care-
fully closes up the place of entrance, excludes poisons which kill by
touch or by being eaten, because the larva never comes into contact with
them. Flowing is an incomplete remedy for the same reason. It is
possible for the larva to remain submerged for a week or more without
being in the least discommoded, and so long a submergence during
August or September would infallibly ruin the crop, although it might
thereby also destroy the insect. It is probable that at some portion of
its career this insect can be successfully combated, but as most of my
investigations this season were made in New Jersey, where this insect
was not to be found, I was not able to ascertain its complete history,
’ and can therefore suggest no remedy.

30 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE BROAD-WINGED LEAF-HOPPER.
(Amphiscepa bivittata Say.)

This little insect, while found on every bog, does little injury. It
feeds on the juices of the plant, and did it ever appear in large num-
bers it might become injurious. The insect is about a quarter of an
jnch long, and the expanded wings measure half an inch. The head is
red-brown, with a greenish vertex; the thorax is of a deep brown-red;
the body is yellow, and the hind wings are transparent; the fore wings
are bright green, except the inner margin, which is bright carmine-red.
In shape the wings are broad, semicircular, and when the insect is at
rest the folded wings resemble an undersized leaf. The hind legs are
formed for leaping, and the insect is very active, using its legs and
wings to good advantage in its changes of locality. Should it ever be-
come injurious, the use of hand-nets and of the kerosene emulsion would
be indicated.

THE CRANBERRY-TIP WORM.

Early in July I noticed in one small spot on a bog an occasional vine
which had failed to grow, and had a bud apparently just ready to open.
Examining some of these, 1 found the tip eaten off and the outer leaf
only covering the destroyed tip; further search developed a specimen or
two of a small, red, apodous grub about half a line (0.04 inch) in length,
tapering toward each end, but most toward the head. The specimens
were evidently weak and did not enter the pupa state. A few pup
were afterwards found close to the base of the outer leaf of the terminal
bud and in asmall cavity formed for it; they were enveloped in a dense,
white cocoon of silk, and from one of these the imago emerged toward
the end of August, during my absence from home; from the remains,

the insect seems to be a minute midge, of a clay-yellow color, with long.

legs and antenne. I could find none on the bogs, and up to October
10 there were no traces of larvee in the terminal buds of the vines. In
small spots this insect was apparently quite plentiful, judging from the
destroyed tips, but none of the growers seem to have noticed it, and it
has evidently never been very injurious. Should it become abundant
at any time, the kerosene mixture will prove a complete remedy for it.

LOCUSTS AND CRICKETS.

Ten species of locusts and a cricket (Gryllus neglectus Scudd.) were
found on the bogs, and evidently do considerable damage. The locusts
are Acridium alutaceum (2?) Harr., Caloptenus bivittatus Scudd., Gidipoda
collaris Scudd., Gidipoda maritima Uhl., Tomonotus sulphureus Sauss.,
(dipoda equalis (?) Seudd., Gidipoda eucerata Harr., Stenobothrus ma-
culipennis Scudd. var., Caloptenus sp. near femur-rubrum Deg., and
Caloptenus punctulatus (2) Uhl.

a eo Lee ae sd

RY Carne ape

THE CHAIN-SPOTTED GEOMETER. al

They often grow to an enormous size compared with their usual de-
velopment. They do not find their food exclusively on the bogs, but
when nearly full-grown they have the habit of biting pieces out of the
eranberries, which, of course, soon wither and die. They seldom eat
an entire berry, but usually eat out the seeds and then leave it. The
cricket has the same habit. Probably all the species of locusts found
in the various localities find their way on the bogs, and none live ex-
clusively in them, for I found the same species that were common on
the bog were also common in the woods and fields everywhere in the
vicinity. A cheap and very effective remedy against the depredations
of these insects is a flock of turkeys.’ Dr. Brakeley has between 50 and
100, which day by day journey to the bogs and cross and reecross them
in every direction, coming home each evening with crops distended to
their fullest extent. The difference between his bogs and those of his
neighbors, in the matter of locusts, is marked; only an occasional one
will fly up before you on his bogs, while on the other bogs visited by
me locusts started up everywhere by the dozen. Both pyrethrum and
kerosene kill the locusts when they come into contact with them, but
turkeys constitute by far the best and easiest remedy to apply.

THE CHAIN-SPOTTED GEOMETER.
(Zerene catenaria Gn.)

On some bogs of Cape Cod an insect locally known as the yellow
span worm sometimes becomes somewhat injurious. The parent of the
larva is known as the ‘chain-spotted geometer,” and is pure white,
except for the tront of the head and the shoulder tippets, which are
yellow. The fore wings have a narrow, zigzag black line on the inner
third of the wing, a distinct, black discal dot and a scalloped black line
half-way between the discal dot and outer edge. The hind wings have
a black discal dot and a single black line, often more or less broken at
the outer third of the wing. It expands nearly 2 inches.

The larva is 14 inches or more in length, equally thick throughout, of a
bright sulphur-yelJow color with paler and black markings. It is readily
recognized and easily seen on the bogs; it is found in moderate numbers
on the various bushes growing at the edge of the bogs, and appears a
general feeder. The uniform testimony is that the young larve are
never found on-the bog, but when they attain the length of an inch
they sometimes leave their natural food-plants and invade the bog, eat-
ing rapidly and doing considerable damage.

The remedy for this lies in prevention, and is easy: Clear the ditches
surrounding your bog, have them at least two feet wide and half full of
water, and cut off the brush for a few feet from the edge of the bog. The
remedy is complete.

52 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE RED-STRIPED CRANBERRY WORM.

In the latter part of September and early part of October I found on
a bog in New Jersey a few specimens of a larva described by Dr.
Packard under the above name; the specimens agree very well with his
description, which is substantially as follows :

The body is long and slender, nearly three-fifths of an inch in length,
slightly tapering to the head, but more decidedly toward the tail;
general color pale livid green with six longitudinal, pale reddish lines,
broken and irregular toward the head, but more distinct and wider
toward the tail, so that the body looks darker and rather more reddish
posteriorly. The head is pale yellowish with a few long hairs; the man-
dibles are reddish, darker at the tip. Ocelli blackish. Prothorax un-
usually long, nearly as long as the head, and entirely without markings;
it is slightly wider than the head, but narrower than the succeeding
segment. On the front edge of the second and third rings is a trans-
verse row of six black, minute warts giving rise to a hair, and a seventh
one low down in the middle of the side. On the abdominal segments
there are four dorsai black warts, the two anterior nearer together than
the posterior, though not forming a decided trapezoid; on the side of
the ring is another black wart in line with the two anterior dorsal ones
and giving rise to a rather stout hair. Around the edge of the supra-
anal plate is a row of four black warts and two median, dorsal, smaller
warts. Beneath, livid greenish, the three segments between the last
pairs of feet with each a transverse, straight row of minute, black
warts.

The habits of this caterpillar are much like those of the Teras and of
the Anchylopera; like them it draws together the leaves of a spray, but
unlike them it often severs the leaves and forms a complete tube of silk
with an outer covering of leaves; this tube is always open at each end,
and the larva, which is very active, slips out at the least disturbance. It
was found on a single spot only, and in small numbers, and this spot
was just the one part of the bog not flowed during the winter. At date
(October 22), the larvee have not yet pupated, while the bogs are either
entirely or nearly covered with water. The remedy is indicated by the
length of larval life, and it consists simply in flowing the bog as early in
the fall as it can be safely done and before the larva changes to the pupa
stage. The fact that I found this larva in the only part of the bog not
flowed, and not elsewhere, is significant and points to the best remedy.

Some other insects have been recorded as feeding on, or in some way
injurious to, the cranberries, but these are all observed by me during the
past season. Some of them may be foundin Massachusetts or. elsewhere,
on bogs that I did not get to see, but I heard no complaints of other
insects from localities which I have visited, except that Mr. Makepeace,.
of Hyannis, Mass., who has probably the largest acreage of cranberries
under his care of any one man in Massachusetts, complains of a root

THE RED-STRIPED CRANBERRY WORM. 33

worm, and of an insect eating the runners of the vines. The roots of
the cranberries are exceedingly numerous and fine, and it seems scarcely
possible that an insect living in the roots, as it is claimed this does,
should exist and do serious injury. Captain Ames, of Cotuit, has heard
of this insect, and showed me places on his bog said to be caused by it.
Careful examination revealed nothing. The insect said to injure the
runners leaves traces of its work, but the insect itself seems very diffi-
cult to find. A cranberry plant will send off runners in every direction ;
the runners send out uprights which bear the fruit; the runners lie on
the surface of the ground, and when a bog is resanded, or before, take
root at intervals, though sometimes a runner will maintain six or more
uprights from the main root. It is the bark of these runners that is
eaten off at the under side; never much, but a little bite here and an-
other little bite there ; the runner loses vitality, the uprights die, and
the infested space becomes brown and dry. This gradually spreads,
though as yet no very great damage has been done. [examined several
of these spaces and on every one of them [ found the same appearance,
4. €., dead vines, and on the runners a few small patches deprived of
bark; this, Captain Ames says, is sufficient to destroy a vine. One or
two of these barkings appearing tolerably fresh, I made a close search for
insects without any success; the only living thing found was a centiped.
Captain Ames says that he has seen the depredator, and he is the only
one whom I could find that had. He says it is an active, brown insect
with many legs and some hair-like appendages at the sides. He says
he has seen them early in the season and again late in the season, but
never at the time I saw him, 7. e., August 9. I requested him to look
out for the next appearance of the insect and to send me specimens, but
I have not thus far heard from him, though he promised to comply
with my request. The insect has received the name of “ girdle worm ”
among Cape Cod growers.

I have found a few other insects on the bogs, some Hemiptera homo-
ptera and some Hemiptera heteroptera, but they are not cranberry feeders.
They live on the weeds and grasses found on neglected bogs, and the
more neglected a bog is, the greater the variety and number of small
insects that are found on it. I have no donbt but that most of these
insects do occasionally attack the cranberry, but I am equally certain
that, except the mosquito, they would not be on the bog were the weeds
not there.

8993—Bul. 4 —3

f

34 BULLETIN NO, 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

HOP INSECTS.

The hop crop this year was greatly damaged by insects, principally
the Hop Aphis, ably seconded by the “ Grub,” and materially assisted
by a number of other pests. Herkimer in early summer, Waterville
later on, and then Cooperstown furnished the centers of investigation.
At Athens lexamineda yard that had formerly suffered much from insect
attack, and the yards in the vicinity of Deansville and Oriskany Falls
were visited, so that I might be able to detect local pests, should there
be any unusually abundant. To Mr. Frank Cutter, editor of the Wa-
terville Times, | owe thanks for the courtesy, assistance, and informa-
tion afforded me; to Mr. Lawrence, manager of the Hop Extract works
at Waterville, [am indebted for information and free permission to dig,
delve, and otherwise amuse myself in his hop yard, and to sacrifice such
numbers of vines as the necessities of the case might demand. At
Herkimer, Mr. George W. Pine assisted me in making a first acquaintance
with the “Grub.” At Cooperstown, Mr. J. F. Clark gave me great aid
in my researches on the Aphis. To Mr. Ira C. Jenks, of Deansville, I
tender my thanks for aid on the same subject, and to the growers every-
where I owe gratitude for such aid and information as they were able
to give me.

One of the insects most destructive to the hop vine, and which threat-
ened at one time to entirely destroy the yards in certain districts is—

THE HOP GRUB.
(Larva of Hydrecia immanis Gn.)

This insect measures from 14 to 2 inches in expanse of wing, is stoutly
built, of a yellowish brown or rather pale rust color; the middle portion
of the fore wing is darkest, and incloses two large, somewhat kidney-
shaped, paler spots; the outer portion of the wing is paler; the hind
wings are rather more yellowish, uniformly colored, and not so thickly
covered with scales as are the fore wings.

Of this moth a few specimens appear in the fall, but the majority ap-
pear in spring, from the beginning to the end of May or later, according
to the season.

The egg is deposited by the female upon the tip of the hop vine when
it begins to climb, and is, as I am intormed by Mr. Fees and Mr. Jenks,
about the sizeof a pin head, globular in form, and of a yellowish-green
color. The egg hatches in a few days and produces a minute, slender,
greenish larva, spotted with black, which immediately burrows into the

vine just below the tip, and spends a part of its life in the vine at this ~

point.

The vine soon shows the effect of the insect’s work ; instead of pointing
upward, embracing the pole readily and growing rapidly, the tip points
downward, will not climb, and almost entirely ceases growing. This
appearance is called by growers a ‘muffle head,” and such ‘“ muffle

Soe ( Pee a

a oee

te ea ce

ese T

THE HOP GRUB—ITS HABITS. 35

heads,” Lam informed by growers, were quite common this spring. The
heads had been opened and the larva detected, but the parentage was:
almost universally attributed to a ‘green fly” mentioned, but not more
nearly described in several agricultural papers. This fly, as nearly as |
can make out from the description of growers, is a Syrphus, and prob-
ably the parent of the larva found afterward destroying the hop aphis.
At any rate, it is not the parent of this ‘‘tip worm,” as the insect has
been called. Not all ‘muffle heads” are caused by this larva, how-
ever, as will be hereafter pointed out.

When the insect attains a length of about half an inch or slightly
less, it leaves the tip,drops to the ground, and, entering the stem at the
surface of the vine, feeds upward, interrupting the growth of the vine and
lessening its vitality; the larva now changes color, and becomes a dirty
white with a strong, deep reddish tint, apparently proceeding from be-
neath the surface of the skin, and with numerous black spots. As the
vine grows, it becomes hollow and hardens, and the more rapidly as the
free flow of sap is interrupted. The larva, now about an inch in length,
and still slender, burrows downward to the base of the vine at its june-
tion with the old stock, and, eating its way out, completes its growth
as a subterranean worker ; it is in this state that it is best and most
widely known as the hop “grub,” and the ravages caused by it are
most noted.

The journey from the stem to the ground is made in the beginning of
June, and by the 21st of June, while I found many larve in the ground
about the roots, none.were found in the stems, though traces of their
work were everywhere abundant.

The larva now is mainly a sap feeder. Iteats a small hole into the
side of the stem just below the surface and just above the old root, and
grows fat rapidly on the juices that should nourish the plant. As the
sap seeks courses to enable it to reach the upper part of the vine un-
molested, the grub enlarges its opening until he sometimes severs it en-
tirely from the parent root, and the vine dies. In other cases it is left
barely attached to the root, and continues a precarious existence, yield-
ing few or no hops. Occasionally an exceptionally healthy vine will en-
tirely recover from a serious attack of “grub.” By the middle or the
20th of July the larve are full-grown and ready to enter the pupa state.
They are now about 2 inches in length, fleshy, unwieldy, and very slow
in their movements; they are of a dirty white color, speckled with fine,
brownish, elevated tubercles, each furnished with a single stout hair ;
the head is brownish and corneous, as is also the top of the first segment.

About the 20th of July the pupa is formed in a rude cell close to the
roots of the plant, upon which, during its larval existence, the insect fed.
The pupa is an inch or slightly more in length, stout, cylindro-conie, and .
of a deep brown or blackish color. In this condition it passes the win-
ter, though, as before remarked, a few specimens appear in the fall.
Whether these latter hibernate or whether they perish, I have not been
able to ascertain, though the latter seems the more likely.

36 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

This insect is not equally common in all years nor in all localities. It
will sometimes be plenty and greatly damage one yard, while the closely
adjoining yard is untouched. As a rule, also, the outskirts of the yards
are the greatest sufferers, while the interior yards escape. The habit of
the moth seems to be to lay its eggs on all available places, and often
every shoot from the roots, amounting to fifteen or more, will turn out
‘‘mufile heads,” and consequently useless. As many as twenty larves
have been found in a single hill, while I myself have found thirteen
specimens. Where nothing is done to check them they do considerable
damage, and may, and indeed have destroyed entire yards. —

REMEDIES.

The remedies to be recommended for the destruction of these insects
are simple, cheap, and efficient.

First. Cultivate skunks. They are an invaluable aid, require no pay,
no care, and ask only to be let alone and not interfered with in their
work. Inevery yard in which the grubs were common, and where there
were any convenient hiding and breeding places for skunks near by,
traces of their presence could be seen in the tunnel made by the sharp
snout of the animal in its search for the fat larv ; for it is not until the
larva is full grown or has changed into a pupa that the skunk cares to
hunt it up, but then he is a thorough worker, and where the traces of
skunk were seen on a hill it was very seldom that a larva or pupa could
be found. It was thus that, relying on the large numbers of young
larvie found in early spring, I found in July, when I went to gather
mature forms and pup, that everywhere the skunks had preceded
me, So that it was with some difficulty I secured a few specimens, and
later, when 1 requested a grower to send me a few, I received answer
that none could be found. Of course some will escape and transform,
unless reached by some other means, and I would recommend—

Second. Search for and destruction of the pupz in early spring.
This can be done without much additional labor when grubbing and
cleaning the roots. Most growers assured me, when I had described
or shown them the pupa, that they had seen the same thing every spring
when grubbing, but had not connected them with the “ grub,” and had
turned them under again when re-covering the roots. Instead of re-
covering, destroy each pupa seen, and keep a sharp lookout for them in
turning over the earth. A little experience will render the pupa readily
recognizable. E

Third. Destroy them when tip-worms and in the “* muffle heads.” The
‘¢muftle heads” begin to appear when the vines have begun to climb,
and when growers are beginning to tie. In selecting the vines to be
trained on the pole be careful there are no “ muffle heads,” and wher-
ever one is observed pick it off, and by compression between the fingers
destroy the larva in the tip. As all the vines have to be handled in se-
lecting, very little time will be lost in picking off infested heads, and
by going through the yards carefully every second day and picking off

R®MEDIES AGAINST THE HOP GRUB ot

* muffle heads” as they appear, a yard of considerable extent can be
kept clear with little trouble; the larvee do not appear to remain in the
head more than a week or ten days, and that during the time when the
vines are low, the tips within plain sight and easily reached.

Fourth. If none of the preceding methods have succeeded in entirely
ridding the yard of grubs, and as a matter of precaution, even if no
damage from grubs is observed, it is good policy to fr
expose the roots for a few days ; but little trouble
is necessary to do this, for before hilling the roots
are but scarcely covered, and only enough earth
to bare the junction of the growing vine with the
old root need be removed. This should be done
early in June, when the larve have left the inside
of the vines. They will not eat above ground, and
will take to the old roots, to which they do little
ornoharm. Five or six days will be a sufficiently
long time to expose the roots; then apply a hand-
ful of a mixture of coal and wood ashes,
or ammoniated phosphate, and hill high.
Both of these substances have been used
as remedies against the grub, and both
successfully by some and unsuccessfully. Fig. 2.
by others; the differences are-unreconcilable by the fact that
in neither case was it the application of the ashes or phos-
phates that destroyed or kept off the grub, but the treatment
adopted in conjunction with these applications. If, in addition
to the application of any desired fertilizer, the
vines are hilled, and the hills made high, the vines
will throw off rootlets above the main root and
be able to derive sustenance from them, whereas
when there are no hills, or the hills are low, when
the grub does attack the vine it immediately de-
prives it of a part of the necessary sustenance
and impairs its vitality. Both the ashes and
phosphate are repugnant to the grub, but not
deadly, and it will dare them after a few days to
get at its favorite location. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 ex-
plain my meaning; the former is from a vine al-
most eaten off, but still flourishing, being sus-
tained by its rootlets, much longer and more-
numerous than indicated in the figure, while the
two latter are from vines insufficiently hilled, and which were killed
by the grubs. The vine represented in Fig. 5 had been slightly bent
and partially covered with earth and was attacked by three grubs in
as many places.

Parasites I have not found or heard of, but the larva of a Carabid,
probably Calosoma calidum, is known to feed on the young grubs. A

Fig. 3.

38 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

gentleman in Sangerfield informs me that he several times tried the ex-
periment of placing a grub in the way of the larva, and each time it
was set upon and immediately devoured. I found none of these larve
at Herkimer in June, and on July 22 the grubs had mostly changed to
pup, while the carabid larva had also disappeared. I could not find
a specimen, nor could my informant, though he said they were common
enough a few days previous.

In the preceding account, the young grub is said to produce the
‘muffle head,” and this is correct; but not all ‘muffle heads” are pro-
duced by the grubs. My attention was called by several growers to
yards where the vines were stunted, the tops imperfect; they refused to
climb; the hills were called “slide downs,” ‘foolish hills,” or “ blighted,”
and, as a rule, the damage was attributed to the “fly,” a little green
leaf-hopper hereafter described. Several yards showed this appear-
ance in nearly every hill, while in most yards there were some instances
of it. At the Hop Extract works there was a yard, every hill of which
was ‘ blighted,” and here I carefully examined the vines from root to
tip to ascertain whether the trouble was caused by insects. My con-
elusion is that it is not so caused, because while in some few hills I
found the grub or traces of his work, most of the bills were absolutely
free from all insect attack sufficient to cause this appearance. The vines
are short and bushy, the heads are fuzzy, the vines become wiry, hard,
and bony toward the tip, the joints are but an inch or less apart, and the
leaves imperfect. The arms thrown out by the vine grow well at first,
but in a short time become as bad as the main vine. No crop can be
expected from such vines. I soon satisfied myself that nowhere above
ground was any insect at work on the plants, and found also that the
affected vines were wiry and unhealthy to the parent root, and that
the parent root was entirely free from insect attack, but of a more shriv-
eled, unhealthy appearance than in normal hills. I found, too, that
this “blight” was universal in low, moist ground; that hill yards were
almost entirely free from it, and where it occurred in a hill yard it
was in some depression where the water could accumulate; during the
spring, rains were frequent and heavy, and the ground was sodden and
unfit for working for some time, and early in the season there were
several frosts soon after soaking rains.

The conclusion is that the frost nipped the vines in the moist grounds
while it had no effect onthe hill yards where the drainage was rapid and
complete. At all events, whatever be the cause of this “blight” it is
not attributable to insects. A ‘¢ muffle head” caused by the grub can
be at a glance distinguished from a ‘“ blighted” vine by the long joints
and otherwise healthy condition of the vine. The “blight” shortens
the joints and affects all the arms of the vine, while the “ grub” affects
only the heads inhabited by it and does not otherwise cause any abnor.
mal appearances.

Norn.—I have given this insect the name Hydrecia immanis Gn.,
though on close comparison with the European H. micacea Esp. I can

THE HOP SNOUT-MOTH. 39

find no difference except in size. Guenée says the larva of micacea is of
a carneous-gray color and that it lives in sedges. Lederer says the
larve are pale yellow, with darker tubercles and horny plate on the
neck, and live when young in the stems, later on the tuberous roots of
Cacalia. Sepp figures the larva of micacea as of an obscure violet, in the
stems of Rumex. This range of variation includes the different appear-
ances assumed by our larva in its growth, but for the present, perhaps,
the species had better be retained as distinct. H. obliqua Harvey, is,
however, undoubtedly only a local variation of immanis ; and as hop-
growing in Washington Territory, whence that insect comes, is assum-
ing large dimensions, we may expect soon to hear complaints of damage
done there by the “ grub.”

THE HOP SNOUT-MOTH.
(Hypena humuli Harr.)

The larva of a small, obscurely colored and marked moth was found
in spring, at Herkimer, in a single low-lying yard. A hill yard close by
was entirely free from it, and at Waterville. I found no traces of it. The
caterpillar is pea-green, speckled with minute black dots giving rise to
short hairs, and there are two paler whitish lines on the back and one
on each side; it has 14 legs, and when walking bends up the back a
little. On June 22 I found a few specimens of the larve ; they were then
about an inch in length and very active, dropping from the leaf the
moment. they noticed approaching disturbance and making for some
place of concealment on reaching the ground. The few specimens I
gathered died. On July 14, in the same yard, I saw perhaps half a
dozen specimens of about the same size. They did no particular harm,
eating holes in some of the lower leaves, but not to a noticeable extent.
The larva when full-grown spins a thin, silken cocoon in a folded leaf
or in some crevice, changes to a brown chrysalis and soon after comes
forth as a moth whose wings measure about an inch or a little more
when expanded. The color varies from rust to black brown; they are
slightly mottled with paler markings, have an oblique paler dash at
the tip, and a sealloped, more or less distinct, pale transverse line beyond
the middle of the fore wings. The hind wings are dusky, without evi-
dent markings. <A peculiar feature of the moth and one by which it can
be easily known is the projecting snout, formed by the long, flattened
palpi or mouth-feelers which are held close together and projecting hori-
zontally forward. There are said to be two broods, but I did not succeed
in finding the larva again later in the season, and to nearly all growers
ot whom I inquired the insect was entirely unknown. Should it be-
come numerous it can be controlled by taking advantage of its habit
of at once dropping to the ground when disturbed; by brushing with a
stick up and down the vines the larva will be induced to drop to the
ground where a big foot, rightly placed, will prove a complete remedy.
It will not take long and need be done but once or twice.

40 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE COMMA BUTTERFLY.
( Vanessa comma Harr.)

The larvae of this species were quite destructive in some districts,
notably about Cooperstown, this spring, but they disappeared early in
July. The vines soon recovered, and appeared to suffer no permanent
injury.

This larva is the ‘thorny green worm” of some letters to local news-
papers. It is usually of a green color, but varies from almost white to
yellowish brown, dusted with a fine, whitish powder in some specimens.
The head is furnished with two blackish, branched spines, while the
spines with which the body is furnished vary in color with that of the
other parts, but are always tipped with black. When fully grown it
is between 14 and 2 inches in length, and then transforms into a chry-
salis of a woody brown color, furnished with spines on the body, a nose-
like projection in front near the head, and ornamented with golden or
silver spots. ‘These chrysalids are known to growers and those engaged
in hop-yards as “hop merchants,” and according as the color of the
metallic spots is golden or silver, so will the price of hops range high or
low, so the story goes. The buttertly which emerges from these chrys-
alids expands from 2 to 24 inches; upper side tawny orange, fore wings
bordered and spotted with black; hind wings shaded with dark brown,
with two black spots in the middle, and three more in a transverse row
from the front edge and a row of bright orange-colored spots before the
hind margin; outer edges of the wings powdered with reddish white;
under side marbled with light and dark brown, the hind wings with a
silvery comma in the middle.

These insects are usually kept in check by minute parasites, which
deposit their eggs in the caterpillar, so that not one in ten ever attains
the butterfly state. Still, they occasionally become numerous enough to
do considerable damage, and require measures to reduce their numbers.
The best of these is hand-picking. The only time they ever prove de-
structive is in early Summer, when the first brood approaches its full
size, and at a time when work in the yards and about the vines, trim-
ming, tying, &e., is continually going on, and wherever they are per-
ceived they should be at once picked off and destroyed. They are sel-
dom numerous, but their size and voracity make their work very ap-
parent. As when young they feed, if not in company, yet close together,
an entire brood can often be destroyed in a moment, and by a little
labor directed to that end a yard can be kept clear of these insects. The
second brood does not seem ever to be perceived, and I could not learn
that they had ever done any appreciable damage. In fall I found the
larvee few and far between, and the chrysalids I collected were one and
all infested with parasites.

Ks ee SS rr ,r—To

a ee

CATERPILLARS THAT FEED ON THE HOP-VINE. 41

THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH.
(Orgyia leucostigna Sm. & Abb.)

This omnivorous insect I found in some numbers on the hop; not
sufficiently numerous to attract the attention of growers, but suffi-
ciently abundant to form the nucleus from which future broods may
spring; numerous enough to demand notice. The larva, when full-
grown, is from 1 to 14 inches in length, of a bright yellow color, spar-
ingly clothed at the sides with pale hair. There is a dusky stripe on
each side, and a darker or black stripe on the back ; the head and two
little warts on the ninth and tenth rings are bright coral red; there
are two tufts or pencils of long, black hair on the first segment, and a
single, similar tuft on the eleventh; the fourth, fifth, sixth, and sev-
enth segments have each a thick brush of short, stout, yellow hair, giv-
ing the larva rather an odd but at the same time pretty appearance.
When full-grown it spins a cocoon, and transforms into a whitish pupa.
The female moth, emerging from the pupa, is wingless, and never moves
further than the upper side of the cocoon from which she emerged.
The male is winged; the wings expand about 1 inch; are of a deep ash
gray, crossed by darker lines. The eggs are laid on the empty cocoon
of the female; are covered by a white, frothy matter which soon hard-
ens; and, when laid in the fall, do not hatch until the following spring.

These inseets can be easily controlled. The cocoons and egg-masses
are attached either to the leaves, vines, or hop poles, or occasionally to
fences surrounding the yard. The vines are usually burnt when pick-
ing is over, and the egg masses on the vines are thus destroyed; the
poles should be examined either when stacked for the winter or when
set in the spring, and the adhering egg-masses should be collected and
destroyed. Being white, they are easily seen, and as each egg-mass
contains the embryos of caterpillars enough to eat up all the vines on
a hill, the time employed in collecting it is not entirely wasted. During
the winter, or in early spring, the fences surrounding the yards should
be examined and the egg-masses picked off and destroyed. In this
way yards can be kept free of this pest.

THE FALL WEB-WORM.
(Spilosoma cunea Drury)

In several yards I noticed the vines on a number of poles enveloped
by the web of the common Fall web-worm, so often seen on fruit trees.
There is no need to describe the insect, as it is so well known, and there
is no need for hop-growers to suffer any loss from it, for the whole
colony can be destroyed when first noticed by simply cutting off the
arms and leaves which are spun up and trampling them under foot.

42 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE HICKORY TUSSOCK-MOTH.

(Halesidota carye Harr.)

At Waterville and vicinity | found a number of caterpillars, when
fully grown about one inch or a little more in length. The head and
under side of the body are black ; the upper part, so far as can be per-
ceived, is white, sprinkled with black dots, and with transverse lines ©
between the rings. They are covered with short, spreading tufts of
white hair, with a row of eight black tufts on the back, and two long,
slender, black pencils on the fourth and tenth rings. The tufts along
the back are so close together as to form an apparently unbroken ridge
of short, dense, and somewhat bristly hair. The hair on the front part
of the body is longer than the rest and overhangs the head. These
caterpillars are full-grown about the 10th of September, spin a cocoon
in some crevice, under stones or in heaps of rubbish, and transform into
a brown chrysalis. In June following the moths appear. They expand
from 14 to 2 inches; the fore wings are long, pointed, of a pale ocher-’
yellow color, finely sprinkled with brown dots, and crossed by four
irregular rows of large white and semi-transparent spots.

The caterpillars do not seem to feed very heartily, as even where
they were most plenty the leaves were not noticeably eaten. They are
nowhere very abundant, have not been known to do any serious injury,
and are probably kept in check by the fact that before they are ready
to spin up the vines are cut down, and then, when forced by want of food
to make their cocoons in the piles of vines, they are destroyed when
the vines are burnt.

THE HOP PLANT.LOUSE.
(Aphis | Phorodon| humuli Schrank.)

This insect is well known to all growers, and was especially injurious
during the past season, the hops being rendered universally of an infe-
rior grade,and many spots so greatly injured that they were not picked.
For many years past the hops have been more or less injured by lice,
but this year they were especially abundant, the universal testimony of
all growers being to the effect that never before had they known of such
injury caused by them. Nothing at all was done to combat them, the
worst infested parts of the yards only being first picked, sometimes a’
little before fully ripened, and most of the energy and ingenuity being
devoted to bleaching out of the hop all trace of the “ mildew” and
‘rot ” caused by the insects.

As in respect to these insects my notes are full, I will simply tran-
seribe them.

June 21.—At Herkimer, in Mr. Pine’s yards, examined carefully for
aphids, but find no traces of them. Mr. Pine says his low-lying yards

THE HOP PLANT-LOUSE. 43

sufter most; he had them last year and previous years, but never sees
them as early as this.

June 23.—At Mr. Harter’s yard find no lice; it is a hill yard, cleanly
cultivated, flourishing, and remarkably free from insects of all kinds.

July 14, 15, 16.—Examined vines for aphids, none found any where,

July 17.—Went to Mohawk; saw Mr. Steele and examined his yard ;
no aphids; says his yard, being on a hillside, well drained, always a
-eurrent of air through it, suffers very little from insects, and while he
has each year some lice, he does not suffer any appreciable damage.
Hot, dry weather favors hops and is bad for lice, the reverse is bad for
hops, good for lice.

July 19.—Arrived at Waterville with Mr. Cutter, of the Waterville
Times. I visited the Hannover farm; found the first aphids I had
seen, very few indeed, small in size, wingless; a single one to a leaf
only. Visited Mr. Risley’s yard; nolice here. Visited Mr. Coggeshall’s
yard; lice more plentiful here than anywhere else so far, and yet not
numerous; they had evidently been here for some days, because there
were large specimens, and on the same leaf a varying number of small
and very small specimens, as many as seven or eight on a leaf, evi-
dently the progeny of the old one. Not many leaves are affected, how-
ever, mainly the lower, large leaves, and very dense vines are more
attected than the others.

July 20.—Visited the Hop Extract works, and spent most of the day
in the yards there; the low, wet yard has a fair sprinkling of medium
sized and very small wingless lice. The hill yard is as yet clear. Mr.
Lawrence says a few sultry days will suffice to cover the vines. He
finds winged ones in immense numbers in late fall in his storerooms,
but they disappear soon after, and he never saw them in winter.

July 21,a. m.—With Mr. Eastman, of the Hannover farm, visited hop
yards toward Sangerfield and vicinity; lice everywhere now, but in
small numbers; always more abundant on low ground. Saw ‘honey
dew” for the first time. The current belief is that this is produced by
the lice, but there certainly are not lice enough now to produce all this
“honey dew.” Mr. Eastman and Mr. Fees think the lice have nothing
to do with it; say they have seen lice without honey dew, and honey
dew in abundance where there were no lice.

p. m.—Went to Deansville. and saw Mr. Jenks. Mr. Jenks is a
microscopist and has paid some attention to lice; says he has seen
winged lice, males, early in spring, 7. e. about May 20; saw at that
time also wingless forms, females. Finds both on the stem of the
vines, not far from the roots and crawling upward ; later finds them on
the lower leaves and then they disappear for a month or more. They
are beginning to reappear now. Has never found them on the roots in
the winter and never looked for them; never saw them in grubbing
time.

44 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Cranberry insects now demanded my attention, and my notes cease
until— ;

September 4.—Went to Mr. Risley’s yard; find them picking ; lice not
over abundant; plenty everywhere, but not doing any serious injury to
the hops; in a few places only the hops are beginning to show traces of
mold; winged forms are scarce, but there are a few.

p- m.—With Mr. Cutter went to the Hannover farm; picking is going
on, full blast; lice are not over abundant, less than they have been be-
fore the cold snap (the night of the 3d and 4th the temperature fell to
the freezing point); winged forms in small numbers. Saw Mr. Sylves-
ter Gridley and his yard ; lice plenty; hops fair, but in some spots badly
damaged by the mold caused by lice. This is the worst so far. Mr.
Gridley says he has seen the lice when grubbing; he has cultivated ,
hops for many years, has always bad more or less trouble with lice, and
knows them perfectly; he was superintending grubbing, and was called
by some of the men to look at some hills they were at work upon ; found
that the young shoots were completely covered with lice ; whether winged |
or not he cannot say; saw this on several hills; the lice were of full
size. Mr. Gridley’s men claim that they have found the lice on the
poles when setting them in spring.

September 5.—Hop Extract yard. Lice here very abundant, especially
in the low, “blighted” yard; in some places they form double layers; to-
ward the tips and on joints they are especially plentiful, often forming
balls half an inch in diameter; many leaves are sucked dry; they
shrivel up, become brown, and die, and the inhabiting lice with them;
many vines were entirely brown and dry; the hops were covered inside
and out, and wereall moldy and rotting. There are many winged forms
and many with rudimentary wings—pupe. I noticed none of these
yesterday. The night has been cold; this day, warm.

September 6.—The night has been cold; at the Extract yards the lice
are not more numerous, but pup and winged forms are largely on the
increase. Went to Deansville and called at all yards on my way.
Everywhere the lice are fearfully abundant, and the hops are molding
fast. The entire crop this way is tainted and lessened in value. On a
bag of hops picked yesterday and left out over night the lice cover the
outside in a layer fully an inch thick. Where the vines have been piled
up clumps of lice, 4 to 6 inches in diameter, aggregated into a globular
mass of living matter, are seen. The number is incredible, and the
thing must be seen to be believed or appreciated. Toward evening it
became warmer and I noticed swarms of the aphids on the wing.
Though I watched long and carefully I could not.find that they mated.

September 7.—The night has been warm. To-day itis warm and show-
ery. At the Extract yards lice are, if possible, more numerous than
yesterday. A notable fact is that while yesterday there seemed to be
no very small forms and a large number of pup, to-day there are many
winged specimens, there are very few pups and a new batch of very

— = a

THE HOP PLANT-LOUSE. A5

sinall specimens, evidently not many hours old, and on every leaf I ob-
served the process of bringing forth living young. None of the winged
insects were so engaged. These were more active and less patient of
observation, nor did I observe that any pup or those forms with but
rudimentary wings brought forth young.

p. m.—Im Mr. Risley’s yard lice less abundant than elsewhere. On
the whole, Mr. Risley’s yard and the yards in the immediate vicinity are
much less bothered with the lice than any other yards I have seen.
Nothing particular to note except the small number of winged speci-
mens and the entire absence of pupe.

September 8.—Rain ; temperature warm ; lice are not active, and repro-
duction does not seem to be going on, but I spent only a short time
‘““between drops” in the yards.

September 9. Sunday; rain all day; temperature high; evening closed
in warm and muggy.

September 10.—Went to Oriskany Falls, Sangerfield Center, and the
Hannover farm during the day. Lice in all yards more abundant than
ever. The vines are one mass of the beasts. Merely walking under
them I became covered. On the stems, leaf-stalks, and especially at
the joints, there were three, and even four, layers of the insects, while
on the ground, globular masses, 4 to 6 inches in diameter, were every-
where seen where the vines had been pulled and hops picked; every-
thing is covered with lice, and everywhere they show that same tend-
ency to bunch themselves.

September 11.—At Cooperstown, called on Mr. J. F. Clark and saw
his yard. Nothing noteworthy inhis yard. Inthe yards between Rich-
field Spa and Cooperstown picking is about over, and here many have
finished picking and all are nearly done. Mr. Clark says that this
spring, when grubbing—about the middle of March—one of his men
turned up with the grubbing hook a mass of living lice; the mass was
globular and as big asa fist. The man, whom I questioned closely,
says they were about 6 inches or more underground, near to, but not on,
the roots; he called the attention of his fellow-workmen to them and
they broke up the mass to make certain they were really lice, and he
is positive that they were identical with the lice now in the yards.
Cannot say whether any of them were winged. Mr. Clark, also, has:
noticed the lice on the vines when they were still very low.

September 12.—Spent part of dayin Mr. Clark’s yard and with him grub-
bing up hills where picking had been over for some time. Everywhere
in the ground we found lice—rarely singly, but in small masses, from
three to ten, or more. In recently-picked spots they were numerous
and close to the surface; in older spots they were more scarce and
much deeper down; one mass of eight was found at least 10 inches
below ground, Afterward I examined the spaces upon which the vines
from which the hops had been picked were piled ; where the vines were

46 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

dry they were clear of living lice, but on the ground they were every-
where crawling, making their way into crevices.

Thus far the excerpts from my notes.

I remained for a few days longer, until picking was over and the lice
had disappeared, most of them destroyed, no doubt, by the deprivation
of food and the numerous enemies, in the way of predaceous larve and
small beetles of the Tachys group, which were everywhere abundant in
the yards; but a large number of fully-matured forms, apterous and
winged, no doubt found winter quarters. As several persons claimed
to have found the lice on the poles in spring, | examined many poles
after they had been stacked. Where the yard had been but recently
picked, lice were found on the outside, in the crevices, and under the
bark. In yards that had been picked and the poles stacked two weeks
or more, very few were found, and they far in the crevices and fissures ;
none under the bark or in the crevices of the bark. The probability is
that but few winter in the poles.

A brief resumé of the results of my investigations is this: The lice are
found in the ground as early as March (Clark); they are seen shortly
after on the very young shoots scarcely above ground (Gridley); then
on the young vines not more than three or four feet high, apterous and
winged (Jenks). They disappear early in June, for notwithstanding
close search I failed to find any, nor could [ learn of any having been
then seen. In July, about the middle or toward the end of the month,
single apterous individuals appear on the lower leaves; these produce
living young, which are also apterous, and in two or three days also pro-
duce like young; this continues until the weather becomes cold, and then
winged individuals appear. When the hops are picked, the fully devel-
oped individuals enter the ground, crevices on poles, and probably
other sheltered situations. In the early part of the season the results
are all viviparous females; early in September winged individuals begin
to appear.

As to the mode in which they do their damage: Numerous as they
become, did they only attack the leaves or stems of the plant the
abuudant vitality of the plant would still ripen the hops, though they
might not be quite so full; but not satisfied with the leaves they go inte
the hop, i. ¢., into the burr, and there puncture the delicate leaves; the
sap exudes, ferments, and a fungus attacks it—the hops mold, become
specked, lose vitality, and finally decay. Not always do the lice enter
the hop; sometimes they have been very abundant and yet hops have
not suffered, because the insects confined their attacks to the leaves.
Dry, hot weather will keep them out of the hop, and will somewhat
retard their increase. Hot, moist weather, or rainy weather with cold
spells, will in the one case so favor their increase that they will cover
the whole vine; and in the other, while retarding their development,
cause thein to seek shelter in the hop itself.

Nor are all varieties of hops equally affected by the vermin. ‘ Hum-

REMEDIES AGAINST THE HOP PLANT-LOUSE. 47

phreys” and ‘“ Canadas,” both red and white, are not apt to mold, but the
“English” and * Cluster” suffer greatly and mold readily. The reason
for this is in the form of the hop. ‘‘ Humphreys” and “Canadas”, after
burring out, remain open, ¢. ¢., the burrs do not close or shut down as
they do in the “Clusters.” The result is, in the first case there is venti-
lation enough, the exudation from the punctures and from the lice does
not ferment, and mold does not form; in the second there is no ventila-
tion, and first fermentation and then decay set in rapidly. ‘ Hum-
phreys” suffer least of all, and as they are an early hop they can be
picked before the final host which attacks the hop is hatched.
“Canadas” come next; they are later, but not only is the hop less liable
to mold, but the vine itself seems less to the taste of the aphids than
are the “ English” and ‘ Clusters.”

REMEDIES.

All sorts of remedies have been proposed and tried, with more or less
success. Washes of whale-oil soap and syringing with decoctions of
quassia have been tried by growers, with partial success. The numbers
were decreased for a short time, but the loss was soon made up, and the
labor was so great that operations were suspended, the more readily as
the growers do not desire to risk tainting the flavor of the hop by
washes.

The great error in all these cases was that the application was not
made until after the insects were in full force, and the vines high up,
almost out of reach; of course under these circumstances it was impos-
sible to do more than temporarily reduce the numbers.

The attack should be begun in spring. When grubbing, the roots
and young shoots should be examined, and any aphids that may be
found destroyed. As the vines increase in size they should be carefully
examined every few days, and when the lice appear these should be de-
stroyed by hand, for the number will not be large and the method is
certain. In my opinion it is now, if at all, that the winged female ovi-
posits or lays her eggs—not more than one or two on a leaf, and proba-
bly close to the midrib. If this can be prevented it will save the crop,
and that it should be prevented it is necessary to attack the insects
when they first appear. Then, when the first of the late forms appear,
about the middle of July, they will be found mainly on the lower leaves,
wingless and in very small numbers; they spread very slowly at first,
and afford the grower ample opportunity, should he desire to avail him-
self of it, for destroying them by means of washes or otherwise; as the
season advances, they become numerous, spread all over the vine, and
are then practically out of reach.

As good a wash as can probably be found is a solution of carbolic acid,
either “‘Squibb’s solution,” containing 1 per cent. of the crude phenols,
which can be diluted with seventy-five times its bulk of water and still

48 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

prove effective, or some of the many carbolic soaps recommended for
that purpose.

Soluble phenyl (Little’s) has been recently recommended as a valua-
ble insecticide, and it is said that a teaspoonful of the liquid in four
gallons of water will suffice to destroy aphids. If this be so (and it is
worthy of a trial) it will make a very cheap wash, and should be freely
used when first the insects make their appearance.

NATURAL ENEMIES.

The hop louse is not without its enemies in the insect world, and quite
a number of species feed on it, and in ordinary years suffice to prevent
its too rapid increase. Prominent among these are the ‘“‘lady-birds”
and their larve known as “niggers.” Three species of the lady-birds
are found in abundance on the vines. The most numerous is the two-
spotted lady-bird (Adalia bipunctata), a small red species, with two black
spots on the wing covers. Next comes the nine-spotted lady-bird (Coe-
cinella 9-notata), a larger species, with nine black spots on its yellowish-
red wing covers; and least numerous of all is the twice-stabbed lady -
bird (Chilocorus bivulnerus), smaller than either, entirely black, except
two blood-red spots on the wing covers. The larvie of these species
are all very much alike, of an elongate, flat form, tapering toward the
tip, with six legs; of a grayish-black color, spotted and marked with red
or yellow. They are very active and very rapacious, feeding almost con-
tinually, and each larva destroys many aphids before attaining maturity.
When full-grown they attach themselves by the tail to a leaf, curl up into
a round pellet, and in a few days transform into the perfect beetle, which
also feeds on the Aphis, but is not so voraciously as the larva. There
are several broods of the insect in the season, the last transforming into
the perfect insect about the middle or toward the end of September. The
beetles hibernate in crevices of fences, under bark of trees, or stones, or
wherever else they can find shelter, and reappear in spring to continue
the work where they left off the year before. Were it possible to pre-
serve a sufficient number of these insects through the winter, so that a
goodly number of them would be on hand in early spring, the lice would
never become numerous enough to do injury; as it is, but few sur-
vive the winter, and before they become numerous the lice, propagating
more rapidly, become so plenty that they are beyond control. But,
seriously, there is no reason why these coccinellids cannot be wintered.
They become very numerous in fall, and several hundreds of them could
be collected without difficulty, put into a large box with plenty of loose
rubbish, and put into some cool place not exposed to the fiereest cold
nor yet so warm as to cause them to become active—a barn or cellar
would answer. The box should be covered so as to prevent the entrance
of spiders which would feed on them. In spring the box could be placed
in the open air, and the insects would then scatter through the yards in
search of suitable places to deposit eggs. I firmly believe that this could

THE HOP-VINE LEAF-HOPPER. 49

be done without much trouble, and that this would prove the best pos-
sible remedy to prevent the spread of or damage by the aphids.

Another enemy is the larva of a Syrphus fly, which I find in small
numbers on the vines. This larva is of a uniform yellowish-white color,
about one-fourth of an inch in length, with a stout body tapering to the
head. It is a slimy insect, with no perceptible legs or head, but a mere
rounded opening for a mouth. ‘It glues itself fast in a position where
lice are abundant, and, stretching its head in every direction, seizes ail
lice within its reach, and when it has cleared all within its reach moves
on to a new center of operations.

The lice are also attacked by a disease, apparently of a fungoid na-
ture. I noticed several instances where all the lice on a leaf appeared
unnaturally large or swollen, and of a brownish-yellow color. On being
handled they crumbled into a very light brownish, granular dust. The
disease does not appear to be widespread, and I cannot give any nearer
details as to its nature or origin.

THE HOP-VINE LEAF-HOPPER.*
(Typhlocyba sp.)

An insect known as the “ green fly” is pretty generally found in hop
yards all through the summer, and sometimes very numerous. This
insect has been said to “sting the heads” and to cause ‘slide down” or
“foolish hills,” while others claim it does no damage whatever. The
insect is of a greenish to yellowish color, with a short, broad head, long,
narrow body, and two pairs of wings, the first narrow, long, and yellow-
ish-green, with a dark dot on each, the hind wing broad and transparent.
The legs are yellow, the posterior pair very long and stout, the shanks
set with spines, and as a whole fitted for leaping. The young or imma-
ture forms resemble the full-grown insects in all points, except that they
want wings. They are very active, leaping off at the least disturbance,
and when full-grown using their wings as well as their legs to good ad-
vantage. The adults hibernate in crevices, in barns, or wherever they
can find shelter, and appear in spring as soon as vegetation appears.
They mate and breed all through the season, and become very numerous
oceasionally. They seem to be somewhat local, as in some yards I could
not find them at all,. while in others close by they were abundant. As
a rule, yards badly infested with aphids had none of these hoppers,
while Mr. Risley’s yard, which was by all odds most free from aphids,
had these hoppers more numerous than they were elsewhere.

These insects do not damage the hops; they are found most usually
on the lower leaves (i. ¢., not more than 5 or 6 feet up the pole), and feed
by puncturing one of the ribs and sucking the sap. The injury done
by them consists in so weakening the veins that they are unable to

* This insect is an undescribed speciesof Typhlocyba, but the material received and submitted to Mr .
P. R. Uhler is considered by him in too poor condition to permit of proper characterization.—0. V. R.

8993—Bul. 4 4

~

50 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

accomplish their work, and the leaf loses vitality. Where these insects
have made a puncture on the rib, a woody scar remains, and where
these scars are numerous those parts of the leaf farthest from the main
ribs are thinner and more flaccid than in healthy leaves; and such
leaves, and no others, are affected by the “honey dew.” A few of the
leaves turn brown, but the vine is not in the least injured and the qual-
ity or quantity of the crop is not in the least affected.

The same remedies used against the Aphis will prove useful against
these insects.

In addition to the insects hereinbefore enumerated, there are a few
beetles, belonging to the Chrysomelide or leat-eating beetles, and prin-
cipally the flea beetles. Most common of the latter is the red-headed
flea beetle (Systena frontalis), a black beetle about a quarter of an inch
in length, with a red head, and with very heavy hind legs; a good
jumper and no mean flyer. Next comes the striped flea beetle (Phyllo-
treta vittata), a black beetle less than one-tenth of an inch in length, with
two yellow stripes on the wing covers. Finally comes the punctured
flea beetle (Psylliodes punctulata), a brownish species, less than one-
sixteenth of an inch in length. None of these are very numerous, and
they are not found in all yards nor all together in any one yard. They
eat small holes in the leaves and do no great damage.

The twelve-spotted leaf beetle (Diabrotica 12-punctata), a yellow bee-
tle about a quarter of an inch in length, with twelve spots on the wing
covers, has the same habit, and appears in small numbers in all yards. .

OBSERVATIONS ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST DURING THE
SUMMER OF 1883.

By LAWRENCE BRUNER.*

q
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 30, 1883.

Sir: Herewith I submit to youareport of my trip through the Rocky
Mountain region during the past summer, made for the purpose of
studying insects injurious to agriculture, but more especially for the
purpose of obtaining such data as would enable me to foretell the proba-
ble aspect of the locust question for the year 1884.

Aveording to instructions, I left here on the 3d of May, and proceeded
to my home at West Point, Nebr., where I procured an assistant and
completed my preparations for the trip. From there we first proceeded
to Albuquerque, N. Mex., via the Union Pacific and the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fé Railroads, where we made a short stay, obtaining
such data as we could relative to locusts and other insects injuring
grain, vegetables, and fruits. Upon our arrival there we found the sea-
son very backward and all kinds of insects quite scarce; hence, after a
few days’ collecting, we proceeded northward to the Taos Valley, a rich
farming district, where we spent almost two weeks gathering such data
as we could concerning various insects. In these efforts we were much
inconvenienced by the prevalence of small-pox in the various villages
thronghout the valley, and on account of the backwardness of the sea-
son, as well asthe extreme ignorance of the natives in general upon
questions relative to insect life. We did, however, succeed in obtain-
ing some data in reference to the migratory locust (Caloptenus spretus)
during the years of invasion. We also procured a small series of some
of the insects found here in early spring.

Upon leaving Taos Valley we proceeded northward by wagon to Fort
Garland, Colo., crossing on the way several small valleys in which farm-
ing is the chief occupation of the inhabitants. Here, too, we encoun-
tered the difficulties experienced while at Taos and neighboring villages,
at times finding it difficult to obtain even the necessities of life. At
Fort Garland we were detained several days on account of the sickness
of my assistant. While here, the weather was quite cold and the post

*Mr. Bruner’s instructions were, in brief, to make all necessary preparations at his home in West
Point, Nebr.. and thence to proceed directly to South Colorado and New Mexico, spending a week or
more in the Taos Valley. Thence he was instructed to return north by way of Fort Steele, and work
into the Big Horn country, eventually striking the Northern Pacific Railroad and proceeding to Fort
Buford, and thence directly home.

The chief object of the trip was to ascertain all facts relating to Caloptenus spretus in the country
indicated that would enable him to make a report as to the prospects for 1884, and also to collect facts
upon insects injuriously affecting any cultivated crop in the settled portion of the region traversed.

i 51

a2 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

was visited by a snow-storm. From this locality I forwarded to the
Department a sample of plant that is said to kill stock, and is known in
this section as the ‘‘loco” weed.* From Fort Garland we returned north-
ward via Denver and Rio Grande Railway to Denver, and thence to Fort
Jollins, where we were detained until July 1 on account of the scarcity
of funds. While there, we occupied the time in collecting and examin-
ing wheat fields for insects, as well as in studying the preparatory stages
of different locusts. From Fort Collins we proceeded by wagon to the
North Park, where we expected to obtain some data and material in
special directions, but upon our arrival in the park we found we were
too late to procure what we were after. We therefore, after learning
that the streams were still too much swollen to reach the higher eleva-
tions, proceeded to Laramie City, Wyo. After a few days’ detention at
this point we left for Rock Creek Station, on the Union Pacific Railway,
from which latter point we proceeded by stage to Junction City, Mont.,
the route by which we traveled taking us across the well-grassed plains
between Forts Fetterman and McKinney and along the eastern flanks
of the Big Horn Mountains, a section admirably adapted to be a breeding
ground for C. spretus. On this trip we laid over a few days at Fort
McKinney and part of a day at Custer’s battle-field, to collect.

From Junetion City, with your permission, we deviated from the
original plan and proceeded westward instead of following down the
valley of the Yellowstone to its junction with the Missouri and thenee
across the plains lying to the northward between this river and the
Souris. We first went to Bozeman, where we procured horses, after
which we rode across the country via the valleys of the Yellowstone,
Upper Madison, and Snake Rivers into that of the Salmon River. On
this trip we also collected at various points along the route, besides
making numerous inquiries relative to the migratory locusts. Upon our
arrival at Salmon City, Idaho, we found that our time which had been
allotted for field work had almost expired. After a few days had been
spent upon the object of our trip, we returned to the railroad, where we
took the train for Ogden. Arriving at Ogden, we found that we still
had some time at our disposal; we therefore devoted it to collecting and
in visiting the orchards of several of the principal horticulturists, both
in the vicinity of Ogden and Salt Lake City. From Ogden we returned
to Washington via West Point.

I am pleased to be able to report that the leading feature of our notes
for the summer’s work is the comparative freedom from all insect plagues
throughout the entire area traversed by us.

The report you will observe is chiefly in the form of notes as they
were taken down from time to time while in the field.

I am, respectfully, yours,
LAWRENCE BRUNER.

Prot... V. Rian,

United States Entomologist.

* Oxytropis lambertii.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN TAOS VALLEY. ‘53
MIGRATORY LOCUSTS.

TAOS VALLEY, Jime 2, 1883.

The first locusts of which I could learn came into the Taos Valley from
the east during the latter part of May, 1876. They were exceedingly
numerous, and during the summer, all through which they remained,
they destroyed almost the entire grain crop, leaving a little in only two
or three small sections to the south and west of the town of Taos.

In the fall (September) of the year they deposited numerous eggs,
which hatched the following spring in great numbers, and much damage
resulted during spring and summer (1877). After attaining wings, a few
left to the westward, but the majority remained and deposited their
eggs, which produced a third brood in the spring of 1878.

In 1877 the crop averaged nearly one-half, and in 1878 a trifle over a
half of the usual yield, but this last year many farmers had become dis-
couraged and refused to plant; hence the crop planted was below the
average for the valley. During the locust visitation several modes of
warfare were tried by a few of the most enterprising citizens, but with-
out any great or decided results. It is related that when the locusts
first appeared the storekeepers then in the valley offered the inhabitants
as a bounty a pound of coffee tor each pound of locusts captured and
killed. At first this was not hard on them, but shortly, as the country
folk learned how to capture the locusts, the offer was withdrawn, as the
coffee went too rapidiy and without any apparent diminution in the
number of locusts. Methods for the destruction of and protection
from the young were various, and in most instances quite similar to
those adopted in other portions of the country. Coal oil or kerosene
was used in mixtures of various strengths and sprinkled on the crops,
which for two or three days after the application was quite effectual in
keeping off the young, but gradually, as the scent of the oil disappeared,
the wheat also began to disappear before the little hoppers. Several
tried oil on the surface of the water in the irrigating ditches with some
little effect for the time being, but all to no purpose in the end. Another
method, and by far the most unique used, was the spreading of wagon
sheets on the ground, after which the little hoppers were driven upon
them, and then the sides gathered up and several large round stones
dropped in and rolled about by keeping the sheet agitated until all the
little feilows were killed. I was assured that a very large number of
the young were destroyed in this manner.

During the summer of 1878 those locusts that matured left to the
westward, and it is claimed that since then none of this species have
been seen in the valley.

There is a valley 20 miles south of here in which there were afew in 1879
and also in some isolated spots in 1880, but during neither of these years
did they do very great or general injury to the crops over the valley.
While in these valleys, in this portion of New Mexico, it is claimed that

54 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

their movements were in unison, but not extensive, their flights being
very short.

The average elevation of Taos Valley is about 7,000 feet. Not a sin-
gle specimen, young or old, of this insect was observed from the time
of leaving Poudre Canon to the time of reaching Laramie City on the
10th of July, nor have any been seen or heard of since. While in North
Park, Mr. Capern stated that but few had been observed by him since 1879
and 1880, when quite a number had hatched in portions of the park ;
aud it was during these years that they were frequently seen in the air,
floating with the wind. From Laramie and Rock Creek, north, we were
ever on the lookout for signs of this insect, but failed to see any before
reaching Fort McKinney. At this place we succeeded in capturing two
fledged specimens and saw but one or two others. We did not ascer-
tain much about their past ravages in this part of the country more
than that, in 1877, they had been seen in the air in great numbers;
also in 1876, and once or twice previous to this, when they flew in great
numbers, and occasionally were noticed piled up in heaps upon the snow
on the mountains where they fell as they became numbed while trying
to cross the range. Again at Custer’s battle-field we saw two or three
more among the numerous other species of locusts that abounded
among the rich grasses of the bottom lands and coulees, as well as
lower hillsides. At Junction, on the Yellowstone River, none of this
insect were noticed, though several allied forms were abundant both on
the river bottoms and among the sage-brush and bunch-grasses back
among the hills and on the bench-lands. At Livingston, where the
railroad leaves the Yellowstone Valley, we noticed a great number of
locusts, which, when I first saw them from the car windows, jumping
about in the grass, I took for this species. Upon going out, the mistake
was quickly observed. While there did not appear to be any C. spretus
among the hosts of locusts, there were quite a large number of Camnula
atrox, or pellucida. IL also observed several of this species here in the
vicinity of Bozeman (August 3). I have not, however, been able to
learn of any damage having been committed by them in this valley
the present season. Since leaving Bozeman, and while crossing the
country along the Yellowstone River, wé did not observe a single
specimen of C. spretus, either old or young, in the air or on the
eround. During past years, however, they were reared in great num-
bers throughout the National Park and Upper Snake River valleys
when, at times, they were numerous enough to “almost obscure the
sun”; at least I was so informed by a Mr. Livermore, who has a ranche
at Henry’s Lake.

As to dates and particulars of flights, &c., he was noé certain ;
therefore I can give none of these. As we proceed down the valley of
Henry’s Fork toward the Snake River there is a great tract of country
crossed that at times has been the originating center for the great
swarms that came into Cache Valley and other portions of northern

LOCUST NOTES IN THE NORTHWEST. 55

Utah and southern Idaho; it is also quite impossible for me to give
any of the particulars as to dates, &c. Thus far (August 23) we have
not met with a single C. spretus in Idaho, nor have we heard of their
presence in any portion of the Territory. But as there is no accurate ac-
count extant of the locust history for the region of Salmon River Valley
and adjacent country, it may be well to give it in brief here. The first
reliable account that I could obtain in reference to locust swarms dates
back to the summer of 1869, when they came in from the Snake River
by way of Birch Creek and Wood River, and followed northward down
both the Lemhi and the main branch of the Salmon to about Salmon
City. These deposited eggs, thereby giving young locusts for 1870,
Again, in 1871, locusts appeared in the vicinity of Lemhi Agency and
Salmon City. From this time on till the summer of 1875 I was unable to
learn of their appearance or presence in this portion of the Territory,
but during this year (1875) they again appeared in great numbers, coming
as before from the southeast and south, following down the valleys of
the two rivers heretofore named. This summer, as well as during the
three following, they deposited great numbers of eggs and proved ex-
ceedingly injurious to the few crops of grain and vegetables that were
planted in the country (valleys). Since 1879, however, they have en-
tirely disappeared from these regions.. The time of their appearing in
the valley of the Salmon, I am told, varies from the middle of June to
the first of August, after which latter date, if none have already come,
the farmers consider themselves entirely safe as far as locust Swarms
are concerned. From what | could learn, there are no exceptions to the
northward movement of swarms of C. spretus in this particular portion
of Idaho, and judging from the surface configuration of the lower Salmon
River country, I would imagine that all swarms leaving must cross over
the range to the headwaters of the Bitterroot and Big-Hole Rivers,
which streams they follow down, and thereby divide and reach different
portions of the Territory of Montana. As far as my inquiries went, no
data were obtained of methods having been adopted for their destrue-
tion in the various stages of their growth, which differed in any way
from those used in other portions of the West, and already described
in former reports. The parasites, too, do not appear to have varied
from those in other sections of the locust area.

CAMNULA ATROX.

In connection with the migratory locust this insect deserves separate
notice, as it has been observed at various points along our route from
Fort McKinney to Beaver Canon, Idaho. At some of the points where
seen it was quite numerous and threatened mischief, while at others
there were but a few isolated specimens observed.

We observed them at the following localities: Bozeman, Trail Creek,
Gibbon River, Lower Fire-Hole Basin, Henry’s Lake, and on Camas
Creek. Their habits, of course, are already known, and need no further -

56 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

mention in this connection. However numerous this insect has thus far
become in the mountain districts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, I
have failed to learn as yet of any depredations having been caused by
it in these Territories, though I am unable to predict what they will do
in the future, but my opinion is that they need not be feared. This, of
course, is only an opinion based upon no facts. From observations
made during the period of three years in this portion of the country
they appear to be on the increase, and at other points not seen by me
heretofore were quite common this summer. Whether they have mi-
grated into these new sections recently or whether they already occurred
there during previous seasons and were overlooked I am unable to say.
None have been noticed in the act of migration thus far this season,
though at Livingston, on the 2d of August, they were seen by far the
most numerous, and were very restless and kept up a continual hopping
and flitting about as if desirous of doing something besides being quiet
and inactive. One thing we can be pretty sure of in connection with
this insect, viz., that it will never leave the mountains and higher alti-
tudes for the agricultural districts of Dakota and Nebraska, which lie
to the east and southeast of here, because they are not capable of such
long continued flights as are other species.

C. spretus.

Again, in the valleys of the Great Salt Lake Basin a few specimens
of this insect were observed, which were, as a rule, confined to meadows
and low, wet localities, away from fields of grain and garden patches,
and I do not think they will ever become numerous enough here to do
great damage to the products of the farm.

“NATIVE LOCUSTS.”

There were but three or, at the most, four species of locusts which
had attained wings to be found near Albuquerque, N. Mex., viz., two
(Edipode and one Psoloessa. They all frequent comparatively dry locali-
ties where the grass is beginning to show a little green. They are quite
active, are easily disturbed, and fly rather far at each start. Among the
young not yet matured but two species were discerned, viz., one Gdt-
poda and a Caloptenus or Pezotettiv. These latter were only met with in
fields of alfalfa, along irrigating ditches, and then only occasionally.

At Santa Fé we saw several specimens of the Psoloessa, and also two
or three specimens of some species of Arphia. In passing along the
road from Santa Fé to Espanola, as we approached the sandy flat, and
also as we crossed it to the south of Santa Cruz, quite a number of a
large, yellow-winged Cidipoda (Hippiscus haldermannii), were seen. It
was the same as the largest one taken at Albuquerque.

At Espanola we observed a few of the same three species mentioned
above as having been taken at Albuquerque. Again, at Embudo, we

LOCUST OBSERVATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST. HT

collected a few of these locusts, and, in addition, several specimens
of the Arphia mentioned as having been seen at Santa Fé. It was
found to be partial to the high, rocky mesas, about 1,000 feet above the
Rio Grande. Here we also took several pup of some Tettigidean, which
frequents low, wet places near the river. Going into the Taos Valley
we found about the same species heretofore mentioned, with the addi-
tion of the larve of several others, but in no case could any of these
be referred to Caloptenus spretus, although there appear to be some
representatives of the genus Caloptenus found there.

Two species of Chimarocephala were met with in the rank vegetation
(willows and cottonwoods) at Red River, and some larve and pup of
one or two species of Pezotettix were taken. These were found among
the sedges along the river.

At Fort Garland, Arphia and Chimarocephala are represented along
the valley of Ute Creek in fair numbers, and as one walks along among
the trees numerous males of these species are to be seen in the air.

After leaving Fort Garland, I did not notice any locusts until we
reached a point below Laveta, where the train stopped for something,
and I heard the rattling noise made by some species of Gomphocerus,
and after searching a while succeeded in capturing a male specimen. A
few immature specimens of several other species were also observed,
but not captured. Between there and here (Fort Collins) no stop was
made, and consequently no specimens taken or no locusts of any kind
noticed. Here, in the mouth of Poudre Caion, 12 miles to the north-
west of Fort Collins, since the numerous heavy rains, there is a great
variety of locusts, mostly young, of which we have taken large series.
These are, however, all ‘“‘natives.” Almost all of them are such species
as are partial to certain plants, or else to particular kinds of surface
configuration. These peculiarities can, however, be better set forth in
a work entirely devoted to the history of North American locusts.

There do not appear to be any species of migratory locusts here at
present; none have‘been noticed in the air or on the ground. Speci-
mens of Caloptenus minor, with both blue and red tibizw, are quite com-
mon here; in fact this: is the only species of fledged Calopteni that I
have thus far observed in this portion of Colorado this spring, though
the young of several species are occasionally met with. I have also
taken a few specimens of what to me now, without comparison with
description, appear to be the Pezotettix dodgei of Thomas. VP. (Dae- .
tylotum) pictus is just now commencing to hatch, while some of the
Stenobothri and Gidipode have reached the pupa state.

At various points along the route we observed a few species of ‘ na-
tive locusts” in various stages of development, though none were taken
except at a point on Laramie Plains, until we came to the Laramie
River. These were a species of Gomphocerus that was found about 10
miles from Tie Siding, and its peculiarity consisted in the close re-

58 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

semblance of the noise made by the males to the rattling of a rattle-
snake. ;

At Laramie River, where some little time was occupied in collecting,
we obtained, in addition to such forms as were taken in the vicinity of
Fort Collins, a few specimens of a greenish-white Psoloessa that was only
observed to feed upon the “ sweet” or mountain sage. In the North Park
no additional species were taken or noticed, while all forms appeared
to be rather scarce and wild: The genus Arphia, however, seemed to
be the best represented in forms. A few specimens of Caloplenus minor
were noticed among the dense vegetation along boggy and damp places.
After coming out of the park and entering the Laramie Plains on the
west side of Laramie River, a few locusts, though nothing new, were
taken. On the 18th of July a few specimens of a light greenish Gom-
phocerus were taken at Aurora, where they were found to be partial to
the common sage-brush (Artemisia tridentata). Stenobothrus occipitalis,
a Species with light gray antenne, was also taken.

Between Rock Creek and Fort McKinney but very few locusts of any
kind were noticed, and none were takeu. At Fort McKinney we
captured a large number of varieus species of locusts, among which
were several of interest, on account of their rarity in collections as well
as in their peculiar habits. During the summer we observed that quite
a number of locusts are partial to certain food-plants ; and, as a rule, in
all such cases they imitate in color, to a certain degree, very closely the
plant or plants upon which they feed.

Pezotettix albus, Dodge, feeds upon a white Artemisia. Pezotettix
borckii, which is only to be met with in the mountains of Montana. Idaho,
and Wyoming, appears to abound only where two or three particular
plants are met with, one of which is a species of geranium. Again,
Caloptenus turnbullii, which is found in the vicinity of Custer’s battle-
field, only feeds upon two species of plants, as nearly as I could ascer-
tain by observation, viz., the “ pig-weed” and a small greenish-white
plant of a similar nature. Those found on the pig-weed are somewhat
glaucous yellow, while those feeding on the other plant are more of a
whitish color. mingled with greenish blue instead of greenish yellow. In
like manner two species of Caloptenus, perhaps the Melanoplus devastator
and the M. cinereus of Scudder, feed upon the sage brush (Artemisia
borealis 2, ard A. tridentata). The latteris grayish in color, and when at
rest, both in the preparatory and the imago stages, is difficult to detect,
so nearly does its color coincide with that of the plant upon which it is
resting. Other locusts are not partial to certain food-plants, but appear
to be so to certainsoils and surroundings. For example, all those species
of Gdipodine which would naturally fall under Mr. Scudder’s genus Cir-
cotettix, love barren and rocky slopes and hillsides, the different species
living at different altitudes and on differently colored soils. The spe-
cies all love bright and warm sunshine, and during such times are very
active and remarkably noisy, being almost incessantly in the air, where

LOCUST OBSERVATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST. 5S

they keep their wings clattering and rattling to such an extent that one
would suppose they were rattling into pieces. We did some collecting
at Custer’s battle-field, where we took a large variety of species, as well
as in most cases a large series of specimens. Here we also observed
to a great extent the partiality which certain species exhibited in
the selection of special food-plants. Again, at Junction City, Mont.,
we made some collections, adding a few to the list of species taken.
Here, for the first time, we took several specimens of a species of
(Edipodine belonging in the genus Mestobregma, and which almost
exactly imitates in color a species of Psoloessa which we took on the Lar-
amie River, south of Laramie City. While these two insects so closely
resemble each other in color they are quite distinct, and as Scudder has
subdivided the genus Gdipoda they fall into distinct genera. The two
species in question, however, are both partial to the same food-plant,
viz., the white or sweet sage, and thus far I have found neither away
from where this plant abounds.

We again collected at a point onthe Yellowstone River about mid-
way from Trail Creek to the National Park, at the Mammoth Hot
Springs, and at Henry’s Lake. It was at the former of these localities
that we found the Mestobregma most abundant.

While passing along the road near Gardiner, a new town, which is
to be the terminus of the Park branch of the Northern Pacific Railway,
we captured a few specimens of the same species of light-blue-winged
Trimerotropis that I took last year at Fort Benton, thereby extending its
range at least to the southern border of Montana. It appeared to be
quite rare even in its special haunts, viz., a light, almost bare, whitish,
alkaline soil destitute of rocks. It was also taken in the Lemhi Valley
of Idaho. At this same locality several other species of closely allied
locusts were taken. After crossing the main Rocky range to the west
side a change in the comparative abundance of some species and in
the total absence or replacement of other species was observed.

While on the eastern slope we found Circotettix carlingianus quite
abundant and C. undulatus rather rare, on the western side of the divide
we found just the reverse.

The large, red-winged Hippiscus which on the east side is everywhere
so abundant, and in fact all the red-winged forms, have thus far been
exceedingly rare, only four specimens having been seen during the five
days that have passed since crossing the summit. A species which, on
the eastern side, was met with but occasionally has become quite plenti-
ful. It is perhaps what Mr. Scudder has called Psinidia wallula.

Thus far we have found locusts to be most numerous in species at an
elevation varying from 2,500 to 6,000 feet above sea-level, and on the
bench-lands in preference to either bottom or mountain lands. While
most of the Caloptenus and Pezotettiv were partial to moist localities.
where vegetation was rankest, the Gdipodine and Stenobothrini, Sc.,.

60 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. P

were most Common on partially bare and dryer grounds where the vege-
tation is less rank. Color of wings and tibiae does not necessarily indi-
cate specific differences.

DESCRIPTION OF SURFACE.

The Taos Valley extends from the Arroyo Hondo, or deep ravine, of
the Rio Hondo, or deep river, on the north, and from the canon of the
Rio Grande on the west to the foot of the Taos range of mountains on
the east. It slopes to the southwest from the mouth of the Rio Hondo
canon, which has an elevation of 7,800 feet, to the edge of the Rio
Grande canon, which is about 6,400. The greater portion of the coun-
try is of a drift deposit, and consequently is mixed with bowlders and
fragments of rock from the bordering mountains. It also is very rich
when irrigated, which can be done over almost every portion by some
one of the various beautiful mountain torrents that traverse the valley
towards the Rio Grande. At present all or nearly all the farming is
confined to the upper portion of the valley bordering the mountains,
but I am satisfied that the lower portions, which are at present occupied
by sage-brush, will be equally productive with the aid of water.

The surrounding mountains are rich in minerals, and only await the
approach of railroad communication to be developed. With this, farm-
ing will also necessarily increase and the region become one of the rich-
est in this section of New Mexico. Stock-raising is confined chiefly to
goats, a few sheep, burros, hogs (which are picketed out), and a few
cows. An abundance of chickens, too, is also raised in some parts of
the valley. (Eggs and wood always one price, the former 25 cents for
16, and the latter same per load.) In passing north from Taos we enter
the valley of the Rio Hondo. ‘This latter is a stream of almost double
the size of any of those passing through the Taos Valley, but differs
from them by running in the center of a deep, narrow, canon-like valley ;
most of this, however, is farmed, as is the high mesa on the south side
of the valley, which latter slopes toward the Taos Valley. The upper
end of this mesa, at the base of the mountains, is about 8,000 feet above
sea-level, and descends toward the Rio Grande at the rate of about 100
feet to the mile. After leaving the Rio Hondo a low spur of the mount-
ains, or high, irregular mesa, partly of voleanic rocks and covered with
pinon pines and cedars, is crossed. This, at the highest point, reaches an
elevation of 8,215 feet at a distance of between 2 and 5 miles from the
mountains, which at the general slope of the country would be about
8,500 at the base of them. From this point the descent toward the Red
River is quite rapid, this latter being about 7,400 feet where it leaves
the mountains, and about 100 less where it enters the canon at the foot
of the valley, and preparatory to entering the Rio Grande. ‘This valley,
like that of the Rio Hondo, is comparatively narrow, and pretty well '
occupied by farms.

On the north edge of this valley begins what is known as San Luis

y
>

OBSERVATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST. 61

Valley, a plateau-like area of land about 140 miles in length and vary-
ing from 20 to 30 miles in width, or perhaps a little more, if we include
that lying to the west of the Rio Grande. The general elevation of
this valley along its eastern border is about 8,000 feet, sloping gradu-
ally toward the Rio Grande on the west. It is bounded all along the
east by high, snow-covered mountains, and on the west by a series of
voleanic cones and basaltic ridges. Some of these also, at isolated
points, are to be seen protruding from the valley itself. All the way
from Albuquerque, N. Mex., to this point (Fort Garland) the Rio Grande
appears to be the dividing line between the basaltic and the other rocks,
the basalt only appearing at isolated points near the river on the east
side. The general surface of this entire valley is somewhat sandy, and
the soil is interspersed with bowlders and pebbles from the mountains.
It is covered with sage-brush, interspersed with short grasses, chietly
Bouteloua. At various points small streams cross it, and it is along
these that all the efforts at farming have been made.

North of Alamosa and west of the Sierra’ Sangre de Christo range
the valley appears to be richer in natural grasses, and is dotted here
and there by small, shallow lakes. Immediately to the north of Fort
Garland are situated Sierra Blanca and Mount Baldy, two of the
highest peaks in Colorado, and at their base runs Ute Creek, the valley
of which contains some fine grazing lands and a few good ranches, where
at times the locusts have bred in great numbers.

After leaving Fort Garland we followed up the valley of Trinchara
Creek to Veta Pass, where we crossed over the range into the valley of
the Apaches and Santa Clara—a magnificent farming and grazing sec-
tion.

At La Veta the elevation is between 6,000 and 7,000 feet, but descends
quite rapidly towards the Arkansas, where the country expands into a
wide, somewhat rolling country, dotted here and there with rocky ridges
and coal fields. This country lies north of the Spanish Peaks and south
and east of the Rainy range of mountains. This entire area, with the
exception of a few small patches, is quite suitable for the propagation
of locust swarms, and at times undoubtedly has been the seat of great
swarms, although I failed to obtain any data concerning this insect for
this particular locality. At the time of passing through here (June 10)
the vegetation was quite green and the country looked well, although
around Ojo, in the head of the valley, the oaks had not yet leafed out.
On the summit in Veta Pass, where the elevation is about 10,400 feet,
there was about 6 inches of snow.

Of course these extensive plains, that are so admirably fitted for the
development of large locust swarms, sometimes have their drawbacks
in the shape of seasons of great drought, as well as cold, wet, and back-
ward springs following open winters, and in such cases the locusts suffer
decrease here as elsewhere. From here we passed through such country
as has already been often described—that lying between Puebloand Den-

62 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

ver and between Denver and Fort Collins. At this latter place there is,
as at Golden, a series of low mountains lying in front of the main range
and separating the open country from a series of fertile valleys and park-
like areas that lie back among the foot-hills and low mountains. These
valleys and park-like openings among the foot-hills and low mountains
are richly clothed with nutritious grasses, and are mostly well watered,
thereby affording good footing for the breeding of locusts during years of
their presence in this section of the country, and being every year the
home of scores of species of “natives.” It is in such localities as these
that the greatest variety of locusts of all sorts is to be found in Colorado.

What is known as the Livermore country, on the North Fork of the
“Cache la Poudre, is a widening out of the valleys and park-like tracts
into quite a large area of good farming land and a better grazing re-
gion. This Livermore country continues to stretch out to the west and
northwest until it is lost among the park-like openings on the summit
of the Laramie Range, south of Sherman ; and from here is joined to the
Laramie Plains on the west slope by valleys sloping that way.: The
Laramie Plains require no description here, while the numerous small
parks lying to the south of the Laramie River, and between it and
North Park, can be described as being merely openings in the timber,
varying from 7,500 to 8,500 feet above the sea, and they at times form
splendid retreats to the locusts and excellent grazing areas at all times
to cattle and the large herds of game that frequent these parts of
Colorado. During the sammer and fall of 1880, a greater portion of
this country, lying between the Laramie River and the North Park, was
overrun by fires, during the progress of which, without any doubt, great
numbers of both migratory and native locusts must have perished from
heat and smoke. North Park is a vast grassy tract surrounded on all
sides by high ranges of mountains, and shows plainly by its leading
features thatit was at one time the bed of avast lake. Its lower end
is about 7,600 feet in altitude, while all the other portions are higher.
It is well watered and grassed, thus rendering it one of the most relia-
ble grazing regions in northern Colorado. While its altitude is too
great for safe adventure in general farming, it willnevertheless produce
excellent crops of vegetables and small grain. Its entire surface could
be burned over with some result in locust years.

/

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS UPON INSECTS INJU-
RIOUS TO COTTON, ORANGE, AND SUGAR CANE IN BRAZIL.*

By JOHN C. BRANNER.

Sir: On the 20th of November, 1882, I was, upon your recommenda-
tion, and under your direction, commissioned by the Commissioner of
Agriculture to visit Brazil for the purpose of investigating the subject
of insects injurious to cotton, cane, and oranges; and to collect such
other information as would be useful to you in your capacity of United
States Entomologist.

On the 30th of the same month I left Washington, D.C., accompanied
by one assistant, Mr. Albert Koebele, and left Newport News, Va., on
the 2d of December, on board the British steamer Borghese. Landing
at St. Thomas, in the West Indies. on the 9th of December, we took
advantage of the few hours’ delay of the steainer in that port to exam-
ine what cotton and other industrial plants we could find for injurious
insects. We collected some scale insects on the ‘ sapadilla” tree and
sent them to the Department. We found no injurious insects on the
few cotton plants examined.

We left St. Thomas on the same day and reached Para on the 18th
of December. Here we improved the opportunity to examine orange
trees for scale insects, and in the few hours we were able to spend on
shore we made a small collection of insects froin these trees. Fortu-
hately we were able to visit the Natural History Museum of this prov-
inee, which we did in hope of finding something interesting in the way
of insects injurious to vegetation, especially of those attacking cotton,
cane, and orange plants. No such insects, however, were found in the
collection.

I made inquiries of the officers of the Brazilian navy station at the
marine arsenal at Para concerning the winds prevailing along the north-
ern coast of Brazil, and along the Amazon Valley. LI made similar in-
quiries of the commanders of the steamers plying on the Amazon and

* The principal objects of Mr. Branner’s trip to Brazil, as detailed in his letter of instructions, were
as follows:

1. The gathering of historical information upon the culture of cotton in Brazil, including the deter-
mination of the species of insects known to affect tue crop there, and the collecting of facts relating to
their babits.

2. To ascertain whether or not Aletia zylina is found in the vicinity of Bahia, and to collect specimens

n all stages of this and allied insects.

3. To obtain as complete memoranda as possible of the prevailing course of winds at different seasons
of the \ ear.

4. Tv obtain specimens and information relative to the insect enemies of the orange and the cultiva-
tion of the crop.

5. To obtain specimens in all stages uf the destructive locusts of Brazil, together with publications
on the subject.

63

64 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

its tributaries, and especially of those who have run on the river for @
number of years. é ;

We left Para December 19, and on the 22d arrived at Maranhao. At
this place the delay of the steamer was too short to allow of any inves-
tigations, however short, in the field. [had time though, to call upon his
Excellency, the President of the Province of Maranhao, and to solicit his
support in carrying on the investigations intrusted to me. He cheer-
fully promised to aid me in every way in his power, and furnished me
with the names of such planters in the interior as would be able to
answer any inquiries in regard to the diseases common to cotton and
cane, and the methods of cultivation employed in this country. I am
indebted also to Snr. Themistocles Aranha, the editor of the Paiz, the
leading newspaper of the Province of Maranhao, for valuable historical
information upon the subject of cotton culture in this part of Brazil.

On the 27th of December we landed at Pernambuco. My original
instructions had been to proceed to Bahia to carry on my investigations,
but sufficient liberty of action was allowed me to enable me to stop at
some other point, should I find it better adapted to the purposes of my
work. im

Taking into consideration the importance of the province of Pernam-
buco as a cotton-growing district, as compared with the province of
Bahia, the nearness of the cotton district to the coast, and its conse-
quent accessibility, its geographical position in relation to the southern
United States, and its proximity to the Bahia district, I concluded that
it would be best for us to go into the interior from this place.

Before leaving Washington, we had, at your request, been furnished
letters from his Excellency the Brazilian Minister at Washington, Snr.
Lopes Netto, to various officials in Brazil. One of these letters was
directed to the President of the Province of Pernambuco. On the day
following our landing, I called upon his Excelleney the President. He
gave mea set of the reports of the Presidents for several years previous,
from which I could collect information concerning the production of
cotton and cane, and directed that letters should be given us to the
local authorities in the places we might visit in the cotton-growing dis-
trict. I called also upon Dr. Portella, for many years the president
of the Pernambuco Society of Agriculture, to obtain information in
regard to the localities most favorable for our work, and to learn also
what had been done by the Society or by the Government in the way of
investigating insects and diseases common to cane and to cotton in this
province. He gave me some publications made by the Society, and
presented me to other gentlemen who gave me valuable information in
regard to insect pests, cotton «ulture, &e.

The cotton region, through this part of Brazil, lies just inland from
the cane-growing lands, which forn a belt along the coast from 35 to 50
miles wide. Toward the south of the province Garanhuns is the center
of the cotton-producing area. Further inland the production is smaller,

INSECT ENEMIES OF COTTON IN BRAZIL. 65

owing to the increased cost of transportation, while along the coast
cane is supposed to be more profitable and better adapted to the climate
and soil. Distance inland, however, is not an insurmountable obstacle
in the way of cotton culture here, for some of the places most noted
for the amount and quality of cotton sent into the market are situated
on the northern confines of the province, or even in the province of
Parahyba, or in Ceara. It is no uncommon thing for cotton to be car-
ried 400 miles on horSeback. In the northern part of the province
some of the principal cotton-yielding regions are about Bréjo, and in
the province of Parahyba about Campina Grande and Independencia,
while to the westward Rianco, in Parahyba, is a good cotton-growing
district, as well as Pesqueira, Alagéa de Baixo, and Ingazeira in Per-
nambuco.

Although I conversed with many intelligent persons in the city of
Pernambuco, several of them members of the Agricultural Society, upon
the subject, I was unable to find out certainly whether such a thing was
known as a caterpillar that devoured the leaves of the cotton plant.
Dr. Portella informed me that many vears ago-—perhaps forty—some
kind of a plague attacked the cotton so seriously that its cultivation
was very largely abandoned by the planters. He knew nothing, how-
ever, of the nature of this plague. The only evidence I could find of
the existence of such caterpillars in this part of the country was a verse
of a popular song, formerly sung by the poorer classes hereabout. My
attention was called to it by Snr. José de Vasconcellos, the editor of
the Jornal do Recife. Aside from this, the only insect I could learn of
as being injurious to cotton in any way was the locust, which, as I was
told, sometimes ate the leaves.

After consulting with those most capable of advising me in such a
matter, I decided that Bonito, in the province of Pernambuco, would
be the best place for our work. The President of the Province and Dr.
Portella furnished us with all necessary letters of introduction to the
local authorities, and to such persons as would be able to aid us in the
vicinity of Bonito, and on the 4th day of January, 1883, we left Per-
nambuco for that place. We took the Sao Francisco railway as far as
Palmares, and there hired horses to carry us and our baggage to Bo-
nito, about a day’s ride to the north.

Remaining over night at Palmares, I met and conversed with some
of the engineers in charge of the extension of the Sao Francisco rail-
Way. a

In making inquiries in regard to the prevailing winds, I learned that
a series of meteorological observations had been made by the engineer
corps at this place, extending over a period of six years. I availed
myself of the opportunity to copy the record, and consider myself for-
tunate in having this, the only carefully made series of observations
that I am aware have been made so far from the coast in this part of
Brazil. They cover the six years from 1877 to 1882, inclusive.

8993—Bul. 4-——5

66 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

On the day following our arrival at Palmares we took horses tor »
3onito, and arrived at our destination in the evening of the same day.

The village of Bonito is a small one, on the southeastern border of
the cotton-growing district. There being no hotel in the place, and it
being impossible to arrange any other way to live and carry on our
work, it was necessary to hire a house for these purposes. With con-
siderable difficulty one was obtained, and preparation made for a short
stay in the place. E

Arriving at Bonito on the 6th of January, it was my expectation that
we would be able to leave for the provinces further south, in which
much cotton is grown, within a couple of weeks at the most. It was
found later, however, that in order to carry out our investigations sat-
isfactorily it would be necessary to remain at Bonito much longer than
I originally proposed. The fact that we had arrived so early in the
season, as far as insects were concerned, also made it necessary to re-
main here longer than would have been necessary had we come later,
say in April or May, when insects are more active.

Once in the cotton-producing country, there was no difficulty in learn-
ing of the existence of caterpillars that destroy the plants. On the
day following our arrival we visited some fields of cotton near Bonito,
but, though we found various interesting insects injuring the plants, we
were not able to find any indication of the existence of caterpillars. The
‘people assured me that it was too early in the season, and that the
weather was not of the kind favorable to these insects. The next day,
however, Mr. Koebele found both larve and eggs, and, although they
never appeared in large numbers during our stay at Bonito, from that
time forth we found a few every day. In order to obtain as good a col-
lection as possible of these insects in every stage of development, and
of their parasites, we arranged to breed all we could find until our col-
lections and observations were complete. At the same time especial
efforts were made to find and raise caterpillars that feed upon other
species of malvaceous plants. We had about a hundred breeding cases
in our house for the different kinds of insects, parasites, &e.

We made observations on and collections of insects injurious to other
industrial plants, such as oranges, coffee, corn, beans, tobacco, &e., and
also of useful insects, such as bees.

Sugar cane is not grown at Bonito in sufficient quantity to allow of
our doing much in regard to the sugar-cane disease, or insects affecting
it. At the city of Pernambuco [ learned that the Imperial Government
had appointed a committee to investigate the causes and report upon
remedies for the cane disease that has been doing great damage in this
country for several years, but I was unable to find that anything had
been made public in regard to what the committee had accomplished.
The Pernambuco Agricultural Society had sent specimens of diseased
cane to Germany for examination, and a short report from the gentle-
man to whom they were sent was given me. This report says that a

COTTON CULTURE IN THE PROVINCE OF BAHIA. 67

species of fungus was found in the specimen sent for examination, but
that it is impossible to say whether the disease is caused by the fungus.

We made observations on and inquiries in regard to the direction of
winds, the ravages of locusts, and insects injurious and beneficial to ag-
riculture. Mr. Koebele captured a large number of moths at night upon
the flowers of a species of Cleome that grew abundantly about our house.
Among the noctuids were a very few cotton moths. The collection we
made of these insects was obtained almost entirely by breeding them
from the larvee. The moths first bred from larvie feeding on cotton
were unlike those so injurious to the cotton plant in the United States,
but later we found another kind, though not in such numbers, which is
identical with that of the Southern States. The planters informed me
that it was the latter and somewhat larger of these two larve that does
the greatest damage to cotton in Brazil. Up to the time of our depart-
ure from Bonito there were but few of these caterpillars to be found.

Having completed the work at Bonito as nearly as possible in the
time at our disposal, we left that place on the 7th of February for Per-
nambuco, on our way to Bahia, taking with us a collection of insects,,
which we estimated at about 10,000 specimens.

Between the time of our arrival in the city of Pernambuco and our de-
parture, our time was occupied in arranging our collection for shipment
to Washington, and in making preparation for further field work in the
province of Bahia.

We arrived at the city of Bahia March 11. As was to be expected,
we learned that the cotton-growing part of the province of Bahia was
far inland, and that though this port formerly exported large quanti-
ties of cotton, there is no export at present, and even the few cotton
factories in the province are obliged to import their raw material from
Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe.

The Baron of Guahy, President of the Commercial Association, kindly
furnished me with the official statistics of the exports of cotton from
Bahia since 1862. These statistics show that the exports of cotton from
Bahia fell from 7,000,000 kilograms in 1868 to nothing in 1880.

In the commercial reports of one of the leading daily papers of Bahia
I noticed the following in regard to cotton, the paper bearing the date of
March 14, 1883:

Imports : Cotton, 863 bales from Alagéas and Pernambuee, principally on account
of different cotton factories.

Under the head of exports it is remarked :

Cotton : No exports from this province.

Taking such facts into account, the great distance from Bahia tothat
part of the province in which a little cotton is grown for domestic pur-
poses, the dearness of transportation to such places, and the shortness
of the time at our disposal, I thought it best to abandon all thoughts
of a trip into the interior. My decision was also strengthened by the

68 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

fact that I found that Dr. Antonio de Lacerda, a Brazilian gentleman
living at Bahia, and one already well known for his intelligent interest in,
and contributions to, entomology, informed me that he had bred a moth
from a larva found by himself upon cotton in the suburbs of Bahia.
Dr. Lacerda gave me this specimen. It is thesame as the larger cotton
moth found by us at Bonito, and the same as the one common in the
United States.

Lhoped, however, that we might be able to find the other moth in the
immediate vicinity of the city. With this object in view, we examined
all the cotton plants we could find growing about the houses in the sub-
urbs, and were fortunate enough to obtain a number, both of larvee and
of eggs, which being bred, gave us both species of moth found at
Bonito. We considered this sufficient evidence of the existence of
both species of cotton moth at Bahia, and made arrangements to stop
field-work and leave Bahia at once.

In order to obtain all available publications upon entomology, histori-
cal facts and statistics of production and exportation from the whole
empire, and also to obtain the indorsement of his Excellency the Min-
ister of Agriculture for the circular I proposed sending out asking for
information, I found it necessary to continue my voyage to the capital,
at Rio de Janeiro. Arriving in that city on the 29th of March, I pre-
pared at once.a circular containing fifty-two questions asking informa-
tion in regard to the history of cotton culture in the country, the kinds
planted, the methods of working and harvesting, the climate and soil
found most favorable to it, the diseases and insects that attack it, and
the remedies used for such evils; and also concerning oranges, varieties,
methods of propagation and cultivation, and the insects and plants in-
jurious to the trees. This circular included inquiries concerning the
destructive locusts and concerning the direction of the winds. It was
submitted to the Minister of Agriculture for his approval, and he cheer-
fully indorsed it, and urged those who might receive it to give it their
careful attention. Five hundred copies of this circular were printed and
sent out through the empire, more especially through those parts of the
country where cotton is or has been grown most extensively. The
presidents of the provinces of Pernambuco and Maranhao aided me in
directing these circulars to planters and other persons who were able to
give me intelligent and trustworthy answers.

During my stay in Rio de Janeiro I got together all the information
and special reports to be had in the Portuguese language upon ento-
mology. These consisted of a few valuable articles by Fritz Miiller, pub-
lished in the Archivos of the National Museum, and a few miscellaneous
contributions to be found scattered through old periodicals in the National
Library. These latter articles, however, are rather curious than valuable,
and could only be had by copying from the books. Through the kindness
of Mr. W.T. Gepp I obtained access to the reports and statistics of Brazil-
ian commerce kept by the Commercial Association in Rio de Janeiro, and

COTTON CULTURE—DIRECTION OF WINDS. 69

was thus enabled to make as complete a table of the exports of cotton
from the whole empire as it is possible to obtain. Ihave arranged these
tables so as to show the exports both by years and by provinces, and have
reduced the weights, which were originally given in arrobas and kilo-
grams,to pounds. Anything like a complete report of exports can only
be had as far back as 185152. From other sources I found that cot-
ton had been exported from Brazil as early as 1760, when 20,833 pounds
were shipped from Maranhao. From 1851-52 to 1875~76 the total ex-
ports from all the provinces reached 1,552,272,075 pounds.

I gathered some trustworthy information in regard to the ravages of
the cotton insects in the province of Sao Paulo, which is the most
southerly province in which cotton has been grown successfully, and
with it an idea of the percentage of loss caused by these insects in that
part of the country.

From the works of M. Mouchez, formerly a lieutenant in the Brazilian
navy, anda good authority on the subject, I have obtained a series of
charts showing the direction of winds along the northern coast of Brazil
for each month in the year. From Maury’s data, as furnished me by
the United States Hydrographie Office, | have also constructed charts
for each month of the year, showing the same thing.

In addition to the reports on winds, already mentioned as having
been obtained at Palmares, in the province of Pernambuco, I received
from Dr. Draennert, the director of the Imperial Agricultural School
at Bahia, a report on the direction of winds at that place, the observa-
tions having been made by him, and. covering a period of six years.
This report includes information in regard to the force of the winds.

Having obtained, all the historical and statistical information to be
had in Rio de Janeiro upon the subjects which I was directed by you to
investigate, and having sent out the circular questions asking for fur-
ther information on these subjects, | embarked at Rio de Janeiro for
New York on the 18th of April, and reached Washington on the 16th
of May of the present year.

I have already received a number of valuable replies to the circular
and shall doubtless receive others before the report upon my work will
have been finished.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN C. BRANNER,
Special Agent.
Prof. C. V. RILEY,
U.S. Entomologist.

REPORT ON THE EFFECTS OF COLD UPON THE SCALE INSECTS OF
THE ORANGE IN FLORIDA.

By JOSEPH VOYLE.
7
GAINESVILLE, FLA., December 10, 1883.

Sir: | have the honor to present the following report of experiments
made with cold temperatures on scale insects injurious to orange trees.
These experiments were made for the purpose of obtaining some infor-
mation as to the extent of relief given by frost to infested trees, there
being a very general belief that any damages to the tree by frost are
fully compensated for by the destruction of injurious insects. Several
successive winters with cold of such severity as to, in some cases, seri-
ously damage orange trees, having been followed by heavy swarms of
destructive scale insects, gave reason for doubting the truth of the
accepted theory. During the past winter, 1882-83, by some special
observations, positive evidence was obtained that often very little dam-
age was done to scale insects by cold that killed the tender orange
shoots. On the morning of December 16, 1882, the thermometer was
reported at various figures, from 19° to 25° F. My own lowest read-
ing was 25°. On this morning I cut orange branches incrusted with
scale insects and found young migratory larve of Mytilaspis running
about quite lively.

By your direction I entered upon a series of experiments that should
as nearly as practicable solve the question of “‘ What temperature is fatal
to the larvee and to the eggs of these scale insects?” The laboratory
of the East Florida Seminary, with its apparatus, was placed at my
service for this work, but fire destroyed the building and contents be-
fore the work was begun. It was therefore necessary to devise some
inexpensive means of accomplishing the work. ‘The final result of ex-
periments for this purpose was a freezer composed of three tin cylinders
of 10 inches, 6 inches, and 2 inches diameter, respectively. The 6 inch
was placed within the 10-inch, and by means of a collar both were
fastened together and the space between them filled with dry feathers;
another collar then fitted on, and all soldered tight. A suitable collar
being fitted to both ends of the 2-inch cylinder (which was only 10
inches in length, the others being 14), it was placed within the 6-inch,
equidistant from the ends, and soldered tight, thus leaving room for a
head 2 inches thick and 6 inches diameter at each end, the heads being
packed with dry feathers. Thus was obtained a central chamber within
an empty annular chamber, surrounded by another annular chamber
filled with a good non-conductor; the central chamber for the speci-

70

\

EFFECTS OF LOW TEMPERATURE ON COCCID EGGS. 71

meus and thermometer, the empty annular chamber for the freezing

-mixture, filled through a short 13-inch tube.

Method of using: The specimens and registering maximum and min-
imum thermometer were placed in the central chamber, the freezing
mixture placed in the empty chamber, and the temperature allowed to
gradually sink to the desired point, the indices of the thermometer then
set to the mercury, and all closed by the heads for the desired time.
On opening, the thermometer readings were at once taken and the tem-
perature allowed to rise gradually to that of the atmosphere. The
freezing mixture found to be most satisfactory was ice and salt, varied
in proportion as required in eacl case. As will be seen by the table,
the larvee were killed at a temperature above 32° F., and eggs hatched
after being subjected to 25° F.

In experiments where, as in these, there is no previous experience to
guide the examiner, it is necessary to make various experiments for in-
struction as to the value of appearances. Sometimes larve retain for
several days an apparently natural appearance, leaving it doubtful
whether their final death is the result of the temperature or want of food.
If a small beam of the sun’s rays be brought to a focus on the stage of
the microscope, the larve placed on a slide, the living larva on being
brought into the focus of the rays always moves quickly, draws up its
sucking tubes, and otherwise shows signs of life, the dead larva show-
ing no motion under the same influence.

The motion of the one is not attributable to heat on inert matter, but
to sensibility indicating life, and affords a method of examination be-
fore the question of starvation can arise. At moderate temperatures,
30°-32° F., some eggs turn brown and collapse, whilst others, even in
the same scale, retain their form and color. This was for a long time
unaccountable; at length the brown was found to characterize eggs
very near hatching. In experiment No. 10, where some eggs hatched
after a temperature of 25° F.,out of a large number only three hatched,
and of these three only one had strength sufficient to slowly leave the
position of the eggs; the others showed life by motion of their legs and
antenne. As a temperature of 19° F. was reported here last winter
without clearing off the coccids, a lower temperature was supposed to
be necessary, and the first experiments were at 16° F.; then, as results
were ascertained, higher and higher until at 24° F. it appeared that the
limit was reached. The eggs of Parlatoria pergandii and Mytilaspis citri-
cola appeared to require a lower temperature for destruction of their
vitality than the eggsof M. gloverii. Special experiments for this purpose
showed that there was only a delay of the changes of appearance, no
eggs hatching after a temperature of 24° F. To be practically service-
able, artificial congitions in experiments must approach some form of
the natural condition of which information is required. In these experi-
ments the nearest practical approach to nature was taking the insects
at the greatest exposure in a still atmosphere. If, then, the temperature.

72 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

reported, 19° F., be correct, scale insects with only moderate protection
should have been killed, and all their eggs with them; but such was
not the case. Both thermometers and readings are often questionable.
Unreliability of graduation of common instruments, particularly below
the temperate figures, and readings made by parties unaccustomed to
accuracy, may be taken as a reasonable explanation of wide discrepan-
cies.

There are conditions practically unattainable artificially, where the
coecids are protected from the effects of such temperature as under
favorable conditions would be fatal to them. The leaves of the tree,
the warm current rising from the ground around the trunk of the tree,
and the initial heat of the tree itself perform an important part in mod-
ifying temperature for these insects. Ina still atmosphere this might be-
come a perfect protection against a temperature much lower than would
prove fatal in other conditions. Again, a cold, moist breeze following a
rain might lower this protection to a fatal point. Casual observation
warrants the supposition that these conditions do occur with the results
as supposed. Valuable information could be obtained by using regis-
tering thermometers within the protection of the head of the tree, and,
on the outer branches; a comparison of records would indicate the
amount of protection, and give data for ascertaining approximately the
amount of cold required to reduce the temperature all over a tree to a
point absolutely fatal to coccids: probably a temperature fatal to the
tree also. ¢

The table has been arranged from the notes so as to present results
without unnecessary details. The experiments were repeated for veri-
fication, and also whenever any results were doubtful.

The table may be regarded as an accurate exponent of the effect of
low temperature on orange coccids.

Table showing results obtained by exposing orange scale insects to various degrees of cold,

| | | | ys
| Time from

. | Minimum | Maximum PRS 5 4 | ayer ie oye | exposure
see | tempera- | tempera- | One Pisa Result | to final temarks.
cal eeuues UNG! fy oe sae ra era ad Se* | result in
| | | eggs.
Hours. Days
iW ane cae See 16 24 5 Dead | Dead . 31
Die sectace 19 32 10 sol. dos | 12
SA aaane 20 25 10 BELO Whenecre VC Q)-csaer | 4
a eae 22 22 5 dor [tt Ohe actos | 7
ASE eee 22 22 3 do Oneness 12
Oras csecicee.c 22 22 1 does GO feces: 14
(eee 2 23 1 dO eAzeahee doisc. 2 14
Sener 25 34 10 SidOen alee (6 Yoyo | 20
foe och ee | 25 25 5 “ACOs sees stQOue= cer 12
1) 2's ree | 95 34 oes 16 OO eee Hatch ..| ° 8 3 eggs only out of a

| | large number.

LOW TEMPERATURES VS. SCALE INSECTS. 73

Results obtained by exposing orange scale insects, §-c.—Continued.

Nl |
| Time from
3 Minimum | Maximum) m: | exposure
INGwOr, ||| se va. | Lime of |Resultto) Result : é
experiment. | reese pee a exposure. | larve. to eggs. | auiiaea oth Remarks.
| | | larvee.
ee te ie BPM ee Behe dhol ca eae eh ¥
i | a Ane

Hours. | Days
eeneeta= 29 29 1 | Dead ...| Hatch
WARE ces anaes 29 32 13 We Oiee ee Henkes Sac 5
13 i oe 29 34 2 do Gt Pence 6
1, es See ee 30 32 16 doreean| 35 donna: 5
15 cece 30 32 10 Gers -nesles Gkegaae | 10
1 5 ee 32 32 12 doje =e ssfce dO! a-=- 10
ye eee 32 32 5 GOsate indoles 5
18 aa 32 34 1i doesnt do -=:- 6
ne er 34 34 ll doDeeclee Gos. 3
CANN a ag RS 34 | 34 $ oreo l= OKee nee 3
DA at | ee 34 i 34 2 Goes VO. teaches 6
OD Nets seen 36 | 36 2 Edom ener ed Or came 8

| \
' DECEMBER 26, 1883.

During my recent absence from home there was ashort period of cold
weather, which on my return I found had produced naturally nearly all
of the conditions that in my experiments were produced artificially.

Although I was only 10 miles directly south of here, at the place where
I was the effects were very slight, and near by there were no traces of
frost, tomatoes and bell-peppers out of doors being unhurt.

Had I known in time the extent of the damage elsewhere I could have
made some valuable observations.

The thermometer is reported at various figures, ranging from 21° F,
to 30° F. The effects show as wide a difference.

In the same neighborhood I find young orange trees killed to the col-
lar at the ground, and orangé and lemon trees that are unhurt, and
these are sometimes within a few yards of each other.

Six days after the frost, examination showed that the defoliated
branches infested by insects were dead, whilst others not so exposed
were living, and that where the small twigs were not killed there were
some living eggs.

I also find the same appearances as in the experiments, eggs dead and
living in the same scale.

The stated probable effects of the initial heat of the tree, &c., are re-
alized and very distinctly marked. I inclose a twig showing this. The
outer portion is dead, and the eggsare alsodead. The basal portion cut
from near the body of the tree is living, and there are also there at this
writing some eggs that are clear and pink.

This cold term was calm, the greatest cold of short duration, not more
than an hour. The conditions were as nearly a reproduction of those of
the experiments, probably, as ever occurs naturally, and the results are
so similar as to give greater value to the information artificially ob-
tained.

Respectfully,
JOS. VOYLE.
Prof. C. V. RitEy, U. S. Entomologist.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.

WATER-PROOF INSECTICIDES.

For years | have been investigating the habits of insects injurious to
fruit and vegetables. I find that all insects are more or less suscepti-
ble to smells, and their depredations can be largely prevented by the use
of some pungent odor. The curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar), for exam-
ple, can be almost entirely driven from plum-trees by the oil of penny-
royal mixed with lard and rubbed on the branches, or cotton wool satu-
rated with the same and suspended in muslin bags throughout the
tree as soon as the first blossoms begin to open. I have never known
this to fail, if done in season and thoroughly and at once renewed in
case of rain. I have also used to advantage a strong decoction of quas-
sia against the rose-bugs (Macrodactylus subspinosus). I have made va--
rious successful experiments in this line. I think I have made a faith-
ful test of all the well-known insecticides, and am fully satisfied that
when decoctions, tinctures, or emulsions are used, or when the poison
can be temporarily held in suspension, the finer the spray the more effi-
cacious appears the remedy. I think there can be no question on this
point. A single trial of the tincture of pyrethrum will be sufficient to
prove this statement. How far pyrethrum can take the place of Paris
green or London purple may still be an open question, or whether re-
fined coal-oil mixed with milk or other ingredients will supply the use
of these poisons and be equally effectual without the consequent danger.

In the use of the various liquid insecticides in my experiments I
found that their effects were often entirely nullified by exposure to the
air, or the material itself was washed off by the first rain. This led me
to experiment how to avoid this trouble. An addition of glue and bi-
chromate of potash proved the best remedy. I use from one to two
ounces of glue and one-quarter ounce of the bichromate to a gallon of
the liquid. The glue should be soaked twenty-four hours in cold water ;
then (dissolved in hot water. The two are to be thoroughly mixed with
the liquid insecticide. The application should in every case be made in
the form of a minute spray. After the evaporation of the moisture,
which takes place in a few minutes, there remains an almost water-
proof residuum retaining all its virtues. I believe I have given these
experiments a most thorough trial, and that the result has been all that
could be desired. There are other chemicals which will produce similar
results, but, as far as my experience goes, the above has proved the
best.

74

EFFECT OF COLD ON SCALE EGGS. (ee)

'
I think there is hardly any limit to the application of a water-proof
insecticide when applied with a proper apparatus.—[ WILLIAM PLUMER,
Lexington, Mass., January 22, 1883.

[We were very glad indeed to receive the full account of Mr.
Plumer’s experiments with water-proof insecticides. For a number of
years past we have been at work at the same point, especially with refer-
ence to the Southern cotton-worm, and the latest and most satisfactory
results in preventing the washing off of insecticides by rain have been
obtained by the perfecting of machinery for spraying the under-sides of
the leaves. <A long series of experiments with adhesives, such as dex-
trine, mucilage, gum-arabic, and molasses show that such substances
can be used to some considerable advantage, but that this advantage
is soon limited by the closing of the stomata of the leaves, thus injur-
ing the plant, and by the interference which they offer to the use of a
very fine spray. With Mr. Plumer’s particular formula we have not
experimented, but we will see that careful trial of it is made next season.
His experimeuts, as given in his letter of the 22d instant, are interest-
ing, but we are rather skeptical as to the use of pennyroyal for the cur-
culio, as we have always found that this insect was very slightly affected
by malodorants, and it is so easy to mistake a natural disappearance
for the result of a remedy. |

DESTRUCTION OF SCALE INSECTS BY COLD.

* * * [mail you with this a piece of orange branch covered with
Mytilaspis that has been submitted to a temperature lower than usually,
if ever, occurs in this State. It was first placed in the chamber of the
glacier at atmospheric temperature 82° F., and the temperature gradu-
ally lowered to 42° during one hour; then the cooling was forced, and
left for four hours, when the reading was 24°. The indices were then
brought to contact, the chamber closed, the cooling forced, and then left
for twelve hours. At the end of that time the chamber was opened, and
the maximum immediately read, being 30°. The minimum index read
16°. Therefore, after cooling for five hours, the coccids were subjected
for twelve hours to a temperature commencing with 24° F., descending
to 16°, and not rising above 30°. A microscopic examination was im-
mediately made. No sign of life was found in the larvie examined. The
eggs appeared natural. After drying in the atmosphere the forms of
many of the larve appeared shrunken; some eggs had collapsed, leav-
ing white forms; others retain, after twenty-four hours, their usual
form. They will be examined from day to day, to see if any of them
can bear the treatment, and hatch, so as to be a guide for the next
freezing. * * * —/Jos. VOYLE, Gainesville, Fla., May 15, 1883.

{A careful examination of the scales received failed to show any live

eggs. |

76 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
A PINE SAW-FLY FROM ARKANSAS.

I send you specimens of the pine worm of which you have received
mention. They are fast disappearing, but a great many of the largest
trees are completely stripped of their foliage, and the sign of their rav-
ages is visible on every tree and bush. I have never noticed but one
instance where they had eaten any other tree than the pine, and that
was a small ash on which a few had lodged in falling from a tree after
defoliating it. The leaves of the ashhad been eaten to aslight extent.
They never touch the new growth, but confine themselves entirely to the
growth of last year. * * * W—[W. A. MOSELEY, Camden, Ark., May
4, 1883.

|The pine worm proved to be the undescribed larva of a saw fly of the
genus Lophyrus. These insects undergo their transformation to pup in
silken cocoons on the surface of the ground, among the leaves and other
rubbish; hence burning over the surface of the ground in winter, where
it is possible, will be a good remedy. Ornamental trees can be preserved
from their attacks by syringing them with hellebore water or Paris green
water. |

SAW-FLY LARVA ON WHEAT HEADS.

I have as fine a field of wheat as I have seen this season. This morn-
ing, in looking over it, I find upon the heads quite a number of such
worms as are here inclosed. They take a portion of the grains out of
the heads they attack. They are not very numerous, perhaps three or
four in a rod square. I am at a loss to know what they are, or whether
they will materially injure our wheat. My neighbors also have them.
Will you please inspect them?—[J. C. HoSTETTER, Minerva, Ohio,
June 16, 1883.

Your favor of 21st instant is at hand ; also mailing box and stamps.

I have just returned from a walk around a twenty-acre field of wheat.
My object was to pick off a dozen or more of those worms to send you.
To my utter surprise (though making diligent search) I found but three,
one of which I lost on my way to the house. Only a week ago I could
have found any number of them in the same field. They are now gone,
having either dropped off, or been taken by the birds, or both. Please
pardon me, therefore, for sending only tlose two discoveries for inspec-
tion. If I find more I will send again. I think these are full size, or
nearly. I found them on small heads of wheat, the same inclosed. You
are evidently clearly right in saying we need not apprehend much dam-
age from them. Their time is of short duration and seems to be con-
fined to the period soon after the wheat is in head. I don’t think they
affect the kernels when fully formed.—{J.C. HoSTETTER, Minerva, Ohio,
June. 25, 1883.

HERBARIUM PEST—THE APPLE MAGGOT. Cl

‘The larva above mentioned was that of a species of saw-fly (family
Tenthredinide). We sent for a number of additional specimens in order
to endeavor to obtain the mature insect, for we did not recall any record
of injury to wheat by a Tenthredinid in this country. Curtis gives an
account of one in Europe, the description of which agrees very closely
with this larva, but from his account it would seem to have come from
some neighboring woods and not to have been naturally feeding on
wheat. As many of the saw-fly larvee, when abundant, have a habit of
wandering from their original food-plants, such may have been the case
in this instance. We endeavored to get positive evidence of its wheat-
feeding habits, but failed, and the larvee received from Mr. Hostetter
died before transforming, so that the species was not even ascertained.
The same larva was reported by W.S. Chamberlain, Secretary of the
State Board of Agriculture, as occurring on wheat at Columbus, Ohio.]

TINEID Motus IN DRIED FUNGI.

Please allow me the privilege of sending you a specimen of my col-
lection of fungi and their foe, and, if not too much trouble, please tell
me the name of the insect. These fungi were put in a strong paper
box and tightly wrapped in three folds of paper and tied with twine to
prevent the moths from depositing on them their eggs. It seems that
the larve bored through paper and box and gained access to them.
Corrosive sublimate, &c., does not appear to protect them unless satu-
rated. The only way I have succeeded in saving specimens is to put
them in tight boxes with a sponge saturated with chloroform.

I sent you specimens once before. You wrote me you thought them
new. Your final answer is given in American Entomologist, vol. 3, p.
297— Cis fuscipes Mell. Evidently a mistake has in some way hap-
pened.—|J. J. BRown, M. D., Sheboygun, Wis., May 15, 1883.

|The moth proved to be Scardia cloacella, Haw., allied to the common
grain moth. There was no mistake about Cis fuscipes. Both species
were received, and both infest the fungi. |

THE APPLE MAGGOT.

* * * ‘Jn regard to the apple maggot, I can say that with us it is

a pest equal if not exceeding the Codlin moth (or its larva). It attacks
both early and winter fruit, greenings and Baldwins seeming to be its
choice, sometimes, yes often, completely honey-combing the fruit. We
have fed out quantities of apples infested with this maggot.—[S. E.
FRISBIE, Milford, Conn., March 15, 1883,

Your very obliging letter, acknowledging receipt of the Dynastes pupa,
should have been noticed sooner, but I wanted to find some memoran-

78 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
RHINOCEROS BEETLE—SAND BEE—CATTLE TICK.

dum of what I now suppose was a rare opportunity to have studied this
beetle. None is to be found. I am ashamed to own it, and to offer my
memory of what occurred years ago. In fact, at the time, I noticed such
things merely for my passing pleasure, without the least notion of in-
teresting the world. It was as [I mentioned: In March of 1868, a large
post-oak tree I had cut for rails, posts, and wood, was found hollow at the
top; the cavity some 10 feet long, and branching into the larger limbs,
by 12 inches in diameter. I do not recollect seeing any large opening
into the cavity. There were small holes, such as might have been
made by woodpeckers and squirrels. Within, the trunk contained no
nests of birds or other animals, but some decaying acorn hulls, sticks,
and leaves. The lower half contained a black, damp mass of decaying
vegetable matter, rotten wood and fungi. In this rotten and decaying
mass were numbers of grubs, evidently grubs of beetles, and in size from
1 inch to 4 in length; at the top, in looser, drier matter, were several
pup, and amongst the old sticks and leaves numbers of perfect beetles,
most of them dead and in pieces, but a few still alive. * * *

I send you a small tin box containing the nest of a sand bee of some
kind. There were four cells originally, as plowed up in a cotton field
6 miles northeast of Selma, but the curiosity of a companion destroyed
two of them before I was aware. A more curious thing, also, in the
box—unless you have seen the same before—is a large tick laying her
eggs. On the 10th of March the tick was found, full of blood, at the foot
of a bank, where a cow had recently rubbed it off after carrying it all
winter. I placed it in a box, with loose cotton on top. Two weeks
later, looking at it, I found it had shrunken to half its original size, and
the first mass of eggs was extruded. It should have been sent you
then, but [ was busy about other things and it was overlooked. Now,
after eighteen days, it has continued to lay, and another mass is hang-
ing to it, whilst the skin seems shrunken very much.—| LAWRENCE C,
JOHNSON, Selma, Ala., April 20, 1883.

[The nest of the “sand bee” was that of a species of Osmia, and the
tick was the common Ixodes bovis. |

TEE SCREW WoRM.

Permit me to call your attention to the Texas “ Screw Worm,” which
was very troublesome to stock in Kansas last year. I am medically
informed it is the Sarcophaga georgina. I send you a larval specimen.
It kills a great many animals and some people. Neglected babies,
children, and adults with nasal catarrh are sometimes afflicted and
killed by it. Weare told that it flies into the nose of a man the same as
the bot-fly in the nostrils of a sheep, and lays its eggs or young. In ani-
imais a wound or blood attracts it. Calomel, chloroform, and carbolie

JUNE-BUGS, PEAR-LEAF MITE, GRAPE-VINE COLASPIS. ci)

acid kill it. I shall blow dry calomel up a patient’s nose or ear that is
attacked when I treat it. It is said to prefer the dog and sheep for
victims.

Hope we may see some facts published in next Agricultural Report
about it, and oblige 10,000 Kansas farmers and stockmen, &c.—[W. S.
NEWLON, Oswego, Kans., March 30, 1883.

[The larva was that of Lucilia macellaria. |

JUNE BuGsS AND PEAR-LEAF MITES.

The ‘‘West Town Farm and Garden Club,” at its meeting last Sat-
urday evening, had two items before it, among others, which it wishes
to refer to you for information.

The first regards a swarm of bugs that in large numbers at night are
eating the foliage of the fruit trees on one or two neighboring farms.
They are evidently a species of June bug, or May beetle, as some of the
latter were found on the tree the smaller ones were taken from, one of
which is inclosed with the smaller bugs.

The other item may not come in your department. If not, ane
have it put in the right hands.

A member brought in a branch of a pear tree, a twig of which is in-
closed. The tree appeared perfeetly healthy up to the time of its attack,
when in twenty-four hours the leaves were all affected more or less as
the sample inclosed. The club would like to know the nature of the
disease, and the remedy, if any, forit; whether it is likely to be fatal,
or contagious to neighboring trees.—[JAS. B. FISHER, President, West
Town, Orange County, N, Y., May 21, 1883.

|The “June bug” eating the foliage of the fruit trees was Lachno-
sterna tristis. The best remedy will be found in attracting them at night
by a light suspended over a tub of water on which is a thin seum of
kerosene.

The diseased appearance of the pear leaves sent was caused by one of
the gall mites—probably Typhlodromus pyri. We advised that the tree
be sprayed with one of the kerosene emulsions spoken of in the Annual
Report of this Department for 1881-2, pp. 115 and 116.]

THE GRAPE-VINE COLASPIS.

I send you some bugs in a vial. Please tell me what they are, and if
there is any way to kill them or prevent them from eating up grape-vines
and young grapes. Three years ago I planted out 75 acres in grapes,
mostly Scuppernong variety, but some of all kinds. Last year these

80 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

bugs made their appearance in countless numbers, but I caught them
in a cloth; but this. year the vines are too large, and I tried several
remedies and none will move them. Please inform me as soon as possi-
ble if you know of anything, and greatly benefit, yours, respectfully.—
[JOSEPH A. HARPER, Blackshear, Ga., May 10, 1883.

|The beetle injuring the grape-vines proved to be the Grape-vine Colas-
pis (Colaspis brunnea Fabr.), treated in our Third Missouri Report, p. 81..
The larvee feed on the roots of plants, and often do considerable dam-
age to strawberry plants. The best remedies found are in jarring them
into sheets saturated with kerosene, and in spraying the vines with a
Paris green or London purple solution in the proportion of 2 ounces of
the poison to 10 gallons of water, thoroughly stirred. |

I have a vineyard of about 800 plants, of twenty or twenty-five differ-
ent home varieties. It is in its fourth year on the ground, and up to the
12th ultimo looked perfectly beautiful and of a luxuriant growth, whilst
the vines were almost all loaded with fruit of excellent form and size.
An insect has since made its appearance in myriads and myriads, and
perforated the leaves in such a way as to cause their becoming dry and
falling. It attacked almost all varieties, less in some way the Concord,
although the leaves are fearfully damaged. The grapes, thus far, lost
none of their vigor, owing perhaps to wet weather, which, unfortunately,
troubles us for all other crops very much.

In a separate parcel I send you some insects of the above. Please
examine them, and let me know their history, and if there is any chance
of a remedy for their destruction before they destroy our crop. Last
year, too, we were troubled by the same pests, but to a smaller degree.
If my statement is any way obscure, please call it to my attention that
I may furnish you with further information. Our Scuppernongs are
not damaged, but many weeds with large leaves, such as docks, are per-
fectly perforated, the same as our grape-vines.—|[C. MENELAS, Brook-
haven, Miss., July 6, 1883.

[This was same insect and the same advice was sent.|

STRAWBERRY FRUIT BEETLES.

Inclosed you will find some insects which have proved very destruc-
tive to my strawberries. I have only 400 plants in my garden, and
last year should have been their best bearing year; but the crop was
entirely destroyed by these insects. They came as the berries commenced
turning, and we had very few to ripen, as they ate small holes in them,
and then the whole berry became soft. I salted the vines when they
were done bearing last year, thinking it might kill the bugs for this
year. And I thought I had succeeded, as we gathered a splendid crop

GREEN SOLDIER-BUG ON ORANGE TREES. 81

of berries before the bugs came; but the last week of bearing the crop
was again destroyed by the same insect.

Is it a new plague, or has it been known before, and can you tell me
what it is, and what will prevent its ravages in the future ?—[Mrs. Gro.
SCHALL, North Wales, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1883.

[The insect accompanying this letter, and which was said to injure
strawberries, was a common beetle known as Stelidota strigosa, Schon.
it has never been recorded as doing any appreciable damage to any
crop before. It feeds ordinarily upon fallen fruit, in which the female
alxo lays her eggs. The larva attains its full growth in a short time,
and the beetle issues in late summer and hibernates in this state. With
regard to remedies, it will be difficult to advise. Feeding on the fruit
as it does, the ordinary poisons cannot be used. The insects and their
breeding habits should be carefully studied on the spot; in this way a
remedy can doubtless be found. |

GREEN SOLDIER-BUG (RAPHIGASTER HILARIS) ON ORANGE TREES.

* * * You also request observations on the Green Soldier-bug. I
forward by same mail twigs of the orange tree injured by the bug. The
insects are coupling now. The females will soon lay the eggs in a
cluster on a leaf, straddling over them while laying. The young ap-
pear in the latter part of February or the first part of March. <As ob-
served by the eye the young are black, with white spots, which color
they retain until nearly full grown, when they acquire wingsand change
to a bright green. How this is done I do not know. They mature very
quickly, and increase with surprising rapidity, continuing to breed
until November. In the spring and early summer they confine their
attacks principally to garden vegetables and succulent weeds. They
are particularly abundant on tomato-vines, egg-plants, turnip-tops, and
mustard, seldom doing much damage to orange trees at this season.
When pea-vines are well grown, about or a little before the time of blos-
soming, they abandon nearly everything for the pea-vines. Last year
they totally destroyed my garden. Not one tomato came to perfection.
Where the insect had inserted its sucking-tube a reddish-yellow spot
‘appeared. When cut the fruit was full of lumps and totally devoid of
flavor. The tomato-vines grew so enoymous a crop that the ground
was almost covered by the fallen fruit. Last year I had 35 acres
planted in cow-pea vines, which bore an enormous crop of peas;
but not enough sound peas could be gathered to plant 5 acres addi-
tional land. Laterit was impossible to find a sound pea. I attempted
to turn under the vines, but so luxuriant was the growth that it could
not be done. Towards the end of August the pea-vines were dead or
dying, when the bugs swarmed to the orange tree, killing nearly all the

8993—Bul. 4—--6

82 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

new growth. Immense numbers were killed by keeping men constantly
going over the grove, shaking the trees, and killing all that fell on the
ground. The wingless individuals were readily killed, but the larger
number of the mature insects saved themselves by flight. This method
of destruction was kept up until the middle of December, by which
time very few were found. On very cold days the winged insects were
nearly dormant and could not fly. Ihave the trees frequently searched
now, but rarely find the bug. The number of the insects is ineredible.
When thoroughly shaken, the ground under the trees would be alive
with the fallen insects, and two days later just as many would be found.
I despaired of getting rid of them until the cold weather commenced,
when I found the number rapidly decrease until their nearly total ex-
tinction.

As to the damage. The bug first attacks the latest growth, which
wilts and droops while the bug is suckiug; in a few days the shoot is
dead; the same eye soon sends out another shoot which shares the fate
of its predecessor, and so on until the eye has the appearance of a large
bunch, as you will see on twigs sent. After all the tender growth has
been destroyed the bug inserts his sharp sucking tube in the previous
growth which has nearly hardened. Here I can only give you the facts
and my theory; itis a fact that the insect sucks such wood, but the
damage does not follow so quickly ; but very soon after, on such wood
known to be sucked, numerous bumps appear, which crack and exude
a sticky sap, white at first, but soon a rusty red, and hard. Later on
the insects suck the juice from fully-matured wood (an inch or more in
diameter); on this wood the bumps do not appear, but the same kind
of sticky sap exudes in tears, which soon harden and redden and are
what I understand by “red rust.” That the cause and effect are strictly
true I ean only surmise, but this much land my men have seen: the in-
sects sucking the sap as stated and the branches where sucked having
the appearance described. In the winter months I have found clusters
of the bugs on the stocks of the buds, two inches in diameter, and always
an exudation of sap at these places, which I have never observed to
redden as in the instances stated above. Why this is so, and why the
insect leaves the more tender bud above to suck the sap from harder
wood nearer the roots, I can offer no suggestion. At first I was strongly
inclined to think that red rust was caused by soil-poisoning, but if so,
why is it that trees have grown for many years on the same soil and
never had this disease until the introduction of the Green Bug? To
illustrate: When I bought this place ten years ago there was a field of
five acres which had been in partial cultivation several years, and on
which grew spontaneously the tomato and mustard plant, the two plants
on Which the insects thrive the best. (At present I can only find the
insect on the mustard.) Since my purchase I have kept this field
constantly growing pea-vines, as well as the forty other acres which
I have in orange trees, thus giving every encouragement to the in-

IE lille

| nd

DP obeys

“ <a J

GREEN SOLDIER-BUG ON ORANGE TREES. 8&3

crease of the pest. Adjoining this old field was a wild orange grove
in a dense forest. Many of the sour stumps had large sweet buds,
neither the buds nor sour trees giving any signs of the red rust until
the winter following the clearing, and after a crop of pea-vines had been
grown among the trees. Now the trees in this wild grove are just as
much damaged as in the old field adjoining. Another case I will men-
tion, and not trespass further on your patience. Five miles distant is
the grove of L. Merritt, a wild grove budded. The buds are six years
old and ought to be bearing heavy crops, but an occasional bloom is all.
The trees have been in an unhealthy and “ die back ” condition for sev-
eral years. When visiting his grove in the fall of 1881, I told him I had
some trees in the same condition and was inclined to think the Greén
Bug was the cause. Since that time he has persistently hunted the bug,
whipping it out of the large trees with poles, and killing wherever
found; also he stopped planting peas. I have just visited his grove and
found but two twigs damaged, and could not find a specimen of the
bug. The trees have changed so remarkably in this grove that it was
past recognition. Instead of a dense crop of dead twigs all over his
grove, as at a previous visit, the trees had nearly doubled in size, and
had a very large, healthy growth of branches in place of the dead twigs.
I hear his trees are now in profuse bloom. Ido not think that washes
will do much damage to the bug. Very strong whale-oil soap rarely:
kills. Whale-oil soap, 1 pound; kerosene oil, 1 pint; water, 12 pints ;
sometimes kills when sprayed over them, nearly always when immersed.
Pure kerosene kills, but not always instantly.

The Green Bug has a parasite. I do not know what, but I frequently
find their shells with the inside devoured. Last winter I buried a num-
ber to see if plowing under would kill them. In ten days none were
dead; in three weeks 20 per cent. were dead, nothing remaining but the
shells; in six weeks all but one were dead, empty shells remaining.
The living insect I put in a bottle with a little earth over it, hoping to
find the parasite, but unfortunately in about ten days the bottle was
broken, the Green Bug was dead, the empty shell as in the other in-
stances.

At present the insect is very rare here; if found at all, generally on
the mustard plant or a weed locally known as nightshade. Yesterday,
while showing a lemon tree to some visitors, I found some of the twigs
drooping and remarked it looked like the work of the Green Bug. One
was found under a leaf close to his work. I send you one of the shoots.
If at any time you may consider the subject of sufficient importance to
send 2 trained observer in the field, [ will be happy to see him here and
place every facility at his disposal. “

With apologies for the length of my letter.—[JAMES FRANKLIN, West
Apopka, Fla., January 31, 1883,

84 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
THE APPLE TREE PLANT-LOUSE.

Could you make it convenient to tell me the name of the inclosed
Aphides? This is fruit year for the apples of Monmouth County, New
Jersey, and the trees are almost black on the flower buds with these
lice. The farmers are filled with apprehensions. Last night was a

black frost, and it bids fair to be so to-night. But I find that, though

numb on the trees to-day, they became quite lively when brought into
the house. Whatdoyou think aboutthem? Isitusual soearly? Any
information will be gratefully received.

P.S.—Just after making up the package my son brought me some buds
of Bartlett pears similarly attacked. I opened the package and put them
in. They areinclosed in tinfoil, thus separating them from the others.—
[SamuEL Lockwoon, Freehold, N. J., April 25, 1883.

[The louse was the common Aphis mali, and it is not at all unusual to
find them in such numbers thus early in the season. As a remedy we
advised trying a very dilute kerosene emulsion, as described in our last
Report for 1881-2, pages 112-116.|

OAK BARK-LICE.

With this note I send you portions of an oak twig (Quercus aquatica)
which are incrusted with scales or galls, or whatever you may term
them. The branch looks barnacled.

I do not remember ever having seen them before. The oak from
which they came is growing on the roadside, and is about 15 feet high.
The twig or young branch seems to have been twisted by some driver
who wanted a switch, but who did not succeed in wringing it off. It
is (as you will see from the young leaves) still growing, and upon
this twig only were found the insect scales. Nowhere else on the tree
are they to be seen—only on this hanging and twisted branch.—[J. H.
MELLICHAMP, Bluffton, S. C., April 23, 1883.

[The bark-lice belonged to an undescribed species of the true genus
Lecanium. The fact that they-were found on the broken twig is of great
interest, as bearing on the preference which all bark-lice seem to have
for enfeebled trees and portions of trees. |

CATTLE TIcK ON HUMAN Bopy.

This tick was removed by a friend of mine—a physician—from the
border of the arm-pit of a young lady. The tick had penetrated so
leeply that it was removed with some difficulty without breaking it in

/

ORANGE INSECTS AND DISEASES. 85

pieces. As far as I can ascertain by consulting Packard’s Guide, I guess
it may be a species of Ivodes. Is it a common pest ?—|H. C. BEARDs-
LEE, Painesville, Ohio, July 1, 1883.

[The tick was a variety of Ivodes bovis. |

ORANGE Rust MITE, MEALY BuG, AND TAP-ROOT DISEASE.

Having business near Orange Lake during the past week, I visited
several orange groves. I found all of the Florida varieties of scale-
insects in abundance. Oranges are already rusty, and the rust mite in
many places, on both leaves and fruit, in such large numbers as to give \
a distinet coloration, distinguishable at a distance of ten feet.

But the most destructive insect, at present absorbing all the attention
of the orange-growers there, is the mealy bug, Dactylopius destructor.
This insect causes the fruit to rot under the colonies. <A favorite place
of lodgment is at the stem, under the calyx; the result is, the fruit
drops.

I staid there three days to examine methods used and experiment in
their destruction.

The cottony armor repels all watery solutions.

The methods used are: spraying each separate colony with pure ker-
osene by means of bellows atomizers; and mechanical action—rubbing
or pinching each separate colony (by colony I mean the little clusters
consisting of from ten to several hundred individuals); this is done by
the fingers.

I examined the trees that had been treated with the kerosene spray
and found both the leaves and fruit spotted yellow. I was also in-
formed that fruit saved in this way two years ago was useless, having
absorbed the odor of kerosene. The effective progress made by the
means used is trifling, in consideration of the work to be done. I tried
experiments with solutions of murvite, sprayed on, but with no good
result; then tried kerosene butter, using thick, milky solution of mur-
vite, which combines in exactly the same way as with cow’s milk, and
found that an effective emulsion could thus be made.

After using and watching the action of this for some time, I saw that
the interior insects of a dense mass were protected by the exterior ones;
further experiments were made to meet this difficulty. By watching
the men at work I saw that nearly every infested orange. was handled
to turn all of its sides tothe eye; that wherever a large colony found
lodgment in a fork of twigs or in a depression of the bark they were
handled, also that the bunches of Spanish moss (Tillandsia) formed
formidable breeding places. All of these require force for their dislodg-
ment.

86 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

A strong stream of water was tried and proved effective, but labor-
ious, and the insects falling to the ground were not killed.

Experiments with solution of murvite, made under a microscope,
showed that in all cases where the solution came into actual contact
with the skin of the insect the bug was instantly killed. Acting upon
this and the knowledge gained by previous observation and expéri-
ment, I tried the effect of a fine, solid stream issuing under pressure,
using a solution of murvite, one part, to water two hundred and fifty
parts. The results were excellent; the solution being forced into the
colonies broke them up, and coming into contact with the insects killed
them, the method of working being one man at the pump, another to
guide the stream. , The apparatus improvised being badly adapted to
the purpose is very awkward. The work, although about four times as
fast as with the bellows atomizer, is not adequate to the economical re-
quirements. This method has the merit of no loss by damage to fruit
or leaves by the material used; the waste, falling on the leaves and
branches, will exterminate both scale insects and rust mites, these
being . plentiful, but neglected in the presence of the more pressing
necessity of saving the growing crop from destruction by the mealy bug.

Business required my presence at home, so I was obliged to leave.
As I can do so, I will try to fit up an apparatus adapted to this work.
Having none of the insects here. or, as far as I know, nearer than the
ake, twenty miles distant, I cannot make any experiments at home as
I would like to do.

At Micanopy I found several large trees dying slowly from some un.
seen cause. Some time ago I induced one person to dig under the lateral
roots and examine the tap root of a tree in a similar condition; result,
bark of tap root not all rotten. I was not present to examine it. The
tree being large and yielding well, the owners generally prefer to take
the chance of recovery to any act that may expose the roots and increase
the damage; but the matter is important and statements are confused ;
some say that a white worm causes it; others, white ants; others, wood
lice. I have found trees damaged by each of them, but they differ from
the causes at Micanopy. I have heard of its being serious at other
places.

Can you advise me of the best means of proceeding, what to look for,
and how to look for it, so that if I have opportunity I may intelligently
search into the matter ?—|Jos. VOYLE, Gainesville, Fla., June 12, 1883.

[This disease of the larger trees is supposed by Mr. Hubbard and others
to be caused by the tap-root reaching water and decaying in consequence. |

MISCELLANEOUS FLORIDA INSECTS. 87

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.

The larva of the Papilio cresphontes has, to me, a new ene
few enemies has it, from its smell, no doubt, that no birds a
though often exposed. The shrike, that is almost omnivorous,
touch it, nor will the bee martin, nor the mocking bird. The
fly is only oceasionally a parasite. The Mutilla (cow ant) this year has
nearly cleared my trees of the cresphontes; itsnips out a piece from the
abdominal ring, takes a sip of the fluid, and then the ‘sugar-ants”
finish the work. By the way, these “sugar-ants”—small, yellow fel-
lows—are pests invading the cupboard, getting into meat, sugar, Xe. [
find their nests in rotten wood, in roofs, logs, &c. They are nearly as
bad as the cockroach, and this last ought to be named ‘‘Omnivora peri-
planeta.” Pyrethrum has but little effect on the roach here.

I made a “grand round” lately to see the effect of my experiments
with kerosene last year.

In Bulletin No. 1, pp. 17,18, Professor Hubbard states that a five,
per cent. kerosene emulsion did not prove satisfactory, and that by
next spring Dr. Neal would have considerably modified his conclu-
sion. Of course, if the facts proved me wrong, I would, but they do not-

Experiment 1. Made at Judge J. F. McDonell’s,5 miles south of me—
trees 12-32 years old, badly atfected. June 1,1883; trees growing well
and clear of the old scale. The most of the leaves dropped, but a new
growth soon took their place.

3. Two miles southeast of Archer. Examined in October and No-
vember: no scale on the new growth of leaves; none June 1, except
when trees affected had been set in proximity.

10. Five miles south. The owner reports, ‘trees in good order; no
scale on the trees you worked on.”

From what I have seen, I can see no reason to modify the conclusion
on p. 34, though I believe it most economical of time and money to buy
and use “ Bounetheaw’s” emulsion, made at Jacksonville. Then a com-
pound of kerosene, petroleum, tobacco, potash, &c., is cheap and easily
used. Two two and: one-half per cent. applications, one in March and
one in June, do good work. Dr. Todd, of Lawtey, Fla., has used “ crude
petroleum,” made up a la kerosene 5 per cent. emulsion, and likes it bet-
ter than kerosene or creosote.

Who has tried “oil of tansy”? A few experiments I have made in-
dicate that in most cases it is a grand insecticide, and added to kerosene
emulsion doubles its efficacy. The proportion I have not yet deter-
mined. It could be very easily obtained, as probably an infusion would
answer. | .

There is a general abeyance of insects this year; very few of the
Heliothis in corn or tomato; no cotton worms yet found, and no Dysder-
cus reported. Even the Plusia and Agrotis are not plentiful. Result
of the warm February? * * * [J. C. NEAL, M. D., Archer, Fla.,
July 3, 1885.

88 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
ANOTHER EAST INDIAN COTTON WoRM REMEDY.

With regard to sending to your Department specimens of insects
which injure the cotton crop in Burma, I regret I cannot do it at once,
as most of the cotton fields in Burma have been left waste for the last
two or three years, on account of disturbances between the king
Burma and Shan chiefs. At such times the cultivators are not sate
being every now and then attacked by the enemy and looted, but I wil: j
keep in mind, and will endeavor as soon as an opportunity is offered tu
procure the specimens of injurious insects which attack the cotton and
forward the same to you as desired.

I will send you shortly another remedy for injurious insects ; it is the
bark of a tree that natives soak in a jar of water for twenty-four hours,
after which the water is sprinkled on the plants. I am told that
by such process insects are killed, and the smell of the water on the
plants prevents them going near to the plants any further. I shall send
the seed also with the bark, that on trial of the experiment, if success-
ful, you may try the seed for growing the tree.—[C. LUCAS, hen
pon January 29, 1885.

Ee —

POSSIBLE NORTHERN FOOD-PLANT OF ALETIA. Gg

Referring to mine of 17th ultimo, and in reply to yours of 13th instant,
I regret to state that the larva unknown described to you as feeding on
Hibiscus trionum, disappeared during the night of the 23d ultimo, before
which time I had discovered two simiiar, save a black dorsal line,
each upon flower spike of Lupinus pilosus. A drawing was sent to the
Entomological Society of Ontario, and a description. I have to state
that larve similar in size and color to Figs. 4 and 5 of Plates V and VI,
page 348, Agricultural Report for 1879, were seen by me in my garden
at Riverside in August of 1879—supposition, from eggs attached to
botanical débris obtained near Washington, perhaps leaves and fruit
of Callirrhoé pedata obtained from back of Mr. Gray’s, 204 Seventh street
southwest—crawling upon and imbedded in plants of Gnaphalium uligi-
nosum L. (Marsh Cudweed),a common weed in this district, ¢. e., Riverside.
IT sent youa specimen of the plantfrom my garden.—[ ALFRED H. MOORE,
Loronto, Ont., October 19, 1885.

PARIA ATERRIMA INJURING STRAWBERRIES.

[ sent you some larve of the strawberry crown-borer in a potato this
morning. I havea few more now and will send them the saine way, ex-
cept that I will inclose some damp soil with them. I think they do not
eat now, for I find them in a little cavity in the earth, not far from the
surface. I have been acquainted with this pest for ten years, and I re-

PARIA ATERRIMA INJURING STRAWBERRIES. 89

ceive plants from all parts of the country that have been injured by it.
The injury it does by boring into the crown is as nothing compared with
what it does to the roots, eating off the bark and fine roots. Soon after
the roots areinjured the leaves get rusty and finally die. The inner leaves
lose their glossy and healthy appearance. Where they are plenty they
will injure the roots of young runners almost as fast as new plants are
formed. Itis common to find arunner with four or five plants, the oldest
of which willhave its roots ruined, the next two more or less damaged, and
the youngest uninjured. Plants set in spring to be grown in hills wil
flourish till July, or August, then send out weak, slender runners, com-
mence to rust, and almost die. These larve never bore down the cen-
ter of the crown, but down and part way around the outside and some
times horizontally into the center. JI am not sure it is the crown-borer
atall. A few years ago I received plants from Dimondale, Mich., where
Professor Cook first saw the strawberry-root worm. If this is it J have
had it ten years in thistown. The plants I speak of were greatly injured
the first season, so that I had to remove them. As soon as I see a bed
where this pest is at work I can tell by the rusty, sickly appearance of
the foliage.

There is another worm that damages my plants to a great extent, but
itis not confined to the strawberry. It eats potatoes, carrots, or any roots,
and is very fond of celery. When it works on strawberries the foliage
is apt to lose its dark glossy green look, and become almost variegated,
yellow and green. The leaves do not attain their fuli size, and have a
warped appearance, like a thin piece of steel made red hot and thrown
into water. These worms are about three-fourths of an inch in length,
not thicker than a pin, brown color, with many legs, and almost as hard
as wire. Early in the spring I find many without legs, almost white,
and less lively than the ones I describe.

Many of my plants are perforated by a little bug or beetle about one-
fourth of an inch long, in shape resembling a striped cucumber bug, and
of a dull yellowish color. I saw plenty of them two months ago, making
holes in the tenderest leaves, and now I see many of theirholes. Isit the
crown-borer ?

I would like to know where the eggs of these larve are laid. I have
found that young plants taken up in July and washed clean and planted
in a new bed are sometimes badly injured the same fall, but cannot tell
whether the eggs were attached to them or not.—|M. CRAWFORD, Cuy-
ahoga Falls, Ohio, October 9, 1883.

[The larvee were not those of the Strawberry Crown-borer (Analeis
Sragarie), but belonged to a little beetle known as Paria aterrima, the
same species mentioned by Professor Cook in his address before the
Ingham County Horticultural Society, and described in the American
Entomologist for October, 1880. The other worm mentioned and which
was not confined to strawberries, was the common Iulus multistriatus,
one of the commonest of the ‘ thousand-legged worms.” |

90 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
THE ELM-LEAF BEETLE.

Galeruca wanthomelena came in great force in June, and defoliated
all our beautiful elms, to the great injury of our village. In the third
week of July the trees all put forth a new crop of leaves, about one-
third the size of the first crop. In the fourth week of July the second
brood of Galeruca came, and devoured the new leaves. We are all
anxious to see whether the trees will stand this treatment next spring.
I fear our fine elms here are all doomed.—[{Rey. SAMUEL LockWwoopD,
Freehold, N. J., August 6, 1883.

GRAPE PESt—CODLING MOTH.

I send you to-day a beetle which you will confer a favor by determin-
ing at your earliest convenience. You will remember I sent you a
Blapstinus said to be destroying foliage of grape-vines. Now here is
another Tenebrionid that in one case has destroyed 55 acres of grape-vine.
(Further particulars soon.) I also send you a codling moth [raised froma
pear four yearsago. I found quite anumber last year. Is this a differ-
ent species from Carpocapsa pomonella, or only a variety? The speci-
men is in Vial.—|[MATTHEW COOKE, Sacramento, Cal., July 23, 1883.

[The Tenebrionid sent was Hleodes quadricollis Lec.; a very numerous
species in the more northern part of California. The species of that genus,
so numerous and abundant in the region west of the Rocky Mountains, are
all known to feed upon decaying vegetable matter, and none have hith-
erto been reported as doing damage to cultivated plants. In fact, this
communication, if correct, would indicate a change of habit hitherto un-
precedented in the history of economic entomology, and, unless further
proof be brought forth, we can hardly believe that the species referred to
is the real author of the damage to grape-vines. The only species of the
large family Tenebrionide which can be considered as injurious are
those feeding on stored produce, e. g., Tenebrio molitor, T. obscurus, Tri-
bolium ferrugineum, Gnathocerus cornutus, and a few others.

The codling moth was an interesting variety of Carpocapsa pomonella,
with obsolete maculation. |

THE WHEAT MIDGE.

I find that I have fallen into the error of using a name for the wheat
pest that is in erroneous use here (eceevil). The one I mean is called in
Ontario the midge. It comes out in the fly state in July, and deposits
its eggs near the kernels when the wheat is in its early stage. The yel-
low grubs live upon the wheat in its milky state and leave it shriveled
aud worthless. When we get a very early season, as this is, the wheat

a

— =<," = , - —— ee

MAMESTRA PICTA EATING PEA-VINES. of

sown before the Ist of May matures earlier and escapes to a great ex-
tent. Last year the wheat sown on the 16th of June got very Well
clear, but that sown from the 5th to last of May was severely handled
by the midge. I shall be glad if you can give me any information as to
the best means of getting rid of the pest. I have no doubt you are well
acquainted with its habits and have often referred to it in your reports.

If you wish I will collect and forward samples of eggs in season.—
[Wm. Hearp, The Cedars, Prince Edward's Island, April 23, 1885.

[The insect spoken of in this letter was, without doubt, the Wheat
Midge (Diplosis tritici, Kirby). It has done but little damage in the
United States for the last twenty years, and we have not had occasion
to study it particularly, nor have there been any articles of importance
published about it since Dr. Fitch’s lengthy summary in the Transactions
of the New York State Agricultural Society for 1860. This is the best
account of the midge ever published. Another excellent account is
found in Harris’s Insects Injurious to Vegetation. We sent for further
specimens and received the following reply :]

In accordance with the request contained in your favor of 28th April
last, I now forward by mail some specimens.of wheat midge, which are
in good condition for investigation. This year we would have had a
magnificent return but for the depredations of this insect. In some
districts the loss is total. Late-sown wheat: has so far escaped. Per-
haps this may be found the only safe plan, but the risk of bad weather
in September for harvest induces many to run the risk of early sowing.

* * * (Wm. HEARD, The Cedars, Prince Edward's Island, August
22, 1883.

MAMESTRA PICTA EATING PEA VINES.

A little worm is eating our pea vines. Not having noticed it before,
I thought I would send you a few specimens for determination. I send
them in a small box by this mail. If not too much trouble, please tell
me the name, and if it is common. Have found it on only one or two
plants, but these plants were covered and entirely destroyed.—[F. H.
HORSFORD, Charlotte, Vt., June 30, 1883.

[These specimens were in poor condition and unrecognizable, and
more were sent for, which were received together with the following
letter :|

Yours of the 5th is at hand. I inclose in a vial, by this mail, a few
of the live worms which I sent some time since. They have grown so
much that I would hardly recognize them if I did not find them on the
peavines. They seemtodomuchdamage, but are not yet very numerous.
The first plant that I discovered was completely covered with the little
worms like what I sent you first—[F. H. HoRSFORD, July 8, 1883.

92 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

/

[These were perfectly satisfactory, and were easily recognizable as the
Zebra caterpillar (Mamestra picta, Harris), figured and described in
Harris’s Insects Injurious to Vegetation, in the second report on the
Insects of Missouri, and in the report of the Entomologist of the De-
partment for 1883. From its conspicuous appearance, and from the fact
that the caterpillars are gregarious when young, it is easily destroyed
by hand picking. |

LOCUSTS IN YUCATAN.

Referring to my dispatch No. 70, dated November 27, 1882, and to
Department instructions No. 65 and 75, dated, respectively, January 3,
1883, and June 20, 1883, I have now the honor to report as follows:

The flights of locusts reported by me in my No. 70 increased in size
and numbers, and invested the whole country, where they have bred
with astonishing prolificacy. The situation of affairs here is exceed-
ingly grave.

The whole country is now swarming with this insect in both the ‘’hop-
per” state and as the perfect insect. Nothing escapes their voracity.
For a time hopes were entertained that the henequen plant* would be
free, but now everything is being destroyed. Lamentable stories are
brought in daily of the utter destruction of promising corn, bean, and
henequen fields of vastextent. The peculiar conformation of the coun-
try renders any systematic and efficient warfare against them extremely
difficult, if, indeed, practicable. Added to this is the natural “ laisser
aller” and indifference of the ordinary Mexican. Sporadic outbursts of
energy are seen here and there, but very little is thus accomplished.
The State legislature some time ago passed a decree calling on every
male inhabitant of the State to give one day’s work in each week to-
wards killing locusts, or in lieu thereof 50 cents per week.

The decree is good, but, so far as I can learn, it has not yet been put
into effect.

The results are already deplorable; cattle and horses are dying for
want of food; the Indian who lives only on corn can no longer depend
on the home crop, but must buy imported corn at the rate in city of
Merida of $3.25 per “carga” of 94 pounds, say 34 cents per pound
wholesale, but by the time it reaches the Indian it costs him nearly 6
cents a pound. He ean earn 25 centsaday. Part of this goes toward
extinguishing his ever increasing debt to his employer, the remainder
to provide for his great, hungry family.

In 1881 there were imported into this State 549,626 bushels of corn;
this year three times this quantity will be needed, and unless this plague
be abated, Yucatan will very shortly have no henequen fiber to send

* Agave sisalana.

SUPPOSED IMPORTATION OF PHYLLOXERA. 93

about in exchange for corn. Money is exceedingly tight; exchange at
an extravagant figure, and in general the prospects of Yucatan are ex-
ceedingly gloomy.

I shall be pleased to furnish any details the Department may desire,
or to answer any questions that may be put.—[LouIs H. AyMs, United
States Consul, Merida, Yucatan, August 25, 1883.

SUPPOSED IMPORTATION OF PHYLLOXERA.

The following correspondence having been the subject of several
Associated Press dispatches last April, we print it in full:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 17, 1883.

Sir: I transmit herewith a report from the collector of customs at
New York, dated the 13th instant, in regard to the importation at that
port of vine-cuttings, which it is suspected may be infected with phyl-
loxera. The report of the examiner who made the examination is not
conclusive on the question at issue, but even if it were I know of no
law that authorizes this Department to prevent their delivery. Dr.
Battershall, of the appraiser’s office at New York, suggested that the
clippings be submitted for examination to Professor Riley of your De-
partment, and they are accordingly transmitted for such examination.

Please return the paper with such comments as you may deem proper.

Yours, very respectfully,
H. F. FRENCH,

Acting Secretary.
Hon. GEO. B. LORING,

Commissioner of Agriculture.

Custom-Housg, NEw York,
Collector’s Office, April 13, 1883.

Sir: I herewith transmit a communication from the United States
consul at Funchal, inclosing invoice of vine-cuttings. The communi-
cation of the consul was referred to the appraisers immediately on re-
ceipt, and that officer’s report thereon is herewith inclosed. I also for-
ward the vine sample alluded to in the appraiser’s report.

Being unable to find any provision of law authorizing the collector
to seize or otherwise interfere with importations of this character, even
though the vines are affected as surmised, I respectfully refer the mat-
ter to the Department, with the request that instructions be given as
to any action to be taken by me in the premises.

Very respectfully,
W. H. ROBERTSON,

| Collector.
Hon. CHAs. J. FOLGER,

Secretary of the Treasury.

94 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

PorT OF NEW YORK, APPRAISER’S OFFICE,
April 10, 1883.

Str: Respectfully referring to the inclosed communication, directing
that a microscopic examination be made of a sample of certain vine
clippings recently imported from the island of Madeira, I have the honor
to report as follows: I have submitted the above sample to a microsco-
pie examination, and, while I have as yet been unable to detect certain
positive indications of the presence of phylloxera, I am of the opinion,
after comparing the clippings with others of known freedom from
disease, that they present appearances which are at least suspicious.
Considering the importance of this matter, I would respectfully suggest
that the clippings under consideration be submitted for examination to
Prof. C. V. Riley, who I believe is at present the entomologist of the
United States Department of Agriculture, and who has devoted more
attention to this special subject than any other American scientist.

An investigation would require experience of a peculiar nature, and
would involve a more complete acquaintance with the physical appear-
ance of the healthy and diseased vine than I can make claim to.

Respectfully,
J. B. BATTERSHALL.

The Hon. A. G. KETCHUM.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 1885.

Str: In reply to the letter of the Assistant Secretary of the Treas-
ury, with inclosures from the New York Custom-House, respecting an
invoice of vine-cuttings from Madeira suspected of ‘ phylloxera disease,”
I would submit the following:

The samples submitted, upon examination, furnish no sign whatever
of Phylloxera, and it is extremely doubtful whether any trace of Phyl-
loxera could be discovered upon any of the cuttings: Ist, because Pbhyl-
loxera is not known to be destructive in Madeira; and, 2d, because it
could only be found in winter egg, which, even in countries where Phyl-
loxera abounds, is extremely rare. Hence the chances of the introduc-
tion of the pest upon these cuttings are so very remote as not to be
worth considering. But, even if the cuttings came from a country
badly infested with Phylloxera, the danger of the introduction of the
pest upon them would be very slight, the reasons for which conclusion
I have already discussed in the American Naturalist for March, 18381,
and I beg leave to inclose a copy of said article, which gives in addi-
tion a succinct statement of the life habits of the insect.

Even were it possible to introduce the insect with these cuttings, no
harm could result so long as they were sent to any part of the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains, since the Phylloxera is indigenous
here. On the same supposition that the cuttings were badly infested,
prudence would dictate that they should not be sent to the Pacific coast,
or those portions of it where the Phylloxera does not yet exist; but

a

EXPERIMENTS IN THE GROWTH OF PYRETHRUM. ga

for the reasons first given I do not hesitate to say that there can be no
danger in sending them even there, and as it seems that there is no
law to warrant their detention they may certainly be forwarded without
fear of injury.
Respectfully,
C. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. GEO. B. LORING,
Commissioner of Agriculture.

FURTHER REPORTS ON THE GROWTH OF PYRETHRUM.

CALIFORNIA. San Bernardino, August 12, 1883.—JAMES 8S. BROOKS.

I have a few plants of pyrethrum now in flower, raised from seed that
I sent East for last year, but as I do not know how to prepare the pow-
der for the purpose of destroying insects I shall let the seed ripen and
plant again next season, hoping that I will succeed better, as but very
few plants came up.

CANADA. Dundas, Ont., June 22, 1882.—JOHN A. FISHER.

I have much pleasure in inclosing you three flowers raised by me
from the pyrethrum seed which you so kindly sent me a little over a
year ago. The plants that I have are in a perfect mass of bloom.

CANADA. Riverside, Toronto, September 9, 1883.—ALFRED H. MoorRk.

A plant of the 1881 seedlings of pyrethrum rose bloomed last May
(1883) so gloriously as to elicit a notice in the Evening Telegram of this
city. Had in bloom, nearly at same time, twenty-seven heads, but no
fecundated fruit. Are the flowers all entomophilous, and so abortive?

ILLINOIS. Champaign, July 12, 1882.—S. A. FORBES.

Concerning the -pyrethrum seed sent me, I believe that I have not re-
ported that I succeeded in raising a few plants last year, although most
failed because of the severe drought. Those that grew survived the
winter, blossomed this summer, and matured their seed about three
weeks ago. This was Pyrethrum roseum. The seed of both species has
come up sparingly this spring, injured this time by the extremely wet
weather.

Iowa. Garrison, June 10, 1882.—JAmEsS H. Dickson.

I received a package of pyrethrum seed (insect-powder plant) in the
spring of 1881 from Professor Riley, and sowed seed in a shallow box
and placed it in a hot-bed. The seed nearly all grew, and were trans-
planted to the garden the latter part of April. They grew fast and had
a few blooms the latter part of September, but not enough to pay for
the gathering. Before hard-freezing weather set in I gave the bed a

96 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

light covering of leaves, at the same time lifting a few plants and_ pot-
ting them, thinking if I lost those in the open ground that I would stillh
have a start; but those in the open ground started with a vigorous
growth, and to-day (the 10th of June) gathered a handful of blooms
from a space 5 feet square. The blooms of those kept in the house are
inferior to the others. The seed received of you this spring I gave the
same treatment, with almost an entire failure; have several plants of
each kind. We were well pleased with our former success, and expect
to gather blooms enough this season to make powder, so that we can
try its virtues on all kinds of insects that infest house plants.

KANSAS. Manhattan, May 2, 1883.—S. C. WELLS.

I gave away a part of the pyrethrum seed you sent me last spring,
and planted the rest; some of them came up, but our dry winds or
something else destroyed all but one plant. That one is now growing
and looking well.

MASSACHUSETTS. Franklin, June 18, 1882.—Ru'rH H. SMITH.

The seeds of the Pyrethrum roseum received from you early in April,
1881, were planted according to direction. They came up, but did not
seem to thrive well during the year. However, a few plants survived
the severe hail-storm of July 4, aud wintered well without any covering.
They bloomed first about three weeks ago.

MICHIGAN. Burnside, October 22, 1885.—MICHAEL J. KIRWVEN.

According to your request [ write to inform you of my success in rais- «
ing the pyrethrum. I sowed the seed in a dark, sandy loam spot in my
garden on the 23d of May. Of the P. carneum but one plant grew;
P. roseum,tive; P. cinerariefoliumfrom Austria, none; P. cinerariefolium
from California, about thirty-five plants grew. None of them have come
to maturity. Will the P. resewm stand the winter without protection?

MISSISSIPPI. Oxford, April 28, 1883.—R. W. JONES.

The pyrethrum plants, which i mentioned in my report of January 11,
1883, are now blooming beautifully. I send you specimens of the blooms
and leaves. They are (1) Pyrethrum roseum, (2) Pyrethrum cinerarie-
folium. I think the only difficulty here in growing the plant is in get-
ting it started. From my experience thus far I am led to the conclu-
sion that in Mississippi the best time for sowing the seed is in Oc-
tober; seeds sown in the spring do not-do so well, though I succeeded
in raising some plants froin seed sown in the spring. The hot, dry sum-
mer of this latitude is a severer trial to the plants when young than
our winters are. In the spring, too, the rains are too heavy and too
often repeated for the young plants to thrive. It is very interesting to
watch insects that are attracted by the brightness of the colors of P.
roseum, as they fly to the bloom and suddenly leave. I note that some

“.

EXPERIMENTS IN ‘THE GROWTH OF PYRETHRUM. 97

small insects, of which I send you specimens, and the bumblebee seem
to use the blooms without hurt.
[The insect mentioned is Cerotoma caminea, Fabr.]

NEw York. Rochester, June 11, 1882.—M. ALDEN.

The seeds of Pyrethrum roseum sent to me fifteen months ago were
divided into two parts and planted: Ist, in a gravelly loam—these
did not live: 2d, in a flower bed partially shaded in summer, having a
southern exposure, and composed of leaf-mold, one-half; well-rotted cow
manure, one-fourth; clay, one-tourth. Liberal additions of waste cof-
fee-grounds have been thrown on this bed from time to time. The py-
rethrum planted there is in fine condition, and is now in bud; the
plants are about 18 inches high. They did not flower last summer, and
the roots were left out all winter, protected by three inches of leaves and
manure.

PENNSYLVANIA. New Bloomfield, October 2, 1883.—E.°W. CLAYPOLE.

{n the spring of 1881 you sent me some seed of the Persian insect-
plant, P. roseum. I sowed some of it and it came up well. It grew
through the summer in a box and was left out through the winter. The
roots being much exposed by the sides of the box were liable to be killed
by frost. Yet it lived. I was away from home during the cold part of
the winter, which came before Christmas, but at my return the plants
were alive and continued so, at least some of them, until they began to
grow in the spring, when, unfortunately, they were forgotten and ex-
posed to acold rain and sudden hard frost in March, which killed them
in the growing state. In the spring of 1882 I sowed again some of the
same seed, which I had kept over, and also some of the Dalmatian species,
P cinerariefolium. Both came up well. The seed leaves of the latter
were less spatulate than those of the former, and the later leaves came
more freely. Altogether, the latter is the more freely growing plant.
They flourish well throngh the summer, and though the winter was a
very cold one (in Pennsylvania), yet with very little shelter (such as
that of an open shed or an unwarmed room) they survived it, and in
the spring began to grow very early. May add that the Dalmatian
Species was evergreen, retaining its leaves all the winter. The other
was not. Inthe spring I planted them in an open border, where they
grew well and flowered, especially the Persian plant, the flowers being
crimson, magenta, and white. The other species did not bloom as freely.
I do not know how they will bear the winter in the ground, but the
probability is in their favor. Judging from appearances the seed of
neither species was matured.

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Set

dD EX.

A.

Acridium alutaceam, 30.
Adalia bipunctata, 48.
Alden, M., report on Pyrethrum, 97.
Aletia xylina, 63.
possible northern food-plant of, 88.
Amphiscepa bivittata on the cranberry, 30.
Analcis fragarize, 89.
Anchylopera vacciniana, 10, 11.
Description of :
Chrysalis, 10.
Larva, 10.
Moth, 10.
Duration of life, 11.
Eggs, hatching under water, 11_
, when and where deposited, 11.
Aphis, hop, 34.
mali, 84:
Apple maggot, the, 77.
Aymé, Louis H., letter from, 93.

B.

Battershall, J. B., letter from, on Phylloxera, 94.

Beardslee, H. C., letter from, 84.

“ Berry worm,” the cranberry, 10.

Branner, John C., report upon cotton, orange, and
sugar-cane insects in Brazil, 63-69.

Brooks, James §8., report on Pyrethrum, 95.

Brown, Dr. J. J., letter from, 77.

Bruner, Lawrence, report by, 51-62.

C.

Caloptenus bivittatus, 30.
femur-rubrum, 30.
minor, 57, 58.
punctulatus, 30.
spretus, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57.
turnbullii, 58.
Camnula atrox, 54, 55.
pellucida, 54.
Carpocapsa pomoneila, 25.
aninteresting variety from California, 90.—
Chilocorus bivulnerus, 48.
Chloroform, use of, in herbariums, 77.
Circotettix carlingianus, 59.
undulatus, 59,
Cis fuscipes in dried fungus, 77.
Claypole, E. W., report on Pyrethrum, 97.
Coal oil fur destroying locusts in New Mexico, 53.
Coccinella 9-notata, 48,

Codling moth, 77.
| Colaspis brunnea, 80.
| Cooke, Matthew, letter from, 90.
| Corn worm, 78. /
| Corrosive sublimate, use of, in herbariums, 77.
| Cotton, insects injuring, in Brazil, 65, 66, 67, 68.
culture, circularin reference to, 68.
in Pernambuco, 64.
exports from Bahia, 67, 69.
imports, 67.
worm, insecticides for, 75.
remedy, anew East Indian, &8.
Cranberry fruit-worm :
Classification, 28.
Habits and natural history, 28.
Remedies not applicable to, 29.
| Cranberry insects, differingin New Jersey and on
| Cape Cod, 9.
report on, 9.
Cranberry moth, the glistening.
coccana, 23.)
| Cranberry root-worm, mode of attack,
reterence to, 38.
Cranberry span-worm:
Description :
Imago, 26.
Larva, 26.
Enemies of, 27.
Habits and natural history of, 26, 27.
Remedies against:
Flowing, 27.
Kerosene, 27.
Pyrethrum, 27.
| Time of appearance of first brood, 26.
second brood, 26.

(See Teras oxy-

33.

Cranberry tip-worm, the, 30.
kerosene emulsion, a remedy
against, 30.
| Cranberry vine worm:
Pupation, 12.
Recommendations in the warfare, 19.
Remedies:
Bisulphide of carbon, 15.
Capturing the moths, 20.
Carbolie acid, 17.
Copperas, 16.
Flowing, 12.
Hand nets, 21.
Kerosene, 17, 20.
Machines, 20.
Paris green, 16.

Pyrethrum, 16, 20.

100

Cranberry vine worm:
Remedies:
Tobacco, 16.
White hellebore, 14, 15.
Time of appearance, 12.
Cranberry worm, the red striped.
Description and habits, 32.
Remedy against, 32.
Crawford, M., letter from, 88.
Crickets injuring the cranberry, 30.
Cymatophora pampinaria. (See Cranberry span-
worm.)
D.

Dactylopius destructor on orange, 85.
Dactylotum pictum, 57.

Dickson, James H., report on Pyrethrum, 95-96.
Diplosis tritici, 91.

Dynastes tityus, 78.

E.

Eleodes quadricollis injuring grape in Califor-
nia, 90.
RF

Fall web-worm. (See Spilosoma cunea.)

‘* Fire worm,” or ‘* Vine worm,” 10.

Fisher, James B., letter from, 79.

Fisher, John A., report on Pyrethrum, 95.
Forbes, S. A., report on Pyrethrum, 95.
Fianklin, James, letter from, 81, 83.

French, H. F., letter from, on Phyloxera, 93.
Frisbie, S. E., letter from, 77.

G.

Galeruca xanthomelena, 90.

Geometer, the chain-spotted, injurious to the
cranberry, 31.

Gnathocerus cornutus, 90.

Grape-vine colaspis, the, 79, 80.

Grapholitha carywana, 25.

Gryllus neglectus, 30.

H.
Halisidota caryex,

description of larva, 42.
injuring the hop vine, 42.
Harper, Joseph A., letter from, 79-80.
Heard, William, letters from, 90, 91.
Hellebore a remedy against pine saw-flies. 76.
Hemiptera, species in cranberry bogs, 33.
Hibiscus trionum a possible food-plant of Aletia, 88.
Hickory tussock-moth, the, 42.
Hippiscus haldemannii, 56.
Homoptera, species in cranberry bogs, 33.
Hop blight not produced by insects, 38.
grub, the.
insects:
Aphis humuti:

(See Hydreecia immanis.)

Natural enemies:
Adalia bipunetata, 48.
Chilocorus bivulnerus, 48.
Coccinella 9-notata, 48.
Fungoid disease, 49.
Syrphus fly, 49
Notes on habits and natural history,
42-47.

INDEX.

Hop insects:
Aphis hnmuli:
Remedies, when best used, 47.
Carbolic acid, 47.
Carbolic soaps, 48.
Quassia, 47.
Soluble phenyi, 48.
Whale-oil soap, 47.
Diabrotica 12-punctata, 50.
Hop-vine leaf-hopper, 49, 50.
Mode of attack, 49.
Remedies, 50.
Phyllotreta vittata, 50.
Psylliodes punctulata. 50.
Systena frontalis, 50.
insects, report on, by John B. Smith, 34.
muffle-heads, how produced, 34, 38.
snout moth, the, 39.
Description and natural history, 39.
Remedy against, 39.
Horsford, F. H., letters from, 91.
Hostetter, J. C., letters from, 76.
Hydreecia immanis, 34, 38.
Description and natural history, 34.
Enemies, 37.
Calosoma calidum, 37.
Skunks, 36.
Remedies:
Ammoniated phosphate, 37.
Coal and wood ashes, 37.
Destruction of larva in vine, 36
pupa in ‘‘ grubbing,”’ 36.
ixposure of roots, 37.
High hilling, 37.
Hy dreecia micacea, 38.
obliqua, 39

Insecticides :

(See, also, remedies for cotton, cranberry,
and hop insects.)
“‘Squibb’s solution.” (See Carbolic acid.)
Formula of, 47.
Water proof, 74, 75.

Advantage over others, 74.
Formula for making, 74.

Tulus multistriatus, 89.

Ixodes bovis, 78, 85.

J.

Johnson, Lawrence C., letter from, 78.
Jones, R. W., report on Pyrethrum, 97. S

KG

| Kerosene emulsion, ‘‘ Bounetheau’s,”’ 87.

for destroying mites, 79.

formula of, 20.

how best applied, 20.

| not best to use after certain
period, 21.

notes of the use of certain
formulas, 87.

use of in destroying cran-

berry worms, 17-20.

| Kirwven, Michael J., report on Pyrethrum, 96.

INDEX.

L.

Lachnosterna tristis, 79.
Lecanium, an undescribed species on oak, 84.
Lockwood, Rey. Samuel, letters from, 84, 90.
Locusts in Yucatan, 92.
injuring the eranberry, 30.
injurious to cotton in Brazil, 65.
migratory, in New Mexico, 53.
“native,” of Rocky Mountain region, 56-
60.
remedies against depredations by, 31.
ditching, 53.
gathering and
sheets, 53.
kerosene, 31-53.
pyrethram, 31.
turkeys, 31.
special food plants of, 58, 59.
Lophyrus, a species of, injuring pines in Arkan-
sas, 76.
Lueas, C., letter from, 88.

erushing in wagon

M.

Macrocentrus delicatus parasitic upon Teras oxy-
coccana, 25.
Mamestra picta, hand-picking a remedy for, 92.
injuring pea vines, 91, 92.
Mealy bug, the, 85.
Melanoplus cinereus, 58.
devastator, 58.
Mellichamp, J. H., letter from, 84.
“Menelas, C., letter from, 80.
Moore, Alfred H., letter from, 88.
report on Pyrethrum, 95.
Moseley, W. A., letter from, 76.
Murvite solution, mode of application, 86.
a remedy against the mealy
bug, 86.
Mytilaspis citricola, 71.
destroyed by cold, 75.
gloverii, 71.

N.

Neal, Dr. J.C., letter from, 87.
Newlon, W.S., letter from, 78.

O.

(Edipoda aequalis, 30.
collaris, 30.
eucerata, 30.
maritima, 30.
Orange rust mite, 85.
tap-root disease, how caused, 86.

tree injured by Raphigaster hilaris, 81-83. |

Orgyia leucostigma, description, 41.
injuring the hop, 41.
remedies, 41.
Oxytropis lambertii, 52.

Jee

Papilio cresphontes destroyed by a species of Mu. |

Mutilla, 87.
destroyed by “‘sugar ants,” 87.

.

101

Paria aterrima injuring strawberries, 88, 89.
Paris green, 76.
Parlatoria pergandii, 71.
Petroleum, crude, versus kerosene and creosote, &7.
Pezotettix a)bus, 58.
borckii, 58.
dodgei, 57.
Phyllotreta vittata, 50.
Phylloxera, supposed importation of. 93.
Plumer, William, letter from, 74.
Psinidia wallula, 59.
Psylliodes punctulata, 50.
Pyrethrum as an insecticide, 74.
further reports on the growth of, 95.
on roaches, 87.

R.

Raphigaster hilaris injuring the orange tree, 81-
83.
red rust attributed to, 82.
Riley, C. V., on dimorphism in Teras oxycoccana,
24.
unity of habit in parasites, 25.
supposed importation of Phyliox-
era, 93.
Robertson, W. H., letter from, on Phylloxera, 93
Rust mite, the orange, 85.

Ss.

Sand bee, 78.
Sarcophaga georgina, killing animals and human
beings, 78.
remedies :
calomel, 79.
carbolic acid, 79.
chloroform, 79.
Saw-fly, a pine, from Arkansas, 76.
larve of, on wheat heads, 76, 77.
Scardia cloacella, in dried fungus, 77.
Seale insects, report on the effects of cold upon, in
Florida, 70.
tables, giving results of cold artifi-
cially produced, 72, 73.
Serew worm, the, 78.
Smith, John B, report by, upon cranberry and
hop insects, 9.
Spilosoma cunea injuring the hop, 41.
remedy, 41.
Stelidota strigosa injuring strawberries, 81.
Stenobothrus maculipennis, 30.
occipitalis, 58.

| Strawberry fruit-beetles, 30.

Sugar cane, diseased, 66.

Syrphus fly mistaken for the parent of the hop
grub, 34.

Systena frontalis, 50. %

iM

Tachinid, a species parasitic upon Teras oxycoc .
cana, 25.
Tansy, oil of, as an insecticide, 87.
Tenebrio molitor, 90.
obscuras, 90.

102

Teras cinderella, 22.
malivorana, 22.
oxycoccana, 22, 24.
Absence of, from Massachusetts, 22.
Dimorphism of, 22, 24.
Description of egg, 24.
Larva, 24, 25.
Moth, 23.
Pupa, 25.
Enemies of, 25.
Food plants of :
Apple, 24, 25.
Cranberry, 24, 25.
Whortleberry, 25.
Natural history, 23.
Remedies against, 25. (See, also,
remedies against cranberry vine
worm, 14-22.)
Fires, &c., 26.
Flooding, 25.
vacciniivorana, 22.
Tomonotus sulphureus, 30.
Tortrix cinderella, 24.
malivorana, 24.
oxycoccana, 24.
paludana, 25.
vacciniivorana, 24,
Tribolium ferrugineum, 90.

INDEX. f

Tussock moth, the white-marked. (See Orgyia
leucostigma.)

Typhlodromus pyri, 79.

Ve

Vanessa comma :

Description, 40.

Larva of, injurious to the hop vine, 40.

Remedies :

Hand picking, 40.

Voyle, Joseph, letters from, 75, 85, 86.
report on effects of cold on orange scale
insects, 70-73. j

J ;

Nie

Wells, S. C., report on Pyrethrum, 96. 4
Wheat, saw-fly larva injuring, 76, 77.
Wheat midge, the, 90, 91.

Z.

Zerene catenaria :
Description:
Larva, 31.
Moth, 31.
Remedies against, 31.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 13.

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIOR.
WSSif.

oe REPORTS
| OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS —

" 5
ey ed on a! “
Z y Peres.

1? ho eee

Bos DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
BULLETIN No. 13.

REPORTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS:

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
reewe
17528—No. 13 poe

—_—

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PETGpa sil

SFritI? - >, Ay, 3, vo:
/

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. 0., March 15, 1887.
Srr: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 13 of
this Division. This Bulletin comprises such of the reports of the agents
of the Division for the season of 1886 as were necessarily excluded from
the Annual Report for lack of space.
Respectfully,
C. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. NoRMAN J. COLMAN,
Commissioner of Agriculture.

CONTENTS.

MTOMUCHION! «= 22/5</5=.-c6 seis) cicisce's ie -)2 anobeo ce bono ooHDEaDIaDaoopcogdooasssus
Report on Locusts in Texas in the Spring of 1886 ...... ...00..--2--e-eeee eee
Fourth Report on Insects injuring Forest and Shade Trees........---.-...----
Report on Nebraska Insects -.---- 2 = 22.2 cnc sees cons cane tone mccces secene cece
Tests with Insecticides on Garden Insects.....-.... 2.222. -200 coc cee cee n ee enn
spot On O1Mnt MCCS ao aed cone Bao bocoIeoeoed Gonos) BeoUpSUROoECod SoueaceonS
A record of some Experiments relating to the Effect of the Puncture of some

Hemipterous Insects upon Shrubs, Fruits, and Grains, 1886 ......-.....---.
Notes from Missouri for the Season of 1886 ..... 5 Sab0d0 ca ooaTIboCOo GoOSAaA DINOS
Apicultural Experiments.........-- pinion eioten eietesielelelainia alee ee oieinisiaie/ siemens. wales

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INTRODUCTION.

This bulletin contains all of the reports from the Agents of the Divis-
ion for the season of 1886 with the exception of those from Mr. Coquil-
lett and Mr. Koebele on remedies for the Cottony Cushion-scale of
California (Icerya purchasi Maskell), that of Mr. Webster on insects
affecting grains, which will be published in the Annual Report of the
Department, and that of Mr. Ashmead on insects injurious to garden
crops in Florida, which is reserved for the next bulletin.

Mr. Bruner’s report on locusts in Texas during the spring of 1886 is
interesting in its local bearing and from the similarity of this outbreak
of non-migratory or partially migratory species in the far Southwest to
that in the extreme Northeast described in our Annual Report for
1883.

Miss Murtfeldt’s notes from Missouri, Mr. Alwood’s report on some
injurious insects from Ohio, and Mr. Bruner’s report on Nebraska in-
sects are simply short accounts of the prominent injurious insects of
this particular season in their respective localities. Dr. Packard’s
fourth report on insects injurious to forest and shade trees contains an
account of a new and important enemy of spruce cones, and consider-
able matter whichis new and of interest both from the entomological
and from the forestry standpoints.

Mr. Webster’s experiments upon the effect of the puncture of certain
plant-bugs were undertaken with a view of settling the disputed ques-
tion as to whether these punctures are poisonous. The experiments in
the main prove such a poisonous effect, and 1 may here state, without
going into a general discussion of the subject, that while in Columbus,
Ohio, in May, 1886, I found the immature forms of Poecilocapsus 4-vit-
tatus blighting the young shoots of both Gooseberry and Currant, and
that in this case the poisonous nature of the puncture was unmistak-
able. The punctured shoots were without exception blasted and dis-
torted. :

Mr. Alwood’s tests with insecticides upon garden insects were under-
taken as a continuation of those recorded in Bulletin No. 11 of the di-
vision, and will be of interest both on account of the new locality and
on account of several new substances experimented with.

7

8

The apicultural notes from Mr. McLain form a portion only of his
report for the season of 1886, and were excluded from the annual re-
port for want of space. The portion on bees vs. fruit is in the main an
account of arepetition of the experiments detailed in the Annual Report
for 1885. The results are corroboratory, but not absolutely conclusive
of the inability of bees to injure fruit, in that the conditions were not
varied sufficiently and that the fruits were substantially the same kinds

as used last year.
G2 Vos

REPORT ON LOCUSTS IN TEXAS DURING THE SPRING OF
1886.*

By LAWRENCE BRUNER, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

Sir: Herewith is submitted a brief report of a trip to Washington County, Texas,
and surrounding regions, made under your instructions for the purpose of investigat-
ing the locust plague of that section and reporting upon the same.

You will see from my notes and the specimens which accompany the report that the
chief species causing the damage is, as you supposed, not Melanoplus spretus but M.
differentialis or a closely allied form; and that it can be much more easily handled
than can the migratory locust of the Northwest.

Immediately upon the receipt of your letter (April 16) containing the instructions,
I arranged to leave by the first train (April 17). Arriving in Houston on the 20th
and making all necessary preliminary arrangements, Dr. Flewellen and myself pro-
ceeded the next morning to the seat of trouble, which was reached late i in the after-
noon of that day.

Upon examination myriads of the young locusts were found on the plantation of
the doctor’s brother, Maj. J. P. Flewellen. These were chiefly confined to the edges
of the fields and along the ravines where they had congregated upon the weeds.

After spending a few days in experimenting with poisons and other agencies for
killing them, I returned to Houston for mail containing any possible further instruc-
tions. From here I went to Galveston, where I wrote a short communication for the
News, giving remedies and urging co-operation in the efforts in destroying the plague.
A copy of this article accompanies the report.

* Our attention was called to the locust visitation in Washington County, Texas,
in March of the present year by a letter received from Dr. R. T. Flewellen, of Hous-

ton, which reads as follows:
WASHINGTON COUNTY, TEXAS,
March ees 1886.

DEAR Sir: This and many other localities of Texas had the crop of corn and cot-
ton destroyed by grasshoppers, and I herein send you a small paper box of eggs taken
from the ground to-day for your examination. This locality, 4 miles south of the old
town of Washington on the Brazos River, lost not less than 20,000 bushels of corn
and about 2,000 bales of cotton by the ravages of the pest, and judging from the vast
quantities of eggs seen to hatch, the destruction of last will be repeated this year
unless timely aid comes to the relief of the unfortunate planter. Hence this appeal
to you. It is hoped that you will send some expert of your department to this imme-
diate locality to learn the habits, species, and correct classification of the insect, and
ert some means for their destruction, for if not arrested this locality is

oomed,

* * * * * +

Very truly,

Prof. C. V. RILEY,
Washington, D. C.

R. T. FLEWELLEN.

We accordingly had Mr. Bruner visit the region in question with instructions to
learn what he could concerning the extent of injury, the species concerned and their
habits, and to experiment with such remedies as would aid the planters in saving the
crops.

9

10

After leaving Galveston I visited various localities surrounding the immediate re-
gion infested to ascertain the exact area over which the locusts had hatched in inju-
rious numbers, thereby anticipating your orders of April 29, which reached me at
Austin on the 5th of May. From Austin I returned to the plantation of Mr. Flew-
ellen in order to ascertain how the warfare was progressing in that neighborhood,
and what the prospects were for the production of a crop this year. Upon my arrival
I found a decided reduction in the number of hoppers, and a correspondingly brighter
and more hopeful feeling among the planters of the stricken area, I also learned of
another locust that appeared to be increasing very rapidly among the forests of post
oak lying between the towns of Washington and Brenham. This very likely will prove
to be an undescribed species, belonging somewhere between the genera Melanoplus
and Acridium.

After sperding severai days in this locality, I returned to my home at West Point,
where I arrived on the 14th of the month.

Very respectfully,
LAWRENCE BRUNER.

Prof. ‘C. V. RicHY,

U. S. Entomologist, Washington, D. C.

I visited the region indicated in Dr. Flewellen’s letter of March 22,
arriving there on the evening of April 21, to find that the young had
already hatched and were then nearly or quite three weeks old. Upon
examination but few of these were found scattered over the cultivated
fields, while the majority of them were still confined to the weed patches
at the outer edges in ravines, along “turn rows” and in fence corners.
That evening, after a’'short consultation with the neighboring planters,
it was decided that immediate warfare begin, as no time should be lost
if advantage was to be taken of the position which the enemy occupied.
Accordingly, early the following morning, a team was dispatched te town
for poisons and other munitions of war. While some present favored
poisoning, others opposed this mode of warfare as dangerous and im-
practicable; but, as they could suggest no substitute, it was finally
agreed that poisoning should be tried. This was agreed upon chiefly
because all were supplied with the apparatus necessary for its applica-
tion, and were accustomed to its use in fighting the Cotton Worm (Aletia
aylina). Lalso proposed the use of coal tar and kerosene pans, and
ordered the material for the construction of a trial machine. The fol-
lowing morning we started out over the plantation of Major Flewellen
on a tour of inspection, only to find the majority of the eggs already
hatched. and the young locusts in their second and third stages. After
digging for several hours and finding but a couple of unhatched eggs
and no egg parasites, it was decided to devote the future to the destruce-
tion of the larvee before they began spreading over the crops, notwith-
standing the fact that you wished me especially to devote much of my
time in digging for egg parasites.

By careful inquiry from old citizens I learned that ever since the war-
times grasshoppers have occasionally appeared in unusual numbers at
isolated localities throughout portions of Central Texas, and especially
in the immediate neighborhood at present overrun. When this was

BI

the case, crops invariably suffered to a lesser or greater extent from
their depredations. These visitations were so limited in extent and
inconspicuous in their nature that but little attention was paid them
at the time. There were other insect enemies that were attracting no-
tice and required the attention of the planters, whose chief crop had
been cotton. The Cotton Worm (Aletia xylina) had so increased in
numbers as almost to render the growing of cotton an impossibility ;
but, owing to the perseverance of those interested, that insect has at
last been reduced to such an extent as to be under control. Until
within the past three years these grasshopper or locust depredations
escaped popular notice (save during the visitation in the Fall of 1876
of the migratory species). Since this time, however, their increasing
numbers and frequent damage to crops have been too great to be over-
looked even by the most unobserving. They have appeared at widely
separated localities, and although not committing general injury are
known to have eaten away several of the outside rows of cotton and
corn in fields bordering waste lands and ravines grown up with weeds
and other rank vegetation. Not until last year, however, did the plague
reach such a magnitude as to cause alarm; and this only after the
total destruction of crops upon plantations situated in different locali-
ties and in adjoining counties.

Referring to notes taken while in the field, I find the following re-
marks: ‘* There appear to be several species of the locusts which are
causing the trouble here, and all seem to have had similar egg-laying
habits. In looking about I find the larvee of Melanoplus differentialis
or M. robustus, M. angustipennis, M. atlanis, and Acridium frontalis. The
last three species are in about equal numbers, while those of the first
are by far the most numerous, and this is the only one which is charged
with last year’s depredations. I am not quite positive whether the large
species is Mf. differentialis or M. robustus, as these two species are very
nearly related, and I have never seen authentic larve of the latter.
To-day (April 23) I found an old specimen of a male robustus, and was
assured that it was one of the genuine offenders, while yesterday the
femora of differentialis were pointed out to me as having belonged to
‘the very kind’.”

During my sojourn in the infested region I observed M. atlanis, fully
fledged, quite frequently, while walking about the fields, while others,
with those of M. angustipennis, were still in the pupal stage. These
latter, with those of Acridium frontalis, were exceedingly common, and
together nearly or quite equaled in number those of the larger species.
These three, while not always mingled with the former, were generally
to be found with them; especially was this the case upon rather damp
ground at the edges of ravines and grass patches, and also in fields of
small grain.

While the Rocky Mountain or Migratory Locust prefers rather solid
soil upon somewhat elevated open fields and closely grazed pastures for

12

depositing its eggs, all of these species now infesting Central Texas ap-
pear to find more suitable conditions among rank herbage for the dep-
osition of their eggs and subsequent development of the young larve.
The large species especially finds the protected roots of grasses and
corn best adapted to the sheltering of its eggs,and almost invariably
selects the varieties which grow in clumps for this purpose. In digging
I have found as many as 8 or 10 egg-pods inserted among the root-stalks
of a single clump of grass. Possibly the sheltered nature of these eggs
protects them from the numerous parasites which attack those of the
Migratory and other species which deposit in the unprotected ground.
It is asserted by different persons in this region that the present species
lays an average of 150 eggs to the pod, which, judging from the frag-
ments of egg-shells found by digging, is nearly correct; at any rate the
estimate is not too high. Egg-depositing with this species commences
rather later than with some of the other representatives of the genus,
but just at what date I did not learn. There is but a single pod formed
by an insect, the entire complement of eggs being deposited at once.

The larve commence hatching during the latter part of March and
continue to appear up to the middle of April, according to the forward-
ness or backwardness of the season. Wet warm weather favors the
hatching, while dry weather rather retards the process. The young
molt five times, at intervals of from 12 to 20 days, according to the con-
dition of the weather. Dry weather with hot days retards, while damp
or wet weather favors this process among insects by keeping the exu-
vie pliable during molting, as well as in furnishing the necessary moist-
ure required in growth. The winged or mature insects appear about
the middle of July or a little earlier and begin to couple soon afterward,
thus completing the cycle.

Their mode of attack does not differ greatly from that of IM. spretus,
save in that the latter begin upon the crops immediately after hatching,
while these species do not. They wait until they are from three to four
weeks old before venturing far from the places of hatching. Like that
species they have the habit of huddling together upon plants and among
grasses and débris during cool nights and on cloudy days. This appears
to be a trait common to all insects when present in large numbers, and
must be the result of some special instinct. When about half-grown the
larve become pretty well scattered over the fields and do not hop back
to the weed patches on the outskirts in the evening, as they do while
younger and when first beginning their attacks upon the crops. The
molting is the same as with other locusts, and need not here be rede-
scribed. The grown hoppers do not migrate by flight, but do sometimes
move in concert in certain directions by jumping. This can hardly be
termed migration, since the change of location is merely performed for
the purpose of obtaining food, while the act of migrating is towards ob-
taining more decided results. When feeding they can be driven like
other locusts, and this trait in their nature has been taken advantage

13

of at different times and by many of the planters as a means of partial
protection to the crops.

It is sometimes quite a difficult matter to account for the rapid in-
crease of certain insects during a series of seasons that for years before
have scarcely appeared in numbers sufficient to be noticed. However
true this assertion may be, I think the rapid increase in the present in-
stance can be readily accounted for, and has its direct causes partly in
the negligence of the planters over the area now suffering and partly
through other and indirect but favoring circumstances. It has already
been ascertained that all of the species which are combining in the
present injury are partial to rank vegetation, and find the most favor-
able conditions for their egg-laying and subsequent development in the
waste land at the borders of cultivated fields, in ravines which run
through cultivated ground, and in neglected grounds which were at one
time under the plow. Everywhere in this locust area do we find great
neglect in this respect. There are not only large fields lying idle which
were once cultivated in cotton, but also wide borders adjacent to ra-
vines and gullies which have been permitted to grow up in bunch
grasses and weeds. Hach of these features is of too common recurrence,
thus giving this and other insects of like nature ample harbor and room
for multiplication year after year. This is the prime cause, but from
inquiry it cannot be disputed that there are several other agencies
which have aided in bringing about the present state of affairs. These
are, primarily, the comparative scarcity of insectivorous birds, and sec-
ondarily the comparatively dry summers for the past three years.
While the bird question cannot easily be remedied at once, or the sea-
sons changed so as not to favor the increasing hoppers, there can be a
great deal accomplished by clearing up these waste places and putting
them once more under the plow. The dry seasons have aided the in-
crease of the locusts by diminishing their natural enemies. These are
chiefly soft-bodied insects, very delicate in structure, that are dependent
to a much greater extent than the locust is on moisture for their de-
velopment and subsequent career. It stands to reason, therefore, that
dry seasons, while not materially affecting the more hardy nature of
the locusts, are very injurious, if not altogether fatal, to insects whose
organs are so delicate as are most of these parasitic forms.

Up to the present season but little or nothing has been done by the
planters to protect their crops from the ravages of these locusts or
towards diminishing their numbers. True, some of them tried to save
their crops by driving the locusts off after they were fully matured and
could fly. While this remedy will sometimes save a portion of a crop,
it is only transient in its result, and must be repeated each day several
times. It is also a remedy that works better with the migratory spe-
cies than with the non-migratory forms that seldom fly more than a
few yards at a time. To save crops from locust ravages the main ob-
ject to be kept in view is, or rather should be, the destruction of the

14

pest, and not merely a transient removal of it. If the insects are merely
kept agitated while in the fields this does not prevent them from pro-
ceeding to the outskirts and depositing their eggs in the waste places
heretofore mentioned, and thereby rendering the production of crops the
ensuing year equally uncertain, and even, with favoring conditions, ten-
fold more so.

When I first visited the region infested, I learned of some efforts at
poisoning the larve with arsenic and Paris green. These had been
tried merely as experiments, and thus far had proved but partially sue-
cessful. The poisons in every instance had been applied in too large
quantities for the mixtures used, and resulted in the killing of the vege-
tation over which they had been distributed. Where this was the
case, the hoppers escaped with little injury. These mineral poisons only
take effect when taken internally with the food, and when the vegeta-
tion has been killed the young locusts will not eat it, but hop away toseek
that which is fresh. Finding this to be the case, a series of experiments
was instituted in order to ascertain just what proportions of the poisons
were necessary in order to obtain the best results and not to kill the
vegetation. By inquiry it was learned that of the arsenic the follow-
ing solution had been used: to one barrrel (47.9 gallons) of water in
which two quarts of molasses had been stirred, 12 ounces of the poison
were added. The latter had first been boiled in a little water, with a
pound or more of carbonate of soda, for about an hour in order to dissolve
it. We therefore decided that the future experiments should be made
with less poison to the barrel of water, and accordingly a half pound
was substituted. This mixture also proved too strong for the vegeta-
tion. After continued experiments it was finally decided that from 4
to 5 ounces of the poison to the barrel of water gave by far the best
results, and did not injure the vegetation unless put on too thickly or
in too coarse a spray. Bright sunshine during spraying appeared to
render the poison more injurious to the vegetation. A second spraying
over the same grounds also had the same effect as the stronger mixtures.
Light rains did not materially diminish the efficacy of the poisoning.
The results of arsenious poisoning are not immediate upon the hoppers,
but first show after about twenty-four hours, and prove fatal in about
thirty-six to forty hours. When the first examination was made after
the application (twenty-four hours afterwards) it was found that most
of the larve had left the weeds and were found creeping and jumping
about in a rather sluggish manner upon the ground underneath. No
dead ones were to be found at this time. In examining the same local-
ity a day later, a great many dead were found, also many others that
were very sluggish, while but few really active ones were to be found.
On the morning of the third day I counted upon 1 square foot of sur-
face between fifty and sixty dead, and a few others were present that
must certainly have followed before the expiration of another twenty-
four hours.

15

This poison is best applied with a rather powerful force-pump, using
a very fine spray, otherwise the vegetation will blister and much of
the fluid be wasted by falling upon the ground. The finer the spray
the more evenly the poison can be distributed, and hence a correspond-
ingly better result will ensue. Where comparatively large areas are to
be poisoned the best plan is to have two or more barrels, or, what is
better still, a tank holding a hundred or more gallons of the poisoned
water, mounted upon a wagon and drawn through the field with a team
of horses or oxen. Always poison by going against the wind instead of
with it, otherwise there is danger of poisoning both the team and the
persons operating the pump. It should also be remembered that a
muzzled beast is less lable to eat the poisoned vegetation than one
without a muzzle. Again, poisoning should be done only upon such
grounds as are never grazed, or over which stock is not permitted to
run. Poisoning can only be done with safety in regions where fields
are fenced, and upon such vegetation as will not afterwards be used as
food for animals or man. While rains may wash off most of the poison
from weeds, they never can do this from grasses and grains where the
blades are fastened to the stem in such a manner as to catch all the
rain which falis upon them and carry it to the body of the plant.

Paris green is used diluted with wheat flour or wood ashes, and ap-
plied by dusting it upon the vegetation by means of a fine meal-sieve.
The proportions giving the best results as stated to me were 12 ounces
of the green to about 20 pounds of flour. Some add one pound of very
tinely-powdered resin, which they claim acts as a sort of glue, causing
the material to adhere to the vegetation. Great caution is also neces-
sary in using this poison, both in its application and afterward in
keeping stock away from the vegetation to which it has been applied.
The best time for applying this remedy is in the morning while the dew
is still on the vegetation and before the wind arises. While a few of
the planters in the vicinity of Washington and Navasota seemed to
think this remedy superior to the arsenic, I did not find it so upon
Mr. Flewellen’s plantation, where it was tested several times. Where.
ever used, it is true, the hoppers disappeared, but an examination re-
vealed but few dead ones upon the ground. My opinion is that they
only moved to other localities where the poison was not put. This I am
pretty certain of, for frequently large numbers of the larve were ob-
served adjacent to such localities one day where there had been none
the day before. Vegetation also suffered from the effect of the poison.

In using poisons I would recommend the spray rather than the dry
application. The sirup or molasses adds to the efficacy of this latter
by enticing the hoppers to eat, since they are exceedingly fond of
Sweets. Poisoning is undoubtedly a good remedy against locusts and
other injurious insects in countries where every field is fenced and
where no stock is permitted to roam about. Where there are no fences,
however, and stock roams at will over fields and along roadsides, its use

é

16

is out of the question. There are also numerous instances in fenced dis-
tricts where its use is impracticable and out of the question; as, for ex-
ample, in pastures and grain-fields as well as in the garden. In these
latter instances, therefore, it is necessary that other remedies be adopted.
I therefore suggested the use of the coal-tar and kerosene pans and the
various other machines and contrivances which have been used with
success in other locust districts in times past. As a sample and illus-
tration of their use I had one of these constructed, and had the satis-
faction of seeing it adopted by almost every planter in the immediate
neighborhood, as well as by others throughout the region afflicted.
While this latter remedy or contrivance did not meet the approval of
some of the larger planters, it was very popular with the colored pop-
ulation, who are exceedingly superstitious concerning the use of poisons
of all kinds. It was also quickly adopted by persons of limited means,
or where the locusts were confined to small patches and could be readily
destroyed in a few days with a small machine dragged over the ground
by hand.

In addition to the foregoing remedies one gentleman told me of a
plan he had adopted for destroying the hoppers upon his place. It
was about as follows: Having noticed that a certain piece of neglected
ground had been largely used by the locusts last fall for depositing
their eggs, he decided to plow it up this spring and, if possible, prevent
them from hatching. When plowing began it was found that most of
the eggs were thrust among the roots of large grass clumps. He there-
fore mustered all hands together and set them to gathering these clumps
of grass and hauling them into piles which were afterwards set on fire
and burned, thus destroying the locust eggs which they contained.
No less than nine wagon loads of the grass clumps were thus gathered
and burned, and this evidently did much good. Others who have recog-
nized the insectivorous nature of fowls, and especially of the guinea-
hen and turkey, have begun rearing these in large numbers. I also
suggest to the planters in general that they protect the quails and quit
shooting them for several years, since they, too, are of great aid as
insect destroyers.

At this time locusts are present in damaging numbers in the follow-
ing counties as nearly as I could ascertain by inquiry and travel: Wash-
ington, Burleson, Lee, Fayette, Austin, Grimes and Waller, and of
these only Washington, Austin, Grimes and Waller have reported the
loss of crops during last year from their ravages. This section lies just
between the two “cross timbers” of east Central Texas and borders the
prairie country. Judging from the timbered nature of this portion of
the State, the climate asa rule must be rather more humid than it has
been during the past few years, and consequently cannot always be
overrun by locusts, if, as we understand it, aridity is favorable to the
rapid increase of these insects. With the present warfare against them,
if continued during the spring and summer into the fall, there certainly

17

cannot be much danger of future depredations from locusts. Still I
would suggest to the inhabitants of this and adjoining regions to keep
on the alert, and wherever and whenever threatened to waste no time
but to try and control them at once.

Although the loss of crops has been limited to comparatively small
areas throughout these counties, nevertheless the damages sustained
will aggregate more than might be imagined. Asan example, we need
only quote a few lines from Dr. Flewellen’s letter where he writes:
“This locality, 4 miles south of the old town of Washington on the
Brazos River, lost not less than 20,000 bushels of corn and 2,000 bales
of cotton by the ravages of the pest.”. When we add to this the losses
sustained at other localities throughout these counties, and also those
on other crops, we have before us quite formidable figures.

In closing my report, it might be thought proper for me to give my
opinion as to the possible results of this summer’s brood of hoppers.
This can be done in very few words. Possibly in addition to a few out-
side rows, a few fields of cotton and corn will be taken in places where
the weed patches were destroyed prematurely, thereby scattering the
larvie over the fields while the crops were still very small and tender.
This I know to have occurred in several instances where it was thought
that by destroying the weeds the little hoppers would also perish.
Aside from this there need be but few complete failures on account of
locust depredations.

THE POST OAK LOCUST OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, TEXAS.

In addition to the several species of locust that have been mentioned
in the preceding pages, last summer for the first time another species
of locust was noticed in vast numbers among the post oak timber lying
between the towns of Washington and Brenham, in Washington county.
These were so numerous in one locality that they completely defoliated
the trees of the forest, even to the very topmost twigs. The region occu-
pied by this insect, although not over a mile and a half in width by 7 or
8 miles in length, is sufficiently large for the propagation of swarms ¢a-
pable of devastating a much larger area during the present spring and
summer, and by another year to spread over several of the adjoining
counties.

Although there is at present no apparent injury to the trees thus de-
foliated last year, and now in progress again this year, there can be no
question as to the final result if these attacks are continued for several
years longer. The trees will eventually die. While up to the present
time this locust has shown a decided arboreal habit, it may, and un-
doubtedly will be, obliged to seek food in the adjoining fields when com-
pelled to do so through lack of its present diet, which is rapidly disap-
pearing before the hungry myriads of young locusts.

Notwithstanding the great numbers of the foregoing described species
which together have combined in injuring the cotton and corn crops

17528—No. 13-———2

18

throughout this and adjoining counties, it is my opinion that the present
species is more to be feared in the future than they, on account of its
arboreal nature and the difficulty of getting at it in order to destroy it.
To kill these locusts either while feeding among the foliage or ‘ roost-
ing” upon the topmost boughs of the tall trees would be next to impos-
sible. On the other hand, the other species are easily to be gotten at
and destroyed, as just shown.

The habits of this locust, as nearly as I was able to learn through
inquiry from others, and by personal observation, are briefly as fol-
lows:

The egg-pods are deposited in the ground about the bases of trees or
indifferently scattered about the surface among the decaying leaves,
&c., like those of all other ground-laying species. The young commence
hatching about the middle of March and continue to appear until into
April. After molting the first time and becoming a little hardened
they immediately climb up the trunks of the trees and bushes of all
kinds and commence feeding upon the new and tender foliage. They
molt at least five or six times, if we may take the variation in size and
difference in the development of the rudiments of wings as a criterion.
The imago or mature stage is reached by the last of May or during the
first part of June.

The species is very active and shy in all its stages of growth after
leaving the egg. The larva and pupa run up the trunks and along the
limbs of trees with considerable speed, and in this respect differ con-
siderably from all other species of locusts with which I am acquainted.
I am informed that the mature insects are also equally wild and fly like
birds. They feed both by day and night; and I am told by those who
have passed through the woods after night when all else was quiet,
that the noise produced by the grinding of their jaws was not unlike
the greedy feeding of swine.

Aside from its arboreal nature there is but a single instance men-
tioned of its preference to growing crops. This was a small field of
either cotton or corn, or perhaps both. If the nature of the crop was
told me at the time I have forgotten. At any rate the crop of one or
the other of these two staples grew in a small clearing in the very midst
of the most thickly visited area. The mature insects alone were the
offenders in this instance. During the day-time they would leave the
trees in swarms and alight upon the growing crop and feed until even
ing, when they would return to the trees. If, during the day, they were
disturbed, they immediately took wing and left for the tops of the sur-
rounding trees to return shortly afterward.

The exact classificatian of this locust has not yet been fully ascer-
tained, since no mature specimens were to be obtained, or, to my knowl-
edge, are contained in any of our American collections. The larve and
pup collected, however, would indicate a relationship to both the gen-
era Melanoplus and Acridium. It appears to be congeneric with an

a

19

undescribed short-winged form, thus far only taken in Missouri, which
lives among and feeds upon the oaks only of that region. The present
species is also evidently undescribed, unless the mature insect should
differ widely from the preparatory stages herewith presented. It is
popularly known in that region as the “‘ Red-legged hopper” of the post
oaks.

The larve and pup are of rather bright color, giving them a gaudy
appearance. The ground color of the body is dark wood brown deep-
ening into black along the sides of the pronotum and the apex of the
posterior femora. The head for the most part is of a bright lemon yel-
low, while the pronotum is of the same, varied by streaks and blotches
of the brown. The antenne and posterior femora are red internally,
dimly banded with yellow and brown on the external face, through
which the red color of the inner side can be plainly seen. The feet and
tarsi are also dark. The pupe average almost an inch in length and
are rather robust in form, with short, broad heads and powerful jaws

FOURTH REPORT ON INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FOREST AND
SHADE TREKS.

By Dr. A. S. PACKARD, Special Agent.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

PROVIDENCE, November 1, 1886.

Sir: I herewith submit my report on insects injurious to forest trees, based on ob-
servations made during the past season in Rhode Island, Maine, and New Hampshire.
This report contains observations on the Spruce Bud-worm, a new enemy to that tree,
with notes on other forest insects. Other notes on incomplete larval histories do not
necessarily appear until they have been completed.

Respectfully yours,
A. 8. PACKARD.

Prot. C. V. Riuny,

U. S. Entomologist.

THE SPRUCE AND HACKMATACK WORMS IN 1886.

During the past season, as in 1885, no traces of the caterpillar or moth
of Tortrix fumiferana, formerly so destructive to Firs and Spruces, were
discovered. The moths must be now as rare as before 1878. Great
progress has also been made by the younger growth of these conifer-
ous trees in repairing the desolation caused by the attacks of this worm.

The Larch Saw-fly was, on the other hand, found to be still not un-
common. It was observed July 1 at Brunswick, Me., locally, the worm
having freshly hatched upon a few trees, but it did not do any more
harm than the previous year.

During the early part of September, however, it was observed in
abundance along the Cherry Mountain road from Fabyan’s to Jefferson,
N. H., a few miles north of the White Mountain house. The Larches
had been ravaged rather severely and many of the worms were still
lingering on the branches, feeding upon the leaves; while many young
trees had been stripped, wholly or in part, of their leaves. Some dead
Larches were also to be seen.

We call attention below to a Phycid caterpillar which was observed
in Maine preying upon the young cones of the Spruce, no lepidopterous
insect with similar habits having before been observed.

We have also given more attention than forme rly to the insects infest-
ing the Willow and Alder, as these trees are the prolific source of many

species which spread from them to other forest as weil as to ornamental
20

21

and shade treés. While the Willow has until recently been useful as a
shade tree, when standing by the horse-trough or by the well, an occasional
Weeping Willow being seen in towns, a new value 1s attached to the tree
for the salicylic acid extracted from it, and in the Southern States there
have already been established extensive plantations of willows, the
twigs and branches being cut and gathered for the extraction and man-
ufacture of this valuable remedy.

The number of species of insects affecting the Willow in Europe is
said by Kaltenbach* to amount to three hundred and ninety-six; of
these ninety-four are beetles and two hundred and fifteen moths and
butterflies; while the European Alder supports one hundred and nine-
teen species of insects of different groups.

THE SPRUCE CONE-WORM.
(Pinipestis reniculella Grote.)

This is the first occurrence, so far as we know, of a caterpillar prey
ing upon the terminal fresh young cones of the Spruce. We have pre-
viously t called attention to the Spruce Bud-louse (Adelges abieticolens)
which deforms the terminal shoots of the Spruce, producing large swell-
ings which would be readily mistaken for the cones of the same tree.
Another species of Bud-louse (Adelges abietis Linn.), which appears to be
the same as the European insect of that name, we observed several
years since (August, 1881) in considerable numbers on the Norway
Spruces on the grounds of the Peabody Academy of Sciences at Salem,

The species of caterpillar in question was observed, August 24, in
considerable numbers on a young Spruce 10 to 20 feet in height at Mere-
point on Casco Bay, Maine. The cones on the terminal shoot as well
as the lateral upper branches, which when healthy and unaffected were
purplish-green and about 14 inches long, were for the most part mined by
a rather large Phycid caterpillar. The worm was of the usual shape
and color, especially resembling a Phycid caterpillar not uncommon in
certain seasons on the twigs of the Pitch Pine, on which it produces
large unsightly masses of castings within which the worms hide.

The Spruce Cone-worm is usually confined to the
young cones, into which it bores and mines in different
directions, eating galleries passing partly around the in-
terior, separating the scales from the axis of the cones
(Fig. 1). After mining one cone the caterpillar passes

.into an adjoining one, spinning a rude silken passage
connecting the two cones. Sometimes a bunch of three
or four cones are tied together with silken strands;
while the castings or excrement thrown out of the holes
form a large, conspicuous light mass, sometimes half as | Fis. 1—Single

¥ Z pierced cone (orig-
large as one’s fist, out of which the tips of the cones are ab.

* Die Pilanzenfeinde aus der Klasse der Insekten, 1874.
tGuide to the Study of Insects, p. 523, and Bulletin 7, U. S. Ent. Comm., p. 234.

22

seen to project (Fig. 2). Besides these unsightly masses of castings,
the presence of the caterpillars causes an exudation of pitch, which
clings in large drops or tears to the
outside of the adjacent more or less
healthy cones. Where much affected
the young cones turn brown and sere.

The same worms had also attacked
the terminal branches and twigs of
the same tree, eating off the ieaves
and leaving a mass of excrement on
one side of the twig, within which
they had spun a silken gallery in
which the worm lived.

On removing the bunches of dis-
eased cones to Providence, one cater-
pillar transformed in a warm cham-
ber into a moth, which appeared the
end of October; its metamorphosis
was probably accelerated by the un-
usually warm autumnal weather. All
the others had by the Ist of Novem-
ber spun within the mass of castings
a loose, thin, but firm, oval cocoon,
about half an inch long and a quar-

=i ter inch wide, but the larve had not

Fic. 2.—Mass of infested cones (original). yet begun to change to chrysalids.

Whether in a state of nature they

winter over in the larval state within their cocoons, or, as is more.

likely, change to pup in the autumn, appearing as moths by the end
of spring, remains to be seen.

The chrysalis is of the usual Phycid appearance, rather slender, but
with the abdominal tip blunt, with uo well-marked cremaster or spine,
though ending in the usual six curved stiff bristles, by means of which
it hooks onto the walls of its cocoon, thus maintaining itself in its nat-
ural position.

I only found one tree next to the house thus affected
by this worm. It is probable that in a dense spruce
growth the trees would be less exposed to the attacks of
what may prove a serious enemy of shadespruces. The
obvious remedy is, to burn the affected cones and mass
of castings late in summer.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva. (Fig. 3.)—Of the usual Phycid form; the
head and prothoracie shield deep amber-brown; the body reddish
carneous or amber-brown, with a livid hue; a faint, dark, dorsal,
and a broader, subdorsal line; piliferous warts distinct; each
‘segment divided into a longer anterior and shorter, narrower, pos- Fic. 3.—Spruce

7 No tune : ili ide Cone-worm (en-
terior section, bearing two dorsal piliferous warts, besides a lateral larced’ geist
one. Length 16™™,

lel a ee

23

Pupa.—Of the usual Phycid appearance; rather slender, the abdominal tip blunt,
with six long slender up-curved bristles. Length 9™™,

Moth. (Fig. 4.)—1 male. Fore-wings long and narrow, stone-gray, with no reddish
or brownish tints. Head, palpi, and body dark gray with white scales intermixed.
Fore-wings dark and light gray; a broad basal
light pitch; before the middle of the wing a white
zigzag line composed of a costal and median seal-
lop. A square whitish distal patch, and half way
betweenit and the outer margin is anarrow white
zigzag line inclosed on each side by a dark border,
the line being deeply angulated three times. Edge
of the wing next to the base of the fringe deep
black, interrupted by narrow pale gray spots:
Fringe dusky, with fine white scales. Legs
banded with black and gray. Hind wings pale gray. Expanse of wings 22™™;
length of body 10™™. (Identified by Prof. C. H. Fernald.)

Fic. 4.—Moth of Spruce Cone-worm
(enlarged, original).

THE GREEN-STRIPED PHYCID WORM.
(Meroptera pravella Gr.)

This a common insect on the Willow, occurring at Brunswick, Me.,
August 20, and through the month. It spins a web on the under side
of the leaf, and pupates from the 15th to 20th of September, the moth
in confinement appearing (in the breeding cage at Providence) the end
of May (the 25th-31st). The caterpillar, which is longitudinally striped
with light and dark green with black slashes on each side of the head,
varies somewhat; in some there are only four slashes on the head, with
no other markings. The moth differs from Phycis rubrifasciella on the
Hickory in having no cross-band of raised scales, while the insect is
much darker, and the palpi are twice as broad.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva.—Body of the usual form, tapering from near the head to the
end. Head of the usual size, not quite so broad as the prothoracic segment ; green,
slashed vertically and mottled with large and small brown or jet-black spots. Pro-
thoracic segment a little swollen; the shield not striped like the rest of the body.
Body with narrow alternating light and dark green stripes; brown along the back,
and inclosing a large round green spot on each segment; the brown portion with
three interrupted green lines, one median and two lateral. Piliferous dots minute,
not conspicuous. Length, 15™™, °

Pupa.—Of the usual Phycid shape ; mahogany-brown; end of the terminal abdom-
inal spine smooth, shining, convex, and ending in a stout curved lateral spine on
each side. Length 10™™.

Moth.—Body and fore wings dark gray, with brick-red scales and bands. Palpi very
broad, especially the second joint ; dark gray ; vertex of head light gray, with dark
scales; antenne blackish. Prothoracic scales and shoulder tippets (patagia) dull
brick-red ; middle (disk) of thorax gray. Fore wings dark, dusky gray, with scattered
pale gray scales; base of wings dull brick-red; a broad, diffuse band of the same color
crosses the basal fourth of the wing; on the outer fourth of the wings is a similar
broad, diffuse, dull brick-red band, sending a diffuse longitudinal stripe towards the
basal band; an incomplete transverse pale gray line, curved outward in the middle
of the wing, borders the inside of the outer reddish band. Costal edge dusky, the
reddish bands not reaching it. Fringe of the same dull slate-color as the hind wings.
Expanse of wings, 20™™. (Identified by Prof. C. H. Fernald.)

24

THE ALDER FLEA-BEETLE.
(Haltica alni Harris.)

In the correspondence of the late Dr. Harris the following mention is
made of this beetle: ‘ In traveling from Centre Harbor, N. H., to Con-
way, on the 2d of August, 1854, and from Conway to Upper Bartlett,
and subsequently to Jackson, we saw the Alders (Alnus serrulata) every-
where ravaged by insects which had destroyed their leaves in the man-
ner of canker worms. Upon examination the spoilers were found not
to be all dispersed and several were seen upon the leaves still continu-
ing their work; at the same time were found in Conway numerous
beetles, which proved to be a species of Haltica, eating the leaves off
the same Alders. The larvze which had ravaged the shrubs were doubt-
less those of the Haltica before named.”

We have reared the beetles from the grubs during the past season.
At Merepoint, near Brunswick, Me., during the middle of August,
1886, we noticed clumps of Alders standing in dry soil partly defoliated
or with skeletonized, brown or blackish leaves, on which, as well as
the still remaining green leaves, were black grubs, sometimes seven or
eight on a leaf. All the alders in the region were not molested, the
grubs occurring locally. August 15 we found a single beetle, on
placing a number of leaves with the grubs in a tin box. We found a
white pupa lying loosely on the bottom of the box August 20; soon
more pup appeared, and the beetles began to appear in considerable
numbers the last week of August. It is evident that in nature the
larva falls to the ground to transform, the pup entering the earth.

Afterwards, September 10, we found whole clumps of Alders at the
base of Iron Mountain, Jackson, N. H., stripped by the grubs, neariy all
the riddled, brown, dead leaves having fallen off and thickly covering
the ground under the bushes. Such a wholesale devastation of Alders
we never witnessed. By this time the beetles had become very abun-
dant, and were apparently feeding on the few leaves still attached to
the tree. The Alder is the source of some of our destructive forest and
fruit insects, and should this grub ever spread to other food trees it
will be very annoying, though it can be subdued by proper spraying.
There seems to be a periodicity in the appearance of this beetle in
unusual numbers, Harris having seen the same grubs in great abun-
dance in 1854 in the same region. We have never observed ii so com-
mon and destructive before in Maine. It is most probable that the
beetles hibernate under the leaves and, soon after the leaves expand
in May, lay their eggs in masses on them, the grubs scarcely stirring
from the leaf on which they are born, until ready to pupate. The
grubs are probably distasteful to birds, otherwise they would fall an
easy prey to them and be kept within due limits.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva.—Body somewhat flattened; head scarcely two-thirds as
wide as the body inthe middle; black, becoming brown in front near the jaws.
Body livid brown above; the tubercles black; paler beneath; with three pairs of

25

black jointed thoracic legs; no abdominal legs, but an anal prop-leg. The abdom-
inal segments each with a traverse, oval-rounded, ventral, rough space forming a se-
ries of creeping tubercles ; and in front on each segment is a transverse, oval, crescentic
chitinous area bearing two piliferous tubercles; the back of each segment divided
into two ridges, each bearing a row of six sharp tubercles, bearing short hairs; a
single ventral row on each side of the ventral plate. Length, 7-10™™.

Pupa.—Body rather thick, white. Antenne passing around the bent knees (femero-
tibial joints) of the first and second pair of legs, the end scarcely going beyond the
middle of the body. Elytra with five or six rather deep longitudinal creases. The
salient points of the body armed with piliferous warts. Abdominal tip square at the
end, with a stout black spine projecting from each side. Length, 6™™.

Beetle.—Uniformly deep prussian blue, with greenish reflections on the head. An-
tennal flagellum with fine whitish pubescence; tibiz clothed with tawny hairs.
Length, 5-6™™,

THE ALDER LEAF-ROLLER.

(Gelechia oronella Walsingham.)

While the leaves of the Alder are variously folded and rolled, per-
haps the most striking leaf-roller is the above species, which occurred
in Maine late in the summer, in August and the early part of Septem-
ber.

The little worm is amber-colored, the body rather thick and cylindri-
cal, but with no distinctive markings. One was observed which had
sewed a portion of the edge of the leaf for half an inch in extent with
four or five large white silk stitches. The moth, which appeared in the
breeding cage May 4 of the following year, is described below.

In another example, probably of this species, the end of the leaf was
rolled up one and a half turns, and sewed with three broad strong silk
stitches. On unrolling it the end of the leaf was found to be more or
less eaten, the roll being gradually drawn in and made more perfect as
the caterpillar consumes the tip of the leaf. It pupated September 18.

DEsSCRIPTIVE.—Larva.—Body rather thick, cylindrical; body and head delicate
amber-colored ; end of the body with quite long hairs, longer than the body is wide.
Length 6™™.

Pupa.—Rather thick; mahogany-brown; length, 7™™.

Moth.—Palpi with the second joint qoderately, broad, scarcely more (aan twice as
wide as the third joint, which is moderately broad and two-thirds as long as the sec-
ond joint. Head and palpi whitish-gray ; second joint black externally ; third joint
white, with two blackrings. Fore wings of the usualshape; white-gray ; at the base
a black streak parallel to the costa; on the basal fourth of the wing is a pair of con-
verging black spots; beyond is a similar but thicker pair of black spots, and still be-
yond another pair, one of the spots being situated on the costa; four black costal spots
towards the apex of the wing. Hind wings pale glistening gray. Expanse of wings,
18™™, JT am indebted to Professor Fernald for the identification of this species.

THE PINK-STRIPED WILLOW SPAN-WORM.
(Deilinia variolaria Guen.)

Thecaterpillar of this pretty moth is one of the commonest inch worms
to be found on the Willow.

The genus to which this caterpillar belongs was founded by Huebner
for a moth referred by Guenée to Cabera. The species of Deilinia are

26

distinguished from those of Corycia by the pectinated antenne, the two
common lines, and the generally ocherous tint, though the females of
D. variolaria are with difficulty separated from those of Corycia. From
Acidalia the species differ in having pectinated antenne, in the want of
a decided band on the hind wing, and in the larger palpi. The species is
figured on Pl. 10, fig. 26, of Packard’s Monograph of Geometrid Moths.

The caterpillar occurred August 10 on the Willow at Brunswick, Me.
It pupated August 14, and the moth emerged from May 20 till June 6.
The moths are seen flying among willows in Juneand July. We have
also found the larve July 24, and from that date till the first week in
September.

DEscCRIPTIVE.— Larva.—Body smooth, cylindrical. Head as wide as the body,
flattened from above, especially in front; antennz pinkish. Green with a pinkish
tinge ; on the side of the head a lateral distinct deep pink line, sutures and upper side
of the segments pinkish. There are eight dorsal median spots along the abdominal
segments, a central dark-brown dot, flanked on each side by a pale lilac patch. First
pair of abdominal feet deep lilac; anal legs with a vertical anterior lilac line. Su-
pra-anal plate large, triangular, with two minute tubercles. Length, 22™™.

Pupa.—Thorax moderately stout, at first greenish, finally becoming like the abdo-
men, mahogany-brown; terminal spine (cremaster) rather stout and blunt, ending sud-
denly in two large curved bristles with three minute slender much curved ones on each

side; the basal pair situated about half-way between the base and the middle of the
spine. Length, 10™™.

Moth.—Front of head deep reddish-ocherous; white on the front edge; palpi deep
ocherous; antenne white. Fore wings with the costal edge rather full. Both wings
strigated more or less thickly with brown; sometimes the wings are pure white. In
the male, the strig@ (or short lines) are arranged in two parallel lines on both wings.
Beneath, pure white; sometimes acomplete black discal dot oneach wing. Fore and
middle legs ocherous. Expanse of wings 26™™, This species differs from D. erythe-
maria (Guen.),also common in the Atlantic States, by its white wings, which are often
without lines, and by the deep reddish ocherous front of the head.

THE HERALD.
(Scoliopteryx libatrix Linn.)

This fine moth, common to the New and Old World, is in England
called “the Herald.” Here as well as in Europe it feeds as a general
rule upon the Willow, but we are told by Mr. H. L, Clark that he has
bred it from the Wild Cherry in Rhode Island.

Its habits so far as they have noticed are nearly the same as observed
in Europe. Mr. Lintner, the State Entomologist of New York, says that
the caterpillar feeds on and pupates among some of the leaves drawn
together by silken threads to which the pupa is attached by an anal
spine. The fall brood remains in the pupa state from fifteen to twenty
days. He bred a moth which emerged August 3, hence he thinks that
there are probably two annual broods of this species, since he has taken
itin the early partof May. In Illinois Mr. Coquillett bred a larva which
spun its cocoon August 23, while the moth appeared September 7.

‘
;

27

Professor Riley’s notes show that he found the larve at Kirkwood,
Mo., in May, 1872; that they began to spin their cocoons May 29; and
that the moths began toemerge June 11. On June17 eggs were found.

We have found the larva on the Willow at Brunswick, Me., August
26, when it was nearly fully grown. It is easily recognized, since itis one
of the few Noctuid caterpillars to be found on the Willow, and may be
recognized by its pale green hue and the yellow lateral line as well as
the yellowish sutures between the body-segments. A chrysalis beaten
out of a Willow tree during the last week in August disclosed the moth
about the 12th of September. Another chrysalis was found at Jackson,
N. H., during the second week in September, the moth appearing Sep-
tember 14. The larva had sewed together four or five willow leaves at
the end of a terminal shoot, and the cavity thus formed was lined with
a thin but dense whitish cocoon in which the pupa was situated with
the head upwards, and firmly held in place by the hooks on the abdom-
inal spine. The moth hibernates, appearing in May as soon as the
leaves are unfolded, and we see no grounds for supposing that there
is more than a single brood of caterpillars or of moths. The chrysalis
is quite unlike that of most Noctuidze which transform in the earth, and
has a simple blunt spine. The cremaster or spine of the present species
is much like that of those Geometrids which spin a cocoon.

We thus have an interesting departure from the usual structure and
habits of a numerous family of moths, the end of the pupa being spe-
cially adapted for a residence in a cocoon to prevent its being shaken
out of its exposed pupal abode. Like all tree-feeding Noctuidae, the
caterpillar is well protected from observation by its style of coloration ;
in the present case the pale green assimilating it to the leaves among
which it feeds.

THE BROWN CRYPTOLECHIA.
(Cryptolechia quercicella Clemens.)

The leaves of the Oak and, as we have found the past season, the
Aspen, are often bound together by a rather large flattened Tineid cat-
erpillar, larger in size than most larve of the family to which it belongs.
It is of about the size of the caterpillar of another less common species
of the same genus (C. schlagenella) whose habits we have already de.
scribed in Bulletin No. 5 of the Division of Entomology (U.S. Depart-
ment Agriculture, p. 25.)

The larva of the present species (originally described by Clemens as
Psilocorsis quercicella) was said -by that author* to bind the leaves of
oaks together in August and September (in Pennsylvania) and to pick
out the parenchyma between the network of veins; to weave a slight
cocoon between two leaves, appearing as a moth in March and April.
Our observations confirm the accuracy of Clemens’s observations. In

*Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Phil., June, 1860. See also Clemens’s Tineina of North
America, edited by H. T. Stainton, p. 149.

28

1884 we reared it from the Oak in Providence, the moths in confine-
ment appearing May 3 to 13 of the following spring.

During the season of 1886 we found the larve both on the Oak and
on the Aspen at Brunswick, Me., during the last week in August (the
25th to 31st). It disfigures these trees by binding the leaves together,
where it occupies a gallery in the mass of excrement filling the space.
It weaves a slight, but quite consistent, oval, flat cocoon between the
somewhat crumpled leaves ; the moths appeared in the breeding cages
from May 15 to 20; at first sight the moth resembles a Tortrix, the
wings being wide and broad at the end, and the markings plain ; it is
very different in appearance from the moth of the other species we have
mentioned, which is white, with longer, narrower wings. ‘The abdomi-
nal spine of the chrysalis is also very peculiar in shape.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva.—Body flattened. Head wide, slightly narrower than the
prothoracic segment; dark brown; prothoracic shield dark brown, slightly paler than
the head. Body behind pale livid greenish tlesh-colored ; no dorsal setiferous warts,
but on each side of each segment are two dark warts of unequal size giving rise to
long hairs; below them are two smaller, paler, less conspicuous warts. Supra-anal
plate large, broad, rounded, blackish, with five setiferous warts around the edges of
the plate. All the legs concolorous with the body. Length, 12™™,

Pupa.—Of the shape of the Tortricidz, being unusually stout and of a mahogany
brown color. Abdominal segments peculiar in having a single, finely crenulated
ridge passing dorsally and laterally around the front edge of the segment ; there are no
teeth or spines, but a rough surface on the ridge with confluent granulations The
tip is peculiar, the last segment being conical, with a stout spine (cremaster), which
is rounded, a little flattened, and ending in two forks, trom the sides and ends of which
arise in all 6-8 long bristles, which stick into the silken lining of the rather slight
cocoon in which it transforms. Length, 7™™.

Moth.—Recognized by its large size, broad square wings, and long slender palpi,
curving backwards high over the head. Head, thorax, and fore wings tawny gray,
with a line of fine dark scales on the base of the antennae and on the upper and un-
der side of the last joint of the palpi. Fore wings uniform tawny gray, mottled with
fine blackish scales; no distinct markings except a dark diffuse discaldot. Fringe gray.
Hind wings and abdomen as well as the legs shining pale tawny gray, much lighter
than the fore wings; beneath of the same color, except that the fore wings are some-
what dusky except on the outer edge and outer half of the costal margin. Expanse
of wings 20™™,

THE BEECH SPAN-WORM.

(Hyperetis nyssaria Smith and Abbot.)

Although the Alder is one of the food trees of this not uncommon
inch-worm, it is known to live on the Beech. The specimen reared from
the Alder by us is described below.

I have reared this moth from a large span-worm found on the Alder
September 6, at Brunswick Me., which exactly resembled a small twig
of the same shrub. It pupated September 20, in a broad flattened oval
cocoon spun between the leaves, and the moth appeared at Providence
in the breeding cage May 15 of the following year.

29

Mr. W. Saunders has reared the moth from a caterpillar found on the
Beech, and it will probably occur on other trees.

Larva.—Head rather small, much narrower than the body, somewhat flattened in
front. First thoracic considerably narrower than the second thoracic segment ; sec-
ond and third thoracic segments with lateral slight swellings; the black spiracles are
’ situated on dusky swellings ; on the fifth abdominal segment is a dusky dorsal hump,
edged in front with white, consisting of two rounded conical tubercles. Supra-anal
plate rounded with two stiff terminal setae ; anal legs rather broad, with a setiferous
fleshy conical tubercle on the upper edge. General color of head and body lilac-brown ;
head slightly more reddish, and on the back of each segment is a pair of whitish spots,
especially distinct on the second thoracic, but wanting on the first segment. Supra-
anal plate and anal legs sea-green, mottled with dusky spots. Length 28™™,

Pupa.—Body rather .thick ; mahogany-brown, ends of wings and legs reaching to
the posterior edge of the third abdominal segment. Terminal spine of the abdomen
(cremaster) large, flattened beneath, broad, triangular; the upper and under surface
with fine irregular wavy longitudinal ridges. Four lateral curved bristles and a ter-
minal pair about twice as thick and long as the others. On the under side at the base
of the spine are two orbicular areas like flattened tubercles. Length 12 ™™.

Moth.—Fore wings pale whitish, with fine cross specks as usual; the basal cross
line is heavy on the costa and bent sharply outwards on the subcostal, with a smaller
angle on the median vein and a larger angle on the submedian vein. The great but
obtuse angle made by the outer line extends quite near the outer edge of the wing.
Half way between the apex and the outer line two brown costal patches; two un-
equal black patches near the internal angle. Beneath, the lines and cross specks are
reddish-brown. Expanse of wings 33™™. ‘The specimen does not agree with either
of the four figures in my Monograph of Geometrid DES differing especially in the
shape and direction of the outer line.

THE CLEFT-HEADED SPAN-WORM.
(Amphydasis cognataria Guen.)

This common inch or measuring worm is the largest species we have
met with feeding on the Willow, and may be readily recognized by its
deeply cleft head and reddish-brown or green body like a reddish or
green willow twig, which it closely mimics. We have noticed it as
trequently in Jackson, N. H., as in Maine. It becomes fully fed by the
first week in September, my specimens transforming September 8, the
chrysalis entering the earth. The moth appears in June in Maine, late
in May in Southern New England and New York. I have raised this
moth in Maine from the Larch (pupating September 15), also from the
Missouri Currant, an ornamental shrub; also from the Apple, Elm,
Cherry, and the Aspen in Rhode Island, though the Willow is probably
its native food-plant, as it occurs in greatest abundance on that tree.
Mr. Lintner states that the larva feeds on the Maple; that the caterpillar
entered the ground for pupation August 11, the moth emerging the
latter part of May. (Ent. Contr. III, 166.) My specimens emerged in
Providence, May 13. The larva found on the Aspen is greenish and
like a fresh aspen twig, with whitish granulations, which are black on
the tubercles.

30

DESCRIPTIVE.— Young larva.—Head large, deeply notched, each tubercle distinctly
conical; body cylindrical, slender, with no tubercles ; a little smaller in the middle
than at each end. Head and body uniformly of a dull, brick-red. Length T3 to
(bert,

Larva before the last molt.—With the characters of the adult larva; salmon red.
Length 35™™,

Mature larva.—Twig-like, head very deeply notched, each side above conical ; the
face flat in front, the surface granulated. Prothoracic segment raised in front into a
large granulated piliferous tubercle. On the fifth abdominal segment a pair of large
lateral rough tubercles, a little paler than the body; on the 8th segment a pair of
converging pale granulated tubercles. Anal legs very large and broad, witha pair
of long dorsal sharp fleshy tubercles; supra-anal plate very large, conical and acute,
with four setae near the apex. Body of even width throughout, reddish-brown, like
a reddish willow twig, or sometimes greenish. The surface finely granulated with
light and black, and with flat rough warts, paler in color than the rest of the body;

our on the front edge of each segment, and two dorsal ones behind. It varies in
color from reddish-brown to green, thus mimicing willow twigs of different colors.
Length 55™™.

Pupa.—Large, full, stout; dark brown. Cremaster large, stout, a projection on
each side in the middle, beyond rounded, sharp, the point ending in a slender fork.
Length 24™™.

Moth.—A large stout-bodied moth, with heavily pectinated antenne and rather
small wings. Fore wings narrow, with the outer edge longer than usual; pepper and
salt or ash sprinkled with black brown; an indistinct, diffuse, inner, curved line,
with a second one nearer and diverging a little on the costa, being nearer together
at the base. <A third diffuse line encloses the discal spot. An outer distinct black
hair-line always present. Hind wings with three dark lines. Abdomen with two
rows of obscure black spots. Expanse of wings 60™™,

iCHTHYURA STRIGOSA Grote.

The caterpillar of this interesting species was found July 30, at Bruns-
wick, Me., feeding on the Aspen (Populus tremuloides). It moulted
August 10, and about the 20th began to spin a silken cocoon between
two leaves. The moth (a male) appeared in the breeding cage at Prov-
idence, May 20. Like I. americana, it sits with the wings folded sharply
over the back, with the fure legs held straight out in front, with the
tufted tail curved up.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva before the last molt.—Head broader than the body, flattened
in front, dull black, with long white hairs. Body flattened, with yellow and reddish
longitudinal stripes; three dorsal faint red stripes on a yellowish ground, and three
deep lake-red lateral stripes, the lowermost the broadest and deepest in hue. Two
bright yellow lateral stripes. Five pairs of flesh-colored abdominal legs, the legs pale
amber, colored like the under side of the body. Length 9™™.

Larva after the last molt.—Markings much as in the previous stage. Length 17 to
1§2m,

The rude cocoon is formed by tying a few leaves together, gathering them by a web
at the edges, thus forming a roomy chamber, partly lined with silk, within which the
chrysalis rests.

Pupa.—Smaller and not so full and rounded at the end as in J. inclusa; cremaster
as in that species, ending in two stout, very short, recurved spines. Length 12™™,

Moth.—One male. Smaffer and duller brown than J, indentata Pack. Palpi whit-
ish below, dark-brown above, as in J. indentata (which closely resembles Fitch’s J.
vau) ; front of head slightly broader and squarer; median thoracic brown band as in

lL Pe

Pe ee eee

31

I. indentata. Fore wings with the costal edge straighter and the apex less turned up
than in J. indentata, the apex being slightly more rounded than in that species or in
I. inclusa. Basal line distinct, making a sharp angle on the median vein, and more
ineurved in the submedian space than in J. indentata; second line much more sud-
denly incurved than J, indentata, the same line being straight in J. inclusa ; the short
third line as in J. indentata, but more sinuous. Fourth and outer line much as in J.
indentata, but the species differs from all the others known by the large conspicuous
irregular whitish ochreous patch which fills in the costai curve of this line and ex-
tends half way from the costal end of the line to the apex of the wing; no deep brick-
red discoloration on each side of costal half of fourth line, so distinct in I indentata,
but a long discal blackish stripe extends along the first median venule to the sub-
marginal row of brown dots which are not so distinct as in J. indentata or I. inclusa ;
though the marginal row of dark brown lunules is as distinct asin J. inclusa. Fringe
as in J. inclusa, but that on the hind wings much darker. Hind wings darker than in
I. indentata. Wings beneath much as in J. indentata, but there is no reddish tint to-
wards the apex, and the white oblique costal streak is much less distinct. There are
traces of a common brown diffuse line. Abdomen a little shorter, the fan or tuft of
scales perhaps shorter and expanding wider. Expanse of wings 25™™,; length of
body 12™™,
THE LIVE OAK THECLA.

(Thecla favonius Smith and Abbot.)

The green, slug-like caterpillars of this beautiful butterfly were ob-
served on the Live Oak at Enterprise, Fla., April 7 and 8, also a few
days afterwards at Crescent City, and again on the Scrub Live Oaks on
Anastasia Island, Saint Augustine. They pupated April 13, 14; the
chrysalis in general appearance closely resembling that of Thecla cala-
nus, found about Providence. They breed easily in confinement, my
specimens having been placed in a small pocket tin box. After my re-
turn to Providence the butterflies emerged from April 30 to May 2. It
is the most common species in the Southern States, and is said by Smith
and Abbot to feed on Quercus rubra and other Oaks.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva.—Closely resembling in general appearance that of Thecla
calanus. Body straw-yellowish green, with fine yellowish papille# and dense short
hairs. Head pale horn-color, small and narrow. Length 17™™,

Pupa.—Of the same size and shape as that of Thecla calanus, the hirsutes the
same, though not quite so coarse. In color rather pale horn, not so much mottled
with black. It differs from T. calanus in the distinct lateral row of black dots. Length
tomas

Imago.—Wings of the usual form and color in the genus. Fore wings of male with
a blackish sex-mark below the costa; a tawny patch in the first and a larger more
distinct one in the second median cell. Hind wings with a large deep orange patch
near the inner angle, with a minute one on each side; orange spots on the inner
angie. ‘‘ The points of the W formed by the inner line on the under side of the hind
wings touching the outer line” (French). Expanse of wings, 23™™,

THE LIVE OAK LEAF-ROLLER.
Tortrix quercifoliana Fitch.

_ While at Saint Augustine, Fla., early in April I noticed a pale green
leaf-roller on the Live Oaks on Anastasia Island. April 14 it spun a

32

slight cocoon, within which the worm changed to a pupa, April 16 or
17; the moth appeared April 30, after my return to Providence.

DESCRIPTIVE.—Larva.—Pale green ; head green ; otherwise of the usual appearance.

Pupa.—Body pale and slender, the cast skin thin and unusually so for a Tortrix.
Cremaster or terminal abdominal spine peculiar in being long and narrow, as wide at
the tip as at the base ; the surface above and beneath with fine longitudinal ridges ;
a pair of short dorsal seta near the end; edge of the extreme tip curvilinear, with four
curved set of nearly equal length. Each abdominal segment with two rows of fine
teeth. Length, 10™™,

Moth.—Pale tawny yellow, with yellowish brown darker scales and dots and darker
brown lines. Head pale, tawny brown on the vertex with a small spot in the middle
ofthe front. Palpi dark, externally pale above and at tip of second joint. Fore
wings pale whitish tawny yellow, densely speckled with darker scales; on the inner

third of the wing an oblique, dark brown, narrow line beginning on the inner third »

of the costa and ending in the middle of the hind margin. An outer parallel line,
which is forked on the costa and ends on the internal angle; from near the middle
the line sends off a spur to the apex, but before reaching the apex a spur is sent to
the costa, also a 3-forked line to the outer edge of the wing. Hind wings, abdomen,
and legs almost white. Expanse of wings, 20™™. (Identified by Prof. Fernald.)

2

REPORT ON NEBRASKA INSECTS.
By LAWRENCE BRUNER, Special Agent.

This has been an unusually favorable year in Nebraska and adjoining
States for the ravages of certain injurious insects. The spring was a
little backward, rather drier than usual, and warm, suitable for the
development of all kinds of our most destructive species. The summer
was a hot and uncommonly dry one, killing off the parasites, while con-
tinuing favorable to most of the species causing injury to crops.

Among the species noticed to be injurious the following were chief:
The Red-legged Locust (Melanoplus femur-rubrum), the Differential Lo-
cust (I. differentialis), Chinch Bug (Aicropus leucopterus), the Striped
Cottonwood Beetle (Plagiodera scripta), the Ash Saw-fly, the Colorado
Potato Beetle (Doryphora 10-lineata), the Gray Blister Beetle (Lytta
cinereus), the Corn Worm (Heliothis armigera), and the larve of the Ash
Saw-fly, and early in the season the Box-elder Plant Louse.

Notwithstanding the ravages of all these insects in connection with
avery dry summer, our crops have fallen but little below the average
year, and at the present time everything appears in first rate condi-
tion.

As would naturally be supposed, from data received last year, locusts
are again on the increase at various points both southward and north-
ward. During the months of April and May I visited, under your in-
structions, central Texas, where several species of these insects had be-
come so humerous as to endanger the crops in that particular locality.
Upon these I reported at the time. We have since learned that crop
prospects in that portion of the State were good, and that the locusts
were diminishing in numbers. On the other hand, in Montana and
northwestern Dakota, advices stated that the Rocky Mountain Locust
(Melanoplus spretus) with several other species, were even more numer-
ous than they were in these places last year. This being a new and
sparsely settled country it has been very difficult to obtain reliable data
as to their numbers, movements, and injuries, if any.

Judging from occasional newspaper reports during the season it is
quite evident to my mind that scattering swarms of locusts have reached
eastward at least as far as the James River, along the line of the North-
ern Pacific Raiiway, and southward of this point probably 75 or 100
miles. These swarms have certainly left their eggs scattered over the
country passed through while migrating, and will evidently be heard

17528—No, 13——3 33

34

from next spring, providing the winter is favorable to their preserva-
tion. We do not, however, look for any extraordinary increase in these
insects over an extended scope of country next year.

In southwestern Nebraska and portions of northern Kansas the
Shinech Bug (JM. leucopterus) became very numerous during June and
early July, and did a considerable amount of injury to crops—especially
to small grain. This undue increase was mainly due to the excessive
drought in that particular region. A reference to the accompanying
telegraphic crop reports will be sufficient proof of the magnitude of the
injury done and the area overrun. Soon after harvest heavy rains in
this region diminished the numbers of the insect.

The Striped Cottonwood Beetle (Plagiodera scripta) has also been
quite numerous in several portions of the West during the year, and
did much injury to both Cottonwoods and Willows upon high land.
specially was this true with respect to the young trees upon tree claims
in newly settled areas. There has been considerable vexation at the
United States land offices on account of the injuries of this insect and
of a species of Saw-fly, the larvie of which attack the foliage of our va-
rious species of Ash trees, causing them to die. When the time comes
for “proving up” there are too few trees growing upon the tract of
land, and the result is its probable loss to the enterer.

The Colorado Potato Beetle ( Doryphora 10-lineata) and Cabbage But-
terfly (Pieris rapae) have both been rather more abundant than usual
during the year and have done much injury to their respective food-
plants.

In addition to these, the Ash-gray Blister Beetle (Lytta cinerea) has
been observed in several localities in northern Nebraska to entirely de-
foliate young hedges of Honey Locust. Until the present summer I
have not observed this insect attacking the Honey Locust since the sum-
mer of 1876 or 1877. At that time a nursery of small trees of this kind
were entirely stripped of leaves by them, as were also several larger
ones standing alone.

The Corn Worm (Heliothis armigera) was very numerous and caused
considerable injury by eating the ends of the ears of corn. It has also
been found quite abundant in tomato patehes, where it bored into the
fruit, causing the tomatoes to rot.

We append a series of short extracts from western newspapers bear-
ing on some of these topics.

*¢GRASSHOPPERS.”

A cloud of grasshoppers stopped for a meal at Sanborn [Dakota] recently and
chewed up a field of wheat in ten minutes.—Omaha Daily Bee, July 23, 1866.

Grasshoppers are reported in numerous quantities in Winneshiek County, Iowa,
Howard County, Indiana, and in Athens County, Ohio.—Omaha Daily Bee, May 31,
1886.

Grasshoppers are reported at Fargo and Huron, Dak. Lawrence Bruner, who is
authority on the subject, informs us that there is no doubt they are increasing yearly,

—

ee

35

and unless something is done to check them they will eventually be as numerous
asever. One consolation, however, is that they will never be able to do the same
amount of damage in one locality as formerly, on account of the wider expanse of
settled and cultivated land over which they will have to travel. Nebraska is forever
more free from any serions ravages.— West Point Progress, Thursday, July 22, 1866.

CHINCH BUGS.

CuicaGo, May 30.—The following crop summary will be printed inthis week’s issue
of the Farmer’s Review: ‘‘ As the season advances reports of the presence of insects in
winter wheat fields grow more numerous, but beyond certain afflicted districts in
Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio the reports are of an isolated character and do not
appear to seriously threaten the general outlook for an average crop yield. Southern
Illinois continues to send in the most bugs. Alexander, Bond, Edwards, Jefferson,
and Monroe Counties, all in Southern Illinois, report great injury in many of the fields,
- Grenola, Franklin, and Panorama Counties, in Kansas; Felton and Highland Counties,
in Ohio, and Howard County, in Indiana, report considerable injury from chinch bugs.
Looking over the entire winter wheat belt, the promise is still good for an average
yield, but the early promise that the season was to bring forth a ‘‘ bumper” crop will
now be abandoned. The acreage would not warrant such an outcome, unless the
conditions were every where extremely favorable.—Omaha Daily Bee, May 31, 1886.

CHESTER, NEBR., July 2.—[Special to The Bee]|—The chinch bugs have been making
great havoe with the spring wheat. Some fields are entirely destroyed, others greatly
damaged, and scarcely any left untouched. When the bugs get through with the
wheat they attack adjoining cornfields and are damaging them to some extent.

BELVIDERE, NEBR., July 2.—[Special to The Bee ]—Prospects for all kinds of crops
are good with the exception of wheat, which the chinch bugs are taking to some ex-
tent.

HEBRON, NEBR., July 2.—[Special to The Bee. |—Crops have needed rain badly for’
some time until last Saturday, when a copius downpour came to their relief. Wheat
is suffering from the depredations of chinch bugs, many fields having been taken en-
tirely and not considered worth harvesting. Corn is growing finely, and although
small for the season of the year bids fair to make a good crop.—Omaha Daily Bee, July
3, 1886.

HastinGs, ADAMS CounTy, NEBRASKA, July 9.—Rye and barley harvest is showing
about two-thirds of a crop. The yield of oatsand wheat, on account of drought last
month and the present ravages of chinch bugs, will not exceed two-fifths of an average
yield. Corn is doing fairly well but needs rain.

CRETE, SALINECouNTY, NEBRASKA, July 9.—The condition of wheat is bad. Chinch
bugs and rust are the cause, and there will be only a half a crop. Oats will only be
half a crop, on account of late planting. Barley will be a larger crop than last year.
Ryeis a heavy crop There has been no rain for ten days. Farmers are jubilant.

Wanoo, [SAUNDERS CounNTY, ] NEBR., July 9.—Nearly all the corn is laid by. Itis
necding rain badly. A few more days of dry weather will work great injury, but a
rain in a few days will help it wonderfully. Oats and spring wheat will be slightly
injared by drought, and chinch bugs are doing some damage to wheat.

EXETER, FILMORE County, NEBRASKA, July 9.—Wheat will be a poor yield this
year. Chinch bugs are reported from several places as very destructive. Corn was
never better. It is two weeks since the last rain and more is needed, but no damage
asyet. Farmers feeling o. k.

FAIRMONT, FILLMORE County, NEBRASKA, July 9.—Farmers need rain very much.
Wheat, small acreage, is badly eaten by cinch bugs and injured by drought and heat.
Corn and other small grains are suffering from drougth and heat. If dry spell con-
tinues one week more, farmers will raise only a small crop.

DANNEBROG, Howarp County, NeBRaAsKA, July 9,—The hottest day so far this
summer was yesterday, the temperature reaching 104° in the shade, No rain has fallen

36

for five weeks and growing crops are suffering. Some fields of oats and spring wheat
will be an almost total failure. Rye, winter wheat, and barley are ready for harvest,
and the yield will be fair; chinch bugs are commencing to be very bad in some parts
of the county. The prospect of a good corn crop heretofore has been good, but now
it is discouraging on account of the drought.—Omaha Daily Bee, Saturday, July 10,
1886.

HEBRON, THAYER CouNTY, NEBRASKA, July 10.—Corn is in need of rain, The dry
weather has continued for a period of two weeks or more. Small grain in general is
suffering for want of rain. A rain any time within a week will help the corn in its
growth and destroy the chinch bug, now playing havoe in many fields. Most of the
small grain failed to fillout by reason of the dry weather, and its production won’t
reach that of last year’s by one-half. Our farmer friends are somewhat discouraged
over the present outlook for prospects of a good corn crop.

York, York County, NEBRASKA, July 10.—Chinch bugs are working on wheat and
other small grain. Corn looks fair, but some of it is turning to a yellowish shade.
Squash and melon vines are wilting and bugs working on them. No rain for nearly
three weeks. If we have rain in a few days there will not be a great shortage on an
average crop. Farmers feel blue, knowing that the crop will not be an average one.

York, YORK County, NEBRASKA, July 10.—The condition of the corn crop in York
County is good, notwithstanding the dry weather of the past two weeks. Oats will be
an immense crop. Spring wheat is an entire failure. The crop was very short and
what remained is being rapidly destroyed by the chinch bugs. The dry weather has
had a damaging effect on wheat and corn. Winter wheat and other crops are good.
The York County crop will average about 60 per cent.

EpGar, CLay County, July 10.—Small grain has suffered badly from the drought in
this part of Nebraska. There has been no rain in this section for two weeks, during
which time the weather has been intensely hot and dry. Barley and rye are har-
vested, but there is not more than two-thirds of a crop. There was yielded about two-
thirds of a crop. Spring wheat and oats are very short, and are being destroyed by
chinch bugs rapidly. Unless rain comes soon, but little grain will be harvested on
account of chinch bugs. Farmers are very much discouraged, though they still enter
tain hopes of a medium corn crop.

FAIRCHILD, CLAY County, NEBRASKA, July 10.—Wheat will make about one-half
a crop, barley about three-fourths, and oats a good average yield. Dry weather in
the early part of the season injured small grain most. We had good rains in the lat-
ter part of May. Since that time it has been dry, no rain at all since June 28. Corn
is looking well in spite of dry weather, If we get rain in a few days there will be a
good prospect of nearly a full crop. Lately chinch bugs have made their appearance
in large numbers and are doing considerable damage. Farmers, as a rule, are feeling
in good spirits over the crop prospects.—Omaha Daily Bee, July 12, 1886.

Fort Dopae, Iowa, July 16.—[Special telegram to The Bee]—A much needed rain
fell in this locality yesterday. * * * Thecropsare slightly damaged by the drought.
Chinch bugs have made their appearance in portions of the county and are getting
their work in on grain and corn.

HEBRON, July 16.—[Special to The Bee]—Your correspondent has made a thorough
investigation of crops in Thayer County and Southern Fillmore, arriving at this place
to-day. The chinch bugs have entirely destroyed many fields of spring wheat and
oats. Some fields have been burned on the ground, with the hope of killing the bugs
to keep them out of adjoining fields of small grain and corn. At the best, small grain
will not make over one-third of a crop throughout this section. Corn has looked well
until within the past ten days, but the hot, dry weather of the last two weeks has
put a different hue on the aspect and on farmers’ countenances. The earliest plant-
ings and most forward corn suffers the most, but on all sides can be seen, sprinkled
through the fields, stalks of corn that are white as snow, With copious rains within
a few days a fair crop of corn may be had, but a delay of wet weather for ten days

eho.

37

will insure anywhere from one-third of a crop to nothing. Pasture and hay lands are
also showing the effects of the drought.—Omaha Daily Bee, July 17, 1886.

GRAND ISLAND, Hatt Country, August 5.—The wheat crop throughout Hall County
is turning out much better than was expected. In some precincts the farmers report
the yield better than it has been for years, while in other localities it was damaged
by drought and chinch bugs, but the average yield will be about 12 bushels per acre.
The recent rains have done much toward bringing out the corn crop, which is in a
splendid condition, and in some places it will make 60 to 80 bushels to the acre, and
without any more rain it will average about 40 to 50 bushels to the acre. Farmers
are feeling good generally, and think the entire crop, on an average, is better than it
has been for years.—Omaha Daily Bee, August 6, 1886.

TESTS WITH INSECTICIDES UPON GARDEN INSECTS.

By WiLuiAmM B. ALWoop, Special Agent.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

COLUMBUS, OH10, October 30, 1886.

Sir: Tinclose herewith a summary of my tests with different insecticides. These
are not written in the style of a report, but to acquaint you with the results I have
obtained. My work is just begun, and I do not feel as though anything creditable
in the way of a report could be furnished so far. I trust this will be satisfactory
and furnish you with what information you desire concerning the progress of the
work thus far. If you desire it I can furnish a copy of the original notes from
which this summary is made up; however, many of my serial tests were noted in bull
instead of keeping an individual record of each test. This was done because of same-
ness and lack of importance in the individual record. This matter would have
reached you a week sooner had I not been ill for several days. I will forward some
notes about machinery in a few days.

Very respectfully,
WM. B. ALWOOD

Profs CS Vie RILEY,

U.S. Entomologist.
KEROSENE EMULSION.

Formula.—Kerosene, 67 per cent.; water, 33 per cent.; whale-oil
soap sufficient to form a stable emulsion. |

This preparation was used on several insects with somewhat varying
results, the chief features of which are condensed in this note.

On Cabbage Worms.

The first series was begun before Piusia brassice was numerous, hence
only Pieris rape is spoken of. The emulsion was used in different di-
lutions, ranging from equal parts of water and emulsion to 16 parts of
water and 1 of emulsion. It was in all cases applied as a spray, and
when the worms were numerous and eating vigorously. Several hun-
dred plants were used in the field tests. Weaker solutions than 1 of
emulsion to 3 of water were of no avail unless applied very heavily, and
then they caused considerable injury to leaves. ‘In the proportion of 1
to 3 it was quite effective where the worms could be reached, ¢. e., were
not under the leaves, and destroyed about 75 per cent. of them. It did
not injure the leaves in this strength if properly sprayed. Where so-
lution of 1 to 5 was put on excessively it killed and also injured plants.
Stronger solutions than 1 to 3 were not more efficacious and injured
plants seriously. The weaker solutions would sicken the worms and

38

Sh ie eth et ae

39

affect them unpleasantly for a short time, but they would uniformly
recover, and either proceed again to eat or crawl away to another
plant. In no case were worms injured unless spray was delivered di-
rectly upon them, Eating of the plants after they had been sprayed
did not affect them. These experiments occupied several days and
were duplicated.

Tests in small Jars.—This was a duplicate test on Plusia brassice and
Pieris rape. The liquid was applied with a feather and in sufficient
quantity to moisten the entire body of the worm. In dilutions up to 1
to 5 it killed both; weaker solutions occasionally killed one or more
rape but not brassice.

In breeding Cages.—In this test the above was duplicated on larger
scale. Liquid was applied as spray and until all worms were thoroughly
drenched. They were placed on parts of a small cabbage-head, so that
each box very nearly represented an out-door experiment and enabled
me to be much more certain of results obtained.

Up to 5 dilutions 80 per cent. of rape were destroyed and 10 per cent.
of brassice, there not being much difference in the strength of liquid
as to efficacy. Weaker solutions did littie or no injury to either. P. bras-
sice was not treated with emulsion at all in the field, but from effect
on rape am sure that the conditions were essentially those of outside
experiments. The amount of drenching with this liquid which bras-
sice could stand was certainly remarkable. In previous test jars were
covered. Liquid in each case was taken from same jar of emulsion,
I had no trouble in making a good emulsion that was stable in what-
ever dilutions I chose to use it.

On Cabbage Plant-louse.

Wherever used on this insect, even in weakest solutions (1 to 16),
the emulsion destroyed all that were touched by it.

On White Grubs.

A solution of 1 part emulsion to 4 parts water was used quite ex-
tensively on the larvee of the May beetle, Lachnosterna fusca. The re-
sults were far from satisfactory. Where used on the lawn the grubs
descended 2 or 3 inches and were unharmed. Some few appeared a little
sick, and occasionally a black spot was observed on some of them, but
none were destroyed. After conducting this test for twenty days it was
abandoned. Several boxes were arranged with loose soil and grubs
placed in these for experiment. Here where they were only lightly
covered with loose soil the emulsion destroyed nearly every one in
twenty-four hours. The liquid was sprinkled on in these tests suffi-
ciently to moisten the surface thoroughly.

Lime and salt were also tried over the lawn and in boxes. On the
lawn where they washed through, the grubs immediately descended out
of reach. None were actually killed on the lawn that I could observe,

40

In boxes lime was nearly as efficacious as emulsion, and so also was
salt; however, to do good execution, salt must be applied in quantity
sufficient to injure the soil. I think there is no doubt but these insects
can be easily destroyed if they can be reached, but how to reach them
under the soil is the question. Their large, soft bodies are very sus-
ceptible to injury.

PYRETHRUM.

This powder was purchased from a local wholesale dealer, and to all
appearances was of high grade. It was used in various tests to experi-
ment on its use, and as a check on other substances it was used in all
tests of whatever nature.

On Cabbage Worms.

My earlier experiments lead me to believe that brassice was much
harder to destroy than rape, and this I still believe to be the case to
some extent, but not to such an extent as at first supposed. Quite a
large series of tests were made in the field and also in jars and cages to
test the above supposition, the result in the main being very satis-
factory. Pure and up to 3 dilutions it killed rape with a precision
and certainty that was remarkable, the powder after the 3 dilutions
acting nearly as well as if stronger. The time required was varia-
ble, but usually the worms were well used up in two hours. Above 3
dilutions its action was uncertain and not to be depended upon, although
5 dilutions will kill a fair percentage if thoroughly applied. With bras-
sice the results were quite similar up to 3 dilutions. A large quantity
of powder was used of this strength on these worms after rape had
nearly disappeared. It was very effective, killing fully 90 per cent.
of all worms, although the time required is somewhat longer than with
rape- Above 3 dilutions it is not efficacious on brassicew, killing
scarcely any, and from the whole experience of my experiments I am
satisfied that 3 dilutions are all that can safely be made for out-door
work.

In Jars.—A large number of tests were made in jars, with very minute
quantities of powder on both worms. Jars were covered. These were
very successful, causing death in from forty minutes to two hours. The
only exception to this was a full-grown larva of brassice. In this test
dilutions up to twenty times the weight of powder were quite efficacious
on rape, but a few of the last did not destroy brasstce with certainty.

This series was also repeated in breeding cages with, in the main,
corroboratory results. After 5 dilutions its action on brassice was
quite uncertain, depending somewhat upon the amount used; 15 dilu-
tions would not kill them at all under any method of treatment. Rape
was killed up to 20 dilutions if thoroughly applied, although in such
cases they were more severely treated than would be possible with
powder bellows in field work. Experiments with minute portions of

A]

pure powder would indicate that it is not the amount of powder that
proves fatal but that it is the fact of a few grains of powder coming in
contact with the body of the worm. Allof my dilutions above 5 times
the weight of powder show that its efficiency is thus very much im-
paired, and I am satisfied that while almost infinitesimal doses are suf-
ficient to produce death when powder is pure, they will not suffice in
the presence of adulterations. Iam quite convinced that 5 dilutions
is the limit of safe adulteration, and think that I should hesitate to
recommend over 3. The age of the worm when treated is of consider-
able importance in this connection, as young worms are destroyed with
much greater certainty than older ones. Pure powder exposed on the
leaves of cabbage plants for periods of thirty minutes, fifteen hours,
and twenty hours, killed with as much certainty as fresh powder. Old
powder, which had stood one year in a candy jar without. cover, killed as
well as fresh powder. This last was used, diluted 3 times, in field work
and did good execution.

One pound of powder diluted with 3 pounds of flour and carefully
used in a Woodason double-cone bellows was sufficient to dust one
acre thoroughly. Four was the only adulteration used.

EXTRACTS OF PYRETHRUM.

Water extract—1 ounce pyrethrum; 1 pint water.

A lecholic extract—1 ounce pyrethrum; 1 pint alcohol.

These were thoroughly tested and the tests repeated several times,
with very unsatisfactory results.

The water extract was made by stirring together the ingredients.
Only the liquor was used which was kept in a tightly closed jar.

This extract destroyed rapae at an average rate of 50 per cent. up to
4 dilutions, and at 5 dilutions failed entirely. In full strength it was
not nearly so efficacious as dry powder, even on rape, and it did not
affect brassice at all.

The alcoholic extract was made by repercolation with about 80 per
cent. alcohol. This I anticipated would bear a large number of dilu-
tions, and it was used in an extensive series of tests in the cages and
jars. Up to 5 dilutions it killed fairly well and a few were destroyed
above this, but not enough worth mentioning, only a small or weak
worm dying. This test was repeated several times and a new extract
was made, but with little better results. The new extract killed about
50 per cent. very slowly at 10 dilutions. Both extracts spoken of
above were applied as spray, except that in jars a feather was used and
the worms thoroughly wetted.

On Aphis brassice.

Pyrethrum in several forms was used on this insect with unsatisfac-
tory results, the action being, when applied pure or in strong mixtures;

42

@

to dislodge but not destroy them. Pure powder applied with a bellows |

quickly dislodged them, but did not kill over 10 per cent. Those not
killed soon recovered and crawled back upon the plant.

On Potato Beetle.

Used in the field pure it destroyed about 50 per cent. of the larve,
principally younger ones. Adults were not injured though heavily
treated, but when confined in breeding cage and thoroughly dusted
they were all killed. Iam quite sure pyrethrum is not a satisfactory
remedy for Potato Beetle where London purple or Paris green can be
used with safety.

On Tomato Worms.

Several species of Sphingids were quite numerous on the tomato
vines, principally quinque-maculata. On these the powder was used
pure and also diluted three times. I did not observe an instance where
thoroughly applied that it did not produce death in from two to three
days.

On Squash Bugs.

Diabrotica vittata and also 12-punctata were treated with the powder
both pure and diluted three times. It destroyed them very effectually,
although I am not certain that they could be so successfully treated in
the spring when the plants are small and the beetles very active. This
treatment was late in the season when they were feeding on pollen in
the bloom of squashes.

On Fall Web-worm.

Not enough of these could be found for thorough tests, but pure
powder used on one colony made them immediately break from the
web, fall to the ground, and scatter in all directions, but two days’ ob-
servation failed to show any dead ones.

Several times woolly caterpillars were treated both with powder and
solution without in any instance producing death.

The powder used throughout was the rosewm, and from one package.

Bunacnu (Pyrethrum cinerariefolium).

I was ordered to obtain this powder direct from dealers, and finally
sent to Stockton, Cal., for it. It did not arrive in time for full com-
parisons with P. roseuwm, but I tested it quite thoroughly on P. brassice.

Used in minute particles it kills in one to three hours, was decidedly
slower in action than P. roseum, but the weather was cooler. Exposed
on leaves of plants it killed up to three days’ exposure though very slow
at last trial. Weather cool as before mentioned.

Diluted with flour it kills in small jars up to 30 dilutions, but in
cages was not effective after 10 dilutions, and I think most of these

i

43

would have recovered had they been where they could have crawled
away to fresh leaves. The season was so late when received that I was
unable to give it a test out of doors with anything like satisfaction.
Alcoholic extract.—One ounce powder, 4 fluid ounces alcohol (reper-
colated).
This killed slowly at 10 dilutions; above that was not effective.

BENZINE.

This was used on several insects. Harly in the season when the rape
worm was plenty a large number of infested plants were sprayed with
very unsatisfactory results. Where it was used lightly not 1 per cent.
of worms was killed, used heavily a few more were killed, but the plants
were also slightly injured. Tests in the field were repeated several
times with no better results. A number of tests were made in breed-
ing cages and there they resisted it equally as well. Of one lot, after
being thoroughly sprayed four times in quick succession, only 16 per
cent. died. It usually sickened the worms, but they soon recovered.
Of the lot above mentioned two had pupated in twenty hours. Only by
the most thorough drenching was I able to kill cabbage worms at all
with this remedy. The injury to leaves was not nearly so great as at
first would be supposed, and in fact only extremely heavy applications
did any lasting injury.

On Potato Beetle.
Thorough spraying did not injure these at all. Leaves were not in-

jured.
On Tomato Worms.

The most thorough treatment was unavailing. Leaves slight!y in-
jured.
On Squash Bugs.

Were not injured. Leaves slightly burned.

On Cabbage Lice.
These were destroyed where the spraying was thoroughly done.
ALUM WATER.

This was first used in solution of 1 ounce to 1 quart of water, but as
this had no effect whatever on cabbage worms or lice a strong solution
was made by boiling water with a quantity of alum init. Part of the
alum crystallized out on cooling, but left the solution as strong as could
be made. This was used very thoroughly with no result whatever. In
every respect it was a complete failure.

4-4
ICE WATER.

This was used in spray and poured upon the plants in quantity, also
worms were submerged in the water for periods of time up to ten seconds.
Every trial showed this to be utterly valueless as aremedy. Occasion-
ally a small worm would be injured but in no case that I observed were
any killed outright. Temperature of water during trials varied from
35° to 38° Fah., air from 90° to 95° Fah. A hot day was purposely
selected for the work.

TANSY WATER.

Strong decoctions of this were made both by soaking and boiling the
leaves. In both cases it was apparently as strong as could be made.
Used in the field, no result whatever. On worms confined in closed
jars they died in about six hours. In cages no effect whatever, though
tested repeatedly and very heavily applied.

TOMATO WATER.

A strong decoction of this was made by boiling and used as above
with quite similar results. In many instances the substance has de-
stroyed the worms in jars (Small wide-mouth bottles) and not under
exposed conditions. The larve were not drowned but only moistened.
This is important as showing that the manner of using a substance is
quite important.

DREER’S INSECT TERROR.

This powder was used both in the field and in cages. In no instance
of the field trials were any of the larvie injured, though it was thoroughly
applied, lightly with bellows and heavily by hand. Used in cages it
had no effect whatever except that in one instance 20 per cent. of rape
were killed where it was applied to food so heavily as to completely coat
it over. P. brassice was not affected by its use though confined from
four to five days where food plant was completely coated with powder.
I feel perfectly safe in saying, after abundant tests, that this substance
is perfectly worthless.

HAMMOND’S SLUG SHOT.

This was used only on Cabbage Worms (rape and brassice). In field
tests several hundred plants were used and tests made very thoroughly.
At first the powder was dusted on lightly and was almost an entire
failure, but with repeated and heavier dustings better results were ob-
tained; however none of the results were sufficiently successful to com-
mend its use. Where used heavily not over 20 per cent. of rape were
killed, and brassice were not injured. In none of the field tests was I
able to find dead brassice. Worms of both species were frequently

1 MA RAL te eee &

45

noticed forty-eight hours atter application feeding as usual though
themselves and the leaves were coated with powder. In breeding cages
better results were obtained. Light applications did but little good as
outside, but heavy applications, where plants were completely covered
with powder, were quite effective, both species being destroyed to the
extent of 80 per cent. to 90 per cent. (No substance was more carefully
or thoroughly used than this in the above experimeuts.) In solutions
the effect was about the same. It was used up to 8 ounces to 1 pint of
water, making almost a thick mixture. In this manner about 25 per
cent. of rape were killed in the field; not tried in cages.

All of my work points to the conclusion that brassicw is more diffi-
cult to deal with than rapw; especially is this true where the poison is
a powder to be eaten. They are easily disturbed and will move away
to the under side of the leaves until disturbing cause has disappeared.

This powder cannot be successfully applied with a bellows, because
of its characteristic of accumulating in little bails or masses which can-
not pass the bellows, and, also, it must be applied heavily to accomplish
any results whatever. Heavy applications by hand will probably prove
the only means of doing any good with it.

TOBACCO SOAPS.

Of these several were used, Wolf’s Vermin Soap and different brands
from the Rose Manufacturing Company, of New York, known as sulfo-
tobacco soaps. Also two brands made by the above company were
sent me by the Division, viz, a soda and a potash tobacco soap. These
two packages seem not to be the same grade of goods the company at
present manufacture, as evidenced by the difference in strength shown
by my tests. The samples sent by the Rose Company were a plain
and scented soda soap and ascented potash soap. Thesample of Wolt’s
soap was received from the Milwaukee Soap Company, Milwaukee, Wis.
It is a stiff soda soap strongly scented with tobacco and very offensive
to handle. The potash soaps above mentioned were much softer than
the soda soaps. They all dissolved readily at 100° Fah., and the Rose
soaps remained in solution, but the Wolf’s soap solidifies the whole so-
lution even when very weak, forming a jelly-like mass. This is a very
objectionable point if this soap is desired to be used as spray, as it
necessitates heating every time before using.

On Cabbage Worms.

The two samples received from the Division were thoroughly tested
on both species previously mentioned in this report. The solutions
were made of different strengths up to 4 ounces to 1 pint of water, at
which strength the soda soap destroyed slowly but thoroughly all larvee
of both species, and the potash soap was sure death to all larva which
caine in contact with it. These solutions improved with age as did all
the soap solutions,

46

Of the samples received direct from the Rose Company the plain and
scented soda soap were of the same strength, the only difference being
that the scented soap is much more pleasant to handle. This and the
potash soap were of about equal strength and destroyed readily all
larvee where thoroughly applied in solution of 1 ounce to 1 pint of water.

These soap solutions were used in a large number of tests which were
duplicated several times, and in the strength stated gave good satis-
faction, and are, I think, among the best liquid, non-poisonous appli-
cations I have ever used.

Wolf’s soap, in solution of 2 ounces to 1 pint of water, did fairly good
execution, but was not safe at that strength. In most of the tests it
was used 4 ounces to 1 pint of water, at which strength it was sufficient
to destroy all worms. After standing for two or three weeks the jelly
formed by this soap when first dissolved breaks up into liquid, and its
destructive power seems to be enhanced.

On Cabbage Plant-lice.

The Wolf’s soap and the two samples received from the Division were
used on the lice in several strengths, and one-half ounce to 1 pint was
perfectly efficient, destroying all lice immediately. The samples re-
ceived from the Rose Company direct were not used on lice, but their
‘efficiency on rape and brassice would indicate that they would bear
still greater dilution. |

The circular of the Rose Company is, I think, quite misleading where
they state that the essential principle of their soaps is a gum taken
from tobacco in an aériform condition and condensed in a vacuum. The
only destructive principle which I am aware is contained in tobacco is
a liquid alkaloid (never solid) known as nicotine. It is my opinion
that the destructive effect of all these soaps, when used on the bodies
of worms or soft insects, is entirely due to the caustic principle of the
alkalies used. Potash, being the strongest alkali, will, I think, give best
results where used in equal quantity with other alkalies. I proved to
my entire satisfaction that none of these soaps are poisonous when
eaten on the food plant. Of course, insects will not eat them readily.
(A sample of carbolic-acid soap was used in various strengths without
any results whatever.)

SEVERAL REMEDIES IMPORTED FROM LONDON.

These were used only on Cabbage worms. The results were entirely
unsatisfactory.

The whole series of tests were conducted in breeding cages. The
quantities used were double what directions advised, and the tests were
repeated several times: Moore’s compound, in solutions of one-half
ounce to 1 ounce in 1 pint of water: Only two worms killed after several
trials. Fir-tree oil solutions of 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls in 1 pint of water:

47

During repeated tests two worms were killed. Gishurst, in solutions of
1 to 2 ounces in 1 pint of water: This sickened many worms, but only
three were destroyed. Bridgeford’s Antiseptic, used pure, sickened the
worms and destroyed several.

These remedies were entirely worthless. They are of foreign manu-
facture, and are not specially recommended for cabbage worms, but are
advertised as insecticides of great merit; hence my notion of testing
them on cabbage worms.

REPORT ON OHIO INSECTS.
By WILLIAM B. ALWoop, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

COLUMBUS, OHIO, October 21, 1856.
Dear Sir: I forward to-day a few pages of notes on insects observed during the
few months I have been at work.
Yours, very truly,

WM. B. ALWOOD.
Prot@= Ve hlunye

U.S. Entomologist.

THE STRAWBERRY LEAF-BEETLE.
(Paria aterrima.)

This insect began about the middle of August to feed upon the foliage
of the strawberry beds in the University garden. It was first noticed
upon the old beds, but soon spread to the new ones, and has done con-
siderable damage, in some places completely riddling the leaves with
its minute round holes. At the present date (October 12) it is yet
busily at work. :

THE STRAWBERRY ROOT-BORER.
(Graphops pubescens.)

Since the 1st of September the larva of this beetle has been doing
considerable damage to the strawberry beds, attacking both old and
new beds, and in some spots destroying as many as 10 per cent. of the
plants. The grubs are found in numbers varying from two to eight per
plant either in ornear the roots. They work all the way from the crown
to the lower part of the roots, eating in slight channels, which are left
full of chips and castings. The grubs never, so far as I have noticed,
bury themselves deeply in the fleshy part of the root, but prefer to work
along the sides. Frequently a dead plant may be taken up whose roots
show their work plainly, yet none of the larvie are present in it. Ex-
amination of the soil around the plant will, however, reveal the little
fellows. I have observed a great number in position feeding. Up to
date (October 20) no pup have been found.

48

—

49
THE STRAWBERRY CROWN-BORER.
( Tyloderma fragarie.)

This insect has done slight damage to one old bed. I have not in a
single instance observed them in young beds.

THE PLANTAIN CURCULIO.
(.Macrops sp.)

This insect was received from Medina County, the first specimens ar-
riving July 21. With them came several specimens of plantain which
were so thoroughly tunneled by the little grub that they had died.
There were from two to six grubs in a single plant, and they completely
exhausted the fleshy portion of the root. From this lot. received July
21, several adult beetles issued August 7. These were left in the cage
several days, and I think must have deposited eggs on fresh plantain
growing in the cage, as several days later, when examining this cage
preparatory to cleaning it up, I found several young larvie in the fresh
plantain I had put in the cage on receiving first supply. These were
observed closely. They pupated August 25 and issued September 3 to
4. Another lot of specimens was received August 6, placed in a differ-
ent cage, began pupating 16th and issued 25th-to 29th of August. From
the accountof the gentleman sending them they were quite destructive
over a limited area. :

A NEW OAT FLY...

(Oscinis ? sp.)

This insect was discovered while visiting the northern part of Union
County, some 50 miles from Columbus, to investigate another insect
which had appeared in the wheat. (This insect proved to be Meromyza
americana, and was confined to a very limited area, though it took
the plants clean so far as it went.) The date of this visit was June
15, and the farmers had first noticed the attack upon the oats about
June 9. The oat plants were 6 to 8 inches high and where attacked
appeared as though a fire had swept over them just low enough to scorch
the upper blades. Eggs and larve were both present at this time as
described in my letters. The injury was confined to spots of several
rods in dimension, but several fields in the neighboriood were affected.
At my last visit, June 25, I estimated the damage to be about 40 per
cent. in spots affected. A quantity of the plants were brought home
and placed in breeding cage. On June 20 the first imagos, two in
number, issued. From this cage they issued afterwards almost daily
until July 7.

On my second visit I also brought home material in which larvee and
pup were quite abundant, but found no eggs. Flies issued from this
batch in great numbers up to July 12.

17528—No. 13——4

50
THE CABBAGE PLANT-LOUSE.
(Aphis brassice L.)

This insect was quite troublesome this season from about the 1st of
August to lst of September. After the latter date they could only be
found in scattering colonies. During the worst period of attack they
were so plentiful as to nearly ruin many plants.

I mention them more for the purpose of speaking of the insects which
preyed upon them than anything else.

Of these the larvie of the Syrphus flies (two species were reared) were
the most persistent and literally swept the lice off by thousands. It
was very interesting to watch these blind maggots in their work of de-
struction. ‘There were also present the larves of Lady-birds and Lace-
winged flies. These, however, did not do anything like the execution
of the first-named insects. I noticed where lice were very numerous
that a large per cent. became winged, while on other portions of the field
it seemed that a much larger per cent. were apterous.

CABBAGE WORMS.

(Plusia brassice and Pieris rape.)

August 3 a few larve of brassice were noticed in a patch of a
couple of acres of Cabbage where rape were already quite abundant and
doing considerable injury. They were so few that it was hardly thought
possible they could do much harm the present year. On this date the
rape as above stated were already numerous and doing much harm.
A series of experiments was at once begun looking towards their de-
struction. However, many of this brood pupated, and from the 10th to
the 15th of August I never saw the rape butterfly so abundant as they
were over the cabbage beds in the University garden. These deposited
their eggs in great abundance, and after several days disappeared.
Among the first brood of worms (rap@) I had noticed a few larvee af-
fected by Apanteles glomeratus, and also several pupe which had been
stung by Pteromalus puparum. These did not appear to be abundant,
but probably many were not noticed. As this second brood of rape
developed it was hardly possible to find a larve not affected by one of
these parasites. A. glomeratus was most abundant, as it stings the
young larvie, but should one be so fortunate as to escape this insect, P.
puparum was sure to find it. I noticed that the last named always
stings the larva just before it makes the last molt or immediately after
the pupa is formed. So well did these parasites do their work, that
after the large brood of butterflies previously mentioned not an adult
was seen except that now and then a straggling individual would sail
over the field. In all of my experiments in boxes, during which I con-

51
fined a great many worms for days at a time, not a healthy pupa of
rape was formed.

Neither of these parasites nor any other affected the Plusia in the
least. e

About August 20 the Plusias began to appear in greater numbers,
not formidable as yet, but so numerous that I began to collect them in
separate cages for experiment. From this time on until the Jst of
October this insect multiplied at an astonishing rate. About the mid-
dle of September a late bed of cabbage, of perhaps a little more than
one acre, which had almost escaped rape, was found to be literally alive
with these larve, from ten to forty or fifty being found on a single
plant. They destroyed it very rapidly, until the gardener put a man
under my direction to kill them, which was done very successfully.
The moth was not observed to move about at all during daytime, but
was frequently found hidden among the leaves of the plant. When
disturbed it flew rapidly in a zigzag manner and soon alighted.

It deposits its eggs irregularly over the lower side of the leaf, vary-
ing from a few in number to twelve or twenty. This habit makes it a
worse enemy, in my estimation, than rape, as they deposit their eggs
singly, and never in my observations do they happen to get so many
on one plant as brassice does. The latter, from my observations, is
much the more prolific, and is also more hardy.

THE CORN APHIS.
(Aphis maidis.)

The only injury I have ever known to be done by this insect occurred
this year, about 6 miles northeast of this city. A gentleman planted
his corn early in May. The weather was quite favorable, and it came
up promptly and looked well for a few days, and then began to turn
‘yellow and wither away. On examining he found what he rightly
called a ‘‘small louse” in great abundance, and associated with it a
great many small ants. He could not conclude that the louse was the
cause of injury, so laid it to the ants. The injury became so great in a
few days that he concluded to plant the field all over again, which he
did with a two-horse check-row planter. This planting was taken the
same as the first, and the field again planted over. This last planting
was not much injured, and with the remnants of first two plantings
made quite acrop. On the 11th of July, being in the neighborhood,
my attention was called to the field. I still found the Aphis present
in considerable numbers, but the corn was doing fairly well. <A large
number of insects were examined, yet none but apterous forms were
observed. The first field is black-loam bottom-land, extending partly up
on upland, lying beside a creek of considerable size; it is well drained,
and the soil is loose and friable.

52
THE CLOVER-SEED MIDGE.
(Cecidomyia leguminicola.)

Quite serious complaints came to me concerning this insect, princi-
pally from counties lying north of the central portion of the State. It
was not noticed at all in this vicinity, and so far as I know has never
been found here or in the southern part of the State. Last year it was
quite destructive in the same region reported from this year.

Definite facts as to extent of injury were not to be obtained, yet good
farmers reported it as destroying a large part of the crop in their sec-
tions.

THE MAY BEETLE.

(Lachnosterna fusca.)

The larva of this beetle has destroyed a large portion of the sward
on the university campus during the present summer. The attack
began some three years ago and has become worse each year, until this
season a large part of the lawn was left bare and brown, not even the
first growth of bluegrass coming to maturity. From the spots where
attack is most severe the sod can be rolled up in bundles. Clover is
not injured and is consequently spreading spontaneously over the lawn.
Examinations frequently showed as many as a dozen grubs to the square
foot. There were three broods plainly to be noted; the two-year and
one year were the most numerous, there being comparatively few grubs
from eggs laid the past spring.

A large number of examinations showed no case of disease. Grubs
began descending to winter quarters about September 20, but October
20 there are yet quite a number to be found. They were reported at
work in lawns and strawberry gardens from many localities around the
city, but were nowhere so numerous as here.

PTEROMALUS PUPARUM AND APANTELES GLOMERATUS.

A few observations on these two parasites may be of interest. Many
specimens of each were bred. P. puparum issued on an average in fif-
teen days from date of ovipositing. From one pupa of the Cabbage
Worm I bred fifty-two flies and from another one hundred and eleven.
These last issued in just sixteen days from the time the females ovi-
posited. This I considered a remarkable number to issue from one
pupa, but of the fact there is not the possibility of a doubt. I observed
three of the females ovipositing in one larva on the afternoon of August
24. These I watched for some time, intending to take the larva when
they had done with it, but as they were still at work late in the after-
noon I marked the spot and visited it the next morning to find a pupa
formed. From this issued the flies, as noted above. In two instances

— Se

53

where I disturbed females the flies hatched ea and twelve in number,
respectively, and were all females.

I was not able to take the females of A. glomeratus in the act of ovi
positing, as they seem very sly. Several times I thought I caught them
in the act, but was not sure. After pupating they were eight to ten
days before issuing. They issued from twenty to possibly fifty in num-
ber, although I was never positive of breeding more than thirty-eight
from one specimen.

This parasite did much more good than P. puparum, as it seemed to
get the first chance. :

APANTELES CONGREGATUS.

This insect was very destructive to the Sphingid larve on tomatoes.
There were no less than four species of these worms, of which Macro-
sila quinque-maculata was most abundant. All were attacked, scarcely
any escaping. I took one hundred and eighty cocoons from the body
of one worm. .

A RECORD OF SOME EXPERIMENTS RELATING TO THE
EFFECT OF THE PUNCTURE OF SOME HEMIPTEROUS IN-
SECTS UPON SHRUBS, FRUITS, AND GRAINS, 1886.

By F. M. WEBSTER, Special Agent.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL,

La FAYETTE, IND., October 15, 1886.
Sir: I herewith give results of my experiments with Hemiptera, principally Lygqus
pratensis L.
F. M. WEBSTER,
Prot. (©. Vie REGEN

U.S. Entomologist.

The object of the following experiments was to determine the effect
of the punctures, or the withdrawing of sap from shrubs, the juices
from berries, and the milk from ripening grain; and if possible to settle
the point as to whether or not these Hemiptera, in thus partaking of
their food, eject a poisonous saliva into the wounds which they neces-
sarily produce, and thereby canse the death of the punctured object.

All insects were confined upon these shrubs, fruits, and grains by
means of a sack of Swiss muslin, drawn over the object and tied, the
stem being protected from undue pressure by cotton placed in the
mouth of the sack.

EXPERIMENT 1,
Pecilocapsus quadrivitiatus.

May 22, a number of adults were confined upon two or three inches
of terminal portions of a young pear shoot.

Result.—Within one week the shoot withered, and afterwards the
leaves and buds died, and turned black as far ibaa as the muslin sack
extended, but below that point no effect was noticeable. Later, after
the insects had also perished, new leaves were put forth within the sack.

EXPERIMENT 2.
Lygus pratensis L.
May 20, placed adults on shoots of Concord grape.

Result.—May 28, no effect could be noticed.
54

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7
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;
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)
:

fees

55
EXPERIMENT 3.
Lygus pratensis L.

May 25, confined adults on young shoots of Gooseberry.
Result.—May 30, no effect perceptible.

EXPERIMENT 4,
Lygus pratensis L.

Tried same experiment as No. 3, leaving adults on shoots for twenty
days.
Results—Same as in the preceding. Insects all dead.

EXPERIMENT 5.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 25, placed twelve aduits on young shoots of Pear.

Result.—July 10, both the insects and that portion of the shoot
upon which they were confined were dead. The plant withered and
turned black, as in Experiment No. 2, but in this case died.

EXPERIMENT 6.
Lygus pratensis Lh.

May 21, placed a number of larvie on a Charles Downing strawberry
which was just turning to the white color which precedes the final red
or ripe color.

Result.—May 28, berry fully ripe and uninjured. Not “ buttoned.”
Several larvee dead, and one advanced to pupa.

Py

EXPERIMENT 7.
Tygus pratensis L.

May 25, placed ten pupe on nearly full-grown Crescent strawberries,
Results—May 31, berries no larger than when insects were placed on
them, but are withered and prematurely ripe. No indication of ‘ but-
toning.” Some of pup dead; others now grown to adults, alive and
active.
EXPERIMENT 8.

Lygus pratensis L.

May 26, placed Jarve on a half-grown Sharpless strawberry.

Result.—June 7, berry not more than half as large as when insects
were placed upon it; withered and black. Five of the larve now pupe
and still alive.

56
EXPERIMENT 9.

Lygus pratensis L.

May 29, placed twelve larvie and pup on three Crescent berries,
varying from less than one-fourth to about one-third grown.

Result.—June 6, all three berries withered up, black, and dead. In
one case only was there any indication that, had the berry continued to
grow rapidly, a buttoned berry might have been formed. <A few in-
sects alive and either in pupal or adult stage.

EXPERIMENT 10.
Lygus pratensis L.

May 31, placed twelve larvie on cluster of three Crescents, respect-
ively one-fourth, one-third, and one-half grown.
Result.—June 7, cluster killed.

EXPERIMENT 11.
Lygus pratensis L.

May 31, placed four larvie on a one-third grown Crescent.
Result—June 6, killed also.

EXPERIMENT 12.
Lygus pratensis L.

May 351, placed fourteen larvie on a one-third grown Crescent.
Result.—J une 4, killed.

EXPERIMENT 13.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 1, placed ten larvee and pup on a one-third grown Downing.
Result.—June 5, withered and drying up.

EXPERIMENT 14.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 1, placed nine pups on a rather more than half-grown Kentucky.

Result.—June 11, this berry made some growth after insects were
confined upon it, and exhibits a tendency to “ button,” which, however,
might or might not be due to the attack of the bugs. At this date the
insects were all dead, although several had reached the adult stage.

EXPERIMENT 15.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 1, placed seventeen pup ov a nearly full-grown Kentucky.
Result.—June 5, dried up.

57
EXPERIMENT 16.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 1, placed six pup on a less than half-grown Kentucky.
Result.—June 7, killed.

EXPERIMENT 17.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 1, placed six pup on Kentucky of about the same size as the
preceding.
Result.—June 7, seriously withered.

EXPERIMENT 18.
Lyqus pratensis L.

June 5, placed five pupe on a one-fourth grown Jersey Queen.

Result.—June 21, berry seriously injured by being dwarfed, and it
appeared to wither instead of ripen, although the plant was frequently
watered. No indication of ‘“‘ buttoning.” Insects dead, but they had
lived to reach the adult stage.

EXPERIMENT 19.
Lygus pratensis L.

June 5, placed four pup on Jersey Queen as near as possible like
the one used in Experiment 18.

Result.—June 21, berry attained nearly full growth, not deformed,
except by a few slight depressions in surface which could not be said
to indicate buttoning. Does not look as fresh and healthy as those
not under experiment. Bugs dead, but as adults.

EXPERIMENT 20.
Tygus pratensis UL.

June 5, placed three pup on Jersey Queen of same size as the pre-
ceding.

Result—June 14, berry smooth, ripened in normal condition, and
seems uninjured, The insect escaped from this after being confined
upon it for about one week.

EXPERIMENT 21.

LTygus pratensis L.

June 5, four larve had, for several days previous, been clustered
upon a Jersey Queen about the size of those used in the three preced-
ing experiments. These bugs are now confined upon the berry.

58

Result.—June 21, being ripened in perfect condition, so far as form
and freshness are concerned. Was a very little smaller than No. 20.
Insects all dead, except one, which was in last larval stage.

Nore.—During June, 1885, three larve, to all appearances of the
same species as the preceding, took up their abode on a full-grown
Crescent and remained there, voluntarily, until the latter was fully
ripe, the young bugs being observed to feed upon the juices. No in-
jury to the berry was in any way apparent.

EXPERIMENT 22.
Calocoris rapidus Say.

June 8, confined four adults on as many heads of Fall Wheat, piacing
two insects together upon each two heads of grain, and covering as with

the berries.
Result.—June 24, kernels as plump as those ripening freely in the
fields. The insects died some time between the 16th and 24th.

9

EXPERIMENT 23.
Huschistus fissilis Uhl.

June 8, placed same number of aduits upon same number of heads of
wheat and in same manner as in Experiment 22.

Result.—June 24, a few kernels badly shrunken, but these do not
amount to over 6 per cent. Bugs now dead, but were alive up to the

20th.
EXPERIMENT 24.

Lygus pratensis L.

June 8, placed four adults as in the preceding experiment.

Result.—June 24, kernels do not differ from those grown elsewhere in
the field. One set of insects died on or about the 12th, the others
between 16th and 20th.

EXPERIMENT 25.
Siphonophora avene Fab.

June 8, placed a number of adult females on heads of wheat as ip the

preceding.
Result—June 24, kernels shriveled, discolored, and nearly worthless.

in cade eine > are ening hd eeninngns empl ager csi

re Be of

NOTES FROM MISSOURI FOR THE SEASON OF 1886.
By Mary E. MurRTFELDT, Special Agent.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

KIRKWOOD, Mo., December 1, 1886.
Sir: I submit herewith the more important of my notes on the injurious insects of

this locality, for 1886.
MARY E. MURTFELDT.
Profe@. V. RILEY,

U. S. Entomologist.

Climatically the past season was characterized by excess of moisture
during May and June, followed by unusual drought and heat through-
out July and August. That these extremes had a certain effect on the
development of insect life is not to be questioned, and, in a general
way, may be attributed to them the unusual numbers of all sorts of leaf-
feeding and sap-sucking species early in the season, and a correspond-
ing dearth of Lepidoptera and some families of Coleoptera later in the
year. So great was the scarcity of nocturnal Lepidoptera in August
and early September that one might sit evening after evening in a
brightly-lighted room with open windows and not a single moth would
appear.

Tenthredinid larve were especially conspicuous during May and June.
These included not only such familiar pests as the Rose, the Raspberry,
and the Cherry slugs, the Birch and Willow False caterpillars, but sev-
eral species on Ash, Oak, Elder, White-fringe, &c., which I have not
yet reared to the perfect state. A peculiar and interesting species, de-
termined by Professor Riley from the larve as Lyda cerasi, appeared
in large numbers, in July, on Wild Cherry. This is a gregarious web-
worm, and its colonies covered quite large branches with their brown,
viscid webs, in which were mingled the castings and exuvie, forming,
altogether unsightly and disgusting masses, which greatly disfig ure
the trees.

Another species of somewhat unique habit bores the new shoots of
Roses, and for the past two years has proved quite injurious, especially
to Hybrids and Teas. Its effects may be seen, late in June and early
in July, in the blackened stems and withered leaves of the second
growth, and the consequent destruction or prevention of the midsum-
mer blooming. The larva is one-third of an inch in length, when ful]
grown, by about one-twelfth inch in diameter, nearly equal throughout,
except that it tapers abruptly toward the head. Color cream white,

59

60

immaculate. Surface finely wrinkled transversely, but without pilifer-
ous warts or pubescence. Head small, round, amber-yellow with dark-
brown, triangular or V-shaped spot on each side. Anal plate orbicular,
slate-gray. Thoracic legs same color as general surface; prolegs im-
perfectly developed. It bores from the tips of the shoots downward
for an inch and a half or two inches, devouring everything but the
cuticle and packing the frass at the upper end. When full grown it
makes its exit through a round hole which it cuts at the lower end of
its burrow, and, entering the earth, incloses itself in a tough, silken
cocoon, in which it remains dormant until the following spring. The
single fly which I have thus far succeeded in rearing issued in May, and
is of the same size and very similar in appearance to the common Rose
Slug fly (Selandria rose). Professor Riley says of it that “it appears
to belong to the genus Ardis of the Sclandriida.”

Climbing Cutworms were a prominent feature of the entomological
developments of the spring. These attacked the Oaks, Elms, and other
shade trees, as well as Apple, Pear, and Cherry trees and a variety of
vines and shrubs. Among the species detected in their work of de-
struction were Agrotis saucia, A. scandens, A. alternuta and Homohadena
badistriga. The grass under shade and fruit trees would often in the
morning be thickly strewn with leaves and buds that had been severed
during the night. This was especially noticeable under the various
Oaks and Sweet Cherries. On a large, isolated specimen of the latter,
up which a Trumpet vine had climbed, I took early in May a great
number of the larvee of Agrotis alternata. These mottled gray worms
were found during the day extended longitudinally on the trunk, closely
appressed to the stems of the Trumpet vine, where, protected by their
imitative coloring, it would be impossible for an unpracticed eye to de-
tect them and where even birds failed to find them. When ready to
transform they descended to the earth and inclosed themselves in an
ample, tough, dingy-white cocoon, under any slight protection that
might be convenient. I also took this species from crevices of oak-
bark and oceasionally found one feeding in a rose.

Canker Worm (Anisopteryx vernata, Peck).—Not for several years has
this pest appeared in such numbers in the orchards of this locality
as during the past spring. Nor did the apple trees seem to recover
from the excessive defoliation during the remainder of the season. The
worms were especially numerous on trees around which the soil had
not been stirred for a year or more.

I noted this year a habit of this insect that has not, to my knowl-
edge, been previously recorded, viz, that the worms, with great regu-
larity, desert the leaves during the middle of the day and hide in the
forks of the branches and on the trunk in crevices and under loose
scales of the bark. As I did not at once discover this propensity in
these larvie, it puzzled me for some time to account for their scarceness

el

61

about noon, whereas in the mornings and evenings the foliage would
be crowded with them. Happening one day, while standing under an
apple tree, to detach a loose scale of the bark I was surprised to find
more than a dozen of the worms on the under side stretched out side
by side in a close cluster. An examination of the bark revealed the
fact that almost every scale harbored a larger or smaller company of
the worms. Nor was there any evidence of their having sought these
retreats merely for the purpose of molting, as they were of all sizes and
ages, and besides an examination a few hours later disclosed them rap-
idly looping themselves up into the tree, as though in haste to begin
their nightly banquet. Observation for several successive days estab-
lished the fact of their babitual desertion of the foliage during the hot-
test hours of the day and of their return to if as evening approached.
As the infested trees had not been smoothed for sone time, and the
trunks were rather ‘‘ shaggy,” advantage was taken of this discovery to
have them cleaned about noonday and thousands of the sluggish worms
were thus scraped off with the scales of bark and burned.

The Codling Moth was more than usually destructive to the apple
crop throughout the West, destroying in many localities fully 75 per
cent. of the fruit, and in not one orchard in a hundred were any meas-
ures taken to destroy the pest or prevent its spread.

The Broad-necked Root-borer (Prionus laticollis, Drury) proved con-
siderably destructive to young nursery stock in some parts of the State.
In some sections of young apple trees sent me it was found to have
worked up into the trunk for a distance of 4 or 5 inches.

Leaf-hoppers of various kinds were noticeably abundant during mid-
summer. Of these, two species of Fulgorids, Flata conica, Say, and
Poeciloptera pruinosa, Say, attracted much attention on shrubs and
herbaceous plants, some of which were seriously injured by them.

The former species I observed chiefly on Osage Orange and Lilac.
The larvie are scarcely distinguishable from those of P. pruinosa, being
of the same bug-like form and greenish-white color and thickly cov-
ered and surrounded by the white-tufted, sweetish secretion peculiar to
the group. The pupe of the two species differ widely, that of pruinosa
retaining the pale color and flattened form of the larvaand continuing
to cover itself with the fibrous exudation. The pup of F. conica, on the
_ contrary, assume an angular, humped, somewhat beech-nut-like form, a
grayish-brown color, and a more horny texture, while the white secretion
is limited to two feathery tufts at the tail. The perfect insect of this
species is a deep yellow-green, and with its broad moth like wings and
crimson eyes it is a beautiful object. It is always gregartfous, but es-
pecially so in its perfect state, and I have often seen shoots of the
Osage Orange crowded with this insect ranged in close ranks for a dis-
tance of 18 inches or 2 feet and presenting a most unique and not unat-
tractive appearance. The pruinosa species is somewhat smaller and is

62

also pretty in its powdery suit of pearl-gray and white. It attacks

almost all kinds of vegetation; but was found last summer to be espe-
cially destructive to the foliage and stalks of the Dahlia in one garden
in Kirkwood, injuring the plants beyond recovery. <As it inhabits the
under side of the leaves, for the most part, and its punctures cause
these to curl somewhat, it is difficult to reach it with insecticides, but
applications of air-slacked lime and spraying with an infusion of Pyre-
thrum will kill or dislodge it.

Halticus pallicornis is becoming every year more of a pest in this lo-
cality on Clover and many kinds of garden plants. Its punctures cause
the leaves to turn yellow and present an appearance similar to those
infested by Red Spider.

The Flea-like Negro-bug (Corimelena pulicaria) also this year attacked
Composite and Hollyhocks with great virulence.

Acoloithus falsarius—a congener of the well-known Procris ameri-
cana—appeared on all varieties of the Grape in July in such numbers
as to merit some attention from the economic entomologist. The larvee
are not found in companies feeding in regular ranks, as is the habit
of P. americana, although several are often seen on the same leaf.
This species feeds exclusively on the upper surface, gnawing off the
parenchyma in irregular patches. The handsome little larva, when full
grown, is about three eighths of an inch in length by rather more than
one-eighth inch in diameter. The form is depressed, almost reetan-
gular. The surface is velvety and prettily checkered in dull orange or
fulvous, yellow, and two or three shades of purple. Medio-dorsal line
fine, interrupted, dark purple, on each side of which is a broad stripe
of orange outlined in pale yellow, the dark color being most intense in
the center of each square, where, under the lens, is situated a little
tuft of silky hairs. The lateral stripe is similar, but contains a larger
proportion of purple. A purple band extends transversely across the
fourth and ninth segments. The depth of this coloring is quite variable,
some larvee being very much paler and less distinctly variegated than
others. The under surface and legs are translucent, velvety, white,
with a tinge of green. Head very small, brown and retracted under
the projecting edge of first segment. It incloses itself when ready to
change in a fold of a leaf or between two leaves in a flat flesh-tinted
silken cocoon covered externally with lime-like granulations. The moth
escapes in about two weeks and is dull black with orange collar like P.
americana, but itis considerably smaller than the latter. A slight dust-
ing with Pyrethrum powder caused the larvie to drop from the leaves,
and this will probably prove one of the best remedies where this insect
has become unduly abundant.

The Saddle-back Caterpillar (Lmpretia stimulea) is known to feed on a
variety of trees and other plants, but I have seen no record of its oc-
currence on Soft Maple.

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4

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63

Late in August of the present year I found quite a colony, probably
ten or twelve, on a single leaf of the above-mentioned tree. They had
but recently hatched, but tiny as they were—not more than an eighth
of an inch in leugth—they had all the tubercles and other character-
istics of the mature larva, except that the saddle-cloth-like spot was
deep yellow instead of green and the central dorsal spot pinkish-gray.
They had perforated the leaf with small irregular holes. Not thinking
that they would readily loosen their hold on the leaf, I carried it care-
lessly in my hand, and when I reached the house was much disappointed
to find that but two larvee remained on it. As these thrived and per-
fected their development to the point of inclosing themselves in cocoons,
it is evident that Maple may be included in the list of their food-plants.

The Cottony Maple Scale (Pulvinaria innumerabilis). This insect has
not been troublesome in this part of Missouri since 1884; but in and
around Rockford, Ill., [ learned that it had been so abundant on the
Soft Maples for three successive seasons as to kill many young trees
outright and greatly injure the older ones. I was told that the side-
walks shaded by these trees became so defiled and slippery from the
exudations of the scale insect that it was difficult and unpleasant to
walk on them. The citizens had consequently conceived a prejudice
against the Soft Maple, and many were being cut down or dug up and
replaced by other trees.

A new Leaf-bug on Maple (Lygus monachus Uhiler, n. sp.).*—This bug
came under my notice for the first time late in the spring of 1882 in-
festing the growing points of young Soft Maples (Acer dasycarpum).
Most of the insects were at that time mature, but two or three pup
were found, enough to indicate that the leaves of the maple had been
their breeding place. A few specimens were taken, but, as the insect
was not present in sufficient numbers to give it importance as an injuri-
ous species, not much attention was paid toit. During several succeed-
ing springs I occasionally came across a mature specimen—which, from
its exceeding agility, both in running and flying, generally evaded capt-

*Mr. Uhler has given us the following description of this new Lygiwid:

LYGUS MONACHUS n. sp.—Long-oval, pale green or testaceous, coarsely punctate
above, sericeous pubescent. Face convex, highly polished, bald; base of vertex with
a longitudinal impressed line, towards which a similar line runs obliquely each side
from the inner corner of the eyes; antenne sparsely and minutely pubescent, basal
joint thickest, a little longer than the head, tapering at base, second joint thrice as
long as the basal, infusecated and a little enlarged towards the tip, third and fourth
setaceous, together not as long as the second. Pronotum highly polished, convex,
coarsely punctate in transverse wavy lines, each side with a dark brown vitta, or
long spot; lateral margin smooth, callous at base, the humeral ang!es subacute, cal-
losities prominent, convex, almost confluent on the middle; lateral flap of pronotum
irregularly punctate. Pectoral pieces pale, impunctate. Legs pale green, feebly
pubescent; apex of posterior femur usually with one or two fuscous bands, tip of
tarsi and the nails black. Secutellum moderately convex, excavated at base, trans-
versely obsolete-punctate, more or less infuscated, Corium coarsely, transversely
rostrate-punctate, the clavers more or less infuscated, sometimes with all but the

64

ure—but it was not until the present season that the maples were in-
fested to such an extent as to injure and disfigure them.

Just as the leaves were beginning to put forth, close observation re-
vealed the fact that they were all more or less stippled with transparent
spots, some mere dots, others a tenth of an inch or more in diameter,
As the leaves expanded the delicate cuticle of the upper surface would
give way and they presented the appearance of being perforated with
holes and much torn and tattered along the margin, marring their
beauty for the entire season. If, about the 1st of May, the leaves were
carefully examined, there would be found on the under surface of each
{rom two or three to a dozen or nore very delicate bugs of a very pale
translucent green color, the embryo wing-pads being almost white.
They were further characterized by very long and slender legs, beak
and antennie, body flat and broad oval in outline ; head small, eyes rel-
atively large, oblong and bright red-brown in color. The larva varied
in size from one-twentieth to one-eighth inch in length, and so far as I
could discover there were but two larval molts. Seattered about over
the leaves were small, round, translucent green eggs rather larger than
a Portulaca seed. The pupal form was precisely like the larval, except
in point of size and relative development of the wing-pads. When the
under side of a leaf was turned up for examination the bugs, large and
small, would dart, on their hair like legs, to the reversed surface, mov-
ing with the greatest rapidity and sometimes dropping to the ground
in their evident desire to escape observation. The final transformation
occurred about the middle of May, after which the companies dispersed.
The species is a pretty one, although, from the glassy texture of the en-
tire hemelytra and the general delicacy of coloring, it always has a
somewhat immature appearance.

This bug happily lacks the disagreeable odor so common to the species
of this suborder and which pertains even to most of its closest allies.

Absence from Kirkwood after the middle of May somewhat inter-
rupted my observations on this insect. On my return, early in June,

margins covered with dark brown; corium usually with a transverse, dark-brown
are next the posterior border; cuneus long and wide, the incised base fuscous, and the
inner margin brown; membrane pale testaceous, with two or more dark clouded spots ,
the inner submargin of the principal areole, a spot at its tip and the base next the
cuneus all more or less fuscous. Venter pale greenish.

Length of body, female, 5™™; to tip of wing covers, 7™™; width.of pronotum, 2™™,

Male, length of body, 4™™; to tip of wing covers, 54™™; width of pronotum, 13™™,

This has proved to be a very common insect in various localities.

Mr. Cassino collected numerous specimens around Peabody, Mass. Mr. Bolter sent
to me a pair from Illinois and Missouri; and I have taken it from Alders, Maples, and
many other kinds of small trees and shrubs on Cape Ann, Mass., also near the base of
the White Mountains, and in New Hampshire, and near Quebec, Canada.

Mr. Forbes has also forwarded to me specimens from near Normal, Ill.

It resembles Lygus invitus Say, and presents several of the color varieties common to
that species; but it isa much larger insect, of a longer figure, and has a more flattened
upper surface.—P. R. UHLER.

65

only a few of the mature bugs remained among the curled and torn
leaves on which they had developed. Occasionally throughout the sum-
mer a specimen would be met with, as often on the foliage of any other
tree as on maple, but there was no second brood. This species, unlike
Capsus oblineatus, is never to my knowledge found on flowers. It prob-
ably secretes itself early in the season and becomes dormant until the
tollowing spring.

The only remedial applications experimented with were Pyrethrum
powder and air-slacked lime, both of which were measurably effective,
judging by the small scale on which they were tried.

17528—No. 13 —5

APICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.
By NELSON W. McLAIN, Special Agent.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

The following article is extracted from Mr. McLain’s annual report for 1886, the
major part of which is published in the Annual Report of the Department for that
year.

C. V. R.
PREPARING BEES FOR WINTER.

Bees instinctively begin to make preparations for winter somewhat
earlier in the season than is commonly supposed. In preparing for
winter, as in all other matters relating to bee-keeping, the apiarist should
see to it that the method of management is as nearly as possible in
agreement with the instinct and habits of the bee. When bees build
their combs after their own design, as in box hives, spaces are left be-
tween wide enough to admit of elongating the cells in order that a large
share of the winter stores may be placed in the top of the hive, easily
accessible in the severest weather. I find it gcod practice to widen the
spaces between the comb-frames near the close of the honey-gathering
season, in order that the bees may, by elongating the cells, place a large
share of the winter store above the cluster.

As soon as the storing of surplus honey is done the condition of every
colony should be examined, the amount and character of the winter
food ascertained, the number of comb-frames, and the size of the apart-
ment should be determined by and adapted to the wants of each colony.
After the supply of winter stores has been equalized among all the colo-
nies, if the supply is insufficient, feeding should be done before the
advent of cold nights.

Bees expected to perform the function of hibernation should not be
too old nor yet too young. Both queen and worker bees should be in
full physical vigor. The bees constituting the colony, when placed in
winter quarters, should be such as are hatched after the midsummer
working season is past, and before the bees cease flying freely in the
fall.

Towards the close of the working season the workers instinctively
cease stimulating the queen for oviproduction ; gradually the bees cease
flying, and the cluster is formed for winter. After the cluster is formed
the colony should remain undisturbed. If the bees are to be packed on
the summer stand the work should be done with care, and without dis-

66

67

turbing the bees, and before the temperature at night reaches the freez-
ing point. If the bees are to be placed inadamp or incellar or winter
repository, great care should be taken not to disturb the cluster when
the hives are removed from the summer stand. I have found woolen
quilts or woolen blankets the best covering for winter. Wool, better
than any other material which I have tried, prevents the radiation of
heat, and permits the escape of moisture, thus securing warmth and dry-
ness. Hives should be placed 18 inches above the bottom of the cellar
or winter repository, and in tiering them up one above another it ig
better that they rest on a rack prepared for the hive rather than one
upon another.

My repurt for 1885 covers the period from June 1 to November 25,
when the severity of the weather forbade further out-of-door experi-
ments. As nearly all the colonies in the apiary had been subjected to
very frequent, almost daily, disturbance and annoyance incidental to
the experimental purposes for which they had been used, they were,
aimost without exception, in very poor condition for passing into winter
quarters. November 25 I packed twenty colonies for out-door winter-
ing. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, and the altogether
unsatisfactory condition of the bees when packed, eighteen of the colo-
nies wintered fairly well. These twenty colonies were provided with
dry sawdust packing 8 inches thick on the sides, and covered with a
quilt and dry forest leaves to the depth of 8 inches on top of the frames.
A rim 2 inches wide is placed under the body box of the hive, making
a 2-inch space under the bottom bar of the comb-frames. A covered
tunnel leads from the hive entrance through the packing. This pack-
ing is left on the hive until warm weather is assured, thus guarding
against danger from chilling of the brood when building up the colo-
nies rapidly in early spring. The hive should incline from back to front
permitting the moisture to flow out at the entrance.

I placed ten colonies in the cellar from which the hive-covers were
removed and the frames covered with woolen and cotton quilts. These
were used for observation and experiment during the winter. Eight of
the ten came through the winter alive, but being subjected to a wider
range of temperature, and being very frequently annoyed and disturbed,
their vitality was very low, and the old bees, of which most of these
colonies were composed fell easy victims to spring dwindling.

HIBERNATION.

For the purpose of determining the degree of temperature in a dry
cellar necessary to secure the minimum of functional activity within the
hive during the period of hibernation, I framed comb-frames across each
other at right angles, and into these frames I fitted and fastened combs
filled with choice sealed honey. These were suspended in hives having
glass sides and top, exposing the cluster to view from ali sides and from
the top. Removable wooden doors covered the glass.

68

My observations covered a period of ninety days from December 1,
1885, and included a range of temperature from zero to 65° F. The
hives were placed in a dark apartment, and an oil stove with a radiator
was used for heating. Different degrees of temperature were maintained
for several consecutive hours, and, as occasion required, for consecutive
days, and careful observations were taken.

At a range of temperature from 48° to 52° F., according to the humid-
ity of the atmosphere in the cellar, bees, according to a rule of nature,
enter into the hibernating state. After repeated trials over a wide
range of temperature, at 41° I’. I found the shape of the cluster most
permanent. While that degree of temperature was maintained, little
change in the shape or location of the clusters could be seen, and fune-
tional activity on the part of individual bees, and of the whole colony
as well, seemed to have reached the minimum degree of manifestation,
even respiration seemed to be suspended. The change in the form of
the cluster was determined by outline drawings on paper. The colonies
presented substantially the same outline for days together when a uni-
form temperature of 41° was maintained. I placed some colonies in a
darkened building late in the fall of the year, and when the temperature
was 40° F. natural heat on a dry day above ground, the same phenom-
ena were observed.

The temperature of the cellar was lowered by admitting the air through
an outer room, so that no perceptible currents entered the apartment
where the bees were kept. The degree of unrest and activity increased
in proportion as the temperature neared the zero point. Thirty-seven
degrees F’. in a very dry cellar is a danger point, the danger increasing
in proportion as the temperature is lowered or the humidity of the at-
mosphere is increased.

The degree of activity shown by bees when the temperature in the
repository or cellar is 44° F. is not much greater than at 419°, all other
conditions being the same.

At intervals of about one week the bees arouse to activity, the form
of the cluster changes, and after three or four hours of cheerful and
contented humming, having in the mean time appeased their hunger, the
cluster is reformed into a compact body, the humming ceases, respira-
tion becomes slow, profound silence reigns in the hive until change of
temperature or the demands of hunger rouse the bees from the coma
in which they have been bound. The more perfect the conditions for
hibernation the longer the periods of inactivity.

As the activity of bees is not much greater when the temperature
in the cellar or repository is steadily maintained at 44 degrees than it
is at 41 degrees, and as 41 degrees is too near the danger point, I find
it safer to keep the temperature in dry winter repositories, whether
above or below ground, at 44° F., and I find it better that the variation
from the standard degree of 41° F. should be in proportion of 2 degrees
above rather than 1 degree below. If the repository be damp a degree

69

of temperature higher in proportion to the dampness should be main-
tained. The hive should incline from back to front, and the entrance
should be lett wide open.

It has been the practice of many to raise the temperature in winter
repositories in order to stimulate breeding toward the close of the hi-
bernating period. I have tried this, and in my experience I find it better
to maintain as neatly as possible an even temperature until the bees
may be safely placed on the summer stands. What is gained in early
breeding is more than lost in the waste of vitality on the part of the
older bees. In the case of bees wintered on the summer stands or ina
clamp, the packing of dry forest leaves, chaff, or sawdust placed above
the quilt should be closely packed about the edges, and should be from
7 to 12 inches in thickness. Indeed it would be difficult to get the
packing above the cluster too deep, provided the ventilation above the
packing is sufficient to carry off moisture.

SPRING DWINDLING.

For preventing spring dwindling, and building up colonies to maxi-
mum strength and efficiency at the beginning of the working season—
for success in honey-producing largely depends on having strong colo-
nies ready for work at the very time when efficient work may be done—
I prepared a bee-food containing the elements essential in brood-rear-
ing. This food is prepared after the following formula:

To 10 pounds of sugar I add half a pint of dairy salt, 2 tablespoonfuls
bicarbonate of soda, 2 tablespoonfuls rye flour, 2 tablespoonfuls finely
powdered bone-ash, and 1 tablespoonful cream tartar. Mix thoroughly,
then add 2 quarts hot water, and stir until thoroughly dissolved, and
let the mixture boil, but only 2 or 3 minutes. I feed this food in the
hive as honey or sirup is usually fed, thereby keeping all the bees at
home to aid in keeping up the temperature in the hive, thus reserving
their vitality for performing the functions of brood-rearing, instead of
speedily wearing out their remaining strength in roaming the fields in
search of the elements essential to larval growth.

The bone ash is prepared by burning dry bones to a white ash, which
I pulverize and sift through a sieve made from fine wire strainer cloth.
As this food is not intended for use until after the bees have had a good
flight in the spring, almost any grade of sugar or dark low-grade honey
may be supplied for brood-rearing.

The rapidity with which a colony consisting of a mere handful of bees
may be built up to full strength and working efficiency by using this
preparation is surprising. Only as much as is needed for immediate
consumption should be frequently supplied, and it should be fed only
to prevent spring dwindling, or when it is desirable to quickly increase
the numerical strength of the colony in anticipation of a honey harvest,
or to recruit the vigor and strength of the colony by rearing young bees
after the working season, and prior to going into winter quarters.

70
BEES VS. FRUIT.

I have, according to your instructions, repeated my experiments of
last year for testing the capacity of bees, under exceptional circum-
stances, to injure fruit; adding such other tests and observations as
the very severe and protracted drought permitted. The house used last
season, 10 feet by 16 feet in size, having sides partly covered with wire
cloth and large screen doors in each end, was used again this year.
Two colonies of Italian bees, two of hybrids, one of Caucasians, and
two of Syrians were confined in this house.

These colonies were without food in their hives and at intervals of
three or four days were fed a little sirup for the purpose of keeping up
their vigor and to prevent dying from starvation. A wood-stove was
placed in the house and a high temperature was maintained for a num-
ber of hours each day.

The conditions incident to an unusually severe and protracted drought
were present within and without. The bees were repeatedly brought to
the stages of hunger, thirst, and starvation, the test continuing for 40
days.

Through the favor of Mr. T. T. Lyon, president of the Michigan State
Horticultural Society, I obtained thirteen varieties of choice grapes
from A. G. Gulley, of South Haven. Every inducement and oppor-
tunity was afforded the bees to appease their hunger and thirst by
attacking the fruit which was placed before them. Some of the bunches
of grapes were dipped in sirup and hung in the hives between the
the combs, some placed before the hives on plates, and grapes were
suspended in clusters from the posts and rafters. The bees lapped and
sucked all the sirup from the skins, leaving the berries smooth.

They daily visited the grapes in great numbers and took advantage of
every crack in the epidermis or opening at the stem, appropriating to
their use every drop of juice exuding therefrom, but: they made no at-
tempt to grasp the cuticle with their mandibles or claws. I removed the
epidermis carefully from dozens of grapes of various kinds and placed
them on plates before the hives. The bees lapped up all the juice on the
outside of the film surrounding the segments of the grape, leaving this
delicate film dry and shining, but through and beyond this film they
were not able to penetrate. I punctured the skins of grapes of all
kinds by passing needles of various sizes through the grape and placed
these before the bees. The needles used were in size from a fine cam-
bric needle to a packing needle. The amount of juice appropriated
was in proportion to the size of the opening in the skins and the num-
ber of segments of the grape broken. The same was true in the case
of grapes burst from over-ripeness. Bees are not only unable to pene-
trate the epidermis of the grape, but they also appear to be unable,
even when impelled by the direst necessity, to penetrate the film sur-

Noten! eae

? + MSE STS tee Sh hee wo

71

rounding the berry even after the epidermis is removed. Grapes so
prepared without exception laid before the hives until dried up. If
but one segment of a grape be broken by violence or by over-ripeness,
the bees are unable to reach the juice beyond the film separating the
broken from the unbroken segments until further violence or decay
permits an entrance for the tongue. Clusters of sound grapes which I
hung between the comb frames in hives occupied by strong colonies
were unbroken and sound after fifteen days’ exposure in the hives.
The skins were polished smooth, but none were broken. I also stopped
up the entrance to several hives—containing good-sized colonies—in
the apiary and in the wire-covered house, by pushing sound grapes into
the opening, so close together that the bees could not pass through.
By this means the bees were confined to the hives for days in succes-
sion, not being able to break down and remove the grapes, and
although the skins of the grapes next the inside of the hive were pol-
ished smooth none were broken or injured.

The past season furnished an excellent opportunity to observe the
capacity of bees, under so exceptional circumstances, to injure fruit, for
the drought was very exceptional both in duration and severity, and I
was called to several places by fruit-growers to witness the proof that
bees were “ tearing open the skins of the grapes ” and otherwise behav-
ing in a manner altogether unworthy of an insect enjoying a wide rep-
utation for virtue and orderly living. Im each instance I succeeded in
convincing the fruit-grower that the bees were simply performing the
office of gleaners; that violence from other sources, or over-ripeness
and decay had preceded the bees, and that he would be acting the part
of wisdom in following the example of the bees in gathering the grapes
before further violence, or the action of the elements, rendered them
worthless.

After grapes have been subjected to such violence, or have so far
burst open and decayed as to make it possible for bees to injure them,
and the circumstances are so exceptional as to lead the bees to seek
such food, unless they are speedly gathered they would soon become
worthless if unmolested. During the past season I made many visits
to vineyards, one located near the apiary I visited every day, and my
observations and experience with bees in confinement and those having
free access to the vineyards furnishes abundant proof to convince me
that bees do not and cannot under any circumstances injure sound fruit:
If from any cause the pulp is exposed, such as the attack of birds or
wasps—the most common source of injury—or from the ovipositing of
insects, or bursting of the berry from over-ripeness, and if no other re-
sources are available, the bees appropriate and carry away the juice,
and the extent of the injury depends upon the degree to which the pulp
is exposed, the sweetness of the juice, and the number and necessities
of the bees.

72
BEE FORAGE.

If excellence in the bee is the chief factor in successful honey produc-
ing, next in logical order is abundant, persistent, and cheap bee-pastur-
age. Abundant pasturage is the amount necessary to satisfy the re-
quirements of the number of colonies kept within a given area. Persist-
ent pasturage is that which contemplates a variety of perennial honey
bearing flora of hardy constitution and rugged habits whose terms of
blooming follow each other in succession continuously from early spring
to late fall, thus lengthening out the season in which bees may gather
surplus honey. Cheap bee-pasturage may be such as is furnished from
natural sources produced in forests or by self-propagating plants grow-
ing in waste places or upon lands of little value and requiring little or
no labor. Or cheap bee-pasturage may be secured by cultivating fruits
and field crops, the blossoms of which are valuable for honey bearing.

As the forests of the country disappear and the waste landsare being
reclaimed, as the necessity for other honey-producing resources is felt, as
the industry assumes more importance and as the influence of competi-
tion is more sharply felt, great interest is shown in the subject of bee-
pasturage. The number of days in each year in which bees can gather
and store surplus honey will not average, except in exceptionally fa.
vored localities, above thirty or thirty-five days; the remaining time and
energies of the bees being employed in gathering sufficient for the sus-
tenance of the colony, and enforced idleness or non-productiveness. En-
forced idleness, and the consequent waste of time, stores, and energies
sometimes result from a failure of the flowers to secrete nectar, even
though honey-bearing flowers are blooming in abundance, but usually
the reason why the time is so short in which bees are able to store sur-
plus honey is the lack of abundant pasturage. 1 have not had the time
or the means to devote to bee-forage that the importance of the subject
demands, but I have made a beginning in this department of experi-
mental work which I hope to continue. Among all the trees and shrubs
which are cultivated generally throughout the United States by fruit-
growers, the raspberry is commonly conceded to possess more value to
bee-keepers than any other. A quarter of a mile from this station a
market gardener has 4 acres of raspberries. These bushes continued
to bloom forten days, and during that time, with the exception of two or
three rainy days, a continuous procession of bees could be observed go-
ing and returning to and from the apiary, and a fine showing of honey
was made in the hives and the honey was of superior quality.

On account of the superior quality of its nectar, the ease with which
the plant is propagated, its adaptation to all kinds of soil and its value
as a forage plant for grazing, white clover has, until of late years, stood
without a rival in the estimation of honey-producers. About twenty
years ago Alsike or Swedish clover was introduced into this country,

uted ame Ss

73

and since then has been thoroughly tested both as a honey plant and
also for hay and pasture for all kinds of stock.

Mr. J. M. Hicks, of Battle Ground, Ind., says: “ Alsike Clover has
no superior as a honey-producing plant, yielding the best and richest
honey known, and as a hay crop it is not surpassed, often producing 3
tons of good hay per acre. The stems and stalks are much finer than
those of common red clover, and cattle, horses, and sheep feast on it,
eating it clean without waste. As a pasture of all kinds of stock it has
no equal. It will grow on all kinds of land, clay, or sandy, and does not
freeze out as easily as red clover. It is quite similar to red clover in
appearance. The first crop each season is the seed crop. The seed is
about one-third the size of red clover and 4 pounds is sufficient to sow
an acre. The bloom is a beautiful pale pink color. I have no hesitaney
in saying that Alsike Clover will produce 500 pounds of the richest and
best honey per acre in a good season. I would recommend every bee-
keeper to sow at least a few acres of Alsike Clover.” Mr. W. Z. Hutch-
inson, of Rogersville, Mich., says that it will pay to raise Alsike Clover
for honey alone upon land worth $50 per acie.

Mr. C. M. Goodspeed, of Thorn Hill, N. Y., says: “TI have grown Alsike
on my farm and watched its habits closely. It is very hardy, of extra
quality as hay and a heavy seeder, reaching in rare cases 10 bushels
per acre. In this locality the second growth seldom yields much honey,
but the first growth just swarms with bees for about three weeks, or
from the time the rich blossoms open until the seed is ripe. In my lo-
cality it begins to yield honey shortly after white clover and continues
well into the bass-wood season. It yields twice as much honey as white
or red clover.” Mr. D. A. Jones, of Beeton, Ontario, says: “I think
too much can scarcely be said of Alsike as a hay and honey crop, and
many of our farmers are waking up to the fact that it is to their inter-
est to cultivate it largely in preference to almost any other crop. Red
Clover will soon be a thing of the past, as Alsike seed is now in great
demand, not only for seeding purposes but also for useindyeing. Iam
informed that large quantities are being shipped to Europe for that
use.” Mr. A. I. Root, of Medina, Ohio, and Mr. L. C. Root, of Mohawk,
N. Y., both speak of Alsike as the most valuable variety of clover for
hay and pasturage and recommend its cultivation as being of the first
importance to bee-keepers. Statements testifying to the unequaled
value of Alsike Clover, both for hay and grazing purposes, and as a
most valuable honey-bearing plant, might be indefinitely multiplied. I
cannot too strongly urge the bee-keepers of the United States to pro-
vide abundance of this forage for their bees, both by sowing the seed
on their own premises and also by inducing their neighbors to cultivate
this variety of clover as the best for all purposes.

Sweet Ciover (Mellilotus alba) abounds in this locality. This is a
hardy plant, of wondrous persistence, continuing in bloom from about
July 1 until killed by frost. It is adapted to almost any kind of soil.

74

In this part of Illinois 1t grows in rich soil by the wayside, or in de- —

serted stone quarries with equal luxuriance. As the plant will grow
without any cultivation in by-ways and waste places, wherever the seed
can obtain a foothold, and is a perennial, it is rightly reckoned among
the number of excellent and cheap bee-forage plants. Sweet Clover will
endure drought well. During the long drought of last season bees in this
neighborhood would have been entirely without resources for many
weeks together had it not been for Sweet Clover. The quality of the
honey is excellent, and under ordinary conditions the yield is altogether
satisfactory. Much apprehension has been felt among farmers lest it
become a noxious weed. Observing how readily the seed is carried
in the mud on wagon wheels and horses’ feet in the spring, when the
roads are bad and the entire space in the highways is used for travel,
belief has obtained that the fields would soon be invaded. Careful
and continuous observation of the facts for five years past has convinced
me that fears of trouble from this source are groundless. In but one
instance have I seen Sweet Clover invade a plowed field, and that was
for a distance of 3 rods on both sides of an old road leading into the
field and the seed had been earried in on wagon wheels. This plant
being a biennial is easily exterminated when desirable. I would recom-
mend bee-keepers to provide abundance of this forage by scattering the
seed in waste places and by the roadside. Sweet Clover is much more
sightly and useful, and less objectionable, in every way, than the weeds
which ordinarily cover the roadsides.

Pleurisy-Root (Asclepias tuberosa) is a honey-bearing plant indigenous
to nearly all parts of the United States, but its growth has not been
encouraged for the reason that its value to the honey-producer has not
been generally known. The plantis a perennial; the top dies and rots,
anew growth springing up each year. It is commonly regarded asa
harmless prairie weed. The deep red blossoms hang in clusters. The
plant is very hardy and of a rugged growth, growing luxuriantly in all
kinds of soil. The honey is of the finest quality both as to color and
flavor. Mr. James Heddon, of Dowagiac, Mich., speaking of Pleurisy,
says: “If there is any plant, to the growing of which good land may be
exclusively devoted for the sole purpose of honey production, I think it
is this; I would rather have one acre of it than three of Sweet Clover.
It blooms through July and the first half of August, and bees never
desert Pleurisy for bass-wood or anything else. The blossoms always
look bright and fresh, and yield honey continuously in wet and dry
weather. Bees work on it in the rain,and during the excessive drought
of the past season it did not cease to secrete nectar in abundance.” I
have had some observation and experience with the plant, and, having
secured seed, I expect to test it in different kinds of soil next season.

For two years past I have cultivated a plot of Motherwort (Leonurus
cardiaca), and I prize it highly as a honey plant. Bees work on it con-
tinually all day, and every day, unless it is raining quite hard. The

15

summer of 1885 it continued in bloom six weeks. Last summer it
bloomed but was soon ruined by drought. At the annual meeting of
the North American Bee-Keepers’ Association held in Detroit in De-
cember, 1885, a committee, of which I was a member, was appointed by
the association to investigate the merits of a new plant being cultivated
by Mr. Chapman, of Versailles, N. Y., who was present and repre-
sented that the plant was of unusual value to honey-producers. Being
instructed by you so to do, I met with other members of that committee
at Versailles on the 28th of July. I herewith inclose a copy of the re-
port which I prepared in behalf of that committee, together with a letter
of Mr. A. E. Manum, president of the Vermont Bee-Keepers’ Associa-
tion, which I presented to the North American Bee-Keepers’ Associa-
tion at its annual meeting held in Indianapolis, Ind., October 12, 13, 14,
1886.

My experience with the plants furnished for observation at this sta-
tion was nearly identical with that of Mr. Manum. Fifty-two plants
arrived here by express, fifty-one of which came to maturity. Plants
were furnished to Prof. A. J. Cook, Lansing, Mich.; T. F. Bingham,
Abronia, Mich.; W. F. Clarke, Guelph, Ontario, and Mr. Van Dom,
Omaha, Nebr., each of whom highly recommend it as possessing un-
usual value as a bee-forage plant.

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Acer dasycarpum, 63
Acidalia, 26
Acoloithus falsarius, 62
Acridium frontalis, 11
Adelges abieticolens, 21
abietis, 21
Agrotis alternata, 60
scandens, 60
saucia, 60
Alder Flea-beetle, 24
Insects infesting, 20
Leaf-roller, 25
Aletia xylina, 11
Alum water, as an insecticide, 33
Alwood, Wm. B., Report by, 38
Amphydasis cognataria Guen., 29
Food-plant, 29
Larva before last molt, 30
Life-history, 29
Mature larva, 30
Moth, 30
Pupa, 30
Young larva, 30
Anisopteryx.vernata, 60
Apanteles congregatus, 53
glomeratus, 50, 52
Aphis maidis, 51
Apicultural experiments, 66
Bee-forage, 72
Bees vs. Fruit, 70
Hibernation, 67
Preparing bees for winter, 66
Spring dwindling, 69
Ardis, 60
Ash Saw-fly, 33
Beech Span-worm, 28
Benzine, 43
Effect of, upon Cabbage-lice, 43
Potato-beetle, 43
Squash-bng, 43
Tomato-worm, 43
Box-elder Plant-louse, 33
Bridgeford’s Antiseptic, 47
Broad-necked Root-borer, 61
Brown Cryptolechia, 27
Bruner, L., Report by, 9, 33
Buhach, 42
Alcoholic extracts, 43
Effect of, upon P. brassicz, 42
Cabbage Butterfly, 34
Cabbage Plant-louse, 50
Worms, 50
Cabera, 25
Calocoris rapidus, 58
Canker-worms, 60
Capsus oblineatus, 65
Cecidomyia leguminicola, 52

(PIN BIDS:

Chinch Bug, 33, 35
Cleft-headed Span-worm, 29
Climbing Cut-worm, 60
Clover-seed Midge, 52
Codling Moth, 61
Colorado Potato Beetle, 33
Corimelena pulicaria, 62
Corn Aphis, 51
Corn-worm, 32
Corycia, 22
Cotton Worm, 10, 11
Cottony Cushion-scale, 7
Cottony Maple Scale, 63
Cryptolechia quercicella, 27

Habits, 28

Larva, 26

Moth, 28

Pupa, 28
Deilinia variolaria, 25

Larva, 26

Moth, 26

Pupa, 26
Doryphora 10-lineata, 33
Dreer’s Insect Terror, 44
Empretia stimulea, 62
Euschistus fissilis, 58
Fir-tree oil, 46
Flata conica, 61
Flea-like Negro-bug, 62
Gelechia oronella, 25

Larva, 25

Moth, 25

Pupa, 25
Gishurst, 47
Grasshoppers, 34
Gray Blister Beetle, 33
Graphops pubescens, 48

Habits, 48
Green-striped Phycid worm, 23
Haltica alni, 24

Beetle, 25

Larva, 24

Pupa, 25
Halticus pallicornis, 62
Hammond's Slug Shot, 44
Heliothis armigera, 33
Herald, The, 26
Homohadena badistriga, 60
Hyperetis nyssaria, 28

Larva, 29

Moth, 29

Pupa, 29
Icerya purchasi, 7
Ice-water as a remedy, 44
Ichthyuria strigosa, 30

americana, 30
Larva before the last molt, 30

“0

78

Ichthyuria—Continued.
Larva, after the last molt, 30
Moth, 30
Pupa, 30 ,
Insecticides, Tests with, upon garden insects, 38
Insects injurious to forest and shade trees, 7.
Kerosene emulsion, 38
Effect of, upon Cabbage Plant-louse, 39
Cabbage Worms, 39
White Grub, 39
Formula for, 38
Lace-winged flies, Larve of, preying upon A. bras-
sice, 50
Lachnosterna fusea, 52
Lady-birds, Larve of, preying upon A. brassi-
ce, 50
Larch Saw-fly, 20
Leaf-bug on Maple, A new, 63
Leaf-hopper, 61
Live-Oak Leaf-roller, 31
Live-Oak Thecla, 31
Locusts in Texas, 7, 9
Melanoplus atlanis, 11
angustipennis, 11
robustus, 11
Presence of, in different counties, 16
Lygus monachus Uhler, n. sp., 63
Lygous pratensis, 54, 55
Lytta cinerea, 33
Macrops sp., 49
Macrosila quinque-maculata, 53
May Beetle, 52
Melanoplus atlanis, 11
angustipennis, 11
differentialis, 11, 33
femur-rubrum, 33
spretus, 33
Melanoplus sp., 11
Eggs, 12
Experiments with Paris green upon, 14
Larve, 12
Mode of attack, 12
Remedies, 13
Merowyza americana, 49
Meroptera prayella, 23
Larva, 23
Moth, 23
Pupa, 23
Micropus leucopterus, 33
Moore’s Compound, 46
Murtfeldt, Miss M. E., Report by, 59
Notes from Missouri, 7, 59
Norway Spruce, 21
Oat-fly, A new, 49
Ohio Insects, Report upon, 48
Osage Orange, Flata conica Say, found on, 61
Oscinis? sp., 49
Paria aterrima, 48
Phycid caterpillar, 20, 21
Phycis rubrifasciella, 23
Pieris rape, 34, 50
Pinipestis renicullela, 21
Larva, 22
Moth, 22
Pupa, 22

2)

Pink-striped Willow Span-worm, 25
Pitch Pine, 21
Plagiodera scripta, 33
Plusia brassicwx, 50
Habits of, 51
Plantain Cureulio, 49
Plant-bugs, Effect of puncture, 7
Pecilocapsus quadrivittatus, 7, 54
Peciloptera pruinosa Say, 61
Post-oak Locust, 17
Classification, 18
Description, 19
Habits, 18
Prionus laticollis, 61
Procris ameri¢éana, 62
Pteromalus puparum, infesting P. rape, 50, 52
Pulvinaria innumerabilis, 63 ‘
Pyrethrum cinerariefolium, 42 ~
Alcoholic extract, 43
Effect of, upon Pieris brassicee, 42
Pyrethrum, extracts of, 41
Effect of, upon Aphis brassice, 41

Fall Web-worm, 42
Potato-Beetle, 42
Squash Bugs, 42

Tomato Worm, 42
Red-legged Locust, 36
Remedies imported from London, 46
Riley, C. V., quoted, 60
Rocky Mountain Locust, 11
Saddle-back Caterpillar, 62
Scoliopteryx libatrix, 26
Habits, 26
Selandria rosie, 60
Siphonophora avene, 58
Sphingid larvze on Tomato, 53
Spruce and Hackmatack Worms, 20
Bud-louse, 21 4
Caterpillar, 20 7
cones, new enemy of, 7 .
Cone-worm, habits of, 21 :
Strawberry Crown-borer, 49
Leaf-beetle, 48
Root-borer, 48
Striped Cotton-wood Beetle, 34
Sulfo-tobacco Soap, 45
Syrphus flies, Larve of, preying upon A. brassi-
ce, 50
Tansy water, 44
Tenthredinid larve, 59
Thecla calamus, 31
flavonius, 31
Tobacco Soaps, 45
effect of, upon Cabbage Plant-lice, 46
worms, 45
Tomato water, 44
Tortrix fumiferana, 20
Tortrix quercifoliana, 31
Larva, 32
Moth, 32
Pupa, 32
Tyloderma fragariz, 49
Webster, F. M., report by, 54
Willow, Insects infesting, 20
Wolf's Vermin Soap, 45

| Woo DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. |
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
BULLETIN No. 14.

Kh? nee Ons

OF

: | |
OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADIC

tz
—

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1887.

Nae Ay Bee RS ey

os DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 14.

REPORTS

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1887.

22340—No. 14 iter

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., May 30, 1887.

Sir: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 14 of
the Division of Entomology, containing certain reports of agents and
other matter additional to that contained in Bulletin 13, and excluded
from my annual report from lack of space.

Respectfully,
Oo, Vi. ae
Entomologist.
Hon. NorMAN J. COLMAN,
Commissioner of Agriculture.

CONTENTS.

Page.
PMOL UC MOM saa a'o)s sci e sie ciclo ienisieiswin cess coe oat ese ams ckcoes cee ss Oaaauel cae sue 2
Report on Insects injurious to Garden Crops in Florida ....-........-.-...---- 9
PROPEL Alon MAUS A setae Sie eminem cio Seis sia aaec secs sais Soeous cease 29
Native Plums. How to fruit them. They are claimed to be practically cureu-
CDSG oo po SSCA EC OBESE SIERO a eet ae eR a aida eee 39
MMISUBEOUISULOMAtIC SUK-TCC) . 28-02 ae 5c sceich neces eee eee cute ecsces seuace oz

INTRODUCTION.

This Bulletin contains matter referring to the season of 1886, addi-
tional to that already published.

Mr. Ashmead’s report on insects affecting garden crops in Florida is
necessarily very incomplete, as it represents only four months’ field ob-
servations, and as the subject is one of no inconsiderable magnitude.
Mr. Ashmead’s work was stopped September 1st on account of the re-
duction in the appropriations.

Mr. Webster’s report on Buffalo Gnats is in the main the results of
work in Marea and April, 1886. It contains many interesting details
in addition to the more important observations which are quoted in
our own article on the subject in the annual report. It is also due to
Mr. Webster to say that the investigations since made, and especially
those by himself the present year, have added materially to our exact
knowledge on the subject.

In reference to Mr. Wier’s article on the curculio-proof nature of the
native plums and his explanation thereof we wish to be understood as
in no way indorsing either the statements or conclusions of the paper.
Mr. Wier is an old friend and correspondent and has written much of
late upon this question. He claimed to have abundant personal evi-
dence of the wild plums being proof against Conotrachelus nenuphar
by virtue of the eggs failing to hatch therein. This was an important
matter, bearing directly on economic entomology, and, as we have often
been asked for our opinion as to the immunity of these wild plums, we
engaged Mr. Wier to prepare a statement of his evidence. His two
main claims are (1) that these wild plum trees are unfruitful, except
where the flowers receive the pollen from other varieties; (2) that the
female Cureculio prefers their fruit for purposes of oviposition, but that
the egg fails to hatch therein or the larva perishes after hatching. The
first point belongs to economic botany, or rather pomology, and while
we consider that itis disproved alike by historical and botanical evi-
dence and general experience we leave it with the horticulturist to deal
with more fully. With regard to the second. point we confess that the
reading of Mr. Wier’s essay has brought no sense of his theory being
well sustained or of its general truthfulness. Yet, for the reasons
stated, we have decided to publish the paper very much as received,
omittirg only such portions as dealt with well known and trite entomo-
logical facts, as also a dissertation on grafting, and entering our dis-

ri

8

sent in the form of foot-note where the statements are unjustified from
the entomological side.

The description of the principles and mechanism of the Serrell auto-
matic silk-reel has been prepared by Mr. Philip Walker, assistant in
charge of the reeling experiments and machinery at the Department.
It will be found useful in explaining the advantages which that deli-
cate and remarkable invention has over ‘the ordinary reel as a labor-
saver, though no amount of description will impress the fact on the
mind so forcibly as a few moments’ observation of the reel at work.

Co ic

REPORT ON INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GARDEN CROPS IN FLORIDA.

By Wn. H. ASHMEAD, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL,

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.,
September 2, 1886.

DEAR Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith, in pursuance to your instructions,
my report on ‘‘ insects injurious to garden crops” in Florida, comprehending field-work
and studies on these pests from May 15 to August 31, 1886.

My time was too limited to do fulljustice to the subject ; moreover, it will take several
years of the most laborious, painstaking industry to thoroughly work up the life his-
tories of the destructive insect pests affecting our garden crops in this State.

Yours, very respectfully,
WM. H. ASHMEAD.
Prof. ©. V. RILEY,

U. S. Entomologist, Washington, D. C.

INTRODUCTORY.

The insects depredating *‘ garden crops” in Florida are legion, and
the time at my disposal, May 15 to August 31, was too limited to begin
to do the subject justice.

Daily rains, too, from latter part of June and all during July greatly
interfered with my field-work. During the months of March and
April early vegetables are raised in great quantities for northern ship-
ment and consumption, and it is then that the greatest activity exists
among certain destructive pests depredating these crops. That is the
timeinvestigation should begin. However, considerable work has been
accomplished, and in the following pages will be found descriptions of
some of the more injurious insect pests injuring these crops; moreover,
to make the report of practical value to our vegetable growers, I have
given the best remedies known, extracted principally from the writings
of Professors Riley, Fitch, Lintner, Packard, Forbes, Thomas, &e.

INSECTS AFFECTING THE CABBAGE.

Probably there is no garden crop in Florida that is so preyed upon
and so seriously threatened from the attacks of insect pests as the cab-
bage and its numerous varieties.

To well-known imported European insect pests, now thoroughly estab-
lished here and depredating this crop, may be added many indigenous

9

10

species that attack and destroy it in different ways, and the injury and
loss is very great. ’

Necessarily I have given considerable time and study to unraveling
the life histories of some of the more important ones, giving them that
prominence in my report that their importance to the grower seem to
warrant.

THE CABBAGE PLUSIA.
(Plusia brassice Riley.)

This is one of the most serious and destructive of cabbage insects.
Prof. C. V. Riley first described it in his Second Missouri Report, 1870,
page 110.

Distribution.—While, undoubtedly, originally indigenous to the South-
ern States, it is now very generally distributed over most of the Eastern
and Western States. In U.S. Agricultural Report for 1883, Professor
Riley states that he has received it from Mississippi, Georgia, Florida,
the Carolinas, Alabama, Texas, New Jersey, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska,
Virginia, and Maryland.

Food Plants.—The food plants of the larvee, as given in same report,
are Cabbage, Kale, Turnip, Tomato, Mignonette (Reseda), Dandelion
(Taraxacum), Dock (Rumex), Crepis, Chenopodium, Clover, Senecio scan-
dens, Lettuce, and Celery. Professor Riley also says: ‘+ We have
also found it in Florida feeding upon the Japan Quince (Cydonia japon-
ica), and it has been found in Washington upon same plant.”

Life History.—The life history of this insect is treated in the Annual

teport of the Department for 1883, pp. 119-122, and it is figured at
Plate I, figs. 2 and 2a, and Plate XI, figs. 2, a,b,c. The different stages
are described in Professor Riley’s Second Missouri Entomological Re-
port, pp. 111-112.

Number of Broods.—Professor Lintner, State Entomologist of New
York, in treating of this species in his second report, page 92, says:
‘‘In its more northern extension there are two annual broods, for, from
larvee taken in August, after about two weeks of pupation, Dr. Thomas
has had the moths emerge on the Ist of September, which deposited
their eggs for a second brood in October. In the Southern States there
are probably four broods, for Mr. Grote took examples of the moths in
Alabama during the last of February.”

Here in Florida there are certainly not less than six broods, for I have
taken the moths every month but the winter months, November, De-
cember, and January.

Its Injuries.—Not a cabbage patch visited by me this spring and sum-
mer but was more or less damaged by the attacks of this terrible cab-
bage pest, and the injury it does and the loss sustained by the trucker
is immense.

The very young begin by eating the fleshy portion of the leaves; as

nti titel

11

they grow in size and strength they gnaw irregular holes through the
leaves, until they are completely riddled or honey-combed and the cab-
bage rendered thereby unmarketable.

Natural Enemies and Parasites—Comparatively few natural enemies
have been observed preying upon this insect, although carabid beetles
and others are supposed to destroy it at the North.

A European chalcid fly, Copidosoma truncatellum Dalman, has been
reported as parasitic on this species at Washington, by Mr. L. O. How-
ard; twenty-five hundred and twenty-eight specimens of this parasite
were actually counted as coming from a single parasitized worm,

Professor Riley has also bred an ichneumon fly, Apanteles congregatus
Say, from larve.

Here, in a single instance, I bred from a chrysalis an ichneumon fly
(Limneria, sp.) a common parasite of the Cabbage Plutella, and it will be
found treated further on under the parasites of that insect.

From the egg, however, I bred a pretty little chaleid fly (Trichogram-
ma pretiosa Riley). It was first described by Professor Riley in Canadian
Entomologist Vol. XI, page 161, from specimens bred from the eggs of
the Cotton Worm (Aletia argillacea Hiibn.).

Besides the above parasites, three larve were brought under my ob-
servation, attacked by the parasitic fungus (Botrytis Rileyi Farlow).

REMEDIES.—Pyrethrum.—Professor Lintner recommends pyrethrum :
‘‘A tablespoonful of good fresh powder, diffused through 2 gallons of
water and sprinkled over the plants, would destroy the larve.”

Hot Water.—Every worm visible upon the cabbages may be killed by
the use of water at the temperature of 130° Fahrenheit, or 55° centi-
grade. The water may be boiling hot when put in the watering-can,
but it will not be too hot when it reaches the cabbage leaves. The thick
fleshy nature of the leaves enables them to withstand considerable heat
with very little injury. The sacrifice of a few heads of cabbage will
soon teach an experimenter how far he can go withthe hot water. It
may be sprinkled over the plants from a fine rose watering-can or poured
on with the sprinkler removed. If it is very hot it will color some of
the leaves, but even where the cabbage is considerably sorched it will
recover and renew growth from the heat. (Prof. C. V. Riley).

Kerosene Emulsion.—The kerosene emulsion, as formulated by Mr. H.
G. Hubbard for scale insects, will also be found valuable for cabbage
worms.

Lime and Carbolic Powder.—This is also good. Take 20 parts super-
phosphate of lime, 3 parts fresh air-slaked lime, and 1 part carbolic
powder; mix, and scatter a small quantity upon each cabbage head three
or four times at short intervals about three days apart. The carbolic
powder is made by taking sawdust and thoroughly impregnating it

' with earbolie acid.

7 12

THE CABBAGE PLUTELLA.
(Plutella cruciferarum Zeller.)

Second only in importance to the Cabbage Plusia is another cabbage
worm, the ‘Cabbage Plutella,” the larva of a small moth, and which
may easily be confounded with the very young larva of the Cabbage
Plusia.

This insect was treated at some length in Professor Riley’s Annual
Report as Entomologist to the Department for 1883, and it will therefore
be unnecessary to go into detail here. Imay state, however, that while
at the North there are probably but two annual generations, there are
at least four herein Florida. The larve are quite plentiful on cabbage
from the last of February to July, and again in the fall. The damage
done is very similar to that of the Plusia and is almost as great, al-
though it seldom attacks other than the outer leaves.

I have bred a parasite, additional to those mentioned by Professor
Riley,which agrees with the description of Cresson’s Limneria obscura.

THE CABBAGE APHIS.
(Aphis brassice Linn.)

The Cabbage Aphis (Aphis brassicae) first described by Linnzus, in
his “Systema Nature,” is quite widely spread throughout this country
and Europe. It was undoubtedly imported into this country at a very
early day, for Dr. Fitch shows, by reference to the Transactions of the
New York State Agricultural Society for 1791, that it was already
known as a cabbage pest at that early date, and at this day it has
spread to most parts of the world where the cabbage is cultivated.

Food Plants—It is found on the Turnip, Raddish, Field-cress (satis
tinctoria), Shepherd’s-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Charloch (Brassica
arvensis), Cabbage, and other cruciferous plants.

Here I found it on Cabbage, Turnip, and Kaddish.

Irs Lire Histronry.—The Young.—These are oval, about .01 inch in
length, and of a greenish-yellow color, without the mealy coating of the
older ones.

Buckton, the British authority on the Aphidid, thus describes the
different forms:

Apterous Viviparous Female.—Body long, oval; plentifully covered with a whitish

o)
mealy coat, both on the upper and under sides. When this is removed by a drop of

spirits of wine the body below is grayish-green, with eight black spots ranged down
each side of the back, which increase in size as they approach the tail. Antenne
green with black tips, shorter than the body. Eyes and legs black. Cornicles very
short and black. Tail also small and black.

Winged Oviparous Female.—Head, neck, and thoracic lobes black. Antenne and
nectaries dark brown. Eyes black. Rest of the body yellowish-green. Abdomen
with a row of fine punctures on each lateral edge, with several obscure transverse
dorsal marks. Legs dusky brown, pilose. Tail dark green or brown; hairy. Cor-

13

nicles short and brown, as also is the tip of the rostrum. This last organ reaches to
the second coxie. Wings rather short, with stout coarse veins and stigma.

Its Injuries.—The injuries this species does are more apparent in early
spring and late fall than at any other time, for it is then that they are
most plentiful, and less subject to the attacks of their numerous natural
enemies.

They are found in colonies, on the upper and lower surface of the
leaf; often hidden in the wrinkles and folds of the leaf, deep down at
its base and on the leaf-stalk.

Buecktonsays: “ Both theupperand under sides of the foliage of which
last plant (Brassica oleracea) it often crowds in such numbers that the
leaves become hidden by the living mass. Indeed sometimes, weight
for weight, there is more animal than vegetable substance present. The
leaves then become putrid, offensive in odor, and quite disgusting to the
eye.”

It is seldom that plants are so badly infested in Florida as described
by this author, although some years ago I did see old cabbage-stalks
that had been left go to seed in an old cabbage patch so affected.

Every stalk was literally covered, promiscuously piled one upon
another, with living, pumping, slimy aphids, rendered such by the exud-
ing sap of the plants. I was unable to touch a portion of the stalk with-
out my fingers being covered with the slimy, viscid mass.

Natural Enemies and Parasites—Fortunately, in Florida, the species
has very many natural enemies and parasites which keep it from increas-
ing very rapidly.

In Europe, too, it has several parasites. Buckton mentions a Coruna,
a Ceraphron, and a Trionyx (T. rape Curtis) as having been bred from it
in Europe; also “several species of Syrphide and Ichneumonide act
effectually as checks upon the increase of A. brassice, The larve of
the former dipterous flies, living in the midst of such plenty, soon gorge
themselves and become of great size.”

Trionyx rape Curtis has also been bred from it in this country. It was
received at the Department February 27, 1880, from Norfolk, Va., and
redescribed by Mr. Cresson in the Annual Report, U.S. Department Ag-
riculture for 1879, page 260, as a new species, Trionyx piceus. Professor
Riley bred it at Saint Louis, Mo., as early as 1871, and I have bred it here
in great quantities in May, June, and July.

It is one of the principal checks in keeping this pest within bounds,
and but few of the Aphids escape its sting.

Bnt there are other parasites; and below I give descriptions of sev-
eral others bred here which are apparently new and as yet undescribed.

The rearing of a parasitic Cynips from this species is quite interest-
ing, inasmuch as the habits of but few of our species are known. Up
tothe present time Allotria avena, A. tritici Fitch, and A. lachni Ashu.
are the only Cynipids bred from Aphids in North America.

14

Tue CABBAGE APHIS ALLOTRIA—A llotria brassice n. sp.— FEMALE. —Length .05 inch.
Black, highly polished, face and vertex of head testaceous; cheeks broad, convex,
antenne 13-jointed, long, pale yellowish-brown or yellowish towards base, becoming
brownish or infuscated at tip; thorax smooth, parapsides distant ; scutellum small,
round, convex, with a deep transverse groove at base; wings clear, pubescent and
fringed with short cilia; veins yellowish, the radial area closed; abdomen globose,
with the second segment but slightly longer than the third, highly polished black,
but more or less testaceous at base and at vent, and a clump of whitish hairs at base ;
legs honey-yellow ; in dry specimens tawny-yellow.

Marr.—The male is of the same size or slightly smaller than the female, and is easily
recognized by the 14-jointed antenue; the third, fourth, and fifth joints almost equal
jn length, and all are excised outwardly; the testaceous spot on vertex of head 1s not
so apparent; the pleura are more or less testaceous and the abdomen is ovate.

Described from several specimens bred from June 6th to July 15th.

THE CABBAGE APHIS PACHYNEURUN—Pachyneuron aphidivora n. sp.—FEMALE.—
Length .04 to .05 inch. Head metallic green suffused with purple and purplish
black on vertex ; shagreened, the sculpture coarser beneath eyes; mandibles large,
tridentate; eyes purplish-brown; antenne brown, pubescent, scape and pedicel
darker; thorax purplish-black with bronzy and cupreous reflection, finely reticulately
sculptured; scapule, golden green; scutellum prominent, convex, rounded; meta-
thorax finely wrinkled; abdomen flat, oval, blue-black, metallic at base and with
bronze tingings towards apex, darker beneath; wings hyaline, iridescent, pubescent
excepting at base; veins pale yellow, the thickened marginal vein brownish, the
stigmal slightly longer than marginal; along outer edge are seven long hairs; legs
pale yellowish, coxie black, anterior and middle femora d usky near base and along
upper and lower surface, at least two-thirds their length.

Described from several specimens bred June 6th.

THE CaBBaGE APHIS ENcyrtip—Fucyrtus aphidiphagus 1. sp.—FEMALE.—Length
.06inch. Blue-black. Head shagreened, face and mouth parts blue, the facial impres-
sion is very deep, eyes brown; ocelliregion greenish; antenne brown; thorax shag-
reened in wavy curved rugosities, hind margin metallic green ; abdomen bronzed, blue-
black; wings hyaline, marginal vein short ; legs honey-yellow, all femora brown ex-
cept at tips, a large brown blotch near base of tibize, terminal tarsal joints dusky.

Near Encyrtus sublestus Howard but the color of the legs will at once distinguish it.
Described from several specimens.

THE CABBAGE APHIS SYRPHUS Fity—Allograpta obliqua Say.—The
larva or maggot of this fly has been taken feeding on the ‘ Cabbage
Aphis,” and below I give description of its various preparatory stages:

The Egg.—Pearly white, long oval; .03 inch in length, deposited on the leaves
among the Aphids.

The Maggot.—It is difficult to distinguish this from many other Syrphid larve.
The full grown larva measures .25 inch in length, cylindrical, tapering anteriorly to
point, it is perfectly smooth, a translucent green, and the viscera are plainly discerni-
ble, variously shaded, dark green, yellowish or brownish ; the jaws are black; the air
vessels, which are visible on either side through the body walls, become contiguous on
last segment, where they are connected externally with two small warty spiracles.

The Puparium.—The puparium into which the maggot transforms resembles a cone,
with the side attached to the leaf, flattened and held in place by a viscid substance
secreted by the larva; its anterior end broad and well rounded, gradually nar-
rowing posteriorly; at the end are still to be seen the two warty tubercles. Color
yellow-brown, with occasionally darker shadings.

SS, ES,

15

From the puparium of this fly I have bred the following parasite :

Tue SyreHus Fry PacHyNEURON—Pachyneuron allograptae n. sp.—FEMALE.—
Length .08 inch. Black, rather coarsly punctate, with aslight metallic luster. Head
large, face and cheeks full; eyes brown; antennz brown, scape rufous; legs tawny
yellow, a large brown blotch on fore and middle femora, while the hind femora are
almost entirely brown; abdomen flattened, oval, shiny black; wings hyaline, veins
pale brown; the bristles on submarginal vein are not long and are difficult to count.

Mare.—Length .05 inch, otherwise similar to female.

Described from several specimens. ‘The large size of this species and color of legs
will distinguish it from others in our fauna.

Besides the above parasites there is a small Coccinellid that preys on
the Cabbage Aphis, viz, Scymnus cervicalis.

OTHER INSECTS FOUND ON CABBAGE IN FLORIDA.

A Centipede (Julus multistriatus) Say, a Cricket (Tridactylus minutus
Seudder), the Southern Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris protodice Boisd.), the
Large Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris monuste L.), the Cabbage Mamestra
(Mamestra chenopodii Albin.), the Zebra Cabbage Worm (Ceramica picta
Harris), the Cabbage Pionea (Pionea rimosalis Guen.), the Cauliflower
Botis (Botis repetitalis Grote), the Harlequin Cabbage Bug (Murgantia
histrionica Hahn.), and others.

INSECTS AFFECTING CORN.

The lateness of the season at which I began my investigations pre-
cluded me from studying insects depredating this crop in its earlier
growth; consequently nothing can be reported of the cut-worms and
borers that do so much injury to this erep in early spring.

THE CORN WORM.
(Heliothis armigera Hiibn.)

This well-known insect has been very plentiful and injurious in
Florida during the past season. Not a field of corn was free from its
attacks, and but few perfect ears could be found that were not bored
into by this pest.

From ears taken from a field near Jacksonville I obtained from eight
to a dozen worms in each ear, and out of the whole patch hardly an ear
could be found that had less than two or three worms in it.

The insect is treated in full in the Fourth Report of the U.S. Ento-
mological Commission, and a repetition of its life-history, habits, and
remedies are unnecessary here.

Its Injuries.—Enormous injuries are committed by this worm, whole
fields of corn being almost entirely destroyed by it. The eggs are laid
on the leaves, and the young larvee, which hatch therefrom, begin by

-eating the leaves, but they soon leave these and bore into the tender

ears, gnawing and eating them in all directions, so that frequently
hardly a perfect ear can be found. At times it is also found at the

16

base of the tassel, feeding on the accumulated saccarhine juice, found
there, just before the tassel emerges from its sheath.

The worms will not only gnaw irregular burrows and feed on corn
whilein the milk, but the mature larve are known at times to continue
feeding on mature hard corn.

J have taken on corn two hemiptera or bugs which probably prey on
the worm, although not detected in the act—the Wheel Bug (Prionidus
cristatus L.) and Huschistus servus Say. From the egg I bred Tricho-
gramma pretiosa Riley, already noticed; but no other parasite has been
bred from it by me.

THE CORN MINING FLY.
(Diastata sp?)

A mining fly larva is quite frequently met with, making long irregular
mines on corn leaves, and while I have not been able to rear the perfect
fly, yet I am satisfied it is the same species mentioned by Prof. Com-
stock, in U. 8. Agricultural Report for 1880, page 245, as Diastata sp.

Several specimens of a parasite, agreeing tolerably well with Mr.
Howard’s Entedon diastate, reared from it at the North, were also bred
from it here.

MISCELLANEOUS CORN INSECTS.

.

A Hemipteron (Oebalus pugnax Fabr.) was found in considerable num-
bers feeding on corn pollen, along with a Capsid and several flies. A
tly (Ortalis sp.) is common on the stalk, but was nol observed to do any
injury. A common beetle (Allorhina nitida Linn.) was taken, with head
immersed in the ear, feeding on corn while in the milk.

OTHER INSECTS INJURING CORN IN FLORIDA.

The following insects also injure corn here: The Corn-stalk Borer
(Diatrea saccharalis Fabr.); the Corn Bill-bug (Sphenophorus robustus
Horn.), and the Angoumois moth (Gelechia cerealella) and several Cut
Worms. From the tassels I have taken the larvie of Nola sorghiella
Riley, and in the crib the Corn Weevil (Calandra granaria).

INSECTS AFFECTING THE TOMATO.

The cultivation of the Tomato for Northern markets is arapidly grow-
ing industry in Florida, particularly in the southern portions of our
State; and thousands of boxes are now forwarded by our growers to
Northern commission men every season.

It behooves us, therefore, to keep a watchful eye on the insect depre-
dators of this fruit, for we may naturally expect, with the extension of
any horticultural industry, a corresponding increase of insect pests.

Fortunately, no serious damage done this plant by insects has been
reported this season, and, while I have been unable to visit West and

Sen Sy

ie |

aay
South Florida, the sections in which the Tomato is more extensively cul-

tivated, yet studies on insects infesting it in gardens near Jacksonville
will, I feel assured, prove of interest.

THE TOMATO WORM.
(Sphinx Carolina Linn.)

This is a well-known insect, common in all tomato patches, although
the moth into which it transforms is seldom seen, and remains totally un-
known to the great majority of our farmers. When you tell them that
the worm will change into a large moth, nine times out of ten they ex-
press surprise and think it a most wonderful piece of information.

Distribution.—It is quite generally distributed throughout the United
States, Mexico, the West Indies, and is not uncommon in South

’ ’
America.

Food Plants.—It feeds on Tomato, Potato, Jimpson weed (Datura stra-
monium), Egg-Plant, Tobacco, and other plants. I took specimens the
past season feeding on Poke-berry (Rivina levis).

Its Lire History.—The Egg.—The egg is spherical, perfectly smooth, and green or
yellowish-green in color; diameter about .05 inch.

The Larva.—When full grown it measures over three inches in length. The head
and body are dark green, interspersed with greenish-white dots; it is transversely
wrinkled; oblique white or greenish-white lateral bands extend from dorsum to spi-
racles, edged above with bluish and short transverse black lines. The spiracles, ex-
cepting the first and last, are blackish, with a yellow dot above and below, all edged
with blue, the first and last orange yellow. The shield and terminal prolegs edged
below with yellow; the caudal horn is reddish-brown towards tip, and the feet are
white, edged with black.

The Pupa.—Length one inch anda half. Dark reddish-brown, with coarse punc-
tures on abdominal segments, and a detached cylindrical thick tongue-case, not
quite reaching to tip of abdomen.

The nioth is a mottled gray species, with orange spots along the body,
and has too often been figured and described to need description here.

Its Injuries.—W hen plentiful the injury done is considerable, and great
care should be taken to remove and destroy them. They eat the leaves
and tenderer and terminal shoots, frequently stripping the plant bare,
whereby the plant is unable to breathe or mature fruit.

Natural Enemies and Parasites.—I have observed a species of Wasp
carrying off the young worms to provision its‘nest. It is also probable
that the Microgaster and Blacas that attack its nearest ally (Sphinx
5-maculata) will be found parasitizing this worm.

A Tachina fly, a species of Mascicera, has been bred from it in the
North by Prof. Riley (Fourth Missouri Entomological Report, page 129).
In June I bred from its eggs Trichogramma pretiosa Riley, a general ege
parasite already noticed, and a species of Teleas. Of the former three
to six specimens issued from each egg; from the latter two to four.

22340—No. 14

>
=

18

I submit a description of the Teleas, which is apparently new:

THE SPHINX EGG TELEAS—Yeleas sphingis n. sp.—Length, .04inch. Black, smooth,
and polished. Head large, much broader than thorax; antennw 12-jointed, dark
brown, sparsely pubescent, the scape barely reaching to the head; pedicel much
stouter and larger than first funicle joint, which is small; other joints slightly in-
crease in size to club, which enlarges and widens considerably, and comprises five
joints; the antennz in male are more flagellate. The thorax is ovate, smooth, con-
vex, and sparsely covered with microscopical pubescence.

Under a very high power the head and thorax show a microscopical reticulated
scratched surface.

No parapsidal grooves; the scutellum is separated by a deep groove at base and has
some wrinkled ridges; metathorax rugose. The abdomen is very flat ovate, and
somewhat carinate laterally; on first segmeut there are three deep transverse, punc-
tate grooves, and the second segment occupies most of the upper surface ; surround-
ing the tip are a few hairs.

Legs clavate; femora and cox black or very dark brown; tibiw brown, with tips ;
tarsi and trochanters yellowish or tawny; wings hyaline, hairy, and with a distinct,
rather long, stigmal vein.

Described from numerous specimens bred in July.

Remedy.—For destroying this worm no better method need be wanted
than hand-picking.

The worms are large and conspicuous, easily seen, and no difficulty
will attend their destruction. The best time for searching for them is
in the early morning and evening; during the middle of the day the
majority ot them will be found hidden under trash and in the ground

at the foot of the vine.

THE TOMATO-STALK BORER.
(Gortyna nitela Guen.)

This insect is comparatively rare in Florida, although I have noticed
it several times the present season. It has been so often treated in the
reports and in popular articles as to need no extended notice here.

THE TOMATO APHIS.
(Megoura solant Thomas.)

In some cases brought under my observation this year, this Aphid
did considerable damage to tomato vines, particularly in the early
spring.

Distribution.—It is pretty generally distributed throughout the
United States, although it has not been reported, that I am aware of,
west of the Rocky Mountains.

Its Natural History.—Prof. Cyrus Thomas described the species in the
Eighth Illinois Report as follows:

Winged Female.—Antenne 7-jointed, a little longer than the body; first and second
joints short; third and seventh longest, nearly equal; fourth a little shorter than the
third; the fifth not quite as long as the fourth; sixth about half or less than half
the leneth of the fifth; tubercles prominent. Honey tubes extending beyond the
abdomen, excessively enlarged in the middle, and expanding at the tip in trumpet

~

(a a a

a

19

shape. Tail of moderate length, about one-third as long as the honey tubes, conical.
Wings as usual in Siphonophora; fourth vein strongly and regularly curved ; second
fork about equally distant from apex and third vein; stigma elongate, slender and
pointed, size large.

General color greenish; tail greenish-yellow at the base, darker at the tip; body
greenish or pale greenish-yellow ; antenne dusky. Another winged specimen, proba-
bly a male, varies considerably from the above description ; the second fork of the third
vein is very short and near the apex, and in some cases absent in one wing and present
in the other. Honey tubes with the enlargement less than the preceding, and carried
nearer to the apex; antenn also differ slightly in the respective length of the
joints. Head and abdomen olive green; thorax and eyes black; antenne dusky,
legs pale, dark at the knees and tarsi.

Pupa.—Elongate oblong in form; very pale with a dark green stripe along the
middle of the back, with apparent whitish powder speckled sparsely over the body.
Head whitish; base of antenne greenish-white, rest pale fuscous, dark at the tip of
the joints and at the tip of the antenne ;. eyes brown; femora greenish-white; tibixe
fuscous; tarsi darker. Honey tubes long, slender, pale at base and dusky at the tip.
Tail short, conical, greenish.

The summer broods of this species are viviparous, but there must be
a fall sexual brood, containing oviparous females which deposit eggs,
from which hatch the early spring broods.

Its Injuries.—This species was first detected in the garden of Col. L.
W. Spratt.

The Colonel drew my attention to some sickly tomato vines and
showed me others that had died and asked me what was the matter
with them. An examination revealed the Aphids along the stem stalk
and on some of the leaves, and I feel convinced that these little creatures
were the cause of the trouble. Their puncture has a blistering and
blighting effect on the vine, and the leaves cur] and wither.

Natural Enemies and Parasites.—I detected the larvee of a Lace-wing
(Hemerobius) and certain Scymni feeding upon them; also bred from
them two internal parasites as follows:

Tomato APHIS ALLOTRIA—Allotria megoure n. sp.—FEMALE.—Length .03 inch.
Black, shining. Face testaceons; antenne long, 13-jointed, subfiliform, dark honey-
yellow, infuscated from two-thirds its length to tip; thorax smooth, shining ; scutel-
lum oval, convex; abdomen globose, slightly testaceous in certain lights; legs dark
honey-yellow ; wings hyaline, ciliated, veins yellowish.

Described from one specimen bred May 26th.

THE Tomato ApHiIs ENCyrTID—Encyrtus? megoure n. sp.—MALE AND FEMALE.—
Length from .02 to .03 inch. Blue-black. Head finely punctate; eyes large with
coarse facets; mouth piceous; antenne 11-jointed, covered with short pubsecence
in female, in male with two whorls of hairs on each joint; the flagellum gradually
widens towards tip in female, narrower in male; scutellum slightly metallic in
female, brighterin male, with some long hairs; abdomen blackish or brownish, short,
stout, with long hairs at sides; wings hyaline; veins yellowish ; marginal vein very
short ; legs yellowish, coxe, femora except at tip, and a broad annulus on upper half
of tibize darker.

Described from three specimens.

Remedies.—Those recommended for “ Cabbage Aphis” will be just as
effectual for this species.

20

*

INSECTS AFFECTING THE EGG PLANT.

The egg plant is comparatively but little cultivated in Florida, and
no serious injury is done it by insect pests.

The “ Tomato Worms,” Sphinx carolina aud Sphinx 5-maculata are
both found on it eating the leaves; also a Tortricid and a Tineid.

A Membracid (Acutalis calva Say) is found on the stalk, a Blister
Beetle (Epicauta cinerea Forst.) in blossoms, and oveasionally eating the
leaves; at times a small black jumping bug (Halticus bractatus Say) is
very plentiful on both stalk and leaves, as well as Stictocephala in-
ermis Fabr., and on the under surface of the leaves an Aphis.

THE EGG PLANT APHIS.
(Siphonophora cucurbite Middleton.)

Distribution.—This species was first detected on Squash vines at
Carbondale, Illinois, May, 1878, by Miss Nettie Middleton, and described
in Kighth Report Illinois Insects, page 67, and I know of no other ref-
erence to it. The specimens found here on Egg Plants agree perfectly
with her description, and it is probably extensively distributed over the
Eastern United States on various plants belonging to the Cucurbi-
tacee.

I quote her original description :

Winged Specimens.—Large and green. Antenne very long, reaching to or beyond
the tip of the tail; third joint a little longer than the fourth; fourth about the same
length or very slightly longer than fifth; sixth not more than one-fourth or one-third
the length of the fifth; seventh longest; wings transparent; veins slender; the first
fork makes a very acute angle with the third vein; second fork rather nearer the
third vein than the apex; fourth veiu curves sharply and approaches somewhat
closely in its middle to the first fork; stigma elongate and narrow ; honey tubes
long, slender, and cylindrical, extending beyoud the tip of the abdomen, but not to
the tip of the tail, about one-fifth the length of the body ; tail long, subconical, more
than half the length of the honey tubes (in the wingless specimens). The form of the
body in both the winged and wingless specimens is elongate and fusiform, the latter
being slightly broader than the former. Length of body .10 inch, to tip of wing .18
inch, and some appear to even exceed this size; body green; head paler, more or less
yellowish; thorax pale brownish or fawn colored or tinged with this color; abdomen
green, with a darker green median line; first and second joints of the antenne pale,
third dark, seventh light, shades of light and dark more or less alternating; honey
tubes green at base, changing to fuscous at the tip; tail greenish; eyes brown;
stigma pale.

Wingless Specimen.—Green, with few markings: Body slightly broader than winged
specimens, and ejongate ovate; the abdomen tapering posteriorly to the elongated
tail, which is elongate conical, its length more than half and almost equal to that of
the honey tubes. The honey tubes are long, somewhat robust and eylindrical; they
extend beyond the tip of the abdomen, although the posterior tapering segments are
much drawn out, but not to the tip of the tail. In most of the specimens examined
under a strong magnifying power they appear slightly and minutely wrinkled trans-
versely, or what may perhaps better describe the appearances, pustulate or scaly. "The

i ee Ee

21

length of body is usually rather greater than of the winged specimens. In both the
antennze and front of the, head are hairy, and many of the hairs appear to be capi-
tate.

Its Injuries.—It is only in early spring that the plant suffers much
from this Aphid, and then almost any wash would destroy it; later the
rains and natural enemies almost totally destroy it.

Parasites—Enemies that are usually found destroying plant-lice—
Coccinellidze and Hemerobiidze—were also observed associated with this
species; but besides these I bred from it a parasitic Cynipid as follows:

THe EaG PLant Apuis Evcoina, Eucoila siphonophore nu. sp.—-MaLE.—Length, .05
inch; dark, piceo-black; polished; in shape somewhat linear; antennx longer than
body: 15-jointed ; filiform, red; third joint longest, excised; following joints long,

moniliform; scutellum cupuliform; abdomen slightly compressed, with hairy girdle

at base; legs red; posterior coxie rather large, somewhat pale; wings hyaline, pub-
escent, and ciliate.

Described from one specimen, bred May 30.
INSECTS AFFECTING THE PHA.

There are several insects destroying the Pea in Florida, but it was
too late in the season when I began my work to study them in the
field, the Pea crop being about over.

Crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars cut and eat the
leaves and pods; but by far the most destructive is a root-mining An-
thomyid fly, which preys upon the roots.

Its existence is entirely unsuspected by the grower, and I hope an-
other season will enable me to thoroughly work it up.

The maggots bore into and burrow the roots near the crown, and in
a short time flourishing and luxuriant vines are killed.

Our people attribute the cause to the hot weather, and would be sur-
prised could they see the larvee at work.

INSECTS AFFECTING THE BEAN.

The same general remarks made in regard to insects of the Pea will
apply to the Bean also, and I have only been able to work up the life
history of one ‘‘Cut-worm,” taken while in the act, in June.

THE BEAN CUT-WORM.
( Telesilla einereola Guenée.)

The moth of this species has long been known to collectors, but the cat-
erpillar, I believe, up to the present time, remains unidentified and un-
described. .

Distribution.—Found generally spread over the United States east
of the Rocky Mountains and in Canada and the West Indies. Pro-
fessor Snow reports it common in Kansas; in Florida it is rare.

22

Its Lire History.—The Lgg.—Unknown.

Tie Larva.—This in shape and size very much resembles the Cabbage Worn ( Plusia
brassice,) and, like it, when disturbed draws itself up and has the appearance ot a geo-
metrid larva. When full grown it measures one and one-tenth of an inch in jength.
Pale green, with a wavy, yellow stigma line and a supra-stigma creamy white line
and two pale dorsal lines, 8 transverse black warty dots on segments with two more
on dorsum back of these, from all of which issue pale hairs; on either side of the
dorsal black warty tubercles is an irregular yellowish line, and an indistinct yel-
lowish oblique line extending from the outer line obliquely between the first pair of
tubercles and last pair to the dorsal lines. The six true legs are pale, glassy, and
there are prolegs on ninth, tenth, and analsegments. Head green, with sutural edges
dark anda few hairs at sides. :

The Pupa.—Length, .42 inch; greatest width, .15; wing cases, .21 inch; pale yel-
low brown, the fifth segment rather strongly constricted anteriorly and widest ; the
edges of allthe segments anteriorly dark brown. ,

The Moth.—Wing expanse from one inch and ten- nundwedths to one inch and fifteen-
hundredths. The fore wings are grayish brown, with a few short, indistinct, wavy,
lighter grayish lines interspersed ; transversely across the fore wing near the outer
margin is a light gray or slightly yellowish band.

The hind wings are uniformly gray, fringed with short cilia; beneath, silvery gray
with numerous brownish gray scales at anterior margin and on fore wing.

Its Injuries.—The worm feeds on the leaves and the bean pods, some-

times stripping the vine bare.
OTHER BEAN INSECTS.

A Katydid (Phylloptera oblongifolia Dels.), a Butterfly larva (Huda-
mus proteus Linn.), and a Tineid are also found damaging this crop.

INSECTS AFFECTING THE SQUASH.

In Florida there are many insects found feeding on this plant; the
Cucumber Flea-beetle (Crepidodera cucumeris Harris), the 12-spotted Dia-
bfotica (Diabrotica 12-punctata Oliv.),a jumping bug (Halticus bractatus
Say), the False Chinch (Triphleps insidiosus Say), a Mining Fly (Oscinis),
and an Aphis (Aphis cucurbite Buckton) are-common on the leaves and
stems, but have not been observed to do much injury. The life histories
of and observations concerning the more injurious are given below.

THE SQUASH BUG.
(Anasa tristis DeGeer).

When this bug exists in quantities probably there is no more inju-
rious insect known to squash and pumpkin vines. The mature bug
hibernates in the winter under débris, old vines, dry grass, boards, &c.,
and from early spring to late fall there is a continual succession of
broods.

I have taken some specimens in mid-winter, on warm days, in old
fields and on fences.

Distribution.--It is found generally throughout the United States and

23

inCanada; Anasa uhleri Stal., found in Mexico, will probably prove to
be nothing but a climatic or varietal form of this well-known insect:

Its Lire History—The Egg.—Length, .04 inch; oval, flattened on three sides, so
that when viewed from either end it has a triangular appearance; in color it is dark
golden bronze. To the unassisted eye it is smooth and shining, but when viewed
under a high-power lens the surface is reticulated.

The Larva.—When first hatched the young bug is broadly oval, with long antenne,
the joints of which are flat, hairy; the head, thorax, and wing-scales blackish, while
abdomen is a bright ocher yellow. Length, .08 inch,

Its Injuries and Food Plants.—It confines its attacks almost exclusively
to the Squash and Pumpkin, although it is not improbable that other
cucurbitaceous vines also suffer from it.

The bug punctures the leaves and the stem of the vine, causing them
to wrinkle and wither; also the fruit.

The eggs are laid in patches, twenty or thirty together, on the upper
or lower surface of the leaves, fastened to the leaf with a sticky or gluey
substance, at night or just before dark, for during the day these disgust-
ing bugs seek shelter in the ground or under trash at the base of the
vine stalk.

It is curious to watch them come forth from their hiding places as the
sun sinks and darkness begins to fall. Brood after brood march up the
vine, led by an older one, like the different corps of an army march to
the parade ground at roll call. They come from everywhere—in the
ground, under grass, trash, and boards. Indeed, it is astonishing to see
how soon vines will be crowded with these bugs, where but a few hours
before not one could be found.

Natural Bnemies and Parasites.—Birds and fowls, on account of their
peculiar odor, will not feed on them, and beetles, wasps, and spiders,
which attack caterpillars and other insects, shun it as a foul thing.
Fortunately, however, there are parasites that prey on the egg, and thus
greatly diminish it, although no author that I am aware of mentions
this fact. It was therefore.a surprise and a gratification for me when I
bred three distinct parasites from the eggs the past summer—a Eupel-
mid, an Eneyrtid, and a Telenomid.

THE SQUASH-2UG EGG TELENOMUS—Telenomus anas@ 1. sp.—MALE AND FEMALE.—
Black, very coarsely irregularly reticulately punctate, with white pubescence;
antenne in female .clavate, 12-jointed, brown; in male flagellate, 14-jointed, pale
brown; legs, pale brown or yellowish brown ; cox, black ; abdomen in female, ovate,
sub-convex above, highly convex beneath, and with a light carina at sides; in male
somewhat fusiform. Wings, hyaline, with a slight fuscous tinge, pubescent, the mar-
ginal vein very short, post marginal-long, while the stigmal is about two-thirds as
long as post marginal; all yellowish.

Described from numerous specimens bred in June and July.

About thirty per cent. of the eggs collected were parasitized by this
insect.

THE SQUASH-BUG EGG ENCYRTID—L£neyrlus anase n. sp.—FEMALE.—Length, .05
inch; robust; head and thorax blue-black; abdomen and tip of scutellum cupreous;
the very large pleura and cheeks are decidedly blue; antennz and legs pale brown; the

24

scape at base and tarsi yellowish. The femora have a large bluish-black blotch in the
middle.

Described from two specimens.

The Reduvius Egg Eupelmid—Eupelmus reduvii Howard.—Seven
specimens of what I have identified as this species were bred from Anasa
eges in July.

For a description of the species see Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XII,
page 207.

THE SQUASH BORER.

(Hudioptis nitidalis Cramer.)

The worm so commonly found with us boring into squashes, at the
North goes under the name of ‘* Pickle Worm.” There it is found eat-
ing the leaves and boring into the fleshy portions of the Cucumber.

Distribution.—It is found in the West Indies, throughout the United
States, and in Canada.

Food Plants.—As a borer it is found in Squash, Cucumbers, and Mel-
ons, but it will also feed on the leaves of all of these vines. The moth
is very common and it must have other food plants; Guenée mentions
a species of Potato as its food plant.

Its Injuries —The worms bore cylindrical holes into the Squash, and
feed on the fleshy pulp, causing it to rot and decay. ;

Parasites.—F rom one of the pup I bred a Chalcid fly, Chalcis ovata,
Say, but no other parasites are known to infest it.

Remedy.—Professor Riley, Second Missouri Entomological Report, p.
70, suggests ‘‘ overhauling the vines early in the summer, and destroyirg
the first worms that appear, either by feeding the infested fruit to hogs or
cattle, or by killing the worms on the spot.”

THE SQUASH VINE BORER.
(Melittia ceto Westw.).

This well known insect, unlike Hudioptis nitidalis, does not bore into
the Squash or fruit, but into the stem of the vine, often killing it.

I have taken two or three borers at a time from a single stem, and in
confinement they proved to be cannibalistic—feeding upon one an-
other—as was exemphified with some I attempted to rear this summer.

No borers were observed in the vine until July.

Distribution —Found generally throughout the United States.

Food Plants.—Its attacks are almost strictly confined to the Squash,
although it has been reported to bore at times into Pumpkin vines.

Its Lirr History.—The egg.—The egg is oval and of a dull red.

The Larva.—Full grown larvie measure from one inch to one inch and a fourth.
Somewhat depressed, fleshy, soft, tapering at each extremity ; segments ten in num-
ber, very distinct, the incisions being deep; the eleventh or last segment minute, and
hardly distinet from the tenth. Head retractile, small, brown, paler on the front, and

with the usual V-like mark on it. First segment or collar with two oblique brown
marks on the top, converging behind. <A dark line, occasioned by the dorsal vessel

25

seen through the transparent skin, along the top of the back, from the fourth to the
tenth rings inclusive. True legs six, articulate, brown ; prolegs wanting or replaced
by double rows of hooks in pairs beneath the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth rings,
and two single rows under the last ring. Spiracles brown. <A few very short hairs
on each ring, arising singly from little hard points or pit-like, warty substances.

The Pupya. —This is inclosed in a cocoon made of the squash stalk, tied together
with a few silken threads.

The Moth.—The wings expand one inch and one quarter. Opaque lustrous, olive-
brown; hind wings transparent, with the margin and fringes brown; antennwe
greenish black, palpi pale yellow, with a little black tuft near the tip ; thorax olive ;
abdomen deep orange, with a fransverse basal black band, and a longitudinal row of
five or six black spots; tibiwe and tarsi of the hind legs thickly fringed on the in-
side with black, and on the outside with long orange-colored hairs; spurs covered
with white hairs. (Harris. )

Its Injuries—The female moth lays an egg on the vine near the
roots; the worm which hatches therefrom bores into and feeds on the
soft succulent interior of the stem, particularly at its origin near the
ground, and at the base of the leaves; frequently when small the
worm bores even into the larger leaf-veins. It may easily be detected
at work by the withering of the leaves and stem.

Parasites.—1 know of no parasites bred from this borer; although I
have a large, beautiful, golden green Pteromalid, captured on the
vines, that may possibly prove to be its parasite; others were seen on
the vine or its vicinity.

Remedies.—The following suggestions and remedies will be found use-
ful in destroying the pest:

Cutting out the larve.—This method has been long in use by garden-
ers, and with a little Neg one soon becomes quite expert in detecting
and removing the larvee

Bisulphide of Carbon in the Ground. = peat C. V. Riley first suggested
the use of this insecticide in destroying grape phylloxera and Prof, ae
J. Cook has since used it successfully in destroying this borer. He
says: ‘*A small hole is made in the earth near the main root of the
plant by the use of a walking-stick or other rod, and about a teaspoonful
of the liquid poured in, when the hole is quickly filled with earth and
pressed down by the foot.” In every instance the insects were killed
without injury to the plant.

Gas-lime.—Fresh gas-lime, liberally distributed, after the removal of
the crop, will kill the larve within the cocoons. It is well also to fol-
low Professor Lintner, who says: ‘An infested crop should not be
followed by another upon the same ground.”

Treatment with Saltpeter.—‘ Four tablespoonfuls dissolved in a pail
of water, and about a quart applied to each bill where an attack was
noticed and the leaves were wilting, at the time when the vines were
just beginning to run nieely, effectually arrested the attack and a fine,
crop followed.” (Country Gentleman.)

26

INSECTS AFFECTING THE MELON.

There are two insect pests which seriously damage this crop in Florida—
a borer and an Aphis—both damaging the crop annually to the extent
of thousands of dollars.

THE MELON BORER.
(Eudioptis hyalinata Linn.)

In July the melon crop (Cantaloupes and Musk-melons) is almost
totally destroyed by the injuries committed by this worm. By the end
of the month hardly a melon can be found that has not been bored into
by this destructive pest.

Distribution.—It is a common and extensively distributed species over
North America. the West Indies, and South America. Guenée also
records having received it from French Guiana.

Its total annihilation is devoutly wished for by growers and lovers of
good melons, and a preventive from its attacks greatly desired.

Food Plants.—In several instances I have taken the larve in Squash,
but it is almost exclusively confined to the Melon. From two to six
worms have been taken from a single nutmeg melon. Guenée states it
is found in Pumpkins, Watermelons, and other cucurbitaceous plants.
Now, I have never yet found a borer in Watermelons, and the statement
that this worm is found in this fruit must be taken cum grano salis.

The Larva.—Length eight-tenths of an inch.. Coior translucent green or pale greet-
ish-yellow, with the head and cervical shield yellowish ; the jaws and surroundings
of mouth parts black; from both sides of head issue some fine hairs; the stigmata are
yellowish ; the warty tubercles on the different segments are arranged as in the larva
of Eudioptus nitidalis, its nearest ally, only they are neither so prominent nor black,
but green, and the hairs issuing therefrom are very fine and almost invisible to the
naked eye; the legs are the same in both species.

The Pupa.—This is long and slender, seven-twelfths of an inch in length, yellow-
brown, darker, and tapering to a point at tail; the wing cases are long and rather
narrow, and the antennal case is very long, projecting beyond the base of the 8th
ventral segment. All the segments are well separated, microscopally rugose and
wrinkled. The pupa is generally inclosed ina loosely-woven web or cocoon made by
drawing a leaf together. But this is not always the case. In two instances I found
the pupa loose in the soft pulp of the melon, in the juiciest portion, and it was quite
lively, twisting its abdomen from side to side and wiggling about like a thing of
life. i
The Moth.—W ing expanse from one inch and one-sixth to a little over. The wings
are translucent, pearly white, iridescent, and with a glossy brown-black border; the
abdomen is also pearly white, excepting the last two segments above, which are black-
ish, and ends in a tuft of hairs or expanded brush, of a buff color, tipped with white
and black; the head and the thorax above are brown-blacik, glossy ; the legs are white
excepting the fore-thighs and tibiw, which are discolored above with bufi-colored
scales; middle tibixe armed with two spines, one longer than the other; posterior
tibie similarly armed, but with an additional pair in the middle, beneath.

27

Its Injuries.—The larvee begin by eating the leaves, and the diet of
the first brood of worms must consist almost exclusively of phyllopha.
gous food. It is only as the melons begin to mature that the worms
boreinto them; for comparatively few green melons were found affected.

Ot the large melons examined, from four to six worms were taken
from each, and in every case where this happened the melon had reached
its full growth and was undergoing the process of ripening.

This worm does not always bore directly into the interior of the fruit,
sometimes confining itself to the outer rind or boring irregular galleries
just beneath it; when it attacks the inner or fleshy portions it is most
destructive, excavating long galleries filled with its soft excrements, in
which the worm wallows and crawls backward and forward, and the
fruit then soon sours and decays.

Parasites.— Two. parasites were reported on the worm in the Agricul-
tural Report for 1879. An Ichneumonid fly (Pimplaconquisitor Say), and
a Tachina fly are represented in Plate III, Fig. 6, of said report. No
parasites were bred from it by me, the majority of the pupz in my breed-
ing boxes having been destroyed by a small red ant.

Remedy.—See Squash Borer.

THE MELON PLANT-LOUSE
(Aphis citrulli Ashmead.)*

My first acquaintance with this plant-louse was made while on an
entomological tour to extreme South Florida in April, 1880, on Meta-
combie Key, where it had completely devastated the melon patch of
a Mr. Sands.

Mr. 8., who was a native of the Bahamas, termed the disease
‘**Curled Leaf,” and was not aware it was caused by an insect, until I
convinced him of that fact by showing him the insects through my
pocket lens.

Distribution.—At times the species is very injurious to melon vines in
Florida, Georgia, and places in the West. Prof. S. A. Forbes treats of
this same insect under the name of “ the Melon Plant-louse,” (Aphis cu-
cumeris n. sp.), in the Twelfth Report of the State Entomologist of
Ilinois, page 83. It was first briefly described by the writer in the
Florida Dispatch, New Series, Vol. 1, page 241, July 7, 1882, more than
a year previous to the description by Professor Forves.t

Food Plants.—Its attacks are confined generally to the watermelon
vines, although occasionally found on Squash and other Cucurbitacer.

In the West its habits seem to be similar. Dr. Cyrus Thomas, in

* Synonym, Aphis cucumeris Forbes, Ill. Insect Rep., XII, p. 83.

t Mr. Ashmead disregards the well-known rules of zoological nomenclature in insist-
ing upon the priority of his 4. citrulli, as a name attached to a description published
simply in the Florida Dispatch cannot hold. This species should be known as 4.
cucumeris Forbes.—C. V. R.

28

the Farmers’ Review for September 2, 1880, says: ‘‘There has been
great complaint among our gardeners this season in reference to a
plant-louse that is doing much injury to the nutmeg and muskmelon
vines, and also to the cucumber vines. In some instances they have
almost entirely destroyed the entire fields of vines.”

Irs NatuRAL History.—Very Young.—Length, .02 inch; greenish yellow; eyes,
brown; tips of honey tubes brown; legs pale.

Wingless Female.—Length, .04 inch; yellow; eyes dark brown; honey tubes
slightly conical, black; cauda distinct, dark green; legs pale; extreme tips of tibiz
and tarsi black.

Winged Females.—Length, .05 inch, ovate; head and thorax shining black, some-
times with the prothoracic segment green or yellowish; the antennze are dark and do
not reach the honey tubes; abdomen dark-greenish yellow, spotted along sides;
honey tubes black, thickest at base, gradually tapering to tip; canda distinet, green-
ish yellow or dark green; wings hyaline, with stigma and veins pale yellowish ; legs
pale, with tarsi and extreme tips of tibie# and femora black.

Its Injuries.—The viviparous female breeds very rapidly and is soon
surrounded by young in various stages of growth. Ina brief time these
reach maturity, wander off to new leaves and shoots, and begin colonies
of their own. When these lice become too numerous they exhaust the
vitality of the vine, distort the leaves and cause them to curl up and
wither. The growing terminal shoots are also crowded with them, and
then the vine can make no headway ; it is fruitless and dies.

It is one of the most destructive plant-lice. To illustrate its destrue-
tiveness I cannot do better than quote from an article I wrote in Florida
Dispatch, July 27, 1882, after investigating its injuries in Georgia:

Some figures here in regard to the damage done by the ‘‘ Watermelon Aphis” will
not be amiss, and will show our planters tbe necessity for prompt and united efforts
in its destruction.

In Georgia the estimated yield of the watermelon crop this year (1882) for ship-
ment was 900 car-loads, or 900,000 melons. Many at the beginning of the season
bring $40 and $50 per hundred. However, to keep within a fair valuation and rather
below the true amount, we will say they bring $25 per hundred, which equals, in
round numbers, for the crop $225,000. Now, what has been the yield? The ship-
ments are nearly over, and they have not yet reached 690 car-loads, a falling off of
334 per cent., or a total loss of $75,000, due mainly to the ravages of an insect!

The above statistics of loss are founded upon data of the estimate yield for but
three counties, principally Thomas, Brooks, and Lowndes, in Georgia. In Florida
the crop has from the same cause met with a loss still greater, and we are considera-
bly below the estimate when we say the total loss to the planters of the two States
is not less than $150,000.

Natural Enemies and Parasites —These have not been specially
studied, but the enemies and parasites will be found to be similar to
those of the ‘‘Cabbage Aphis”—flies belonging to the family Syrphi-
die, the Lace-wings (Chrysopide), Chalcid flies (Chalcidide,) and Lady-
birds (Coccinellida.)

Remedies.—An important help in their destruction, and to which the
planters’ especial attention is requested, and which is equally applicable
to other crops, is the following, which, if universally carried out, would

7a)

materially assist in the destruction of all noxious and destructive insect
pests : ,

Never plant watermelons two successive years in the same field.
Plant always in an entirely new field and as far off as possible from
ground in which they were grown the previous year.

My reascn for recommending this is obvious on account of the pecul-
iarity in the development and propagation of the Aphidide. The
spring and summer broods in the majority of the species are vivipa-
rous, while the fall brood of females are oviparous. The last, therefore,
lay the eggs, which lie dormant in the ground all winter and hatch with
the first warm breath of spring; now, then, if this field is plowed up
and other crops planted, the young aphids have nothing to feed on
and so perish.

My observation on this species, too, has been, that it is only trouble-
some in fields planted in melons two or three years in succession; new
melon fields are not affected by it, or to such a small extent as to be un-
noticeable.

Spraying with a dilute emulsion of kerosene wil! doubtless prove an
effectual remedy as with other plant-lice. The emulsion should be
sprayed from the ground up so as toreach the under sides of the leaves,
Professor Riley has figured and described devices for this method of
spraying in his report as entomologist to the Department for 1883, pp.
156-138, and Plates IV and V.

REPORT ON BUFFALO-GNATS.

By F. M. WEBSTER, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

LAFAYETTE, IND., April £0, 1886. -

Str: I herewith transmit a report of my investigations of the habits of the Southern
Buftalo-gnat.

In accordance with your instructions I left my home in La Fayette, Indiana, on
February 18, reaching Vicksburg, Mississippi, onthe 20th. Learning here that these
gnats appeared every season in greater or less numbers in the vicinity of Somerset
Landing, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, in company with Mr. T. C. Bedford, of Vicksburg,
one of the leasers of Somerset Plantation, I left for that locality on the 22d, reach-
ing our destination on the same day.

On the 23d, the weather being very pleasant, the day was spent in riding about
among the teams at work on the plantation, in the hopes of observing some of the
earliest appearing gnats. ;

During the afternoon swarms of aspeciesof Anthomyia were observed in the air, and
I was informed that these were the insects that killed cattle and mules. The follow-
ing day was both cold and rainy, and, in fact, during the two weeks following there
were but twordays of sunshine.

During this inclement weather the lakes and bayous about Somerset were carefully
examined, no trace of the true gnat being found. In the meantime larvie of An-
thomyia were found in considerable abundance about decayed logs and among de-
eayed leaves in the woods, and, as the planters to whom I applied for information ai-

30

most unanimously agreed that these adult Anthomyia were the depredators, it really
seemed that the term Buffalo-gnat here might, like the Tent-worm and the Weevil in
other localities, include a variety of insects.

Wishing to make the best possible use of time, I utilized the bad weather also by
visiting our correspondent, Mr. Robert KE. Craig, at Luna Landing, Chicot County,
Arkansas, spending a few days there, and at Greenville, Miss., returning to Somer-
set March 8.

The 9th and 10th being pleasant, the Anthomyia again appeared, but, although
very demonstrative, none were observed to alight upon the teams at work. This fact
Jed to the impression that my information had been incorrect, and that I was on the
wrong track. This proved true, for during my entire stay I never saw one of these
Anthomyia alight on stock.

On the 11th word came that mules were being harassed by gnats on a plantation
six miles to the northwest, and, on the following day, I rode out to that locality and
found the true gnat in considerable numbers.

Four days were now spent in a fruitless search for the adolescent stages in the
bayous and ditches adjacent to the locality where the adults had now appeared, and
as many more were lost on account of bad weather.

During this time, and up to noon of the 20th, no adult gnats had appeared on the
Somerset plantation. A strong northwest wind had, however, set in during the morn-
ing, and by evening the gnats were quite abundant. The next day (Sunday) the
wind blew still stronger from the same quarter, and Monday morning, the 22d, found
them abundant enough to cause some considerable uneasiness among the teams at
work.

Fully satisfied now that these gnats did not breed in the vicinity of Somerset, I
started out on horseback, and after riding for about eight miles toward the northwest
reached a small stream known as Mill Bayou. Following this down stream, through
the woods, the current soon became quite rapid, the banks being more or less grown
up with brush and bushes, to below the water’s edge. The gnats, too, whose num-
bers had been continually increasing, now became numerous enough to worry my
horse considerably.

Finding that little conld be accomplished in the way of inspecting the stream with-
out a boat, and it being too late in the day to procure one, I returned to Somerset.

On the next day, the 23d, procuring a dugout, a thorough examination was made,
not only of Mill Bayou, but of two others, tributaries to it, one of which had no per-
ceptible current, the result being that where there was no current no larvee of gnats
could be found. Asthe current became sluggish a few were observed, the number in-
creasing in proportion to its rapidity, reaching the maximum in numbers in the
swiftest current of Mill Bayou; always provided, however, there was sufficient mate-
rial to which to attach themselves. Thus, the larvie would occur abundantly on one
side of the stream, where a bend caused it to run very swiftly, while on the opposite
side, in comparatively still water, fey could be found. -

Upon inquiry and personal investigation, this bayou was found to be receiving
water from the Mississippi River through Lake Palmyra and Bayou Vidal, and also
that its water rose and fell with that of the river itself, until the height of the latter
fell below 25 feet on the gauge at Vicksburg.

It now seemed quite important to learn.to what extent, if any, the other inland
bayous were influenced in this manner, and,as the country is of difficult access, I
thought best to visit our correspondent, Judge A. A. Gunby, of Monroe, Louisiana,
whose circuit I knew comprised the eutire infested territory of the northwestern por-
tion of the State, and whom, I learned, was then at home on a short vacation.

Leaving Somerset on the 25th, and returning again on the 3lst, I was, by this
journey, enabled not only to obtain much valuable information from Judge Gunby,
but also to examine the Washita River, and also, but very superficially, on account
of recent heavy rains, the country between it and the Mississippi River.

ol

Finishing my labors at Somerset on the 7th of April, I bade a final adieu to the
country and turned homeward.

To Maj. T. C. Bedford, of Vicksburg, and Mr. J. B. O’Kelley, of Somerset Landing,
I am under very many obligations. From first to last—and I made the latter gentle-
man’shome my headquarters for over a month—both left nothing undone that could
aid me in my work, or make my stay pleasant.

To Judge F. H. Faner, of Bayou Sara, Judge E. D. Faner, and other gentlemen of
Vicksburg, to General Furgerson, of the Mississippi Loan Board, Judge Gunby, and
Messrs. Robert E. Craig and John M. Lee, I am under obligations for both personal
courtesies and aid in my investigations.

And lastly, I have had yourown kindly advice and counsel, the more valuable from
your personal knowledge of the country and of the insect.

Respectfully,
F. M. WEBSTER.

Dr. C. VY. RILEY,

Entomologist.

There is no authentic record of the occurrence of the Southern Buffalo-
gnat in Louisiana prior to the year 1850, when there seems to have
been some complaint of their harassing domestic animals, but no fa-
tality is known to have resulted. A vague rumor exists to the effect
that they had previously appeared in 1846; but this lacks confirmation.
The earliest record I have been able to obtain of stock being killed by
gnats was related to me by Mr. Jacob Alexander, present mayor of.
Greenville, Miss., who states that he observed cattle being killed by
gnats at Clarendon, Ark., in the spring of 1859.

A colored man, formerly an overseer, states that mules were killed by
gnats near Refuge, Miss., in 1861 and 1862. General Furgerson, who
came to Greenville, Miss., in 1862, with a battery of Confederate artillery,
states that gnats were exceedingly troublesome to horses and mules
during the spring of that year. They were also observed in Concordia
Parish, Louisiana, during the spring of 1862.

In 1863 and 1864 the gnats were very abundant about Shreveport,
La., and also Chicot Courty, Arkansas. No trouble is reported during
1865, but in 1866 the alluvial country between the Arkansas and Red
Rivers lying east of the Washita was literally overrun with the pests.
Mr. T. 8. Coons, an intelligent planter living at the time near New Car-
thage, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, preserved a written memorandum made
at the time the gnats first appeared.

From this record we learn that up to the afternoon of April 11 no
‘gnats had been observed, but towards evening they came in hordes,
settling upon and biting the mules and horses and throwing them into
the greatest,agony. Of 6 mules and 2 horses belonging to Mr. Coons,
all of which were as well as usualon the morning of the 11th, the morn-
ing of the 12th found only one mule alive. In the meantime, a neigh-
boring planter had lost 80 mules, and Mr, Douglas, on Somerset plan-
tation, a few miles below, had lost 75 mules.

The mortality throughout the parishes of Madison, Tensas, and Con-

32

cordia, within a few days, amounted to upwards of 4,000 mules and
horses, principally the former.

Although frequently causing more or less trouble and loss, the gnats
did not again appear, generally, and in such countless myriads until
1882, although they caused serious injury iu Tensas oe in 1873 and
1874, and doubtless in other localities also.

But in 1882 they were more destructive to stock than ever before.
The deer were driven from the woods, and frequently took refuge from
their tormenters in the smokes, built by planters for the protection ot
their cattle; when in their agony they would allow people to rub the
gnats from their bodies, and would even lay down in the glowing em-
bers, or hot ashes, in their frantic endeavors to seek relief.

In 1884 the gnats again appeared in great numbers, and were fully as
destructive asin 1882. Throughout Franklin Parish, Louisiana, within a
week from their first appearance, they had caused the death of 3,200
head of stock. And for the first time in the history of the pest, they
attacked horses and mules on the streets, and in the stables, in the city
of Vicksburg, Miss.

No general outbreak took place in 1885, yet they appeared in Tensas
and Franklin Parishes in sufficient numbers to kill quite a number of
mules.

During the present season, although the gnats appeared pretty gen-
erally throughout the country between the mouth of the Arkansas and
that of the Red River, and westward to the Washita, and along the
Yazoo River in Mississippi, no fatality to stock had been reported up
to April 10,and there had been little or no suspension of work on
plantations on account of gnats.

Generally speaking, the Southern Buffalo-gnat may be said to infest
the low, flat, wooded country adjacent to the Mississippi River and its
tributaries, from the mouth of the Red River in Louisiana as far north
at least as Southern Missouri.

I have found nothing to indicate that these gnats originate in large
streams, or even in small ones in hilly localities, although the latter
may have both a swift current and a rocky bed. The fact of adult
gnats occurring in such localities, even in destructive numbers, is not of
itself sufficient proof of their having originated there, as they may be
carried long distances, and in immense numbers, by a strong wind.
Furthermore, I have found no indication of their origin in other than
perennial streams, although many intermittent bayous and small lakes
were closely examined with this point in view.

From the foregoing, we are forced to the conclusion that these gnats
follow the tendency of others of the genus, and breed exclusively in
the running water of small streams. But besides this, there is another
equally essential element, viz, something to which the insect can at-
tach itself during the adolescent stages. As no rocks are found in these
bayous and small streams, we find the larvee utilizing wholly or partly

o3

submerged stumps, brush, bushes, or any other material of like nature,
clustering upon or making their way upward and downward with a
looping gait, or attached by a minute thread-like spider web, they sway
with the ripples at or near the surface of the water, often half a dozen |
being attached by a single thread. While these larve make their way
up and down these submerged objects with perfect freedom, they do
not venture above the water, and when about to pupate select a situa-
tion well down toward the bottom of the stream. In deep water they
were found 3 to 10 feet below the surface, and also much higher up.
But in shallow water they may be found in the pupal stage, clustered,
one above the other, just above the bottom of the stream, their instinct
having evidently taught them to provide for a sudden fall inthe water.
Notwithstanding this, with the water falling at the rate of 1 foot per
day, Ifound many pup had been left high and dry.

These pup are at first of a light brown color, afterwards changing
to a pinkish cast, and, just previous to the emerging of the adult, to
black. During the first of these coloral epochs they are attached to
these vegetable substances by the thoracic filaments, by threads about
the body and at the anal extremity, somewhat after the manner of some
Lepidopterous chrysalids; but during the last two the pup hang by
the short anal attachment alone, and in this way swing about freely in
the current, the adult issuing from beneath the water after the manner
of others of the genus.

The time and exact place of oviposition as well as the exact length of
‘time required ior the insect to pass through either the larval or the
pupal stage I waS unable to determine. But when I left Mill Bayou,
on March 24, the iarvee were nearly all of a uniform size and probably
nearly full grown, a few only being one-fourth to one-half as large. On
returning, on April 1, nearly all larvee had passed the pupa stage, and
the adults had emerged; all of those larvee now remaining being as
large as the majority were on March 24. This, besides indicating that
the breeding season was nearly ended, also leaves some grounds for the
inference that several broods may be thrown off, during early spring,
in rapid succession ; some strength being added to this theory by the
fact that, as I now learned from those residing near this bayou, the
eattle had been driven from the woods,in the vicinity of the stream
about the 20th of February. These are points which the necessarily
limited period during which I had the adolescent stages under consider-
ation, and the sudden, and to me rather unexpected, termination of the
breeding season, prevented my settling.

The adult gnats are usually observed in the vicinity of places where
they breed, during the first warm days of spring, and they remain from
ten days to three or iour weeks, seeming to prefer amoderately cool tem-
perature; and hence, during warm weather, are more numerous in the
early morning and towards evening, frequently being as troublesome
during bright moonlight nights as during the day time. They are said

22340—No. 14 3) |

5 34

to spend the night among grass and like herbage. They are exceedingly
active, and no sooner have they gained a foothold on an animal than
they are busy at their bloody work, selecting the breast, flanks, ears,
nose, or wherever the skin is the most easily punctured.

Very inconspicuous in their flight, making little noise, seldom arising
more than a few feet from the ground, they often bite mules working in
the fields, sufficiently to cause death before their presence in considera-
ble numbers has been discovered. This will, perhaps, account for the
prevailing notion that the bite of these gnats first appearing is the
most poisonous, for inclement weather and adverse winds may cause
them to appear, for the first, at any time during the breeding season,
in localities where they do not actually originate, and, as will be shown
farther on, the same wind that holds them back from one locality may
convey them to another. It would appear as rather more probable,
however, that the poison introduced into the animals’ system by the
bites of the first gnats, unless sufficient to prove fatal, may to some ex-
tent serve as an antidote for that introduced by those appearing later ;
and should this poison remain in the system with considerable stability,
the fact would alsoaccount for acclimated stock being less susceptible to
poison from the bites of these gnats than those unacclimated. Except
in the case of great numbers, death does not necessarily follow the bite
of these gnats, and even then it is not suddenly fatal. Mules that at
night do not appear to be seriously injured will often be found dead
next morning.

Stock, and mules especially, that have been fatally bitten by gnats
are affected in much the same manner as with colic, and, in fact, many
think the bites bring on that disease. But Dr. Warren King, of
Vicksburg, who has made a large number of post mortem examina-
tions, states that he has never been able to obtain any facts which would
justify such a conclusion.

Dr. King opines that the effects of these bites from gnats are on
animals much the same as that of the rattlesnake on the human sys-
tem; and this seems to be the generally accepted opinion among the
more intelligent planters. /

In regard to artificial methods of counteracting the poison of gnats,
there is of course no end, apropos to which, one planter remarks that if
the gnats failed to kill the mule the remedies used certainly would.
Be this as it may, I could learn of no measures that had been generally
tested and proved effective, and no opportunity was offered me to make
any experiments in that direction.

Dr. King recommends rubbing the affected animal thoroughly with
water of ammonia, and administering internally a mixture of 40 to 50
grains of carbonate of ammonia to one pint of whisky, repeating the
dose every three or four hours until relieved. The doctor claims to
have never lost an animal under this treatment, although they were
sometimes apparently beyond recovery. This measure I do not think

ee eee

35

is generally known, but it certainly contains sufficient merit to warrant
a thorough and careful trial. Various external applications, such as
decoctions of Alder leaves, tobacco, pennyroyal and other herbs, have
been tried with a view of preventing gnats from biting mules while at
work, but all of these have proven ineffective. A mixture known as
Gnat Oil is now the chief protection, but this is apt to remove the hair
and is considered injurious to the mules. Fish-oil, and also a mixture
of Kerosene and Axle-grease, are both useful, but none of these can be
used to advantage on stock running at large.

Smokes made about the fields serve as a partial protection, both to
teams at work and stock in pasture. Smoldering fires of cotton seed
are also made in tin cans and like objects, and these are hung about the
teams at work.

While these protective agencies are of considerable service when there
are comparatively few gnats, they are of little value in seasons of great
abundance, for then stock can only be protected by placing them in
dark stables, the gnats having a great aversion to entering dark places.
I am told that to look for relief from simply killing the gnats would be
worse than hopeless, for, though millions were destroyed, they would
not be missed.

Judging from the results of some experiments made with insecticides
by myself upon larvee of the gnats, it will be nearly if not quite im-
possibfe to reduce their numbers by killing them in the streams.

These experiments were made by confining the larve in glass tubes
and submitting them to a current of the decoctions or solutions indi-
cated below.

Larvee remained in a decoction of China berries for half an hour with.
out apparent effect, and the same larve immediately withstood a brine
of salt water, composed of a heaping handful of salt to seven quarts of
water, for twenty minutes, and still remained alive. Lime-water and
sulphur and water had no effect. Strong tar-water killed them, but
diluted it proved harmless. Kerosene emulsion, diluted to contain 5
per cent. kerosene, was effective, but it would be impossible to get a
strength of even 1 per cent. in the stream. About an ounce of DBisul-
phide of Carbon was placed in seven quarts of water, but half an hour in
this failed to affect the larvee. About three ounces was placed in same
amount of water, and this proved fatal within ten minutes.

From this it will be seen that while the Jarve are susceptible to ordi-
nary insecticides, it will be next to impossible to place a sufficient
amount in a stream to affect them. At the time, too, when remedial
measures are the most needed these streams are swollen, and are often
from ten to twenty yards wideand half as deep. Besides, both men and
beasts are dependent upon these streams for their water-supply, and
cutting this off by introducing poisons would cause almost as much trou-
ble as the gnats.

Notwithstanding all attempts to combat this pest have so far been

36

discouraging, there is yet some hope of relief, and that, too, from quar-
ters little expected, by myself at least, when these investigations began.

But, in order to fully understand the matter, it will be necessary to
bring together, not only chronological data relating to the insect in
question, but to the height of water in the large streams during the past
thirty-five or forty years. Also, we must understand something of the
nature of the country which these gnats inhabit, as well as the elements
necessary to their production. And not only must these facts: be
weighed independently, but very carefully with relation to each other,
for it is more than probable that it is through a combination of circum-
stances that the pest holds its sway.

A very noticeable feature connected with the occurrence of the Buf-
falo-gnat is, that below the Arkansas River there is no record of any
fatality to stock, attributable to gnats, previous to the outbreak of the
war, even in seasons of high water. But since that time the two have
occurred in connection with such regularity that the fact has been
noted by even the most unobserving ; that is, in season of low water
during the first three or four months of the year, there have been few
gnats, but with high water during these months they were abundant,
reaching the maximum during an overflow.

The banks of the rivers of this alluvial district are peculiar, in that
the country slopes from instead of toward the streams. Hence water,
escaping through the banks first runs inland, and then more or less
parallel with the parent stream, until it can empty its waters into a
larger tributary. Of this characteristic of the Mississippi, Red, and
Yazoo Rivers, whether considered individually or collectively, I do
not think it would be too much to say that it is one of the primary
causes of the production of the gnats in such destructive numbers.

My own observations were almost wholly confined to tbe country
lying between the Arkansas and Red Rivers on the one hand and be-
tween the Mississippi and Washita on the other. This section is of
difficult access, and I have relied for my information principally upon
civil engineers and other people familiar with topography of the coun-
try, as my own time was largely occupied in studying the gnats them-
selves in Tensas Parish.

With the exception of a low, wide ridge of country lying between
Beeuf River and Bayou Mason, and extending from Franklin Parish to
Southern Arkansas, and known as the Bayou Mason Hills, this whole
region is very flat; and the streams, with only rain and sewage water
io Garry off, would naturally have a sluggish current. A glance over
the map of this section will show that it is traversed by Bayous Bar-
tholomew and Mason, and Rivers Boeuf and Tensas, the last two
really not materially differing from bayous.

Three of these will be observed to originate in extreme Southeastern
Arkansas, and running south-southwest, finally unite together, and form
Black River, which is a tributary of the Washita.

37

Besides these main bayous there are innumerable smaller ones which
often intersect them and each other, so that if one of the main streams
becomes suddenly swollen, the water escapes from it into all of the
others, and if continued, affects the whole internal water system.

These bayous all differ from the rivers, in that the descent from the
top of the bank to the water is much more gradual, and ‘this slope is
apt to be more or less overgrown with brash and bushes to below low-
water mark. Hence, it will be seen that whatever contributes to the
volume of water in these bayous not only adds rapidity to the current,
but brings it more and more in contact with the second element, viz,
material to which the larve can attach themselves, and we have the
same state of affairs as in Mill Bayou.

In Louisiana there is but one locality where water from the Missis-
sippi gets through the bank into these inland bayous, and that is by
way of Bayou Vidal and Mill Bayou, although in very high water it
runs into Roundaway Bayou a couple of miles above Bayou Vidal at Dia
mond Bend. The next opening is at Master’s Bend, a short distance
north of the Arkansas line, and the water coming in through it enters
both Bayou Mason and Tensas River. The next break is just above
Luna Landing, and is known as Whisky Short; another, Panther For-
est, is just below Gaines’s Landing. Of the effect of these last two
openings extracts from a letter received from Mr. Robert E. Craig, who
resides on Point Chicot, in the immediate vicinity, will fully explain:

“Tf you will examine your map you will find Lake Mason lies at right
angle across head of ‘ Tensas Basin.’ The recent rise in the river was
high enough to run into Lake Mason, the southern bank of which is
high. There are two or three bayous through this bank which let the
water into all bayous east of Bartholomew, but not enough water to
overflow the lower banks of any one of them. Lake Chicot also filled
at the same rise in the river, and is gradually being emptied through
the Masonand Boeut.” Mr. Craig also adds : “* When you were here, bay-
ous were all receiving Mississippi River water through Lake Mason and
Lake Chicot.” It was during ‘the recent rise” to which Mr. Craig re-
fers that I was his guest at Point Chicot. Andon March 2d, the day
after my arrival, the water measured 27.8 feet on the gauge at Memphis,
and 38.2 feet at Vicksburg, as the signal officer at the latter city in-
formed me.

It will be proper to state here that up to the breaking out of the war,
owing to the perfect levee system, water was prevented from escaping
into these bayous. During the war, these levees were destroyed by the
caving of the river and through other causes, and the places where wa-
ter now escapes from the Mississippi River and runs inland are breaks
that have never been rebuilt.

As the season of high water usually occurs during late winter and
early spring, the effect of this influx of water is not only to fill these in-
land bayous, but to keep them full during the breeding season of the
gnats. Hence the effects, if any ovcur, should be noticeable in the

38

number of gnats and the amount of damage done by them in the
vicinity of the streams thus influenced.

They appear in the vicinity of Mill Bayou every year. in greater or
less numbers, and I have twice observed them being carried from them
to Somerset plantation by a heavy northwest wind, and as often ob-
served them gradually disappear under winds blowing equally strong
from the north, northeast, and south.

Strong winds, blowing from a northwesterly quarter, bring gnats sud-
denly and in great numbers to the neighborhood of Lake Saint Joseph,
six to eight miles below Sumerset. Judge Gunby states that they appear
at Monroe with an east wind; Mr. Craig observes them at Point Chicot
with a west or southwest wind, and at the time they appeared in the
city of Vicksburg they came with a westerly wind.

Probably the worst afflicted parish in Louisiana is that of Franklin,
which is situated between and at the junction of Beeuf River and Bayou
Mason. Judge Gunby and others well acquainted with the country
through which these two streams flow state that gnats appear with
more regularity and in greater numbers in that vicinity than elsewhere.
Mr. Craig states that they occur to some extent every year along these
streams in Arkansas, being observed the most numerous the present
season near Bayou Mason. This is in accordance with all reliable in-
formation which I bave been able to obtain, and, aside from the country
about Mill Bayou, coincides with my own observations.

In connection with this evidence we can also observe that these
gnats are yearly being produced in numbers close up to the danger
line, only an overflow being required to furnish the conditions suitable
for carrying them far beyond. Soon after these investigations began I
learned that the Buffalo Gnat did not occur below the mouth of the
Red River. Wishing definite information on this point, I addressed a
letter to Judge F. H. Farrer, of Bayou Sara, La., whose reply is given

herewith, and I will only say that the facts embodied therein have since

been corroborated by planters whom I have met from that region:

Bayou Sara, La., March 9, 1886.

Dear Sir: Yours of the 4th instant was received day before yesterday, Sunday.
Court being in session, a great many farmers were in town, and I had plenty of old,
experienced men to apply to for information in regard to the Buffalo-gnat.

Many had been familiar with the mischief it did farther north, but all agreed that,
except to young turkeys and other poultry, it worked little or no harm in this region,
either in low or high lands. <A few indeed asserted that the one here was a different
insect, known by the name of ‘‘turkey gnat,” but the large majority maintained that
it was the same humpbacked individual so destructive in North and Nortnwest Lou-
isiana. I presume that it never appears in such numbers here as there.

My own experience, as far as it goes, agrees with that of the majority with whom I
spoke on the subject, viz, that the genuine Buffalo-gnat is to be seen here every
spring for a few weeks, but is by no means the dangerous pest to cattle, horses, &c.,
that it is in Northern Louisiana.

Respectfully, yours, &c.,
F. H. FARRAR.
F. M. WessTER, Esq., Vicksburg, Miss.

39

In summing up the matter we find that so long as this influx of river
water was prevented no damage occurred by reason of gnats, even in
the district now the worst infested, and we also find that in other parts
of the same State, where this influx is still prevented, no trouble is ex-
perienced. :

Hence it seems but reasonable that, if this protection was restored,
the trouble would, within a few years at most, subside toits former state.
This time would be materially hastened by the removal of underbrush,
&c., which would come in contact with the current in portions of these
inland streams where it runs the most swiftly. This last remedial
measure might also be applied to bayous affected by high water of the
Red, Yazoo, and other smaller rivers.

From the fact that the gnat breeds during the season when the water
is cool, and ceases as it gets warmer, it seems not impossible that the
infusion of the icy current of those rivers flowing from the north into
those breeding places might serve to prolong the breeding season. The
truth of this point can only be obtained by future study.

It is also possible that a more extended study of the Buffalo-gnat and
the entire country it infests might, to some extent, modify the conclu-
sions arrived at in this report; but with the evidence now before me
they appear correct.

THE NATIVE PLUMS—HOW TO FRUIT THEM—THEY ARE PRACTI-
CALLY CURCULIO PROOF.

By D. B. Wier, Lacon, Il.

During the past forty years, in the vast region of North America ly-
ing west, north, and south of Lake Michigan, and the west line of the
State of Indiana, it has been impossible to succeed in fruiting the fine,
large, delicious Garden Plums (Prunus domestica) of Western Europe, for
the reasons that the trees were not hardy in this fierce Western climate.
The fruit was destroyed by the Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar),
and of late years, if not so destroyed, * rotted,” particularly south, be-
tore maturity.

Long and persistent trials of this species of plum in the West, by the
most careful and expert cultivators, have proven that it is folly to longer
attempt to cultivate the old and well known varieties of these plums,
for in the northern part of this region neither the trees nor their roots
will withstand the severity of the winters, and south, if we protect the
fruit from Plum Curculio, it seldom escapes total annihilation by “ rot”
before arriving at maturity, and, as arule, for many years all intelligent
cultivators have given up its cultivation, and have been anxiously seek-
ing for a substitute, and have repeatedly selected for this purpose the
finer varieties of our two most common species of

40

NATIVE PLUMS.

The Chickasaw Plum (Prunus chickisa) found indigenous from North-
ern Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico, and the wild yellow or red plum
(Prunus americana) tound indigenous over nearly the whole continent.
These are two quite distinct races (for they cannot be regarded as dis-
tinct species) of the subgenus Prunus of the Almond family (Amygdalea),
order Rosacewe. Anda typical tree of either so-called species is very
distinet in fruit, foliage, and general appearance from a typical tree of
the other. But so far as we are concerned in this study of them they are
practically the same, except that the fruitof the P. americana, or North-
ern type, has much the thicker, tougher, and more acerb skin, and that
some of the Chickasaw, or Southern type, do not provehardy far North,
i. e., some of the named varieties, while others do, and the same would
undoubtedly prove true of P.americana. Butas this last is found grow-
ing wild, and with good varieties, at least as far north as the northern
limit of Dakota, these native plums are a fruit in some of tbeir varieties
perfectly adapted to every part of the United States.and ‘ erritories and
pre-eminently the fruif of the great Northwest.

Yet, as a rule, those who have taken these wild plums from their na-
tive thickets and planted and carefully cultivated them, in hope of find-
ing at leasta poor substitute for the Garden Plum, have met with a com-
plete, decisive failure. They got no fruit. We, the older settlers of
the West (Illinois), knew the wild plums as the most plentiful and use-
fal of the wild fruits when the country was first settled and when our
“tame” plums failed (for it is a fact that in this part of Illinois as early
as 1845 we fruited many varieties of the Garden Plum, Nectarines,
Peaches, and Apricots in abundance, with no injury from the Plum Cur-
culio, or rot”). We began to hunt out and plant the finer varieties of
the “ wild” ones, some of which were most beautiful, large and fine, and
of very good quality. But after years of patient waiting we found that
these gave no fruit in their new homes, except very rarely. We found
that the young fruit developed to the size of a little pea, or a little larger,
and indeed often to more than half its full size, and then all fell off.

This fallen fruit, if examined, showed very generally the ovipositing
marks of the Plum Curculio, made when laying her eggs.

It is not necessary here to give thecomplete natural history of this
insect, because all the more important facts and their practical bear-
ings have been recorded by competent writers, and especially by Walsh
in his first report as State entomologist of Illinois, and by Riley in his
third report on the insects of Missouri; but it will be sufficient to say that
it isa small insect of the Cureulio (Curculionidae) or snout-beetle family
that deposits its eggs under the skin of the young fruit of all the smooth-
skinned species of the Almond family, or nearly all of them, and some
other fruits as well. The eggs are deposited in little holes eaten through

i

41

and under the skin of the fruit by the mother beetles, and so soon as
deposited she cuts around and under the egg, leaving a crescent or new-
moon shaped mark on the fruit, with a round dot (hole where the egg
was laid) between the two horns of the crescent. Inthe Garden Plums,
Nectarines, Peaches, Apricots, late Cherries, &c., these eggs soon hatch
and bring forth white, footless grubs, which burrow through the pulp
of the fruit and live and grow fat on its substance, and at the time
when the fruit should mature, instead of a fine, delicious fruit, one finds,
though perhaps quite fair without, a mass of rottenness within, with a
nasty grub wallowing around in its own excrement, and the rotten pulp
of the fruit, thereby completely destroying it for any purpose whatever
as a fruit.

That the numbers of this pest have grown less each year for the past
ten years, and more especially during the last three years, is the evi-
dence of all careful observers. This grand result has evidently been
brought about by the continuously-increasing numbers of its natural
enemies, in the form of other insects, &e., and if this rate of decrease
and increase keeps on, we may in the near future be so relieved of this
pest as to be able to have fair crops of the stone fruits without using
preventive measures.

So much about the Plum Curculio is necessary for the general reader
in understanding this paper, and it is well to continually bear in mind
that, until a very recent date, the native plums were considered as one
of the fruits totally destroyed by the Plum Curculio by all, unless it
was *“ Curculio proof” or protected from the parent beetle. But this be-
lief was not and is not true, for we shall find as we proceed that all, or
nearly all, of the native plums are practically curculio proof. And
what is of very much more value, we will find that instead of breeding
and multiplying the Plum Curculio, they scarcely breed them at all,
and that if these plums are planted in sufficient quantity they will
greatly reduce its numbers and. protect other fruit from its ravages.

Then, of course, when we found nearly every fallen fruit marked with
the peculiar marks made by the Cureulio when laying her eggs, we al}
of us, professors of entomology, professors of horticulture, fruit-growers,
and ‘“ clod-hoppers” at once jumped to the conclusion that the *“ Little
Turk ” (so called from her ovipositing mark being crescent-shaped) was
the cause of the loss cf our plums. We all believed this to be true ; we
looked for no other explanation; we had no data on which to base a
~ search for any other explanation, so we sheathed our weapons and re-
treated from the field vanquished.

in the mean time what few matured plum thickets were left, the few
that had escaped the farmer’s grubbing hoe, continued to give annually
bountiful crops of fruit, the Cureulio to the contrary notwithstanding,
and, whether stung or not by that insect, matured and ripened their
fruit.

It is true that the trees in these wild plum patches were not as vig-

42

orous and healthy as they were when we gray-headed chaps were boys,
for their surroundings had been changed, greatly changed. Their old
companion plants were nearly all gone; new plants, usurpers, had taken
their places and their environment was changed.

These new plants were many of them very injurious and detrimental
to the vigor of the trees, and with the advent of man had come his herds;
they tramped the ground down hard over their roots; they laid bare
the surface of the soil to the direct rays of the sun by eating the herb-
age. Things injurious to the foliage and fruit of the trees, in the shape
of new insects and new diseases, were introduced, but with all of this
afew wild plum thickets survived and matured plums, Why these did —
mature fruit under these adverse circumstances, and why the selections
we made of a few fine plums from perhaps some of the most fruitful of
these same thickets could not be made to mature a plum with all the
eare and petting we could give them, when planted in our garden or or-
chard, to explain this, to give the reasons why, and to show how easily
all.can have this valuable and delicious fruit in abundance, is the mo-
tive of preparing this paper for publication.

And now I will begin my task. I was born here (Marshall County,
Illinois) in 1834, and can therefore well remember the country as it was,
and the wild plums as they were before the Plum Cureulio made its
first destructive showing here in 1845, Then we had these plums
everywhere ; ‘‘ the woods were fullofthem.” The valleys of the smaller
streams were almost one continuous and unbroken plum thicket from
source to mouth. The edges of the prairies were skirted with them.
They were the most plentiful and useful of all our wild fruits.

Asa boy I was passionately fond of fruit of all kinds, and the lo-
cation of ali good wild fruits that I could find was stored up in my
memory for future use.

Many of the wild plums, as [remember them, growingin our woods
were very poor in quality—many good, a few very good, and a still
smaller proportion of them very good and very handsome.

About the year 184£ IT found growing in the edge of a plum thicket a
beautiful young tree, witha few large bright golden plums on it, kissed
by the sun until their cheeks blushed crimson, and, when ripe, of deli-
cious, honeyed perfumed flavor, large, oblong, and most beautiful. The
next fall it was fairly loaded with its glorious fruit. JI determined to
secure this prize and have it all my own. I took it up very carefully,
transplanted it into the garden, and tended it with the greatest care;
it grew finely in its new home, but never matured a fruit; it bloomed
and set fruit freely, but it soon all fell off, but they were not stung by
the Plum Curculio! It was before the advent in great numbers of
that now numerous pest.

I next tried the European or Garden Plum; they bloomed, fruited,
but every plum was destroyed by the Plum Curculio before maturing.

43

‘At last a dry autumn, followed by a severe winter, cleaned these out,
roots and all.

T next heard of a variety of the Native Plums called the Miner ; heard
a great mass of testimony as to its being thoroughly hardy, entirely
“eurculio proof,” and yearly productive of good, large, salable fruit.
I procured 500 trees of this variety and planted them in an orchard, the
spring of 1862, and, with the exception noted farther on, these trees have
not to this day matured one peck of fruit. This variety is about half
way between or a hybrid between the extreme types of the two species
firstmentioned. I next learned of the celebrated plum of the Southern or
Chickasaw type, known asthe “ Wild Goose” plum, in 1867. I procured
afew scions of it, and top-grafted them in the center of the Miner or-
chard. Fiveof these grafts grew, and the next spring the grafts bloomed
freely and set a large amount of fruit, nearly every one of which ma-
tured fully. The great, bright red oblong fruit hung on ropes on these
grafts, and I was so excited over them that I nearly went plum crazy.
They ripened the first half of July and they were snapped up, in our
little town at 25 cents per quart. In my dreams I saw golden visions ;
a fortune from plums stared me in the face. Thinking all was right with
this plum, so soon as I could obtain trees I planted 800 of them in
orchard. They grew and flourished grandly, bloomed, and they set
fruit profusely, but it all fell off when quite small. Both these Miner
and Wild Goose orchards were planted in a solid mass, no other trees
of the almond family being among or near them, except as hereafter
noted.

I have said the grafts set in Miner bore profusely, so did the trees in
which they were grafted, 7. ¢., of Miner Plums, as did the trees next ad-
joining, and matured their fruit perfectly. These plum orchards were

’ both a continuation of a large orchard of hardy cherries. The rows of

both varieties of these plums next to the cherries have every year matured
more or less plums, some seasons quite a crop. With these exceptions, no
other trees in these orchards have ever brought one plum to maturity.
These two orchards were some distance away and so were not observed
very closely. In carrying on a general Nursery I gathered here many va-
rieties of Native Plums, and propagated them quite extensively for sale.
Trees of the leading varieties on their own roots were planted isolated
from other plums, so as to obtain suckers. The varieties so planted
were Wild Goose, Miner, Forest Garden, DeSoto, Weaver (though not
to be true to name), Langdon, Newman, and many others, none of
which have as yet matured a plum except the Newman. About the
same time, or sixteen to eighteen years ago, I planted the varieties
named above, together with several others, thickly in rows, the rows
four feet apart, with the several varieties intermingled or “all mixed up,”
but at some points in the rows all of one variety with no other quite
near, and these trees have not failed of bearing and maturing a full crop
each year during the last twelve years. Again soon after this IL planted

+f

in nursery rows for budding 2,000 one-year-old seedlings of the Ameri-
cana type, from seed grown in Wisconsin. ‘These were planted in two
blocks and were budded over once with the varieties last named, and
some others. The rows were four feet apartand the seedlings one foot
(or less) apart in the rows. Butasmall percentage of the buds grew,
the best of the resulting budded trees were sold, but more or less trees
of all the varieties so budded were left among the seedlings and all grew
up together and are yet, to-day, to be seen in the same condition.

Of the trees planted not near other trees of the Almond family,
numbering some hundreds, not one of them ever matured a fruit during
the sixteen years they have been old enough to produce, until last
season, when a few of the varieties ripened a very high crop of fruit,
the Miner being second only to the Newman in point of productiveness.

The Newman as an exception to the other varieties has given a fair
crop each season during the sixteen years, except one, when it failed
entirely. Ten years ago I was ready to retire beaten, and give up the
whole plum and plum-tree business i disgust, in fact the whole Al-
mond family, for the Plum Cureulio seemed determined to destroy all the
cherries also. , I had followed every hint and theory that I had ever
heard of. I carefully examined the flowersof all the varieties, and found
them, so far as I could see, perfect in all their parts. The first grafts of
the Wild Goose in the Miner trees continued to bear each year, as did
the trees in which they were grafted. The isolated trees, scattered
over the plantation, were vigorous, healthy, and each year bloomed pro-
fusely and set fruit freely, but it all fell off when quite small, except a
very small proportion of that on the Wild Goose; some of the fruit of
this variety weuld attain half, two-thirds, or even full size, ripen pre-
maturely and then fall off. But in all such instances there were other
trees of the Almond family planted not far away, and I can safely say
that during the twenty years or more that I have had this variety old
enough to bear, the hundreds of trees of it in my orchards have not
matured one fruitif completely isolated from other trees of the Almond
family.

One day, when examining the fruit of this variety for Cureulio youug,
T was surprised not to find a live grub in them at all, and at that time
could not find a fruit in which the larve had ever fed. And I was
still more surprised upon cutting through the shell to find that the seed
had not developed and was imperfect. This fact led me to believe that
the flowers of this variety were not perfect, that the pollen was not
good.

Some years ago I received from its disseminator, O. M. Lord, of Min-
nesota City, Minn., scions (grafts) of a fine new hardy plum found in
his neighborhood, named the “ Rolling Stone.” Five of these I grafted
into a tree of Wild Goose.of bearing age by splice grafting on the ter-
minal twigs of the main branches. All five of these grafts grew ; one
of them gave three clusters of bloom the same spring it was grafted,

Ad

and matured three plums. I was very greatly surprised this same sea-
son, in July, to find near this graft, and in the same tree, about twenty-
five perfectly matured Wild Goose plums, all very close to the Rolling
Stone graft and none any distance from it, and the Wild Goose did not
ripen prematurely or fall off before fully developed. The three plums
matured by the graft ripening about a month later.

Three of the Rolling Stone grafts grew finely the first summer after
grafting, and the next spring bloomed profusely. The tree in which
they were grafted grew at the south end of a.row of the same variety
(Wild Goose) about 30 rods long. This second season after the gratts
were inserted the tree in which they were growing matured a full crop
of fruit ; the one next north 4 feet from it was full of fruit on its south
side; the fruit was scattering. The next tree 10 feet north of the grafts
entared three plums; not one other tree in the row out of Denes a
hundred matured a plum that season.

The extreme cold of the following winter destroyed the Wild Goose *
below the grafts, and the following spring they did not bloom. Twenty
feet east of this row of Wild Goose stood a row of cross-bred seedlings.
The following summer (of 1885) this row of seedlings bloomed and
fruited enormously, and the row of Wild Goose fruited very heavily on
the east side of the trees, with scarcely a plum on the west side of the
row.

And to close the record of these two rows, I will add that during the
spring of 1886 I made a record of the time of blooming of all the
plum trees on the place, and of the force and direction of the wind
during the time of blooming, and find, by referring to that record,
that a gentle east wind prevailed for three days during the time when
the row of native plums were in the height of bloom, and the row of
Wild Goose matured an enormous crop of very fine fruit, but with very
much more fruit on the east than on the west side (the row of seedlings
furnishing the pollen which was wafted to them by the east wind.)

The first year that the Rolling Stone grafts bloomed gave me the long-
hidden secret of the failure in productiveness of the native plums,
which has proved itself to be that a great majority, or nearly all
of them, are not fertile with their own pollen; or, in other words,
from some not as yet fully explained cause or causes the pollen of, say,
the Wild Goose or Miner will not pollenize the ovaries of their own
flowers. Why it will not does not become material; the fact remains,
nevertheless. '

After a pretty thorough investigation my conclusion as to the reason
is, that the pollen matures and is flown away and wasted before the
stigmas are mature enough to receive it; or, it may be true that the
pollen of some varieties is impotent to their own stigmas, or possibly
even poisonous to them. That this latter condition of facts may exist
has been fully and satisfactorily proven by the most carefully conducted
experiments by the great Darwin, and the results given in detail in his

AG

‘Plants and Animals under Domestication,” and the same theory has.
to some extent been handled in works by other eminent scientists. I
found that the Rolling Stone variety would pollenize the Wild Goose and
render it fruitful. I found that other varieties would do the same when
twenty feet away, if the wind blew from the right direetion when they
were in bloom. I found that in every instance where I had trees of the
Miner and Wild Goose near each other, both varieties were very pro-
ductive, and also that when the Newman and Wild Goose were near
together neither was fully productive, and that where Miner and New-
man were contiguous both were enormously and regularly productive.

IT also found that where I had Newman growing isolated from other
varieties, that it was yearly productive of moderate crops of good fruit,
but searcely a seed from such trees would grow ; but where the Newman
and Miner were planted near together the Newman was not only enor-
mously productive, but the fruit was larger, later, darker colored, and
thicker skinned, and the seed all good, and the resulting seedlings
strong and vigorous, the Miner being also very productive in this case.

Further, I found that where I had nearly all the named varieties of
both types of these plums growing together in the two blocks of seed-
lings, that all of them (including the seedlings) were, with the excep-
tion of the Wild Goose, very productive each year since old enough to
bear. Trees of the Wild Goose were growing in both blocks of these
seedlings, but none of them have ever fruited so heavily as those grow-
ing near Miner, showing, I think, that the Miner is its best consort. The
trees in these two blocks of seedlings are about one foot apart in the
row, and the rows four feet apart. Growing in this way much in the
same manner as the natural plum thickets of the earlier days of this
country, they have all of them matured a full crop of plums each year
for the past seven years, and the trees have remained more vigorous
and healthy than isolated trees of the same varieties. The number of
varieties in these two blocks may be safely estimated at 5,000, ranning
through all grades of the northern wild plum, from the poorest to the
very best. During the whole period in which these plums have been
fruiting, nothing whatever has been done to protect the fruit from or
to destroy the Plum Curculio, and this insect has been present in large
numbers during the whole time. No hogs or other stock have been
allowed to run among the trees, and, until the last three seasons, all the
“ wormy ” fruit has rotted on the ground, undisturbed.

The history of these plum trees tells my readers exactly how to fruit
the native plums everywhere in abundance. Heretofore when writing
on this sabject I have qualified the above by saying how they will
fruit here abundantly. But during the past two years I have cor-
responded with the owners of or visited a great number of plum or-
chards throughout nearly the whole country and find the same results
everywhere, namely, wherever these plums have been planted with
several varities near together (or near trees of several other species of

—s

47

the almond family) they have been constantly productive, but when
planted with the varieties isolated they have proven barren, except in
the South.

While the Wild Goose will pollenize its own stigmas south of the Ohio
River, and will not north, may seem a little strange. But this fact is
easily explained. Here, or North, fruit trees burst suddenly into bloom,
and in three or four days the sexual organs of the flowers have matured,
performed their functions, and lost their sexual force. South, the peach
is often in continuous bloom for four months, the plum for two months,
and therefore there is a continuous supply of ripe pollen and ripe (stig-
matic) stigmas to receive it. Here the Wild Goose plum, for instance,
opens its flowers one day, ripens and sheds most of its pollen the fore-
noon of the next day (the pollen of the plum, which is the male element
of their sexuality, consists of very minute roundish, egg-like cells, very
light and produced in great abundance, and may be carried by the wind
for miles under favorable circumstances and their potency remain un-
impaired), and not until the afternoon of this day do the stigmas take
on the sexual heat and become ready to receive it. These and the other
fully established facts, that to many varieties and species of plants their
own pollen is neither acceptable nor fertile to their own flowers—stig-
mas—and to the more common fact that in many piants a flower is
not fertile with pollen of that flower, but fully fertile with pollen from
another; why we have failed to get fruit from many varieties of Na-
tive Plums when not growing near other Plum trees (or other trees of
the Almond family), and why these same varieties are very productive
when planted near others; the reason for this seems to be that nat-
ure abhors “in and in breeding,” or, in other words, she has carefully
guarded nearly all forms of life from unnatural unions or a too close
consanguinity of offspring. j

But in our Almond family the different species seem freely to fertil-
ize each other sexually in many instances, and the resulting hybrids
are, so far as observed, fully fertile with all. For, as before intimated, I
have absolute and incontestable proof that the flowers of the Wild Goose
and Miner plums are fertilized to a limited extent by the pollen of our
cherries, which belong to a different genus of the same order. Also,
the proof is absolute that the pollen of the peach freely fertilizes the
flowers of the Chickasaw plums, at least some of them. The new early
peaches, such as Hale’s Early, Amsden’s June, Alexander, &c., are
such hybrids nearest the peach in their generalities ; and the Black-
man, Golden Beauty, and other so-called plums are such hybrids more:
nearly resembling the plums.

The plums of Europe freely fertilize our native plums, and vice versa.
So far there is no proof that the sub genus, Padus, to which our wild
cherries belong, is sexually fertile with other members of the sub order,
but it is very probable that it is not.

We have now, if we have read understandingly, learned how we may

48
FRUIT THE NATIVE PLUMS

everywhere in abundance. How? Simply by planting severai va-
rieties near together or commingled, or by grafting or budding barren
trees with one or more different varieties as above explained. Plant-
ing the different varieties near together is most practical, and easily
done by selecting such two (or more) varieties as will pollenize each
other, and planting them alternately in rows 4 to 6 feet apart, the rows
running in the direction of the prevailing winds at the blooming time
of the plum. If we do not know what varieties will pollenize each other,
we will be safe if we plant several varieties in close proximity, so as to
have the so-called species alternate in the rows. The rows may be 15
to 30 feet apart.
We now take up the

PLUM CURCULIO (Conotrachelus nenuphar)

understandingly. But why need I add one more word about it, for the
proof is absolute here, and I have tie same complete proof from nearly
every State and Territory, that it has no effect on the fruiting of the
great majority of our native plums whatever. If their flowers are
pollenized they give regular crops of valuable fruit as ary fruit in any
climate, with no material damage to the fruit, except rarely to a few
varieties, by this pest. In fact, I will here put it on record: I believe
that after carefully investigating the subject throughout three seasons,
that what effect this curculio has on these fruits tends to benefit the
tree and fruit rather than injure, for, where these plums are fully pollen-
ized their tendency is to overbear—to set more fruit than they can or
should bring to maturity. The most material injury to this fruit by the
curculio is that the cuts through the skin of the young fruit, made by
her when laying her eggs, sometimes forms a nidus (breeding place) for
‘‘fruit-rot.”. The varieties will be affected by this very ditferently in
different locations and climates, but this rot does not, as is the case
with some other fruits, so far as is known prevent our securing full
crops of some varieties everywhere. (Curiously the evidence is that P.
chickasa is more subject to rot South than P. americana, and vice versa.
But my observations here prove that this “fruit-rot” iu the native
plums more often finds a nidus or origin in the minute punctures of leaf
lice (Aphididae) and plant bugs (Hemiptera). The most injurious of the
bugs to the fruit of our native plums, and perhaps the most injurious in-
sect of North America, is the now notorious tarnished plant bug (Capsus
oblineatus, Say.). This pernicious bug is abundant nearly everywhere,
is an omnivorous feeder, and not only depletes trees and plants of their
juices, but the puncture of its beak is very poisonous to them, causing
many young fruits to drop soon after being punctured, on others leav-
ing wounds for the entrance of the spores of the sporadic diseases or
“rots.” Therefore it will not do to give the plum curculio credit as the

49

destroyer of all fruit that falls before maturity; and, further, it is a fact
that the injury to the young fruit by this curculio when laying her eggs
does not cause such fruit to fall while small, but the contrary is true,
Therefore, when we find all our young plums on the ground early in
June, notice if every one of them sho ws the ovipositing mark of the
Little Turk. She or her work was not the cause of their fall. But cut
them open and you will invariably find the seed embryo dead, or the
lice or bugs before mentioned had caused their death.

Then it remains to give ashort summary of the facts gathered, show-
ing the true status of the Plum Curculio in regard to fruit growing
generally and the Native Plums especially.

The first and most important is that all evidence shows that this in-
sect seeks the Native Plums in preference to all other fruits in which to
deposit her eggs. This is a queer, a strange fact in biology, which nat-
uralists will be inclined to dispute, namely, that an insect should seek
and use, seemingly by preference, a fruit in which to lay her eggs
wherein but very few of them will hatch and in which but few of such
larvee as do hatch can be nourished on its substance to maturity.

The reason why the Plum Curculio does seek the Native Plums to
Oviposit in seems to be because of their very early and very fragrant
bloom. This beetle, unlike some others, is a ravenous feeder while in
the imago or beetle state, and flies toward the nearest inviting food.
With what result, now becomes the important question. Ihave shown
that the depositing of the eggs of the Curculio in the young fruit does
not cause it to fall before reaching maturity ; that it does not materially
injure the fruit, for I have marketed a Miner plum on which were eight-
ec . of the ovipositing marks of this beetle, and yet it was a passable
plum for use (eating or canning). But the facts are best given in figures
and percentages.

During the past two seasons I have gone over the great mass of native
plums in bearing here twice during each season, or four times syste-
mativally, and very carefully, with practically the same results each
time, and I will here give my results in figures.

I found that for every egg that hatched and the larvee had fed notice-
ably, that there were from 1,500 to 1,900 ovipositing marks of the Cur-
culio, and that only one living curculio maggot was found in 3,100 to
3,900 plums examined and in which her eggs had been laid. These
percentages are from the June observations of these two years and
coincide with previous observations. In the two observations made
during the latter part of July and first of August the percentages were
not materially changed or different. Another study was made to find
out how many larvee that had hatched had fed to well advanced matu-
rity as larve. To get at this L selected the fruit of the Wild Goose and
Newman, in which I had found more living Jarve than in any other
variety here (as yet I have not found any living larve of considerable
size in the Miner, but strangely I found more living, well fed, healthy

22340—No, 14-———4

50

looking larvee in P. americana in the woods, to the number of plums
stung than I have in any other plum, a not very careful survey of this
tree showed that about one in twenty-five of the eggs laid in the fruit
has produced well-grown, healthy looking larve). I selected first 100
plums of the Wild Goose variety, in which eggs had seemingly been
laid. (I am well aware that in many species of insect life the females ,
will continue to form proper nidi for the reception of her eggs long
after her supply of eggs has become completely exhausted; in fact,
as a rule the “ grim messenger” finds her busily at work, with feeble
effort, trying to lay eggs and reproduce her kind, and it is quite proba-
ble that our ‘Little Turk” possesses this instinct, which continues to
its fatal termination. Therefore my percentages are not so correct as
if I had been able in each instance to locate an egg, in sitw within the
ovipositing mark.) At least the ovipositing mark was apparent on
each fruit. These were placed in a vessel, and taken out one at a
time and cut under the ovipositing mark to ascertain if the larvee
had fed. If it had not fed noticeably, it was thrown aside and another
taken up, and so on until I had obtained a hundred piums in which
the egg had hatched and the larve had fed. Two trials of Wild Goose
plums, in this way, gave respectively 22 and 23 living, sickly look-
ing, attenuated larvee. Two trials of the same number of Newman gave
respectively 24 and 26 of the same kind of grubs. Whether any one
of these sickly looking larvee would have matured into beetles I do
not know, but I have the best of reasons for believing that none of
them would. And here are my reasons, and they are of the greatest
value, if I have made no mistakes. The autumns of 18384 and 1885 I
gathered the fallen fruit from all the trees for seed, and of course in this
way I got all the fruit with living larve in them, and when selecting
what good fruit there was for market, all wormy and imperfect fruit
was thrown on the surface of the ground in the shade of trees, day by
day as gathered, and on and convenient thereto were placed several
contrivances, such as the young beetles are known to seek as soon as
they emerge from the ground for shelter. These shelters were care-
fully examined until cold weather without finding a single beetle.

The next spring this seed was gathered up early and planted. A good
portion of the ground it had occupied was at once covered with strong
canvas, with its edges so covered and fastened down that it was im-
probable that the beetles could escape from under it.* Now, if this 80
bushels of plums selected from the 264 bushels marketed on one season,
and of course including practically all the wormy plums, bred no Curcu-
lios, and it takes 3,200 eggs to produce one well-matured larva, and if we
giveit all the Native Plums it may require in which to lay allof its eggs,

*This experiment was very poorly conducted and proves nothing. If the plums re-
ferred to were wormy, it is safe to say that at least a portion of the larvee were in
healthy condition anl went through their transformations under ground. We have

51

this is the pertinent question: Does it not seem conclusively to show
that when this great western region, the timbered portion of it, was, we
may say, one vast Plum thicket, that there were then plums enough to
hold the Plum Cureculio entirely in check? And, further, does it not
also show conclusively that if we now plant a sufficient number of these

plum trees to produce fruit for the beetles to feed on and lay all of
‘ their eggs in, and such eggs do not hatch, as we have seen, that they,
the plums, will again reduce its numbers below the point of practical
injury, and in this way protect all our other fruit from its depreda-
tions? Again, do not our facts show, that if it is true that the Plum
Curculio is attracted by these plums early in the season, and being
there on the plums she will therefore lay her eggs in them exclusively,
and that by planting these plums unstintedly among and around our
Peaches, Apples, Cherries, and other fruits liable to injury by her, that
we will protect these fruits from damage by this beetle?

We have but one question of importance to answer, which is, Are the
Native Plums a fruit worthy of extended cultivation? I can answer
this question emphatically, Yes, they are. ‘They are one of the most cer-
tain of the fruits in the regularity of their crop, and the yield is usually
abundant, the fruit wholesome, attractive, and easily gathered, and can
be shipped any reasonable distance to market. When thoroughly ripe
it is delicious, eaten in a natural state—that is, some varieties of it;
others are among the finest of fruits for preparing in the various ways
known to the culinary art—stewing, canning, drying, preserving in
sugar, sweet pickling (spicing), &c. And many of the varieties of the
Northern type will keep perfectly throughout the winter if simply placed
in an open earthen jar and covered with water. They all make most

had some experience with the larv of this insect, but should scarcely venture to dis-
criminate between sickly and healthy individuals as Mr. Wier has done. The pre-
cautions taken to observe and count the beetles emerging from the ground were en-
tirely insufficient for the purpose, as the tendency to secrete under traps is mani-
fested chiefly in cool weather in spring.

Moreover, Mr. Wier’s statements that the planting and cultivating of the Wild Plum
will protect our peaches, apricots, cultivated plums, &c., and effect a decrease in the
numbers of the Curculio, are mere assumptions and contrary to experience. The fact
that these cultivated fruits were badly infested by the Curculio as soon as they were
introduced is a sufficient proof that the Curculio shows a decided preference for
these plants. While we would not discredit the correctness of Mr. Wier’s observa-
tion that a large proportion of Curculio eggs laid in Wild Plums fail to hatch (be-
cause they often thus fail in cultivated varieties and in cherries, pears, and apples),
yet we do not believe this fact has much influence on the general decrease of the Cur-
culio. The Wild Plums were the original food-plant of the insect and it has ‘‘ ex-
isted as a species” on this plant from time immemorial. ‘The cultivation of peaches,
apricots, cherries, &c., simply furnished the means for it to increase, and only the com-
plete abandonment of their cultivation would re-establish the original relative scar-
city of the Curculio. The state of affairs would be quite different if Mr. Wier could
show us how to compel the insect to oviposit in the fruit of the Wild Plum, or could
even prove by satisfactory scientific evidence the truth of his assertion that it has a
preference for said wild fruit. —C. V. R.

52

beautiful and delicious jellies. Such are the principal uses of the fruit.
The trees will thrive on any soil that will support common trees, but do
best ona deep, rich, moist soil; they thrive finely in the bottoms of deep,
steep, narrow ravines and along drains, on lands too rough for cultivation,
if reasonably rich. The trees are natural to crowded situations, crowded
by each other, and by other trees; their roots do best rambling through
moist soil, shaded from the sun, and the trees do very much the best in
a location sheltered from the strong winds of spring (which blow away
the pollen). The trees are easily propagated; they throw up young
trees (suckers) freely from their roots; therefore when planting these
plums on the thicket plan in waste places it is best to have them on
their own roots. Or, if we do not wish them to produce suckers, they
may be budded on the Chickasaw variety known as Mariana, which
variety grows freely from cuttings, is quite hardy, and seldom, if ever,
throws up suckers from its roots. In the South these plums do finely
when budded or grafted on peach (which do not sucker), but care must
be taken to prevent injury from the Peach Borer (d’geria exitiosa Say).
North they do nicely if ‘‘root-grafted” on peach. Generally, as the reader
will have learned from this paper, the Native Plums have no very nox-
ious insect enemies or diseases here or over the country at large, and it
is safe to say that they in some of their varieties or tribes can be grown
profitably in every part of the country. There is a vast amount to be
learned about them as yet, and some very important facts to determine.
The most valuable one is this: I have some proof that certain varieties
of these plums will breed the Plum Curculio freely ; if so, such varieties
should be searched out and destroyed, and we should be sure not to
plant these varieties for fruit, be that ever so fine.

THE SERRELL AUTOMATIC SILK REEL.
By PHILIP WALKER.

In previous reports the new Serrell automatic silk reel has been fre-
quently mentioned, but owing to the incomplete condition of the pat-
ents upon it, it has been considered unwise to publish even such a gen-
eral description as that which follows. Now, however, that these ma-
chines are in operation in Washington, it is possible to gratify the
laudable curiosity of persons interested in this machinery, of which so
much has been said but so little known in this country.

An understanding of the mechanical principles of ordinary non-auto-
matic reels and of the Serrell serigraph are so necessary to a thorough
comprehension of the automatic reel that, although they have already
been described by Professor Riley in Bulletin No. 9 of the Division.*
it is deemed wise to insert an account of them here. The quotations

*The Mulberry Silk-Worm, by C. V. Riley, M. A., Ph. D., Washington, 1886.

53

which follow are from that pamphlet. A further word on some of the
properties of the cocoon filament and the general process of reeling is
also given in order to make the descriptions which follow more intelli-
gible. :

Thesilk-worm occupies, in general, about thirty daysin passing through
the period comprised between its birth and the fabrication of its cocoon.
Most of this time is employed in eating, but about five days being con-
sumed in passing through the molts. The food consumed during the
last. ten days is almost entirely employed in the formation of a fluid
which fills the silk ducts and which goes ultimately to the fabrication of
the silken thread of the cocoon.

In the body of the larvee there are two of these ducts, each of which
is connected with an orifice called a spinneret, which is situated in the
lower lip of the insect. The larva in the formation of its co coon throws
out from these orifices two fine filaments covered with a natural glue.
This glue serves to stick the two filaments together and to form them
into what appears to the naked eye to be one compact thread. An ex-
amination of this thread under the microscope, however, shows its
double nature and its flattened section, whose width is three to four
times its thickness.

The first step taken by the worm, after it has found a con venient
place to make its cocoon, is to throw out a system of threads designed
to form a founda ion to the more compact pod. The tissue of this sys-
tem is loose and is not apparently woven after any fixed plan. Once
this foundation completed, the larva begins the constru ection of the
stronger wall of its resting place, which is constructed of a firm felting
laid on in figure-eight loops and in many distinct layers. Of these
layers it is easy to recognize at least a dozen and to tear them apart
but it is probable that in reality these might each be subdivided into
many more but for the lack of instruments of sufficient delicacy.

Taking the yellow Milanese races as a type, we find that it requires
about 250 fresh cocoons to make a pound and that each contains about
one thousand yards of thread. These cocoons, with the inclosed chrys-
alides, contain, however, 66 per centum of water, which in the course of
three or four mouths’ drying will effectually evaporate. Of the total
weight of these cocoons, again, but about 15 per centum is formed of
silk, the balance being composed of chrysalides and the skins cast by
the larve in their transformation. Thus, were we to recover all of the
silk contained in a lot of cocoons, it would not exceed 15 per centum of
the total weight when fresh, or 33 per centum of the weight when ary,
It is not, however, possible to accomplish such a result, both on account
of the loss caused in getting hold of the end of the thread and from the
fact that it is impossible to finish the reeling of a cocoon to its very end.
Manufacturers rarely obtain more than one pound of silk for each three
and one-half pounds of dry cocoons employed, and it is not uncommon

54

for them to consume at least four pounds of raw material in the forma-
tion of each pound of their product.

Before reeling the cocoons must be cleaned by the removal of the
outer system of threads which, under the name of floss, is one of the
waste products of the industry.

In the filature the “cocoons are first plunged into boiling water,
whereby their gluten is softened in such a manner as to render the un-
wihding of the filaments an easy matter. This done, they are brushed
with a small broom, to the straws of which their fibers become attached.
The bundle of filaments is then taken and they are unwound until each
cocoon hangs by but one clean thread. These three operations are
called ‘cooking,’ ‘brushing,’, and ‘purging.’ The first two can be ac-
complished mechanically, and are currently so performed in Italy and
largely in France. But purging is a process to which the accuracy of
the human eye and the delicacy of the human touch have so far been
found necessary.” The thread unwound in these processes is also a
waste product, called ‘“frisons,” and has about one-fifth the value of
reeled silk. In good working about four times as much silk as frisons
is produced.

7
7
¢
¢
Se

Seteesene
a

.
o

ee eee

¥Q

Fic. 1.—Elements of the mechanism of a modern silk reel.

“The elements of the mechanism of all modern silk reels are essentially
the same. They are shown in Fig. 1, and consist, in general, of a basin,
A, in which is a perforated steam-pipe, P, by means of which the water
in the basin may be heated. A few inches above the surface of the
water is placed a perforated agate, B. The cocoons having undergone
the three operations mentioned, the ends of the filaments of four or more
of them are twisted together into a thread, which is passed through the
hole in the agate. From this it runs through the ‘‘ croisure” M, which
will be hereafter explained, and over the guide E to the reel at F. Be-
tween E and F the thread passes a guide, G, moving to and fro (in a
line perpendicular to the plane of the paper), which distributes it in a

-s

ae Se

55

broad band over the surface of the reel. This facilitates the drying of
the silk, without which the gluten would bind together the threads of
the skein as it does those of the cocoons, and thus ruin its commercial
value. The shaft of the reel carries at one end a friction-wheel, H,
which rests on the large friction-wheel I, that constantly revolves on the
shaft N, and thus motion is imparted to the reel. In order to stop the
reel it is ouly necessary to raise the wheel H from its bearings by meaus
of the lever L. This movement presses the wheel against the brake-
shoe K, and its motion is at once arrested.

‘‘ As has been said above, the thread is passed between the agate and
the reel through the croisure. The making of the croisure consists in
twisting the thread around itself or anothér thread so as to consolidate
its constituent filaments and wring the water from it and thus aid inits
drying. The mode of the formation of this croisure forms the principal
distinguishing mark between the French and Italian systems of reeling.
The former is called the ‘Chambon system.’ Each reeler manages two
threads. These are passed through separate agates, and after being
brought together and twisted twenty or thirty times around each other
are again separated and passed through guiding eyes to the reel. The
other system, called ‘tavellette,’* consists in passing the thread up
over a small pulley, C,down over another, D, and then twisting it around
itself, as shown at WV, in Fig. 1, and thence to the reel.

‘‘The cocoon filament is somewhat finer in the floss or beginning, thick-
ens at the point of forming the more compact pod, and then very gradu-
ally diminishes in diameter until it becomes so fine as to be incapable
of standing the strain of reeling,” the mean sections at these points be-
ing about proportional to the figures 30, 40, and 25. “Therefore a thread
which is made up of five new filaments becomes so small when the co-
coons from which it is drawn are half unwound as to require an addi-
tion. This addition might also be made necessary by the rupture of
one of the constituent filaments. It is here that the skill of the oper-
ator is called into play. When her experience tells her that the thread
needs nourishing from either of these causes, she takes the end of the
filament of one of the cocoons which lie prepared in her basin, and, giv-
ing it a slight snap or whip-lash movement with the index-finger, causes
it to wind around or adhere to the running thread, of which it from this
moment becomes a constituent part. This lancing, asit is called, of the
end of the filament, although in hand reeling performed in the manner
described, is also accomplished mechanically, several devices having
been invented for this purpose. They consist, in general, of a mechan-
ism (occupying the place of the agate B), which causes a small hook
to revolve in a horizontal plane about the running thread, and to twist
around it any end of the filament that may be placed in the path of the
hook. The reeler, seeing that anew filament is needed, holds the end of

one in the way of the attaching device, and it is automatically caught.”

* The trade name of the small pulley mentioned.

56

The thread of “raw” or reeled silk is excessively strong, ductile, and
elastic. As has been seen, it is composed of several double filaments,
drawn from as many cocoons. In common with other elastic threads,
a given length of one of silk will resist a tendency to stretch to an ex-
tent proportionate to its mean section. This is the underlying prinei-
ple of the serigraph. 'The mode of determining the irregularities exist-
ing in a thread of raw silk by means of this machine is as follows: The
end of the thread is brought from the reel or bobbin on which it is wound

a
So Oe
_——
-—.

_—
—_—-—
-——

-
-—
-—
a

Fic. 2.—The principle of the serigraph.

around a drum, S, (Plate I), thence over a pulley, &, and back around
another drum, 7’, mounted on the same axis as 8S. From the drum TZ it
is wound on a reel. The drum Tis larger than S, so that the former
winds on the thread somewhat faster than it is paid off by the latter,
and thus stretches it. In this manner we apply a constant force to the
pulley &, tending to draw it from its normal position. This pulley is
attached to the base of a pendulum, U, which, under the action of the
force mentioned, is drawn from the perpendicular. The weight of this
pendulum overcoming the force thus applied to an extent inversely pro-
portional to the mean section of the length of thread submitted to the
test, the position of equilibrium taken by the pendulum depends upon
and is an indication of that mean section. The portion thus tested is
that between the two drums S and 7, and as, through the constant
‘action of the machine, successive lengths of thread occupy the position
indicated, the pendulum oscillates through a course which depends upon
the irregularities of the thread. These irregularities are graphically
recorded by a pencil, attached to the pendulum, upon a band of paper,
which moves constantly under its point. .

The serigraph, it will be seen, is an apparatus for continuously meas-
uring the relative size of any thread passed over its drums and record-
ing the irregularities in its size on a band of paper.

From this machine to the automatic reeler was but a slight transition,
easily accomplished. It has been in working out the details of the de-
sired mechanism that the greatest difficulty has been met with. The
result is attained in general by causing the pendulum JU to close an

ee

Bulletin 14, Division of Entomology, Dept. Agr.

Plate I.

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PRINCIPLES OF THE SERRELL AUTOMATIC REEL.

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57

electric circuit whenever the thread becomes so weak as to permit of a
certain amount of stretching under the tension applied to it. The
electric current due to this circuit-closing is then employed in releasing
the detent of a suitable feeding device, by which a new cocoon filament
is added to the main thread and its size augmented.

In the operation of the automatic silk-reel the thread is made as in an
ordinary hand-reel, and passed through the centre of a filament-attaching
device, 6, thence through the croisure M. Thence, as in the serigraph, it
is passed around a small drum, S, around a pulley, R, situated at the end
of a pendulum, U, which is called in the reeler the control-lever, thence
around the larger drum 7, and in the ordinary way over the guiding
pulley H, to the reel. On the end of the control lever U is a circuit-
closing contact piece, a, which acts when the pulley R, overcoming the
resistance of the thread, recedes from the drums Sand 7. The tension
thus resisted by the thread may be regulated by the movable weight _X,
or an equivalent device.

We will now suppose the thread to be running at the desired size, and
that the tension due to the stretch imparted to it by the difference in
the circumferential speed of the two drums is sufficient to keep open the
circuit-closing device of the control lever. it continues in this condi-
tion until, through the diminution in the size of the constituent filaments,
or the rupture of one of them, the thread falls below the standard, and
the addition of a new cocoon becomes necessary. Then the pendulum
falls back, and the contact at a is closed.

Just above the water of the basin, with its edge dipping beneath the
surface, is a cocoon-holding device, O. This apparatus, usually called
the magazine, rests on a support which is mounted on a shaft around
whose axis the magazine may be rotated. The magazine consists of a
number of compartments, ¢, situated around the circumference of a lower
disk and a number of small pins, d, mounted on a parallel disk a short
distance above the lower one. In each compartment is placed a cocoon
previously prepared for reeling, while its filament is conducted upwards
and wound around one of the pins d. A magazine thus filled is set
upon its support in readiness to furnish cocoons to the running thread
as desired. Its position is such that the hook of the filament-attaching
device passes just below the disk holding the pins d, and in such a way
that a thread passing from its cocoon to the pin, which for the moment
is opposite the attaching device, will fall in the path of the hook and be
caught by it in its revolution.

The shaft on which the magazine turns is connected with a suitable
feed movement, W, which consists in general of a cam to which a rotary
motion may be given by a proper connection with the shafting of the
filature, of a lever to which the cam imparts a to-and-fro motion, and
of a magnet to whose armature is attached a detent which, when no
current is passing, preveuts the rotation of the cam.

Now, as we have seen above, no current passes through the electric

58

circuit while the thread is at its standard size; for under such condi-
tions the lever is so held by the thread that the contact at a is kept
open. As soon, however, as the thread diminishes in size the lever
recedes, the contact at a is closed, and the current passing through the
magnet of the feed movement W causes the attraction of its armature
and the release of the detent holding the cam in place. Upon this oceur-
ring the magazine is advanced one step and brings a new cocoon fila-
ment into the path of the hook on the filament attaching device, which
catching it up twists it around the running thread and, with the help
of its natural gum, attaches it firmly thereto, at the same time cutting
off the loose end. The rotation of the cam is so timed that its detent
will not arrive at the stop en the armature until the new filament has
reached the controlling drums and had its effect upon the position of
the control lever. In the reeling of fine sizes the addition of one fila-
ment will generally be found sufficient to bring the thread to its normal
size, though it is less apt to be so with larger sizes. In any case, how-
ever, if, when the rotation of the cam is completed, the electric circuit
still remains closed the action of the feed movement is repeated and con-
tinued until the thread is again brought to the normal size.

Owing to the irregularities in a thread of raw silk it is impossible to
obtain any measure of its size by means of a caliper or even, with any
degree of ease, by a microscopical examination. Merchants are there-
fore obliged to content themselves by approximating its size in the fol-
lowing manner: They measure off upon a suitable real a skein of a
given length (476 meters) and obtain its weight in the terms of an arbi-
trary unit called the denier. If such a sample skein, for instance, is
found to weigh ten deniers it is called a “ ten-denier silk.” Now it is
found that the exterior thread of a cocoon of the yellow Milanese races
has a value of about two and a half deniers, so that it takes four such
new cocoons to make a thread of ten deniers. When these cocoons are
halfunwound the size of the thread formed from them would be but about
eight deniers. Now, in order to augment the thread and bring it to the
normal size we are obliged to add another cocoon which, with its new
thread, would increase the combined thread to ten and one-half deniers,
and it will be seen that from cocoons of this race it is impossible to
augment the thread by smaller increments than that mentioned. For
this reason no attempt is made to produce an absolutely regular thread
of silk, but reelers are content if the variation from the desired mean
does not exceed two deniers in each direction. In hand-reeling, where
the regularity of the thread: depends entirely upon the ability of the
reeler to estimate its present size and to add a new filament at the
proper time, only the most expert operatives are ableto make silk with-
in the limits named. In the automatic reel, however, all this is taken
out of the hands of the operative and the indication of the need of a new
thread is made by the delicate serigraphic measuring device of the con-
trol movement. Its delicacy is such that when working under good

ee rr.

eo eee

59

eonditions it will sometimes run off an almost theoretically perfect
thread. A great advantage exists in this fact, as the beauty of a piece
of woven goods depends very largely on the regularity of the raw silk
entering into its composition.

In addition to the devices mentioned above, the automatic reel con-
tains an electrical stop movement by which the motion ofthe reel is
arrested upon the rupture of the running thread. It consists of a small
faller on the end of which is mounted the guide-pulley at ZH. When the
thread is running the pulley is drawn in the direction of the reel and an
electrical contact, b, placed onthe faller, is kept open. Upon the rupture
of a thread, however, this contact is closed and a suitable mechanical de-
vice at V is set in operation by an electro-magnet. The releasing of the
lever of this apparatus enables the spring on the bell crank Z to act on
the shaft of the reel and draw its friction drum away from its bearing
on the large drum J, and thus stop its motion so quickly that the end of
the broken thread will rarely be drawn into the skein. When this ap-
paratus works promptly and well there results a very considerable
saving of time in the knotting of the thread, and less waste is produced
thereby.

EN DEX.

Aletia argillacea, 11.
Allograpta obliqua, 14.
Allorhina nitida, 16.
Allotria avene, 13.
brassice, 14.
lachni, 13.
megoure, 19.
- tritici, 13.
Anasa tristis, 22.
Uhleri, 23.
Angoumois moth, 16.
Anthomyia mistaken for Buffalo Gnats, 29.
Apanteles congregatus, 11.
Aphis brassice, 12.
citrulli, 27.
cucumeris, 27.
i cucurbite, 27.
Ashmead, Wm. H., Report on insects injurious to
garden crops in Florida, 9.
Automatic silk reel, Serrel’s, 52.
Bean, insects affecting, in Florida, 21.
Bean Cut Worm, 21.
Distribution, 21.
Earlier states, 22.
Injuries, 22.
Bisulphide of carbon for squash borer, 25.
Botis repetitalis, 15.
Botrytis Rileyi, 11.
Buffalo Gnats, 29.
Amount of injury in various years, 31.
Breaks in the levees the cause of their abun-
dance, 36.
Distribution, 32.
Finding of the larve, 30.
Habits of imago, 34.
History of the injury, 31.
Nature of their bite, 34.
Nature of their breeding places, 32.
Not injurious before the war, 31, 36.
Not injurious below the mouth of Red River,

Pupa and pupation, 33.
Report on, by F. M. Webster, 29.
Restoration of the levees probably the true
remedy, 39.
Swarms of Anthomyia mistaken for, 29.
Topography of the infested country, 36.
Various direct remedies, 34.
Vitality of the larva, 35.
Cabbage Aphis, 12.
Buckton’s description, 12.
Enemies and parasites, 13.
Food-plants, 12.
Injuries, 13.
Introduced from Europe, 12.
Life-history, 12.
Cabbage Aphis Allotria, 14.
Encyrtid, 14.
Pachyneuron, 14.
Syrphus Fly, 14.
Cabbage, insects injurious to, in Florida, 9.
Mamestra, 15.
Pionea, 15.
Plusia, 10.
Distribution, 10.
Enemies and parasites, 11.
Food-plants, 10.
Injuries, 10.
Life-history, 10.
Remedies, 11.
Plutella, 11, 12.

Calandra granaria, 16.
Carbolic powder for Cabbage Plusia, 11,
Cauliflower Botis, 15.
Ceramica picta, 15.
Ceraphron sp., 13.
Chalecis ovata, 24.
Conotrachelus nenuphar, 39, 48.
Copidosoma truneatellum, 11.
Corn, insects injurious to, in Florida, id.
Bill-bug, 16.
Mining Fly, 16.
Worm, 15.
Enemies, 16.
Injuries, 15.
. -Stalk Borer, 16.
Weevil, 16.
Coruna sp., 13.
Cotton Worm, 11.
Crepidodera cucumeris, 22.
Cucumber Flea-beetle, 22.
Curculio-proof nature of the native plum trees, 39,
Cynipids parasitic on Aphids, 13.
Diabrotica 12-punctata, 22.
Diastata sp., 16.
Diatrea saccharalis, 16.
Egg Plant Aphis, 20.
Distribution, 20.
Injuries, 21.
Middleton’s description, 20.
Parasites, 21.
Egg Plant, insects affecting, in Florida, 20.
Encyrtus anase, 23.
aphidiphagus, 14
?megoure, 19.
sublestus, 14.
Entedon diastate, 16.
Eucoila siphonophore, 21.
Eudioptis hyalinata, 26.
nitidalis, 24.
Eudamus proteus, 22.
Eupelmus reduvii, 24.
Euschistus servus, 16.
False Chinch, 22.
Florida, insects injurious to garden crops in, 9.
Gas-lime for Squash-vine Borer, 25,
Gelechia cerealella, 16.
Gortyna nitela, 18.
Insects affecting the Bean, 21.
Catbage, 9.
Corn, 15.
Egg-plant, 20.
Melon, 26.
Squash, 22.
Tea, 21.
Tomato, 16.
Halticus bractatus, 22.
Harlequin Cabbage Bug, 15.
Heliothis armigera, 15.
Hemerobius sp., 19.
Hot water for Cabbage Plusia, 11.
Introduction, 7.
Julus multistriatus, 15.
Kerosene for Squash-vine Borer, 25.
emulsion for Cabbage Plusia, 11.
Large Cabbage Butterfly, 15.
Letter of transmittal, 6.
Lime for Cabbage Plusia, 11.
Limneria obscura, 11, 12.
Mamestra chenopodii, 15.
Mascicera sp., 17.
Megoura solani, 18.

(61)

62

Melittia ceto, 24.
Melon Borer, 26.
Descriptive, 26.
Distribution, 26.
Injuries, 27.
Parasites, 27.
Melon Plant-louse, 27.
Distribution, 27.
Enemies and parasites, 28.
Food-plants, 27.
Injuries, 28.
Natural history, 28.
Remedies, 28,
Synonymy, 27.
Murgantia histrionica, 15.
Nola sorghiella, 16.
(Ebalus pugnax, 16.
Ortalis sp., 16.
Oscinis sp., 22.
Pachyneuron allograpte, 15.
aphidivora, 14.
Pea, insects injurious to, in Florida, 21.
Phylloptera oblongifolia, 22.
Pieris monuste, 15.
protodice, 15.
Pimpla conquisitor, 27.
Pionea rimosalis, 15.
Plum Curculio, 44, 48.
It prefers the native Plum for oviposition, 49.
Larve not developing in the native Plum, 44, 49.
Plum trees, foreign and native, 39. :
Curculio larve not developing in the native
species, 44, 49.
Failure of European varieties in North
America, 39.
Fertilization of native species by other varie-
ties and species, 45.
Native species and their failure to fruit, 40.
Wild Goose Plum in the South, 47.
Plusia brassice, 10.
Plutella cruciferarum, 12.
Prionidus cristatus, 16.
Pyrethrum for Cabbage Plusia, 11.
Reduvius Egg Eupelmid, 24.
Riley, C. V., criticism of Mr. Wier’s report, 7, 50.
Introduction to the Bulletin, 4.
Letter of transmittal, 3.
Saltpeter for squash borer, 25.
Seymnus cervicalis, 15.
Serrel’s automatic silk reel, 8, 52, 56.
serigraph, 52, 56.
Silk reel, elements of mechanism, 54.
Serrel’s automatic, 8, 52, 56.
Silkworm cocoon, how it isspun by the worm, 53.
preparation for reeling, 54.
Siphonophora cucurbite, 20.
Southern Cabbage Butterfly, 15.
Sphenophorus robustus, 16,
Sphinx carolina, 17.
Egg Teleas, 18.
5-maculata, 17.

Squash, insects injurious to, in Florida, 22.

Borer, 24.

Distribution, 24.
Food-plants, 24.
Injuries, 24.
Parasites, 24.
Remedy, 24.

Bug, 22.

Distribution, 22.

Egg Encyrtid, 23.
Telenomus, 23.

Enemies and parasites, 23.

Food-plants, 23.

Injuries, 23.

Life-history, 23.

Vine Borer, 24.
Distribution, 24.
Food-plants, 24.
Life-history, 24.
Parasites, 25.
Remedies, 25.

Syrphus Fly Pachyneuron, 15.
Teleas sphingis, 18.
'Telenomus anas@, 23.
Telesilla cinereola, 21.

Tomato, insects injurious to, in Florida, 16.
Aphis, 18.
Allotria, 19.
Distribution, 18.
Encyrtid, 19.
Enemies and parasites, 19.
Injuries, 19.
Life-history, 18.
Remedies, 19.
Thomas’ description, 18.

Stalk Borer, 18.
Worm, 17.
Distribution, 17.
Enemies and parasites, 17.
Food-plants, 17.
Injuries, 17.
Life-history, 17.
Remedy, 18.
Trichogramma pretiosa, 11, 15, 17.
Tridactylus minutus, 15.
Trionyx piceus, 13.
rape, 13.
Triphleps insidiosns, 22.
Twelve-spotted Diabrotica, 22.
Walker, Ph., description of the Serrel automatic
silk reel, 52.

Webster, F. M., Report on Buffalo Gnats, 29.

Wheel bug, 16.

Wier, D. B., Report on the Curculio-proof nature
of the native Plums, 39.

Zebra Cabbage Worm, 15.

er ee re

EE

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PA ere >

OF

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 22.

REPORTS

FOBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS:

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

18go.

toad 4 qe

i

Seo. DEPART VENT OF AGRICULTURE.
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
BuLuetin No. 22.

PEP OoRTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

W AS BoeeeGer ON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

189.6%

Dee} 2,

CONTENTS,

INTRODUCTION..... a aie snr se a Se NET ee peg ae Mba ei IEE a Aa Woes
REPORT ON VARIOUS METHODS FOR DESTROYING THE RED SCALE OF CALI-

FORNIA....-.. Papteet eee esas eee en ioe elds sine cele saree noses -D. W. Coquillett.- -
REPORT ON INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA ....---..----. Herbert Osborn..

REPORT ON OBSERVATIONS UPON INSECTS AFFECTING GRAINS. F. M. Webster.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MISSOURI FOR THE SEASON 18¢9, Mary E. Murt-

eR te aera ele eae aan cinineios etic a sle w coos aeceseetcece
REPORT ON CALIFORNIA INSECTS:..-......-.- pore ctttee eee Albert Koebele. -
PEMMORUON TE NIBRASKA UNSKCIS hs ccc .c20cate'scicelns cect ccs Lawrence Bruner - -

2
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LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., January —, 1890.
Sir: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 22 of
this Division. Owing to the necessities of the case I was able to include
in the annual report only a general summary of the work of the field
agents of the Division, reserving their full reports on the work of the
year for subsequent publication. They are, therefore, here presented.

Respectfully,
C. V.. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. J. M. Rusk,
Secretary of Agriculture.

date
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INTRODUCTION.

This bulletin comprises the reports of the field agents of the Division
of Entomology which were necessarily omitted from the annual report,
in which it has been our previous custom to publish some or all of
them.

Mr. Coquillett has reported upon several phases of his work, and we
print here only the portion relating to the experiments which he made
in the destruction of the Red Scale of California (Aspidiotus [Aonidia]
aurantiti Maskell) by the use of washes. <A portion of his report re-
lating to experiments with gas treatment for this scale insect, resulting
in the great cheapening of the use of this process, has been printed in
the double number of INSEcT LIFE for January and February, 1890.
Another section of his report relating to the attempted colonization of
the insects preying upon Icerya purchasi, imported by Mr. Koebele from
Australia, has also been published in part in INSECT LIFE for October,
1889, and the remainder is reserved for future use. The experiments
with washes were undertaken with a view of presenting a practical
illustration of their utility to the fruit-growers of southern California
who had apparently ignored the previous results obtained and pub-
lished in our reports for 1886 and 1887, These late experiments were

-performed by instruction of Assistant Secretary Willits, and the Red
Scale was particularly chosen on account of its importance as a pest,
and for the further reason that the Fluted Scale seems at present to re-
quire no further experimentation, since the Vedalia is overcoming it so
rapidly.

Professor Osborn, in obedience to instructions, has taken up the
study of insects injurious to grasses in addition to his regular work
upon the insect parasites of domestic animals, and reports at this time
upon the leaf-hoppers injuring forage plants. This is a comparatively
new and important field of investigation.

Professor Webster continues his studies of grain iusects and reports
here upon certain points connected with the economy of a few well-
known pests.

Miss Murtfeldt sends in a general report upon the insects of the sea-
son in eastern Missouri, brings out a number of interesting facts, and
gives the life history of a beetle injuring Spinach and also the histories
of two interesting Saw-flies.

%

8

Mr. Koebele returned from Australia in March and came on to Wash-
ington for special work, returning to Alameda, Cal., April 15. He
spent considerable time in writing out his report on his Australian
work (published in Bulletin No. 21 of this Division) and in assisting to
rear and distribute the Vedalia.

During the latter part of the season he did considerable field work
and reports upon a number of injurious species. Perhaps the most in-
teresting feature in his report is his work upon the enemies of the Cod-
ling Moth in California. He has reared four entirely new parasites of
this species, two of which are primary and two secondary. The egg
parasite seems to be a very important feature in the life of the Codling
Moth on the Pacific coast, and we know from previous experience with
egg-parasites of the same genus that they are capable of very rapid
development and are consequently very beneficial insects where they
attack injurious species. We need only refer to the case mentioned in
the Fourth Report of the U. 8S. Entomological Commission, where
by the work of Trichogramma pretiosa Riley, the fifth brood of Cotton
Worm was almost completely annihilated in Florida, where at the be-
ginning of the fourth brood less than one-half of the eggs had been de-
stroyed. By almost complete annihilation we mean that less than 10
per cent. of the Cotton Worm eggs throughout a large section remained
unstung.

Professor Bruner treats of the insects of the year and enters upon
the consideration of insects detrimental to the growth of young trees on
tree claims in Nebraska and other portions of the West, an important
subject which has not before received treatment.

CoV ais

> RIOT et

REPORT ON VARIOUS METHODS FOR DESTROYING THE
RED SCALE OF CALIFORNIA.

By D. W. CoquiLLett, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

Los ANGELES, CAL., October 30, 1889.

Srr: I herewith submit my annual report on some of the results obtained by me
during the past year.

During the first half of the year nearly my whole time was occupied in propagat-
ing and distributing the Lady-birds (Vedalia cardinalis Mulsant) recently imported
from Australia by this Division. So thoroughly have these insects destroyed the
Fluted or Cottony-cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi Maskell) that at the present time it
is difficult to find a living specimen in any portion of the southern part of this State.
From the 129 Lady-birds received from the 30th of November to the 24th of January
and colonized under a tent covering an orange tree in this city, by the following mid-
summer I had, with the help of Mr. J. W. Wolfskill and Mr. Alexander Craw, dis-
tributed nearly 15,000 of these insects to various parts of the State, which will give
some idea of the great fecundity of these insects. My first attempt at colonizing
them on trees in the open air was made in the 35-acre orange grove belonging to Col.
J. R. Dobbins, and located in the San Gabriel Valley in this county. I colonized 35
of the Lady-birds on one of the trees February 22 and about 100 more on the 20th of
March, and Colonel Dobbins writes me that they had practically freed his grove of
the Iceryas by the 31st of July.

The large Chapman orange-grove, also located in the San Gabriel Valley, and com-
prising 150 acres of citrus trees, has likewise been practically cleared of the Iceryas
by these Lady-birds, the first colony of which I placed in this grove on the 20th of
March. As might naturally be expected, this freeing of the orange-groves from one
of the greatest pests with which they were ever infested removes a great burden
from the shoulders of our orange-growers ; or, as one of them, Mr. A. Scott Chapman,
writes to me: ‘‘ They have taken more than an oppressive burden off of the orange-
growers’ hands, and I, for one, very much thank the Division of Entomology for the
Vedalia cardinalis—the insect that has worked a miracle.”

One of the most important results obtained by me the past season has been the dis-
covery of a method whereby trees could be treated with hydrocyanie acid gas ata
price scarcely exceeding one-third of what it has heretofore cost by the old method.
As the great expense attending the use of this gas has been the one great objection
to its being universally employed for the destruction of scale-insects infesting trees,
this objection having been now overcome we may naturally expect to see this
method coming into more extended use than has been the case heretofore. As I have

9

10

given a full account of this new discovery in the report which follows, it will be need-
less to more than call your attention to it in this place, *
As heretofore, I am indebted to yourself for suggestions and other help.
Respectfully, yours,

D. W. COQUILLETT.
Profa Ce Vk loE Ss,
U. S. Entomologist.

RESIN SOAPS AND COMPOUNDS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RED
SCALE.

Early in July of the present year I received a letter from Mr. L. O.
Howard, acting entomologist during the absence of Professor Riley,
instructing me to obtain permission from some person owning a number
of large-sized orange trees which were thickly infested with the Red
Scale (Aspidiotus aurantii Maskell), and then have the trees sprayed
with one of the most ‘approved resin sprays obtainable, the spraying
to be repeated as often as would be found necessary in order to prac-
tically free the trees of these pests, or at least to prevent them from
becoming so numerous as tointerfere with the healthy growth of the
trees, the object sought for being to demonstrate that citrus trees badly
infested with these pests can be cleaned and kept in a healthy, grow-
ing condition by the use of the resin spray.

Before entering upon this work I concluded to make a series of pre-
liminary tests with various preparations, containing resin and other in-
gredients in varying proportions, with a view of ascertaining the best
and most desirable preparation to use in my field work referred to
above. Accordingly I went down to Orange, in the adjoining county,
which bears the same name, and, on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of July,
made fourteen tests with various preparations, repeating one of these
and making several additional tests on the 7th and 8th of the following
month. The one giving the best results was used a trifle too strong,
as I subsequently ascertained that it produced a discoloration on the
underside of some of the oranges, or where they came in contact with
each other or with a leaf or branch. For this reason a slightly weaker
solution would produce better results, and doubtless the following pro-
portions will be found the most effectual to use during the hotter part
of the year:

ROSIN. SS ee csc eeteeue ono te iste cite Be tees Meee a cinaretoeeeiee pounds.. 18
Caustic soda (70 per cent. strength) ............------. Ouse C20
MP ISH OU. eros. ce se oe ee Nero ea ne Neat Se Ne eerie pints-- 24
Water to make 225.50 eee ok ee ae eee gallons.. 100

The necessary ingredients are placed in the boiler and a sufficient
quantity of cold water added to cover them; they are then boiled until
dissolved, being occasionally stirred in the mean time, and after the

*This portion of Mr. Coquillett’s report has been published in advance in INSECT
Lire, Vol. II, double No, 6 and 7 (January and February 1890).—c. v. R.

oe Die. t< seer Calrs) a

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sth

materials are dissolved the boiling should be continued for about an
hour, and a considerable degree of heat should be employed so as to
keep the preparation in a brisk state of ebullition, cold water being
added in small quantities whenever there are indications of the prepa-
ration boiling over; too much cold water, however, should not be added
at one time, or the boiling process will be arrested and thereby delayed,
but by a little practice the operator will learn how much water to add
so as to keep the preparation boiling actively. Stirring the preparation
is quite unnecessary during this stage of the work. When boiled suffi-
ciently it will assimilate perfectly with water and should then be di-
luted with the proper quantity of cold water, adding it slowly at first
and stirring occasionally during the process. The undiluted prepara-

. tion is pale yellowish in color, but by the addition of water it becomes

a very dark brown. Before being sprayed on the trees it should be
strained through a fine wire sieve, or through a piece of swiss muslin,
and this is usually accomplished when pouring the liquid into the spray-
ing tank, by means of a Strainer placed over the opening through which
the preparation is introduced into the tank.

The preparing of this compound would be greatly accelerated if the
resin and caustic soda were first pulverized before being placed in the
boiler, but this is quite a difficult task to perform. Both of these sub-
stances are put up in large cakes for the wholesale trade, the resin be-
ing in wooden barrels, each barrel containing a single cake weighing
about 375 pounits, while the caustic soda is put up in iron drums con-
taining a single cake each, weighing about 800 pounds. The soda is.
the most difficult to dissolve, but this could doubtless be ebviated by
first dissolving it in cold water and then using the solution as required.

It has been very generally supposed that the finer the spray could be

thrown upon the tree the better would be the results obtained, but

after conversing with several persons who make the spraying of trees.
their special work I was somewhat surprised to learn that each of them
were in favor of a rather coarse spray. In nearly every instance they
had started out with the impression that a fine spray was the best, but
had gradually adopted one somewhat coarser, finally adopting one that
threw a moderately coarse spray with considerable torce. After care-
fully investigating the subject I found that their reasons for preferring
a rather coarse spray to a fine one were well founded.

The object sought for is not so much to simply sprinkle and wet the
tree as it is to paint or varnish it over with the compound used, and
this can best be accomplished by the use of arather coarse spray, which
enables them to throw the liquid upon the tree with considerable force,
so that when it strikes any portion of the tree it spreads out and covers
the adjoining parts with a thin film, as if put on with a brush. It also
strikes many of the leaves with such force as to cause them to expose
te the spray portions of their surfaces that would otherwise escape.
Besides this, by the use of a moderately coarse spray the tree can be

12

wet or varnished over in a much shorter space of time than when a
finer spray is used, and all of the operators that I have conversed with
on this subject were unanimous in their statements that the time thus
sayed much more than compensated for the somewhat larger quantity
of the preparation that was required when the coarse spray was em-
ployed as compared with a finer spray. The evidence, therefore,
appears to be decidedly in favor of a rather coarse spray.

But whatever may be the character of the preparation used, or the
nature of the spraying nozzle employed, the success of the operation
will depend very largely upon the thoroughness with which the prepa-
ration has been applied. In the case of small trees it is comparatively
easy to wet every part of them, but when the trees are 20 feet or more
in height and have not been properly pruned it is not only difficult but.
‘quite impossible to wet every portion of them; and, unfortunately, the
tendency is to use as little of the preparation upon the tree as is abso-
lutely necessary. On tall trees the operation of spraying is made more
effectual by the use of tall ladders, so that the various parts of the trees
¢an be sprayed from above as well as from below.

It is well known among those who have had any experience in trying
to destroy the Red Scale with sprays of any kind that the scale insects
which are located upon the fruit are less affected by the different
liquid preparations than those located upon the leaves or bark.
The reason for this appears to lie in the fact that those located upon
the fruit, having an abundance of food always within easy reach, are
more healthy and vigorous than those located upon the other parts of
the tree, and consequently are better prepared for resisting the destrue-
tive effects of the spray. That healthy, vigorous insects 2re capable of
resisting the effects of a destructive agency that has proved fatal to
their less vigorous comrades there can be no doubt. An instance of
this kind is given in my report to Professor Riley for the year 1888, as
published in the Annual Report of this Department for that year. On
page 128, in speaking of the effects of arseniuretted hydrogen gas upon
the Fluted or Cottony-cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi, Maskell), the state-
ment is made that ‘‘Subsequent experiments made upon perfectly
healthy trees and insects showed that when the gas was used strong
enough to have proved fatal to all of the Icerya on the neglected trees
it did not kill one-half of those on the vigorous trees.” Owing to this
fact it would be advisable to refrain from irrigating and cultivating in-
fested orange trees for several weeks before spraying them, were it not
for the other fact that in the case of bearing trees such a course would
seriously interfere with their bearing qualities or operations. Unlike
deciduous fruit- trees, our citrus trees do not take a rest of several months’
duration between the ripening of the fruit and the blossoming of the
trees for another crop; only a few weeks at the most intervening between
these two periods in the case of orange trees, while on healthy bearing
lemon trees both blossoms and fruit are to be found at every season of
the year.

er

Oe ie ee

13

In the case of bearing orange trees it would appear that the season
of the year when they could be sprayed with the least amount of in-
jury to themselves and with the greatest fatality to the red scales infest-
ing them would be at a time when they were in blossom, after all of
the fruit of the preceding season had been removed from them. There
would at such a time be no fruit on the trees for the scale-insects to
locate upon, so that all these insects that could be reached by the spray
would be destroyed without at the same time injuring any portion of
the tree. .Several persons who had sprayed their orange trees at a time
when the latter were in full bloom informed me that to all appearances
none of the blossoms were injured by the spray, providing that the
latter was not used so strong that it injured the leaves, being unani-
mously of the opinion that the blossoms were as hardy as the leaves.
The young fruit is much more susceptible to the effects of the spray than
are either the leaves or the blossoms, and this is the case until it becomes.
at least half-grown. It has been my experience, and also the experience
of others with whom I have conversed upon the subject, that where the
conditions are equal an orange tree is more susceptible to the effects.
of a given spray than a lemon tree, the foliage of the latter being
hardier; whereas in the case of frosts the reverse of this is true. lemon
trees being greatly injured by frosts that would produce little or no
effect upon orange trees growing under similar conditions.

It is a well-established fact that any given spray will not be so fatal
to the seale insects during the cooler portion of the year as it will if
applied during the hotter portion. On this account it will evidently be
found necessary during the winter months to use a somewhat stronger
solution than indicated in the formula given above; and probably the
proper proportions to use during this season would be obtained by ad-
ding water sufficient to make only 80 gallons, instead of 100 gallons as
given in the above formula.

What is true in regard to the effects of the solution upon the insects.
is equally true of its effects upon the tree, the same solution that would
not injure the tree if applied during cool weather might injure it very
severely if applied during very warm weather. As bearing upon this
subject, I can not do better than to give the experience of one of my
correspondents, Mr. F. G. Ryan, an intelligent orange-grower of
Anaheim, in the adjoining county of Orange. Mr. Ryan used the resin
compound quite extensively for the destruction of the Black Scale
(Lecanium olee Bernard), and under date of February 7, 1889, he writes
me as follows:

I want to tell you of a disappointing experience I had with the resin compound.
On January 21 and 22 I sprayed twelve trees in one quarter of the grove and eight in
another with a compound composed of 1 pound of caustic soda, 8 pounds of resin and
32 gallons of water. Afier doing this a hot, drying wind arose and stopped our work.
The wind continued for several days, becoming milder each succeeding day, and on
the fourth day I noticed some leaves dropping from these trees; this dropping of the
foliage has continued and increased until now there is scarcely half the foliage left

14

on two or three of the trees, and the others show a loss of from 15 to 50 per cent. I
argue that as the trees first sprayed show a lesser loss than the others, the probabili-
ties are that the water and compound were not thoroughly mixed, and asit is my cus-
tom to keep the inlet pipe of the pump near the top of the solution to avoid the sedi-
ment, these trees received a weaker solution, as the compound would remain at the
bottom of the tank until thoroughly mixed and suspended in the water. No condi-
tions of health of trees or soil affected the loss of foliage, since similar results are
shown by the trees in the other part of the grove. My conclusion is that the cause
exists in too strong a solution, followed by hot, dry winds for several days. Since
the date of spraying there has been no rain nor even a fog or cloud until two days
ago. Iam happy to say, though, that the bugs are dead.

That this disastrous result to the foliage was the direct effect of the
hot drying wind appears to admit of no doubt, since Mr. Ryan informs
me that when no such wind prevailed he had sprayed a large number of
his orange trees with a compound made precisely like the one used
above, and the trees thus sprayed dropped scarcely a leaf. The fact
that the latest trees sprayed suffered the most indicates not so much
that they were sprayed with a stronger solution than the others, but
rather that being sprayed later and being still wet with the solution
they would naturally be more affected by the hot winds than those
which were sprayed earlier, and from which the surplus solution had
had time to drip off, while the remainder would be quite dry before the
hot wind occurred.

Following is an account of a number of experiments which I made
with various resin compounds and resin soaps for the destruction of the
Red Scale (Aspidiotus awrantii Maskell); they were made at Orange, in
the adjoining county of Orange, upon trees kindly placed at my disposal
by Mr. H. F. Gardner. The trees in experiments 181-194 contained no
fruit, but there were green oranges on all of the other trees experi-
mented upon.

In making each of these solutions the necessary ingredients were
placed in the boiler, covered with water, and boiled briskly from two to
three hours, after which they assimilated well with water; the solution
was then diluted with the proper quantity of water, strained through a
piece of barley sack, and then sprayed upon the tree. In each instance
only a small quantity of solid or. semi-solid matter was strained out of
the different solutions. An exception to this occurs in experiments 185
and 186, in which the resin was simply dissolved in water over a hot
fire, after which the necessary quantity of water was added and the
solution strained, as described above. In dissolving the resin I used
3 gallons of water for each pound of the resin; at first I tried to dissolve
it at the rate of 1 pound of resin to 2 gallons of water, but a portion of
the resin would not dissolve until more water had been added. The
solution was of a milky-white color, and assimilated well with water.

The cost per 100 gallons of the different preparations as given below
is based upon wholesale prices of the different ingredients, furnished
me by the Los Angeles Soap Company, of this city. The rate on resin
is by the 10-barrel lot of 375 pounds per barrel; of caustic soda, by the

.

15

drum of 800 pounds; of fish-oii, by the barrel of 50 gallons; of potash,
by the cask of 700 pounds; and of tallow, by the barrel of 375 pounds.

(181) Resin, 25 pounds; caustic soda, 3 pounds; water to make 100
gallons; costs 65 cents. The diluted sofution was of a light brown color.
Sprayed on an orange tree at 11.30 a. m., July 17, sun shining, light
breeze. August 6, foliage uninjured; found a great many live scales.

(182) Resin, 33 pounds; caustic soda, 4 pounds; water to make 100
gallons; costs 84 cents. Sprayed on an orange tree at 11.45a. m., July
17, sun shining, light breeze. August 6, foliage uninjured; found great
many live scales.

(199, 200) Resin, 25 pounds; caustic soda, 6 pounds; water to make
100 gallons; costs 77 cents. Sprayed on two orange trees at 10.45 and
and 11 a. m., August 7, sun shining, light breeze. September 2, found
great many live scales, especially on the fruit; leaves uninjured; many
of the half-grown oranges have rusty, brownish spots on their under
sides, or where they came in contact with each other or with a branch
or other object. These spots were still present October 19, but whether
they will disappear or not before the fruit ripens remains to be seen.

(201) Resin, 33 pounds; caustic soda, 8 pounds; water to make 100
gallons; costs $1. Sprayed on an orange tree at 11.15 a. m., August
7, sun shining, light breeze. September 2, same as in the preceding
experiment.

(190) Resin 16 pounds, fish-oil 6 pints, caustic soda 6 pounds, water
to make 100 gallons, costs 85 cents. The diluted solution was of a very
dark brown color. Sprayed on a lemon and orange tree (7. €. orange
budded to lemon, but the orange branches not cut away) at 1:30 p. m.,
July 18, sun shining, light breeze. August 6, leaves and newest growth
uninjured ; found ten live scales.

(191) Resin 22 pounds, fish oil 1 gallon, caustic soda 8 pounds, water
to make 100 gallons; costs $1.15. Sprayed on an orange tree at 2 p*m.,
July 18, sun shining, light breeze. August 6, a few of the older leaves
have brownish spots on their under sides; found three live scales.

(192,195) Resin 20 pounds, fish oil 3 pints, caustic soda 6 pounds,
water to make 100 gallons ; costs 80 cents. Sprayed on a lemon and
on an orange tree at 1 and at 12:10 p. m., July 19, and August 7; sun
shining in the first, cloudy in the second experiment, light breeze.
August 6, in first experiment leaves uninjured; found two live scales.
September 2, in second experiment leaves uninjured; found 12 live
scales on the fruit and 8 on under side of the leaves where they had
evidently escaped the spray. In both experiments the fruit was as
described in experiment 199 above, but to a less degree.

The formula in these two experiments was the same, except that in
192 one pound more of the resin was used than in 195; but this small
quantity in 100 gallons could scarcely have affected the results. This
is the same formula used on September 3 of the present year (1889)
for spraying twenty-five orange trees, in accordance with instructions

16

from Mr. Howard, referred to above. Two of the trees were 5 feet
tall by 4 in diameter, while the others ranged from 14 to 18 feet tall
by from 12 to 16 feet in diameter. They were sprayed between the
hours of 3 and 5.30 p. m.; sun shining, light breeze. Three hundred
gallons of the diluted compound were used. <A tree 16 feet tall by 14
feet in diameter required about 14 gallons of the compound, and three
men and a spraying outfit will spray about 800 gallons ina day. The
cost of materials and labor in spraying with this compound a tree of
the size indicated above amounts to about 24 cents per tree. I exam-
ined the above-mentioned trees September 24, and again October
19, and found that the leaves and fruit were uninjured, but a few of
the oranges had small brown spots on them as described above in ex-
periment 199. Nearly all of the scales located on the leaves and bark
were dead, but about one-fourth of those located upon the fruit were
still alive.

(193, 196) Resin 28 pounds, fish oil 4 pints, caustic soda 8 pounds,
water to make 100 gallons; costs $1.10. Sprayed on two orange trees
at 1.15 and 12.20 p. m., July 19 and August 7; sun shining in the
first, cloudy in the second, light breeze. August 6, September 2,
and October 19, leaves uninjured; some of the oranges had brown
spots on them as described above in experiment 199; found only one
live seale on the leaves, and three on the fruit.

(202) Resin 21 pounds, fish oil 3 pints, crude potash 4 pounds, water
to make 100 gallons; costs 85 cents. Sprayed on an orange tree at
12.30 p. m., August 8; sun shining, light breeze. September 2,
leaves uninjured; some of the oranges had brown spots on them as de-
scribed above in experiment 199; found many live scales both on the
leaves and fruit.

(203) Resin 28 pounds, fish oil 4 pints, potash 53 pounds, water to
make 100 gallons; costs $1.15. Sprayed on an orange tree at 1p. m.,
August 8; sun shining, light breeze. September 2, same as in the
preceding experiment.

(183) Resin 20 pounds, tallow 63 pounds, caustic soda 63 pounds,
water to make 100 gallons; costs 98 cents. Sprayed on a lemon tree
at 12 m., July 17; sun shining, light breeze. August 6, a few of the
older leaves were injured; found great many live red scales.

(184) Resin 25 pounds, tallow 8 pounds, caustic soda 8 pounds, water
to make 100 gallons; costs $1.22. Sprayed on an orange tree at 12.30
p. m., July 17; sun shining, light breeze. August 6, leaves uninjured ;
found three live red scales.

_ (1838) Resin 17 pounds, tallow 6 pounds, caustic soda 6 pounds, water
to make 100 gallons; costs 88 cents. Sprayed on an orange tree at 1
p. m., July 18; sun shining, light breeze. August 6, leaves and newest
growth uninjured ; found twelve live red scales.

(189) Resin 22 pounds, tallow 8 pounds, caustic soda 8 pounds, water
to make 100 gallons; costs $1.16. Sprayed on a lemon tree at 1.15

LC

p.m., July 18; sun shining, light breeze. August 6, leaves uninjured ;
found fourteen live red scales. The pup and recently transformed
adults of the Chalcid fly, Dilophogaster californica Howard, which in-
fested fully 80 per cent. of the black scales (Lecanium olew Bernard)
on this tree, were all of them destroyed by this spray.

(187) Resin 2% pounds, tallow 14 pounds, crude potash 545 pounds,
water to make 100 gallons; costs $1.10. Sprayed on a lemon tree at
4,30 p.m.,July 17; sun shining, light breeze. August 6, leaves unin-
jured; found three live red scales.

(185) Resin 19 pounds, water to make 100 gallons; costs 38 cents.
Sprayed on an orange tree at 4 p. m., July 17; sun shining, light breeze.
August 6, leaves and newest growth uninjured, but few of the red scales
were destroyed.

(186) Resin 22 pounds, water to make 100 gallons; costs 44 cents.
Sprayed on a lemon tree at 4.15 p. m., July 17; sunshining, light breeze.
August 6, same as in the preceding experiment.

EFFECTS OF THE EUREKA INSECTICIDE ON THE RED SCALE.

On the Ist of August of the present year I received a letter from
Acting Entomologist Howard, dated July 25, 1889, requesting me to
make a test of the ‘‘ Eureka Insecticide,” put up by HE. Bean, of Jack-
sonville, Fla., who would forward me a few sample cans of the insecti-
cide for this purpose. These samples reached me in due time, and I
carefully tested the preparation according to directions. One pound
of it was emptied into a vessel, 6 gallons of cold water added, and the
whole frequently stirred. After the lapse of one hour I allowed
the insoluble portion to settle to the bottom of the vessel, poured off
the clear liquid portion, and sprayed it upon an orange tree at 2 p. m.,
August 7; cloudy, light breeze. September 2 the leaves were unin-
jured, and I could not discover that any of the red scales (Aspidiotus
aurantii Maskell) that were encased in a scale or shell at the time the
application was made had in the least been affected by the spray.

In a circular received from the proprietor it is stated that this insecti-
cide is sulphur in solution, a patented process, and that it “is abso-
lutely fatal to the rust mite, and also to the scale insect during the
breeding or migratory periods,” providing that the applications extend
through the entire season. It is possible that this insecticide would
prove fatal to the recently hatched red seale, but as this becomes coy-
ered over with a shell inside of twenty-four hours after leaving the
parent, and as the young ones appear during almost every day in the
year, it follows that in order to be effective it would be necessary to
apply this insecticide every day for three or four months consecutively
—a task which very few of our fruit-growers would be willing to per-
form.

23479—No. 22——2

REPORT ON INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA.
By Prof. HerBpert Osporn, Special Agent.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

IowA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
Ames, December 11, 1389.

Str: I beg to submit herewith my report upon the season’s observations and study
for 1889.

T have during the season made a series of tests of X. O. Dust under directions from
your office; reports of which were transmitted immediately on completion of the
tests, and have continued to work, conjointly with yourself, on the insects affecting
domestic animals. As bearing upon the same general subject, and connected with one
of the most important industries of the State, and, indeed, of a large part of the
United States, I have given such time as I could to the study of insects affecting
meadows and pastures. Believing, however, that more could be accomplished by
giving attention to some particular group, and considering the great importance
of the Leaf-hoppers and other Homoptera, and the fact that they have been but
slightly studied in this connection, I have spent most of the time upon this group.

The study of these is rendered more difficult in consequence of the great number
of species as yet undescribed, and the lack of any complete literature upon known
American species. But for these very reasons there is the more need of their being
investigated. My results seem meager for the time devoted, but I believe that with

the material now brought together much more rapid progress can be made in future |

studies.
Thanking you for the many favors received from your office, I am
Very respectfully,
HERBERT OSBORN.

PROF. Ch Vi. huni,
U. S. Entomologist.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

While no wide-spread devastation has occurred in the State during
the past season there has been a considerable amgunt of damage from
a number of different species affecting various crops and operating in
different parts of the State.

Cut-worms of different species were unusually abundant, and I re-
ceived specimens and inquiries regarding them from different parts of
the State. They were quite troublesome in gardens, nurseries, and
fields in this locality.

The Turt Web-worms (Crambus exsiccatus), reported on in detail two -

years ago, were again quite abundant, but not so numerous or destruc-
tive as in 1887. An allied species (Crambus laqueatellus) was quite
18

ame 18 Geter

ug

abundant in the adult form in the latter part of May, and there is good
reason to believe that the larvee have the same destructive habit in
grass, and, from the occurrence of the imago so early in the season, it
would seem probable that as in exrsiccatus there are two broods each
season.

Another moth nearly related to these web-worms occurred this sea-
son in great numbers in pastures and meadows, and though [ have not
had opportunity to study the larval stage, it may be well to call attention
to it as a probable grass pest that may prove as troublesome as the spe-
- eles of Crambus. This is the Nomophila noctuella, and it was noticed in
greatest-abundance from May 18 to 22 (1889). The species has been
observed as abundant in previous seasons and is probably a pretty con-
stant inhabitant of grass land.

During the latter part of May and first part of June the Blue Grass
in the vicinity suffered from the trouble called “ Silver Top,” the head
and upper joint of the stalk turning whitish. I examined a number of
these withered and partly wilted stalks and in a few cases found Thrips
present, and in some cases swollen joints appearing as if affected with
Meromyza, the adults of which were very plentiful on grass a little
earlier. If due to Thrips, I think they must leave the grass almost as
soon as it begins to wither, as in the cases where i found them I selected
stems that were just beginning to turn white.

The Clover-seed Midge has appeared in this State, and the present
year is the first I think that it has been destructive. It has been re-
ported in a few localities and I swept the adults from clover in consider-
able numbers May 25. A very few were bred from clover heads in 1888.

Epitrix cucumeris was very abundant on potatoes, but as the vines
had a very vigorous growth in the early part of the season no serious
damage resulted. ,

Diabrotica vittata and D. 12-punctata were exceedingly plentiful and
furnished me material for some tests of X. O. Dust hitherto reported.
1 also tried for these a mixture of London purple and kerosene emulsion
for the purpose of killing the beetles gathered on the squash vines and
preventing the complete destruction of foliage, depending upon the
London purple to kill the beetles gathering on the vines later. After
this application the vines did very well and I think the plan a success.
The beetles will, some of them, fly away before the kerosene takes effect,
but they probably all die in a short time. I have since noticed that
Prof. John B. Smith has used a similar plan for treating the Elm-leaf
Beetle, and it would seem to be applicable in many cases where the
expense is not an obstacle and where it is desired to kill the bulk of the
insects gathered on plants before they have time to destroy foliage,
which they must do to some extent when treated with London purple.

Plant lice of many species were abundant in the latter part of the
season. Of these the Thorn-tree Aphid (Schizoneura crategi Oest.) was
especialiy conspicuous by its abundance on thorn trees. The common

20)

Willow Plant-louse (Melavanthus salicis) was brought or sent me a num-
ber of times, showing that it attracted unusual attention, and the eggs
deposited by the oviparous females were to be found in numbers under
the buds of willow twigs in late autumn. Of all the species noticed,
however, the swarms of the Dogwood Aphid (Schizoneura corni Fab.)
were most remarkable. This species is referred to more particularly in
another place.

OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS AFFECTING GRASSES.

The importance of the pastures and meadows in this State will be

conceded by every one familiar with its agriculture. Perhaps no other
single element isof greater importance, furnishing, asit does, the basis
for the stock industry of the State.

The insects infesting meadows and pastures are therefore of the
greatest importance, and while their depredations are perhaps less con-
spicuous than those from insects affecting some other crops, I think it
can be clearly shown that the average annual loss in pastures and
meadows from insect injuries is equal to if not greater than the crop har-
vested or the amount consumed by cattle, horses, or sheep in pasture,
and probably furnishing a total annual loss greater than in any other
crop. In ordinary pasturage it is common, I believe, to allow two acres
of land to each cow, or, for convenience, let us say that one acre will
half supporta cow. At the same time that this cow is feeding there
are a million insects, more or less, of various kinds feeding upon the
same area by day and night from the time the snow melts in spring till
winter forces them to suspend their work.

The only compensation they can offer is that when dead (and they
die young), their million little carcasses dropping on the surface of the
soil return to it some of the material which has been built into their
tissues, increasing its richness and helping to support succeeding gene-
rations.

In my report upon the Turf Web-worm two years ago, I gave the count
of burrows that had been opened by squirrels as twenty-five in one
instance and fifty in another, within a square yard, and it is not prob-
able that every burrow within those areas had been opened by squirrels.
The web-worms were, however, uncommonly abundant that season. If
we reduce the mean of these figures by one-half and allow two web-
worms to each square foot it means 87,120 to the acre, and then consider
that these worms cut down quantities of grass that they do not devour,
it would seem hardly too much to suppose that these alone would prove
a pretty even match for one half a cow in disposing of the grass grow-
ing on an acre.

All are familiar with the depredations of white grubs, and it is hardly
necessary to ask whether in seasons when these are plentiful they do
not destroy as much or more than would support at least half a cow.

Cutworms and Army worms are a constant source of loss in grass

.

21

land, and these with the grasshoppers, familiar to everybody, are capa-
ble of mowing down a quantity of grass during a season which ought
to be appreciated by the farmer. Grasshoppers need not be remarkably
plentiful to place a dozen to a square yard, over 50,000 to the acre, and
is it any wonder that pastures run short in seasons when rain is scarce
or grasshoppers a little more plentiful than usual ?

The kinds of insects so far mentioned perform their work in a way
that causes an actual lessening of bulk inthe crop, but there is another
host, less noticeable in size as well as in method of work, whose actual
damage in reduction of available food for stock must be of very great
importance. These, like the Chinch Bug, which is one of their number,
simply puncture the leaves or stems of the grass and pump out its
juices, thereby abstracting much of the best food material even where
they do not cause a checking of growth and shriveling of the plants.
Many of these are insects of very minute proportions, but like the
Chinch Bug make up in numbers for their diminutive size. It is no
exaggeration I think to say that they occur by the million to the acre.

A million mouths against a half a mouth, and isit necessary that the
individual mouth be a very large one to make the aggregate food con-
sumed equal that of the half cow ?

In order that my figures may not seem purely fanciful, I may state
that they are derived in part from actual count, but in all cases, when
count has been made, the circumstances have been such as to make the
numbers fall short of the actuality.

I have captured leaf-hoppers on grass by throwing a net down verti-
eally and counting the number caught within the area inclosed by the
ring, and while it is hardly possible in this way to secure all that were
actually within that area the average of a number of such captures
gives nearly a million to the acre.

I have many times observed them when plentiful and tried to count
the number within a given area, but their activity makes this difficult.
By approaching them very slowly and keeping very quiet, I have on
some occasions been able to observe them closely and have on different
occasions been able to count many within the area of a few square inches ;
often two or more to asingle blade of grass, and consequently I feel sat-
isfied that the estimate based on the numbers captured are far below
the actual numbers frequently occurring during seasons when they are
ordinarily abundant and greatly under the number in seasons when
they have multiplied to any unusual degree. Itmay perhaps be urged
that, even allowing them to abound in this degree every season, they
are too small to consume a very great amount of food. Possibly a mill-
ion leaf-hoppers would not exceed in bulk the half of an average cow,
but it should be remembered also that they grow very rapidly and must
consequently use proportionately large quantities of food, and that they
extract the most nutritious parts of the grass. That grass forms the
bulk of their food has not I think been questioned, but to be certain on

20

this point I have observed them carefully and examined with partic-
ular care the grass blades on which [ have seen them established.

On September 7, 1859, I swept grass where no other living plants
were to be seen and collected numerous Hemiptera of a number of dif-
ferent species, mostly Homoptera. The grass was very dry, brown, and
in many places appearing dead, but evidently still furnishing support
for the leaf-hoppers. There were but few other insects present, scarcely
any that could be supposed to feed upon grass, except some grasshop-
pers (Caloptenus femur-rubrum, species of Cidipoda, ete.). The species
of Homoptera collected may I think be considered as unquestionably
grass feeders. No other vegetation that could furnish them support
had been on the ground swept for weeks, and the insects swarmed on
every square foot. The grass commenced turning brown in patches
long before it should be expected to, if affected only by want of rain, as
it showed within ashort time after the last rains, which had been quite
regular and copious, previous to the dry period of that time, and its dry-
ing up must have been hastened by losses due to the presence of in-
sects. The ground was not yet dry enough so that the grass could
have suffered from lack of moisture alone. Their presence on grass
seems to show its effect in two ways, though for one of them it is diffi-
cult to draw the line between the effects of leaf-hoppers and dryness.
In one the effect of punctures shows in numerous pale and dry spots on
the blades of grass resembling effects produced by related Homoptera
on other plants, apple-trees, pear-trees, grape-vines, etc. Such spots
can not be found, however, in such numbers as would be expected if
there were one for every puncture by the millions of these insects that
occur in every piece of grass land. But the great bulk of the grass is
withered or dead down to a certain point near the ground (or to the
ground), which would naturally be the appearance if the leaf withered
from the lower punctures to the tip, thus obliterating all punctured
spots on the terminal portion.

The difference between grass withering from punctures and from lack
of moisture is perhaps not sufficiently different to furnish a very safe
basis for deduction, but in the latter case it is naturally more gradual
and holds for a longer time the green color of hay, so that for withered
grass not too long exposed I believe we should be able to distinguish in
some degree the difference between that killed by leaf-hoppers and that
dried by excessive heat and lack of moisture in the ground.

While this may fall short of actual demonstration, I think a careful
study of the effectsin the field will convince any one that my conclusions
are justified by the facts and that, taking year after year, the amount ot
injury caused by insects of various kinds is fully equal to the amount
consumed by the stock ordinarily pastured on the same land. It is evi-
dent, then, that the prevention or the reduction of the insect injuries
would add an equivalent amount to the return from such land. Instead
of one cow requiring two acres for pasturage,pastures comparatively free

23

from insects should support a cow to each acre through the entire sea-
son. It is certain that much of this loss can be prevented by simple
and inexpensive means. The capturing of the moths of Turf Web-worms
and Cut-worms will help much in reducing their number. Grasshop-
pers can be destroyed at the same time that Leaf-hoppers are, and by
use of the same means, and it would seem certain that a method costing
but 2 to 10 cents per acre might be applied with great profit for these
insects alone. It is my object here, however, to treat in detail only of
the remedies tried or proposed for Leaf-hoppers.

APPEARANCE AND HABITS OF LEAF-HOPPERS (JASSID 4).

The insects embraced in this group are almost afl small and rather
slender insects, with blunt or pointed heads and well-developed wings,
which at rest lie parallel along the back, usually sloping like a roof,
or partly inclosing the body. One of the most characteristic features,
however, is their habit of leaping when disturbed. All the species pos-
sess this habit, though some do notleap as readily as others. The largest
Species common to grass are not over halfan inchin length, while the
smaller ones are less than an eighth of an inch long. Many of the spe-
cies are extremely light and slender, almost invisible except when care-
fully observed, while others have short, thick bodies. Their colors are
well adapted to furnish them protection, many being green, others
yellowish or brownish, and in many cases they will not be noticed at
all on the grass until they leap, and then it is usually because of the
swarm that rise together that they become noticeable. All feed by
puncturing the plant and sucking out the juicy contents of the leaves
or stems. All, so far as known, puncture leaves or stems of plants to
deposit their eggs, frequently placing them under the epidermis only.
The larv are commonly somewhat spiny at first and have the general
form of the adults, passing by gradual development with little change
tarongh pupa.stage to adult. Most of the species, if not all, pass the
winter as adults.

REMEDIES FOR LEAF HOPPERS.

Burning.— For those species of leaf-hoppers which hibernate in grass,
and especially those which are active there during late fall and early
spring, a thorough burning over should prove of great advantage.
The Leat-hoppers leap readily, but do not ordinarily fly any distance,
and especially when the weather is cool would be unable to escape from
the flames. In two pieces of grass land burnt over last spring and con-
venient for observation one showed fairly good results, keeping its color
well till late insummer, though surrounded by grass land, unburnt, on
three sides. The other, a pasture of some size, was in poor condition
all summer; but in this Turf Web-worms and Cut-worms were so
plenty that they alone weve sufficient to account for its poor condition.

24

Plowing.—There seems little ground for hoping that the number of
Leaf-hoppers can be diminished materialiy by any system of plowing
under, or by rotation of crops. Grass is an essential on every farm,
and no system of starvation could be adopted, and even if deprived of
the common pasture grasses, the most of the species evidently thrive
on the fox-tails and other grasses that flourish as weeds. The leaf.
hoppers are too active to be plowed under and can readily migrate to
other fields. Eggs for most of the species, at least, are not deposited
at any fixed time of the year, and while by plowing under in May, June,
or August many eggs might be buried, plenty of hoppers would
escape to the surrounding grass land to keep the farm well stocked.

Mowing.—When the grass in which Leaf-hoppers have been very
abundant is cut sbort, leaving only a dry stubble, the insects seem to
be forced to migrate, as few or none can be found in such places a few
days after the cutting nor until a new growth gives them a source of
fresh food supply. While eariy cutting of meadows badly infested
might result in saving a larger crop, if must follow that the Leaf-hoppers
would travel to pastures or other grass land, and it would be simply a
question as to where they would do the greater amount of damage. It
would seem feasible, however, to take advantage of the time when the
crop has been just removed to use hopper dozers or other means for
capturing them before they have left for fresh pasture. We know, as
yet, too little as to where and when the bulk of the eggs are deposited
to say whether cutting at any particular time would result in the de-
struction of any number of eggs. While we know that Leaf-hoppers de-
posit eggs in stems and leaves of plants, we are not acquainted with
their full history or the methods of different species, so that it would
be unsafe at present to base remedies on this part of their history.

Capturing in Nets.—The ease with which all species of leaf-hoppers
affecting grass can be taken in sweep-nets led me to try the use of this
principle on a larger scale. I therefore had a couple of wire frames
made 3 feet long, fastened a deep cheese-cloth net to each and attached
these to two long handles, so that the frame of one would brush the
ground about a foot behind the forward one. The object of having two
nets was to secure the hoppers which allowed the first wire to pass over
them before leaping. With the handles the net was pushed forward so
that the insects were not disturbed till the approach of the net and a
strip of ground a yard wide was gone over either at a walk or a run.
While numerous insects were secured by this plan, Grasshoppers, Moths,
Clover-seed Midges, and large numbers of Leaf-hoppers, the count of
those secured from the nets showed that as compared with what must
actually exist on the same ground as shown by other captures, only a
portion of the Leaf-hoppers were thus secured, and considering the
trouble of holding and destroying all the insects captured, I concluded
that this plan was not equal to the hopper-dozer for this purpose. The
second net captured a goodly number of insects as well as the forward

25

one and probably held them better, as they could not as readily fly out
after having entered. It was found that more insects were captured
when the net was pushed at a run that when walking. Probably even
then mazy insects succeeded in flying out of the forward net.

Nets arranged in this manner, two or even three in succession, might
be made eight or ten feet long and run by boys, one at each end. The
forward net should be closed as soon asa stop is made, and the nets all
closed at the finish, when they may be left a day or two for the insects
to die. Usually there are enough predaceous species captured to kill
the others rapidly, and such species could then be set free. Many
species of insects beside the Leaf-hoppers are caught by this device, and
some, such as the moths of Turf Web- worms, and Cut-worms, smail Dip-
tera, Clover-seed Midges, etc., that are not as apt to be taken in the hop-
per dozer.

Hopper Dozer.—This simple contrivance (a sheet-iron pan containing
kerosene and water or coal tar, to be dragged over the infested ground),
devised for the destruction of the Rocky Mountain Locust, possesses the
essential qualities for the destruction of the Leaf hoppers as well. I
believe that it can be used with profit in any pasture affected with these
pests. The delicate Leaf-hoppers are killed by the kerosene almost the
instant they touch it, and though my trials with it were made when the
weather was so cool that the hoppers did not leap with their usual ac-
tivity, they showed that it would operate successfully. It would be
best, probably, to use it for these during warm days, when the insects
are at their greatest activity, and early enough in the spring to catch
the hibernating adults before they deposit eggs, repeating the opera-
tion, if necessary, in July, and for meadows immediately after the re-
moval of the hay crop. Perhaps two pans, one behind the other, will
prove advantageous.

The Shield Method.—A plan that is scarcely more than a modificatien
of the above has been recently highly recommended for the destruction
of the Leaf-hoppers infesting grapes. A quite similar plan was adopted
for the destruction of the Rocky Mountain Locust years ago and is
described in the first report of the United States Ent. Com.; and in his
first annual report as State Entomologist of New York, Professor Lint-
ner suggests its use for “low-feeding insects” ‘especially hopping
species.” I have not as yet tested it myself, but will give the plan, that
others may test it for these insects if disposed. <A piece of drilling or,
what would be cheaper still, a strip of building paper is fastened to a
light wooden frame and is coated with coal-tar or gas-tar, the residue
from distilling off kerosene from petroleum, or from gas manufacture.
In case of grape Leat-hoppers this frame is held as near the vines as pos-
sible by one man, while another lifts the branches. The hoppers darting
against the shield are caught and killed. For grass Leaf-hoppers the
frame would be set on runners and could be made 10 to 15 feet
long and run by a boy or man at each end. The best angle at which to

26

hold it would be soon determined by trials, and if sloping back it might
be that the underside of the shield, if coated with the tar, would capture
hoppers as wellas the upper. As coal-tar can be secured in most towns
at small expense, and as the frame for the shield costs but little, this
method should be applied at a cost of not more than 5 to 8 cents per acre,
and could be repeated two or three times during a season if either Grass-
hoppers or Leaf hoppers become plenty.

It could be used in meadows or tall grass by mounting the frames on
runners high enough so that the grass while being bent over should
have plenty of room to pass under the shield, but would not be likely
to work well when pollen is flying from the grass blossoms or when the
seed begins to fall, as the tar would so soon become covered with the
dust and chaff.

NATURAL ENEMIES OF LEAF-HOPPERS.

But little is known regarding natural enemies for these active little
insects. Ihave found the common Coriscus ferus very plenty in all grass
Jand examined, and where but few other insects were present to furnish
it food. When ieft in nets with Leaf-hoppers the latter are soon found
dead, while the Coriscus thrives, and knowing their very carnivorous
habits, there can, I think, be no question as to their serving a useful
purpose in killing these as well as other grass pests. As this species
does not have the leaping habit it is less likely to be destroyed in * hop-
per dozers” than the hopping species, and consequently these remedies
can be used with little danger of destroying this natural check to the
multiplication of injurious species.

SPECIES OF LEAF-HOPPERS OBSERVED IN GRASS.
THE TENDERFOOT LEAF-HOPPER.
(Diedrocephala mollipes Say.)

This widely distributed species is perhaps the most abundant of its
genus, and is unquestionably a source of much loss in pastures and
meadows. Professor Uhler states its range as “Texas, Colorado, Mexico,
and the southern part of the Atlantic region.” It is one of the most
abundant insects in the Upper Mississippi Valley, and I have found it
in great numbers on blue-grass and on prairie grasses, where this must
have been its principal, if not only, source of food. Other grasses would
seem to serve it equally well. Professor Uhler says (Standard Natural
History, vol. I1, p. 249):

The salt marshes of the Atlantic States furnish places of shelter for it, where it
may be found on reedy grasses in all stages from June till October.

That it prefers moist places is evidenced by its comparative scarcity
on high ground in dry seasons, and its greater abundance in the vicinity
of thickets as well as in low ground at such times. It is about one-

4
4

27

third of an inch long, of a bright grass-green color, the head and thorax
above yellow. It varies considerably in size, Sn the females average
considerably larger than, the males. The head is sharply pointed, has
a number of fine black lines on its upper surface; the face is shaded
dark brown, and has a double series of transverse fae

The larve which appear to be most common in early summer are light
green or yellowish, and agree with the adults in having the head sharply
pointed. I have found them most common in May and June, and, as
adults are abundant from this time till autumn, it is difficult to say
whether there is more than one brood. I have not seen adults in winter
or early spring, and it seems possible that eggs in this and allied species
are laid in fall to hatch in spring. As this would be contrary to the
habit of the majority of insects in this family it will require further ob-
servation to establish it. It is at least quite certain that they do not
hibernate as adults in grass, and unless eggs are deposited in stems of
grass or other plants in grass land the insect can not be destroyed by
burning in early winter or spring. It will be seen that there are im-
portant points to determine about this very common insect, and means
of destroying it may depend in large degree upon the determination
of some of the very simple steps in its life-history. It jumps readily,
and like*other members of the family may be treated on the ‘ hopper-
dozer” plan.

THE NEw York LEAF-HOPPER.
(Diedrocephala noveboracensis Fitch.)

This species is a little larger than the mollipes, but resembles it very
closely. Its head, however, is less acute, and there are four distinct
black spots on the front margin of the head, two of them close together
at the tip and one each side in front of the eyes; the lower surface of
the head lacks the brown color of mollipes, or is but faintly browned.
Their habits appear to be much the same, and they are often found in
the same locations, though I have found this species more commonly
in the grass in wooded pastures or at the borders of thickets. I have
never observed it in such abundance as I have the mollipes, and ordi-
narily it is probably of little importance. With equal numbers it would
of course be as serious a pest as any of the other species of the family.
Professor Uhler says it is common in many parts of the United States
north of Maryland and it extends north into Canada and British Co-
lumbia. ¥

(Diedrocephala versuta Say.)

This species bears a striking resemblance to coccinea, and has very
Similar habits, occurring in similar localities, and probably living upon
the same plants. While Say’s description was published in 1831 I know
of no reference to the species in works on Economic Entomology, and

28

no reference that would indicate its occurrence in destructive numbers.
It is introduced here as one of a group of insects whose importance will
I believe be more appreciated when their habits become better known.

THE RED-BACKED LEAF-HOPPER.
(Diedrocephala coccinea Forster. )

So far as I have observed this is not an abundant species, and while
evidently common throughout the United States I know of no record
of its multiplying to numbers sufficient to make it destructive. I have
found it usually in the vicinity of timber or thickets, and while it prob-
ably subsists on grasses does not select the open meadows or pastures
but localities affording more moisture and shade. Itis a handsome and
conspicuous species, the upper surface when wings are closed being
largely of a deep red color with dark blue or blue-green stripes. It was
described under the name of Cicada coccinea by Forster (J. R.), in 1781
(Novae. Spec. Insect., p. 96), and afterward by Say as Tettigonia quadri-
vittata.

THe HIEROGLYPHIC LEAF-HOPPER.
(Tettigonia hieroglyphica Say.)

This was quite an abundant species the past season, but the majority
of the specimens taken were found in the grasses of timber or among
the low herbage along ravines, grassy banks, ete.

Professor Uhler says it “inhabits Texas, the foot-hills, and plains of
Colorado from August to October, and the Atlantic region throughout.”
It is somewnat smaller than the mollipes, usually less than one-fourth of
an inch in length; the head is rounded in front and marked with irregu-
lar black crescentic spots and bars. There is much variation in depth
of coloring and extent of marking so that it is difficult to give a brief
description that will be distinctive. Whileit was described in 1831 by
Say, it has not been so abundant or noted as sufficiently destructive to
get a place in the literature of economic entomology. Like many other
of the species of this family, however, it has been lumped off with
many of its relatives among the injurious leaf-hoppers, and hence
should not be regarded as hitherto unmentioned among injurious
species.

THE FOUR-POINTED AGALLIA.

(Agallia quadripunctata Proy.).

This species appears to be common throughout most of the United
States, although [ am not aware of its having been recorded as occur-
ring in great abundance at any place. It is, however, one of the species
which occurs in considerable numbers and does its share toward injur-
ing the vegetation of pastures and meadows.

>
#
-

29

Whether it feeds mainly on grasses or attacks also the various plants
growing with grasses I can not at present say, as it has not been studied
in such connection as to determine this point.

It is about an eighth of an inch in length and of a yellowish-brown
color with scarcely any decided markivgs except two black points on
the front margin of the head and two similar points at the hind margin
of the prothorax. These latter points are nearly in line with those on
the head, though a little farther apart, so that the four points stand
nearly at the corners of an imaginary square. Other points within the
square are in some specimens quite distinct, but not so conspicuous as
the ones described. The species appears to have been first described
by M. Provancher (Nat. Can., IV, 376); in 1872, but it has quite gen-
erally been known among entomologists as Agallia flaccida Uhl. Mr.
EK. P. Van Duzee (Entom. Amer., V., p. 167) says:

This species I have received in exchange from a number of correspondents as
Agallia flaccida Ubler, and have so used the name myself in exchanging and in the
List of Muskota Hemiptera. It seems to have been an early manuscript name of Mr.
Uhler.

But little can be stated regarding the life history of this species and
there are probably no important differences between this and other spe-
cies of the same family. Nearly all the specimens taken or observed
have been mature, and without rearing it would be uncertain whether
.larve apparently of this species really belonged to it. Adults have
been taken at different times of the year, and probably it can be found.
in this condition during each month of the year. Mr. Van Duzee says
in the article quoted above that ‘ this is a very abundant species in
western New York from early in May until September, and in fact the
year round, as it appears to hibernate in the adult state, as do many
if not all the Jasside.”

I have not found it in grass during winter, and can not say whether
it hibernates mainly in pastures and meadows or seeks the shelter of
dead leaves and rubbish in thickets, hedges, ete.

Agallia sanguinolenta Prov.

This little Leaf-hopper has been quite common in this locality during
the last few years, and while never so abundant that it can be counted
a serious pest in itself it must be counted in with related species in any
enumeration which pretends to give the grass-feeding species. That it
has a wide range is indicated by the following from Professor Uhler
(Bull. U.S. Geol. and Geog. Surv., vol. I, p.359[93, of part], 1876): “This
is a very variable little insect, which is not confined to the region of
the Rocky Mountains, but which has been found likewise in Texas, in
British Columbia, Canada, and New England.” ‘

It was described under the name of Bythoscopus sanguinolentus by M.
Provancher in 1872 (Naturaliste Canadien, LV, 376) and in 1876 by Pro-
fessor Uhler under the name of Bythoscopus siccifolius. Mr. EB, P.Van

30

Duzee has, however, in the Entomologica Americana (V., 166) placed
this latter as a synonym, and remarks:

Through the kindness of M. Provancher I had the pleasure of examining a typical
example of his species and have thus been able te compare it directly with Mr.
Uhler’s description, and find that it agrees’ in every particular. It is not an un-
common species here (Buffalo, N. Y.) on grass and weeds in pastures and road sides,
especially where Carex and Juncus abound.

It is a little smaller than the quadripunctata and rather broader in
proportion, and is quite readily distinguished from that species by the
dark wing veins and the more decided markings on the head and pro-
thorax. Itis scarcely an eighth of an inch in length and fully one-third
as wide as long.

A dark form which differs from the typical ones, so far as I can see,
only in the greater intensity of the markings is perhaps even more
common here than the typical form, and this I have found fairly plenty
and quite active in blue-grass lawn during the latter part of November,
so that we may be pretty certain that it hibernates under grass and
probably feeds more or less during mild weather of late fall and early
winter. It can also be considered as quite certain that it can live ex-
clusively upon grass, as in the localities where I have observed it it
could scarcely have been depending on other vegetation for its food.

THE WAVY-SPOTTED LEAF-HOPPER.
(Allygus irroratus Say.)

The propriety of including this species in a discussion of grass in-
sects may possibly be questioned, since its range of food plants is very
great. There is no question, however, that plants of the grass family
are among those most commonly affected by it, and I have found it
abundant in grass land, where evidently this was its only source of
food. It will be unnecessary, however, to detail its method of work, as
it agrees so nearly with other members of the same family, and all
methods of treatment must be based on similar principles. It may be
stated, however, that there is as yet no evidence, so far as I knew, that
it hibernates in grass, and therefore those remedies based on that habit
in some of the species will not be applicable to this. Descriptions of
the species were published by Say in 1831, and since that time the spe-
cies has had frequent mention in entomological works, but only ocea-
sional reference to it as an injurious species is made, and in these ref-
erences it is as often spoken of as a grain pest.

Tue DESTRUCTIVE LEAF-HOPPER.
(Cicadula exitiosa Uhler.)

When attention was first called to this species it was from its attacks
on wheat, but that it is of equal if not greater importance as @ grass
pest seems to me pretty clear after the observations of the present

* i ber Detellimk ©

al ele

3]

season, and it would be interesting to know whether, in the reported
destruction to wheat, this crop kad not followed grass or whether the
insects had not simply traveled from grass land. I have taken them
in abundance from grass, and in blue-grass, where no other living plants
were near, they occurred in large numbers, so that there would seem to be
no question as to grass being their natural food. They have been
reported as abundant and destructive on timothy in Missouri. (INSECT
LIFE, Vol. I, p. 381).

They are about two-tenths of an inch in length, of a brownish color,
and the wings are rather prominently marked with dark veins. It is
an active species, Jumps and flies readily, and is easily captured in a
sweep-net, and would probably fall an easy victim to the “ hopper dozer”
or ‘‘shield,” where these can be used.

It was described by Professor Uhler in the American Entomologist,
Vol. II, p. 73 (1880), and a description and an account of its injuries to
wheat in the Carolinas and Georgia occurs in the Report of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for 1879.

THE HurRTFUL LEAF-HOPPER.
(Jassus inimicus Say.)

Of all the species of Homoptera that I have observed infesting grass
this has been unquestionably the most abundant and constant in its
depredations. It is par excellence a grass pest, and is found in great
numbers in pastures and meadows at all seasons of the year, even in
warm days of early winter, being found hopping actively about among
the blades of grass and probably extracting some slight amount of food
material even during this season. During the past season they have
been especially numerous and destructive, or at least my attention has
been called to them more frequently than before. My notes show them
swarming in May, June, July, August, and September, and, recently,
the latter part of November, and, later, December 12. I have found
them scarcely less plentiful and active in the grass on blue-grass lawn.
I observed them also in great numbers in all the pastures and meadows
that I examined while in Linn County, in the eastern part of the State,
in the latter part of June. Actual killing of grass by them is, however,
a somewhat difficult matter to prove, and, except in seasons of unusual
dryness, there is probably not sufficient withering of the grass from
their presence to attract attention. In July and August grass here
showed injury by turning brown in patches, and this commenced too
soon after rains to be referred entirely to drought.

Later in the summer (September 7 and later), when the attacks of the
leaf-hopper had caused most of the lawn to appear brown, such patches
were not conspicuous. Examination of the grass where blades were
not entirely withered would show in many cases brown spots of varying
sizes, generally with the center on or near the midrib, and from small

2

spots of this kind all gradations of withering could be found up to
where the entire blade was withered or brown. Plenty of these insects
were to be found even where the grass was comparatively dry, but that
they preferred the more juicy grass was shown by their accumulation in
shaded places or where the grass presented more vigorous aspect.
They could be secured in abundance from patches where no other veg-
etation occurred, and in the absence of other insects in numbers to
cause the withering mentioned, there can be no question, I think, as to
the serious nature of their attacks upon the grass. Even when they do
not cause withering of grass they must draw seriously upon its vitality.

I have thus far been unable to separate any definite broods. Adults
oceur during the entire year, and larvie, which may be quite certainly
referred to this species, may be found associated with them during the
most of the summer months. Larve are perhaps most common during
June and in August and September, but whether there are two broods
or three, or an indefinite number depending only on the length of the
season, I can not now say. It seems most probable, however, that
breeding goes on irregularly all through the summer months, but that
the adults of spring are represented by only two or three generations
of progeny, and the members of the latest broods survive the winter to
begin the production of new generations in the spring.

In connection with his description of the species, which was published
in 1831, Say makes the remark that ‘‘ When in the larva state this
species is said to depredate on the roots of wheat. Several specimens
were sent me by Professor Green in the year 1822, who received them
from a farmer in Virginia.”

Considering the wide distribution and great abundance of this species,
it seems strange that it should have been so little studied or so rarely
mentioned in works on injurious insects.

The insect is somewhat less than a fourth of an inch long and appears
grayish or yellowish gray, and about the most constant marking are two
dots on the front of the head, two on prothorax, and two on scutellum.
A form lighter than the typical examples but which seems to me only
a light variety, has even these dots obscure or wanting.

The larvee are light yellowish but seem to be subject to about as
much variation as the adults. An extreme form of larvie, probably be-
longing to this species, has dark margins to the prothorax and abdomen.

Several other species of Jasside have been observed in grass, but as
they are not as yet determined I omit further mention of them at this
time.

THE GRASS-ROOT PLANT-LOUSE ALIAS THE DOGWOOD PLANT-LOUSE.

(Schizoneura corni Fab.)

Probably the most interesting result of my season’s observations
from a scientific stand-point, and it may be the most important econom-
ically, is the determination of the identity of a form of plant-louse in-

33

festing the roots of grasses during the summer with one occurring ‘on
the leaves of dogwood during autumn. The full import of this connee-
tion from the economic stand-point can not be known till it is determined
how many species of grasses are affected by the root form and to what
extent the migration to dogwood exposes it to attack. If its occurrence
is confined to the annual grasses (and it seems to occur only on these),
its importance to the farmer will be much less than if itis found to work
also on perennial species.

A brief statement of the connection between these two forms was
published in InsEcT LIFE (Vol. II, pp. 108-9), but a fuller account, with
details of observations, is proper at this time.

My attention was first called to this species on September 15, when I
noticed the air was filled with small insects, which on capture were
found to be plant-lice of the genus Schizoneura. Their immense num-
bers, filling the air as far as could be seen in all directions, naturally
excited my interest, and I walked some distance in the direction from
which they seemed mainly to come (which was with the wind), but
without locating their origin, except to observe that they were resting
on all sorts of plants and were very plentiful along roads and paths
where fox-tail and other grasses were plenty. Upon examination I de-
termined the specimens gathered to be Schizoneura corni Fab., speci-
mens of which I had gathered a year or two ago from dogwood. It
seemed difficult, however, to account for such an immense swarm of them
when dogwood is not especially abundant in the immediate vicinity and
had not been observed as infested with aphids. In looking over de-
scriptions of allied species I was struck by the close agreement with
descriptions of Schizoneura panicola Thos., and, following this lead, I
examined the roots of Setaria and Panicum on September 16, whem the
winged forms were again numerous in the air. My search was almost
immediately rewarded with the finding of numerous wingless Schizo-
neure, aud among them some which showed wing-pads aud two with wings
partly expanded. These were compared carefully with winged corni
found flying and also with corni from dogwood, and showed such close
agreement that I felt it important to follow the matter up. One of the
specimens, with wings partly developed, was mounted in balsam for
future reference; the others, on grass roots, were put in breeding jars.
Their subsequent history will be stated later on.

Examinations in the field on the 18th showed lice still somewhat
plenty on grass roots, though the Setariw examined failed to show them
in very greatabundance. Examinations the same day, of the dogwood
in the timber near, showed on the very first bush noticed numbers of
_ the winged (pseudogyne) individuals, and with them numbers of small
larve evidently just extruded. The colonies accompanying each
pseudogyne contained from one to a number of larvee, but none of these
could have been more than a day or two old, all very small, scarcely
larger than when first born. In no case could I find a leaf on any of

23479—No, 22——3

34

the bushes examined which contained any colonies without the winged
mother or where there was the slightest evidence of the previous
presence of aphides; no cast skins from old colonies or damaged leaves,
and every indication went to prove that the winged form had just settled
upon the trees and begun the formation of colonies. While perhaps of
little value as proof, it may also be mentioned that no Schizoneurz had
been observed on Cornus this fall prior to this date or before the swarm-
ing of September 15. A number of branches containing colonies were
brought in and kept in water for the purpose of following their devel-
opment. This was fortunate, as the colonies on the plants out of doors
were almost all depopulated a few days later by predaceous insects,
so much so that the colonies on plants near at hand and on which I
depended for following the species out of doors utterly failed to furnish
material for that purpose. Indoors the insects developed rapidly and
were followed as closely as circumstances would permit. Molting in
these occurred by the 19th, and apparently only one molt occurred
before maturity. Only one brood was developed, these becoming sex-
ually mature September 25. Both males and females were apterous
and copulation took place upon the leaves and also upon the twigs, the
females often traveling down the twigs and branches while copulation
was in progress. In every case the females seemed to travel down the
branches as far as possible before depositing eggs, and great numbers
of them dropped into the water in which the branches were kept. In
the woods I have been unable to find any eggs whatever under buds on
twigs, and so far as the indoor observations go they differ from those
recorded by Mr. Weed. Whether this be due to dryness, the insects
seeking a place of some degree of moisture, can be determined by com-
parisons under varying conditions.

Two weeks after the swarming of winged lice in the air there was
another swarming, though the lice were not so numerous as at the first
time. This swarming also followed a rain with subsequent cold. As
in the preceding case, examination of Cornus in the woods showed nu-
merous winged individuals starting colonies, though at this time in
some places it was possible to find the cast skins of previous colonies,
all of which, however, so far as I could find, had been destroyed by
predaceous insects or other causes. My search for eggs in the woods
has been futile, and it would seem that nearly all the colonies were de-
stroyed before the maturity of the sexual individuals. I have feund,
however, oval bodies a trifle larger than the eggs, but resembling them
at first sight, though flattened, but which prove to be a small species
of Lecanium, apparently undescribed.

The lice occurring on the roots of grass, and which were placed in
breeding jar the 16th, were mostly unaltered on the 19th, but in the jar
I found a fully winged specimen, agreeing exactly, so far as could be
seen with hand lens, in the living individual, with specimens flying and
also with those on Cornus. It was transferred to a leaf of Cornus on

35

twig inserted in water, isolated from other leaves, and which had been
carefully examined with lens to see that it was free from larve, and
protected by cheese-cloth cover. This individual took kindly to the
situation, remained constantly on the leaf, and produced a number of
larvee which developed as rapidly as those brought from the woods,
agreeing perfectly with them in every particular that I could observe,
and proving their ability to develop on Cornus. Unfortunately their
propensity for traveling down the twigs resulted in their being drowned
in the water in which the twig was kept. I think, however, that their
developing perfectly on the Cornus leaf, and the perfect agreement of
apterous males and females so developed with those occurring normally
on Cornus in woods, is good evidence of identity.

In the meantime lice had been found in some numbers on the roots of
grasses not yet dead, especially on Panicum, and many of these had
been placed in breeding-jars in hopes of securing additional winged
specimens. While apparently thriving they failed to acquire wings,
but on September 24 I observed in one of the jars an apterous individ-
ual, and directly behind it an egg evidently fresh-laid, elongate, oval,
greenish, polished, like eggs of cornt on Cornus. This was mounted
with the apterous individual, and in the body of the latter another egg
was apparent. The egg was laid at the surface of the earth in the jar,
and similar eggs were found in pill-boxes in which root-lice were con-
fined. A close examination of roots, especially those of Panicum from
the field, enabled me to find a number of small apterous individuals like
the males on Cornus leaves, as well as the small apterous and oviparous
females. These occurred with a larger form, exactly like those which
had been observed to acquire wings, and the conclusion seemed inevi-
table that these viviparous and apterous forms produced in the ground
a brood of apterous males and females. These latter were observed
attempting coition, though in no case did I see the act completed. The
males are of an orange color, darker than the females, and differ from
males on Cornus leaves in being shorter, and in lacking the purplish tint
usually present in those. The females agree well with females on
Cornus leaves, but are shorter, have six-jointed antenni, and are
slightly lighter colored, which would be expected in individuals living
under-ground. September 28, eggs from these root-forms were more
numerous, and by October 3 I found them quite plenty in my jars.
One oviparous female was observed with three eggs extruded from the
body, adhering by the ends, and the last one still partly within the
body. They are whitish at first, but turn yellow on exposure, and later
turn quite dark.

The eggs seem to be deposited at hap-hazard on surface of earth,
sides of boxes or jars, and each female appears to produce but two or
three eggs.

These observations, I am free to confess, appear to complicate the
round of life of the species, and to make the complete circle from grass

36

to dogwood and back less clearly defined, but such a dimorphism, if we
may call it so, is not without parallel, and does not seem unreasonable.
There seems reason to believe that while a large proportion of the
pseudogynes acquire wings of perfect development, and migrate to dog-
wood, that there is also another portion in whicb the wings for some rea-
son fail to develop, and these from necessity remain on the roots or at
best remain near the surface of the ground, and the sexual generation
produced by them at the same time as from the winged ones, or perhaps
a little later develop by feeding upon grass roots, and deposit their eggs
where they have themselves developed. As to whether these eggs are
as successful in their further development as the ones deposited on
Cornus remains for further observations to determine. Possibly in cer-
tain seasons they may survive better, and thus provide a double means
for the preservation of the species. As to the conditions which might
affect the acquisition of wings we can do little more than speculate, but
it seems proper to call attention to the possible elements that may fur-
nish a solution.

The day before the first swarming of Schizoneura (14th) had been
very warm in the middle of the day, with a heavy shower in the latter
part of the afternoon, followed by a steady rain in the fore part of the
night, and this by a sharp fall in temperature, so that the morning of
the 15th was clear and cold (possibly a slight frost). The day remained
cold, but was bright and sunny, and the swarming observed occurred in
the latter part of the afternoon. Some other aphids were observed on
the wing, but very few as compared with the swarms of corni. 8S. corni
was seen in the air on subsequent days, but comparatively searce till,
again two weeks later (29th), after a very similar condition of weather
(warm, with rain, followed by cold), when another swarming occurred. -
Now, it may be that those individuals, which are at a certain stage when
such conditions occur, are enabled to acquire wings while those less fully
developed remain without the full expansion of these appendages.

In comparing the two forms infesting grass roots and dogwood, re-
spectively, I have studied great numbers of wingless individuals,
winged forms and apterous males and females, and have come to the
conclusion that they must all belong to the same species. It will, how-
ever, be in place, I think, to place in position for comparison the differ-
ent descriptions which have been given of the species to show that,
notwithstanding the terms used by different authors, and their wide
separation in time and place, there is no real discrepancy in them. The
original description by Fabricius is very short and general, and is as
follows (Ent. Syst., 1V, p. 214, No. 19):

Corni. A. Corni sanguine.

Habitat in Corn sanguinex foliis.

Corpus nigrum abdomine basi et subtus virescente, Pedes nigri. Anus absque stylo
et corniculis.

Juniores pallidi macula magna, dorsali, nigra.

oT

Passerini, in Gli Afidi (1860), describes the root form as follows :

Schizoneura venusta, m.

Femina vivipara aptera ovata-convexa, pallide viridis, vel interdum rubella; capite,
fasciis dorsalibus anticis tribus, macula discoidali quadrata, fasciis posticis duabus,
punctisque marginalibus nigris. Rostrum crura media attingens. Long., 1/”’.

Femina vivipara alata capite et thorace nigris. Abdomen viridi luteolum vel ru-
bellum, vittis transversis anticis duabus, macula discoidali subrotunda, fasciis dua-
bus posticis, punctisque marginalibus nigris. Nectaria tuberculiformia nigra. Ale
hyaline, venis stigmateque nigris. Long., #/”, 1’.

Nympha lutea, capite et thorace iisonaleniict

Turmatim in radicibus Setari viridis, 8. glauce, 8. italic, Panici glabri, Eragros-
tidis megastachyie et Ceratochlow australis. Autumno.

Valde similis Schizoneure corni, que autem diversa dorso omnino nigro in apteris,
et abdomine basi et apice tantum albido in alatis.

Thomas gives a translation in his work on Aphide, which reads:

Schizoneura venusta Pass.

Wingless female.—Ovate convex, pale green, and sometimes reddish; head, three
anterior dorsal fascix, a quadrate discoidal spot, two posterior fascie and marginal
points, black. Rostrum extending about to the middle legs. Length (of body), 1™™,

Winged female.—Head and thorax black. Abdomen, greenish-red or yellowish; two
anterior fascize, a subrotund discoidal spot and marginal points, black. Nectaries
tuberculiform and black. Length, ? to 1™™,

Pupa, yellowish, head and thorax pulverulent. Found on roots of Setaria viridis,
S. glauca, S. italica, Panicum glabrum, Eragrostis megastachya and Ceratochloa aus-
tralis in autumn.

This translation is incomplete and imperfect, especially in the dimen-
sions, which are given as millimeters instead of lines (twelfths of an
inch), which would lead one to suppose them about half the actual size.
So far as I can see, Passerini’s original description is entirely appli-
cable to the specimens obtained from roots of grasses here as well as to
fresh specimens of corni on Cornus leaves.

Walsh published the following descriptions (in 1862) in the Proceed-
ings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, Vol. I, p. 304.

Eriosoma? fungicola n. sp.

From recent specimens. Body black, with a plumb-like bloom ; basal half of abdo-
men and whole of venter yellow. Antennae and legs black. Wings hyaline with a
dusky tinge; veins dusky, black on the basal half of the costa; third discoidal hya-
line nearly to its fork, stigma palish brown. Numerous individuals unaccompanied by
larvee, occurred on a large moist fungus a hundred yards from the nearest trees,
“es were all oaks. Beat solitary individuals unaccompanied by larve or woolly
matter, on two separate occasions from oaks, which, when dried, differ only from the
dried specimen of those found on fungus by the metathorax being varied with pale
greenish, as well as the base of the abdomen. Length to tip of wings .12to.13 inch.

The antenne do not quite attain the base of the first discoidal when the wings are
expanded, and the stigma is rather more than twice as long as wide. Six speci-
mensinall. £. querci Fitch is larger (.16 inch) and is entirely black. Differs also
from the other described United States species.

Eriosoma? cornicola, n. sp.

Differs from the preceding only in the body being entirely black. Numerous indi-
viduals, unaccompanied by any floceulent matter, and so far as I recollect by larve,
occurred in September on the lower side of the leaves of the Red osier dogwood.
Ten specimens.

38

Dr. Thomas, in repeating these descriptions in the “Aphididae” (8th Re-
port State Entomologist of Illinois, pp. 141, 142), separates the two by
Schizoneura carye Fitch, so that ‘ Differs from preceding only,” ete., re-
fers to carye and not to fungicola. This circumstance is liable to mis-
lead, unless Walsh’s original descriptions are at hand for reference, and
may account for the uncertainties that have been stated in efforts to
determine Walsh’s cornicola found on Cornus.

Considering that fungicola was on a fungus, a plant never known to
support Aphides, and that the difference noted by Walsh is such as
results from greater maturity of specimens that have located on Cornus,
and further, that f/ungicola agrees perfectly with both descriptions of
cornt and with fresh individuals found on Cornus leaves, it seems pretty
certain that these two descriptions refer to one and the same species.

Thomas’ description of S. panicola, published in 1879 (8th Report,
State Entom., Illinois, p. 138), is as follows, and is said to have been
written from recent alcoholic specimens : :

Winged female.—The front wings with the third discoidal veins once forked; third
vein obsolete at base; first and second veins arising very near each other; stigma
short, rounded behind; fourth vein nearly straight; costal bent outward to the base,
leaving arather wide space between it and the subcostal; antennie short, reaching
about to the base of the fore wing; slightly hairy; third joint rather longer than the
fourth and fifth united; sixth slightly longer than the fifth, with a very short, in-
distinct, blunt spur at the tip; beak rather long, reaching nearly to the hind coxe,
slightly hairy ; eyes present and of the usual size or nearly so.

Wingless female.—(Probably not fully developed.) Very broadly ovate and very
convex, being suborbicular; antenne, reaching about to the end of the thorax, rather
thick and heavy and not tapering to apical joints, if any difference rather thicker
than the middle ones; third joint longest but not quite equal to the fourth and fifth
united; fifth rather longer than the fourth, gibbous on one side at the tip; sixth
nearly as long as the third; beak, long, reaching fully to the hind coxz ; color of the
alcoholic specimens, reddish-yellow ; eyes minute and black.

Found on the roots of Panicum glabrum and other grasses by H. [Th.?] Pergande
at St. Louis, Mo., in November.

The difference in the length of the beak will certainly distinguish this from Tychea
panici, even supposing the antenne in the latter to be undeveloped.

Mr. O. W. Oestlund,in Synopsis of the Aphididze of Minnesota (Bull.
No. 4, Geol. and Nat. Hist. Surv. of Minn.) describes both corni and
panicola, and their identity could not be more strikingly indicated.

S. corni.

Head and thorax black; abdomen reddish-black, with a large patch of velvety
black covering all of the dorsum except three and some of the last segments. An-
tenn reaching to the end of thorax; not annulated, hairy, with a single row of cir-
cular sensoria on the under side, about six to the third joint, three to the fourth, two
to the fifth, and one at the contraction of the sixth; III, 0.80"; IV, 0.12™™; V,0.10™™;
VI,0.15"™, with the short unguis. Beak reaching third coxa. Wings hyaline, with
slender veins; cubital obsolete at base; stigma broad and short, smoky. Honey
tubes a circular opening almost on a level with the abdomen. Expanse of wings,
6-7mm,

S. panicola.

Head and thorax dusky or black; abdomen pale greenish with some black mark-

ing above, on the last segment at least. Antenne reaching to the end of the thorax,

39

hairy, third joint the longest, the following subequal; sensoria rather indistinct,
three or four to the third joint, and usually one or two to each of the following.
Beak reaching abdomen. Honey tubes as circular openings on level of surface of
abdomen, but rather conspicuous from being bordered with a ring of black. Wings
hyaline with slender but distinct veins. Fore wings with the cubital obsolete for
some distance at base ; stigma short and broad ; stigmal vein but slightly curved near
the base, straight. Expanse of wings, about 5™™.

Careful descriptions of the different forms on Cornus are given by Mr.
Clarence M. Weed (Psyche, V, p. 129), the species being referred doubt-
fully to cornicola Walsh.

Winged viviparous female (pseudogyna pupifera).—Expanse of wings, 6™™; length
of body, 2"; width of body, .80™™; length of antenne, .90™™.

Black above, except anterior and lateral margins of abdomen, and in many speci-
mens more or less of posterior portion. Beneath black, except prothorax and abdo-
men (save a black patch in front of anus), which are dull whitish-brown. Rostrum
black, except a more or less distinct lighter patch near base, hairy, reaching posterior
-eoxe. Legs robust, black, except a short brownish space at base of anterior femora;
thickly provided with brown hairs. Antenn robust, beset with brown hairs. Joints
I and II, short, smooth; III, long, with row of tubercles on its cuter ventro-lateral
surface; IV and V subequal, with tubercles as on III; VI, alittle longer than V, ex-
cavated on its outer lateral surface about two-thirds distance from base. Wing veins
mostly brown. Stigma brownish, with interior portion darker.

Described from many specimens taken October 24, 1887, on leaves of Cornus sangui-
nea and C. sericea, where for some time previous they had been very numerous,
founding sexed colonies. Usually occurring on the under surface.

Apterous male.—Width of body, 0.50™™; length of body, 0.89"; length of anten-
ne, 0.47™™,

Body and members brownish or brownish-black, with numerous brown hairs.
Eyes black. Body flattened, long and narrow, with nearly parallel sides. Antenne
half as long as body. Joint I, short, swollen; IJ, small; III,longest; IV and V,
subequal; the latter excavated on its apical lateral surface. Legs long, robust,
same color as body. Rostrum robust, reaching anterior margin of posterior cox.

Described from several living specimens (part taken in copula) from Cornus sericea,
collected October 24, 1887.

Oviparous female.—Width of body, 0.50™™; length of body, 1.14™™; length of an-
tenne, 0.35™™,

Green, or greenish-brown, slightly darker anteriorly. Shape, elongate oval; sparsely
clothed with brown hairs. -Eyes blackish. Antenne green, slightly darker apically ;
joint III longest, V slightly swollen in middle. Rostrum robust, green, darker at tip,
reaching anterior margin of posterior coxie. Legs unicolorous with body, dusky
apically.

Egg.—Elongate oval, 0.56™™ long, 0.20™™ wide.

Green at first, becoming black by exposure. Deposited on bark, in and about the
axils of buds and small branches.

Described from many specimens on Cornus sericea, October 24, 1887.

These descriptions are so full that I deem it unnecessary to draw up
another. I may mention, however, that the apterous males usually
have what I should call a purplish tint with the brownish color when
alive, due, perhaps, entirely to the delicate bloom covering them.

The most distinctive character of corni is perhaps the hairy antennze
and the six or seven circular sensoria on underside of the third antennal
joint. The number of these sensoria varies slightly, but in the form I

40

reared from grass roots and allowed to colonize on Cornus leaf there are
the full number common to corni and show distinctly. Mr. Oestlund’s
statement that they are indistinct and but three or four in number
might, I think, apply to an extreme variation or to specimens fresh from
the ground. The dark spot on the dorsum of the abdomen is not only

variable in size but differs much in appearance with the age of the speci- .

men and in dead or preserved specimens. While I am free to admit
some puzzling questions, | am strongly convinced of the main point here
claimed. There is certainly much more of interest to be learned re-
garding the species. I feel that only a beginning has been made, and
shall watch eagerly for further developments. As the Aphides are so
uncertain in their appearances and can not be depended upon to fur-
nish material in abundance in every locality, it will add to the certainty
of completing the history of this species if entomologists in various
localities will nake such observations as possible the coming season.
If my conclusions are correct the synonomy for this species will read

as follows:

(1794) Aphis corni Fabricius, Ent. Syst., IV, 214.

(1860) Schizoneura venusta Passerini, Gli Afidi, p. 38.

(1862) Lriosoma? fungicola Walsh, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., I, 304.

(1862) Friosoma? cornicola Walsh, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., I, 304.

(1879) Schizoneura panicola Thos., 8th Rep. Ill. Ent., p. 158.

SUMMARY.

Schizoneurze abundant on grass roots and assuming winged form in
latter part of September (15-28) and on several days during this time the
air was filled with like insects, and immediately following these flights
apparently identical Aphides were colonizing on leaves of dogwood,
which had hitherto been free from them.

Schizoneura (winged pseudogyne) reared from grass roots and trans-
ferred to leaves of Cornus established colonies apparently identical with
those occurring normally on Cornus.

Schizoneura (apterous individuals) in some number remain on grass

roots and are associated with apterous males and females, the femaies ©

of which are oviparous.

Individuals of these different forms agree with each other and with
descriptions of both corni and panicola and differences do not exceed
the range of variation common to species of Aphidide.

CONCLUSION.

Taking all these facts into consideration, I believe that the species of
Schizoneura infesting grass roots and dogwood leaves and described as
distinet species are identical.

That the winged generation of asexual individuals produced from
erass roots in autumn migrate to leaves of dogwood of different species
and establish colonies of apterous individuals, which become sexually
mature and the females of which deposit eggs on dogwood.

Al

That the number of broods produced on Cornus in spring (which
must now be inferred) and the time of return migration to grass are yet
to be determined.

That in addition to the migratory winged autumn brood there appears
to exist under certain conditions an apterous form which produces a
brood of sexual individuals on grass roots the females of which deposit
eges the fate of which is unknown.

HETEROPTERA INFESTING GRASS.

THE CHINCH BuG.
(Blissus leucopterus Say.)

The Chinch Bug is too well known as a grass and grain pest to need
any special mention in this connection. It may be noted, however, that
it prefers the annual grasses rather than perennials, and were it con-
fined to the noxious Foxtails (Setaria) we might have no reason to
complain, but its fondness for Hungarian grass is too conspicuous to
pass over. it does not appear to multiply as rapidly in sod land, though
I have found it in Blue-grass where this alone could furnish it food.

THE LONG Bua.

(Ischnodemus falicus Say.)

Were it not for its elongated form this species could be most easily
mistaken for the Chinch Bug, for, excepting this peculiarity, it comes
nearer in appearance to the Chinch Bug than any of the numerous
species which have been confused with that noted pest.

Hitherto I believe it has not been classed among insects of economic
importance. It is, however, quite evidently increasing in numbers in
this region and should, I think, be mentioned, at least, in this connec-
tion. That itis a grass-feeding insect is evidenced by its abundance in
all stages in grass land where other plants are scarce or wanting, and
would be expected of an insect so closely related to the Chinch Bug. I
have found it more common in rather iow ground, and especially in the
wild grasses between upland and bottom-land, or along the borders of
sloughs or small streams.

While only a fall brood of larvee, developing in July and August and
maturing in September, have as yet been observed, it is probable that,
as with the Chinch-Bug, there are two broods each year, adults of the
second hibernating and depositing eggs in the spring.

If multiplying, so as to become a serious pest, I know of no remedies
to suggest further than those applicable to Chinch Bugs, and probably
the most efficient one would be that of burning dead grass and rubbish
in the fall.

There are several other species of the Heteropterous Hemiptera, nota-
bly certain Capside such as Miris affinis and related species, and several
species of Lygus, which I suspect will be added to our list of grass pests,
bnt I have as yet made no careful study of their habits.

REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS UPON INSECTS AFFECTING
GRAINS.

By F. M. WEBSTER, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

La FAYETTE, IND., December 14, 1889.

Sir: I herewith transmit my annual report of observations on insects affecting
cereal grains, made under your direction, during the current year. A more elaborate
report, treating of the destructive grain insects of the United States, to be prepared
jointly with yourself, is nearing completion, and the present report is submitted now,
in order to avoid the necessity of including details in the more important work to
follow. As usual, Iam under many obligations for the determination of specimens
and numberless other courtesies.

Respectfully submitted.
F¥. M. WEBSTER.

Proti©.V. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.

THE WHEAT STRAW WORM.
(Isosoma tritici Riley.)

These insects have not been observed by me in any great numbers
since they were last treated in my reports, and the species is only men-
tioned in order to record the occurrence of a female of the wingless
spring form, on the 18th of July, in a field of wheat.

THE WHEAT STEM MAGGOT.
(Meromyza americana Fitch.)

Since the establishment of the fact of a summer brood originating
during the month of August, and largely, it is supposed, in volunteer
wheat, considerable emphasis has been placed upon the destruction of
this Ulegitimate growth of grain. There has, however, been pretty
good cause for believing that the insect developed also in other plants,
and this season we have reared the adult from Blue grass, Poa pratensis,
during the latter part of August.

Since the discovery of the species there has been nothing placed on
record relative to its discrimination between varieties of wheat, or

42

43

whether these insects really possessed any such instinets, the inference
having been that one variety was as acceptable to them as another.
Bearing upon this point I have obtained some interesting information,
which, though by far too slender a thread on which to hang a positive
assertion, yet forms sufficient grounds for a suspicion that the species
may possess some exceedingly fine instincts regarding plant tissue.

In the month of September, 1888, a field of oat stubble on the exper-
iment farm was subdivided, two plats each several acres in extent being
sown, the one to velvet chaff and the other to Michigan Amber wheat.
Between the two was a narrow strip comprising a mixture of both
varieties. From the beginning of preparation of the ground to the end
of harvest this year all conditions excepting seed were exactly the same.

The attacks of these larve were quite severe during June, and on the
14th of this month an examination of the plats above mentioned devel-
oped the fact that in the velvet chaff the destroyed heads outnumbered
those in the Michigan Amber in the proportion of about four to one.
Furthermore, the narrow strip of mixed grain intervening showed very
much the same feature. I confess that Iam unable to detect any rea-
son for this difference in the severity of the attack other than in the
nature of the straw ; that of the velvet chaff being under ordinary con-
ditions a few days earlier in maturing, yet it is known among farmers
as possessing a softer straw than the Michigan Amber, which fact pre-
supposes the tissue of the stem immediately above the upper joint to
be to a corresponding degree more tender and juicy at the time of ovi-
position by the females.

THE WESTERN STRIPED CUTWORM.
(Agrotis herilis Grote.)

The present year has been conspicuous for the severity of cutworm
attacks, especially in corn-fields, the most abundant and pernicious
species thus engaged being the one under consideration. Ordinarily
we look for these dusky, semi-subterranean destroyers in fields of re-
cently broken grass lands, but this season their ravages were not to be
limited by any such proscribed bounds, and old lands suffered with the
new.

On the 28th of May I visited a field of corn a few miles out of the city
of La Fayette, which had been nearly ruined by cutworms, notwith-
Standing the present was the seventh consecutive crop of corn which
had been planted on this ground. In fact, so abundant were the pests,
that from amass of dried weeds and earth, covering a couple of square
feet, and which had been left by the plows, I took 36 individuals, and
a clod a few inches away concealed 5 more; the whole number evi-
dently belonging to the same species.

The only apparent cause for this congregating in corn-tields, and in
this one in particular, is that during the ovipositing season last sum-

44

mer the grass lands in this section were withering and drying up under
a terrible drought. This corn-field had been poorly cultivated and the
lower portions grew up to grass and weeds, thereby forming a more
desirable locality for the females to lay their eggs. In other words, the
drought of August and September of 1888 drove the moths to the corn-
fields to oviposit, and the abundance of worms this year is the result.

The thirty-six cutworms collected on May 28 were taken home and
immediately placed in a breeding cage, being fed upon clover during
the few days they remained above ground. The first moth appeared
on August 23, followed by others up to the 26th, when a medium-sized
Anthrax was also observed in the cage. As nothing could be found in
the literature at hand to indicate that any of the Bombyliide had ever
been reared from lepidopterous larvae, in this country, its occurrence
was supposed to be accidental, the larva having been in some way
taken up with the earth in thecage. It was followed, however, on Sep-
tember 1 by a second adult, and two more appeared on the 4th, others
appearing up to the 9th, when all doubts as to the host of. these flies
were removed by two adults issuing from a couple of chrysalids laying
on the surface of the soil, the Anthrax leaving their empty pupa cases
protruding half way out from the chrysalids of the Agrotis. The flies
may be roughly described as from 10 to 15™™ in length, black, densely
covered with fine silky hairs, those on praescutum and episternum of
mesothorax, basal half of abdomen, and tuft on posterior margin of
penultimate segment being silvery white, changing to yellowish, espe-
cially on the shoulders.

The same species was frequently observed, near the middle of Sep-
tember, hovering about over the surface of the ground under trees
recently denuded of their foliage by the larve of Datana ministra,
thereby conveying the impression that they might be parasitic upon
that species also.

As nothing whatever is known of the time and method of oviposition
of the Bombyliide, it will only be safe to say that the eggs were depos-
ited either on or about the bodies of these cutworms prior to the 28th of
May.

In a most excellent paper by Dr. Riley, in the Second Report U.S.
Entomological Commission, pp. 262-269, larvae of an allied species is
mentioned as infesting the egg-pods of Caloptenus spretus, being found
of different sizes during most of the year. From rearing this species,
Systachus oreas, O. S., Dr. Riley concludes that, “ as a rule, but one year
is required for fuli development ;” but there is great irregularity and a
tendency to retardation of such development.

Should the species under consideration be of similar habits, the eggs
would, as a matter of necessity, have been deposited Jast fall, the larvae
wintering over in the bodies of these cutworms, which are not usually
over half grown at the beginning of winter. If this be true it is
certainly an interesting feature of parasitism.

45

THE ARMY WORM.

(Leucania unipuncta Haw.)

With the rapidly increasing area of low, wet lands, which are being
under-drained and brought into cultivation, the natural haunts of this
species becomes more and more encroached upon. What the ultimate
effect of this change of natural conditions will amount to in the future, and
whether or not it will have a tendency to scatter the spring brood of
moths in their selection of places of oviposition, only future years will
answer. In accordance with the characteristic partiality of the species
for low, damp localities, the outbreaks in Indiana this year have been
restricted to the lower laying and flatter portions of the State, where a
very considerable part of the land remains undrained, except by open
ditches. While this state of affairs has been going on, the fact that dry
seasons are favorable to the increase of the species has been amply
demonstrated. The last two summers have been unusually dry, and
the spring of the present year, up to May 30, was exceedingly dry, mak-
ing three consecutive years of drought, during all of which this pest has
appeared in various portions of the State, the maximum injury being
caused the present summer. During this period, also, we have had wet
springs and dry summers and dry springs and wet summers, proving
conclusively that wet weather has little if any direct influence upon the
increase or decrease of numbers. In short, it is difficult to resist the
suspicion that this ebb and flow, so to speak, may be due more to the
fluctuation of natural enemies than to the direct influence of meteoro-
logical conditions, severe droughts excepted.

In the vicinity of Princeton, Ind., where considerable damage was
done last year, there occurred this season only one weak, aborted out-
break, in a small field of rank growing timothy grass. <A slight attack
three years ago on the borders of a large tract of swampy land in
the vicinity of La Porte, Ind., was not followed by others, either last
season or this, although this year similar and more serious outbreaks
occurred in that immediate section of. the State, and within a few miles
of the same locality. Such phenomena can not be wholly attributed to
meteorological conditions, most certainly. The most efficient parasites
of the army-worm are two species of Tachine, and we have reared both
plentifully this season. The local effects of these parasites is probably
more lasting than we are given to suppose. A circumstance came under
our observation recently where the attack of a similar species of Tachina
on the larve of Datana ministra, infesting an isolated walnut tree, was
such that the tree has been free of the caterpillars since 1885. If the ef-
fects are equally lasting in the case of the army-worm it will be difficult
to foretell their appearance in dangerous localities, even in seasons sup-
posed to be most favorable.

Again, the secret of the power of the army-worm to destroy is in their
massing together in endless numbers. Were it not for this they would

46

not be more destructive than others of the group of cut-worms to which
they belong. As stated in the beginning, the prevailing system of
underdrainage has at present a tendency to emphasize this gregarious
habit by restricting the area of wet grounds.

Whether this will continue to be the case, or whether, after a time,
the effect will be to break up the habit of massing into large swarms,
and diffuse them into smaller and less destructive colonies, remains yet
to be seen.

The heaviest damage has this season, here in Indiana, fallen upon
the rye crop, a state of affairs which has excited much comment among
farmers. The reasons for this seemingly general selection of this
crop, for depredation by the worms, are (1) on account of its hardy na-
ture, rye is often sown on these swampy or mucky lands, as if with-
stands the weather there better than any other crop; and (2) by na-
ture it isa rank grower, and, therefore, a field in spring presents to the
female moth all the requirements of a suitable locality to place her
eggs, viz, where her progeny will have an abundant supply of succu-
lent food, in a damp place and shaded from the direct rays of the sun.
In all fields of rye examined which have been ravaged by the army-
worm, the latter were found to have originated in the fields themselves
and had not migrated to them. Cases were not uncommon, however,
where the worms originated in grass lands and from thence invaded
fields of wheat and oats.

The prospect of controlling the outbreaks of the army-worm in the
future seems encouraging, provided the farmer is perfectly familiar
with their habits. Much of the damage done might be prevented if
decided measures were taken at the start. The trouble is that too
often the farmer wastes the most precious time in waiting to see what
the worms are going to do, and by the time he finds out they are beyond
control.

So far as I have been able to learn, where a neighborhood has turned
out en masse, and taken decisive measures to destroy the worms, little
injury has been done. These measures have consisted in ditching
around the infested area and either flooding the ditch with water, or
otherwise destroying what fell into it, and driving stock over the area
inclosed by the ditches, whereby vast numbers of worms were crushed.
From pup obtained in Fulton County the following parasites were
reared : Ichneumon brevicinctor Say, Nemorea leucanie and Drymeia
sp?. Ophion purgatus Say, also a parasite on Leucania, was this year
reared from pupa of Scoliopteryx libatria.

THE FALL ARMY-WORM.
(Laphygma frugiperda Ab. and Sm.)

In 1885 and again 1889, we found larve of this species feeding on the
tassels and unfolding leaves of young volunteer corn, late in Septem-
ber, in the vicinity of La Fayette, Ind, In both cases we reared adult

47

moths from the larve, the former appearing during late October. These
breedings would seem to indicate that at least some of the fall brood
may winter over in the adult stage.

A NEW CUT-WORM.
(Luperina (Hadena) stipata Morr.)

On May 28, while searching for Sphenophorus in a field of corn
planted on recently broken prairie sod, a depredator was found which
both in itself and method of work was new to me. Though the young
corn was at the time several inches high, many of the plants were with-
ering and dying, but aside from this neither the plant itself nor the
earth about it gave the least indication of the presence or nature of the
destroyer. Digging down in the earth about the hills, one or more of
the shoots would be found wholly or partly eaten off, either near or a
short distance above the seed, and in a single instance the seed kernel
itself was observed being eaten. The method of attack appeared to be
to first eat into the tender stem and then to burrow upward, after the
manner of Gortyna nitela, above ground, and as soon as one plant was
consumed another was attacked, without the worm coming to the sur-
face. The larvee were rather slender, from half to three-fourths of an
inch long, quite active and in general coloration somewhat resembling
the larvee of Crambus zeellus, but being more robust, spinning no web
and living wholly under ground. Larve taken from the field June 8,
continued feeding in confinement until early in July, and the moths
appeared in the breeding cage about the 25th of the same month. On
account of being absent from home much of the time between the mid-
dle of June and 20th of July, it was impossible for me to get exact
dates.

My own collections of larve were from recently broken prairie sod
only, none being found in timothy or blue-grass sod adjoining. Farmers
in the vicinity of this field state, however, that the worm does work in
timothy sod, and serious damage in a fall-plowed field was attributed
to their work.

_Under date of June 15, Mr.J. C. Besom, of Anderson, Madison County,
Ind., wrote me that a kind of Cut-worm had appeared in his fields
which he had never observed before. They began working on clover
sod, abont May 10, and destroyed the first planting of corn, and were
at the date of writing making way with the second planting, working
underground and eating the plants from the roots upward to the sur-
face of the ground.

The larve are whitish, striped on the back with brown, head and
cervical shield yellowish. Their general form is more slender and longer
than that of ordinary cut-worms, being nearer that of Gortyna.

48

(Crambus zeellus et al.) .

While natural enemies of the larvee of various species of Crambus
have been recorded, those attacking the adult moths are, so far as pub-
lished record goes, rather limited in point of numbers.

One of the probable enemies of our corn destroying Crambus is a
Neuropter, a Bittacus near stigmaterus. During August Mr. W. O.
Pritz brought me an example which he had observed to attack a female
moth, chasing her about, finally worrying her down and killing her. The
remains of the moth when brought to me were too much mutilated to
determine. =

Mr. J. N. Latta, of Haw Patch, Ind., tells me that the moths of
Crambus laquealellus, which I observed in abundance in his yard, were
destroyed in great numbers by the Wood Pewee, Contopus virens L.

THE WHITE GRUB.
(Lachnosterna spp. ?)

The present season has been marked by the most serious depreda-
tions of these pests that has occurred for many years. Pastures, mead-
ows, and corn-fields have suffered in some instances to the extent of 75
per cent. of the crop. Fields this season devoted to corn, but for thirty
years previous under cultivation, continuously producing some one of
the cereal grains, have been very seriously damaged, large areas of the
corn withering and dying in the hill during August and September,
from five to twenty grubs being found in and about a single hill. As
early as May 13, at the Experiment Station, they were destroying
young barley growing on a plot of ground which had produced a crop
of this grain for the six preceding years. Adjoining this plot of bar-
ley was another which had been devoted to oats during the same pe-
riod, but which was only slightly attacked. A precisely similar plot of
buckwheat, which had produced the same crop for the same period,
was found also invaded, and on July 24 the grubs were found in the
act of cutting off the plants, now several inches in height.

A number of experiments were made with various substances with a
view of determining the possibility of destroying the grubs without in-
jury to the plant infested. Corn was the plant used in these experi-
ments, being at the time the most convenient to obtain; the substances
used, however, had they been ever so effective, could hardly be applied
with practical advantage by the extensive farmer. .

Experiment No, 1.—Placed a grub about the roots of a single plant on
May 14; two days later, applied a sufficient amount of air-slaked lime
to the surface of the ground to cover very lightly, watering thoroughly.

Result, May 22, plant killed but the grub uninjured.

Experiment No. 2.—Placed grub about roots of plant May 14; two days
later applied table salt in solution at rate of 235 pounds per acre.

7 =*

49

Result, five days later, plant and grub alike uninjured. A second
application killed the plant but not the grub.

Experiment No. 3.—Placed grub about root of plant May 14; two days
later applied fresh unleached ashes to surface of ground in sufficient
quantity to cover lightly.

Result, five days after, plant and grub alike uninjured.

Experiment No. 4.—Single grub placed about roots of plant May 14;
two days later applied 4 ounces gas-tar water.

Result, next day, plant killed; grub uninjured.

Experiment No.5.—Single grub placed about roots of plant May 14;
twodaysafter earth about roots thoroughly saturated with tobacco water.

Result, five days after, plant and grub alike uninjured.

Experiment No. 6.—Single grub placed about roots of plant May 14;
two days later applied 1 drachm Diamond soluble bone* in solution.

Result, six days later, plant and grub unaffected by application ;
grub eating off the roots.

Experiment No. 7.—Grub placed about roots of plant May 14; two
days later 4 ounce carbon bisul phide poured in hole made in earth near
roots and immediately refilled with earth.

Result, second day after, plant and grub both dead.

Experiment No. 8.—Single grub placed about roots of plant May 14;
two days after thoroughly saturated the soil with ammonial water of
1.025 specifie gravity, 2.68 per cent. ammonia reduced 75 per cent.

Result, three days after, piant killed but the grub was alive and active.

Experiment No. 9.*—One grub placed about roots of plant May 22
and one drachm of phosphate salt applied in solution to the soil about
roots. On 23d, corn was being destroyed by the grub and the next day
the plant was wholly eaten off while his grubship appeared uninjured.

Experiment No. 10.;—Single grub placed about roots of plant and one
drachm of fertilizing salt applied in solution to. soil about roots.

Result, two days later, plant withering, grub allright but had not fed
from plant which soon died.

Experiment No. 11.—Grub placed about roots of plant May 22; soil
at once saturated with solution of powdered Pyrethrum and water ;
1 ounce of powder to gallon of water.

Result, two days later, neither plant nor grub injured.

Experiment No. 12.—Grub placed about roots of plant May 22; next
day the soil about the roots was drenched with decoction of Burdock
leaves.

* Analysis: t Per cent.
AVA Ma ROSPNOLIG ACLs 5-16 aaeiese seine ins = <clowinlcesina<i== seem semi 13 to 15
sol leap HOSP ROTIC A CIG n= cie ce siseeivisinie 7) sn eisisimleo ls sain eiei= we a inin wie lto 3
OMA Sopeerseta ele ae Mp Stewie oa eT STot aoe Ta Sale oye ee Sal Sa ae Sita Sila ere oh LOMUOML a
PATEENNAN CHEN UE ret fe eee ye hires en St el yt SOR Sepsis Say a UO MeL:

t The phosphate salt and fertilizing salt used in experiments 9, 10, and 14, were sent
to the Indiana experiment station by the manufacturer, E, 8, Fitch, Bay City, Mich,

23479—No, 22——4

50

Result, two days later, plant untouched ; grub active, but seemingly
unattected by application.

Hauperiment No. 13.—October 6, earth in field in the vicinity of wheat
plants being destroyed by white grub, thoroughly drenched with decoc-
tion of Burdock leaves.

Result of examination on October 14: The grub was found a short
distance from the plants uninjured, it having evidently destroyed several
after application of liquid.

EHuperiment No. 14.—October 3, earth about wheat plants, being de-
stroyed in field by white grub, thickly covered with fertilizing salt and
drenched with water.

Result of examination October 14 exactly as in the preceding, except
that the grub was at a greater distance from plants. ,

Up to the present time, no Dipterous parasite has been recorded as
preying upon white grubs, as the subterranean habits of the pest con-
tributes to its protection in this respect. There is, however, pretty
good evidence that there is at least one species of fly which exists to
some extent in holding these grubs in check. On September 21, while

who advertises both as not only being excellent fertilizers, but also very destruc-
tive to insect life, especially chinch-bugs and cut-worms.

The following analyses were kindly made for me by Prof. Henry A. Huston, chemist
of Indiana experiment station:
I. Phosphate salt.
A. Qualitative analysis.

Bases present: Acids present:

Calcium, Hydrochloric,
Sodium, Sulphuric,
Iron, trace, Carbonic,
Aluminium, trace, Silicic, trace,

Magnesium, trace, Phosphoric, trace.
Organic matter, trace.
Principal constituents: Common salt, gypsum, carbonate of lime.
B. Per cent. phosphoric acid present, .03.
Il. Fertilizing salt.
A. Qualitative analysis.
Bases present: Acids present:
Hydrochlorie,

Sodium,
Calcium, trace, Sulphuric, trace,
Organic matter, trace, Silicic, trace.

Phosphoric, slight trace.
Chief constituent: Common salt.
B. Quantitative analysis.

Per cent.

SEH GN ENON) Co6 -cono6oss canoe aso pbooopsSccco SoSH cUacHS So se59 sass == 97.70
(Gnostnon (OSM) 6566 o56656 susess ogs00s sasHoe BONNE SoeUcOUaUeoD NneSee~ . 44
Mas bi Nene We eS Seana scoh no coos oEoee Sosonsco suns Beno segcse déesac 47
WO WIEN oo65c. sop S65 SS SSS" B55 CSSO ESS OSNO0 ase6 Coos bsabe5 S800 400000 - 1. 09
Soluble organic matter and loss.......----.. B nyoio a siecle saecee ieee . 30
AO) ee Saeco dobdos coe6 eobcts cebrce Secs ooke soca nocd don ooKSe = 100. 00

Samples drawn at experiment station from full sacks, special care being taken to
insure fair samples. Neither of these samples contain an appreciable amount of

phosphoric acid, potash, or nitrogen,

a ee et, ee

51

collecting material for experimentation, in a field seriously damaged by
grubs, we found a hill of corn, which, though it contained none of the
depredators, bore every evidence of having been destroyed by them,
as other hills in a similar condition about it contained from 5 to 10 in-
dividuals. Instead, however, a larva of aspecies of Hrax, near bastardi,
was found. As the larve of Hrax are known to be carnivorous, we can
only conclude that the one found had made way with the grubs, but
not until after the latter had destroyed the corn.

THE VARYING ANOMALA.

(dnomala varians, Fabr.).

The only record of this species, as a grain destroying insect occurs in
the report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1854, p. 412, where
Mr. Eugene F. Barns, of Marion, Marion County, Kans., reported the
beetle as working serious damage to wheat in the field during the month
of June, destroying 1,000 bushels for one farmer.

These beetles occur generally over the State of Indiana, and we have
frequently met them hovering on heads of wheat in the field, but never
remarked any serious injury. In this State the adult insects are preyed
upon by one of the Asilidw, Laphria tergissa Say, and we have several
times caught these flies on wing with one of the beetles in their clutches,
their beak puncturing the body of their victim.

THE WHEAT WIRE-WORM.
(Agriotes mancus, Say.)

A number of experiments were made with a view of learning the
effect of the applications of salt, as against the larvie of this species.

The method employed was to place a number of kernels of corn in
earthen pots, and transport larvie from the fields, where they were en-
gaged in destroying wheat, placing them among the corn in these pots,
the salt being applied in different quantities to the surface of the ground.

Experiment No. 1.—April 26, six kernels of corn, and two wire-worms
nearly full grown, were placed together in a pot filled with earth, the
latter being saturated with water from beneath. Common barrel salt
was then applied to the surface of the soil, at the rate of 940 pounds
to the acre. May 1, watered from above.

Result, the pot was examined May 7, and both worms found unaf-
fected, they having in the meantime eaten nearly all of the corn, the
uninjured kernels failing to germinate.

Experiment No. 2.—This was made at the same time as No. 1, all con-
ditions being the same, except that salt was applied at the rate of 470
pounds per acre.

Result the same as in experiment No. 1.

Experiment No. 5.—May 7, placed three of the larvee used in the pre-
ceding experiments and one fresh from the field, with corn in pot of
earth, saturating the latter from below, and covering surface with salt
in the proportion of 24,500 pounds per acre,

D2

Result five days later; the worms were alive and as active as they
ever were. Corn slightly eaten, but none showing any indication of
growing, while kernels from same ear planted in unsalted soil were
sprouted. The corn used in all experiments was from the same ear.

Drasterius elegans Fab.

The larva of this species has been mentioned in my previous reports
as destroying other insects, and themselves injuring young corn. In
the present instance they were found exceedingly abundant, on Novem-
ber 15, near New Castle, Ind., where they were evidently working seri,
ous injury to a field of young wheat, sown in growing corn about Sep-
tember 5. This field had produced three consecutive crops of wheat-
then the present crop of corn, among which the young wheat was grow-
ing. It was true the wheat was seriously infested by Hessian fly, and
therefore the question may arise as to whether the worms were not de-
stroying these; but the damage to the field was by far too great to
have been done by the fly alone, and many of the plants had been eaten
off below the ground.

With this new revelation regarding their food habits, it seems prob-
able that a part of the wire-worm injuries to wheat sown among corn
may be due to this species, instead of the preceding.

THE TWELVE-SPOTTED DIABROTICA.

(Diabrotica 12-punctata.)

The adults of this species have been observed in greater abundance
than ever before. Gardens and fields have been literally overrun with
them. The sexes were observed pairing as early as the 17th of April,
thereby promising larve sufficiently early to attack young corn, even
though pianted at the usual time. The list of food plants has this sea-
son been observed to include the following, not previously reported :
Wheat, cabbage, cauliflower, and beans; an adult was also observed
feeding on volunteer oats December 14.

THE SWAMP SPHENOPHORUS.
(Sphenophorus ochreus Lee. )

Few insects afford a better illustration of the fact that a comparatively
harmless species may, by force of circumstances, suddenly become ex-
tremely injurious. Known to the entomologist since 1858, and by no
means a rare insect, its habits unstudied because of its secluded haunts
and valueless food plant, the species appears to have been overtaken by
this progressive decade in agriculture.

The swamp composing the field which formed the basis of the study
of this insect was broken up some thirty years ago and two crops of
corn raised on it without damage from insect attack, after which, by
reason of being too wet, it was allowed to revert back to its original
state. Fifteen years ago a second attempt was made to bring it into
cultivation, and a single crop of corn raised from a portion of it, this
time the insects being noticed, buf doing no material injury, The land

53

was again allowed to go back to its primitive state, and remained thus
until last season, when, after being drained, a portion was broken and the
remainder brought into cultivation the spring of the present year, with
the results here given.

Other fields of swamp land, in the same neighborhood, have suffered
in the same manner as this one, but there is at present no information
of serious damage until within the last three or four years.

The first published notice of the destructive habits of these insects is
found in a brief notice which appeared in several agricultural papers
during July, 1888, to the effect that Professor
Forbes had found them to be very destructive
to corn planted on recently drained swamp
lands in Illinois, the adult feeding upon a spe-
cies of rush (Scirpus) and a common reed (Phrag-
mites), and when these were destroyed they
transferred their attention to the young corn.

On May 23, adult beetles were -
sent me by Mr. Quiney Earl, a far-
mer residing near Dayton, Ind., a
small village about 8 miles from
La Fayette, with the statement
that they were destroying his corn.

The beetles were at once con-
fined with corn plants growing in
flower pots, the males proceeding
to bury their snouts into the ten- Fic. 1.—Sphenophorus ochreus: a. larva; b, adult—
der stems, near the surface of the eetsteed eer tales)
soil; but the females, to my utter astonishment, burrowed down into
the earth, out of sight, and staid there.

Stormy weather prevented my visiting the locality until June 2. The
infested field comprised about 75 acres of recently drained swamp land,
plowed the present spring, except a small portion which had been de-
voted to corn the previous year, and the first and second planting de-
stroyed by the beetles. On that portion of the field plowed this spring
the young corn was not yet up, but on that portion which had been cul-
tivated last year and planted eavlier this year than the newer-plowed
portion, the young plants had been totally destroyed, the lack of their
natural food having evidently driven the insects to this part of the field,
as other fields in the vicinity had not suffered the second year after the
ground was first broken, although the first crop had been destroyed.
At the time of my visit the beetles were feeding on a species of rush,
Scirpus atrovirens, Muhl., puncturing the stems just below the surface
of the ground and eating out the tender, folded leaves. The sexes were
pairing, but I could get no eggs. A large number of adults of both
Sexes were taken home, as also were specimens of the Scirpus, including
the roots, which are bulbous and exceedingly hard and compact. These
plants were placed in flower-pots, and on each was placed a single pair

54

of adults. The next day the males were engaged either in pairing or
feeding upon the Scirpus, but the females, when not paired with the
males, had burrowed down into the earth, out of sight.

On a second visit to the infested field, June 11, but few females were
to be found above ground. The young corn was coming up well, but
being rapidly destroyed by the males and a few females, except where
Scirpus was growing in sufficient abundance to provide an ample sup-
ply of food.

Absence from home, from the middle of June until the middle of July,
not only interrupted my observations, but a press of other work pre-
vented my visiting the field again until August 21, both plants and
beetles in pots having in the mean time died.

As aresult of this last visit I found two adults, one of which was feed-
ing on asmall dwarfed stalk of corn and the other on Scirpus atrovirens.
An examination of the root of this reed re-
vealed full-grown larve (Fig. 1, a) and fully
developed adults still within the bulbs. Other
bulbous roots of the same plant gave evi-
dence that the adult had only recently quitted
its birthplace. Hurrying home, my plants in
the flower pots, long ago dead, dried up and,
as I thought, worthless, were examined and
in nearly every one was found a fully devel-
oped adult, none of which had escaped from
the bulbous roots wherein they had devel-
oped. (Fig. 2.)

Still another visit to this field on August
50 confirmed all previous observations, and
a single pupa was also found in a bulb of the
Scirpus.

From what is known of the habits of other
species of this genus, coupled with the fact
Fic. 2.—Work of Sphenophorus that fields ef corn are not attacked by the

ochrews in roots of Scirpus—nat- beetles after the first year following “the

UPI ee isg oe breaking of the ground, it Seems highly im-
probable that there should be more than one annual brood. This being
the case, its life history will likely be as follows: The insect hibernates
in the adult stage, coming forth from its hiding places in spring, the
females depositing their eggs during May and June in the roots of
Scirpus. The larve hatching from these develop to adults and emerge
in about three months.

From the vast differences existing between the plant in which the
species breeds and that of the corn plant, the great improbability of
the insect ever breeding in corn will at once be seen. The whole prob-
lem of prevention seems to settle in the destruction of these reeds,
root and stem, the season prior to devoting the ground to corn. The
eggs are as a rule deposited in bulbs formed the preceding year, and

Se

lS Et

tia BES

>

55

we have found healthy adults in bulbs after the latter had been thrown
out by the plow and lain in the sun for over a month. We have also
found them developing in bulbs in ground plowed in May and again
in July, indicating that little or nothing can be accomplished by sum
mer fallow.

The most practical and probably the most effective method of destroy-
ing the food plant of the pest is to sow rye or some other crop on the
land the first season after breaking.

THE CHINCH BOG.

(Blissus leucopterus Say.)

The history and distribution of the Chinch Bug in Indiana offers
some problems not only very perplexing but exceedingly difficult to
solve. In fact, we shall here make no attempt toward a solution, but
rather to separate a few of the many complex elements which are
thought to influence the distribution and numbers of the pest, and to
some extent at least indicate how far they may be considered or per-
haps eliminated entirely from any independent relation to the subject,
thereby affording aid to the future investigator.

It is well known that although Thomas Say, at the time he described
the species, was residing at New Harmony, Indiana, nevertheless his
description was drawn from a single specimen taken by himself on the
Eastern Shore of Virginia, and so far as we know he may have died
ignorant of its occurrence in his own or any of the adjoining States.

Recently, Professor Forbes has collected some data showing that the
species was destructively abundant in Edwards County, Illinois, as
early as 1828, and was also observed in Richland County in 1823.

Strictly in accordance with the above, while that portion of Lllinois
lying adjacent to Indiana, separated only by the Wabash River, has
suffered again and again through the ravages of the Chinch Bug, crops
on the Indiana side have not often suffered from any extensive or wide-
spread ravages of the pest. Not only this, but at the present time the
worst infested portion of Indiana is composed of those counties whose
western border is the Wabash River, which separates them from Illi-
nois, and from whence the insect occurs in continually diminishing
numbers northward and eastward until we reach the northern coun-
ties of La Porte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, La Grange and Steuben, where its
depredations are almost entirely unknown.* Indeed, during the years
when they are the most numerous elsewhere, I have found them in these
counties only with difficulty, and few of the farmers know what the
insect is like. In almost exactly the same latitude in De Kalb County,
Illinois, within 60 miles of Lake Michigan, they have been a serious
pest since 1855.

*The only exception known to me was in Elkhart County, where they were re-
ported to Mr. J. R. Dodge, Statistician of the Department of Agricuiture in 1887.
(See Bull. 17, U. S. Dept. Agri., Div. Ent., p 9.) Mr. Dodge has very kindly looked
up this matter, and writes me that these bugs were only reported from one locality in
very limited numbers and did no appreciable damage.—F. M. W.

i

A line drawn from the northwestern corner of Indiana diagonally
across the State to the Ohio line, at the southeast corner of Jay County,
will divide from the remainder of the State nearly all of twenty-four
counties over which the Chinch Bug is either unknown or occurs in too
limited numbers to cause serious damage. These are the counties enu-
merated in Tables A and B. As the numbers of counties from which I
have information of serious and wide-spread damage does not amount
to twenty-four, I have added others, in which we have observed con-
siderable numbers of Chinch Bugs, and filled out the number with coun-
ties situated in the infested district. These are enumerated in Tables
Cand D.

TABLE A.—Acreage of various grains produced in 1887 throughout the area over which
Chinch Bugs do not occur in destructive numbers.

Total per
Counties. Wheat. Oats. Rye. Barley. small Corn. grain aur
grain. gee
| corn

JING ARR ESa ss Se ere eee 26, 936 9, 142 255 35 | 36,368 | 30,257) +4 6,111
ONES ee Ree as ee eee 48,362 | 25,687] 2, 063 | 101 76,215 | 42,004] +34, 211
Blackford sascesweeeeocoeee sae 12, 543 2, 544 196 | 41 15, 324 16, 000 — 676
Weal se cccs sc cee dee sce 30, 097 18, 390 211 | 157 43, 855 22, 135 +21, 720
chan enec mes stesocee eee. 44,896 | 15, 207 705 | 90} 60,898 | 35,145] +25, 753
UL COM ee Ee eee ase ae 29, 903 5, 684 390 35 | 36,042 | 25,827] +10,185
GRANT eecea. cose sleciemic.coee~ 42, 077 5, 455 347 147 45, 026 49, 225 — 1,199
Huntington 34, 888 10, 693 800 195 46, 576 38, 145 + 8, 431
UE? cresoccdoscs cre ae = 29, 588 8, 766 Zio: | 145 38, 774 39, 656 — &82
Kosciusko ..-.... 42, 268 13, 274 240 162 55, 944 40, 065 +15, 879
ia GUAM Ores cians =< 36, 903 9, 818 873 | 37 47, 631 28, 292 +19, 339
TAK Ovo eee oases a sedoaee 2,808 | 26,690 | 1, 284 | 275} 31,057 | 30,6837] + 420
SANE OLUG een -ec desea sae ee. 43, 904 15, 054 802 335 60, 095 39, 690 +20, 405
Marshall oseeeons tne cin sea 35, 062 10, 145 1, 244 186 47, 637 33, 238 +14, 399
MUP RINT = =o ciao es Spcintateje wa sree 44, 212 7, 919 139 168 52, 438 42, 301 +10, 137
INODlGiececicc/s sae eee m cee ees a. 38, 797 12, 345 120 44 61, 306 29, 462 +21, 854
Porters ere ene icon eee 15,312] 16,365| 1,026 236 | 32,939 | 21,042 | +11, 897
IPOaSKii. o2ae Se. ce aoe ses =o 19, 267 7, 828 | 1, 570 394 | 29, 059 23, 686 + 5,373
Starke! <iseccaccsse te occ eaes 3, 591 2.916 1, 657 298 8, 462 7,911 + 551
Steuben’: sencco2. cesses scas see 27, 414 9, 253 219 310 37, 196 22, 200 +14, 996
SS UIQS9 ON S6seepesocanssodese 41, 525 11, 482 440) 30 53, 477 30, 698 +22, 779
IWiabash tececsccscneecoss cosa: 41, 109 8, 391 115 149 49, 764 45, 638 + 4,126
MWiels! Sete sacs eacecisseces 32, 301 6, 196 572 54] -39,123 39, 322 — 199
WWihtitley eee sees ce eens ene. 25, 633 9, 727 95 45 | 35,500| 24,753 | +10, 747

TABLE B.—Acreage of various grains produced in 1888 throughout the area over which
Chinch Bugs do not occur in destructive numbers.

PAIC ATS Seeeaaree ace ase Sees 23, 130 16, 818 | 249 | 51 40, 248 31,417 +8, 831
EA enieeme ek ee oes estce eens 50, 469 27, 228 1, 895 | 172 78,764 | 43,775 | +34, 989
Bliclketordiese see eeee eee one 11, 057 3, 280 | 253 | 140 14, 730 16, 633 —1, 903
Mental eerste se eccee cee see: 28, 145 14, 249 | 138 | 169 42, 701 25,474 | +17, 227
Sh aitt soe ee Sees se see eee oe 43, 818 14, 783 1, 013 | 78 | 59,692} 36,663 | +23, 029
Witlhtonss tes tees ee ee 33, 976 6, 306 267 12 40,561 | 29,795 | +10, 766
Grant ste ee eee eee 38, 808 5, 593 316 | 201 | 44,918| 48,581 +3, 663
Etuntin@ ton: os. .cs cece == 32, 639 10, 990 218 186 | 44,033 40, 218 +3, 815
Jay pres cieoe sey te eeenepeeeces 25, 433 9, 666 311 160 | 35,570 40, 750 —5, 180
KOs clus kOe Cena eee eeeeee 39, 878 14, 201 334 135 PM, 548 41,025 | +13, 523
MAMEAN CO) cs osece octets 33, 540 10, 285 750 | 55 44, 630 30, 252 | +14, 378
ake ws esos caeeec eee eee 3, 874 21, 026 1, 330 221 26, 461 29, 510 —3, 049
Ti WsPOrte-\occce ne seeas se ke ene 40, 642 18, 033 772 | 787 60, 234 41,345 | +18, 889
Niarshallise seen pence ee sens 33, 187 11, 095 1, 449 271 46, 012 37, 134 +8, 878
IM eee ee eee ee aoe 44, 250 8, 160 126 188 52, 724 42, 743 +9, 981
NO bIG 222. ae ee eee een 37, 983 14, 336 217 44 52, 580 29,915 | +22, 665
PGvter Meee acess ease 16, 648 17, 428 1, 593 | 213 35, 882 27, 863 +8, 019
PIMliski cos ysoat ce eee eee 17, 007 3, 407 1, 633 | 282 29, 3389 26, 232 +3, 097
Starkotecmec eee anne eee 3, 965 3, 476 1, 696 | 237 9, 374 8, 633 +741
UCHLI) | es acest ses at icioe 25, 944 10, 288 310 317 36, 859 21,373 | +15, 486
Stuosephicsseeece ne eee 37, 602 12,170 642 | 714 51, 128 29,343 | +21, 785
Wiabashs a) 222 ees 40, 202 9, 892 | 143 73 50, 350 44, 080 +6, 270
Wrellay®. 5%) s32.2e oaks cecene 28, 427 8, 352 | 611 | 147 | 37,547 38, 009 —462
WVINTELOY ctu a Solan suae neee we 21, 789 1v, 647 | 65 | 39 32, 540 23, 503 +9, 037

57

TABLE C.—Acreage of various grains produced in 1887 throughout the area over which
: Chinch Bugs occur sometimes in destructive nnmbers.

Excess
Other f ll
Counties. Wheat. Oats. Rye. Barley. small Corn. |° ort

ara over corn.
PEABO coms oc Coen ee canes LEG RI) = RHPA) 390 125 | 38,036 71, 714 | —33, 678
Maver seen ss Soc gabessoateeees 22, 610 9, 963 160 21L | 32,944 26, 447 +-6, 497
REORMRORG Soe orate s ie atarciotcta ea 7, 513 9, 889 DO) iisetatee eae 16, 927 15, 491 -+1, 486
PARIONS 52. cere ek Pee 40,186) 10, 575 340 42 51, 143 39, 472 +11, 671
DY CYST ee ae pee ee eee ee 24, 527 10, 950 20 87 | 35, 584 22, 042 +13, 542
Sol Ot Ss See ee ee ae 72, 513 5, 740 386 3L | 78, 670 45,108 | +33, 562
SEMORMN 7 Shots e's Se 2 ese 24, 943 11, 930 239 178 | 37,290 34, 141 +38, 149
GRO see oc Se ses adssiccecs 27, 584 14, 733 297 45 42, 659 42, 633 +26
Tear oe ae eae 48, 453 6, 426 207 68 | 55,184 | 47,331 | +7, 853
HAWRONCE) = sascer c= cece lence 11, 423 14, 395 136 51 26, 005 25, 228 4777
NENG eee cee seca cicim ene ace 15, 740 7, 766 136 191 23, 833 21, 493 +2, 440
lini cy Se ae eee et 9, 505 9, 399 35 40 18, 979 16, 462 | +2, 517
Orange ....-..- a Leeman bee 12, 322 17, 708 84 96 30, 210 26, 836 +13, 374
SONU eee setae ose oss oe ae 14, 343 9, 705 9L 20 | 24,159 16, 910 --7, 249
AKO ears eeties seacies sece.cis(< 33, 828 9, 426 297 66 | 43, 617 39, 751 -L3, 866
JED 3-5 45 Ae ee ee ree 35, 698 9, 080 83 107 | 44, 968 30,095 | +14, 873
HROSOY —o-s-se seen Sele esice ae 60, 902 6, 600 120 47 | 67, 669 38, 979 +28, 690
IEC See e a tere eee ae ee 33, 544 | 7, 613 117 96 | 41,370 37, 006 +4, 364
HMA soe eee een tates secon 3S 624ele 210.059 26 | 55! 44,564 44, 109 | 4-455
BRIN PeCAMOCccsnciwe tee ces cee 49,339 | = 14, 657 544 120 64,660 | 79,497 | —14, 837
Mien llign sere eek ee en oes 30,274] 6,724 352 | 98 | 37,448] 35,549] +1, 899
TAGE Ra Aa 5 Sate ee ee 35, 738 13, 096 694 217 49, 745 50, 0x2 —337
VETO ee ee eee 30, 088 9, 609 62 | 40 | 39, 799 33,171 +6, 628
VSS DINMGONE Ss saci ess can 17, 245 19, 028 | Utell 68 | 36, 418 30,206 | +6, 212

|

TABLE D.—dAcreage of various grains produced in 1888 throughout the area over which
Chinch Bugs vcecur sometimes in destructive numbers.

enone psoas ee = casio ccieces ot 2,470 36, 801 372 81 39, 724 84,751 | —45, 027
(CUR? LOSS See ee eee 22, 136 1, 720 178 | 150 | 32, 184 28, 100 +45, 084
(CEA e010 bo ee eee oe 9, 527 7, 216 13 | 10 16, 766 14, 502 4-2 264
WANIOSS =aos=seeeaacseece--=-5) 109,049 11, 194 280 75 | 50,598 89,259 | +11, 339
BINVOIS Sone poe ee aise: sso ce 26, 414 10, 168 48 128 | 36, 758 22,799 | +13, 959
(HOS Me eee Ree oes oe 68, 640 5, 606 466 116 74, 828 48, 280 +26, 548
PCEReTG Lees wot aes eee 30, 962 12, 627 253 84 43, 926 35, 745 +8, 181
Pipe NOTE oe ote Soins Seis eee 27, 425 14, 135 254 | 34 41,848 43, 007 aa)
USS as 2 ee ee ae ae 47, 798 6, 869 222 163 55, 058 54, 001] +1, 051
TGA TONLC Olea aas cic oe te ois nse 10, 559 14, 392 208 79 25, 238 31, 666 —6, 328
Mian tines eeesonsee ccle t<ieec.cen 14, 450 8, 797 124 126 23, 497 20, 928 2,569
Mimo se tenecc aos nose eeeacis 10, 147 8, 500 64 22 18, 733 16, 241 +2, 492
OG a CAO RCUO CO SEROASESOe ‘13, 446 15, 246 94 78 28, 864 25, 406 +3, 458
Wa een nance och nee nas 13, 329 10, 402 82 43 23, 856 17, 422 +6, 434
Parkeseo sc. Meawasciesautomcsias 33, 523 9, 718 256 57 43, 554 44, 771 —1, 217
PTCA teh ome rats otiaiaia.c<sjclsie 30, 934 10, 154 54 106 41, 248 32, 062 +-9, 186
1 Gp See Seer Fate eee 59, 006 7, 465 108 39 66, 618 46,711 | +19, 907
Penta sases sae sols sonees =! 32, 139 8, 194 131 74 40, 538 39, 358 +1, 180
SUITE Se eee eee 29, 377 11, 279 798 68 41, 522 45, 808 —4, 286
ERIPPCCANCG «56/1060 222055 53, 000 15, 313 570 129 69, 012 82,611 | —13, 599
VG by 0) Gee a aeece peor eeeee 29, 985 7, 710 439 76 38, 210 35, 444 2, 766
“TTT a Se ee 36, 157 14, 327 557 203 51, 244 52, 084 —840
ViVi pit hale 2 Se a ee 30, 562 10, 191 144 57 40, 954 34, 589 +6, 365
WMshInefOne > 5.50 -cfec2-5 208 18, 465 19, 922 39 46 38, 472 34, 911 +3, 561

* Counties marked with asterisk (*) are those in which Chinch Bugs have been reported in destruct-
ive numbers.

Much has been said of late of the influence which the cultivation of
wheat and other grains has on the numbers and distribution of the
Chinch Bug. Tables A, B, C, and D, here given show the acreage of
each of the cereal grains in forty-eight counties for the years 1887 and
1888. It will be observed that among the uninfested counties there are
but four which had a greater area of small grain than of corn in 1887
and in 1888. In 1887, in eleven of these same counties, the area of
wheat exceeded that of corn, in six of which counties the Chinch Bug

58

is unheard of. Practically the same state of affairs existed in 1888,
both as to erop and bugs. In the twelve counties more or less infested
with bugs in 1887, four had a larger area of corn than of small grain,
and all but seven showed a greater area of corn than wheat. In 1888
only three had a greater area devoted to wheat than corn, and six hada
greater area of corn than of small grains. It will be observed that Sul-
livan County, which probably suffers from Chinch Bug injury as bad as
any portion of the State, is one of these. It appears therefore that the
nature of the crop has of itself nothing to do with the distribution of
the Chinch Bug in Indiana,

TABLE E.—Total amount, in inches and tenths, of precipitation and mean temperature, in
degrees and tenths, at Princeton, Gibson County, Ind., latitude 38° 23' N., during the
months of April, May, and June, for the years 1385, 1886, 1887, 1858, and 1889.

April. | May. June.
Year. Rina Pca (rapes

Precipi- | Tempera-| Precipi- |Te™pera-| Precipi- | Tempera-

tation. ture. | tation. ture. | tation. ture.
! | aoe ra oe Eros
OGRE eee Sa Jae ie ies Soe de 3. 70 53.5| 2.30] 61.5 5.90 71.9
Ufsts Ds 2 a sadodoas sndedasoddaoscccoupone.s one 3. 50 55. 3 | 2.10 66. 1 4.90 | 71.3
SS apenas aac ott ccteccales cree sete ae 2.30 | 53.2 | 6. 10 68. 0 -10 | 74.3
Iles ls seaconoohos eeaono GOs eDoRODanaASBECe 1. 50 55.3 | 1. 95 63.5 2.50 76.7
SSO eememincterscstes eee elec ease eerie . 80 55. 2 | 4. 40 64.4 3. 60 | 70.7

TABLE F.—Total amount, in inches and tenths, of precipitation and mean temperature, in
degrees and tenths, at Angola, Steuben County, Ind., latitude 41° 37' N., during the
months of April, May, and June, for the years 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, and 1889.

«19 | 49,

|
Tei ee eee Siri eae 7 meal SORE eeY ei aes 4.35 45.6 | 6.95 | 56.9 | 4, 32 | 66.9
BSG Res soso e ees Lo hee cccmnaca coms 2.77 | 52.5 3. 49 | 63.5 | 4.16 | 67.2
ISSR MERE cee see es cot So tloks . ameye? 1.12 | 45.2 1.95 | 70.8 | 5. 24 aye}
IRE Ramee sees cels ons case ek eee clei seer 1. 64 46.5 3.75 61.9 | 5.16 70.6
TEST) onc one ee poe Ae re ZUNE | 1 2 5. 25 61.4 | 4. 50 68.5

TABLE G.—Total amount, in inches and tenths, of precipitation and mean temperature, in
degrees and tenths, at Sandwich, De Kaib County, Ill., latitude 41° 31’ N., during the
months of April, May, and June of the years 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, and 1589.

1885... = occa + seen nec an ciewe nme cen c enn 2. 46 46. 71 1.30 | 58, 65 2. 94 | 68. 95
TER 5 cocond esoces bocce vecean scapsensec" 1.35 | 56.40 3.06 | 64.70 | 1. 28 | 68. 82
IGW/a 5 secesuseecbeeed= sens S=saseseaecooor 5a | 53.12 1. 87 | 68. 55 | 1.77 | 75. 07
IRE Sonn docedsecessedcan! coacesuseecae 1.70 | 49, 84 5.14 | 58. 72 | 2.76 72.48
Wie Geen ese eEoceer meg eec reece ne: - Seabsct 3.15 52. 03 3. 08 61. 71 | 5. 40 | 68. 62

Neither can this unequal distribution be attributed to the interspersion
of timber Jands among the cultivated fields, as the northern and south-
ern portions are about equally wooded, and, besides, the treeless
prairies of the State are not particularly subject to invasions of Chinch-
bugs. Low temperature can hardly be held responsible for the phe-
nomenon, as the ravages in more northern localities like Nebraska,
northern Iowa, and in Minnesota will attest. Coming northward from
the Ohio River, during the season of drought which has occurred each
year since 1886, one ean not help but admit that the effects of dry

—

*

“%

eee

59

weather are greatest in the southern portion of the State. But the dif-
ference between this weather condition is certainly not so marked be-
tween Tippecanoe and Benton Counties on the one hand, and La Porte
and Lagrange Counties on the other, as to result in a difference in the
number of bugs amounting to that between a great abundance and
almost none at all. In Tables E, F, and G are given the mean tempera-
ture and rain-fall for the months during which these elements most
affect the Chinch Bug, and extending over a period of five years.* Thisis
as far back as the Indiana records extend. The records from Princeton,
Ind., indicate the meterological conditions during this period in the bug
infested area, and those from Angola are a like record of the weather
conditions in the region exempt from Chinch Bug attack, while Table G
gives the meterological conditions in De Kalb County, northern [llinois,
where Chinch Bugs have been abundantsince 1855, formerly doing serious
damage to spring wheat, and have, since about 1862 (wheat of any sort
being no longer grown to any extent), been transferring their attention
to the corn crop, but being at present less abundant than in south-
eastern Indiana or southern Illinois.

From a study of the tables given it will be seen that while the
northern Illinois locality had a less rain-fall during the spring and early
summer than the northern portion of Indiana, it also had a less amount
than had southern Indiana; yet, while Chinch Bugs are more numerous
in the Illinois section than in northern Indiana, they are not so abund-
ant as in southern Indiana.

Geologically, the northern portion of Indiana differs from the south-
eastern portion, the former being Devonian and the latter carbonifer-
ous or subearboniferous. This, however, could have little effect on the
Chinch Bug, except, possibly, so far as it influenced the natural flora,
especially the grasses. Prof. James Troop, who has made the grasses
of Indiana a study, informs me that the following are all, or nearly all,
the species found in the southern portion of the State which do not
occur in the northern portion: Uniola latifolia, Arundinaria tecta, Pas-
palum fluitans, P. leve, Panicum prolificum, P. anceps, P. vicidum, Andro-
pogon divisitiflorus.

From the foregoing it will be seen that to no one of these elements
alone, as existing between southwestern Indiana and Illinois on the
one hand, and northeastern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northern
Qhio on the other, can this immunity from Chinch Bugs in these last
localities be traced. Whether the combination of two of these elements,
such as dry weather and wheat-growing, is to be held wholly responsi-
ble, or whether there is still another potent element, as yet unknown
to us, which, either in itself or combined with some other, is the prime
cause of the present state of affairs, only future studies can demonstrate.

volunteer signal observer at that place.—F. M. W.

60

That dry weather during spring and early summer is almost invaria-
bly associated with an increase, and wet weather during the same
period with a decrease of Chinch Bugs is usually true, but why this is
so has never been definitely explained.

The fungoid disease known as Hntomophthora has, since it was s studied
by Dr. Shimer, been known to be much more fatal in wet than in dry
weather. How far this would prove true, and to what extent the
farmer could rely upon this fungus to keep the Chinch Bug in check,
gave the incentive for carrying out the following experiments.

Harly in July, 1888, a large number of Chinch Bugs, principally pupze
nearing the last molt, were placed in a close glass vessel and kept in a
very damp atmosphere and under high temperature. Although kept
for two weeks under these conditions we failed to produce the Hntomoph-
thora among them. This was accepted as evidence that the fungus did
not exist in any stage of development here at La Fayette, Ind., although
it was reported from an adjoining State.

On July 20, of the present year, we received some dead chinch bugs
from Prof. F. H. Snow, of Lawrence, Kans., which were said to be af-
fected by Entomophthora. These diseased bugs were placed under glass
with living ones from the fields, the latter being provided with food and
kept thus confined for fifty-three hours, when the major portion of them
were placed on several hills of corn, seriously infested by bugs, the
remainder with the dried remains received from Professor Snow being
scattered about over a small area of young wheat sown for experiment,
and also swarming with young Chinch Bugs. The hills of corn on which
the bugs had been placed were isolated from others, equally badly in-
fested, by narrow frames of boards placed on the ground, and the upper
edges covered with tar. This last precaution was taken in order to pre-
vent communication with other hills, intended as checks on those used
directly inthe experiment. The area of young wheat over which infested
bugs had been placed was not inclosed, but its limits carefully marked.
Five days after, July 27, a single bug was found on one of the isolated
_ hills of corn which had very evidently died from the effects of Hntomoph-
thora, and by the 30th enough others were found to show that the fungus
had fully established itself, and the barriers about the isolated hills were
removed. On August 2, dead bugs covered with Entomophthora were
found in considerable numbers about hills of corn, 25 feet from where the
original colonies had been placed, and also throughout and even 55 feet
beyond the area of young wheat over which dead and affected bugs
had been distributed. Daily observations were now made, but the pro-
gress of the disease seemed to come to a stand-still. From the 5th of
August up to the 9th it was almost impossible to get sufficient material,
outside, to enable me to carry on laboratory experiments. August 13,
the spread of Hntomophthora appeared to have taken on new life, and dis-

eased bugs were becoming much more numerous. August 15, found
diseased bugs 172 feet from any place where they had been previously
observed. August 20, diseased bugs were very abundant over all of

61

the area where disease had been distributed, and two days later exam-
ples were found a quarter of a mile from the starting point of the dis-
ease. Immediately after this, however, another halt, both in the in-
tensity of attack and rapidity with which it spread, due either to the dry
weather, or to the fact that the bugs had now all reached the adult
stage, and had become diffused over the country, no longer congregat-
ing together. From either one or the other, or both of these causes, I
lost track of the Entomophthora and was not able to again find it in the
fields. It seems proper to state here that Chinch Bugs were not at any
time excessively abundant. The greatest numbers were in the exact
localities where the disease was first distributed, the congregating at
these places being brought about by the close proximity toa large num-
ber of small experimental plats of wheat, and when this was harvested
the bugs collected en masse on the corn and young wheat. In connec-
tion with these facts, it is also interesting to note that from July 15 to
August 31 there were ten days on which rain fell. The dates of these
rains and the amount of Denon is given below:

| |
| Precipi- |

| Precipi-
Date. tation. ] Date. tation:
Inches. | Inches.
JTWy) UP 5 onceoo bd sb Senet Sao SSbeetbecsssee S02) ||| Sib 2 igecocecoodno co srccsessreeeracsoe .78
VU nage SASSER s Seared TOD lly a OO eee omece seme se ome seciceee aaiae . 50
De ety Sete at) SER eas Bercn eis Se Ol ee Attnor ss Oh <2) ype 8 5 ea eh 8S eee ae 3.36
ee ein eine wlalnioni=aicic/s simicim ela mira ata 04 || AD see Seo oe hoes te raw er eee eee ee 215
DGWer Aepamas es dcsen Sees keteeece. 12 A et ey WeetS Sie araletaie ne are a espera . 02

With a view of learning whether or - not there was any difference as
regards susceptibility to the attack of Entomophthora, between bugs in
different stages of development, a series of experiments was begun, as
follows:

Young plants of Setaria glauca were transplanted to a box, and upon
each plant was placed a dead bug covered with the fungus, and also
healthy larvee ; larvie just on the point of pupation; pup just prior to
reaching the adult stage; and fully developed adults, each stage being
placed on separate plants and each covered with a small inverted glass
vial numbered by lettering. As checks, another series was prepared
like the first in every particular. The soil in the box was kept welli
moistened, and the plants remained fresh. This experiment was made
on August 2, about the time when the attack outside began to diminish
in intensity. The following are the results of examinations on the
dates indicated, the original experiments being numbered by capitals,
and the checks by small letters, thus—A-—a, adult; B-b, young larvie ;
C-c, older larvie; D-d, pupe.

Date. | INS | 2. | B. | b. ‘| Corot e D. | d
| |
Aug. 5 | Healthy ... fablendthiy:.- | Healthy . | Healthy | 1 dead -..| Healthy -| 1 dead ...| 1 dead.
Aug. 6} 1 dead -.-..| | 1 dead . -.| Healthy .| a althy . | 1 dead . Healthy -| 3 dead - 1 dead.
Aug. Alldead ..| 3dead .. | 3 dead 1 dead - 3 dead . |i dead): aalpssaricc ke 5 dead.
Aug.16 | Alldead ..| All dead ..| All dead.| ) All dead | Alldead -| All dead.) All dead lees dead.
|

ee —-

62

On the same day this experiment was begun, a second was also com-
menced, like the first in every particular except that the healthy bugs
used, in experimentation, were exposed to fungus infested individuals
for only five hours, and then placed under their respective glasses. As
a result on August 15, thirteen days after, none had died, thus strongly
indicating that the Hntomophthora did not exist generally in the fields,
and that it could not be communicated during a period of five hours,
exposure.

On August 7 a large number of healthy bugs were placed under
glass, with a number which had recently died from Hntomophthora, the
moisture in the vessel being absorbed by calcium chloride. A check
experiment was also commenced, where the material and the condi-
tions were the same, except the humidity of the atmosphere, care being
taken to have the latter as nearly saturated with moisture as possible.
August 10, the original experiment was divided and a portion of the
healthy bugs removed and placed in a damp environment, the remain-
der being kept under the original dry conditions. The results on
August 22 were as follows. In the original experiment, where the
healthy bugs had been continually in dry quarters, not a single bug
had died from Hntomophthora. Not only this, but none of those which
had been removed after three days and placed in dry quarters had died,
showing that the disease was not contracted and did not develop in
healthy bugs, though kept exposed in a dry atmosphere for fifteen
days, nor could it be originated by placing, in a damp atmosphere, for
twelve days, bugs which had been exposed to contagion for three days
in dry quarters. The results withthe check experiment were quite dif-
ferent. Within five days after being confined with the Hntomophthora,
the healthy bugs began to die from effects of the disease, and in three
days more every one had died from the same cause, their bodies being
covered with spores.

Still another experiment was tried which consisted in confining a
large number of healthy bugs with others diseased in a damp environ-
ment, and when the fungus had destroyed a portion the remainder were
divided and a part removed to dry quarters. The result was that while
those left in damp confinement continued to die, none of those inclosed
in dry environment were destroyed. As the fungus had by this time be-
come distributed over the experiment farm so that I could not tell with
certainty whether material from the fields was in a perfectly healthy
condition or not, no farther experiments were made in this direction.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the essential element in
all of these experiments was an abundance of moisture, without which
the Hntomophthora could neither become established nor flourish after
it had gained a footing. Again the extent to which the disease will
prove contagious will depend upon the number of bugs. Without
great numbers massed together comparatively few would contract the
disease. ‘To sum up the matter there is little hope for relief to the
farmer from the influence of Hntomophthora, except when Chinch Bugs

63

are abundant and massed together in great numbers, and during a
period of wet weather. I have succeeded in getting the fungus estab-
lished at two widely located points in Indiana, and do not consider it
at all difficult to introduce in localities where Chinch Bugs are abun-
dant, provided the weather is favorable. But if it is ever utilized by
the farmer, which seems to me to be at present a matter of considerable
doubt, it will only be after the pest has become very abundant, during the
time between the first larval and adult stages and in a wet time. After
the Hntomophthora has been introduced into a certain field it will be-
come diffused only in proportion as the bugs travel about and healthy
bugs come in contact with spores from those which have died from the
disease. This will not be very great until the pupal stage is reached.

The larvie of Chinch Bugs seem to in some way understand that while
moulting they will be well nigh helpless, and hence hide themselves away
in vast numbers in secluded places. Under such conditions the spores
thrown from diseased bugs would reach a larger number of their fellows.
I havefound adults but recently moulted affected by the Entomophthora.
After the bugs acquire wings and scatter themselves over the country,
the liability to contagion will be again reduced, unless in case of very
severe invasions, where from force of numbers congregating on or about
food plants becomes a necessity. Hence, the introduction of the fungus
among larvie will at first proceed but slowly, and only in extreme cases
and under favorable conditions can it be expected to proceed much more
rapidly among adult bugs. In short, the only way that this fungoid
disease seems capable of being employed in agriculture is by the estab-
lishment of some central propagating station to which farmers can apply
and receive an abundant supply of infested bugs on short notice. By
this means they could take advantage of a rainy period of a week or
ten days, and, if they can contrive by sowing plats of millet and Hun-
garian to mass the bugs in certain localities about their fields, they
might accomplish something towards warding off an invasion. But
the possibility of overcoming an invasion after it is fully under way,
as is almost sure to be the case during a dry season, it must be con-
fessed is not very encouraging. My failure afterrepeated experiments
to produce this Entomophthora in the vicinity of Lafayette without the
importation of germs is decidedly against the theory that might be ad-
vanced that the northeastern portion of the State was kept free of
destructive invasions by reason of this disease brought about by wet
weather. There is as yet no reason to believe that the disease has
ever existed in that section of the State. i

Before leaving the subject it will be proper to state that in my exper-
iments a larva of Chrysopa was introduced by accident and passed
through the larval stage, feeding continually on bugs dying from the
effects of the fungus.

After harvest the Chinch Bugs, as usual, transferred their attention
to various grasses which were growing up among the stubble, more
especially Setaria and Panicum, but as these succumbed to their contin-

64

ued attacks they transferred their attention to Timothy, and appeared
to subsist equally well upon it.

At the date of wheat-harvesting, fields were swarming with a species
of lady beetle, Coccinella 9-notata, they having become excessively
abundant by reason of the great numbers of the Grain Aphis, and
as these disappeared the Coccinella was obliged to scatter themselves
about and seek other food. As large numbers were found on stalks of
growing corn infested by chinch-bugs, it seemed proper to determine
the object of attraction to such places. The problem was in part solved
by the fact that wherever great numbers of Chinch Bugs had punctured
the corn plants the sap would exude from these punctured spots, and
there the beetles would be found, singly or in groups of two or three,
engaged in feeding upon the sap. Beetles placed under glass with a
great number of Chinch Bugs refused to prey upon the latter, even when
brought nearly to the point of starvation.

While searching under the sheaths of corn on several occasions larvie
and pup of a Syrphus fly were found, in many cases, right among the
masses of young bugs. From some of these pup thus obtained we
reared adults of Pipiza pulchella. Whether this species will ultimately
prove to be an enemy of the Chinch Bug, it is too much to say, but the
larvie found by me could only have fed upon bugs or exuding sap, as
they were near the roots of the corn where no pollen iad collected.

THE GRAIN APHIS.
(Siphonophora avenw Fab.)

Probably no insect has appeared in the State of Indiana for many
years which caused such a general commotion among wheat-growers,
and which worked so little damage, considering, its numbers, as this.

Occurring every year in greater or less numbers, and having been
frequently sent us by farmers, we were not at all surprised to receive
specimens from Gallatin County, Ill., on May 27, and also afew days
later from our aged friend Dr. Richard Owen, of New Harmony, Posey
County, Ind. Probably about May 20 can be set down as the date of
appearance, in numbers to attract attention in the extreme southern
part of the State, the invasion terminating in the extreme northern por-
tion about the Ist of July.

That the outbreak, which was probably the most severe since 1861
and 1862, should reach the magnitude that it did, both in poit of
numbers and area infested, was a surprise to me, as the preceding
November had been spent by myself in traveling about, visiting the
wheat fields of various portions of the State, these insects then being
observed in no greater numbers than was usual at that season of the
year. The winter following was an extremely mild one, which, taken

with the statement of Dr. Cyrus Thomas,* that the -insect passes the ©

winter on grain plants in the fields, might lead to a misunderstanding
as to the actual effect of mild winters.

* Eighth Rep, 5, Ent, Il. 1879, p, 63,

;
é
Fi

The winters of 1861 and 1862, the years of the serious outbreaks
in New York and New England, though not particularly severe in the
sections above mentioned, were by no means noted for mildness. It
seems doubtful, therefore, if the causes leading to the invasion of the
present year would carry us farther back than the spring months, a
statement strongly substantiated by our own observation.

Starting, then, with the month of March we search for some meteoro-
logical element which might affect the increase of the Grain Aphis, and
which appears both in the present season and also in 1861 and 1862.

TaBLeE H.—General weather conditions in various localities during years of great abun-
dance of Grain Aphis.

Locality. Year. March. April. May. June.
ee es ee a ee ee z (aa a a felt
(1861 (Coole: - Coolesee. Coolte-eas- Cool.

2 ee ory |’ Average.| Wet...-... WeWMiGtieees oe Dry.
New York and New England ........--...... ines Cache Wer) MEER aah ecase Cool

| % UaWVeb oo eas PNWObe esas Dr yece esac Dy:

. § Warm ...!| Warm Coolie. =e. Coo
Indiana ewe ew ne Se cen emewr nce ewoecens snewceecce 1889 ) Dry Cle ! Dry Peete Dry oo es Wet.
Western New York ........ AS OBOESOBCOSORE 1 OSE Ma sonoueceee |=a2eeeccrane|omensa220 2 S Wet

i)

The weather conditions as relating to New York and New England
for 1861 and 1862, as given in Table H are based upon reports contained
in the Country Gentleman for these years. Those for Indiana are based
on the reports of the State Weather Service, and the data for western
New York, for 1889, was given me by Prof. James Troop, Horticultural-
ist of the Indiana Experiment Station, who visited Livingston County
in July.

From Table I, taken from Indiana Weather Service reports, it will be
observed that during March and April the temperature was considera-
bly above the normal, with the precipitation during this time below the
average. On the other hand, the temperature of the months of May
and June was much below the normal, with, as indicated by Table I, pre-
cipitation above the average. By referring to Table K, however, it will
be observed that about half of the precipitation of May fell on the 29th
and 30th of the month, thereby changing the apparent state of affairs,
and practically throwing May into the dry period.

We have stated that the outbreak of the grain Aphis became con-
spicuous in southern Indiana and Illinois in May. It is also true that
they reached their maximum numbers during the very last of this month
and early June. In other words, they appeared during cool, dry weather,
and disappeared in cool, wet weather. Thus far the old theory of ento-
mologists, that wet weather is detrimental to their increase appeared
true.

But it is also true, that while in southern localities they were disap-
pearing during a wet period, in central and northern Indiana and
western New York they were rapidly gaining in numbers, under pre-
cisely similar conditions.

23479—No, 22 5

66

Turning now to Table H, we search for an element common to the in-
vasions of 1861 and 1862 and 1889, bearing in mind that in southern
Indiana the pest arose to the maximum during May and early June,
and in New York during June and early July.

TABLE I.—Comparative temperature and precipitation throughout the State of Indiana
Sor March, April, May, and June, 1889. ;

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES—FAHREN HEIT).

March. April. May. June.

p A =| & A
a oh4 oOo. Ore ‘One
; F © BS HS HS AS
Counties. Stations. Ee ‘ele Sirs | sm Sl
° ES 26 £6 £6
re a Ba a 5 = a EA a & a
Al 6 | BS (8) 90lce ol yale ee
m =) H a a aH & ae

=) ° o f=) o S o ° o

Bee toa wz | A ia) cya ei es

—_ ar | aaa 22 Ai ee :

HoUtherne ee access Wee cic ey aladieetaee der 5 | 41.1] +2.8) 54.8 | —0.1 | 64.4 | —1.9 | 72.2) —255
Duboisisessense Huntingburgh --.. 6 | 41.4 +4.6 | 54.6 | +2.1 | 64.0] --1.4 | 72.8 | —1.0
Gipsoneeem eee Princetones ese: 5 | 41.8} +4.7 | 54.1 | +1.1 | 64.7 | —0.3 | 74.0 | —3.3
Crawford ...... MarengO) 22/2 =e 6 | 42.3 | +3.1 } 57.7 | +2.1 | 65:3 | —0.9 | 72.2) —o003
Washington ...| Salem ........ ase 6 41.3 20.2 158.2) |) 0209" 6£.)20) Oscars
Switzerland ...| Vevay..-.......... 21 | 42.8 | +3.9 | 54.8 | 41.3 | 65.4 | —0.8 | 74.4 | —3.5
Jennings ...... Butlerville ..-...- 4) 42.4 2.9 | 55.5 | —2.0 | 65.7 | —4.0 | 73. 7 | —322
Greene ........ Worthington -.... 6 | 39.6} +1.5 | 53.9 | +0.9 | 63.9 | —3.2 | 70.2 | —2.4
Bartholomew ..| Columbus .....-.. 6 | 38.4 2. 7 6202) 052. | (68542 | — 294 725 2n eon
ISON desoscsne SUMAN peer 6 | 39.4] +3.0 | 53.4 | +0.4 | 65.3 | —3.0 | 72.5 3
Warrick -......|- DagoniaSprings. . 6) 43.4) 2251) 558) 087 164.6325 Neale
Clarkes o-,2226 Blue Lick = ss. -- 12 | 42.9 | +3.1 | 55.3 | +1.14 | 64.5 | —1.4 | 74.3 2.3

Wentralpeisaccccsc| esos sSesibelsmache es 5 | 36.7 | +4.9] 51.0} +0.3 | 61.9 |; —1.0) 70.4 | —2.6
Jobnson .....-- Mrani:in) eseees =e 6 | 37.9 | -+5.1} 52.0) +1.4 | 63.0 | —1.2 | 70.8 | —2.5
Hayette.-...-.. Connersville...-... OPN) Bets} 53/5) 1495.8) 4-3..0) 162569) 1.1! | alsa oaG
Marion =26.-22: Indianapolis ..... 18 | 39.8 2.8 | 52.5 | +0.1 |} 64.1 | —3.9 | 72.5 | —5.3
Rvshteesesseo. MRT cee cmceee 8 | 35.0 +6.1 |) 49.2 | +0.4 | 60.7 | —1.2 | 68,7 | —0.3
ienmtyseceeass Spiceland ........ 35 | 37.0 +6.0 | 50.0 | +2.6 | 61.6 |) +0.7 | 70.5 | —2.5
Wayne ee ssos. Richmond ........ 6 | 35.9 = 2).07| 5055. | 3a 62.0 | —4.1 | 69.5 | —2.5
Randolph ...... Marmilan dieses ses. 6 | 36.4 +6.0 | 48.7 | +2.8 | 61.3 | —0.3 | 69.7 | —2.3
Delaware ...... MmnGie saa cemece 4 | 38.1 +-5.2 | 52.3 | —1.8 | 62.2) |) —1. 1a} 70505) 55)

Northern’ jsc sta o|ts et eteame ones coaee 5 | 34.5) +-3.8 | 49:9) —0. 1 |) (61.0 | 2.4) 7030") —=338
Tippecanoe ....| Lafayette.......-.. 10 )-36.0 ) 61.7 |054.. 7 | = 3.9) 9614 || 2 Osa esas
Carroll }..-5:%. Delphi#:5.-.645- <2 4.36507) =P 197 | ONG) 14") 6298!) {957 ee eel eres
Whitley ...-... Columbia City..-. 4 | 34.7) +1.9 | 48.9 | —0.9 | 60.0 | —2.7 | 69.5 | —5.6
Steuben ....... Amoola ss 2hea at se Sa ole +6.3 | 47.8 |] +1.4 | 63.1 | —1.7 | 68.9 | —0.4

State .....-.. pboctucoumAtomecs aad 7 | 37.4 +3.9 | 51.9 0.00 | 62.1 | —1.4 | 70.9 | —3.0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES).

SCULIG a NiGE ee sodeel sogerrmenerone soar 5 | 2.67 | —1.49 | 3.26 | —2.45 | 3.94 |+1.56 | 4.07 |+0.65
IDAHO) snosoods Huntingburgh. .-. 6 | 3.28 | —2. 48 | 2.98 | —3.30 | 3.92 |4+2.63 | 3.86 |—0. 24
Gibsonwes- se. Princetones sess cee 5 | 2.45 | —0.45 | 2.43 | —1.63 | 3.09 [41.31 | 3.55 |+-0.05
Crawford ...... Marengo ..-.-...- 6 | 3.25 | —2.15 | 5.28 | —4.68 | 6.00 |+3.85 | 5.27 |+1. 25
Washington. ..| Salem .-.....-...- 6 | 2.62 | —1/56)) (368 iR—2. 58) 3224|-- 2505) |-oeeec| eae
Switzerland ...| Vevay...........- 21 | 4.03 | —3.20 | 3.40 | —2.48 | 3.53 |4+2.64 | 5.07 |=—0°6L
Jennings ......| Butlerville ....... 4 | 3.35 | —2.21 | 2.93 | —1.72 | 5.56 |+0. 87 | 5.56 |—1. 85
Greene)-=------ Worthington ..... 7 | 2.59 | —0.58 | 3.04 | —1.50 | 4.19 |—1.29 | 4.51 |+2. 81
Bartholomew ..| Columbus .....-.. 6 | 2.52 | —1.65 | 2.60 | —1.96 | 3.45 |4-1.35 | 3.50 |+0. 88
Ripley =ceeewsee SunmManieeese. esos 6-| 2.45 | —1.22 | 3.41 | —1.77 | 4.38 |+1.48 | 4.35 |+1.61
Wramnichwennsee Dagonia Springs. - 6 | 2.92 | —1.11 | 2.88 | —1.90 | 3.06 !+1.02 | 5.10 !_0. 61
Clarke eaasceee Blue ick 2.5.2. 12 | 2.73 | —1.86 | 3.65 | —2.70 | 4.09 |4-1.46 | 4.04 |+0.18

Contra: -ocerecson| Cass ck Meee eee 5 | 2.33 | —0,98 | 2.82 | —1.46 | 4.19 |+1.43 | 3.80 |+1.08
Johnson .....-.- Braniclimt s-2cese 6 | 2.45 || —1. 10 || 2.68 | —1. 47 | 4. 04 |+0.33 | 3.80 |-+2=20
Fayette........| Connersville...... 7 | 2.55 | —1.70 | 2.32 | —1.43 | 4.47 |+2.12 | 4.37 |—0.61
Niarionmesseeee Indianapolis.--.... "18 | 3.85 | —1.70 | 3.59 | —1.47 | 4.15 |4+1.61 | 5.44 |—0. 76
hush caeacc ee MUG Z ie sw co eime ere 9 | 3.50 | —1.80 | 4.52 | —2.44 | 4.89 |41.20 | 5.45 |—0.75
Henryeseeeeoee Spicelandeneeceece 35 | 3.90 | —1. 82 | 3.20 | —1.52 | 3.35 |+3.08 | 4.40 |+0. 40
IWiaiyme\an.- sees Richmond. ..-s0- 6 | 2.38 | —1.53 | 2.77 | —1.95 | 4.21 |+2. 54 | 4.07 |—0.33
Randolph...... Farmland......-.. 6 | 2.18 | —0.46 | 2.52 | —1.45 | 4.42 |—0.27 | 3.68 |4-1..91
Delaware ...... MionGi6t cance ee oes Be Saiereoe'|a ao came Sears lllm etait cee nell ye ete et) See eee

Northern: 23250 5: | See ak ee ees 5 | 2.02 | —0.14 | 2.03 | —1.15 | 4.46 |41.24 | 4,12°|+0. 61
Tippecanoe ....| Lafayette .......- 10 | 2.39 -0. 70 | 2.78 | —1.9% | 4.86 |4+1.55 ) 4.91 |—0. 77
Camrrollee.2o-=-= Delphiee soso seer 4 | 1.92 OP 74 2.06) |) VES be "5825 AS) eee neers
Wihttley; 2558 Columbia City.... 4] 2.01 | +0.45 | 2.50 | —1.45 | 5.17 |--0.78 | 4.46 |—0. 67
Steuben ....... An pula ees meee 5 | 2518) |. 0818) 25275 Ov ae oS eos oyaimdes ca Omos

State. 5... - [acl oe cs cae ar 7 | 2 37 | —0.86 | 2.70 | —1.89 | 4.22 |41.28 | 4.16 |-+-0.(4
|

67

TaBLe K.—Records of rain-fall throughout Indiana during May, 1889,

Place of observation. Precipitation. See of
o : 3 Ss Greatest in | S
. = a 2 |98 | 24 consecu- < = ae
2 < 5 F F re tive hours. rs EB
Stations. Counties. 2s a oS om @ lsagsthe as = ics P SI E
Sele | so fears Sc = ad ==
& 2 “x \/eeu}| 6 2 EF lsisl5|/ Fe 2
Se = § |S-0] 2 3 a lSiale|a
4 4 Hom as A N |OMIOloO
Southern : ee |p Clg e In.
Mount Vernon..-.| Posey........--.-.|ab| 410) 37 58) 87 54] 4.53 | 3.35 | 29, 30 ay eer dais; 8
Huntingburgh...| Dubois ....-....-.. a@ |..-.| 38 21] 86 59] 6.55 | 3.55 | 29, 30 0 | 7| 0/24) 10
Princetons.=.- <2 Gibsone.- =. =-'- a | 481) 38 23) 87 35) 4.40 | 1.40 | 29, 30 0 \1413) 4 7
Marengo....-.... | Crawford ..-..---. a |....| 38 24) 86 24, 9.85 | 5.70 | 29, 30 0 |10 9/12) 11
Sh). ee ae esear Washington ...... c |.-- | 38 38) 86 7 5.29 | 2.76 | 29, 30 0 |14| 8} 9 10
WG Ea fesecsocssne | Switzerland ...... ab} 525) 38 47| 84 59) 6.17 | 2.60 | 29, 30 0 {11) 7/13) 16
Butlerville.....-.. Jennings ......... a |... | 39 3) 85 33) 6.43 | 4.02 | 29 30 0 |16, 8] 7 13
Worthington ....; Greene -...-...--. c | 540) 39 9} 87 0) 2.90 | 1.86 | 29, 30 OWiedheelisele alt
Seymour. --.-.---. Jackson .-..--.-.. © | 648 38 45) 86 31) 6.14 | 5.00 29) TE) S14 9) 15
Columbus...-.---. | Bartholomew ...-. ¢ |.---| 39 13] 85 56] 4.80 | 2.27 | 29,30 0 | 9,10)12) 12
SUMMA soccsso. = | Ripleywses so cosse c |1018| 39 14) 85 6} 5.72 | 2.60 | 29, 30 0/14) 8} 9} 11
Degonia Springs.| Warrick ....-..--. a |....| 38 6) 87 12) 4.04 | 1.45 | 29, 30 0 |15) 5/11 10
Cannelton ..---.-- Perry 3222 S2.s25- c |..-.| 37 57) 86 42) 4.53 | 1.96 | 29, 30 0 {12} 712) 10
Blue iek-2=.-:. 2-. Clark: 74.2. 5.25.5 a |1000) 38 32) 85 50) 5.55 | 1.78 30 © |1010)11 10
Jeffersonville ... |----d0 ............- eae epee eee 5. 78 | 3.43 | 29, 30 0) 321) 7| 12
North Providence)---.do ..-..-....... be) 575) 38 25) 85 54) 4.78 | 3.27 | 29, 30 (UNG eth aL
1ST cA an (Ea ee .. |...-| 39 30] 86 13) 5.17] 262 -....[ 0 [at] 91) a1
Central: Pl ae wilotie ; |
Hranklina---a-.00|eOnnson .. =. .-2-5- a |.-..| 39 40) 85 3] 4.37 | 1.88 | 29,30 0} 8 023) 15
Connersville. .-... Hayette:c--42-se=- Bailerss| Sone es=5: 6.59 | 2.14 | 29, 30 0 {12} 4:15) 12
Shelbyville ...-.-. Shelby ase: csssce. aga /eee4llooucdollleosaee 4.65 | 2.15 | 29, 30 Wd leel hae alle ocisig
Indianapolis -.--- Marion) a---2- 2 ab} 766] 39 47| 86 11, 5.76 | 2.13 | 29, 30 0} 6 916) 15
Manav -<2s02.--% iets Saeepsoscuate DiGi Brees |eereetare| erates 6.09 | 2.79 | 29, 30 On SS eae 14
Spiceland ..-...-. nT ys e secs aia ab|.---| 32 50) 85 25) 6.43 | 3.18 | 29,30) - 0 | 6/20: 5| 13
Richmond ..----. Wii rnssctis ccm c | 969) 39 51} 84 53} 6.75 | 2.68 | 29, 30 0 j11} 812) 14
Rockville.....--. Rarkee ans sce 525 c | 722) 39 46) 87 10) 5.75 | 2. 60 | 29, 30 0/18) 013) 12
Farmland... .--.-.-. Randolph .......-- a }.---| 40 11] 85 10} 4.15 | 2.44 | 29, 30 0 | 8| 914 7
Whnncieyss-------. Delaware... .....- a Se RA OPIN FBS 25 here mec) a ieee 0 /20) 0.11 8
are SSUES ES See SLE .teen paced = eee) eee 5.62 |) 2.44 | 2 0 11] 614] 12
Northern: : Gt: e
Lafayette--..----. Tippecanoe ....-... cb| 661! 40 27) 86 55) 6.41 | 1.92 29 0 {11} 61 12
Wei par seas oe Carrolles: =22e---= = c | 580) 46 36] 86 41| 7.25 | 3.87 | 29, 30 0} 5/1115) 12
Marion ...--- Se LAM De oa: o-aia.dsjsiec c --| 40 34) 85 21) 3.20 | 1.60 | 29, 30 Ones |e a
Columbia City...) Whitley -........ © |----| 41 9] 85 30) 5.95 | 4.25 | 29, 30 Oats alee o
ANP Ola: Sese-55: Steuben .......--.| a | 683] 41 87] 85 1) 5.25 | 3.85 | 29, 30 0 |10) 516 uf
Lagrange .-..---- Lagrange .......-. Bp |POSO Ale Seo) 26 leeetrets lteter [trate | aerate ae as
radi, Ess A (REA Se BC hae 25) ces | nee 5.70 | 2.91 | 2... 0|8| 815) 9
SUMMARY.
nid Mi Number of
Precipitation. days.
as Greatest in 8
Ba | 24 consecu- : a
=) a , oe B a
q se tive hours. z Boe
Sas ae = aid 3 er
Re 5 g “. FSI | | 2] SB
aS liebe veh | aE) sl Sesevees
2A S += ° 5|=l0 =I
lore ws a lSialS|\ qa
qa 4 A nm IOMOlO
5 In.
{DRAGS COATING Ras Sap egne COE BE DO OnO SB SSne Aaa SrGOse SogpOn Cosa Betis te Oe ean elee 0. | 8 815) 9
Lovie) GAME Ae RA pane oonce dete noe Jee ebeeabeEseSecnsostcoesns Paull abe 2 ls SE oe 0 {11/ 614) 12
eH OEIC OMMUCS oe asses sae omnia soa so ain asm SRY PAP Teen 0 11) 911) 11
isc 2 Ee Se eee a eee ae 5.50 | 2.66 |...... 0 {to' 813) 11
|

68

The wet weather theory here appears broken, and a low temperature
is the only element which appears uniformly through the morths dur-
ing which the Grain Aphis was, in all probability, increasing with the
greatest rapidity. That cool weather should favor the development of
these insects would, if true, bea new factor in the problem, not only
of this, but other species also; and before leaning too heavily upon
this evidence we should cast about for good reasons for this apparent
ambiguity.

There is one very important element in this whole problem which we
have so far left out of consideration, viz, natural enemies. While low
temperature might not favor the development of the grain Aphis, or in
fact, if the effect was slightly adverse, if the outcome was to destroy or
retard the development of parasites, the ultimate result would be to
favor the Aphis.

Tor myself, I can not get rid of the feeling that the indirect action of
the weather of May and June—the action upon the parasites—was
much greater than the direct effect upon the Aphis itself.

According to my field-notes, my earliest observation of the grain
Aphis about La Fayette, lat. 40° 27’ N., during any year, was on April
27, and we have observed them during other years on grain early in
May, in greater abundance than they were the present year on the Ist
of June; yet in the former case no outbreak occurred. Up to the Ist
of June, the Aphis was not exceedingly abundant on grain about La
Fayette.

Hven as late as the 7th their numbers on the heads of wheat were
not so much greater than they had occasionally been in former years
as to cause alarm; yet within ten days they were swarming in these
same fields in myriads. This certainly bespeaks more of the effects of
relief from the pressure of parasitism than from the effect of meterolog-
ical conditions, especially a change from dry to wet weather.

The question may be asked, why, if this be true, were not the para-
sites destroyed in the southern portion of the State, late in May, thereby
relieving the Grain Aphis from this check on their increase, and why
the latter by reason of this relief did not, as the wheat became too ad-
vanced, overrun the oat-fields, as would have at that date naturally
followed. The reply is that such results did follow to a limited extent,
the oats being rather more seriously infested by the Aphis than farther
northward, and the reason why this feature was not more marked was
doubtless owing to the fact that the cold waves of the first and last of
May, especially the latter, were less severe than farther north, and the
effect on the parasites correspondingly less fatal.

The records of the State weather service show that the minimum
temperature of the first four days of May at La Fayette was below the
freezing point; and on the 22d, 23d, 30th, 31st, from 34° to 39° Fahr.
The mean minimum for the entire State for the same month, according
to the same authority, was, for the southern portion, 86° Fahr,, for the
central 32° Fahr., and for the northern 30° Fahr.

69

Buckton (British Aphides, vol. 1, p. 70) has the following to say with
regard to the effect of weather on this and other species of Aphides:

Violent changes of temperature seem much to check the multiplication of the
Aphides. A cold rain, or the outburst of a thunder storm, wili often cause the almost
entire extermination of swarms, and wash them, never to return, from their native
plants. Nevertheless, the close and hot atmosphere before a thunder storm seems to
to be peculiarly suited to their propagation. At such times the winged forms occur
in great numbers and take flight on the gentle winds, which transport them many
miles to other feeding grounds, to become the foundresses of other colonies.

The effect of the parasites on the Grain Louse was simply astonishing,
while their numbers were myriads. Going to the fields of recently har-
vested grain, if one stood in a position to bring the newly made shocks
between himself and the setting sun, be could clearly observe the
swarms of minute Hymenopters arising therefrom and flying away. Be-
sides, the stubble-fields were overrun with lady beetles and their
larve.

Nevertheless, there are good grounds for the belief that the heavy
showers during the latter part of June and early July, in the central
and northern portions of Indiana, washed many young from the heads
of the grain and destroyed them. Besides, either the severe thunder
and lightning which accompanied these storms or the rapidly matur-
ing grain, or both, perhaps, caused the winged adults to betake them-
selves to the oat-fields, where they would probably have caused further
damage had not their relentless foes, the Hymenopters, pursued them
and continued their work of destruction.

It was a common sight early in July, in northern Indiana, to see
adults of the grain-lice attached singly to heads of oats, sometimes with
a few young clustered about them, assuming the form and color so in-
dicative of parasitism. In southern Indiana, late in June, the same
thing was observed on oats, and parasitized adults were also abundant
on the heads of blue-grass, even long distances from grain fields.

In summing up the matter, it may be safely said that wet weather
wii not, of itself, prevent an outbreak of the grain Aphis, or dispel it
after under full headway. It must be borne in mind, however, that cool
wet weather, during May and June, will enable grain plants to sustain
greater drafts on their vitality than will very dry and hot weather. It
is also probably true that a cool temperature during spring and early
summer is either directly or indirectly favorable to the development of
the grain Aphis.

Regarding the life history of the species under consideration we have
never found them in the fields at an earlier date than April 27. From
this time we have an unbroken record of their occurrence up to July 9,
when there is a break in their continuity of appearance until Septem-
ber 1, when full grown apterous females were found on leaves of early
sown wheat. From this latter date we again have an unbroken record
up to December 30. We have also observed the sexes pairing on No-
vember 11 and December 3.

70

We have several times attempted to follow the species through July
and August, but have always failed. Adults placed on various kinds
of grasses in breeding cages invariably died during July. The oceur-
rence of great numbers of wingless parasitized females on heads of
Poa pratensis, long distances from grain fields, strongly suggest this
grass as one of its midsummer food plants. While in this and other
cases we have been unable to rear Aphides on certain plants in breed-
ing cages, yet we do not feel at all certain but that outside, under the
usual environments, nature might accomplish precisely the same object.
The results of breeding cage experiments with Aphides must always be
accepted with extreme caution.

The present year we had young grain growing continually from spring
to November, yet not asingle grain Aphis was to be found on either
this young grain or grasses from July 9 to late in October. Their
limited numbers at this season may, however, be accounted for by the
fact that they were very. nearly exterminated in July by their natural
enemies.

Dr. Cyrus Thomas states that in 1875, in Southern Illinois, he ob-
served winged and wingless specimens on wheat during winter, and
suggests that the species winters over in other forms than the egg.*
There appears to be no good reason for doubting the truth of Dr.
Thomas’ suggestion, especially if applied to mild winters. During the
time we have been located in a wheat-growing district the winters have
been quite severe, so that we have not been able to follow the species
through the cold months. The winter of 188889 was a mild one, but
we were absent in Australia during the entire time.

Siphonophora avene is by no means the only species of Aphides in-
festing the plants of our smaller cereal grains. An undescribed species
of Toxoptera occurs on the leaves of wheat in the latitude of La Fayette,
in June. We have carried this species through July and August on
wheat in breeding cages, found it again in the fields in September, and
from this on until the 22d of December. During the latter month they
continued to reproduce in a room, which, though warm during the day,
the temperature fell below the freezing point every night. I have not
been able to follow the species through the winter months in the fields.

A species of Aphis, undistinguishable from A. mali, appears regularly
every September, and, indeed, sometimes as early as July 17, on young
wheat and rye. From the latter date up to the 12th of November they
have been observed on young grain, giving birth to their young.

Notwithstanding the fact that the species is not distinguishable from
the apple tree Aphis, yet the attempt to transfer them to the apple leaf,
or vice versa, has invariably resulted in failures.

A second Aphis, as yet undescribed, is found about the roots of wheat,
often in sufficient numbers to affect the plants. This species occurs
throughout the entire State, from about the last of September, and

*EKighth Rep. St. Ent. Ill., 1879, p. 53.

71

probably winters over in the fields, in other stages besides the egg, al
though we have never yet found them on grain during the early part
of the year.

An undescribed species of Rhopalosiphum was found on spring grown
volunteer wheat, on July 12, of the present year. <A few days later
aduits, both winged and wingless, and young in all stages of develop-
ment, were found on the heads of orchard grass, Dactylis glomerata,
and also on the heads of spring sown rye, working precisely after the
manner of the true Grain Aphis. This species I was not able to follow
in the fields after about the 10th of August, when it left the heads of
rye, and, though a large number were placed on young wheat plants,
in a breeding cage, all seem to have died.

When this last species was confined on wheat, the same cage and
plants were utilized as had been used in the attempt to carry the true
grain Aphis through the months of July and August. But as none of
the many individuals placed on the plants survived, a large number of
heads of rye thickly infested by the Rhopalosiphum were placed in the
cage. When the first winged adult appeared in this cage, I was nota
little surprised to find it belonged to neither one of the species inten-
tionally placed in the cage, but to a species of Myzus, which could have
only gained admission by being introduced with one or the other or both
of the other species.

By whatever way it gained admission, this Myzus has continued to
throw off generation after generation, and at date of writing, Novem-
ber 25, is still reproducing, although during the entire time—nearly
four months—it has had no other plants except wheat upon which to
subsist. It is undescribed.

Still another species (a Megoura sp.?) was found giving birtn to young,
on leaves of young rye, August 9, but not observed afterwards.

The natural enemies of the Grain Aphis were, as we might expect,
unusually numerous the present year, and especially those belonging
to the Hymenoptera. Of these we had reared, during other years, a
species of Trioxys in quite abundance, and this season the following
occurred in great numbers: Bassus sycophanta Walsh, Aphidius avena-
phis Fitch, Lsocratus vulgaris Walker, Encyrtus webstert Howard, Allo-
tria tritici Fitch, Megaspilus niger Howard, Pachyneuron micans Howard.

Of the Syrphids, Sphaerophoria cylindrica, Xanthogramma emarginata,
and Allograpta obliqua were very numerous. A secondary parasite,
Bassus sycophanta, was in some localities so exceedingly abundant that
nearly all of these useful flies were destroyed.

Two species of Chrysopa were exceedingly useful. In a field of
wheat, near Indianapolis, about the middle of June, these were so
abundant that at every step, from one to four or five individual adults
- would be disturbed, and take wing. The field was but very slightly
attacked by Siphonophora.

72

Of the Coleopterous enemies, the Coccinellida were by far the most
industrious. Of this family probably Coccinella 9-notata, with its larvie,
was the most abundant and generally distributed species.

In a field of newly harvested grain, in La Grange County, within a
radius of 3 feet from where I was standing at the time, fifteen individ-
uals were counted, crawling about among the stubble. Hippodamia
parenthesis followed next, in point of numbers, /7. convergens, H. 13-
punctata and H. glacialis being also found in quite large numbers in
various localities. Megilla maculata was scarcely noticed at all, and
Anatis 15-punctata but once.

Podabrus tomentosus was exceedingly useful in some portions of the
State, while Telephorus carolinus was often quite numerous in the fields
of the central part of the State.

‘

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MISSOURI FOR THE SEA-
SON OF 1889.

' By Mary FE. Mourtrerpt, /Itirkwood, Mo.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

DEAR Sir: I inelose herewith such of my notes and observations on insects as may
be of economic interest, and in this connection desire to express my sincere thanks
for determinations and other assistance, for which I am indebted to yourself and to
others of the official force of the Division.

Yours, very respectfully,
Mary E. MourtTrevpt.

Prof, C., Vi. RILEY, 4

U.S. Entomologist.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The Cabbage Circulio (Ceutorhynchus rape).—A number of my corre-
sponderts in the central part of the State have informed me of the
serious ravages of this insect in their hot-beds and vegetable gardens.
Mr. I’. M. Webster also wrote me, about the middle of May, that it had
appeared in his garden in La Fayette, Ind. As yet [ have not found
it in Kirkwood or vicinity, and as it was with some difficulty that I
obtained specimens for study, I have not been able to make such tests
of insecticides upon it as would be practicable in the field. It promises
to become a general and very considerable pest to the market gar-
dener.

The Wavy-striped Flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata).—This insect ap-
peared in great numbers this year in all parts of the State, being very
destructive to peppergrass, early radishes, turnips, cabbage, and other
Crucifere during the months of April and May. Mr. 8S. W. Gilbert, of
Thayer, in the extreme southern part of the State, reported « loss of
over fifty thousand cabbage-plants from the work of the larve on the
roots. I could scarcely credit the statement that such extensive injury
was attributable to this one insect until convinced by specimens of the
pest, and of the injured plants which were excoriated and channeled on
the surface of the roots from collar to tip, the foliage also being injured

73

74

by the mature beetles. A top-dressing of wood-ashes with a slight ad-
mixture of Paris green was recommended, but I was not informed with
what results. |

In company with this flea-beetle on the leaves of late radishes in our
own garden, I was surprised to find great numbers of a species of
Podura. I could not determine whether it produced any effect on the
radish foliage independently, or why it should have appeared there so
numerously.

Canker-worms (Anisopteryx vernata), except in orchards thoroughly
plowed and harrowed the previous autumn, were quite abundant.
Owing to the very warm winter, and consequent irregularity in emer-
gence of the moths, cotton band traps, applied even as early as the first
of March, did not capture as large a proportion of the females as usual.
On some trees, therefore, the worms were numerous and where not
killed by spraying were quite injurious.

The Plum Curculio, which last year caused scarcely any damage to
the fruits usually affected by it, appeared this season with recruited
ranks; and on peach and plum trees, where spraying was not prac-
ticed, or where the frequent rains washed off the arsenites, a large pro-
portion of the fruit was stung. As confirmatory of the single brooded-
ness of the species, I observed that all the very late peaches, whether
free or cling stones, even when so severely punctured on the surface as
to prevent the development of the fruit, were entirely free from worms,
showing that the cuts had been made for food only.

Aphidide.—It would seem as though all known and unknown species
of this group of insects appeared in myriads throughout the Missis-
sippi Valley, during the spring and summer. In many instances trees
and shrubbery were killed outright by the punctures of their countless
beaks, and the closing of the stomata of the leaves by their sticky
exudations. So badly infested were the elms, maples, lindens, box-
elders, and other shade trees, in and around Minneapolis, Minn., during
the latter part of June that to pause or even pass beneath them was to
endanger one’s apparel from the honey dew that continually dripped
from them, and from the black mold that soon covered trank and
branch and which * smutted” everything touching it. All other insects
seemed to be repelled from the aphis-infested trees; not even a leaf-
roller or leaf-miner could I see. In the September number of INSECT
LIFE, mentioning the prevalence of Aphis avene in the grain-fields of
many of the Middle and Western States, I observe that Missouri was
omitted from the list. The insect, however, occurred quite extensively
in the middle and northern portions of the State, but it appeared
rather late, and but comparatively little damage was done so far as I
have been able to learn.

Syrphus fly, Coccinellid and Chrysopa larve waged a fierce, but, at
first, unequal warfare with the tiny hosts, assisted by Aphelinus and
probably other smaller as well as larger allies, so that as the season

immo

75

advanced the Aphidide gradually disappeared and where seasonable
rains followed the unfortunate plants measurably recovered, though
the growth of trees and shrubbery was much retarded and distorted
by them.

Codling Moth, not seriously destructive in the northern part of the
State, but in the vicinity of St. Louis and in the southern counties, as [
have been apprised by various correspondents, fully 50 per cent. of the
fruit, on trees not sprayed, was destroyed by it.

The Stalk-borer (Gortyna nitela) committed its usual depredations in
the leaf stalks of rhubarb and in shoots of blackberry and peach.
Mr. 8. W. Gilbert wrote me that it was so abundant in his young peach
orchard that in the course of one walk among the trees he cut off twenty-
five or thirty bored shoots. He says:

The worm seems to enter at the second or third bud from the tip and bore through
the heart as far as the body of the tree but does not enter the hard wood.

In the flower garden this insect has done considerable damage by
boring the stalks of dahlias, cosmos, and other flowers.

The Flea-like Negro-bug (Corimelena pulicaria).—Mr. E. 8. Pollard, of
Cameron, northwest Missouri, under date of May 22, sent specimens of
this insect with the information that they were very abundant in his
strawberry beds, and doing much damage by puncturing the bearing
stems, causing the fruit to shrivel. As it was the fruiting season, I
was at a loss to suggest a remedy, since this insect is not susceptible to
the effects of pyrethrum, or other non-poisonous applications. In Kirk-
wood it appeared in great numbers on hollyhocks and various other
flowering plants, for which the easiest remedy seemed to be to jar it
into basins of soap-suds to which had been added a small quantity of
kerosene.

Lygus lineatus appeared here and there on tufts of clover, about the
middle of May, injuring the foliage to considerable extent. It inhabits
the under surfaces of the leaves which it speckies with transparent dots
and small patches which cause the leaves to curl and shrivel. Its broad,
flat larva is of a dull, pale green color, variegated with a few ferrugin-
ous marks and shadings. The pupa is very similar, with the addition
of the wing-pads.

The Tarnished Plant-bug (Lygus pratensis Linn.).—This insect was more
abundant than usual throughout the State, and from numerous corre-
spondents I received bitter complaints of its injuries to apple and pear
buds and to strawberry beds. During the autumnit appeared in con-
siderable numbers on chrysanthemums, on which its peculiarly poison-
ous punctures produce most disastrous effects. I was quite successful
in driving it from our own plants by liberal applications of X. O. dust,
which proved at the same time a good remedy for the brown aphis,
which is such a common and unmanageable pest on these beautiful
flowers. The plants were not injured in the least by the insecticides.

76

The Streaked Cottonwood beetle (Plagiodera scripta) appeared in our
grounds during June on a young Populus, which it threatened to com-
pletely defoliate. The tree being small admitted of thorough drenching
with a plant syringe with the solution of arsenic and ammonia—1 ounce
of arsenic in 1 quart of aqua ammonia—t1 tablespoonful of the solution
to a gallon of water, by which means and a little hand-picking the pest
was so thoroughly exterminated that it did not reappear later in the’
season.

The 12-spotted Diabrotica (D. 12-punctata) was a serious pest during
the latter part of the season, not only. on squash and cucumber vines,
but on late sweet-corn, and especially in its injuries in the flower garden
on the blossoms of roses, dahlias, and cosmos on which it literally
swarmed. To save the flowers it was necessary to make the rounds two
or three times a day and capture or put the beetles to flight. They
were not much affected by any of the milder insecticides, and the arseni-
eal remedies could not very conveniently be applied.

The European Cabbage-butterfly (Pieris rape) acquires one or more
new food plants annually and threatens to become quite omnivorous.
This year it proved in several localities very destructive to nasturtiums
(Tropwolum) both in flower and vegetable gardens. None of its para-
sites have yet appeared, so far as I have been able to ascertain. It
seems to have entirely supplanted our native P. protodice in this locality.
Wishing to obtain some larvie of the latter for a certain purpose, I made
many examinations during the summer of the neigbboring cabbage
plantations, but did not succeed in finding a single one.

SPECIAL STUDIES.
Tuer Sprnacn BEETLE.
(Disonyche collaris Fabr.)

About the middle of April I observed the leaves of spinach in the gar-
den were badly perforated, and, upon examination, I found on the un-
der surfaces numbers of small, dingy, white larvie, evidently of some
Chrysomelid beetle. They reposed in the numerous depressions between
the veins, and a slight shake or jar caused them to drop to the ground.
The insects increased in size and numbers until by the middle of May
all the leaves were badly injured and the gardeners hereabout com-
plained that their spinach was so “ worm eaten” this year that they
could no longer offer it for sale. A few of the samelarve were also found
on young beet leaves, especially of the white and yellow varieties, and
upon the wild Chenopodium album, the latter being, I suspect, the orig-
inal food plant of the insect.

As the larve drop so quickly upon being disturbed, it is not often
that they are observed by the gardener or cook, and the damage was
attributed by many to “some kind of eut-worm.” By plucking the

(7

leaves, carefully, however, as many as fifteen or twenty “grubs” were
sometimes found ona single leaf.

April 24 I collected a large number, which were placed in a jar in
order that their development might be more closely watched. Most of
these were still very small, only from 3 to 4™™ in length. When very
young they merely gnaw the under surface of the leaf, noticeable on the
upper side as small discolored spots, but as they increase in size they
eat entirely through both cuticles, making large roundish perforations.

It is probable that there are but three larval molts, as, in the case of
even the smallest larvee under observation, I was able to note but two,
and infer that one had been passed before they were brought in.

The larger larvie entered the ground the 4th, 5th, and 6th of May,
penetrating to a depth of only from one-fourth to one-half an inch and
inclosing themselves in frail, nearly spherical, cocoons or cells of earth
cemented with a viscid secretion. Larvie, however, were found on
the spinach throughout the month of May. :

May 25 one of the beetles emerged, which proved to be Disonycha
collaris Fabr.; and from this time until after the middle of June bred
specimens continued to come out.

A package of specimens was sent to the Department in case it should
be considered desirable to have drawings made of the different stages
of development. Unfortunately this consignment did not reach Wash-
ington, and I did not learn of the failure until too late to replace it.
Specimens were, however, preserved in alcohol, which retain all the
important characters.

No account of the immature stages of the insect or of its spinach-
feeding propensity is to be found in any work on economic entomology
to which I have access, and I think it has not heretofore been recog-
nized among the pests of the vegetable garden. I therefore subjoin
the following descriptions.

Egg, not observed.

Mature larva, from which the young differ only in size, 9™™ in length, 3 to 4™™ in
diameter; form subcylindrical, tapering slightly each way from middle segments,
which, both in resting and crawling, appears somewhat elevated or ‘hunched up.”
Color a dirty, rather livid white, with a shiny, slightly viscid surface, each segment
produced with ten conical papille—lateral ones largest—each of which terminates
in a minute bristle. Head about one-half the diameter of the thoracic segments,
oblique, circular, corneous, fulvous, paler in front, with dark brown mouthparts and
two dark brown, somewhat elevated, spots on each side. The posterior end of the
body terminates in a dark brown, corneous wing, most pronounced on the dorsal side,
fringed with bristles. This is always appressed to the leaf, and in moving the bris-
tles assist in propulsion. Legs concolorous with general surface, but with fulvous
or dingy brown annulations, the terminal joint being entirely of the dark color.

Pupa, 8"™ in length, 3 in diameter across dorsum, with elytra and wings partly
extended as in other pup of Halticinw ; the legs drawn up and folded close against
the body. Color pearly white in all its parts, acquiring a translucent gray tinge
before the last transformation.

Beetle quite pale at first, gradually acquiring the dark metallic green of the elytra,
buff thorax, dark legs and under surface and other colorational characteristics of the
mature insect,

78

This species seems to be but single brooded, as no young larve were
to be found after the first of June. As, however, the spinach beds
were rooted out before midsummer in all the gardens of the vicinity, I
can not be quite certain upon this point, but could not discover it on
beets or any of the native Chenopodiacee. The insect is one to which
it is difficult to apply insecticides, as the leaves which it attacks lie
close to the earth and it is, as a rule, on the under side.

NEw Rose Siuea.
(Cladius isomera Harris.)

Early in August a friend, residing at St. Charles, Mo., sent me speci-
mens of a Tenthredinid larva that was working on her rose bushes, es-
pecially on climbers. This species, new to me, devours the entire sub-
stance of the leaves, gnawing into them large ragged holes and webbing
them together in the formation of its cocoons, greatly injuriny and dis-
figuring the plants. It is characterized as follows:

Mature larva 12™™ in length, 3™" in diameter across thorax, from
whence it tapers very slightly backward; form cylindrical. Color, pale
bluish-green, surface clothed with tufts of soft gray hairs. Head
opaque, dull whitish green, under the lens densely mottled with pale,
ferruginous, small black dot, above which is a rectangular ferruginous
spot on each side. Twenty legs, concolorous with general surface.
Spins up between folded leaf or betweeu two leaves, in glassy, gummy,
pale brown cocoon, 7™™ long, of an oblong shape, flattened on both
sides against the inclosing leaves and with many gummy threads
spreading in every direction.

Cocoons were formed in rearing cage August 20. Flies appeared
August 29. On the 2d of September I detected two in the act of ovi-
positing, with their well-developed “saws” deeply buried, one in the
midrib, the other in the petiole of a fresh leaf. Two or three minutes
were occupied in the placing of an egg and each fly put in three or four
without pausing to rest. By carefully detaching the surrounding fibers
the egg was revealed. It is oblong, scarcely 1™™ in length, and almost
transparent. These eggs failed to hatch, probably for lack of fecun-
dation.

From what I have learned from my friend, and infer from the habits of
the insect in the rearing cage, there are an indefinite number of broods
during the summer, and where it has become established it is therefore
& more serious pest of the “queen of flowers” than even Selandria
rose. Ido not doubt, however, that by killing off the earliest broods
with drenchings of an infusion of white hellebore, it could be kept
in check and by perseverance in the treatment eventually extermi-
nated. I have not been informed of its occurrence in any other part of
the State,

sf

afer

19

THE WuiTr FRINGE SLUG,
(Selandria ? sp.)

The White Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginica ), in its season one of the
most exquisite of flowering shrubs or small trees, is subject to the an-
nual attack of a medium-sized, spiny slug that perforates the leaves
with small round holes after reducing the greater number of them to
mere lace-work. This species is single brooded, but the parent flies
appear irregularly and larvee may often be found from the latter part
of April until the end of May, in the interval seriously disfiguring,
often killing, the foliage. It lives on the under side of the leaves and
feeds chiefly at night. Full grown larve from 9 to 12™ long, 3"™™ in
diameter across the thoracic segments, form cylindrical, nearly equal
throughout, or tapering slightly backward from thorax. Color green-
ish-white, surface very rugose, dorsum and sides quite thickly beset
with bifid spines, those on dorsum jet black, arising from velvety black
spots and being largest in the subdorsal region; lateral spines pale.
Head about one-half the diameter of thorax, almost spherical, jet black,
immaculate. Legs, 22 in number, concolorous with general surface,
and unusually well developed. With me it has proved a difficult species
to rear, and 1 confined the larvie for several successive seasons without
getting a single fly, and last spring but two from a large number of
larvee developed. In the rearing cage, after ceasing to feed, the larvae
desert the leaves and wander restlessly around the cage, many of them
dying without entering the ground. The few that transform inclose
themselves in very brittle, nearly spherical cells about an inch below
the surface, and as with most other saw-fly larvee that enter the ground
brook no disturbance during the quiescent period. The two flies that
1 succeeded in rearing came out about the middle of April.

Syringing the under sides of the leaves with a strong infusion of
white hellebore, or with Paris green in liquid suspension, wil! kill the
pests, with but little detriment to the foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA AND PUPA OF PALTHIS ANGULALIS.

Among the insects trapped last spring in loose cotton around the
trunks of apple trees were a considerable number of a dingy-colored
noctuid larva, about 1 centimeter in length by 4"™ in diameter, of nearly
equal width throughout, the segments appearing somewhat hunched to-
gether. Surface rough, of an earthy-brown color, palest on dorsum.
Under the lens, especially after being dropped in alcohol, a tinge of
green appears, and the paler cast of the dorsal surface is resolved into
a spreading V composed of minute white stippling. This is especially
pronounced on the posterior segments, where the angle of the V is de-
veloped into a papillate elevation. Head small, much retracted, dark
brown; legs and prolegs, and also to some extent the entire ventral sur-
face, verdigris green, These larvee were found from the 1st to the 5th

80

of April, and, when placed in the cage with opening apple buds, nibbled
a little, but almost immediately changed to pup within a cluster of
webbed leaves. Pupa smooth, dark brown, without any especially dis-
tinguishing characters. Three imagines appeared April 24. They were
of a species which had been long before determined for me as a Palthis
angulalis.

With the idea that possibly the immature stages of this insect had
not previously been observed, I submit the above descriptions.

INSECTICIDES.

White arsenic in ammoniacal solution—1 ounce arsenic to 1 quart aqua
ammonia—one tablespoonfal of this to a gallon of water proved a
failure in the case of most insects, while it still scorched the leaves
somewhat.

A soda solution made on a smaller scale had much the same effect on
the foliage of peach and plum trees, and was not, so far as could be
observed, efticient in protecting the fruit from curculio.

White arsenic in boiling water, the latter being only a partial sol-
vent, in the proportion of an ounce of arsenic to 20 gallons of water,
Was sprayed upon young peach and plum trees without injury to the
foliage. The frequent rains of the late spring and early summer ren-
dered many of the applications futile in the case of the curculio and cod-
ling moth. Paris green in liquid, 1 pound to 100 gallons of water, has
been found the safest and most reliable insecticide for use against
the canker-worm and codling moth. Its effects on insect life seem to
be due not alone to the percentage of arsenic, but to the general com-
bination, while on vegetation it produces less injury than London pur-
ple or any of the solutions of pure arsenic.

In my somewhat limited experience the petroleum emulsions can not
be excelled as a remedy for all species of scale insects, and when ap-
plied according to instructions, do no appreciable injury to trees and
shrubs.

X. O. Dust.—Late in May I received from the Department a package
of this new patented insecticide, with instructions to test its value on
various injurious insects. It is to be applied full strength and claims
to kill by contact and at the same time to be innoxious to man and the
higher aninals and to vegetable life.

June 1.—Applied the powder about 9 o’clock in the morning to Dory-
phora larvee on potato, to late specimens of the rose-slug (Selandria
rose), to Aphis persice on young peach and plum trees, and to Aphis
sp.? on chrysanthemums; also to young cabbages and radishes, on
which flea beetles (Phyllotreta vittata and zimmermanni) were abundant
and destructive. Three hours later visited these plants and noted fol-
lowing results: Rose-slugs considerably affected, showing symptoms of
sickness and paralysis and dropping from the leaves when jarred.
Doryphora larvie not seriously affected, only the smaller ones had
dropped, while some of those nearly grown continued feeding, appar-

81

ently not inconvenienced by the dust that adhered to them. Flea
beetles not killed, but evidently demoralized and deserting rapidly,
Its effects on Aphididw were quite satisfactory. All species to which
it had been applied seemed to be killed or paralyzed and had with-
drawn their beaks from the stems or leaves, and if they had not already
fallen did so upon the slightest jar. At the same time Chrysopa and
Coccinellid larve appeared but ‘little, if any, injured, and were seen
making their way to other hunting grounds on which the game should
not be so pungently spiced. Syrphus-fly larve, however, did not
escape, and all that received much of the dust were killed.

At 7 in the evening more of the powder was distributed on infested
potatoes and on all species of Aphis that could be reached.

June 3.—The effects of the Dust on the Colorado potato-beetle are by
no means so immediate and thorough as claimed in the circulars of the
manufacturers. Repeated applications would seem to be necessary to kil]
the larvze, while according to my experience the perfect beetle will live
for days thoroughly dusted with the powder and inclosed in a box. At
the same time it certainly does protect the plants to which it is applied,
especially while fresh, by acting as a repellant.

September 10.—Tested the Dust on larvie of the cabbage butterfly
which are beginning to be found again in cabbage fields. Used the
insecticide in the open air, also on a few full-grown larvee placed in
jar, under muslin cover.

September i5.—Plants dusted seem almost entirely free from worms,
but several of the larvie confined completed their first transformation
without apparently receiving any injury from the powder.

September 21.—Repeated these tests with powder taken from the bot-
tom of the can and found that young Pieris larvee succumbed to its
effects in two or three hours, while the larger larve often lived more
than twenty-four hours, not eating, however, in the mean time, but
lingering in a lethargic state until dead.

October 19.—Renewed these experiments on the latest brood of worms
which are now to be found of all sizes on cabbages, turnips, and nastur-
tiums. The immediate effect of the powder is to cause the larve to
cease feeding aud toss themselves about uneasily, making efforts to
free themselves from the irritating substance. Two hours later all were
in a lethargic state, many lying upon their sides in the folds of the leaves
and on the ground. They would squirm when touched, but gave no
other sign of life. Twenty-four hours later all the small larvie were
dead; the others that had passed the second molt still lived, but were
inactive with a sickly color. Forty-eight hours afterward all were
dead. From these tests and experiments I conclude that this X. O.
Dust may be classed with reliable remedies for this and probably other
Lepidopterous cabbage pests, its value being nearly equal to that of
Pyrethrum powder.

This remedy was also used on Tarnished Plant-bug with the effect of

23479—No, 22——6

82

driving it from the dusted plants, although bugs confined in a box with
it would survive several days.

The little Halticus pallicornis, which was this year very troublesome,
not only in the clover fields and vegetable gardens, on beans, cucumbers,
etc., but was especially destructive to asters, was also routed by having
this powder puffed on the under side of the leaves; the young bugs were
killed and the mature ones driven away.

The Dust was further tested on a few late cut-worms, Agrotis saucia,
Celena renigera, and some other species which I can not name, but
without much effect, as the powdered worms in the course of an hour
all crawled out of the deep box in which they had been confined and
escaped.

All hairy larvee, as inthe case of Pyrethrum, seemed insensible to its
effects, so also did the striped and twelve-spotted cucumber beetles and
other mature Coleoptera and the squash-bug.

There are quite a number of injurious insects on which I did not have
opportunity to use it, and on which I hope to experiment with it another
season.

From my experience with it this season I should rank it among the
second-class insecticides, producing similar effects, but not quite equal
to the California Buhach, but still valuable for use against certain in-
sects on which it is not safe or expedient to employ the arsenates.

NOTES ON PHYLLOXERA RILEYI FOR 1889.

June 15.—Received instructions through Mr. Howard to coilect and
prepare specimens of Ph. rileyi in all its stages in fluid and in balsam
on microscopic slides.

The post-oaks (Q. obtusiloba), on which the insect chiefly occurs on
the place, were found to be less abundantly infested than during other
years. The first leaves which have attained their growth and are begin-
ning to toughen are, however, considerably speckled with their punet-
ures, especially along the midrib and principal veins. Very few besides
the pale yellow, smooth, elongate forms are noticeable.

Put up a number of infested leaves in alcohol reduced about 60 per
cent. with water. (These I afterwards learned from Mr. Howard did not
keep, the alcohol being perhaps too strong). I also prepared slides.

July 22.—Have just returned from Minnesota. Sent slides on to
Washington. Examined leaves of post-oak around home, but found no
winged Phylloxera, and very little change in the specimens on the leaves
during the last month.

Among other insects preying on the aphis is Gcanthus latipennis in
noticeable numbers, one or more on the under side of nearly every leaf.
They are now nearly full-grown larve. The puzzle is how they come
to be on the oaks, when I have never found their punctures in the twigs
and when some of the trees are at quite a distance from raspberry or
grape vines, in which they mostly deposit their eggs.

July 29.—After driving about the country in several directions I

SO

found on the roadside about a mile from town some post-oak sprouts
on which Phylloxera abounded in all stages of development. The pale
smooth variety was most numerous on the older and tougher leaves,
while the darker, tubercled larvee and pseudo-pupe and a few winged
specimens crowded the unfolding second growth. The young leaves
were much curled and distorted by their innumerable punctures. The
aphids were preyed upon by the larve of the green Chrysopa and of
one or two small Coccinellids; the deep red larve of asmall'Chrips was
especially active and numerous among them, as also was the whitish
gray larva of a small bug (No. 3 of my consignment of October 2).

Put up specimens on slides and sent some alive to Mr. Howard in
tubes ; also some in alcohol. I also placed winged individuals in three
different sizes of tubes and on clean leaves in water in a glass jar.

August 3.—Notwithstanding all my care all the winged lice perished
without leaving any eggs, to my great disappointment. Probably the
extreme heat of the weather was unfavorable. Cleaned and disinfected
my tubes and put in fresh winged forms and closed the tubes with loose
cotton instead of cork to prevent excess of moisture.

August 3.—Another failure. All the specimens dead and molded
and no eggs. I can not understand it.

August 15.—Made another excursion out into the country and suc-
ceeded in obtaining a very few. Nearly all the young oaks so badly
infested two weeks ago are entirely cleared, probably by the migration
of the winged forms and the destruction of eggs and wingless forms by
predatory insects. The tender shoots are also killed and stand up stiff
and dry; the drought being severe, there was no opportunity for them
to recover from the attacks of the aphis.

On the lower mature leaves the insect still abounds in its wingless
forms, mostly the flat, pale, smooth variety. Put seven of the winged
aphis into a very small tube with a bit of mature oak-leaf and closed it
tightly with common cork. (The rubber corks kill all insects inclosed
with them very shortly, probably with their sulphurous emanations.)
Also put about a half dozen on growing sprouts of oak, out of doors,
but which seemed to be entirely free from infection, inclosed under fine
muslin cover.

August 17.—Have at last succeeded in getting nine eggs in the small
tube. These eggs do not differ much from those of the ordinary apter-
ous form. On close comparison they seem rather more opaque and of
a deeper yellow tint than the latter, but even in these particulars there
is some variation. Each individual produces from one to three eggs;
and usually perishes beside them.

August 21.—Eggs still healthy and beginning tc show segmentation
with two red eye-spots on the cephalic end. There is evidently a slip-
ping backward of the thin pellicle that incloses them, although as yet
no motion is discoverable. The eggs were all laid on the glass and not
on the portion of the leaf inclosed with them.

August 22,—Three Phylloxera have hatched from the eggs and one

84
has crawled quite a distance. The egg-shells or pellicles are left as an
almost transparent round dot at the place of hatching. Nearly all the
substance of the egg seems to be absorbed into the young aphis. In-
serted a bit of fresh young leaf, but they do not seem to be attracted to
it, and remain crawling on the glass.

August 23.—Two more have hatched. They appear all alike so far as
can be ascertained with a lens. Three were sacrificed for microscopic
examination. Have the specimens under almost constant observation,
but am not able to find them pairing or exhibiting any sexual attrac-
tion. Neither can I induce them to feed on even the tenderest bits of
leaf. They appear precisely like the parthenogenetic forms through
my lens, which is not sufficiently powerful to resolve the mouth parts -
and genitalia.

September 1.—Only two still alive and noeggs. Transferred the sur-
vivors as carefully as possible to fresh Jeaf and placed in clean tube.

Examined inclosed leaves out of doors but could detect neither eggs
nor larvie. It is an almost impossible task to keep track of such micro-
scopic creatures in the open air.

The wingless lice have now become quite abundant on all our post-
oaks. I do not find them on the white oak proper, but as I have ex-
amined them almost daily since the middle of July I am confident that
none of the winged individuals occurred on any of the oaks on the
place. I believe they never do occur in any numbers except on the
more succulent growth of sprouts where living trees have been cut.

September 10.—All my progeny of winged lice have perished without
leaving a single egg. Made another excursion into the country but
obtained only two or three winged individuals which I put in tube, but
of which I do not entertain much hope.

On one of the leaves out of doors, isolated about a month ago, I find by
critical examination a very few minute specimens which are probably
the progeny of the winged forms inclosed. Put some in balsam, though
I can not see that they differ from the other wingless young on exposed
leaves.

September 15.—No success with the last inclosure in tube.

October 25.—Have had one or two quite hard frosts. Leaves all
turned in color, and Phyllovera becoming very active, congregating
along principal veins and migrating on to the twigs. Their insect ene-
mies have mostly disappeared and I notice that eggs are more plentiful
than usual on the leaves.

From my observations this year I incline to the opinion that the
winged form is necessary merely for the spread of the species, and that
the young from the eggs of this form are not necessarily true-sexed
individuals, although it is possible that these may occur without any
especial regularity from the eggs of both winged and wingless forms.

Another year, if nothing happens to prevent, I will try to have some
oaks in flower pots for more convenient and natural colonization of the
Phyllovera, and for greater ease in examination.

REPORT ON CALIFORNIA INSECTS.
By ALBERT KOEBELE, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL,

ALAMEDA, Cau. October 25, 1889.

Str: I herewith submit my report npon observations made and work done since
my return from Australia.

After returning to Alameda on April 15, some time was taken up in writing out
my reports upon work done in Australia, and also in assisting in raisfag and distrib-
uting in the northern part of this State the Australian Ladybird-enemy of the Icerya.
This Ladybird does remarkably good and speedy work everywhere. As usual my chief
work has been the breeding and studying of all insects, injurious and otherwise, that
have come under my notice, the special notes on which will accompany material that
will be sent in.

Respectfully,

ALBERT KOEBELE.
Prof. C. V. RILry,

U.S. Entomologist.

THE MADRONA TREE BORER.
(Polycaon confertus Lec. )

This destructive beetle occurs toa greater or less extent every spring
and summer upon various fruit-trees, vines, etc., boring into the fresh
wood and destroying it. During my stay in the Santa Cruz Mountains
the past summer they were observed everywhere, and most abundantly
during May and June. On any dead tree, as soon as the leaves begin
to fade, this beetle may be found, though always most abundantly upon
the Madrona tree (Arbutus menziesii). Old trees of this species, such as
have been allowed to lay on the ground for a year or two, are always
completely perforated with holes from which these beetles have made
their exif. In cutting through, one finds the wood nothing but mines
produced by the larvie, the mines generally running lengthwise, but often
crossing each other. The Madrona tree seems to be the ordinary if not
the only plant in which the beetle breeds. Notwithstanding that the
mature insect bores in almost any kind of fresh wood, and ‘especially
favors such as has been somewhat injured by the hot sun, the larva is

85

86

not, or has never yet been, found in such places. It is the general be-
lief here that it breeds in the wood of Oak, yet, so far as my experience
goes, its larvee are never found in other than the Madrona wood. It is
very remarkable, in view of the above, that they should live and trans-
form within apples from which this beetle has been bred.

On August 2, 1887, at St. Helena, Cal., a large number of thé nearly
grown apples upon trees in a private garden were observed to be dead
and yellowish brown. One of these, taken to Alameda and exam-
ined, proved to contain a smail whitish Coleopterous larva. This was
living and thriving on the dead and dry apple until April 16, 1888,
when it transformed to a pupa, from which the mature beetle issued on
April 28. Since then no infested apples have been observed, nor have
I seen any of the large fruit in the condition described above. The
work of these beetles was witnessed in the Santa Cruz Mountains May
25, 1888, chiefly upon grapes and plums, yet they will attack olives and
other trees as well. In many eases the shoots of grapes are cut off
entirely and fall to the ground, where either one or both sexes may be
found at work. In one case I noticed a plum tree the northern branches
of which weré entirely destroyed. The beetle will often make several
holes into the center of a branch before entering; no doubt being com-
pelled to leave on account of the copious flow of sap. Seven such holes
were found in one branch, in the lowermost of which the beetle had
entered and formed a tunnel of about 3 inches in length. On the other
branches, aside from the many holes started, but two tunnels were
found and no insects were present. This will show that one of these
beetles alone is capable of disfiguring an entire tree, while two or three
specimens can destroy a tree.

As a remedy, the recommendation of clearing and burning the dead
Madrona wood alone would certainly have a most remarkable effect
in reducing the numbers of this beetle.

(Chrysobothris mali Horn.)

The larva of this Buprestid is very destructive to currant bushes.
It is found in the Santa Cruz Mountains, at least in such numbers as
to destroy all the plants. Indeed, it is impossible to raise this fruit in
that district on account of this insect. They have not been observed
as yet in the valleys, where in their place d?geria tipuliformis Linn. is
ore numerously represented upon this plant than in the hills. As
mauy as fifteen or even twenty Buprestid larve may be found within a
single plant, the stems of which naturally die and break off near the
ground. The beetle is found most abundantly during June and July,
when they can be seen resting on the plants generally near the ground
during sunshine. It is then that they lay their eggs on the lower part
of the branches and close to the ground where most of the larvie are
found. Eggs are also placed at a height of 2 feet, or even more, ac-
cording to the size of the plant, and below the ground to the depth of

87

several inches. Where the larvie are very numerous the plants will die
before the larve are grown, and most of the latter will perish; only
such as are situated near or below the ground will survive. Empty
pup of two species of parasites were observed within the burrows of
the larvze, both apparently belonging to the Ichneumonide.

Asa remedy, the collecting of the beetles may be recommended. Dur-
ing early morning and evening they may be found either on the cur-
rant bushes or the surrounding trees, almost always at rest on and
within dry and dead leaves from which they can be shaken into an
umbrella. During their operations upon the plants in the day-time itis
difficult to get near them as they are very quick on the wing and ex-
ceedingly shy. Collecting and burning the infested plants during
winter, and also the whitewashing of lower parts of plants may have a
good effect; this should be done about the end of May.

(Diabrotica soror Lec.)

This beetle occurs occasionally in such numbers as to become ex-
ceedingly destructive to fruits and vegetables. As yet the earlicr stages
have not been studied. All attempts to get eggs and larve have so
far been a failure on my part as wellason the part of other entomol-
ogists: A large number of the beetles were kept in confinement for
weeks with various living plants without any results. The larva, without
doubt, will be found to have the same habits as the other species of the
the group,—feeding upon roots of various plants. Fortunately this
insect is preyed upon by a dipterous larva, which without doubt de-
stroys the greater number of them, in certain years at least. As early as
1886, while at Los Angeles, Mr. Alexander Craw, of that city, showed
both Mr. Coquillett and myself the larva infesting this beetle. I did
not succeed in breeding the same until June last, and Mr. Coquillett re-
ports recently of his partial success in this particular.*

THE TENT-CATERPILLARS.
(Clisiocampa spp. )

From year to year these worms become more and more numerous
upon fruit trees. Mr. Stretch in his paper on the genust cites six species
as occurring on this coast,—C. californica Packard, as feeding upon
Quercus agrifolia; C. fragilis, Stretch, from Nevada; C. constricta,
Stretch, on Quercus conomensis; CO. strigosa, Stretch, from Yosemite
Valley; C. erosa, Stretch, from Oregon; and C. thoracica, Stretch, as
feeding upon Willow. The genus, however, seems to be far more nu-
merously represented. In addition to this I have bred one species from
the Sierra Nevada Mountains upon Ceanothus and wild cherry (Prunus
demissa); a second species was found to be very abundant in Los An-

“Insect Life, Vol. II, No. 3, p. 74.
t Papilio, Vol. I, No. 5, pp. 63-69.

88

geles County upon a species of Oak ; a third species was bred in the Santa
Cruz Mountains feeding originally upon Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, but it
was extremely abundant also upon fruit-trees, especially prunes and
plums. J also found eggs of one of these moths in Shasta Valley upon
a species of wild Currant. Of all the species the most abundant upon
fruit-trees was C. thoracica, originally feeding upon Willow. This
species defoliated most of the trees in Napa and Sonoma Counties last
year. On my visit to Sonoma County this month (October), I found
numerous old skins still present everywhere upon apple trees. They
were either C. thoracica or C. constricta,—these two larvee resembling
each other somewhat. Fortunately the eggs as well as the larvie are
preyed upon by numerous parasites. Professor Rivers, of Berkeley, in-
formed me that of one egg-mass of C. constricta each egg produced a
small hymenopterous parasite. I have myself bred something similar
from egg-masses on Ceanothus cordulatus. The old remedy* will be
found best, viz, cut off and burn the egg-clusters during the winter,
and collect and burn the nests in spring.

CUT WORMS.

Various Noctuid larvie are usually numerous and destruetive to
orchards, vineyards, grain, and vegetables during spring, attacking the
young foliage, twigs, and even fruit of trees. while in vineyards they
often defoliate large numbers of the vines. As yet 1 have never been
able to obtain any specimens of these larve from the injured field for
breeding. Dr. Behr, of San Francisco, has shown me one larva that
had been received from Santa Cruz, where they injure the vines ; he did
not, however, succeed in breeding them and the species is as yet not
known. The larvee bore the closest resemblance to those ot Agrotis
messoria Harris (cochranii Riley),t yet many of these Agrotid: larve
resemble each other so closely that their distinction can not be made
with any certainty. A similar insect, if not the same, was bred from
the eggs. (No. 378k). During September and the first of October,
1887, many of these moths came to sugar at Alameda, and were at the
time the most common of all so collected. A number of them were con-
fined in boxes but no eggs could be obtained until the middle of Octo-
ber. The eggs were of a straw-yellow color at first and after ten days
changed to a dark grayish color, showing that the embryo had come to
maturity. The young larvie, however, did not come out before the
rains set in, December 8, at which date they began to issue and con-
tinued to appear into January, 1888. They were kept and fed in a room
and attained full growth in about five weeks, pupating at the end of
March and issuing as moths one month later. This peculiarity of
hibernating either in egg, larva, or pupa state during the dry season
has been observed in numerous other insects in California, which are

*Professor Riley’s Third Missouri Report, p. 120. _t Ibid, pp. 74-76,

nm EARS

89

dependent upon such plants as are dried up from July until the rains
set in, generally October or November. I will give here the history of
one of these: . ‘ ;

Agrotis crenulata, Smith.—On September 29, 1887, one pair of these
moths was found about 10 p. m. in coitu on the upper side of a leaf of
Quercus agrifolia at Alameda. The female began to lay her eggs the
following day and continued until October 10, after which she died. On
counting it was found that the number of eggs was 1,026. The young
larvie began to issue on October 12. They are, when full grown, very sim-
ilar to those of A. clandestina,* for which they were taken before being
bred. Naturally all such larvie grow very slowly during the winter
months, and reach their full growth about March, when they may be
found most anywhere amongst grass, grain, or vegetables. Their chiet
food, however, consists of grasses. From larve that entered the ground
in breeding cages on March 12, the first moth came out on April 16.
In a state of nature it would be about the same probably, allowing for
a week’s variation either way in the appearance of the moths according
to the situation of the chrysalids. The moths are tound from April to
July, being most abundant during May and June, at least in localities
where food is sufficient. In the Santa Cruz Mountains they were ob-
served to appear soon after dark upon the flowers of d/sculus californicus
(Buckeye), and could be seen in numbers every night until the flowers
disappeared ; in other localities, where flowers and natural food are not
so abundant, they may retire sooner into their hibernating quarters.
During June, 1886, | found them very abundant in a deep, shady cafion
in Los Angeles County, amongst leaves, flying up at my approach and
settling down a short distance off. On my visit to the same locality
one month later not one moth was seen on the wing. But if at this
time one searches closer down amongst the dead and damp leaves they
will be found in a semi-dormant state. After being exposed a short
time they soon fly off to a dark corner and disappear again. In such
condition they were observed all last sammer in the Santa Cruz Mount-
ains. In open country, distant from woods, they may occasionally be
found hidden under or between boards or in old stumps, rubbish, ete.
They preter, however, to hide in the woods amid the dead leaves found
there. As in other parts the warm rays of the sun in the spring awaken
many of the hibernating insects, so here the first rains in fall will do
‘the same, especially with the Noctuide.

NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE CODLING MOTH AND ITS ENEMIES
AND PARASITES IN CALIFORNIA.

During my repeated visits to the Santa Cruz Mountains the past sum-
mer some observations were made upon the Codling Moth and its ene-
mies which may be of interest. The moth as a rule is double-brooded
in that locality, and no doubt will not differ in its habits to any extent

* Professor Riley’s First Missouri Report, p. 79.

90

throughout California. They may appear somewhat earlier in the val-
leys. From dates noted in 1887 some of the moths were out on April
22 at Santa Clara, and one larva found then did not produce the moth
until May 10. Two days after this they were also observed flying at
Alameda. One larva found under bark of pear tree at Los Angeles on
July 19, 1886, and evidently of the first brood, did not produce the moth
until the end of April the following year. During August, 1887, the
moths were abundant at Alameda; on the 2d of the month a cocoon
was found about 8 feet from the trunk of the tree, under a fallen
apple, from which the larva had issued. The moth from this appeared
on the 13th of the same month. Two days later, on a hot and sunny
day, while walking througk an old apple orchard at 10 p. m., moths
started up either from the trunk or lower leaves of nearly every tree
and settled down again, generally higher up and on the upper side of
leaves exposed to the sun.

Larvie and chrysalids were found in abundance the same day, and
from one of the latter a parasite issued on August 26. This proved to
be Pimpla annulipes. Up to September 17 moths issued from the chrys-
alids; one larva that pupated during this month did not, however, pro-
duce the moth until December 10. During 1888 the first moth was ob-
served at Alameda as early as March 17, sitting on the upper side of
an orange leaf exposed to the sun. But very few of the apple trees
were in bloom at this time. Two days later moths began to issue in the
house from larvie collected the previous December. Several issued up
to March 28. The present season the moths were not observed in any
numbers before May 25 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The fruit at this
time was about 1 inch in diameter. From this date on until the end of
June there could be seen at dusk from 25 to 50 on each tree. The
place is situated on the east side of the hills. About a half hour after
the sun disappeared behind the mountains, and while it was yet visi-
ble for nearly that length of time on the opposite hills, the moths be-
gan to appear, flying with quick movements around the trees, chiefly
near the top, and settling down again upon the leaves or fruit from
time to time. This was kept up until towards dark when they became
less numerous. During this time both sexes may be readily collected
with a long butterfly-net. Ihave taken many near the ground on the
lower leaves and often distant from fruit trees. By their peculiar flight
they are easily distinguished from any other species of moths.

About the middle of August, at which time some of the fruit had
already been taken off, thesecond brood made its appearance, yet at this
time many larvee could still be found within the infested fruit, and from
material collected then and taken to Alameda, moths came out in num-
bers until September 12. I was informed that Bartlett pears taken
from the trees when the second brood had made its appearance were
all sound, not one in twenty being wormy. On examination, however,
I found the opposite to be the case. About one pear in twenty only was

~~ 9

i.e

ot

found without any eggs or traces of young larvie of Carpocapsa, the
second brood having already begun its destructive work. From these
few notes it is evident that with a little care early fruit can be kept
almost free from the attacks of the worms, while with later sorts this
becomes more difficult, and such fruit generally is rendered useless by
the attacks of the second brood, and is fed to pigs.

HEnemies.—Enemies of the Codling Moth appear to be quite abundant
in California already. I have indeed been surprised in finding minute
Chalcids infesting the eggs.* These are not numerous, and had not
been observed on eggs of the first brood, yet they may have been pres-
ent. In fourteen boxes of Bartlett pears examined on August 20 and
21, about seventy parasitized eggs were found, and about an equal
number from which the parasites had issued; no doubt some were over-
looked. But few of the pears showed traves of worms of the first brood,
yet nearly all contained eggs of the second brood and very often more
than one. As many as eleven eggs were found upon a single pear.
One was found on the stem, six on the pear surrounding the stem, two
on the upper half and the other two near the calyx. Of these, two con-

tained parasites, one of which had issued, two were still fresh, and the
rest had hatched. Ishould note here that the pears had been taken off
three days previously. In other pears with less eggs, as many as three
and even four young larvee were found. The eggs found upon pears
were most numerous near the stem, the others almost invariably on the
upper surface of fruit, and but very few on the lower part or calyx. It
was also observed that the young larve very rarely enter the fruit
where an egg is deposited, but generally somewhat lower down, and in
many instances instead of going to the center they leave their first mine
after a few days and enter at the open calyx. On apples it appears
they will oftener enter the fruit from the sides.

Many of the eggs of the first brood were destroyed by some enemy,
what I could not learn. They had a brownish and shrunken appearance,
and it is probable that they were destroyed by the Chrysopa larvie,
which were present in numbers upon the trees at the time. With the
exception of these and the Coccinellid larve no other insects were ob-
served in numbers likely to destroy the eggs. This was not observed
to be the case with eggs of the second brood, at which time the pre-
daceous larve mentioned had disappeared. The other three parasites
bred during the summer are all from the chrysalids. The most efficient
destroyer of Carpocapsa, however, is a small bat which is always in
search of the moths, appearing somewhat later than the latter, but
keeping up its chase until dark, when apparently the moths cease their
flight and the bats go off in search of other food. Every night during
June as many as six of these bats were to be seen flying around an
isolated apple tree upon which there were a large number of the moths,
not only taking the Carpocapsa on the wing, but very often darting at a

“This parasite is a species of the genus Trichogramma.—C. V. R.

92

leaf to get the resting moth. Of not less value is the larva of a Neu-
ropterous insect, a Raphidia, which is present in numbers. Its long
and flat structure together with its activeness enables it to hunt up any
larva that may be present under bark or in crevices of the tree.

Not only is the larva devoured but the chrysalis likewise, and with-
out doubt often the mature moth. It was indeed very hard work to
find any larve or pup of Carpocapsa upon trees where the larve of
Raphidia were present, and the latter occurred upon nearly every tree.
As arule, not more two or three could be found upon one tree by break-
ing off all the loose bark and examining the crevices, and often none at
all. These larve are always on the lookout for food, crawling up aud
down the trees, but being chiefly concealed by the bark. Away from
the trunk of the tree, however, more larvee are found. An old and partly
decayed stump or piece of wood lying anywhere near an infested tree will
always be full of them; and, as has before been pointed out, many of
the larvie of the first brood, at least, spin up in the dry ground. I will
again refer to the Dermestid larvee mentioned before, not only as de-
stroying the pupa of Carpocapsa but likewise the larva, during the
summer season at least. Many apparently sound cocoons when cut
open will be shown to contain larvie and skins of some of these beetles.
The contents have been devoured while there is no visible hole in the
cocoon, showing that the larva had entered while young. This alone
would not be sufficient evidence, but I have also found small larvae of
Trogoderma tarsale within the cocoons, and with the larvie, dead and
living, of Carpocapsa.

In two instances the half dead Carpocapsa larvie showed small holes
in their sides which had partly healed up. These no doubt were made
by the Dermestid larvie, which as a rule feed upon dry insect remains,
and only kill living larvie gradually by feeding upon the skin only at
first. In many cases they were found with larvee that had recently
died, having already undergone several molts within the cocoons of the
last larvee. They are very abundant, especially around Alameda, as
many as four or five large larvie being often found within the cocoon and
feeding upon the dead pupa of Leucarctia acrwa. In almost any old
egg-mass of Orgyia they are found. Whether they will feed upon the
eges or not I have as yet no evidence. Insect collections are not as
much troubled by these beetles in California, especially in the valleys,
as in the Eastern States. I have often observed them, however, to in-
fest collections in the mountainous districts. A coleopterous (Clerid ?)
larva was recently found in the Sonoma Valley feeding upon Carpo-
capsa, but has not yet been bred. Numerous Carabid beetles were
always found at the base of trees awaiting their chance to get a bite at
the Carpocapsa larvie. The most numerous of these were Pterostichus
californicus Dej. and Calathus ruficollis Dej. A bright light with a
white sheet below and behind was kept burning near the orchard in the
Santa Cruz Mountains while the moths were abundant. One female

Yd

only was caught in this about one hour after dusk. Never before dur-
ing my fourteen years of collecting moths with lights, sweeps, etc.,
have I, within my memory, collected a single Carpocapsa.

THE HESSIAN FLY.
(Cecidomyia destructor.)

This insect has been quite abundant and destructive to grain in the
central part of the State during the season. A Mt. Eden correspond-
ent wrote to the Oakland Engineer, May 2, as follows:

The Hessian fly has done irreparable damage to the grain in this vicinity. There
has been hardly a field that has not been attacked. The prospect for a large barley
crop is very good. The wheat crop will be a comparative failure. What is left from
the Hessian fly is being destroyed by the rust.

Personally, until this spring, I have had no opportunity of making
any observations upon this insect. On May 26, while in the Santa
Cruz Mountains, it was noticed that some of the barley had fallen
to the ground. On examination, puparia of the Hessian fly were found
in places where the straw was fallen. The insect was found at the time
in all stages from young larve to puparia, and some of the latter had re-
cently hatched. From puparia collected at the time, flies made their
appearance until the beginning of July. Other puparia coilected
about July 1 have not hatched up to date, and the insects are still in
-the larval state within the puparia. A few specimens of parasites
(Merisus destructor) were bred from these, and from the same straws
several specimens of an Jsosoma.

During September, 1587, I found puparia, which I took to be those of
the Hessian fly, on two species of grasses near here. These were for-
warded to Washington, where they arrived in good condition, as stated
in letter of October 3d, and the grasses were determined as Elymus
americanus and Agrostis sp. Again during the summer I found the
puparia upon several species of grasses in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
I shall be prepared next season to give a list of grasses upon which the
Hessian fly is found, and also more accurate notes as to the habits of
this insect, which, as it would appear, is a very old resident of this coast.

JOINT-WORMS.
(Isosoma sp.)

These insects have been abundant and destructive in most wheat-
growing sections, and they will continue to be numerous until stricter
measures are employed for burning the straw and stubble.

LOCUSTS,

These did not appear in any large numbers except in the northern
part of the State and, from some accounts, in Oregon. On my visit to
Shasta Valley, Siskiyou County, at tbe end of July, locusts were no-

94

ticed in large numbers north of Edgewood and throughout that valley.
At Montague I was informed that, on account of the unusually dry sea-
son and the crickets and grasshoppers, the crop had been an entire
failure in that district. Around this latter place no vegetation except
a few sage-bushes were visible. Along the creeks, where a little grass
and vegetation was still growing, the locusts were swarming. Dissos-
teira obliterata Thos. was abundant throughout the valley. Even in
places where for a half a mile not a shrub or any dry plant was visible
they appeared to be happy, but were seen abundantly along water-
courses and places still affording some food. Melanoplus cinereus Scudd.
was more numerously represented in places where food was still to be
had, even if dry. But few specimems of MM. femur-rubrum DeGeer
were seen, while M. packardii Scudd. was the most abundant of all,
feeding upon grasses along streams, and in all the meadows, where it
outnumbers ail the other species put together. Here they were often
observed, always the female, caught in the web of a largespider, which
feeds upon them.

M. devastator Scudd. was not met with throughout the summer, while
Camnula pellucida Scudd. was only seen occasionally in the places vis-
ited. Another numerous species in the Shasta Valley was Hesperotettix
pacificus Bruner, but this was found feeding upon sage-bushes only.
About eight other species of locusts were found at Montague, of which
Dissosteira carolina Linn., Trimerotropis fallax Sauss., Conozora, wal-
lula Seudd., and Stenobothrus coloradus Thos., were the most abundant.
Two species of large crickets have been very numerous at Montague
also joining in the destructive work—Anabrus simplex (?) Hald., and the
other a species of Steiroxis. The common cricket, Gryllus luctuosus
Serv., was abundant in the central part of the State, often coming in
large numbers into cities and into houses.

REPORT ON NEBRASKA INSECTS.
«(es Ea

By LAWRENCE BRUNER, Special Agent.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

LINCOLN, NEBR., Norv. 20, 1889.

Sir: In presenting a report on the insect injuries in Nebraska for the past spring
and summer, it isnot my intention to mention all the species that have been observed
in the act of depredating. Neither do I expect to enter upon a discussion of their
life histories. To do this would require altogether too much time and occupy con-
siderable more space than could be allotted to such insects as have been repeatedly
described in your various reports upon injurious insects. Suffice 1t, then, for me to
mention briefly a few of the species that most attracted my attention, either by their
appearance in unusual numbers, their more than ordinary injuries, or by their pecul-
iar mode of attack.

During the year most of the well-known species that are always present in more or
less injurious numbers, were noticed at their regular seasons of appearance. These
were, of course, expected; and, unless either very numerous or scarce, were but little
noticed. Aside from these, few new or original observations were made during the
active season; but several new enemies were observed to act in connection with old
and well-known forms.

Since my last report, some time has been devoted tothe Acrididw of North America,
in the continuance of our work upon that family of the order Orthoptera. The latter
work was chiefly in the line of looking up the matter of distribution, the character-
izing of new material, and the massing of such additional species as could conven-
iently be obtained without expense to the Department. Some little was also done in
this connection in the study of several minor locust outbreaks in different parts of
the country, as, for example, in Utah, Minnesota, and the White Mountain district of
the New England States. Of these different outbreaks you already have been ad-
vised; Mr. Otto Lugger, of the Minnesota Experiment Station, reporting on that of
his State; Mr. C. L. Marlatt, that of New Hampshire, and myself upon that of Utah.

LAWRENCE BRUNER.

Prot..C Via RILEY,

U. S. Entomologist.

FALSE CHINCH BUGS.

Karly in the year, during the month of May, two or threespecies of small
hemipterous insects began to gather upon several farms just outside
the city limits of Lincoln. These appeared in much larger numbers
than is usual for the insects under consideration ; and from their size,

95

96

order, and general appearance were mistaken for the chinch-bug (Micro-
pus Jeucopterus) by many of the residents. This mistaken identity in
the case of these insects was the occasion for much apprehension, as it
well might have been had that insect put in its appearance in such
great numbers so early in the year. These “ false chinch-bugs,” for
such they were, began work by attacking the weeds and everything
else that was green growing in the fields which were infested. The
weeds soon disappeared and the insects transferred their attention
to apple, catalpa, mulberry, and other smalltrees. But by far the great-
est injury was done to grape-vines. They were all small, and were kept
divested of every vestige of new growth for a time, and looked as if
the vines never would be green.

The three insects which united in these demonstrations were tbe fol-
lowing: the False Chinch-bug (Nysius angustatus), the Purslane bug
(Geocoris bullata), and a species that is quite common here in the West
among various rank-growing herbs and weed-like plants, and is known
to the entomologist as Trapezonotus nebulosus.

The first named of these was by far the most numerous, and if work-
ing singly would have occasioned nearly the same amount of damage
as did the three. The second and the last named were present in
nearly equal numbers, perhaps the last being the commoner of the two.
All three species gathered upon the main stems and larger branches of
the trees and even in clusters upon the scattered remnants of the last
year’s vegetation. They were pretty well scattered over the fields, but
appeared to be most numerous upon some hill-slopes where they had
been attracted during early spring and late fall by the warm sunshine.
These clusters of bugs were composed of individuals of all ages and
sizes, ranging from those apparently but a few days old to those fully
matured and winged. An* investigation soon disclosed the reason for
their abundance in this particular locality. Last year these fields had
been permitted to grow up in weeds after the spring cultivation. These
weeds, purslane, tickle-grass, stink-grass, and tumble-weeds, made a
spleudid retreat for the bugsto gather, feed, and breed in, and afterwards
to winterin. ‘The present spring being dry weeds and grasses were slow
in starting. Not so with the bugs. Eggs were laid at the usual time,
these hatched and the little bugs soon exhausted what green vegeta-
tion there was for them to feed upon, and which was very slow in ap-
pearing on account of lack of the necessary amount of moisture. The
trees and vines being deeper rooted sent out their buds and green leaves.
These attracted the hungry hordes of bugs, and were at once attacked
in bud, leaf, and stem, the bugs inserting their beaks and extracting
the sap. The consequence was the injury spoken of above.

As a remedy against the destruction of the grape-vines I suggested
covering the vines, which were small ones, with dirt fora week or ten
days until weeds had an opportunity to grow, after which time there
would no longer be danger, andas a preventive for the future to keep
down the weeds in late summer, especially when the season is a dry one.

es

|

In habit these three bugs resemble the Chinch Bug to a considerable
degree, only that they are earlier in their egg-laying, and that their
food-plants are weeds and other herbaceous plants, rather than grasses.
They also move about on the wing in a similar manner to that of the
Micropus leucopterus. Last spring, on one day in particular, the air was
full of these and other small hemipterous insects. At just what date
this flight occurred I do not remember now, but know it was during the
month of May.

The three species referred to above in connection with the injuries
recorded, all oceur upon ground that has been neglected and allowed
to grow up to purslane and Amaranthus. The two latter named are
also occasionally found about smart-weed (Polygonum) during late
summer and fall, while the first mentioned is also inclined to be par-
tial to “stink” grass at times.

CUT-WORMS.

Searcely a year passes without a report of damages from cut-worms
in various parts of the country. Here in Nebraska quite a large num-
ber of the night-flying moths belonging to the genera Agrotis, Hadena,
Mamestra, ete., are often the cause of much worry and not infrequently
the loss of much time and money to the farmer and gardener.

At about the same time that the bugs mentioned above were the most
plentiful and doing their injury to trees, vines, etc., the reports of cut-
worm depredations began coming in to the station from various districts
within and without the city limits. These reports included injuries to
both garden and field crops, and from the fact that they were received
from widely separated localities, the pest was quite general over the
eastern part of the State. Specimens of at least a half dozen distinct
species of the worms were received by me, along with the statement
that they were the authors of the injury. Among these I recognized
Agrotis annexa, A. suffusa, A. messoria, A. saucia, and A. clandestina.

So abundant were several species of these worms that they literally
cultivated the ground at places where they burrowed during day-
time. Nor did the worms content themselves with feeding upon culti-
vated plants alone, but also, in many instances, kept down the weeds.
Here in the city of Lincoln, upon a vacant square that had been used
by the boysas a base-ball ground, and where the ordinary ‘“ pepper-grass”
was growiug in profusion, the Agrotis anneva finally succeeded in clear-
ing the ground of this weed. So voracious did the worms become be-
fore maturity that the pepper-grass was even cut off and the stems
drawn into their retreats in the ground, where they might be devoured
during day-time. On cloudy days the worms even ventured forth
to feed openly by daylight, scurrying back into their holes when the sun
came out fora moment. In the hard trampled ground their holes were
smooth-cut and presented a very interesting sight indeed when the occu-
pants issued forth and quickly returned upon the least disturbance, like

23479—No. 22 q

98

some animal of greater intelligence. The larva of this particular spe-
cies of Agrotis is exceedingly active, reminding one not a little of some
of the chipmunks among the rodeuts.

A second species that much interested me is the larva of an Agrotis sp.
that was exceedingly numerous upon the college farm and adjoining tracts
to the eastward of the city. This latter worm worked on various plants
in the garden, but on the farm showed decided taste for clover. Here
it literally “lived in clover” in large numbers. The different kinds of
clover growing in the experimental plats suffered much. It was here
that one of the instances above cited of cut-worms cultivating the soil
occurred. :

The remedies used against these different cut-worms varied somewhat
in their character; but they were chiefly hand picked or crushed. Many
of the worms also perished from the attacks of predaceous beetles either
in the larval or imago stages, and of parasites of one or another sort.
A few of them also from diseases that resulted from the presence of
fungi or bacteria. The parasitized worms were the result of the eggs
laid by Tachina flies in most cases. The A. anneva larvie suffered most
in this respect, on account of their habit of coming out to feed during
the day-time.

ARMY-WORM.

As the State grows older in its settlement the reports of Army-worm
depredations become more frequent year by year. Last year I reported
the appearance and damage by this insect in the extreme northwestern
part of Nebraska, as well as in portions of southwestern Dakota.
During the present year several localities in northeastern Nebraska
were Overrun to a limited extent by the larvie of Leucania unipuncta,
None of these areas infested were of very great extent, nor was the
injury committed complete in any of the cases coming to my notice.
Millet and oat fields were the chief sufferers.

A small black fly was bred from larvie received from Mr. J. M. Sey-
more, of Pender, Thurston County. This fly has frequently been ob-
served by me at various points in northern Nebraska, where I have
taken it in my net when sweeping for other insects on the prairie. It
must be a regular enemy of Leucania unipuncta, and perhaps also of
other allied species, since it is by no means an uncommon insect every
year. Others of the flesh-flies (Tachinidze) also act as guards against
this insect’s rapid increase, as can readily be seen from the fact that
many of the larvee taken have the eggs of these flies attached to their
bodies.

Visiting again this year the region last year reported to you as hav-
ing the insect present in injurious numbers I was pleased to find that
the Leucania had not appeared in numbers sufficiently great to attract
the attention of those persons who lost crops by their depredations last
year. In fact I am pretty confident in asserting that there are no

grounds for fearing this insect next year, in the State of Nebraska at
least.

99
THE GREEN-LINED MAPLE-WORM.

For the third time, now, many of our soft-maple trees in the city of
Lincoln have been entirely defoliated by the larve of Anisota rubicunda,
This insect has been steadily increasing for the past three years, and
if it does not soon die off by some epidemic disease or is killed by para-
sites the growing of this tree will be very difficult. This state of
affairs is due entirely to the negligence of our citizens in general, who, it
appears, can not be induced to spend the little time necessary for the
destruction of insect pests that attack their shade trees, garden and
farm produce, and flowering plants. The entomologist can not kill all
the insects, good and bad, in the country; neither are his words of
advice heeded in the least when he tells how each insect enemy is to be
gotten rid of by means of the least labor and expense to those who
should be most interested.

THE BLUE-GRASS WEEVIL.

For the past two years Sphenophorus parvulus Gyll. has been in-
creasing quite rapidly in numbers, so that now it has come to be one of
our commonest beetles in the city of Lincoln, at least, if not elsewhere.
From the fact of its frequenting sidewalks, or being concealed under
boards, sticks, and stones that were left lying about on the University
campus, and on lawns elsewhere in the city, I began an investigation as
to its probable breeding place. This study has led to the discovery of
its feeding upon the roots of the common blue-grass (Poa pratensis).
So plentiful has the insect become in some lawns that the sod has been
entirely killed over large patches.

The larva is a short, thick, whitish grub, like those of other species
of the genus, and measures from 4 to 5 millimeters in length when fully
matured. The beetles appear twice a year, 7. ¢.,in the spring and early
fall, the insect probably being double-brooded. Some of the beetles
may come out in fall, while the remainder may lie over winter as pups.
The fully matured larve were found early in June, while others were
observed last October. Damp and well-watered lawns appear to bein-
fested fully as badly, if not worse, that those that are dryer, although
they do not show the injury nearly so quickly in the former as in the
latter case.

While looking for larve during the latter part of last May, numerous
specimens of a small white “ hair-worm” Mermis or Gordius, or some
allied genus, were found scattered through the soil. These were only
obtained at very damp places under trees on the University campus,
and as a rule were tightly coiled. Whether these would have or had
been in any way connected with the Sphenophorus larvee, I do not know,
as I am not sufficiently well acquainted with these forms nor with their
life-histories. Various ground-beetles (Carabidae) and their larvie cer-
tainly do devour the larvee of Sphenophorus, since the former were also
quite common in the localities where the latter abounded. No experi

100
ments were carried on with a view to finding a remedy against the in-
juries of this weevil.
THE CORN ROOT-WORM.

(Diabrotica longicornis.)

This insect is becoming alarmingly common in the counties of eastern
Nebraska and those of western lowa; and, judging from the general
food habits which the imago appears to be developing, it may soon be-
come a much more dangerous pest than we at presentimagine. During
the past summer and fall the beetle has been almost omnipresent, so
common was it in the vicinity of Lincoln. It was found upon a large
variety of plants belonging to different orders. It was beaten from
trees such as maple, box-elder, elm, ash, willow, cotton-wood, and oak.
I found it rather common among the grasses and obtained it in plenty
in gardens where it was feeding upon the leaves of radishes and
turnips, in several instances completely riddling these latter with holes.
As late as September 28, the beetle was still quite active during day-
time, and quickly took to flight upon being disturbed. In August it
was observed to be nocturnal in its movements, as was to be seen by
the large numbers of the beetles that were attracted to and gathered
about the electric lights. On the morning of the 15th, 260 specimens
of the beetle were taken from the globe of a single are light that hangs
in front of University Hall upon the campus of the State University.
These had all been attracted to and caught in the globe in a single
night. Whether or not these came from the farms in the surrounding
country I can not say. Might not the species work in the roots (for
the larva is a root-borer) of some other plant or plants beside corn?
At any rate it is my present intention to look into the life-history of the
Corn Root-worm a little more closely during next season. It is getting
to be by far too common an insect in these parts for us to be running
chances in dealing with it. Rotation of crops may or may not always
prove to be a remedy against its depredations.

INSECTS DETRIMENTAL TO THE GROWTH OF YOUNG TREES ON “ TREE
CLAIMS” IN NEBRASKA AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE WEST.

For several years now I have been interested in the study of the insect
pests that render the growing of young trees upon claims entered under
the “timber-culture act” quite a difficult and tedious matter. This
interest in the subject had its origin partly in personal experience and
partly from the numerous complaints of others who have experienced
great difficulty in securing a sufficient growth in their young timber
within the limitations for making final proof. Not infrequently has it
been the misfortune for those striving to gain titles to Government lands
under this act to have their trees completely defoliated for several
years in succession. Nor have these injuries been confined to any single
kind of tree. Since commencing the study of the subject I have either

101

seen or heard of all of the following species suffering alike from this
cause: Ash, Box Elder, Soft Maple, Cottonwood, and Willow. The
honey locust, too, has been subject to defoliation by insect enemies when
growing as hedges upon the uplands of the semi-arid regions west of
the 97th meridian. Some of these trees thus attacked were killed out-
right, while others were set back a year or more by each defoliation.

Several different lines of investigation have been followed in the
study of this subject, viz, the comparative freedom from insect attack
of the various kinds of trees; the influence of topography upon the
growth of each kind of tree, as well as upon the increase and develop-
ment of the insect life thriving upon the tree; also the comparative
abundance or absence of birds and parasitic insects in the different
regions, and what relation these bear to insect depredations. Of course,
when fully carried out in the several lines indicated above, the investi-
gation of such a subject can not fail to be quite extensive and result in
some good to the parties most concerned. For the present paper, how-
ever, only a few of the most important of these insect enemies will be
mentioned, and then only cursorily. Of these there are about thirty
species belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera,
Orthoptera, and Hemiptera. Most of these insects that I wish to call
attention to are quite general in their distribution, and therefore as
well known to you as they are to those living in the “ tree-claim”
region. My report will then simply consist of a statement as to their
abundance, distribution, and the amount of injury done by each species.
To do this the following table will best express my wishes and at the
same time be least cumbersome. All of the species therein mentioned
have been either observed by myself or were reported by others as
occurring in injurious numbers during different seasons upon tree-
claims located in Nebraska, Kansas, and Dakota.

Insect. Tree. Insect. Tree.
aS |S | ent
HYMENOPTERA. | Oressonia juglandis A. & | Walnut.
S.
Cimbex americana Leach .| Willows. | Clisiocampa americana | Most kinds.
Monophadnus barda Say .-| Ash. | Harr.
Clisiocampa sylvatica Do.
COLEOPTERA. Harr.
| Datana angusti G. & R.| Black Walnut.
Lina scripta Fab...-.-..-. Willow and Cotton- || Anisota rubicunda Fab --| Soft Maple.
wood. | Hyphantria cunea Drury | All kinds.
Chrysomela sp .----------- Do. | Apatela gonwls Riley... -- On Cottonwood.
Disonycha pennsylvanica | Willow. | Dote se eace- =. =-|) Wallow.
OW sceseooncassosccce Maple, Box Elder.
Chrysobothris femorata | Box Elder and Maple. || Tortricid (———) ..-..--- Honey Locust.
oe Hab: SPRINT Ea seca ee ose cence Ash.
Lachnosterna(several spe- | All kinds. DOW cccwesesaceeoe me Elm.
cies). || Tortricid (———) ..-.-..-- Boring twigs of Hack-
Epicauta cinerea Forst.-..| Honey Locust, Cotfee berry, Box Elder.
Bean. ORTHOPTERA.
LEPIDOPTERA.
@eanthus niveus Serv -..| Stems of various trees.
Papilio turnus Linn .....- Ash. | (eanthus latypennis Ri- | Stems not so common.
Vanessa antiopa Linn ....| Willow, Elm. | _ ley.
Platysamia cecropia Linn.| Maple, Willow, Box || Melanoplus spretus Thos
| Elder, ete. || Melanoplus femur-rub- | Foliage of all when
Telea polyphemus Cramer | Maple, Elm, Box El- 1 rum DeGeer. numerous.
der, ete. | Melanoplus differentialis
Triptogon modesta A. & 8. | W illow, Cottonwood. || Thos.

102

Almost all of the above named insects are sufficiently numerous at
times, when working alone, to kill or at least to greatly retard the
growth of the tree or trees upon which they feed. Of course, they do
not all occur at once in any given locality in such overwhelming num-
bers, nor are the injuries the same every year; but quite frequently
two or more of the species are found feeding in company upon the same
tree in numbers sufficiently greatto do harm. In addition to the species
named above there are a great many others that are also known to at-
tack and injure the trees growing upon tree-claims; but these latter
have not yet made their presence so strongly felt as to force us to place
them on the list of insect pests in connection with tree-claim culture.
For a description and life history of many of these the reader is referred
to Bulletin No. 7 of the United States Entomological Commission, en-
titled “ Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade Trees.”

Causes for these Insect Injuries.—There is a cause for everything, so
in the present instance we must look for one or a combination of causes
that work together in producing the undue increase of insect life upon
the prairies when new varieties of plants are introduced. <A very
superficial survey of the ground will quickly reveal tous some of these
causes.

In the first place, there are always a few dwarfed trees of most of the
kinds that are usually planted upon claims. These trees are scattered
along the water courses, in ravines and gulches, and afew other localities
that are protected from the fires which have annually swept over the
broad prairies for generations. These few trees furnish food for small
colonies of the various species of insects that we have named. There
are always enough of them to very quickly stock a claim close by upon
which small trees are planted that are to their taste. Then, too, all of
these injurious insects are of a hardy nature, used to a precarious life,
and are strong fliers capable of making comparatively long journeys in
search of food for themselves and their progeny. They are, in fact, the
nomads of the insect world, capable of withstanding the vicissitudes
belonging to a life upon the vast prairies where the more delicate para-
sitic forms could not live or even find shelter. Then, too, their
requirements for quarters in which to pass the long, cold winter months
are less complex than are those of the species that come later on.

In the second place, the country being destitute of groves of timber
among the branches of which insectivorous birds can find shelter and
build their nests most of these insect destroyers are absent. Of course,
the absence of so great a factor as are these birds in the ridding a
country of its insect pests soon becomes apparent in the increase of the
latter and of the accompanying injury done by them. The absence of
groves, too, not only keeps away the feathered tribe, but also prevents
many of the more delicate parasitic and a large number of the preda-
ceous insects from becoming established in the region. The majority
of these latter forms of insects, as before stated, are such as require

103

sheltered retreats in which to lurk or to get away from the hot dry sum-
mers and the long cold winters.

In the third place, the comparative aridity of the region where these
claims are located renders the growth of them somewhat slower than
where the precipitation is more bountiful. This slowness of growth,
while it is an advantage in one respect, aids the insect foes to a con-
derable extent in their work of destruction. A rank and rapid growth
places a tree out of danger from external enemies much more quickly
than will a slow growth. At the same time in rank growth a much
greater amount of food is furnished for the same number of insects,
and as a consequence less injury tothe tree results than would were
the growth slower.

A fourth cause for the rapid increase among these different insects
in new regions is the absence of such fungoid diseases as are known to
attack and kill various of these pests. After awhile, however, the
germs of these diseases become diffused through the soil, vegetable
débris, and about the encumbering growths, buildings, etc. These
germs are carried around by the elements and other agencies, and in
time some of them find lodgment within the bodies of such insects as
are susceptible to their growth. The result is disease and death.

Comparative Freedom of different Trees from the Attacks of Insect Pests.—
Up to the present writing I have not sufficiently investigated this por-
tion of the subject to be entirely positive in my assertions as to the
kind or kinds of trees most nearly exempt from the attacks of insect
foes in different regions. None of them are entirely free; but that there
are trees which suffer less than others in this respect is a well-known
fact, and can be seen at any time where several kinds are growing side
by side or in the same grove. Again, a particular kind of tree might
be troubled in a given locality, while in another it would be compara-
tively free. Some trees also suffer while small, and others are usually
injured after they have gained considerable growth and age. These
variations with regard to insect attacks among different trees, and of
the same kind at different ages, are governed by laws the explanation
of which would require much more time and space than I have at my
command. By looking over the list of insects mentioned above it will
be seen that no reference is made of any species injuring either the
Catalpa or Russian Mulberry. The Ash is affected by three, each of
which at times strips it of foliage while young; the Box Elder by two
or three; the Willow by a dozen or more; the Cottonwood by four or
five; the Soft-Maple by several; the Elm a couple; the Honey Locust
two, ete.

In treating this subject only such insects have been mentioned as
have been ascertained to attack the various trees during their first few
years of growth, and before they have attained any great size. Other
species of insects injure these trees later on; but, as a rule, these latter

104

are less destructive to them save in a few instances. Only a very few
borers work in healthy young trees in this region.

Remedies tried and suggested.—Only a few remedies have been gener-
ally tried against these pests in the region of tree claims, and most of
these were confined to the various methods of “ hand-picking” and
crushing. Spraying and dusting with poisons and kerosene emulsions,
or the use of road dust, ashes, air-slaked lime, etc., have been reported
only ina very few instances. Any or all of these methods of warfare when
properly carried on and used intelligently, in accordance with the habits
of the insect that is being fought, will repay one for the time thus
spent.

LOCUSTS OR GRASSHOPPERS.

Aside from several local outbreaks there has been no special damage
done during the year by locusts within the United States. Of course,
you are already acquainted with the particulars in connection with the
local injuries, of which the chief are the following: The Rocky Mount-
ain or migratory species at Nephi City, Utah; the same in Otter Tail
County, Minnesota; and the lesser and red-thighed species in the mount-
ain districts of the New England States. The Utah outbreak was
partly investigated by me at the time (May) of its occurrence, through
correspondence with the Hon. James B. Darton, of Nephi City. That
gentleman supplied me with specimens at different times from which the
insects under consideration were determined. The conclusions at which
1 then arrived were reported to Mr. Howard in your absence. If I
remember rightly, both the Rocky Mountain (Melanoplus spretus) and
the California locust (Camnula pellucida) were found among the material
received from Mr. Darton. The Otter Tail outbreak has been very ecare-
fully written up by Mr. Otto Lugger, of the Minnesota Experiment Sta-
tion; while Mr.C. L. Marlatt, of the Entomological Division, has reported
on the New England outbreak.

While it is not my intention to devote much time to the subject of
locust abundance and injuries, I do wish to say a few words concerning
the fungoid disease known as Hntomophthora caloptent of Bessey. Dur-
ing the present summer this disease has been unusually abundant in
and around the city of Lincoln, Nebr. Several species o1 our native
locusts were attacked by it; but the large yellow one, known as the
Melanoplus differentialis Thomas, was destroyed by the thousands.
Whether the fungus in question was more plentiful than usual, and
did its work of extermination more effectually than during previous
summers; or, whether it was on account of my being surrounded by a
number of students in botany, and located next door to the botanical
laboratory, that attracted my attention to these, 1 do not know. The
impression is, however, that the former is the true explanation. On
the University campus alone, where differentialis hatched quite plen-—
tifully and began doing considerable injury to various small trees and

105

shrubs, there must have been several thousands of the hoppers destroyed
by the disease. Soon after the locusts became fledged some of them
were observed to die after first showing signs of disease. After the
disease first became apparent among the locusts, it spread, or at least
appeared in other portions of the city, the number of dead and dying
locusts inereasing daily. So fatal did the disease finally become upon
the University campus that but few of the differentialis escaped to
deposit eggs. I know that three or four of the botanical students each
collected the dead locusts by the chalk-box full to use as specimens in
their line of work, and for exchange, while I gathered many of them
myself. During the latter half of August, and early in September, at
almost any time one might have secured from fifty to a hundred or
more specimens of the dead locusts in a few moments, by simply going
outside of the science hall a few yards.

So rapid was the final action of the Hntomophthora (or Empusa, as it
has more recently been called) that not infrequently the locusts were
found still in copulation, one or the other of the sex being dead. When
they were found in this condition, the female, though not always, was
the first to succumb. This would not, however, prove anything as to
the comparative fatality of the disease as far as the different sexes are
concerned. There are other matters to be taken into consideration be-
fore we can come to a definite solution of comparative immunity from
attacks upon the different sexes of an insect by a disease like the present.

Just how long a time is required for the full development of the
fungus after an insect is first attacked I am not prepared to state ;
neither can I give an account of the various stages through which the
fungus passes during this development from the original spore to the
stage where such spores are reproduced. Nor am [I posted as to all
symptoms present during the different stages of the disease occasioned
by the fungus within the tissues of a living locust. All that I know
is, that shortly before death the stricken hopper climbs up some stick,
weed, or blade of grass, to which it clings frantically with its anterior
and middle pairs of legs. When found dead these always have their
head uppermost.

Whether or not invariably fatal I can not say ; and imagine that to
ascertain this would be noeasy task. Iam also quite ignorant in reter-
ence to its capability of being artificially spread, since I have had no
opportunity to experiment in that direction. Besides, the disease does
not appear to be common to all species of locusts alike; or if it is, we
do not know it. The subject will bear a much more careful study than
has thus far been devoted to it. From an economie standpoint thereis
still a great deal to be learned concerning insect-attacking fungi, as a
few recent experiments in this line clearly demonstrate.

Before leaving the subject of this locust-destroying fungus I wish to
ddd the following notes, prepared for the present paper at my request

106

by Prof. C. EK. Bessey. They will show the most recent views of bota-
nists as to the systematic position of the plant in question :

Entomophthora calopteni Bessey.—The original description of this species appeared
inthe American Naturalist for December, 1883 (page 1280). It is reproduced here
verbatim :

“T. Empusa stage, not seen.

“TT. Tarichium stage : Oospores globular, or from pressure somewhat irregular in
outline, colorless, 36 to 39”. in diameter; walls thick (4.), colorless, smooth ; pro-
toplasm granular, after as if composed of many small cells, often with a large round
vacuole. Occurring as a clay-colored mass inthe body cavity and femora of Calop-
’ tenus differentialis.

“Ames, lowa, August and September, 1883.”

Specimens of this fungus collected in Wisconsin by Trelease and Seymour were
distributed under the name given above by Ellis and Everhart in North American
Fungi, No. 1801. In April, 1888, Mr. Roland Thaxter published, in the Memoirs of
the Boston Society of Natural History, an important paper on The Entomophthorae
of the United States, in which he revises the species of the group, and adopts the
older generic name Hmpusa, first proposed by Cohn in 1855, in preference to Mnto-
mophthora proposed by Fresenius in 1856. Moreover, Mr. Thaxter concludes that the
fungus described above is identical with one described as Entomophthora grylli, by
Fresenius, in 1856. Specimens of this species were distributed in 1885 by Dr. Farlow,
in Ellis’ North American Fungi, No. 1401. Our species thus appeared in Mr. Thaxter’s
paper under the name of Lmpusa grylli (Fres.) Nowakowski.

FON ox.

JEgeria tipuliformis, 86. Bittacus near stigmaterus destroying Crambus,

JEsculus ealifornicus, 89.
Agallia flaccida, 29.
4-punctata, 28.
sanguinolenta, 29.
Agriotes mancus, 51.
Agrostis, 93.
Agrotis annexa, 97.
clandestina, 89, 97.
ecochranii, 88.
erenulata, life-history of, 89.
herilis, 43.
messoria, 88, 97.
saucia, 82, 97.
suffusa, 97.
Atlotria tritici, 71.
Allygus irroratus, 30.
Amaranthus, 97.
Anabrus simplex, 94.
Andropogon divisitiflorus, 59.
Anisopteryx vernata, 74.
Anisota rubicunda, 99, 101.
Anomala varians, 51.
Anthrax parasitic on Agrotis herilis, 44.
Aonidia aurantii, 7.
Apatela populi, 101.
Aphidius avenaphis, 71.
Aphids, abundance in Missouri, 70.
found on wheat, 70.
Aphis avene, 74.
mali, 70.
persice, 80.
n. sp. on roots of wheat, 70.
Apple, 75, 79, 86, 88, 90, 96.
Arbutus menziesii, 85.
Army Worm in Iowa, 20.
Indiana, 45.
Nebraska, 98.
parasites of, 46, 98.
the fall. 46.
Arsenic, experiments with, 80.
Arundinaria tecta, 59.
Ash, 100, 101.
Aspidiotus aurantii, 7, 10, 14, 17.
Aster, 82. :
Barley, 57, 93.
3assus sycophanta, 71.
Jats capturing Codling moths, 91.
Jeans, 52, 82.
Bean's Eureka insecticide, 17.
Beet, 76.

Bessey, Prof. C, E., description of Entomophthora

calopteni, 106.

48.
Blackberry, 74.
Blissus leucopterus, 41, 55, 96, 97.
Blue Grass, 19, 42, 99.
Blue Grass Weevil in Nebraska, 99.
Box-elder, 74, 100, 101.
Bruner, Lawrence, Report by, 95.
Buckeye, 89.
Buckton, quoted, 69.
Bythoscopus sanguinolentus, 29.
siccifolius, 29.
Cabbage, 52, 73.
Butterfly, 76.
Curculio, 73.
Worm, 81.
Calathus ruficollis, 92.
California Insects, Report on, 85.
Caloptenus femur-rnbrum, 22, 44, 94, 101.
Camnula pellucida, 94, 104.
Canker worms in Missouri, 74.
Carpocapsa (see Codling moth).
Catalpa, 103.
Ceanothus, 87.
cordulatus, 88.
thyrsiflorus, 88.
Cecidomyia destructor, 93.
Celwna renigera. 82.
Ceratochloa australis, 37.
Ceuthorhynchus rape, 73.
Chenopodium album, 76.
Cherry, Wild, 87.
Chinch Bug, 41, 96.
' Injuring grasses in Iowa, 21.
In Indiana, 55,
Unequal distribntion in Indiana
Influence of rain-fall, 58.
Fungus disease of, 60.
Chionanthus virginica, 79.
Chrysanthemum, 75.
Chrysobothris femorata, 101.
mali, 86.
Chrysomela sp. injurious to Willow, 101.

, 00.

Chrysopa larvie feeding on Phylloxera rileyi, 83.
probably destroying Codling moth eges,

91.
preying on Wheat Aphis, 71.

Cicada coccinea, 28.
Cieadula exitiosa, 30.
Cimbex americana, 101.
Cladius isomera, 78.
Clisiocampa americana, 101.

ea lifornica, 87.

107

Clisiocampa constricta, 87.
erosa, 87.
fragilis, 87.
strigosa, 87.
sylvatica, 101.
thoracica, 87.
Clover, 19, 47, 75, 82, 98.
-seed midge in Iowa, 19.
Coccinella 9-notata, 64, 72.
Codling moth in Missouri, 75.
California, 89.
parasites of, in California, 8, 90.
Cotlee bean, 101.
Colorado potato beetle, experiments with, 80, 81.
Conozoa wallula, 94.
Contopus virens, 48.
Coquillett, D. W., Report by, 9.
Coriscus ferus, 26.
Corn, 43, 46, 47, 48, 52, 58, 57, 100.
Sweet, 76.
Corn root-worm in Nebraska, 100.
Cornus, 33.
sanguinea, 36.
sericea, 39.
Corymelena pulicaria, 75.
Cosmos, 75.
Cottonwood, 100, 101.
Cottony Cushion Scale, 9, 12.
Crambus exsiccatus, 18.
laqueatellus, 18, 48.
zeellus, 47, 48.
Cressonia juglandis, 101.
Crucifers injured by Phyllotreta vittata, 73-
Cucumber, 76, £2.
Jurrant, 86, 88.
Cut-worm, a new, 47.
Cut-worms in California, 88.
Towa, 18, 20.
Nebraska, 97.
Dactylis glomerata, 71.
Dahlia, 75.
Datana angusii, 101.
ministra, 44, 45.
Destructive Leaf-hopper, 30.
Diabrotica 12-punctata, 19, 52, 76.
longicornis, 100.
soror, 87.
vittata, 19.
Diamond soluble bone, experiment with, 48.
Diedrocephala coccinea, 27, 28.
mollipes, 26.
noveboracensis, 27.
versuta, 27.
Dipterous parasite of Army Worm, 98.
Diabrotica soror, 87.
Disonycha collaris, 76.
pennsylvanica, 101.
Dissosteira carolina, 94.
obliterata, 94.
Dogwood Plant-louse, 20, 32.
Its identity with the grass root-louse, 32.
Doryphora 10-lineata, 80.
Drasterius dorsalis, 52.
elegans, 52.
Drymeia sp. parasitic on Army Worm, 46.
Elm, 74, 100.

108

Elymus americanus, 93.
Empusa grylli, 106.
Encyrtus websteri, 71.
Entomological notes from Missouri for 1889, 73.
Entomophthora disease of the Chinch Bug, 60.
Entomophthora calopteni, 104, 106.
grylli, 106.
Epicauta cinerea, 101.
Epitrix cucumeris, 19.
Eragrostis megastachya, 37.
Erax larva, probably parasitic on White Grub, 51.
Eriosoma? cornicola, 37, 39, 40.
2 fungicola, 37, 38, 40.
European Cabbage Butterfly in Missouri, 76.
Eureka insecticide, experiments with, 17.
Fabricius’s original description of Aphis corni, 36.
Fall Army Worm, 46.
False Chinch Bugs in Nebraska, 95.
Fertilizing salt, experiments with, 50.
Flea-like negro-bug in Missouri, 75.
Fluted Seale, 9, 12.
Four-pointed Agallia, 28.
Foxtails (see Setaria).
Fungus disease of Chinch Bug, 60.
grasshoppers, 104.
Gas treatment for Seale insects, 9.
reocoris bullata, 96.
Gortyna nitela, 47, 75.
Grain Aphis in Indiana, 64.
Severe outbreak in 1889, 64.
Influence of temperature and moisture, 65.
Cool temperature favorable to its develop-
ment, 68.
Efficacy of parasites, 69.
Notes on life-history, 69.
Enumeration of natural enemies, 71.
Other species of Aphids found on wheat, 70.
Grain fruits, insects injurious to, 7, 42.
Grape, 86, 96.
Grass, 19, 20, 34, 93, 100.
Hungarian, 41.
Timothy, 45.
Grasses, insects injurious to, 7, 20, 41.
Grass-root Plant-louse, 32.
Grasshoppers in Iowa, 21.
fungus disease of, 104.
Green-lined Maple.worm in Nebraska, 99.
Gryllus luctuosus, 94.
Hackberry, 101.
Hadena stipata, 47.
Halticus pallicornis, 82.
Hesperotettix pacificus, 44.
Hessian fly in California, 93.
new food-plants of, 93.
Ileteroptera infesting grasses, 41.
ilieroglyphic Leaf-hopper, 28.
Hippodamia convergens, 72.
glacialis, 72.
parenthesis, 72.
13-punctata, 72.
Tloney Locust, 101. ’
Ilopper Dozers recommended for Leaf-hoppers, 25.
Hungarian grass, 41.
Hurtful Leaf-hopper, 31.
Ilydrocyanic gas treatment, 9.
Hyphantria cunea, 101.

109

Icerya purchasi, 7, 9, 12.
Ichneumon brevicinctor, 46.
Insects affecting grain fruits, 7, 42.
grasses, 7, 20.
young trees on western tree
claims, 100.
injurious in California, 85.
Iowa, 18.
Missouri, 73.
Nebraska, 95.
Insecticides, experiments with, 9, 48, 80.
~ Bean’s Eureka insecticide, 17.
hydrocyanic acid gas, 9.
London purple, 19.
Paris green, 80.
Petroleum emulsion, 19, 80.
Resin soaps and compounds, 10.
Salts, 50, 51.
White arsenic, 80.
Various substances, 48.
X. O. Dust, 19, 80.
Iowa, insects injurious in, 18.
Ischnodemus falicus, 41.
Isocrates vulgaris, 71.
Isosoma sp. destructive in California, 93.
tritici, 42.
Jassus inimicus, 31.
Kerosene emulsion, 19, 80.
Koebele, Albert, Report by, 85.
Lachnosterna larve destructive in Indiana. 48.
injuring young trees in the West,
101.
Lapbria tergissa destroying Varying Anomala, 51.
Laphygma frugiperda, 46.
Leaf-hoppers affecting grass in Iowa, 21.
Appearance and habits, 23.
Amount and nature of damage, 22.
Remedies, 23.
Enumeration of species observed, 26.
Lecanium oles, 13.
sp. on dogwood, 384.
Leuvania unipuncta (see Army Worm).
Leucarctia acrasa, 92.
Lina scripta, 76, 101.
Linden, 74.
Locust injury in 1889, 104.
Locusts on the Pacific coast, 93.
London purple and Kerosene emulsion, 19.
Long Bug, 41.
Luperina stipata, 47.
Lygus lineatus, 75.
pratensis, 75.
Madrona tree-borer, 85.
Maple, 74, 100, 101.
soft, 99, 101.
Maple Worm, the Green-lined, 99.
Meadows and pastures, insects injurious to, 20, 48.
Megaspilus niger, 71.
Megilla maculata, 72.
Megoura sp. found on rye, 71.
Melanoplus cinereus, 94.
devastator, 94.
differentialis, 101, 104.
femur-rubrum, 22, 24, 94, 101.
packardii, 94.
spretus, 101, 104.

Melaxanthus salicis, 20.
Meromyza americana, 42.
found om grass in Iowa, 19.
Merisus destructor, 93.
Micropus leucopterus, 41, 55, 96, 97.
Millet, 98.
Miris affinis, 41.
Monophadnus barda, 101.
Mulberry, 96.
Russian, 103.
Murtfeldt, Mary E., Report by, 73.
Myzus sp. found on wheat, 71.
Nasturtium, 76.
Nebraska, insects injarious in, 95.
Nemorea leucaniz, 46.
New Rose Slug, 78.
Life-history, 78.
Description of Jarva, 78.
New York Leaf-hopper, 27.
Nomophila noctuella, 18.
Nysius angustatus, 96.
Oak, 82, 87, 88, 100,
Oats, 52, 57, 98.
Oecanthus latipennis, 82, 101.
niveus, 101.
(stlund, O. W., quoted, 38.
Olive, 86.
Ophion purgatus, 46.
Orchard grass, 71.
trees, 74, 75.
Osborn, Prof. Herbert, Report by, 18.
Pachyneuron micans, 71.
Palthis angulalis, description of larva and pupa,
79. ;
Panicum, 33, 63.
anceps, 59.
glabrum, 37, 38.
prolificum, 59.
viscidum, 59.
Papilio turnus, 101.
Paspalum fluitans, 59.
leave, 59.
Passerini, quoted, 37.
Peach, 74, 75.
Pear, 75, 90.
Bartlett, 90.
Peppergrass, 73, 97.
Phosphate salt, experiment with, 49.
Phyllotreta vittata, 73, 80.
zimmermanni, 80.
Phylloxera rileyi, notes on, for 1889, 82.
Pieris protodice, 76.
rape, 76.
Pimpla annulipes, 90.
Pipizapulchella possibly preying on Chinch Bug,
64.
Plagiodera scripta, 76, 101.
Platysamia cecropia, 101.
Plum, 74, 86.
Plum curculio in Missouri, 74.
Poa pratensis, 42, 70, 99.
Podabrus tomentosus, 72.
Podura found on radishes, 74.
Polycaon confertus, 85.
Polygonum, 97.
Populus, 76,

110

Post Oak, 82.
Prunus demissa, 87.
Pterostichus californicus, 92.
Purslane, 97.
Bug, 96.

Quorcus agrifolia, 87, 89.

conomensis, 87.

obtusiloba, 82.
Radish, 73, 100.
Rain-fall and temperature in Indiana, 66, 67.

Raphidia destroying Codling Moths in Califor-

hia, 92.
Red-backed Leaf-hopper, 28.
Red Scale of California, 7.
methods of destroying, 9.
Red osier dogwood, 37.
Resin soaps and compounds for Scale insects, 10.
Rhopalosiphum n. sp. found on wheat, 70.
Rhubarb, 74.
Rocky Mountain Locust, 101, 104.
Rose, 78.
Rose slug, anew, 78.
Ryan, F. G., experiment with resin washes, 13.
Rye, 46, 57, 70, 71.
Sage bush, 94.
Salts, experiment with, as insecticides, 49, 50, 51.
Schizoneura corni, 20, 32, 33, 36.
crativgi, 19.
panicola, 33, 38, 40.
venusta, 37, 40.
Scirpus atrovirens, 53.
Scoliopteryx libatrix, 46.
Selandria rose, 78, 80.
? sp. injurious to White Fringe, 79.
Setaria, 33, 41, 63.
glauca, 37, 61.
italica, 37.
viridis, 37.
Shade trees infested by Apbids, 74.
Siphonophoraaven, 64, 74.
Smart-weed, 97.
Sphexrophoria cylindrica, 71.
Sphenophorus ochrens, 52.
parvulus, 99.
Spinach, 76.
Spinach beetle, 76.
Life-habits and history, 76.
Description of larva and pupa, 77.
Squash, 76.
Stalk-borer, 75.
Steiroxis sp., 94.
Stenobothris coloradus, 94.
Stink-grass, 97.
Strawberry, 75.
Streaked Cottonwood Beetle, 76, 101.
Swamp Sphenophorus in Indiana, 52.
Sweet corn, 76.
Systoschus oreas, 44.
Tarnished Plant-bug, 75, 81.
Telea polyphemus, 101.
Telephorus carolinus, 72.

Tenderfoot Leaf-hopper, 26.
Tent caterpillars of the Pacific coast, 87.
Tettigonia hieroglyphica, 28.
4-vittata, 28.
Thomas, Prof. Cyrus, quoted, 37, 38.
Thorn-tree Aphid in Towa, 19.
Thrips found on blue grass, 19.
larve feeding on Phylloxera rileyi, 83.
Timothy grass, 45.
Tortricid injurious to Honey Locust, 101.
boring twigs of Hackberry and Lox-
elder, 101.
Toxoptera n. sp. found on wheat, 70.
Trapozonotus nebulosus, 96.
Trees on western tree claims, insects injurious
to, 100.
Trichogramma pretiosa, 8.
Trimerotropis fallax, 94.
Trioxys sp. parasitic on Grain Aphis, 71.
Triptogon modesta, 101.
Trogoderma tarsale, larva feeding on Codling
moth pupe, 92.
Tropxolum, 76.
Turt Web-worms in Iowa, 20.
Turnips, 73, 100.
Twelve-spotted Diabrotica, 52, 76.
Tychea panici, 38.
Uhler, Prof. P., quoted, 26.
Uniola latifolia, 59.
Van Duzee, E. P., quoted, 29, 30.
Vanessa antiopa, 101.
Varying Anomala, 51.
Vedalia cardinalis, 8, 9, 85.
Walsh, B. D., quoted, 37.
Walnut, 101.
Black, 101.
Washes for Scale insects, 7, 10.
Wavy-spotted Leaf-hopper, 30.
Wavy-striped Flea-beetle, 73.
Webster, Prof. F. M., Report by, 42.
Weed, Clarence M., quoted, 39.
Western Striped Cut-worms, 43.
Interesting parasite on, 44.
Wheat, 42, 51, 52, 57, 64, 70, 71, 93.
Wheat stem maggot, 42.
straw worm, 42.
wire-worm, 51.
White arsenic, experiments with, 80.
White Fringe tree, 79.
White Fringe Slug, 79.
Description of larva, 79.
White grubs in Indiana, 48.
Towa, 20.
experiments for destroying, 48.
Wild Cherry, 87.
Willow, 87, 88, 100,101.
Willow Plant-louse, 20.
Wire-worm injuring wheat, 51.
Wood Pewee destroying Crambus moths, 48.
Xanthogramma emarginata, 71.
X. O. Dust, experiments with, 19, 75, 80.

©

:
i

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 23.

i)

Pe REPORTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1:3. Oane.

4

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——

mo DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
BULLETIN No. 23.

REP CROs

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,

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DME ORTON: NEBRASKA! UNSHOTS soc -cscice cose fe 6ce caies- 2 size Lawrence Bruner..
REPORT ON VARIOUS METHODS FOR DESTROYING SCALE INsEctTs, D. W. Coquil-

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REPORT UPON EXPERIMENTS CHIEFLY WITH RESIN COMPOUNDS ON PHYL-

LOXERA VASTATRIX, AND OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE YEAR, Albert

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ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MISSOURI FOR THE SEASON OF 1890, Mary £.
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REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SEASON IN JOoWA.....-----.- Herbert Osborn..
REPORT ON SOME OF THE INSECTS AFFECTING CEREAL CrRops.../. M. Webster...
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LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., January 3, 1891.
Str: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 23 of
this Division. It comprises the reports of the field agents of the Division
for the past year (1890), a summary of which has been included in your
annual report.
Respectfully,
O. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. J. M. Rusk,
Secretary of Agriculture.

MEE a SS aI

INTRODUCTION.

The reports of the six permanent field agents of the Division are in-
eluded in this bulletin. They are printed this year in full, but it should
be understood that they are little more than summaries of the work in

general performed by each one. Special reports upon specific subjects

have from time to time been sent in by special direction, and these
have been published in INSECT LIFE.

Mr. Lawrence Bruner, who last year reported upon the insects inju-
rious to young trees on tree claims, has the present season devoted
much of his attention to insects affecting, or liable to affect, the Sugar
beet, a crop of growing importance in the State in which he is located.
Although but one season’s collecting has been done, some 64 species
have been observed to prey upon this crop. As has been shown, nearly
all of these can be readily kept in subjection by the use of the kero-
sene emulsion or the arsenites.

Mr. D. W. Coquillett’s report is mainly devoted to methods and ap-
paratus for the destruction of scale insects by means of fumigation.
The experiments were aimed at the Red Scale, which is one of the most
difficult to treat with washes. He describes the simplified tents, the
rigging which enables them to be used rapidly, and shows theadvantage
of excluding the actinic rays of the light. Judging from recent Cali-
fornia newspapers the use of this method of fighting scale-insects is
rapidly increasing and the comparatively expensive apparatus is al-
ready owned by a large number of fruit-growers. This improved
method is the legitimate outgrowth of experiments which we instituted
at Los Angeles in 1887, and possesses the advantage over spraying that
itcan hardly be done ina slovenly manner. If used at all its effects
are nearly complete.

Mr. Albert Koebele, while reporting upon a number of interesting
fruit pests, notably the Tent Caterpillars of the Pacific slope, and a
Noctuid larva which destroys the buds of certain fruit trees, devotes
most of his report to the description of certain tests, which I directed
him to make with different resin compounds against the Grape Phyllox-
era in the Sonoma Valley during September and October of the past
year. The results have been fully as satisfactory as we anticipated, and
the economy of the process is very striking, labor being practically the
only expense.

7

8

Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt reports upon the insects of the season in
eastern Missouri, and also gives the results of experiments which she
has made with certain insecticides submitted to her from this office for
trial. She also presents descriptions of four Microlepidoptera, which
are new in the role of feeders upon Apple.

Prof. Herbert Osborn reports upon the insects injurious to forage-
crops, meadows, and pastures in his State. His report last year was
mainly taken up with the consideration of the Leaf-Hoppers, to which
he gives some further consideration this year, adding some notes on
locusts and crickets. He presents also a series of miscellaneous obser-
vations.

Mr. F. M. Webster devotes his report mainly to the Hessian Fly, dis-
cussing the number and development of broods, the effect of the larva
upon plants, the effect of the weather on the development of the fall
- brood, and preventive measures. He also gives some notes upon three
of the species of Plant-lice, found commonly upon wheat.

In presenting this bulletin for publication, I desire to thank these
agents for the care with which they have followed out instructions and
for the intelligent manner in which they have conducted these investi-
gations.

C. V. R.

a —s

REPORT ON NEBRASKA INSECTS.

By LAWRENCE BRUNER.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

LINCOLN, NEBR., Oclober 16, 1890.

Sir: Herewith is submitted a report of my work in Nebraska for the yearas special
field agent of the Division of Entomology of the United States Department of Agri-
culture.

In addition to my observations on the general insect depredations within the State,
I have incidentally given some time to the study of such insects as were taken upon
the sugar and other sheets during the summer.

This special study was undertaken at the suggestion of our experiment station
director, who was quite anxious that ‘ beet insects” should be made the subject of
a special bulletin to be issued from the station some time during the coming winter.
I accordingly include herewith a brief summary of the results of this special study.

Yours truly,
< LAWRENCE BRUNER,
Field Agent.

Prof. C. V. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.

| The past summer has not been particularly noted as one in which
insect depredators were especially abundant or destructive to the vari-
ous crops that are raised in the State. In fact, taking the State as a
whole, the injuries from this source have been rather less than is usually
the case. No one species, so far as I have been informed, has been a
pest during the year. The Corn Root-worm (Diabrotica longicornis),
while it has spread some since my last report, was much less abundant
than last year. Cut-worms did not appear in early summer so univer-
sally over the State, nor did they do anything near the damage they
did the year past. No Army-worm depredations have been reported at
the station, nor have any come to my own observation ; while the Corn
Ear-worm (Heliothis armigera) has been less destructive in most portions
of the region along the Missouri River.

If any one insect has been on the increase and has caused more in-
jury than usual, it was the almost universal Codling Moth (at least
universal wherever apples are grown or eaten). But if this insect has
become apparently more widespread within this region than it was

9

10

formerly, it is quite consoling to know that the warfare against it has
also become more general. Almost every fruit-grower has at last come
to the forced conclusion that warfare against this insect, at least, has
become an absolute necessity, and has accordingly instituted a rigor-
ous fight against it. The arsenious spray is the almost universal
remedy resorted to with our fruit-growers here in Nebraska, as it is
in other localities. Either London purpleor Paris green are the poisons
used, and where applied properly always result favorably to the or-
chardist.
THE GREEN-STRIPED MAPLE WORM.

The Green-striped Maple-worm (Anisota rubicunda) appeared quite
numerously again in the towns and cities of Nebraska, and has done
much injury to the Soft Maples (Acer saccharinum) growing along their
streets. Here in Lincoln, the first or spring brood of larve was suffi.
ciently numerous to defoliate many of the largest trees before they
had become fully matured, and in that manner proved to be quite
effectual towards self-extermination. Many of the larve actually
starved to death; while others were so weakened from starvation that
they either died in the chrysalis state, or else were so exhausted when
they emerged as moths that there was but little egg-laying for a see-
oud brood. Some of the neighboring cities and towns were less for-

tunate, and had a much more plentiful fall brood of the larve, and

hence will be well supplied with the insect next spring unless something
unforeseen prevents it.

Considerable has been done inthe way of remedies by the citizens of
Lincoln against the second brood. Many of the moths were gathered
and destroyed before they had time to deposit their eggs and later on
in the season spraying the trees with London purple and Paris green
was resorted to with good results.

While a moderately dry summer usually has the tendency to increase
the number of most of our injurious insects, several such years imme-
diately following one another have the opposite effect. So it has been
with the summer which has just closed. The drought was so very
marked that even the more hardy insect life was sensibly affected by
its severity. Such species as had been favored by the scarcity of their
more frail parasites during several years of moderate drought, this year
were themselves, to a certain degree, sensibly affected by its continu-
ance and severity.

LOCUSTS OR GRASSHOPPERS.

Locusts or grasshoppers of several species were quite numerous in
certain localities, especially in cities away from the destructive influ-
ence of fowls and such other predaceous animals as are always at hand
in the country ready to * gobble up” various insects. These locusts did
some damage, of course, but not nearly so much as was done by them

ES ee

ist

last year. Whether this decrease in their numbers has been due to
parasites or to disease, I can not say.

One noticeable fact in connection with the subject of insect depreda-
tions, in this particular region at least, is the growing interest which
the general public is taking, and the tendency on the part of the people
to help themselves against this host of insect enemies which is assailing
them on al} sides. Whether this interest is traceable to any particular
source, or whether necessity is the awakening factor, I can not say. I
trust, though, that my work in this direction has not been entirely in
vain.

BEET INSECTS.

Ever sinve the Sugar Beet industry was first agitated here in the
West, and now especially since the project has assumed such a prac-
tical form, it has become of general interest. For several years now the
cultivation of the sugar beet has been a theme for much speculation,
and to some extent also of experimentation. Now that a large factory
has been built at Grand Island in this State, the sugar beet is to be one
of our regular crops year after year. It will no longer be a plant that
is grown out of mere curiosity or simply for experimentation.

It has been ascertained in connection with the culture of the sugar
beet that certain insects show a tendency to attack and injure it. In
this respect the beet is not any different from other cultivated plants;
or, for that matter, wild or native ones also. In fact, it is too evident
that certain ones of these insect enemies seem to prefer this “new”
crop to any of these which have been cultivated in the same region for
a considerable time.

It was therefore thought here at the experiment station, early last
summer, that it might be well, as far as practicable in connection with
other lines of work, to give some attention to these insect enemies of
the sugar beet. Accordingly the following ‘“‘press bulletin” was sent
out over the State:

SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE SUGAR-BEET CULTURE.

Reports from the sub-stations established in the spring by the State Experiment
Station for the purpose of determining the effect of the varying conditions of the
soil and climate on the growtli of and the production of sugar in the Sugar beet are
in the main good.

In many places, especially in the extreme western part of the State, beets have
suffered from hot weather and a lack of rain; asarule, though, they seem to withstand
these unfavorable conditions as well as corn and better than small grain.

From some points reports tell us that insect enemies have begun their ray-
AV OR et me a

As there are several kinds of insects that attack the beet, and as they have already
been reported as having begun operations, it seems the proper time to begin to learn
something of their appearance, habits, and the best means of meeting their advances.
To this end the beets should be watched very carefully, from day to day and at dif-
ferent times of the day, and even in the evening, for any insect, bug, or worm that
seems to have an interest in them; search the leaves, pull up the beets and search the

12

roots and the top layer of the soil, and when any marauder is found send it to the
experiment station for study and identification.

Directions for sending such specimens I copy from Bulletin XIV on ‘ Insects Inju-
rious to Young Trees on Tree Claims,” just issued:

‘‘Whenever possible, insects should be packed alive in some tight tin box—the
tighter the better, as air-holes are not needed—along with a supply of their appro-
priate food sufficient to last them on the journey ; otherwise they generally die on
the road and shrivel up.

‘‘Send as full an account as possible of their habits; what part of the plant they
infest, time of day when they are most active, amount of damage done, etc.

‘‘Packages should be marked with the name of the sender and should be addressed
to the entomologist of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebr.”

It will aid very materially in forming conclusions if all people who have planted
seed this season will send from time to time reports of the conditions of their beets
to the experiment station.

Address:

H. H. NICHOLSON,
Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebr.

The very dry summer may have had considerable to do towards
influencing much of the insect injury to the beets grown within the
region designated, and some species of insects may have worked upon
this plant that ordinarily would not have done so. In many localities
various insects were observed to congregate among the leaf stems just
above the ground that could not have been there for mischief, since
they were such formsas do not feed upon growing plants. Especially
was this true in portions of the State where the drought was severest
and where other refugees from the burning sun and parched soil were
searce or entirely wanting. In many of these localities a great variety
of insect life was always sure to be found hidden away during the day-
time in such places. Not only beetles but also representatives of such
other orders as the Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera,
Diptera, and Lepidoptera were quite common in such localities. Even
many water-inhabiting forms frequently occurred in company with the
others.

Of course all of these insects that were found on or about the roots
of the beets were sent in to the station both by the field agents and
by the various correspondents, who took an interest in the investiga-
tions under way. To separate most of these ‘‘refugees” from such
other forms as might possibly be there for mischief was, of course, quite
easily done at the station by those who were accustomed to the habits
of most of the insects under consideration. A few of them were, how-
ever, more difficult to single out, and required special study to decide
positively, which in nearly every case was accomplished.

In the study of this subject it was quickly demoustrated that almost
all of the insect enemies of the sugar beet, as well as of the common
garden and other varieties, were either weed feeders or else were such
as are very general feeders. It was also ascertained that nearly if not
quite all of the insects of whatsoever description that attack other

z

——

13

Chenopodiaceous plants, as the various species of ‘tumble weeds,”
the “pig-weed,” Atriplices, ete., the purslane and other juicy weeds,
as also many of those that attack the various Cruciferz and Solanacee,
will also feed upon the beet. Not a single species of insect has thus
far been reported by any of the agents of the station, or by correspond-
ents, that is exclusively a beet feeder. Every one of them has been as-
certained to attack some one or more of the other plants that are also
common to the region. Only a very few species have appeared in num-
bers sufficiently great to be what could be termed * destructive” to the
beet within the region covered by these studies or investigations; and
these few are of such a nature that they can be readily combated.

Iu their modes of attack upon the beet these various insects, so far
as they have been studied, are either leaf-feeders or root-borers, i. e.,
they either attack the foliage which they devour or from which they
suck the juices by inserting their beaks, or they bore into or gnaw the
roots. Later on in our investigations we may find that, there are others
that will attack the seeds and seed stems. In either of the former cases
the result is an injury to the beet, whether it is being cultivated for the
table, for feeding to stock, or for the manufacture of sugar. Should
future study reveal others that attack the seed of the beet these latter
would of course be of direct injury to the seed industry since much
seed will necessarily have to be raised to provide for the large crops
that are required each year for sugar.

Having now become fully convinced that the cultivation of the Sugar
Beet is not without its drawbacks here in the West, and that there are
insects which we must contend against and overcome in raising this
crop, aS well as in the raising of corn, wheat, and potatoes, we see
the necessity of beginning our fight at once if we would prevent much
future loss. By prompt action in the beginning, when the enemies are
few in numbers and less generally distributed, we will have a much
easier time of it; besides, our losses from this cause will be infinitely
smaller than if we neglect them and permit them to go on increasing
and spreading unmolestedly.

The following list embraces all such species of insects as were either
found to injure the beet here in Nebraska or else have been recorded
by others as attacking this plant within the region referred to:

LisT OF BEET INSECTS.

Species that attack the Leaves.
LEPIDOPTERA.

1, Spilosoma virginica, Fab.—The larva of this very common insect, is one of
the first noticed to injure the beet. It also infests a large number of other
plants. »

2. Spilosoma isabella, Abb.—The larva, like that of the preceding, attacks the beet
and many of our common weeds.

3. Mamestra picta, Harr.—Larva occasionally attacks the leaves of beet and other
garden plants.

6.

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14

. Eurycreon rantalis, Guen.—The larva of this small Pyralid moth is one of our

most destructive beet insects. It is the oneusually known as the Garden Web-
worm; and also attacks a number of other plants among which are the “ Pig-
weed,” the tumble weed, purslane, etc.

. Mamestra trifolii, Rott.—Larva quite common on beets; and sometimes doing

considerable injury by gnawing away the leaves and ape entire tops of small
plants. Also a purslane insect.

Plusia brassice, Riley.—The larva occasionally attacks the beet, but more com-
monly the turnip, cabbage, and other Crucifere,

. Deilephila lineata, Fab.—Larva found feeding on beet leaves in Lincoln, Nebr.,

by Mr. H. Marsland. <A very common purslane insect.

. Copidryas gloveri, G. and R.—Taken several times on the leaves of beets which it

had eaten more or less. An abundant purslane moth.

. Agrotis, spp.—Several species of these ‘‘ cut-worms” are occasionally quite de-

structive to the beet while it is still small. They work more or less all summer,
but are most destructive early in the year. They cut off the plant just at or a
little below the surface of the ground. Some of them also work upon the leaves
above the ground.

Leucania unipuncta, Haw.—The Army’ Worm, when it is abundant, does consider-
able damage to beets and other garden plants by eating their foliage.

Botis pesticata, Grt.—The larva of this moth is said to be quite destructive to a
number of plants here in the West. ‘In 1873 we found the larve feedi:' g
upon Helianthus, Ambrosia, potatoes, and beets, skeletonizing and ruining the
plants for miles along the Neosho Valley and throughout Kansas,” writes Pro-
fessor Riley in the U. 8. Agricultural Report for 1883,

ORTEHOPTERA.

. Melanoplus femur-rubrum, DeG.—Occasionally injuring the leaves of beets and

other vegetables.

. WM. atlanis, Riley.—When common, a general feeder, at least upon the products

of the garden and farm—beets of course included.

. M. spretus, Thos.—Attacks the beet during times of invasions. Svumetimes en-

tirely eating away the leaves and portions of root that protrude from the
ground,

M. differentialis, Thos.—When plentifui it occasionally does some injury to the
foliage of the beet and other garden plants.

. M. bdivittatus, Say.—Where beets are planted on low ground or are growing

close to some rank vegetation, it attacks their tops, but never does much
damage.

. Dissosteira carolina, Lin.—Found feeding upon the tops of sugar beets during the

month of July, at McCook, Nebr.

8. Trimerotropis latifasciata, Scudd.—Taken in company with the preceding, also

feeding on sugar beets.

. Spharagemon cwquale, Scudd.—Several specimens were received during the sum-

mer from McCook and Ravenna, Nebr., with the accompanying statement to
the effect that they fed on the sugar bees

Pezotettix glivaceus, Scudd.—I have seen this hopper in beet fields several times
under such circumstances as led me to think it feeds upon that plant. It is also
quite partial to Helianthus and Chenopodium.

COLEOPTERA.
*

Diabrotica 12-nunctata, Oliv.—Quite common on the leaves of beets, which it in-
jures by gnawing holes in them.

Disonycha triangularis, Say.—The beetle feeds upon the leaves of beets and other
Chenopodiaceous plants. Sometimes quite common here in the West.

Qe eee ee Eee elle

15 | %

23. D. cervicalis, Lec.—Has similar habits to the preceding, but is less abundant.

24. D. xanthomelena, Dalm.—Common on beets and other Chenopodiaceous plants,
the leaves of which it riddles with holes.’

25. D. crenicollis, Say.—One of the 5-lined flea-beetles that occur here in moderate
numbers; is also occasionally taken on beet leaves at Lincoln, Nebr.

26. Systena frontalis, Fab.—Found feeding upon beet leaves on the College farm, Lin-
coln, Nebr.; also on the leaves of Hibiscus militaris at West Point, Nebr.

27, S. teniata, var. blanda, Melsh.—A very numerous species in all parts of the State
from which beet-feeding insects have been received. It literally riddles the
leaves of beets with pit-like holes, in some instances entirely destroying the
leaves of quite large plants. I have also taken it upon white clover, purslane,
and amaranthus. This is liable to be one of our most destructive beet insects
here in the West, especially in Nebraska.

28. Psylliodes convexior, Lec.—Another of the flea-beetles that is very abundant on
the leaves of beets in some portions of Nebraska, and which works in a soine-
what similar manner to the preceding.

29. Chetocnema denticulata, Iig.—L found still another of our small flea-beetles at
work on the beets growing on the State farm here at Lincoln, although in much
fewer numbers than either of the two species preceding.

30. Epitrix cucumeris, Harr.—This small flea-beetle was found to be quite abundant
at Ashland, Nebr., where it was taken by Mr. T. A. Williams, upon the potato,
Solanum nigrum, and the beet, the leaves of all of which were more or less
closely riddled with holes.

. Epicauta pennsylvanica, DeG.—This black blister-beetle injures the leaves of quite
a number of plants, prominent among which are the potato, ‘‘ pigweed,” and
beet. It has been received at the station from central and western Nebraska
as one of the most destructive insects attacking the plant.

32. Epicauta cinerea, Forst.—Another of these blister-beetles was found here at Lin-
coln by Mr. Herbert Marsland, who said it‘almost ruined a small bed of beets
growing in his garden. I have also collected the same species from one of the
wild beans anid several other native plants.

33. Epicauta maculata, Say.—This insect has been received from Medicine Lodge,
Kans., and from Grant and Neligh, Nebr., where it was found to injure the
sugar beets by feeding on the leaves. It isa very common insect here in the
West upon quite a number of the Chenopodiaceous plants, and especially upon
the various species belonging to the genera Chenopodium and Atriplex,

Epicauta vittata, Fab.— This striped blister-beetle is also a beet insect; and has
been received from Ogalalla, this State, where it was reported as doing much
damage to sugar beets. It also is quite a general feeder. Among its food plants
are to be mentioned the Solanacezx, some of the Leguminose, and I have found
it to be quite destructive to several of the Sagittariz.

35. Epicauta cinerea, var. marginata.—This large black blister beetle also frequently
gathers upon vegetables of different kinds in the semi-arid regions east of the
Rocky Mountains, but chiefly upon beans. I have taken it on beets once or
twice here in Nebraska.

36. Cantharis nuttalli, Say.—During the late summer and early fall of 1888 this in-
sect was very destructive to garden plants, beets included, in the Black Hills
of South Dakota. It also abounds in the western and northwestern parts of
Nebraska.

Colaspis brunnea, Fab.—This small leaf beetle, which appears to be quite a gen-
eral feeder, has been taken on several different occasions upon the beet both by

myself and different ones of the field agents, and also by some of the correspond-
ents.

38. Epicerus imbricatus, Say.—The Imbricated Snout-beetle has been known to attack
the beet among the many other plants upon which it feeds. It is a general
feeder.

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Centrinus penicillus, Hbst.—Another of the Snout-bettles that attack the beets
here in the West is the one known to the entomologist by theabove name. It
gnaws small holes in the leaf-stem, and when numerous does considerable harm
to the plants attacked. Whether or not the insect breeds here I was unable to
ascertain.

C. perscitus, Hbst.—Still a third species of weevil was found upon the beets grow-
ing on the State farm. It isa much commoner insect than penicillus, and works
in a similar manner upon the leaf-stem. ~

Apion, sp.—This little Apion was taken on the leaves of beets here at Lincoln on
two separate occasions.

Doryphora10-lineata, Say.—The Colorado Potato-beetle was brought into my office
at different times during the summer by those who reported its having been
captured on the leaves of beet which it was “ certainly eating.”

HETEROPTERA.

Blissus leucopterus, Say.—The Chinch Bug has quite frequently been taken by
me upon beet tops in company with several others of the plant bugs. Whether
or not it was there only temporarily, I can not say; but suppose it was, since
all of our leading economic entomologists assert that its food-plants are limited
to the grasses,

Piesma cinerea, Say.—A very common bug on the beet and various others of the
Chenopodiaceous plants. Sometimes doing much damage to the leaves of the
former.

. Nysius angustatus, Uhl._—Another bug that often gathers upon the beet and other

garden plants is what is called the False Chinch-bug. When numerous it
often does considerable harm to the plants which it attacks. It is also one of
the weed insects that enjoys a wide range.

Geocoris bullatus, Say.—The Large-headed False Chinch-bug, or Purslane Bug, is
also much addicted to infesting the beet here in Nebraska. In fact it has been
received from all over the State as one of the commonest-of insects infesting
the beet. It is also a great weed bug.

. Trapezonotus nebulosus, Fall.—This bug also frequents the beet and several other

Chenopodiaceous plants. It is especially partial to the Pigweed (Chenopo-
dium album) here in Nebraska.

. Emblethis arenarius, Linn.—Taken several times on the beet in company with the

preceding. This insect also is a frequenter of localities where Chenopodium al-
bum is growing. The species also occurs about the roots of ‘Stink Grass”
(Eragrostis major).

Lygus pratensis, Linn.—Probably one of the most general feeders among the true
bugs, and sometimes a very destructive enemy of the beet. It occurs through-
out the entire North American continent in the temperate regions.

Euthoctha galeator, Fab.—This bug has also been taken several times on the beet
in the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebr. I have collected it also from the wild cucum-
ber (Echinocystis lobata).

HOMOPTERA.

. Agallia siccifolia.—This little leaf-hopper, which seems to be especially partial to

the different species of Amarantus and Chenopodium and allied weeds, is also
equally fond of the beet, at least such would appear to be the fact, judging from
the large numbers of the insect that are invariably to be found upon this plant
all through the summer. It occurs in all stages.

. Immature forms only.—Found in moderate numbers on the sugar beet at Grant,

Nebr., a rather large leaf-hopper, which also occurs upon the Amarantus and
Chenopodium,

17

53. Allygus sp.—This prettily marked leaf-hopper is very partial to Chenopodium al-
bum, on the under side of the leaves of which it breeds throughout the summer.
This insect also attacks other species of the same genus, those of the genera Ama-
rantus and Montilia, etc. Besides these it is very frequently found on the beet.
Characteristic marks of its presence are the rather large purplish spots that are seen
upon the leaves of plants that have been punctured by its beak.

54. ELrythroneura sp.—Another small, slender, green leaf-hopper that is occasionally
met with upon the beet. ;

55. Athysanus (? sp.).—Still another of these leaf-hoppers that is found upon the beet.

56. Liburnia intertexta.—There is still a sixth of these leaf-hoppers that has been taken
on the beet here in Nebraska; and which presumably also does some injury to that
plant by sucking its juices.

57. Aphis atriplicis, Linn.—Mr. T. A. Williams tells me that he has taken this plant-
louse on the beet at Ashland, this State, where it was quite common during the
year.

58. Aphis cucumeris, Forbes.—This past summer Mr. Williams also took what he de-
termined to be the Aphis cucumeris, Forbes, breeding quite abundantly upon some
beets that grew right by the side of some cucumber vines that had been infested
by the same insect.

59. Siphonophora pisi, Kalt.—The same gentleman tells me that he has also taken the
common garden aphid here at Lincoln, on the beet. He found it in the pupa and
winged stages.

Species that attack the Root.
COLEOPTERA.

60. Ligyrus gibbosus, De G.—This beetle has been quite destructive to the sugar beet
over limited areas towards the western part of the State during the present season.
It attacks the root, into which the mature insect gnaws great holes, sometimes
entirely imbedding itself. It worked most on old ground and where irrigation was
resorted to. It worked on the roots from the surface to a considerable depth but
most at about 3 or 4 inches below the surface. In some instances it reached a depth
of fully 7 inches below the surface.

61. Lachnosterna fusca, Fréh.—Not unfrequently the common white grub attacks the
roots of the beet, and does injury to the plant in that way. ‘There are very likely
several kinds of the ‘‘ grub” that are concerned in these attacks, since almost every
locality has its particular species of ‘‘ June bug” that predominates in numbers.

62. Wire Worms.—Several of the larve of ‘‘ snapping beetles,” or click beetles, are
also to be charged with injuring the roots of beets in some localities.

63. Unknown larva.—On two different occasions during the past summer I found beets
that had been attacked by some unknown larva just below the surface of the
ground, and from which the depredator had already escaped. The work resem-
bled that of an insect that works in the roots of different ‘tumble weeds” and
causes them to break off. The larve are rather short, thick, whitish grubs with
brownish heads, about one-fourth of an inch in length, slightly largest in the mid-
dle; possibly the larva of some snout beetle.

UNCERTAIN.

64. Silpha opaca, Linn.—This insect has been taken several times by me in beet fields,
and in gardens where beets were growing. In Europe the insect is said to be quite
injurious to the beet crop, by attacking and devouring the leaves. Whether or not
it has the same habit in this country I can not say.

In addition to the above list of insects that are known to actually
attack one or the other varieties of beet there are several others that
25910—Bull. 23 -——2

18

have been taken so frequently upon that plant, and under such pecu.
liar circumstances, that they, too, may prove to be its enemies. Among
these latter I would mention several of the Eleodes, one Collops, and
several Diptera,

REMEDIES THAT CAN BE USED AGAINST BEET INSECTS.

It will be quickly seen by any one who has taken the pains to go
over the foregoing list, that in nearly every case, at least so far as men-
tioned here, the insect enemies of the beet are identical with those that
work upon our common garden weeds, or else they are such as are very
general feeders. It will also be observed that most of them are
leaf-feeders; 7. ¢., they nearly all attack that portion of the piant
above ground. These being the facts in the case, the remedies that at
once suggest themselves are simple. A spray of some kind scattered
over the plants will be effectual as well as economical. The beet tops
are seldom utilized for food, either for man or beast. Hence for pro-
tection against insects with gnawing mouth parts that attack them an
arsenical spray can be used, whilst for such as receive their nourish-
ment by means of a sucking mouth the kerosene emulsion will answer
the purpose. This latter remedy will also be effective against No. 27,
as has been demonstrated by actual experiment by at least one of our
correspondents, who writes that “The kerosene emulsion which you
directed me to try on my beets against the flea-beetles was a perfect
success.”

A direct as well as useful remedy is the careful destruction of all
such weeds as furnish food for the same insects that attack the beet.
Clean culture in this case becomes doubly necessary. First, to prevent
the appropriation by the weeds of nourishment that should be taken by
the beets, and secondly, to give less room for the propagation of inju-
rious insects,

REPORT ON VARIOUS METHODS FOR DESTROYING SCALE
INSECTS.

By D. W. CoQquiLLett, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

Los ANGELES, CAL., October 8, 1890.

Str: I herewith submit my annual report for the season of 1890. The Australian
lady-bird (Vedalia cardinalis Mulsant) recently introduced by this Division, success-
fully survived the winter unprotected out of doors, and as early as the month of
Match I was able to distribute several colonies to those requesting them. Lest this
species, after exterminating the Fluted or Cottony-cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi
Maskell) should become extinct on this coast, our State Board of Horticulture, at the
suggestion of its president, Hon. Ellwood Cooper, has erected two propagating
houses over two large orange trees belonging to Col. J. R. Dobbins, in the San Ga-
briel Valley ; in these houses the Vedalias are to be propagated and distributed to
those requiring them. At the present writing it is no easy matter to find a single
living Icerya anywhere in this part of the State, although in the early part of the
season they appeared in limited numbers in a great many places; later in the season
the Vedalias also appeared in considerable numbers, and by sending colonies of these
to the different localities where the Iceryas had appeared, the latter were effectually
held in check.

The Red Scale (Aspidiotus awrantii Maskell), so destructive to Citrus trees in certain
jocalities, is rapidly reduced in numbers through the agency of the treatment with
hydrocyanic acid gas, described in my previousreports. This treatment is now being
largely used for the above mentioned purpose, and is giving far better results than
have ever been obtained by the use of any kind of a spray ; numerous instances have
occurred where, upon large Citrus trees treated with this gas, neither myself nor other
parties were able to find a single living Red Scale, either upon the bark, leaves, or
fruit—a result which so far as I am aware has never been obtained by the use of any
kind of aspray. The cost of treating trees with the gas is scarcely greater than that
of using a spray, while the method has been so greatly simplified that trees can now
be treated with the gas very nearly as rapidly as they can be sprayed. Ihave not as
yet learned that any person, or even a single domestic animal, has ever been acci-
dentally injured either by the gas itself or by the materials used in producing it. All
of the objections which at first were urged against the use of this gas—the danger of
being poisoned by it or by the chemicals used, the great expense attached to its use,
ana the impracticability of operating the tents—have finally been overcome, and the
treatment is now in successful operation.

In my last report I gave an account of the spraying of a number of orange trees
at Orange according to instructions. These trees were not again sprayed until the
lapse of a little over one year. At this latter date the trees were again badly infested

19

20

with the Red Scale ( Aspidiotus aurantit Maskell), although these were not so numer-
ous as they were at the time that I had them sprayed a little over one year previously.
The oranges when gathered in the following spring were quite free from the scales,
none of them having been rejected by the purchaser on account of being too badly
infested with these pests. Those who depend upon spraying for ridding their trees
of these scales usually spray their trees twice a year, in March or April, and again
in August or September, although some growers perform these operations only in the
autumn, the second spraying being given to the trees about two months after the
first.
During the past season I have received numerous favors from you, especially in
the matter of identifying insects, for all of which please accept thanks.
Respectfully yours,
D. W. COqQuiLuEtTtT.
Prof. C. V. RILEY,
United States Entomologist.

THE GAS TREATMENT FOR THE RED SCALE.

The process of treating trees with hydrocyanic acid gas for the de-
struction of scale insects (Family Coccide) is now being extensively
used in southern California, not only in the orange groves, but also in
the nursery where the imported trees are subjected to this treatment
for the purpose of ridding them of insect pests. In Orange County
alone fully 20,000 orange and lemon trees have been subjected to this
treatment the present year in order to free them from the red scale
(Aonidia aurantit Maskell).

Since the year 1887 various accounts of this process have been pub-
lished in some of the Annual Reports and Periodical Bulletins of this
Department.*

But as these are somewhat scattered, and include an account of the
various improvements that have been made from time to time, I have
thought it desirable to give in this place a brief account of this process
as at present used in actual field work, including in the account such
improvements as have been made since writing up my last report upon
this subject. Briefly speaking, this process consists in covering the
infested tree with an air-tight tent and afterward charging the tent
with hydrocyanic acid gas. The material commonly used in the con-
struction of the tent is what is known as blue or brown drilling. A
few persons have used common ducking in place of the drilling, but
this is much inferior to the latter; in the ducking the threads of which
it is composed extend only lengthwise and crosswise, whereas in the
drilling they also extend diagonally—this belonging to the class of
goods to which our merchants apply the term ‘“ twilled”—and for this
reason the drilling is both stronger and closer in texture than the
ducking.

*See Annual Report United States Department of Agriculture for the year 1887,
pp.123-142; and 1888, pp. 123-126. Also Insrct Lire, vol. 1, pp. 41,42 and 286; and
vol. 11, p. 202-207.

21

After the tent is sewed up it is given a coat of black paint, as it has
been ascertained that tents treated in this manner last longer than
those which have been simply oiled with linseed oil. Some persons mix
a small quantity of soap suds with the paint in order to render the lat-
ter more pliable when dry, and therefore less liable to crack. Instead
of thus painting the tent some persons simply give it a coating made of
an inferior grade of glue called * size,” first dissolving this in water and
then covering the tent with it, using a whitewash brush for this pur-
pose. Sometimes a small quantity of whiting or chalk (carbonate of
lime, Ca Co,),is added to this sizing with or without the addition of lamp-
black. A few make use of the mucilaginous juice of the common Cactus
(Opuntia engelmanni Salm.) for this purpose; to obtain this the Cactus
leaves or stems are cut or broken up into pieces, thrown into a barrel
and covered with water, after which they are allowed to soak for three
or four days; the liquid portion is then drawn off and is ready for use
without further preparation. Tents which I saw that had been pre-
pared with this substance were to all appearances as air-tight and pli-
able as when prepared in any other manner.

A tent 26 feet tall by 60 feet in circum ference—a size large enough to
cover the largest orange tree now growing in this State—if made out of
drilling, and either painted or sized, as described above, will cost com-
pleted about $60. Where the trees to be treated are not more than 12
feet tall the tent can be placed over them by means of poles in the
hands of three persons; to accomplish this, three iron rings are sewed to
the tent at equal distances around and 6 or 7 feet from the bottom of
the tent; immediately under each of these rings an iron hook is attached
to the lower edge of the tent. When the latter is to be placed over a
tree each of the hooks is fastened into the corresponding ring above it ;
one end of a pole is then inserted into each of these rings and the tent
raised up and placed on the tree. The hooks are then released from the
rings and the lower edge of the tent allowed to drop upon the ground.

Instead of allowing the tent to rest directly on the tree some growers
use an umbrella-like arrangement, the handle of which is in two pieces,
which are fastened together with clamps provided with pins; this
allows the handle to be lengthened or shortened according to the height
of the tree. ‘This apparatus is put up over the tree and the tent aliowed
to rest upon it. By the use of this simple device the danger of break-
ing off the small twigs on the upper part of the tree by the weight of
the tent is avoided. Mr. Leslie, of Orange, used four tents and tent-
rests of this kind, and he informs me that with the aid of two men he
fumigated 120 trees in one night. To remove the tent from one tree,
place it over another, and charge the generator required only one minute
and a half. In the place of poles some persons attach a circle of gas
pipe to the lower edge of the tent; then two men, each taking hold of
opposite sides of this circle, throw the tent over the tree. Dr. J. H.
Dunn, of Pomona, informs me that four men, using six tents like the

22

above, fumigated 240 orange trees in one night, and that the average
for each night was over 200 trees, the latter being 8 feet or less in
height.

Trees over 12 feet tall will require a derrick of some kind for the pur-
pose of putting on the tent and removing it again. For this purpose a
stout mast is erected in the center of a strong framework mounted
upon the running gears of a common farm wagon, the height of the
mast depending upon the height of the trees to be operated upon. This
mast is braced in four directions, and to the upper end of it is firmly
attached a cross-piece, extending transversely to the length of the
wagon, and long enough to reach from one row of trees to another. To
each end of this cross-piece are attached small pulleys, through which
pass ropes which are attached to the tents; by pulling down on these
ropes the tents are drawn up to the cross piece after which the wagon
is drawn ahead until the tents are directly over two of the trees to be
treated ; the ropes are then let out and the tents lowered down over
the trees. The ropes are usually attached to the lower edge of the
tents as well as to their apices, and when the tent is to be taken off of
the tree the ropes attached to the bottom of it are first pulled down-
ward, thus drawing the lower part of the tent up to the cross-piece
first, and in a measure turning the tent inside out. But for this device
it would be necessary to have the cross-piece at least twice the height
of the trees to be operated upon. This apparatus is drawn between
two rows of trees and the trees on each side of it treated with the gas.
It iscustomary for the men themselves to draw the fumigator from tree
to tree, thus doing away with the use of horses for this purpose. Stout
planks are frequently used for the wheels of the fumigator to run upon.
A fumigator of this kind, without the accompanying wagons and tents,
can be built for about $15, it being the cheapest and simplest apparatus
ever used for this purpose. It has not as yet been patented, and is
more largely used at the present time than any other kind, operating
the tents successfully even upon the largest orange trees. The first
fumigator of this kind was built by Mr. O. H. Leefeld, a prominent
orange-grower of Orange, and a man who has had considerable experi-
ence as a machinist.

Within the past few weeks a new kind of a fumigator has been
brought out by Mr. W. H. Souther, of Covina, Los Angeles County,
Cal. This, like the preceding one, is mounted upon a common farm
wagon, and operates two tents, one on either side of it. At each end
of this fumigator are four upright posts attached at their lower ends to
the framework, which is mounted on the wagon; the outermost posts
are shorter than the inner ones, and to the upper end of each is attached
a long spar by a hinged joint, which allows the spar to be moved back
and forth transversely to the length of the wagon. The two spars on
one side of the fumigator are connected with each other near their upper
ends by means of a wooden cross-piece, and are drawn back and forth

23

by means of ropes passing through pulleys. The tents are operated by
means of ropes, which pass through pulleys attached to the spars and
cross-pieces described above, there being five ropes attached to each
tent; one of these is attached to the apex of the tent, and passes
through a pulley fastened to the middle of the above-mentioned cross-
piece ; two other ropes are attached to opposite sides of the tent, about
midway between its apex and base, and pass through pulleys fastened
to each of the spars near their upper ends; the other two ropes are
attached to opposite sides of the lower edge of the tent and pass through
pulleys fastened to each of the spars a few feet higher up than those
above described. To the bottom of the tent is attached a wooden cir-
cle in several pieces, and the two ropes attached to the bottom of the
tent are fastened to this circle; these ropes are not exactly on opposite
sides of the tent, the space between them equaling about one-third of
the entire circumference of the lower edge of the tent.

In taking the tent off of a tree the two ropes attached to the tent
midway between its base and apex are first drawn downward until their
points of attachment are slightly above the top of the tree, after which
the two ropes attached to the lower edge of the tent are drawn down-
ward until their points of attachment are drawn up against the spars
at the places wliere the pulleys through which these ropes pass are fas-
tened ; the lower edge of the tent at this stage will be perpendicular
to the surface of the ground, and these ropes are further pulled upon
until the spars on this side of the wagon are perpendicular to the
wagon, thus bringing the weight of the tent upon the middle of the
wagon; the spars are prevented from going over backward any farther
by the presence of the inner upright posts referred to at the beginning
of this deseription. When both of the tents have thus been drawn upon
the wagon the latter is moved forward until the tents are brought op-
posite the next two trees. Before the tents are again let down over
the trees the fumigator is first braced up by means of four long braces
attached to each of the four corner posts at a distance of about 8 feet
from the ground; these are attached in such a manner that they may
be swung out at right angles to the fumigator, or, when not in use, may
be swung around and loaded upon the wagon without first detaching
them. After these four braces are in position the ropes attached to one
of the tents are let out and the tent allowed to fall down over the tree,
a guide-rope being attached to its lower edge to aid in guiding it in its
downward descent over the tree.

Mr. Souther, the inventor of this fumigator, informs me that a fumi-
gator of this kind, without the wagon and tents, could be built for about
$60. He also informs me that a patent has been granted to him upon
this fuinigator.

Besides the above fumigators I may also mention one which has been
used in a few instances with very good results. It is an extremely
simple affair, consisting of an upright post the lower end of which is

24

attached to a framework on a wagon or sled, while to its upper end is
attached a long stick of timber, the latter being attached near its middle
to the top of the post, like the sweep of an old-fashioned well. The
tent is then attached to one end of the sweep, and by pulling downward
on the opposite end the tent is raised up, and may then be swung
around and let down over a tree.

After the tent is placed over the tree the next step is to charge it
with the gas. The materials used for the production of the gas consist
of commercial sulphuric acid (K, SO,), fused potassium cyanide (KCN),
and water, the proportions being 1 fluid ounce of the acid, 1 ounce by
weight of the dry cyanide, and 2 fluid ounces of water. The generator
is placed under the tent at the base of the tree; it consists of a common
open earthenware vessel. The water is first placed in the generator,
then the acid, and last the cyanide, after which the operator withdraws
to the outside of the tent and the bottom of the latter is fastened down
by having a few shovelfuls of earth thrown uponit. The tent is allowed
to remain over the tree for a period of from 15 to 30 minutes, according
to the size of the tree.

It was found by experimenting that the trees were less liable to be
injured by the gas when treated at night than they were when operated
upon in day time, and at the same time the gas is just as fatal to the
seale insects when applied at night as it would be if applied in the day
time; and indeed it appears to be even more fatal when applied at night.
This is accounted for by reason of the fact that in the day time the light
and heat decompose the gas into other gases which, while being more
hurtful to the trees, are not so fatal to insects. At night the trees are
also more or less in a state of rest, and therefore are not so liable to be
injured by the gas as they would be in the day time, when they are
actively engaged in absorbing nourishment and repiacing wasted tissue
with new materials,

Of the different materials used in generating the gas, the most
important is the potassium cyanide; of this there are three grades:
The mining cyanide, commercial cyanide, and the C. P. (chemically
pure). Of these three brands, the mining cyanide is wholly unsuitable
for the production of the gas, and the C. P. is too expensive; the com-
mercial brand (fused) is the only one that is used for producing the
gas, but even this varies greatly in strength, containing all the way
from 33 to 58 per cent. of pure potassium cyanide. It is, therefore, of
the utmost importance that the operator should know the exact per-
centage of pure potassium cyanide that his cyanide contains, and when
large quantities of it are purchased at one time it would be advisable
to obtain one or more analyses of it by a reliable analytical chemist ;
or if it is not possible to submit the cyanide to such person, an analysis
of it could be made by almost any person accustomed to the use of
chemicals or drugs.

The only substance required for this purpose is the crystals of nitrate

25

of silver (AgNO;), which may be obtained at almost any well-stocked
drug store. Dissolve the nitrate in cold water contained in a glass or
earthen vessel, using one-fourth of an ounce (Troy) of the crystals to 1
pint of water; this dissolves ina few minutes, forming a whitish, semi-
transparent solution. The cyanide, when dissolved in water, forms a
transparent, nearly colorless solution; when a small quantity of the
nitrate of silver solution is added to this it at first spreads out in a white
cloud, like milk, but it soon breaks up into small, white, floccy pisces
which gradually disappear upon being agitated, leaving the solution
nearly as transparent as at first; when more of the nitrate of silver
solution is added from time to time the above process is repeated, ex-
cept toward the last, when the cyanide solution becomes somewhat
milky, but it still remainssemitransparent, permitting the operator to see
quite clearly the bottom of the vessel containing the solution. As soon
as a sufficient quantity of the nitrate of silver solution has been added
tothe cyanide solution the latter immediately becomes white and opaque,
like milk, completely concealing from view the bottom of the vessel con-
taining it. This completes the operation, and the quantity of nitrate
of silver solution used will indicate the strength of the cyanide tested,
When absolutely pure, 5? grains of the potassium cyanide dissolved in
water will require 1 fluid ounce of the above nitrate of silver solution
before the turbidity occurs, indicating that the cyanide is 100 per cent.
strong; if only one-half of a fluid ounce of the nitrate of silver solution
produces this turbidity, this indicates that the cyanide in only half
strength, or 50 per cent. strong; if only one-fourth of a fluid ounce is
required, then the cyanide is 25 per cent. strong; and so forth. The
nitrate of silver solution should be added to the cyanide solution very
slowly, the latter being agitated by gently shaking it each time that
any of the nitrate solution is added. Wherever any of the nitrate of
silver solution comes in contact with the skin or nails of the hand it
produces a reddish or black stain which can easily be removed by wash-
ing the stained part in a solution of potassium cyanide and water; this
will quickly remove the stain without causing any injury to the parts
affected, except, of course, when the stains occur upon a sore or eut in
the hand, in which case it would be very dangerous to apply the cyanide
to these places.

It sometimes happens that the percentage of cyanogen (CN or Cy)is
given, instead of the percentage of potassium cyanide (KON or KCy);
but in cases of this kind the percentage of cyanide can be readily ascer-
tained by always bearing in mind that two-fifths of a given quantity of
potassium cyanide is cyanogen. Thus if a certain brand of cyanide
contains 24 per cent of cyanogen, this is equivalent to 60 per cent of
pure potassium cyanide. Potassium cyanide when absolutely pure
(equal to 100 per cent.) contains 40 per cent. of cyanogen; and, there-
fore, no grade of cyanide could contain a larger percentage of cyano-
gen than this.

26

The potassium cyanide used for producing the hydrocyanic acid gas
is principally manufactured by two firms: Power & Weightman, of
Philadelphia, Pa., and the Mallinkrodt Chemical Works, of St. Louis,
Mo. That made by the first named firm is the most largely used ; when
purchased by the ton the price is 36 cents per pound for the grade con-
taining about 57 per cent of pure potassium cyanide, packages and
carriage extra. It is put up in tin cans holding 10 pounds each, and
also in barrels holding about 400 pounds each. That in the cans is
much to be preferred, since the quantity in each is so small that it will
soon be used up after the can is opened; whereas, the barrel contain-
jng so large a quantity, the cyanide used toward the last will have lost
much of its strength by contact with the air. It is customary to weigh
out the eyanide in small paper parcels, and mark each parcel with the
number of ounces of cyanide that it contains; then when the tree is to
be fumigated itis an easy matter for the operator to select one of the
parcels containing a sufficient quantity of the cyanide for the tree, thus
saving the trouble of weighing out the cyanide as it is to be used for
each tree. As the fumigating is done only at night the weighing of the
cyanide is frequently done by the ladies of the house upon the day pre-
ceding its use.

The quantity of cyanide to be used on each tree will, of course, de-
pend not only upon the size of the tree but also upon the strength of the
cyanide used. The following table will aid in determining the proper
quantity of each ingredient to be used on different sized citrus trees,
the cyanide being about 58 per cent pure:

Height Diameter Sulphuric | Potassium
of tree. | of tree-top. Water. acid! cyanide.
Feet. Feet. Flwid ozs. | Fluid ozs. Ounces.
6 4 | § , 4
8 6 2 ] 1
10 8 44 21 24
2 10 8 4 4
12 14 16 8 8
14 10 10 5 5
14. 14 19 9k 93
16 12 16 8 8
16 16 29 144 143
18 14 26 13 13
20 16 36 18 18
22 18 52 26 26
24 20 66 33 3

Not only is this gas fatal to the Ked scale (Aspidiotus aurantit Mas-
kell), but also to the San José scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus Comstock),
and indeed to all of the armored seales. It is also fatal to the Brown
scale (Lecanium hesperidum Linn.) and to the Black scale (Lecanium
olee Bernard), but the eggs of this species are not affected by it.
The common Red Spider (Tetranychus telarius Linn.) and the Woolly
Aphis (Schizoneura lanigera Hausmann) are also not affected by the gas
when used strong enough to destroy the Red scale, although I have
known it to prove fatal to true spiders (species not determined). House-
flies (Musca domestica Linn.), Lace-winged flies (Chrysopa sp.?), and cer-

27
tain kinds of Ichneumon flies (Ophion macrurum Linn.) are also de-
stroyed by the gas. On one occasion I obtained a cluster of eggs of a
species of Psocus fly (Ca@cilius aurantiacus Hagen) that were deposited
upon a leaf of a tree before the latter had been treated with the gas,
and from these eggs afterwards issued a number of parasitic flies be-
longing to the family Proctotrupide and to the genus Alaptus; but the
species is as yet undescribed. Various kinds of Lady-birds, which are
in the tree when the latter is treated with the gas, become stupefied and
fall to the ground, but finally recover and are to all appearance none
the worse for their temporary loss of consciousness. Birds, lizards, and
even barn-yard fowls sometimes refuse to leave the large orange trees
while the tent is being let down over them at night, and are therefore
inclosed in the tent and subjected to the gas; the latter proves fatal to
all of these. The small, pale yellow mites which are frequently found
on orange trees, especially beneath the dead scales, are not affected by
the gas; these have a general resemblance to the young of the Red seale,
and several operators, finding these mites still alive after the tree had
been subjected to the gas, came to the erroneous conclusion that the
gas had not been effectual, thinking that these mites were the young of
the Red scale.

From the above it will be seen that the gas treatment is not a sure
specific for every kind of insect pest, but for destroying Red scales on
citrus trees it is far superior to any other method at present known.

THE RESIN WASH FOR THE SAN JOSE SCALE.

During the past winter I carried on quite a series of experiments with
_various kinds of washes for the destruction of the San José scale
(Aspidiotus perniciosus Comstock) on dormant deciduous trees, kindly
placed at my disposal by Mr. C. H. Richardson, the inspector of fruit
pests for the Pasadena district, Mr. Richardson also aiding me in mak-
ing many of these experiments. Among all of the washes tried the fol-
lowing gave the best results:

ER UMemcetseer eieteneeveeie se cieriae wsie sis cisiacisianeie mia ca eee aces pounds... 30
Cansuicsodan(7O percent) ss--s- ce wacce so seeeet ces ceo scee cn Cleanse We)
IBS He OMe roe sates alse eee ete cde een Neat oat AScume eclhe pints... 44
Wister enough tomalce)c-- sss a6 aes ecinci gee actos gallons.. 100

For making 100 gallons of the above wash a kettle holding 30 gallons
will be required. Place all of the ingredients in the kettle and cover
with water to a depth of 4 or 5inches, boil briskly for about 2 hours, or
until it will dilute evenly with water, like black coffee, which it closely
resembles in color. When this stage is reached the kettle should be
filled up with water, adding this very slowly at first; the contents of
the kettle can then be emptied into a tank or other vessel, and a suffi-
cient quantity of water added to make 100 gallons. Care should be
taken not to chill the wash by adding large quantities of cold water at
one time.

28

The making of this wash will be greatly accelerated if the resin and
caustic soda are first pulverized before being placed in the kettle; if in
large pieces, a considerable length of time will be required in which to
dissolve them. If a sufficient quantity of water is not used at first the
materials when dissolved will form a thick, pasty mass, which simply
breaks open in places to allow the steam to escape, and pieces of the
mixture will be thrown out of the boiler or against its sides or lid by
the escaping steam. When this occurs, water should be added until
the solution boils up in a foamy mass. Whenever there is a tendency
to boil over a small quantity of cold water should be added, but not
too much, or the making of the solution will be retarded; after a few
trials the operator will learn how much water to add in order to pre-
vent the solution from boiling over and yet keep it in a brisk state of
ebullition. If it is not desired to add all of the water at the same time
that the solution is made, then enough can be added to equal two-
fifths of the quantity required; the balance of the water can then be
added at any subsequent time without again heating the solution.
Thus, if a sufficient quantity of the solution is boiled to make when
diluted 100 gallons, this could first be diluted to make only 40 gallons,
and the remaining 60 gallons of water added at any time as required.
If it is desired to use it in a still more concentrated form than this, it
need not be diluted at all after it has been boiled sufficiently, but in
this case it will be necessary to heat it again before adding the water.

On the 11th of February, between the hours of 1:30 and 4:20 p. m.
(sun shining, light breeze), I had 60 dormant deciduous fruit trees
sprayed with the above solution. These consisted of peach, plum, apple,
pear, and quince trees; none of them had started to leaf out except the
quince, which had put forth a few leaves at the tips of some of its
branches. Each of these trees was infested with the San José seale
(Aspidiotus perniciosus Comstock) and several of them had been almost
killed by the attacks of this pest. April 23 I made a careful examina-
tion of these trees and found only a very few living San José scales;
all of thetrees except those which were nearly dead when sprayed were
now making a vigorous growth. May 12 I again examined these trees,
and found living San José scales on only three of them, about half a
dozen seales on each. I made another examination on the 11th day of
June, and found a few San José scales on some of the pears on the
above trees. All of the Black scales (Lecaniwm olew Bernard) which
I found on these trees were dead, and their eggs were dry. July 241
again examined these trees and found three or four living San José
scales on a few pears and apples on some of the trees, but the fruit was
practically clean, whereas on adjoiping trees which had not been
sprayed nearly all of the pears were very badly infested with these
scales. There was, however, a singular exception to this: A LeConte
pear tree that stood in the midst of several Bartlett and Winter Nelis
pear trees, which were very badly infested with the San José scale, was,

29

wholly free from this pest. Nor is this an isolated case, since I saw
the same thing in another pear orchard located several miles from this
one. Mr. Richardson informs me, however, that the fruit of this tree
is almost worthless.

Wishing to test the effects of the above wash on growing trees, I
sprayed a prune, peach, apricot, apple, and orange tree on the 12th day
of May, between the hours of 10 and 11 a. m., sun shining, light breeze.
I examined these on the 11th of June; on the prune all of the fruit had
dropped off, and upon one-third of the leaves were dead brown spots,
these spots not exceeding one-sixth of the entire surface of any of the
leaves; on the peach all of the fruit was dead, but still clinging to the
tree, and half the leaves had brown spots in them, these leaves being
much more injured than were those on the prune tree; on the apricot
the fruit was not injured in the least and three-fourths of the leaves
were uninjured, but the remaining leaves had small brown spots in
them, these spots not exceeding one-fifteenth of the surface on any of
the leaves; on the apple all of the fruit had dropped off and half the
leaves had large brown spots in them, these spots sometimes exceeding
one-half of the entire surface of the leaf; on the orange nearly all of
the fruit had dropped off (the young oranges being about half an inch
in diameter), but the leaves were uninjured.

This indicates that of the different kinds of fruit thus experimented
upon the apricot was the hardiest and was the least affected by the
wash; next to the apricot is the orange, then the prune, after this the
peach, the apple having suffered most from the effect of the wash.

The orange tree experimented upon was infested with the Yellow
scale (Aspidiotus citrinus), and also with the Black scale (Lecanium olee
Bernard), and all of these, as well as the eggs of the Black scale, were
destroyed by the wash.

According to the scale of prices furnished me by the Los Angeles
Soap Company of this city, the material for making 100 gallons of the
above wash, when purchased in large quantities, would amount to $1.14,
being but a trifle over 1 cent a gallon for the diluted wash.

The materials used in preparing the above wash are the same as
those I used in spraying orange trees last season for the destruction of
the Ked scale (Aspidiotus auwrantit Maskell), an account of which is
given in my report to Professor Riley for last year, published in Bulle-
tin No. 22 of the Division of Entomology (pp. 10-14); but the spray I
then used was only three-fifths as strong as the one I used for the de-
struction of the San José scale as above described. On the 19th of
December I tested the spray of the same strength that I had used
for the Red scale on orange trees, but it did not prove fatal to all of
the San José scales that it came in contact with.

The question as to the manner in which the above resin spray proves
fatal to the scale insects—whether the caustic property imparted by the
caustic soda is the destructive agent, or whether it is the suffocating

30

eftect of the resin and fish oil saponified by the caustic soda that pro-
duces this result—is a very important one. Quite a number of our
fruit growers were at first inclined to believe that it is the caustice prop-
erty of the wash that destroys the scale insect, and they therefore in-
creased the quantity of this particular ingredient, only to find that the
wash so constituted is not apparently more fatal to the insects, while
at the same time it is very liable to injure the fruit. My own studies
and experiments lead me to believe that the above sprays kill for the
most part by suffocation. In the course of experimenting I found that
a wash composed of the following ingredients:

ORRIN COGS 5 nea aod e6oeos coon oagsK6 Dour coeooouaDROSSE pounds... 8
Resitisssoucclsste mec ae ee seen ee ete secre etelneiniorme nee do.... 33
Water enough to malcee ee eces ae sper eiteat women sine gallons.. 100

did not prove fatal to as large a percentage of Red scale as did one con-
sisting of:

@ausbicisod aman sss ese seat acta eee ee te alee eateries pounds.. 6
JEG BaosGh5 555 Sane SEBO bes Sa556b cose Gono coda SSG068 sRodon se Gases. 74)
INGIVON co gaguonseesas cobc5e sono soones toca sste doo bose essece pints... 3
Wiaterienouch tO maker sse. sees see eee ae eee gallons.. 100

Now, if it is the caustic property of the wash that proves fatal to the
seale insects, it is evident that the wash containing the largest amount
of the caustic agent would prove fatal to the largest number of scale
insects, but the reverse of this was really the case; the wash containing
the smallest amount of the caustic agent, the caustic property of which
was still further lessened by the addition of the oil, proved fatal to the
largest number of the insects. On the other hand, the addition of the
oil, while reducing the caustic property of the wash, would increase its
varnishing qualities, since it is a fact well-known to painters that the
addition of oil to a varnish improves its qualities. For these reasons
it seems quite certain that it is the suffocating properties of the wash
and not its caustic nature that cause it to prove fatal to the scale insects
which have been sprayed with it.

I have seen orange trees that had been sprayed with a wash so caustic
that it killed fully nine-tenths of the leaves on the trees, burnt the bark
brown, and caused nearly all the oranges to drop off, and yet quite a
number of the Red scale insects located on the oranges still remaining
on the tree were alive. This will show the utter uselessness of attempt-
ing to destroy the Red scale on citrus trees by the use of caustic washes.

THE LIME, SALT, AND SULPHUR WASH FOR THE SAN JOSE SCALE.

For destroying the San José scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus Comstock)
on dormant deciduous fruit trees many growers in this State use a wash
composed or the following ingredients in the proportions here given:

Sulphur <3. soos see eee eae Seine eet eiseioereeiaeieteeeteinees pounds... 33
1 00). eee eee eens eS HS aroiacomoe Shenae bobeaodaSooe doses.) 42
Salt (pO GOC OOOO SOD GOCOne noo son Stops wagcc sob s6656 Sse nes doeeee 25

31

All the sulphur and half of the lime are placed in a kettle and 33
gallons of water added, after which the contents of the kettle are boiled
briskly for about 1 hour; the solution will then be of a very dark brown
color and having a reddish tint. All of the salt is added to the remain-
ing 21 pounds of lime and the latter slaked, after which this slaked
lime and salt are added to the above described sulphur and lime solu-
tion and the whole then diluted with a sufficient quantity of water to
make 100 gallons; this is then strained, after which it is ready to be
sprayed upon the trees.

This does not form a perfectly liquid solution but-.contains a consid-
erable quantity of undissolved sulphur and lime, which soon settles to
the bottom unless the solution is stirred almost constantly while being
sprayed on the trees. It is therefore somewhat of the nature of a thin
whitewash, and the trees sprayed with it have the appearance of hav-
ing been whitewashed. On the 26th of November, at 12:45 p. m., sun
shining, light breeze, I sprayed a pear tree with a wash made according
to the above directions, the tree being very thickly infested with the
San José scale. January 15 I found 14 living San José scales on this
tree, and on the 23d of April I found several more; on the 11th of
June | found on this tree a Black scale (Lecanium olew Bernard) con-
taining healthy eggs.

I also tested this wash in the following proportions :

Schl NNR 62 SS SY bat GSS SRE SE Sea Bn Eos nes OoE Coa ae aaeme mere pounds... 50
NNN Open arte epee emer a ane nace sacs te seis Sis aie Seine Se aah doz=-— 63
SUL S26 outta 54S Gt dg een Ree UE cee 4 NEO Seer ae eames doze-an now
Water enough to make...-...-...-..-.-----.------+-+---- gallons.. 100

This was applied to a pear tree at 1 p. m., November 26, sun shining,
light breeze. On January 15 I found 6 living San José scales on this
tree, and on the 23d I found several more.

At the time of making these tests there were several green leaves on
each of these trees, but all of these were killed by the washes. The
trees otherwise were not apparently injured, and in the following spring
started into a vigorous growth which was continued throughout the
summer. These trees were not over 10 feet tall, and were very thor-
oughly sprayed, so if seems quite certain that every scale insect located
upon them must have been covered with the wash.

The philosophy of this wash is not at present clearly understood. 1
seems very probable however that the product of the lime and sulphur
(bisulphide of lime, CaS.) furnishes the insecticidal property, and the
presence of the salt and slaked lime simply imparts permanency to the
wash. I made quite a series cf experiments with the above-named in-
gredients, with a view of ascertaining which of the ingredients were
really insecticides, but these experiments have thus far resulted nega-
tively. The following is a brief account of these experiments:

SAL”.—Experiment 229: Table salt, 19 pounds; water, 100 gallons.
I simply dissolved the salt in cold water and then sprayed the solution

32
on a pear tree at 12:30 p. m., November 26, sun shining, light breeze.
This did not kill all of the green leaves that were upon the tree. Jan-
uary 15 I found a great many living San José scales on this tree.

Experiment 228: Salt, 38 pounds; water, 100 gallons. Dissolved the
salt in water as before and sprayed on a pear tree at noon, November 26,
sun shining, light breeze. This killed all of the green leaves that were
upon the tree. January 15, I found many living San José scales on this
tree.

Experiment 237: Salt, 60 pounds; water, 100 gallons. Dissolved the
salt as before and sprayed on a pear tree at 10 a. m., January 20, sun
shining, light breeze. April 23, I found a great many living San José
scales on this tree.

SALT AND LimE.—Experiment 238: Salt, 25 pounds; slaked lime,
8$ pounds; water, 100 gallons. The salt and lime were added to the
cold water, stirred occasionally, and strained through a piece of Swiss
muslin and then sprayed upon a pear tree at 10:30 a. m., January 30,
sun shining, light breeze. April 23 I found a great many living San
José scales on this tree.

SALT AND SULPHUR.—Experiment 232: Salt, 25 pounds; sulphur,
75 pounds; water, enough to make 100 gallons. The sulphur was boiled
for an hour in 75 gallons of water, after which the salt was added, and
the solution diluted with a sufficient quantity of cold water to make 100
gallons. After standing for a few minutes the greater portion of the
sulphur settled to the bottom, making it necessary to stir the solution
almost constantly while applying it to the tree. Sprayed on a pear tree
at 2:45 p. m., November 26, sun shining, light breeze ; this killed all of
the green leaves on the tree. January 15 I found a great many living
San José scales on this tree.

SuLPHUR.—Experiment 233: Sulphur, 100 pounds; water, enough to
make 100 gallons. Placed the sulphur in the water and boiled for 1
hour, then when cold, sprayed the solution on a pear tree at 3p. m.
November 26, sun shining, light breeze. This did not injure any of the
green leaves that were on the tree. January 15 I found a great many
living San José scales on this tree, a smaller proportion being killed
than in either of the preceding experiments.

Limge.—Experiment 239: Slaked lime, 10 pounds; water, enough
to make 100 gallons. The lime was placed in the water, stirred occa-
sionally and in two hours the solution was strained through a piece of
thin Swiss muslin and sprayed upon a pear tree at 10:45 a, m. January
20, sun shining, light breeze. April 23, I found a great many living
San José scales on this tree.

Lime AND SuLPHUR.—Experiment 240: Quicklime (CaQ), 100
pounds; sulphur, 334 pounds; water, enough to make 100 gallons.
Placed the lime and sulphur ina copper vessel, added 30 gallons of
water, and boiled for two hours, then filtered. The solution was of a deep
orange-red color. After standing for a few minutes needle-like erystals

3d

somewhat resembling the down on the seeds of thistles separated out.
These were composed of bisulphide of lime (CaS,) and being freely solu-
ble in water, were dissolved when the balance of the water was added.
In this action all of the sulphur had been incorporated with the lime,
since the residue when dried would not ignite. Added a sufficient
quantity of water to the above solution and sprayed an apple tree with
it at 10:30 a. m. Mareh 18, sun shining, light breeze.

About 14 hours after making the above experiment it began to rain
very gently and this was continued for 24 hours. April 23, I found a
great many living San José scales on this tree. At the time of making
the above test I also sprayed some of the solution on a branch of a
peach tree in full blossom, but this did not appear to produce any in-
jurious effect upon the blossom, since at the time of my visit ou the
23d of April this branch bore as many peaches as did any of those I
had not sprayed. It seems almost certain that the rain, coming on so
soon after the wash was applied, rendered neutral the effect of the
above solution on the scale insects sprayed with it. I have seen
orange trees that had been sprayed with the resin wash on a certain
day and a rain occurred during the night following the application;
but the wash did not prove fatal to nearly as large a percentage of the
red scales as would bave been the case had no rain occurred.

On the same day that the above test was made (March 18), I also
tried the above mentioned lime and sulphur solution at half strength,
but it did not produce any apparent effect upon the San José scales
infesting the tree sprayed with it. It was now too late in the season
to make additional tests of this solution, but I hope to be able to fol-
low up this subject during the coming winter.

From the above experiments it would appear that neither lime, salt,
nor sulphur when used separately are effectual in destroying the San
José scale; and the same is true in regard to any two of them when
used in combination, except, perhaps, the lime and sulphur, which have
not as yet been sufficiently tested. It is very probable, however, that
these two ingredients give to the wash its insecticidal property, while
the addition of the slaked lime and salt simply impart stability to the
wash, rendering it less liable to be washed off the trees by the winter
rains. Should this surmise prove correct, then the directions given at
the head of this article for preparing this wash should be changed, an
equal number of pounds of lime being required with the 33 pounds of
sulphur, instead of only 21 pounds of lime, as at present used.

I experienced considerable difficulty in preparing and applying this
wash, owing to the fact that some of the materials used are not solu-
ble in water, necessitating an almost constant stirring of the solution
while it is being sprayed upon the trees. On this account it is quite im-
possible to spray it uniformly upon all of the trees, aud this difficulty
has also been experienced by each of our fruit-growers who have used it
and with whom [ have conversed upon the subject, or who have written

25910—Bull, 23 3

34

to me in regard to it. Some of the trees sprayed by this solution
would be very much whitened, as if whitewashed, whereas other trees
sprayed from the same tank as these would be scarcely discolored by
the wash. Itis, of course, the slaked lime added to the solution that
causes it to give the trees the appearance of having been whitewashed,
since neither the salt nor the sulphur discolor the tree to any appreci-
able extent, and the same is true of the bisulphite of lime, which is pro-
duced by boiling the quicklime and sulphur together.

The cost of 100 gallons of this wash according to prices furnished me
by Howell & Craig, wholesale grocers, of this city, for the sulphur and
salt, and by the Southern California Lumber Company, also of this
city, for the lime, is as follows, the materials being purchased in large
quantities :

Sulphur, 33pounds, at2; cents per pound. 2222-0... s2s2-- come ceee $0. 70
Lime, 42 pounds, at § of a cent per pound! - 22. 2225 sa) sae so eee aie BOD
Salt; 25 pounds, at-5), ola Cont per pound ):s-see = se- eee eeeee eee 515]

Motallbs,. <ctaz é Sieiscie lntdetse Soe late wini te eisai tee oe oye ereloe ae eae $1.14

The salt quoted aboveisapoor grade, such as is used for salting hides,
and the price quoted is by the ton; the sulphur is in sacks, and the
lime in barrels containing about 220 pounds each. ;

Of the two washes above described—the resin, caustic soda, and fish
oil, and the lime, salt, and sulphur washes—the one containing resin is
greatly to be preferred. Not only is this wash easier to prepare than
the other, but it is also much easier to apply it to the trees, since it is
perfectly soluble in water and therefore does not require to be stirred
while being sprayed upon the trees. For this reason more uniform re-
sults will be obtained by its use than would be obtained by using the
sulphur wash. Moreover, the resin wash, by being properly diluted,
can also beused in the summer season, and thus only one wash need be
used at any time of the year. In my own experiments better results
were obtained by the use of the resin wash than were produced by the
sulphur wash. The price per gallon of each of these washes is about
the same. The sulphur wash should never be used on trees in leaf nor
on those just starting to leaf out, and this is also true of the resin wash
when made according to the formula given in the preceding article.

MISCELLANEOUS EXPERIMENTS.

CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE (also known as mercuric chloride, HgCl,).—
Some time ago one of the Horticultural Commissioners of San Ber-
nardino County remarked to me that he had used a simple solution of
corrosive sublimate for the purpose of destroying various kinds of seale
insects on nursery trees, and had obtained very good results by the
use of the same; and it was also reported in some of the San Diego
papers that a gentleman living in that county had obtained better re-
sults by the use of a solution of the above kind than he had by using
any other kind of insecticide for the destruction of the black scale.

35

Thinking the subject worthy of investigation, I made a few experi-
ments with this substance, but the results were far from being satis-
factory. I dissolved the sublimate in cold water by frequent stirring ;
this required about 15 minutes, and the solution was of a dark bluish-
gray color. Following is a brief account of these experiments :

(224) Corrosive sublimate, 24 ounces; water 100 gallons. Sprayed
on an orange tree infested with the red scale at 3 p. m., October 16, sun
shining, light breeze. November 13, leaves and fruit uninjured; found
great many living red scales on this tree.

(223) Corrosive sublimate, 44 ounces; water, 100 gallons. Sprayed
on an orange tree at 2:30 p. m., October 10, sun shining, light breeze.
November 13, leaves and fruit uninjured; found great many living red
scales on this tree.

(236) Corrosive sublimate, 1{ pounds; water, 100 gallons. Sprayed
on a dormant pear tree infested with the San José scale at 10 a. m.,
December 31, sun shining, light breeze. February 3, found a great
many living San José scales on this tree.

The price in this city of the corrosive sublimate in 10-pound lots is
at the rate of $1.40 per pound; at this rate the strongest solution I
used (experiment 236) would cost about $1.63 per 100 gallons. I did
not test a stronger solution than this, since its cost alone would prevent
its being extensively used.

GLUE.—For the purpose of testing this substance as an insecticide
for the destruction of the red scale on citrus trees I made a few experi-
ments with it, but with very unsatisfactory results. The grade I used
is of a light brown color, not the white, nor yet the poorest grade, but
such as is used by cabinet-makers. To dissolve the glue I simply boiled
it in water, and it dissolved in about 10 minutes. Following is a brief
account of these experiments:

(227) Glue, 45 pounds; water 100 gallons. Sprayed on an orange
tree infested with the red scale at 4:30 p. m., October 11, sun shining,
light breeze. November 13, leaves and fruit uninjured; found great
many living red scales on this tree.

(226) Glue, 8.1 pounds; water 100 gallons. Sprayed on an orange
tree at 4p. m., October 11, sun shining, light breeze. November 13,
leaves and fruit uninjured; found great many living red scales on this
tree.

(225) Glue 124 pounds; water 100 gallons. Sprayed on an orange
tree at 3:30 p. m., October 11, sun shining, light breeze. November 13,
leaves and fruit uninjured; found great many living red scales on this
tree.

In this city (Los Angeles) the price of glue of the above grade in 10-
pound lots is at the rate of 50 cents perpound; at this rate the strongest
solution I used (experiment 225) will cost $6.25 per 100 gallons. This,
of course, is much too expensive for ordinary use as an insecticide, and
for this reason I did not test a stronger solution.

36

ALOEs.—Dr. M. F. Bishop, of Alameda, the owner of a large orchard
of deciduous fruit trees in the vicinity of San José, in the northern
part of the State, gave me a package of aloes, with the request to test
it on the seale insects infesting citrus trees. Accordingly I made a
few tests with it, simply dissolving the aloes in cold water, straining
the solution through a piece of Swiss muslin, and then spraying it
upon the tree. The aloes is not readily soluble in cold water, and 4
days were required for it to dissolve, being occasionally stirred during
this time. The experiments are as follows:

(243) Aloes, 124 pounds; water, 100 gallons, Sprayed cn an orange
tree infested with the yellow scale (Aspidiotus citrinus) at 10:30 a. m.,
March 22, sun shining, light breeze. April 23, leaves and fruit unin-
jured; found many living yellow scales on this tree.

(242) Aloes, 25 pounds; water, 100 gallons. Sprayed on an orange
tree at 10 a. m., March 22, sun shining, light breeze. April 23, ieaves
and fruit uninjured; found several living yellow scales both on the
leaves and {fruit of this tree.

The price of the aloes in large quantities is at the rate of 16 cents
per pound; at this rate the strongest solution I used (experiment 242)
would cost $4 per 100 gallons. At this strength (25 pounds of aloes to
100 gallons water) it proved fatal to a large percentage of the scale
insects, and doubtless if it had been used one-half stronger it would
have been entirely effectual; but the high price of a solution of the
latter strength would prevent its being used on a large scale.

REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS WITH RESIN COMPOUNDS ON
PHYLLOXERA, AND GENERAL NOTES ON CALIFORNIA
INSECTS.

By ALBERT KOEBELE.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

ALAMEDA, CAL., October 20, 1890.
Sir: I herewith submit report upon experiments, chiefly with resin compounds, on
Phy'lozera vastatriv, and observations made during the year.
Very respectfully,
ALBERT KOEBELE,
Field Agent.
Prof. ©. Vi. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.

By your direction a series of experiments was carried on, chiefly with
resin compounds, upon the Phylloxera in Sonoma Valley during Septem-
ber and the beginning of October.

In preparing the compounds the following were used: Bicarbonate
of soda, sal soda, and Greenbank’s caustic soda, 98 per cent. Three
pounds are required of the former to dissolve 4 pounds of resin prop-
erly, or, in other words, to make a resin soap; 1 pound of the latter is
sufficient to dissolve 10 pounds of resin or even 11, but I did not sue-
ceed in dissolving 12 pounds, as parts of the resin would always re-
main. In repeated and careful trials this could not be overcome.

The results showed somewhat in favor of the bicarbonate of soda as
far as to destruction of the insects, but the price has to be considered.
Next to this seems to be the emulsion prepared with caustic soda, but
it is a difficult matter to decide which will work best without carrying
on an extensive series of trials. Itis safe to say, however, that the
results will not vary greatly.

One pound of resin was used to each 10 pints of compound, and
this again was diluted with water at a strength of 1 pound of resin in
24 gallons of water, up to 1 pound in 373 gallons of water—one part of
compound in thirty parts of water. This compound will, as has been
previously stated, do effective work on unprotected Aphids, 7. e., such
as are not covered with cottony or mealy exudations, at one part in

37

38

fifteen parts of water, or 1 pound of resin in about 16 gallons of water.
(The former mixtures were somewhat stronger; 1 pound of resin in
9 pints of liquid.) The action upon the Phylloxera is much more
marked and with a mixture of one part of compound in thirty parts of
water the insects, if immersed for a few seconds only and left exposed,
will die, notwithstanding this solution will not adhere to parts of the
roots, not having at this strength the required penetrating power which
a sufficiently strong solution, say about 1 pound resin in 15 gallons of
water, has, and more so than any other insecticide I know of. The
experiments were made on 25-year-old Tokay vines (the only ones re-
maining that have withstood the ravages of the Phylloxera), in loamy
soil, which was completely dry and hard at this time of the year, no
moisture being noticeable until a depth of from 10 to 12 inches below
the surface was reached. |

In all cases the ground was removed te a depth of about 6 inches,
forming a hole 4 feet in diameter. Ten gallons of the solution, it was
observed, penetrated here to 12 inches in depth around the roots where
the hole was deepest, or about 18 inches from original surface of ground,
and most of the insects were destroyed to about 16 inches in depth, if
the 10 gallons contained 4 pints of compound. In the later experiments
these holes were made only about 2 feet in diameter, and nearly if not
the same results were obtained with only half the amount or 5 gallons
of the mixture. This is more practical, as the chief roots only are
reached and the solution can be used so much stronger. The less
solution required the better, providing it will do the work, for at 10 gal-
lons to each plant this would mean 7,000 gallons or over per acre. If
the solution is applied at another time of the year, say early spring,
when rain is still expected, the results undoubtedly will be still more
favorable. I have had excellent results with solutions prepared with
caustic soda by using 4 pints of this to 16 pints of water only and ap-
plying 5 gallons of water soon after and 5 gallons the following day.
This destroyed the Phylloxera to nearly the depth the fluid reached.
Thus it wili be seen if a small amount of the mixture, sufficiently strong,
be applied in early spring the following rains will do the rest. As it
was, With the dry soil, the 4 pints of compound in 10 gallons of diluent
did better work than the same .amount of compound in only 5 gallons,
for the simple reason that it penetrated farther and thus reached more
of the insects in sufficient strength to kill. It must also be remembered
that a completely dry soil will take up a large amount of the 1 quid,
whereas in a moist soil this is not the case.

The compounds were prepared as formerly, sal soda 3 pounds, resin 4
pounds, dissolved together with 1 quart of water, and water added
slowly while boiling to make 40 pints. The caustic soda, which comes
in 10-pound tin cans, is dissolved in 4 gallons of water, after which 4
gallons more should be added. This lye will dissolve 100 pounds of
resin and make 125 gallons of compound, sufficient for 250 plants, and

ees we.

39

costing at wholesale in San Francisco (T. W. Jackson & Co., No. 104
Market street) $2.50. This is sufficiently strong, and to use more is
unnecessary, as it was found that even 3 pints of the emulsion to the
plant would do the work.

1 will give herea receipt for preparing the cheapest compound. This
is with common caustic soda, such as is sold at wholesale at about 5
cents per pound:

Causticisoda, .@éeper Cent. --.) 4-1. to oe aes sss eee 25 se pounds... 5
PRGB IMB eeee se cociste cin a=, staietc ciate Siocisiocicieb seis eee aelsiecineweets cise do 40
WEEE? DIE) Sam pec dod deangacecbae DOSES eociap A SE oSASaIeeca gallons.. 50

First the soda should be dissolved over fire with 4 gallons of water,
then the resin added and dissolved properly, after which the required
water can be given slowly while boiling to make the 50 gallons of com-
pound. This will make 500 gallons of the diluent, sufficient for 100
plants, and costing about $4 cents.

While a much weaker solution would kill the Phylloxera, this is
recommended, as it also destroys their eggs effectively. Below are
given the results of some of the experiments to show the effects of
various strengths. Most of these have been duplicated or tried upon
several plants. A small mite (Zyroglyphus sp.), always very abundant
among the Phylloxera, and, as a rule, feeding upon the sap of the
roots, yet from numerous empty skins appearing to feed also upon the
lice, Was in no case injured by these resin washes.

CoMPoUND No. 1.—Bicarbonate of soda, 3 pounds ; resin, 4 pounds, and
water to make 40 pints, costing 15 cents.

Compound, 1 gallon; water, 6 gallons; in holes 4 feet in diameter.
Destroyed insects to about 12 inches in depth from original surface, as
well as the eggs of the same, which became dark in color.

Compound, one-half gallon; water, 4 gallons. Destroyed all insects
where they were reached (occasionally a living one running about).

Compound, 1 part; water, 10 parts; about 10 gallons of the fluid
used. This will destroy all lice and their eggs completely to 12 inches

_ from original surface, but not deeper.

Compound, 1 part; water, 12 parts; 9? gallons used. Twenty-four
hours after application some of the solution remained still on top, and
on examining 6 days later it was found that it had penetrated the ground
to 12 inches from original surface. Much of the solution had evap.
orated and left a brown scum (dry soap) on top. It will also destroy
most, if not all, of the eggs.

Compound, 1 part; water, 14 parts. Threeand three-fourths gallons
of the diluent in holes 2 feet in diameter killed the insects to 8 inches
in depth, or 14 inches from original surface.

Compound, 1 part; water, 16 parts; 84 gallons diluent. Occasion-
ally a living insect found and large numbers of mites on the nearly
dead vines.

40

Compound, 1 part; water, 18 parts ; 93 gallons diluent; examined 5
daysafter. Nearly alltheinsects dead to 14 inches in depth, but most of
the eggs looked bright yellow and no doubt will hatch. Behind the
thick bark near the top, where apparently the solution did not penetrate,
a number of young lice were found alive.

Compound, 1 part; water, 20 parts; 105 gallons diluent; in holes.
4 feet in diameter. An examination 5 days later showed the fluid
had penetrated the ground on plants 153 or 20 inches from original
surface. All the insects were destroyed 15 inches in depth and but
very few living 5 inches deeper. This solution seems to work best of all
this series, but it is doubtful if the eggs will be affected by it.

CoMPOUND No. 2.—Caustic soda, 98 per cent., 1 pound ; resin, 10 pounds ;
water to make 124 gallons; compound costing 25 cents.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 4 pints; in hole 4 feet in diameter; 5
gallons of water added 1 hour later and the same quantity next day.
Very few dead insects were found upon this plant, and none living.
Not sufficient to show proper result.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 2 gallons; 5 gallons of water added 1 hour
after and 5 gallons the following day. Examined plants 7 days later.
result very satisfactory, hardly any living phylloxera as far as the fluid
reached. After examination 5 gallons more water were added and
again examined a week later, when no living insects could be found to
a depth of 18 inches.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 10 gallons. Destroyed insects to about 8
inches in depth and but few below this.

Holes only 2 feet in diameter; 5 gallons of water in same first, and
solution 1 hour later in the four succeeding experiments.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 44 gallons ; examined 13 days later. De-
stroyed insects and eggs as well, which had become very dark. Occa-
sionally a live specimen running about.

Compound, 3 pints; water, 44 gallons. Examined 13 days later and
found all insects dead that had been reached.

Compound, 24 pints; water, 374 pints. Examined 13 days later. A
piece of root about 10 inches deep one-halfinch in diameter by 6 inches
long and completely covered with phylloxera showed but one single
living young, probably hatched from egg after application.

Compound, 2 pints; water, 45 gallons; also examined at the end of
13 days. All insects to $ inches below ground or 14 inches below orig-
inal surface were destroyed, as well as a large part of the eggs. Oc-
casionally a living young was found wandering about.

Four other experiments were made with this compound, using 1, 2, 3,
and 4 pints in 20 of the solution, the ground having 4 hours previously
been saturated with 5 gallons of water in each case. Examined 12 days
after; results were not good with 1 pint but were progressively better
with the other three. Applied 4 gallons more water on plants where 3

Al

and 4 pints had been used, and found 2 days later that this additional
water still increased the effect.

Inaddition to this a number of plants were treated with this compound
to note the results next spring. The holes were made 2 feet in diameter,
and after the solution had disappeared the wet ground from the outside
was placed around the plant and the hole closed again. The experi-
ments were: Five pints of compound in 5 gallons of the solution, four
plants; 4 pints of compound in 5 gallons of the solution, eight plants ;
3 pints of compound in 5 gallons of the solution, ten plants; and 2 pints
of compound in 5 gallons of the solution, ten plants.

CompounpD No. 3.—Caustic soda, 98 per cent, 1 pound ; resin, 8 pounds ;
and water to make 10 gallons of compound, costing 22 cents.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 74 gallons. Examined 6 days later; result
good.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 10 gallons. Examined 6 days later and
found result favorable.

Compound, 3 pints; water, 75 pints. Found only part of insects de-
stroyed 6 days later.

Compound, 3 pints; water, 90 pints. There were not enough insects
upon this plant to deduce fair results, which would no doubt be very
poor.

Compound No. 4.—Sal soda, 3 pounds; resin, 4 pounds ; and water to
make 5 gallons of compound ; costing 11 cents.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 7} gallons. Examined 5 days later and
found all insects killed except a few living on a plant under thick bark,
where solution apparently did not penetrate.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 10 gallons. Examined 5 days later and
found insects dead to 12 inches in depth from original surface, with only
occasionally a live one walking about.

Compound, 3 pints; water, 75 pints. On examining, 5 days later,
only the insects near surface were found dead.

Compound, 4 pints; water, 15 gallons. This destroyed only partly
the lice near the top.

The following four experiments were made with this compound, the
ground having been previously soaked with 4 gallons of water:

Compound, 3 pints; water, 21 pints. Examined 12 days later. Did
not show good results, as part of the insects were found alive. Twice
the amount of water with the same quantity of compound will do much
better work.

Compound, 3 pints; water, 33 pints. Examined 12 days later and
found results fairly good. Only a few living ones were running about.

Compound, 2 pints; water, 30 pints. Onexamination numerous live
insects were found, but more than half were killed.

42

Compound, 2 pints; water 38 pints. Result about the same as in
preceding experiment.

These four experiments were repeated and the water added (3 gal-
lons) 2 hours after instead of before application of emulsion. The re-
sults in this case were much more satisfactory, destroying most of the
eges in the two first experiments and nearly all of the phylloxera in the
two last to a depth of about 10 inches.

GENERAL NOTES.

It was probably owing to the unusually heavy rainfall during last
winter that insects were comparatively scarce in the early part of the
season. At least no complaint was noticed or heard during this time.
While a large number would undoubtedly be destroyed by weeks of
excessive rains and floods, yet there are such as are not or only slightly
affected by this element. I may cite here, for instance, such species the
eges of which are found upon trees and shrubs during the winter months
as well as the eggs of locusts usually deposited on dry hillsides. Ona
visit to Sonoma county during May, the larvee of Clisiocampa were ex-
tremely abundant. Two species were found, namely, C. constricta and
C. thoracica. The first species predominated in numbers, and while
usually feeding upon deciduous oaks was also found upon Live Oak and
Quercus agrifolia as well as various shrubs. In confinement these larvie
were furnished with food consisting of leaves of Plum and Cherry, but
for three days they would not feed upon these and readily attacked the
leaves of Live Oak which were given them, and upon these they were
raised. CO. thoracica, which is the species defoliating various fruit trees,
was found chiefly upon willows, but also upon oaks, and here again
usually upon White Oak, upon which its eggs were found in October.
This species was bred upon leaves of Prune and Cherry.

At the end of May of the present year, I received from Mr. F. L.
Washburn, entomologist of the experiment station at Corvallis, Ore-
gon, a few Clisiocampa larve new to me. He said they were found
feeding upon a species of Crataegus and were sent with leaves of apple,
upon which I reared them. On my visit to Washington these larvee
were met with at Tacoma, on June 8, within webs upon Alder (Alnus
rubra), and again at Easton, during July, upon Willow. Near Tacoma
I also found what I took to be the larve of C. thoracica very abundant
upon Crataegus, Alder, Hazel, and various other shrubs. Two of the
larvie were taken to Easton, and one pupated and to my surprise pro-
duced not the expected C. thoracica, but C. erosa Stretch.

About 10 miles along the railroad in southern Oregon, about the be-
ginning of June, larve and webs of one of these moths were seen in
large quantities on dry hillsides upon Purshia tridentata DC., Ceanothus
sp.,and also Wild Cherry. While crossing the Columbia River on
steamer, June 8, at which time the water was very high, large numbers
of these larve were observed floating upon the swift current and as

43

many as a dozen could be seen at one time, but of all the hundreds seen
very few were dead. They were usually in a halfcircle and completely
dry above and were carried off to be distributed safely along the shores.
In both cases I had no opportunity to obtain specimens for identifica-
tion.

As to the parasites, so far two species of a small Chalcid were bred ~
from 37 egg masses of C. constricta found within three hours while col-
lecting Cynipid galls in Sonoma County during October. This species
is preyed upon by Tachina flies, which are or have been, the present
season, the chief agent in destroying them. From about two hundred
grown larve collected but very few moths were obtained, the Tachina
maggots issuing from the dying and spun-up larve in large numbers.
No ground for their reception had been furnished in breeding cases and
they pupated among the leaves and excrement. At least 80 per cent
of these larve were parasitized and but one of the flies has issued up
to date. I also obtained one large cocoon of an Ichneumonid from
larvee in confinement and others were still found in nature during Sep-
tember.

C. thoracica was also infested by Tachina larva, but only about
30 per cent. were destroyed by these maggots. Two species of the flies
have come out so far. C. californica was noticed full of eggs of these
flies and some had previously been bred. An Ichneumonid was ob-
tained from young larve the present year. Professor Rivers, of
Berkeley, informed me the end of April that he had previously ob-
served one of these larve at Bay View upon Willow, and accordingly
a trip was made to that locality and this species was found as well as
its tents, not alone upon Willow, but also on the scrubby Live Oaks
growing there, Hazel, Wild Currant, Rhamnus californica, Blackberry,
and other plants, showing that this species is not confined to Live Oak
alone.

No Tachina has yet been obtained from the species in Santa Cruz
Mountains, nor have I observed any eggs, but larve of this species
placed upon Cherry and Prune at Alameda were badly attacked. The
same species of Ichneumonid bred from larvie of C, californica has also
been obtained from this. This species was observed upon Plum, Prune,
Willow, Ceanothus and Cercocarpus.

Two species of Ichneumonids were bred from the new species of the
north, one from larvze found at Tacoma, and the second from those
found at Easton.

I may mention one Noctuid larva as very destructive to buds, young
fruit, and foliage of fruit trees, chiefly Apple, Pear, Plum, and Prune.
This is Taniocampa, and I have full proof that the destruction of a
large share of the buds and young fruit, so universally, yet incorrectly,
attributed to birds on this coast, is due to this larve. In the very
early spring, often in February, these moths make their appearance
from hibernated chrysalids and copulate, and the female deposits her

44

eggs, from two to three hundred or more, in crevices of bark. I found
them in large numbers together, thrust deep into a place where one of
the branches had broken off. The young larve soon made their ap-
pearance and in want of leaves began to feed upon buds and blossoms,
and later on, as [ have repeatedly observed on apple trees, upon the
young fruit also. Within about 24 days these larvee become full grown
and enter the ground for pupation to remain in this state for nearly 11
months. If only one or two early broods occur upon a single or-
dinary tree, they will, in some cases, destroy most if not all the fruit
buds before any leaves appear. The light green, white, variegated, and
striped larvee at rest on the under side of leaves during the daytime
are not, especially by an untrained eye, very readily discovered, and
hence are overlooked and the more innocent bird is made responsible
for the damage done.

During April, 1888, when I had a brood of these larve in confine.
ment.at Alameda, a common titmouse, Lophophanes inornatus Gamb.,
was noticed flying constantly to an old apple tree and carrying off
dozens of these very larve to a hollow tree not far distant, within
which it had a nest with six young. These birds are quite plentiful
at this time of the year and are the only enemy of this larva as yet
observed. None of the numerous larve collected the present year
appear to be parasitized.

By jarring the trees in the early morning these larve, especially the
larger, will fallto the ground, and can readily be collected and destroyed.
If the tree be only slightly shaken, all the mature larvee will drop.

Caloptenus devastator, so well remembered since its outbreak in 1885,
has again been on the increase the present season and is quite abun-
dant in Sonoma County as well as around Alameda, where Camnula pel-
lucida was equally as numerous. Aside from complaints in Sonoma
County others were heard of in Yolo County. I quote from the Wood-
land Democrat of September 11, 1890: j

For the past few weeks our farmers have been watching their alfalfa crops very
closely. The Army Worm andthe Grasshopper are both here, although not in such
quantities as in the early days. In some cases the crops in young vineyards have
been entirely destroyed by them. C. Eakle lost all his grapes by the grasshoppers
and others have shared a like fate. In other cases the alfalfa crops have fared badly
from the effects of the worm and the hopper. Mrs. P. Hannum had saved some alfalfa
for seed, but the worm attacked it, and she was obliged to cut it for hay in order to
save any of it. Mr. Hopkins, we understand, was caught in the same predicament,
while the pastures of those who have lately irrigated and where the clover is just
beginning to grow nice and green are full of the hoppers, and the worms have also
attacked many others.

As yet no specimens from the above locality can be obtained, but it
is more than likely that the injury was caused by several species and
the Devastating Locust among them. One favorable season, however,
should no parasites appear, would again show a marked increase in
destructive numbers, and local outbreaks may be expected the coming
summer,

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE SEASON OF 1890.

By Mary E. Murtrevpr.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

KiRKWOOD, St. Louris County, Mo., .
October 31, 1890.
Sir: Inclosed please find summary of my notes on injurious insects for the present
year, as observed throughout the season in St. Louis County, and as compiled from cor-
respondence with and occasional visits to other sections of the State. As in preced-
ing years, many thanks are due you for various determinations and helpful sugges-
tions.
Respectfully, yours,
Mary E. MurtFrevpt.
Brot © Vic RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The season of 1890 throughout the Mississippi Valley has been in
many respects unusual. The winter months were characterized by a
temperature much above the normal, by occasional very heavy rains,
and, after the middle of January, by a prevalence of clouds and exces-
sive moisture. Many shrubs, for example Forsythia, Cydonia, and
Lilac bloomed in the open air about the holidays, while the buds of all
fruit trees were much swollen, and peaches and apricots opened their
blossoms in sheltered situations in February. During early March the
mercury for the first time in the year dropped to the neighborhood of
zero, and on the last day of the month occurred a phenomenal fall of
snow. April also was cold and damp, and similar weather prevailed
until the middle of May, the soil, except where drainage was excep-
tionally good, being in poor condition for planting. With the first of
June excessive heat set in, and for seven consecutive weeks the mercury
was seldom below 90° F. at midday, and usually approached or ex-
ceeded 100°. This extreme heat was accompanied by an equally severe
drought for the same length of time, scarcely mitigated by two or three
very slight and very local showers.

45

46

That the effects of such a season should be plainly marked on insect
life is not surprising. The following memoranda show considerable
deviation from the records of preceding years.

Chinch Bugs were not reported as injurious in any part of the State,
and scarcely a specimen could be found during midsummer and early
autumn.

Canker Worms.—Very few, and found mostly in orchards or on trees
standing somewhat above the general level. The male moths were fly-
ing every month duzing winter, and an occasional female was also seen
in January and February. Probably the severe cold of March destroyed
a large proportion of the very young larve, more perhaps by retarding
the development of the apple leaves than by the direct effects of the
cold.

Of the few worms that were found later in the season taking their
noonday siesta on the trunks and larger branches of the trees, quite a
number were seen which had evidently been attacked by some Carabid
or other predaceous species, the skin having been punctured and the
fluids oozing out with every motion. All injured worms perished, but
what the assailant was I was not able to discover.

Cutworms (Agrotis and Hadena).—Vegetable gardens in the spring
enjoyed an immunity from these pests that was most welcome to the
gardener. This was probably due to the fact that some of the most
destructive species hibernate in the larva state, and the degree of cold
not being sufficient to reduce them to complete dormancy they perished
of starvation and dampness or fell victims to the birds, which remained
with us in greater numbers than is usually the case. My memoranda
show that very few Noctuid moths of any kind were taken at light
previous to the middle of August. To this scarcity of Noctuid pests
there were, however, two notable exceptions—that of Gortyna nitela and
Heliothis armigera, which have seldom committed so great injuries to
certain crops as during the present year. About the middle of June
many samples of young corn and potato stalks were sent me that were
being bored by the first-named larva, and it was then reported from
some localities—among others from Kidder, Missouri—as having de-
stroyed fully one-half the crop of potatoes. Its injuries to young corn
were also extensive, but I have no data for making an estimate. It was
also found in considerable numbers, when very small, in small grain.
In this it could scarcely reach maturity, and probably migrated to the
stalks of such more succulent plants as were conveniently near. In the
case of the attack on potatoes a treatment with Paris green and flour
was recommended, on the probability that in passing from one stalk to
another the worm would obtain a sufficient quantity of the poison to
destroy it. Of the success of this experiment, if tried, I have not been
informed. It did not occur in any noticeable numbers in the vicinity
of Kirkwood.

Heliothis armigera was very destructive on both early and late corn,

AT

especially on the latter. In the southern part of the State it injured
the tomato crop to a considerable extent. Spraying with Paris green
and with other arsenical compounds was tried with considerable success
previous to the ripening of the fruit, but there is considerable danger
in its use and it is best to thoroughly drench the plants that have been
treated with clear water a day or two after the use of the insecticide.
Experiment on a limited scale shows that it can be kept from corn by
the same remedies, but how far this would be practicable in the field
has not yet been demonstrated.

The Striped Flea-beetles (Phyllotreta vittata and P. sinuata) did not ap-
pear at all on early Crucifers, nor have they been observed in any con-
siderable numbers in this vicinity at any time during the growing sea-
son. Whether this notable riddance was due to atmospheric conditions
or to the scarcity of the fostering weeds, Lepidiuwm and Arabis, I am not
able to decide.

The Corn Flea-beetle (Chetocnema pulicaria) was reported to me from
various localities as unusually numerous and injurious. Mr. Falcon, of
St. Clair County, feared that he should lose his first planting froin its
attacks, but from later accounts the plants recovered more rapidly
than he had expected.

The Plum Curculio was much reduced in numbers during winter, and
as there was in this section, and indeed throughout the State, an almost
entire failure of stone fruit crops, with the exception of the sour cher-
ries, which the insect rarely attacks, there was very little of the work
of the latter observed. A small proportion of the few early peaches
that set were punctured, but that the midsummer drought prevented
the development of the larve was indicated by the fact that such late
peaches as there were did not show a single one of the food punctures
which commonly so disfigure them. On one tree which the previous
year had suffered so much in this way that the fruit was absolutely
worthless, was a single peach that reached perfection without one
stroke from the beak of a cureulio; and similar observations were
made on other trees on which a very little fruit ripened. Nor was I
able to find Conotrachelus breeding in apples, although during June
and July I examined nearly six hundred specimens of fruit, a few of
which showed punctures that might have been made for food. Should
other conditions be favorable, I think, so far as this insect is concerned,
we may predict for 1891 fine crops of stone fruits.

Plant lice, always quite abundant in the spring, amounted this year
almost to a scourge. Trees, shrubs, and herbs alike suffered, and for
many plants there was no after-recovery. The species causing the most
appreciable loss was probably the Grain Aphis (Siphonophora avene). It
occurred throughcut the State on all small grain, even on rye, causing,
undoubtedly, some shrinkage of that crop as well as of wheat, but its
most disastrous attacks were on oats. About the middle of May farm-
ers began to be alarmed for the safety of this crop, and subsequent

48

developments proved their fears to be well grounded. Letters of
inquiry and packages of specimens came to me from all directions, and
during a trip about the first of June, to Butler County, on the southern
boundary of the State, [ was able to observe for myself the dwarfed
and sickly appearance of small grain everywhere along the railroad,
attributable in all cases to the attacks of this insect. Shortly after-
ward the outfields in St. Louis County and in many other localities
were plowed up and replanted to corn, which, owing to the drought and
to its own insect enemies, was, in its turn, a poor crop. The unusual
prevalence and unparalleled multiplication of Aphidide was undoubtedly
due to to the scarcity of their natural enemies, both parasitic and pre-
daceous. It was not until the middle of June that the larvie of Syrpht.
de, Coccinellida, and Chrysopa became numerous, and, reénforced by
parasites of the genera Aphidius and Trioxys, finally brought relief from
the pests; too late, however, to prevent irreparable injury to many
herbaceous crops, young fruit trees, and various sorts of shrubbery.

A somewhat remarkable development of the season was the appear-
ance in unusual numbers of many insects not often accounted noxious,
and the reappearance of some species not observed in this locality for
many years.

Among the former may be mentioned the great abundance and variety
of “ stinging” larvwe, principally Limacodes. For the first time in my
experience the beautiful larvee of Parasa chloris were so abundant on
some young apricot trees in the orchard of one of our neighbors as to
do great damage to the foliage. When full grown, three-fourths or
more of an inch in length, thick, oblong, sub-eylindrical, gaily striped
longitudinally in carmine red, purple, and bright yellow, the stinging
spines concealed in the two rows of deflected bright yellow plumes that
adorn the back, gliding with slow, graceful motion over the leaves, they
were almost too ornamental to doom to destruction. As they were
very voracious, however, the latter was a necessity of the case. Those
that were preserved were fed to maturity on the leaves of Chickasaw
plum, to which they were transferred without difficulty.

EHuclea querceti H.8., of the same form and size as P. chloris, but much
less brilliantly colored, being of a dull, mottled green, with two or four
dark purple-red spots on each side of the dorsum, and having the plu-
mose spines pale green, appeared on Plum, Cherry, and Apple in the
orchard, as well as on Sycamore, Post Oak, and Wild Cherry in the
forest. It was not, however, in any destructive numbers on any fruit
tree.

So far as coloration is concerned this larva varies greatly. The crim-
son sub-dorsal spots, usually quite large when there are but two, are
in some examples smaller and less conspicuous and are followed pos-
teriorly by a second pair. The longitudinal ridges on which these are
situated, and from which also proceed the larger urticating spines,
vary in hue from pale pea green to yellow and bright orange. A second

ie oe

VeVyr rer oa ee

49

variety was so distinct as to be described, previous to breeding, as

another species. This is entirely of a pearly, translucent white color,
with fine, wavy, purple lines, one on each side of medio-dorsal space
and two others lower down on each side inclosing the second row of
spines, which, like the general surface, are translucent white. There is
a-large purple spot a little back of the middle on each side of the dor-
sum. I have found this variety only on pear, and it is rather rare.
The cocoon is spun among the leaves and does not differ in color, form,
or texture from those of other Limacodes. The moth bred from this
pale larva does not differ from those of typical querceti, being of a rich

_ fustic brown, with bright green and velvety black ornamentation. In

the size of the green and black spots and in general intensity of color
a series of moths of this species also exhibit considerable variation.

The almost equally beautiful and even more strikingly marked Saddle-
back Caterpillar (Empretia stimulea) occurred in very unusual numbers
on Plum, Pear, Chestnut, Maple, and Wisteria vine, doing considerable
damage—especially during the semi-gregarious period, which continues
to the third molt—to the foliage of the fruit trees attacked.

Phobetron pithecium and Limacodes scapha were other species of this
group observed.

Lagoa crispata was quite numerous on White Oak and Chestnut, and
colonies of Saturnia io appeared on Corn and Sassafras and defoliated
sevéral rose bushes in our garden before we discovered the authors of
the mischief. Altogether there was quite an array of ‘ urticators,”
and gloves were very necessary to preserve the hands of the collector
in taking them and also in caring for them in the rearing cage. They
seem to dispense stinging points all over the foliage over which they
crawl and all about the cage in which they are confined. I have often
had my hands smart for hours after changing the leaves and cleaning
the cage in which these larve had been reared, long after they were
inclosed in their cocoons.

There was throughout this and contiguous States a notable outbreak
of Datana both D. angusti and D. ministra, but especially the former.
This species appeared on the Walnut in June, and the second brood
again in August, and from the excessive and repeated defoliations it is
probable that many fine trees have been destroyed.

During a journey taken about the 1st of September, numbers of
trees were noticed bearing what would have been a heavy crop of nuts,
but absolutely leafless, while the trunks were almost covered with larval
exuvie. The nuts were, of course, small and imperfect, the shrunken
husks clinging to the seed. Several collections of the walnut-feeding
larve were sent me, but not having a supply of walnut leaves conven-
ient, I was not able to rear any of them, as they refused to accept asa
substitute the leaves of hickory or of Rhus glabra or copalina, although
some years ago I bred them from the latter.

During September the black-necked larve of what I suppose will

25910—Bull. 23——4

50

prove to be D. ministra, Drury, appeared on post oaks in Kirkwood
and vicinity, defoliating portions of the trees infested. From their gre-
garious habit and their susceptibility to poison they were easily routed.
Even a stream of water turned upon them from the spraying pump
would dislodge and bring them to the ground, where they were easily
killed.

Orgyia leucostigma, a species formerly abundant in this locality, but
which I had not observed for ten or twelve years, was found on Sycamore
(Platanus), on which, strange to say, it would not feed after the second
molt, and consequently all caterpillars left on the tree perished before
attaining half their growth. The question suggested by this observa-
tion was how the young larve came to be upon this tree which so evi-
dently did not suit them for food. I could not find either cocoon or egg
mass of the mother insect, nor were any of the larvee discovered in
the adjacent orchard.

Ichthyura inclusa, another species not observed here for many years,
appeared on willows in great numbers in September, but coming so late
in the season the defoliations did no serious damage.

In concluding these notes I wish to mention an insect that will prob-
ably prove most efticient in ridding the country of the pest of the Web
Worm (Hyphantria cunea). This is the larva of a small and inconspicu-
ous Carabid of the genus Plochionus, bearing the appropriate specific
name timidus. I had observed during the month of June that the
greater number of the webs of the caterpillar were unusually small and
incomplete and seemed to have been deserted much sooner than usual.

Before I had time to investigate the matter, I received from Mr. J. C.
Duffey, horticulturist at the Shaw Botanical Garden, a colony of the
worms, interspersed among which were numerous small active Carabid
larvee, which Mr. Duffey informed me were preying upon the former.
The collection was placed in a cage and arranged for convenient obser-
vation, and I very shortly had ocular demonstration of the correctness
of Mr. Dutfey’s assertion. Many interesting observations were made
upon these small but ferocious larvee before they changed to pup, and
the appearance of the perfect insect was awaited with much interest.
The first beetle developed about the middle of July and proved to be
the species named.

Comparatively few webs of the second brood of Hyphantria were seen
in and around Kirkwood in August, and extensive examination revealed
the fact that fully three-fourths of these also contained larve of Plo-
chionus, which were busily engaged in reducing the numbers of the
rightful inhabitants. Nor is the beetle confined in its diet to the web
worm. I found the larve repeatedly during the present autumn in the
masses of leaves webbed together by the somewhat gregarious larve
of a Tortrix (Cacacia Jervidana) and between the two leaves webbed by
various Tineids, especially Cryptolechia nubeculosa and C. schlegerella.
(1 doubt not I may have occasion to deprecate its work in the future

51

in these groups.) That this Plochionus had not appeared this season
much to the east of St. Louis was evinced by the much webbed and de-
foliated orchard and forest trees noticed in [llinois and Indiana in Au-
gust and September.

As Mr. Duffey proposes scon to publish a history of the insect, with
detailed descriptions of its various stages, I defer offering my own notes
upon its habits and forms until after the appearance of his paper.

A FEW MORE INJURIOUS MICROS ON APPLE.

A very considerable number of Microlepidoptera, including Pyralida,
Phycitide, Tortricide, and Tineide, have already been characterized
and catalogued among the more or less injurious insects of the orchard
and garden; but the observations of almost every year add to this list,
and I propose here to briefly describe a few which have not as yet been
placed on the roll, but which in this locality are annually so numerous
as to commit appreciable injury.

PENTHINA CHIONOSEMA, Zell.—The larve of this beautiful species
were, last year, uncommonly abundant during the month of May on the
leaves of apple, particularly in young orchards. They fold the leaves
at the inidrib, or sometimes one edge over to the midrib, fastening the
edges all around firmly and feeding upon the inclosed upper surface.

Larva.—The larva is not especially characteristic, being of a pale opaque green
color, without maculation, except the rather inconspicuous glassy piliferous plates.
Head pale yellow, tinged with green, legs similarly colored; length from 16 to 17™™;
diameter, 3™™. Form subcylindrical, tapering but slightly either way from middle,

When full grown it incloses itself under a rolled edge of the leaf,
lining and strengthening the tube thus formed with a white silken web.
The moth appears early in June, and I have no record of a later brood,
although there may be one.

The original description, by Professor Zeller, is not accessible to me
at present, but it will suffice to note the following characters :

Palpi and tuft of the head rich ferruginous, antennz scarcely half the length of
the wing, fine, gray brown. Thoracic tuft dark brown. Wing expanse from 15 to
16 ™™—rather more than a half-inch. Ground color of primaries somewhat mottled
dark brown, with a slight suffusion of olive, diversified by three broad, indistinct,
irregular, obliquely transverse bands of purplish gray, having a somewhat metallic
reflection; these transverse bands broaden toward the inner margin, where they
almost coalesce. On the costal edge is a large, milk-white, rounded triangular or
nearly semicircular patch, extending along the costa from the middle third, in-
clusive, almost to the apex, constituting a most distinguishing and ornamental
character. Cilia purplish gray. Secondaries, silky, pale brown with lighter fringes.

Abdomen and legs pale brown. Under side of wings pale, rosy brown, the large
costal spots on this side inclining to orange.

PROTEOPTERYX SPOLIANA Clem.—The larva folds and webs into
ciusters the young leaves of apple during the month of May, appear-
ing, preferably, on the shoots of small trees.

52

Larva.—When full grown it measures 10™ in length by 24™™ in diameter, the
form being rather thick cylindrical ; color translucent white, tinged with yellowish
green; surface velvety; piliferous plates small, glassy, giving wise to short, fine,
light hairs. Head and cervical collar same color as general surface or a little deeper
in shade, inclining to amber. The head is broad and flat, with red-brown trophi,
and a very large dark brown spot on each side. Legs and prolegs same color as gen-
eral surface.

When full grown it forms a tough, oval cocoon, thickly covered with
particles of soil, on the surface of the ground, occasionally just beneath
it. It is but single-brooded, and is very difficult to rear in confinement,
as it must be kept through the heat of summer and the cold of winter,
and if a little too damp it molds, while if moisture is withheld it dries
up. From almost innumerable larve collected during several years I
have only been successful in rearing two or three specimens, enough,
however, to determine the species, and, as the moths are always abun-
dant early in the spring on the trunks of orchard and forest trees, there
need be no scareity of specimens for the cabinet.

Adult.—The moth expands 15™™, wings rather narrow. In color it closely simulates
the bark of the trees on which it naturally rests. The vestiture of the head is brown
interspersed with gray; palpi and antenne cinereous; thorax and abdomen pale
brown. Primaries brown, with a series of oblique double silvery streaks all along
the costal edge, extending about one-fourth across the wing; a large silvery spot of
irregular outline, inclosing a patch of dark brown, is situated near the outer edge of
the wing, and a less distinct patch of silvery scales occurs on the inner edge near the
middle, while a shading of the same color modifies the brown tint on other portions
of the wing. Cilia pale brown and cinereous intermixed. Secondaries cinereous,
shading on costal edge to pale brown; cilia dingy white. There is some variation
in distinctness of the markings and depth of coloring.

STEGANOPTYCHA PYRICOLANA Riley MS.—This is somewhat similar
to the above in coloring, but smaller and proportionally broader winged.
This bores the shoots of the second growth of apple in August and Sep-
tember, occasionally on recently planted trees, inflicting serious damage.
The larva spins scarcely any web, but bores downward through the ter-
minal bud, entering the stem for from half an inch to an inch, sometimes
blackening all the growing points of a young tree.

Larva.—When full grown it is 8" long by 14™™ in diameter, slender, subceylindri-
cal, tapering slightly in both directions from middle segments; surface smooth;
incisions deep; color, pale cream yellow, somewhat translucent ; the dorsal surface
beautifully mottled with rose red. Piliferous warts and hairs only discernible with
alens. Ventral surface pale, slightly concave, and much wrinkled. Head elongate,
cordate, pale brown, shading to dark brown on the middle of each lobe; trophi prom-
inent, dark brown, with two or three long light hairs on each side. Supra-anal
plate oblong, large, dark, smoky brown. Legs and prolegs rather unusually de-
veloped.

I failed to rear the first specimens collected, most of them wandering
around in the jar until they died. Subsequently, by supplying them
with bits of pith or bark in which to bore, I succeeded in getting three
or four imagos between the last of September and the first of October.

TE ee a a a ae rT
' P

a Se

”

CE ee a eee! ee er ee) eee

53

The moth expands 19™, The head, thorax, and abdomen are densely covered
with long hair-like scales, of a dull gray-brown color with bluish reflections. Basal
half of primaries of similar color, but with more intermingling of blue and brown
scales. About the middle the wing is crossed by a broad, irregularly outlined band
of rich brown, sparsely intermingled with silvery scales, and the terminal third is
quite evenly mottled in brown and leaden gray, the costal edge of this portion being
ornamented with alternate oblique light and dark streaks extending about one-
fourth across the wing; cilia bluish gray ; secondaries lustrous pale brown, shading
to cinereous on costal edge ; cilia dingy white.

Professor Fernald, to whom a specimen was shown, considers it iden-
tical with Clemens’s S. salicicolana, which I believe breedsin willow galls,
but Dr. Riley pronounces it distinct, and he has types of Clemens’s
species.

GELECHIA INTERMEDIELLA ? Chambers.—This pretty Tineid appears
in its larval form on the tender leaves of apple early in May and again
in September. It gnaws the parenchyma from the upper surface, giv-
ing the leaves a burned and eroded appearance.

Larva.—8™ in length when mature, slender, cylindrical, tapering slightly in both
directions from middle ; incisions deep, giving it a submoniliform appearance. Gen-
eral color bluish green, acquiring a purple hue at maturity, with faint longitudinal
stripes of cream white. Head pale brown with a tinge of green, ornamented with
cream-colored markings on each side and arow of graduated cream-colored dots down
the middle of the face. First segment narrow, without perceptible shield. Thoracic

legs long, whitish, proceeding from papillated projections on the ventral surface.

This larva covers the leaves with fine web, in which it moves with
great agility, and in which it rests suspended, without touching the
surface of the leaf, except when feeding. It is semigregarious and very
irregular in its development, some clusters of the leaves showing very
recently hatched young, while on other clusters they will be full grown.
It pupates on surface of the leaf under a little round cover of dense web,
similar to those under which some spiders protect their eggs. The
moths emerge in about 3 weeks after pupation and hibernate in the per.
fect state.

Adult.—A beautiful species, expanding 12 or 13™™, Head and thorax dark gray,
more or less suffused with crimson; palpi dark gray, annulated with rosy white or
pale pink. Ground color of primaries leaden gray and rosy white; scales about
evenly intermixed. Three very irregular and variable, often interrupted, bands of
rich olive brown cross the wing, intermingled with some light golden brown or
ochreous scales; near the base and center of the wing these form quite distinct
patches. The apical third of the wing is margined with alternate dark brown and
rosy patches; cilia gray. Secondaries cinereous, with paler cilia. This species is
closely allied to both roseosuffusella Clem., and rubensella Cham., resembling in colora-
tion the latter and in size the former. Mr. Chambers says of it: ‘‘ Intermediate be-
tween roseosuffusella Clem., and rubensella Cham., with one or the other of which it
has hitherto been confounded. The third joint of the palpi is longer and more
acute than in rubensella, more like that of roseosuffusella, but the fore wings are much
less roseate than in either of the two other species, frequently showing no tinge of
the roseate hue. * * * As in rubensella (and sometimes in roseosuffusella), the first
dark band does not cover the base of the wing. The second band is like that of
roseosuffusella, but the third extends across the wing, the dorsal portion being, how-
ever, paler than the costal, and the costo-apical part of the wing is ochreo-fuscous.

54

This description, or rather these distinctions, of Mr. Chambers apply
to some examples, while to others they do not. Many specimens are
very roseate and richly colored, while a few appear almost plain black
and dull white. The three species are best distinguished in the larva
. State, in which there are very decided differences. G. roseosuffusella
feeds on Clover, G. rubensella on Oak, while the species under con-
sideration, so far as my observations show, is confined to Apple. The
larval characters are also very diverse in the three species.

EXPERIMENTS WITH INSECTICIDES.

During the great prevalence of Aphidide in the spring I made much
use of pyrethrum and of the X. O. dust. Of the value of the former as
a remedy for these pests, except in the case of one or two species, I
have no occasion to change the favorable opinions already repeatedly
published. The X. O. dust was thoroughly tested on the following
Aphids: Aphis mali and Schizoneura lanigera on Apple; Aphis prunifolit
on Plum; Siphonophora rose on Rose; Myzus persice on Peach; Aphis
brassice on Cabbage; Aphis sp.? on Cucumbers and Squash; Siphono-
phora sp.? on Lettuce; S. crategi on Thorns; S. rudbeckiev on Solidago;
Aphis ambrosic on Ambrosia trifida, and Aphis chrysanthemi? on Chrys-
anthemum. With its effects on all of these I was well satisfied, although
in some cases it took several dustings to thoroughly clear a plant.
When applied with a powder bellows it causes the insects to drop to the
ground at once, where they may be pressed into the soil with the foot or
patted down with a trowel. The more delicate species succumb to a
single thorough dustiug and never recover from the effects of contact
with the powder. This preparation will also destroy Siphonophora
avene, but whether it could in any way be applied to a field of infested
grain has not been demonstrated.

The Black Chrysanthemum Aphis is one of the greatest pests of the
flower garden and gives much trouble to both. amateurs and profes-
sional florists. It hibernates on the plant and attacks the stolons as
soon as they appear in the spring, and unless great care is taken to
eradicate it, it is more or less numerous on the plants throughout the
summer, dwarfing and deforming them by its punctures and by the loss
of sap which it appropriates. As soon as the buds are formed it seems
to develop with four-fold fecundity and requires assiduous attention to
keep in check. The Buhach or pyrethrum powder is utterly useless
against this species, probably because the plant from which it is made
is so close an ally of the Chrysanthemum. The X. O. dust, composed
of creosote and tobacco, is the best remedy within my knowledge, killing
the Aphis without the slightest injury to the plant. Ihave found it
best to apply during the middle of the day when the dew is off. A few
minutes after dusting the plants, I pass along the rows or among the
pots, and give each branch a smart shake ora blast of air from the
empty puff, and every Aphis that has not previously dropped is dis-

55

lodged, and ‘to make assurance doubly sure,” it is stamped into the
earth. On most of the insect foes of the plant lice the dust produced
no disastrous effect, but the larve of Syrphidce would, in some cases, not
recover from the pungent coating.

Arsenites of ammonia.—This new preparation, for which F. J. Andres,
25 Pearl street, New York, is the agent, was sent to me for experiment,
in accordance with directions from the entomologist of the Department
of Agriculture. It did not reach me until about the 1st of June, too
late for use on a number of insects. It is a clear solution of arsenic in
aqua ammonia, and apparently does not differ much from a preparation
of my own devising, as reported on two years ago, and with the effects
of which on vegetation I was not entirely satisfied. The directions ac.
companying each of the gallon bottles, in which it is put up, are to use
one tablespoonful of the liquid to a gallon of water.

June7.—Weather clear and hot. Prepared a quantity of the fluid as di-
rected and had it applied to the following plants: To potatoes, on which
were a few Doryphora larve; to rose bushes, on which still lingered a
few larvee of Selandria rose, Characlea angulata, and Amphipyra pyrami-
doides; to cabbage, covered with full-grown and young larve of Pieris
rape; to cucumbers and squash infested with Diabrotica. It was too
late in the season to test it thoroughly on apple for the Codling Moth,
and as there were scarcely any peaches or plums or curculios, its effect
on the latter insect can not be reported upon. Portions of the trees as
well as of cherry were sprayed to discover its effect upon the foliage.

June 9.—Made the rounds of all plants sprayed and noted results as
follows:

Potato plants slightly scorched, edges of the leaves curled, larve of
Doryphora mostly on the ground dead, beetles sickly.

Rose bushes uninjured, or very slightly burned where the leaves were
very tender; all larve killed.

Cabbage uninjured; all Pieris and other larvee killed. Cucumbers
much injured, squash less so; striped beetles killed or vanished.

Peach and cherry foliage badly scorched, turned yellow. Plum and
apple only slightly injured. Other experiments later in the season
made with one tablespoonful of the poison to one and one-half gallons
of water were not injurious to any except the most delicate foliage,
while in most cases it sufficed to kill Sphinx quinquemaculata and Helio-
this armigera on tomato, Darapsa myron, Cidaria diversilineata, Psycho-
morpha epimenis, and De mia maculalis on grape, with but slight damage
to the foliage. The fruit being “bagged” was not touched by it.
Empretia stimulea on plum and pear and Datana ministra on oak also
speedily died from eating leaves that had been dampened with it.

I do not consider these experiments conclusive, as with the heat and
drought, vegetation was not by any means in a vigorous condition, and
therefore more liable to injury from poisonous applications. It is a
most convenient preparation and leaves no sediment to disfigure the

56

foliage, and will, I trust, be found, by more thorough experiment,
efficient as an insecticide when used of a strength that will preclude
injury to foliage.

Late in the summer a preparation of petroleum sludge with soap
was sent me from the New York Chemical Works for trial, but there
were very few insects at that time on which to test it, while its almost
intolerable and persistent odor is really a serious objection to its use,
especially in small gardens.

In making my experiments, I have used the Lewis Combination
Force Pump and Syringe, and consider them well adapted for use in
small orchards and vineyards, and especially adapted for purposes of
experimentation, where the larger and heavier appliances are not
necessary.

a

ee ne eee

——

REPORT ON WORK OF THE SEASON.

By HERBERT OSBORN.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

AMES, Iowa, Qctober, 1899.

Sir: I transmit herewith a report upon the work of the season, including mention
of certain insects that have been observed during the season and notes regarding
certain others, observations on which are in progress, with the expectation of giving
more detailed accounts of their life histories and habits.

There is much yet to be done on the insects affecting grass before anything like a
full report can be made upon them, but I shall hope to bring the work of the present
season into shape for submission at the end of the year.

The work on the parasites of domestic animals has been continued and a part is

already submitted for printing, while a considerable amount of other matter is in

form to be presented at an early date.
Very respectfully,
HERBERT OSBORN.
Prof. C. V. RiLry,
U. S. Entomologist.

During the past summer there has been no great depredation by any
single insect pest in the State, but a number of the common species of
insects have been working with their accustomed energy, and the losses
from this source in the State have probably been up to the average of
ordinary seasons.

The observations on insects affecting grass crops have been continued,
and I am only the more strongly impressed with the importance of the
insects affecting these crops in this State, and_believe that the estimates
given in my last year’s report as to the probable loss from this source
to have been by no means overstated.

Judging by the reports of the correspondents of the Iowa Weather
and Crop Service, who represent every section of the State, the insects
that have caused most extensive injury are those infesting meadows
and pastures and sod land planted to corn. Not only are there numer-
ous reports of injury by insects to timothy, to pastures, and to corn
planted on land previously in grass, but numerous mention of poor
condition in meadows and pastures, shortage in grass and hay crop,

57

58

ete., which, to any one familiar with the great number of insects now
infesting grass land in this region, tell a certain story as to at least one
of the great sources of loss.

Frequent mention is made of the Cutworms, Grubworms, Wire-
worms, ete., and it is evident that a very great variety of species are
included in this list; but while I am certain that many species of Cut-
worms belonging to the common species of Noctuids are included in
this list, I believe that much of this injury is due to the species of
Crambus treated in detail in my report for 1887, the Dried Crambus
(Crambus ewsiccatus), or as called in the larval stage, the Sodworm or
Turf Webworm. This has been very plentiful here in the adult form
the present season, though by no means so abundant as in 1887, and I
have no doubt that it has been as abundant in other parts of the State.
The work of this species in meadows, however, would not be readily
distinguished from that of Cutworms by those unfamiliar with the
habits of insects, and even in corn the effect on the plants is not easily
to be distinguished from the effects of Cutworms, Wireworms, or other
forms of insects attacking the stalks at or near the surface of the
ground.

LEAF HOPPERS IN GRASS.

In my report of last season I mentioned a number of species of leaf
hoppers (Jassidw) that are destructive in grass land. Further observa-
tion and collection in this same line has served to strengthen my opin-
ion as to the great amount of injury to be attributed to these minute
insects. A number of species particularly of the genus Deltocephalus
occur in immense numbers in grass land, and among the most common
of those observed here are the Deltocephalus (Jassus) inimicus Say,
treated of in last year’s report, but associated with these are D. debilis
Uhler., D. Sayi Fitch, D. Melsheimeri Fitch, and a number of species
apparently as yet undescribed. A fuller report upon these I hope to
make a little later when material on hand can be more fully examined
and a more compiete statement of results given, but it may be in place
to mention as one of the results of this study that I have been con-
vineed that these insects are a very important factor in the production
of “ silver-top ” in grass, this being one of the effects produced by their
suction of the juices of the plant and resulting when they penetrate the
succulent portion of the stem at the base of the terminal node. That
other insects may and do cause this same form of withering and injury
to grass I do not deny, but in a great number of examinations of injured
stems I have in the great majority of cases found no insect within the
sheath of the injured part, and feel positive that for these the injury
could not have been produced by Thrips or Meromyza or any insect
working within the stem while the presence of immense numbers of the
leaf hopper on the affected plants and the presence of punctures show
clearly the possibility of the injury being due to them.

| ii.

59

This question has been more fully discussed in a paper read with
your consent before the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural
Science at the Indianapolis meeting. In that paper I have referred to
different explanations for the silver-topped condition of grass and pre-
sented the grounds for my own opinion that for this locality and in
blue grass the injury must be referred mainly to these Jasside. From
the fact that these Jassidve are exposed to the application of remedies
that would not affect insects protected in the sheath it is evident that
the adoption of measures to destroy these, as suggested in my last
year’s report, should result in a decrease of the ‘“ silver-top.”

GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS IN GRASS.

The common species of grasshoppers or locusts have been as usual
very plentiful, Melanoplus femur-rubrum probably heading the list for
abundance, but several other species, as J. differentialis, Dissosteira
carolina, Tomonotus sulphureus, and Arphia sordida form a-very con-
spicuous part of the grass-eating species. For the present season also
there has been a very great abundance of the little field cricket, Nemo-
bius vittatus. This was noticed as especially abundant on sunny hill-
sides in pastures and in many places aggregated in such numbers
as to completely cover the surface of the ground. While this species
has been rather frequently mentioned among the species common
throughout the country and its herbivorous habits accepted, so far as

-I know by all, there has been apparently little attention to it as a de-
structive species or one worthy of particular attention on account of
the injury it may cause in pastures.

It is quite evident, however, that when occurring in anything like the
abundance in which it has been observed here this season 1t must be
the cause of no little loss, and it may very well be associated with the
more frequently mentioned locusts in the category of destructive
meadow insects.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The Apple Leaf Skeletonizer (Pempelia hammondit) has been sent me
this season from near Des Moines, where it was reported as doing con-
siderable damage. This insect has been comparatively rare in the State
for a number of years, but from the account received of its appearance
this year it must have been in such numbers as to cause no little dam-
age, and it is to be hoped that prompt measures will be adopted by the
fruit-growers of that locality to prevent its spread.

The Turnus Butterfly (Papilio turnus) has been noticed as more than
ordinarily abundant, the larvee occurring in considerable numbers on
various trees, especially on plum trees in this vicinity. While the species
has seldom assumed an economic importance, in this State at least, it
may be that it will require occasional attention, and it will of course
readily succumb to the treatment by spraying, so efficacious for leaf-
eating larve.

60

The Cherry Slug (Selandria cerasi) has also been quite plentiful and
damaging cherry and plum trees. It would appear that this insect has
been rather more than usually Common in a considerable territory the
present season, as I have heard of it from various localities. Itis gen-
erally the case, however, that it does little damage for more than one
or two seasons in succession, so that it seems hardly necessary to take
any great amount of trouble in dealing with it unless it is working
destructively upon particular trees, when the usual poisonous sprays
suffice to rid the trees of its presence.

The Handmaid Moth (Datana ministra) has been on the increase
apparently for a number of years past and for the last two years has suc-
ceeded in defoliating quite a number of trees in the vicinity, especially
hickories and black walnuts. As mentioned in another place, the
arsenite of ammonia was used in treating it this fall and proved very
efficient in destroying the insects. Previously, we have used London
purple for this purpose, and there is apparently little choice, unless
there be sufficient difference in price to render one cheaper than the
other. Itis important in using any of the poisonous solutions for this
species to spray the whole tree or as much of it as possible, since when
only the part where the worms may be working at any particular time
is sprayed, they are very likely in their next move to occupy some part
where there is no poison to affect them, and they may in this way escape
until they have caused considerable damage to the tree.

Abbot’s White Pine Worm (Lophyrus abbotit) has appeared in the
State, and so far as I am aware it is the first time that this destructive
insect has been brought to notice in Iowa. It was sent to me from
Farley and with the report that the evergreen trees were suffering
severely from its attacks,

The Corn Root Worm (Diabrotica longicornis) is evidently on the in-
crease and gradually extending throughout such localities as it has not
hitherto occupied. Here, it appears very abundantly in the adult stage,
and in fall, collecting in great numbers on flowers. So far as I know
there has notas yet been any very great injury to the corn in the vicinity,
but probably the worms occur in considerable numbers scattered through
the various fields, and it is probable that in a short time they will mul-
tiply to such an extent that in fields kept long in corn they will cause
serious loss.

The species of Diabrotica infesting squashes, melons, ete., D. vittata
and 12-punctata, have been very abundant the past season, though per-
haps not more so than is common for them, but the crops they infest have
required attention in order to prevent serious loss. }

The Potato Stalk Weevil (Trichobaris trinotatus) was observed this
season for the first time and occurred in such numbers as to cause con-
siderable damage. It was first noticed by Mr. F. A. Sirrine, a special
student in entomology, at present assisting in the botanical work in the
Experiment Station. It is quite likely that the insect has been present

"Wales bk!

eye

61

in previous seasons in small numbers, but it has not been taken evenin
the adult form, in this locality till this summer, so that it seems more
likely that it has been introduced in some way quite recently.

TESTS OF ARSENITE OF AMMONIA.

During the month of May I received instructions from Mr. Howard
to make tests of an insecticide put on the market by Fr. Jac. Andres,
of 25 Pearl street, New York, under the name of arsenite of ammonia,
as agent for the Caspar Schneider Chemical Works. In due time the
samples came from the New York firm and I proceeded to make such
tests as were possible to determine both the effects upon various kinds
of plants and its effectiveness in killing insects.

On the morning of May 30, 1890, between 9 and 10 o’clock of a hot,
sunny day, I sprayed the following plants with a view to giving a
thorough test of the effect on foliage:

Squash vines infested with Diabrotica vittata.

Cucumber vines infested with Diabrotica vittata.

Potato vines infested with Hpitrix cucumeris.

Plum, Cherry, Box-elder, Willow, Eleagnus, Elm, Mountain Ash,
Birch, Apple, Raspberry, beans, grass, and clover.

The results were watched closely for a number of days but the record
of June 2 gives the results for the entire set. On that day a careful
examination was made of all the plants that had been treated and it
was found that in no case could there be found any injury to the foliage,
except possibly a slight injury to the elm andthe beans, but the injury
was So Slight, ifany, in these cases that it could hardly be charged with
certainty against the arsenite. The solution in this case was as given
in the directions, a tablespoonful to an ordinary pailful of water, and
the conclusion was that with this strength it could be applied without
danger to any of the above-named plants.

On the squash vines and cucumber vines the beetles seemed much
less abundant, but I was unable to find any dead insects around the
vines. The hills treated, however, remained quite free from further
trouble from these insects, while others in the vicinjty were seriously
affected. The failure to find dead beetles under the treated plants
might easily result from the insects flying away after eating the poison
to places of shelter and dying there. The same was true of the flea-
beetle affecting potatoes. The beetles seemed much less abundant, but
no dead ones could be found under the treated vines.

While it was so late in the season that it was not expected that this
test would give any definite results as to the effect on the codling moth,
it is worthy of mention that the branches of the apple tree sprayed
with the arsenite were loaded with apples, unstlls the other portions of
the tree were much less fully loaded.

The apples also of this portion were quite free from worms, though
in the late fall they were of course exposed to the action of the second

62

brood and a portion of the fruit was found infested. While this is not
given asa good example of the effect of spraying, it seems strong enough
certainly to warrant the conclusion that the arsenite of ammonia will
prove as effectual as any other form of the poison against this pests

There were none of the Colorado Potato Beetles to be found in the
vicinity, so the poison could not be tested with them, a test that would
have been of course more satisfactory, especially with the larve, because
of the fact that the dead insects can afterward be found readily around
the treated vines.

I was able, however, to give a thorough trial of the insecticide prop-
erties of the substance later in the season on the common Handmaid
Moth (Datana ministra), which was very plentiful on some of the hickory
and black walnut trees in the vicinity. A single application of the
poison was found to kill the caterpillars in large numbers, evidently af-
fecting all that fed upon the leaves that had been reached by the poison.
Dead caterpillars began to be found in 24 hours from time of application,
and for two or three days afterward the caterpillars were dying off rap-
idly. Theapplication was in this case made a little stronger than in the
first trials, and in a few days the trees showed some injury from the ef-
fects of the arsenite, so if seems quite evident that the strength for these
trees must be kept within the limits indicated by the directions. The
liquid is very convenient to mix with water, and forms probably a very
uniform mixture, so that it seems to possess some points of superiority
ver the arsenites in solid form.

REPORT ON SOME OF THE INSEOTS AFFECTING CEREAL
CROPS.

By F. M. WEBSTER.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

LA FAYETTE, IND., October 22, 1890.
Sir: I herewith submit my annual report of observations on some of the insects
affecting cereal grains. For assistance in carrying on the experiments connected
with the studies of the Hessian Fly, [am greatly indebted to the following gentlemen:
Hon. Samuel Hargrave, Princeton; Mr. W.S. Ratliff, Richmond; Mr. Miles Martin,
Marshall; Hon. W. Banks, La Porte, and Hon. J. N. Lakta, Hawpatch; to Purdue
University, and later the experiment station. Iam also under obligations for use
of land, seed, and labor in carrying out my own experiments here at La Fayette.
To yourself especially, and others of the division, Iam under many obligations for
the determination of specimens and other numberless favors.
Respectfully submitted.
F. M. WEBSTER.
Dri: Vi. RiLEy,
U. S. Entomologist.

THE HESSIAN FLY.
Number and Development of Broods.

My experiments, notes, and observations upon this insect extend
over a period of a little over six years, and while it received little more
attention than was given other wheat-destroying species, a considerable
number of facts have accumulated which, while not by any means
clearing up all of the mysteries of the pest, will nevertheless serve to
throw some light on several obscure points. Unless otherwise stated,
all of my observations and experiments herein recorded relate to the
State of Indiana, extending from latitude 37° 50’ to about 41° 45/ N,
The exact latitude of many places of observation is given, not so much
for the American reader or investigator as for those of other countries,
notably England and Russia.

My experiments and observations have been carried on almost exclu-
sively out of doors and very largely in the fields, as I consider indoor
and breeding-cage observations on this species, except for the purpose

63

64

of securing specimens and parasites, of very doubtful value fiom an
economic standpoint or as indicating its normal habits. The observa-
tions have many of them been once and often twice substantiated.

In ordinary seasons and throughout the area above indicated the
statement made long ago by Dr. Fitch that the Hessian Fly is double
brooded is true. While in the southern portion of the State the fall
brood of adults seem to appear some weeks later than in the northern
part, nevertheless I have found but two destructive broods. Between
these two broods, however, is a considerable mass of fluctuating indi-
viduals, the true position of which is rather anomalous.*

At LaFayette, Ind., latitude 40° 27’, wheat plants were transferred
from the fields to the breeding cages April 5, 1890, and kept out of
doors. The seed producing these plants had been sown the preceding
September 3. On April 17 a female emerged, and a male appearing
soon after, these, on April 22, were both placed together on young
growing wheat planted in a breeding cage, out of doors. From these
adults were secured June 8. The attempt was made to follow the off-
spring of these, but failed on account of the wheat being killed by rust.
On June 7, and also on the 14th, 1888, in the same locality, adults were
observed ovipositing, the eggs being placed on the youngest and most
tender shoots, and there was every evidence that these eggs developed
through the larval to the flaxseed stage by early July. Besides, I have
observed in the same locality late-growing shoots literally overrun
with very young larve on the 26th of June, and found larve as late as
the 10th of July.

On October 16, 1887, Mr. W. 8. Ratliff, who made a great number of
experiments for me, near Richmond, Ind. (latitude 30° 51’), secured
adults from a small plot of wheat plants which appeared above the
ground September 4. From a plant from this same plat that had been
transplanted indoors, he secured an adult female 11 days earlier. In
either of these cases with favorable weather the female could have
sent her offspring into the winter in the flaxseed state. Mr. Ratliffalso
observed adults on July 10, 1887. At La Fayette, Ind., the same au-
tumn, I saw females ovipositing on November 3, in a temperature of 64°
F., among the plants. From a platsown August 13, and which came up
on the 17th, I obtained adults of both sexes on October 1, 44 days after
the plants appeared and 48 days after sowing. That larvae, even
though quite immature when winter begins, may survive till spring has
been demonstrated again and again, and was especially true of the
exceedingly mild winter of 1889~90. In fact, by a series of sowings all

*Dr. Fitch states that the eggs of the fall brood are deposited in the State of New
York early in September, and also that “the deposit is doubtless made later to the
south of us than it is here in New York.” (Seventh Report.) Mr. Edward Tilghman
observed oviposition in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, about latitude 39° to 39°
30’, during the second week in October, and mentions it as of usual occurrence. (The
Cultivator, May, 1841.)

65

stages of the insect can be produced continually from April to October,
and by keeping a cage indoors I have produced adults in abundance in
January.

As Dr. Lindeman has well stated, the puparia are greatly influenced
by environment, temperature, etc., and this is probably true of the other
stages, larvee of different ages being, for all we know, influenced to a
different degree. ‘To these facts must be added another of considerable
moment, viz, while nominally two brooded, flaxseeds collected by me in
the spring of one year have lived over to the spring of the following year.
This is also true of at least one of the parasites of the species. How far
the number of these interlopers is augmented by a retarded develop-
ment of greater or less extent it is impossible to say, but that there is an
accession through this means there can be nodoubt. In fact, it would
appear as though nature had in this way provided against the extine-
tion of the species.

Now, is it proper for us, from these scattering individuals, to attempt
to construct distinct broods? Itseemstomenot. I have several times
sown wheat at La Fayette early in July and never had it seriously in-
fested by Hessian fly until late in August or early in September. Very
young larve were exceedingly abundant early in October of this year
in a field of early-sown wheat near La Fayette.

It is true that observations during a single season, in a single locality,
might produce apparently good evidence of a third brood, but a con-
tinued close study of the species in such locality will probably show it
unfounded. That these aberrant individuals may, under favorable con-
ditions, collect or “‘ bunch” together in certain fields is probably true,
but my own experience has been that the following year this irregu-
larity will have disappeared or have been reduced to a minimum by the
effect of the weather during midsummer and winter. On June 24, 1887,
near Princeton, Indiana, latitude 38° 23’ N., I found a field of wheat,
sown about the first of the preceding November, literally alive with
larve from one-fourth to nearly or quite full grown. There were no
pupz to speak of in this field at the time, but in other fields in the
vicinity these were abundant, but here there was no larve to be found.
At this date wheat harvest was at its height. The late-sown field had
evidently attracted the late-appearing adults of the fall before, and
their progeny, living over in this field, as delayed larvee, emerged cor-
respondingly late in the spring, giving rise to the generation of larvee
observed by me. My reason for taking this view is that I have several
times tried to draw off the spring brood of flies by offering them young
plants on which to oviposit, but have always failed, as they seemed to
prefer tender shoots of older plants to the young plants themselves. In
the fall this characteristic seems to be somewhat the reverse, although
even then, if attacked after tillering, the tillers will be chosen instead
of the main stem. The fall brood of adults is probably the migratory
brood, and their power of detecting wheat plants is almost phenomenal.

25910— Bull. 25 5

66

I have drawn them to a small plat of wheat sown in a secluded corner
of my garden, in the midst of town, fully half a mile from any wheat
fields. But, be this as it may, a second brood of larve in June would
be rather difficult to sustain, as the puparia of the earlier part of the
month are known to remain in that stage until September. Neither
have I been able to secure any better evidence of a brood originating in
volunteer wheat during July and August. Puparia are to be found
every year from one end of the State to the other in this volunteer
wheat, but here in Indiana I have never found these sufficiently numer-
ous to imply a distinct brood. Professor Forbes and his assistants,
working in Illinois, appear to have a greater confidence in this extra
brood than myself, although, as will appear farther on, our experiments
were carried on the one perfectly independent of the other, though only
a few miles apart.

My attention has been called to the condition of this field near Prince-
ton, by Honorable Samuel Hargrove, member of the board of trustees of
Purdue University, and also a member of the State Board of Agricul-
ture, who willingly agreed to further aid in the investigations by sow-
ing for me plats of wheat at intervals of about 2 weeks, beginning as
soon as possible after harvest. Being detained in Louisiana myself
until nearly the 1st of August, and the weather being exceedingly dry,
no plats were sown until August 4, 1887, followed by another on August
22, and a third September 5. These were sown on one of Mr. Hargrove’s
farms, about 10 miles northeast of Princeton.

The first two sowings, owing to the drought, came up sparingly and
about the same time. The third was also affected by drought, and did
not come up until about the Ist of October. These plats were sown
along the lower edge of a high, rolling stubble field, which had been
too dry to plow, and in which I had found an abundance of flaxseeds
the preceding June.

These plats were examined by me on October 8. The two earlier-
sown plats had thrown up a good growth of plants, which had tillered
finely, being along a low ravine. On these plats I found a number of
larvie, which were nearly or quite grown, and a less number of flaxseeds,
one of which was empty. Besides these, the plants were literally alive
with very young larvee, so young, in fact, that they had not yet lost
their reddish tint. The third plat had sent up the normal number of
plants, which were now in the second leaf. These plants had not ap-
peared in time for the earlier deposited eggs, but were even more seriously
infested by young larve than the plants.of the two earlier plats. One
of the plants from the last plat is before me, and contains twenty-six
young larve, all of which must have hatched from the eggs only a few
days prior to my observations. Now, from whence did the progenitors
of these young larve originate? Most assuredly not from volunteer
wheat, because there was none. Not from my earlier-sown plats, else
these would have shown the effect. There are, it seems to me, but two

a —

67

other sources from which they could have come, viz, the stubble, which
I know to have been infested, and grasses, which we have no knowledge
of the species affecting.

These plats were plowed up soon after examination, as I was afraid
to allow them to stand thus, a menace to the adjoining fields the follow-
ing spring, though the plants would have probably been destroyed
before even a small portion of the larvae matured.

From all the information that I am able to gather, the usual time of
appearance of the fall brood of adult flies in southern Indiana is the
last portion of September, or some years the first days of October.
This is, I believe, the opinion of the most observing farmers, including
Hon. J. Q. A. Seig, of Corydon, Harrison County, who is as familiar
with the earlier stages of the pest and its effect upon fall wheat as I
am myself. Mr. J. P. Londen, of Sharp’s Mills, same county, stated
that wheat sown on October 1, 1886, was damaged 50 per cent., while
that sown on the 6th was injured only 15 per cent. Mr. J. A. Burton,
writing from Mitchell, Lawrence County, November 24, 1887, gave the
results of his examination of wheatfields as follows: Fields sown Sep-
tember 8, about one plant in 8 infested; sown September 15, about

one plant in 12; sown September 22, about one plant in 50, and
~ sown October 1, seemingly free from injury. The observations of these
gentlemen also coincide with my own, made in November, 1888, in Har-
rison and Posey Counties. Therefore, from all the information which
I have been able to gain, the best season for wheat sowing, to avoid the
attacks of the Hessian fly in extreme southern Indiana, is soon after
the 1st of October. Exactly how far northward this advice will apply
I am unable to say, but am inclined to think it would cover territory
laying between latitude 38° and 39°, and possibly 39° 30’, although
near the northern limit it would probably be safe during ordinary years
to sow soon after September 25.

During the years 1887 and 1888 Mr. W. 8. Ratliff made a large num-
ber of very careful observations, and sowed a series of plats of wheat
on different dates near Richmond, Ind. In 1887 plats were sown August
5 and 29, September 12 and 26. All of these plats were attacked and
more or less injured except the last, which as late as December 19
showed not the least injury by the Hessian fly. Up to May 31, 1888,
there was very little injury to this plat, and even on the above date
there were very few larve as compared with the number on the others.
From this date on till July 11 the plats were all injured by black and
red rusts, Chinch bugs, and the Wheat Stem maggot, the greater injury
appearing to fail upon this, so that at harvest, July 11, the last was
the poorest of allin yield, that sown August 15 being the best. The
sowings of 1888 were as follows: September 6, 20; October 4, 22; No-
vember 1. On November 14 the first plat was found to be infested by
larvee of the Hessian fly. During June, 1889, Chinch bugs again at-
tacked the plants growing on these plats, and the grain aphis seriously

\

68

injured the later sown plats, so that at harvest, July 5, these latter
were the poorest of all, the other three averaging about alike. All of
these plats during both years had been sown in narrow strips among
corn along one side, the remainder of tbe field being corn, and Jater
also sown to wheat, thus bringing the latest-sown plats between those
sown earliest and the entire field itself, as appeared to me, the severest
test to which I could subject the several plats. The results, while not
conclusive or even entirely satisfactory, indicate that in that latitude
about September 25 is, generally speaking, a good time to sow wheat
to escape fall attacks of the fly and winter killing. A series of plats
sown for me by Mr. Miles Martin, of Marshall, Parke County, Ind., in
very near the same latitude as Richmond, but nearer the western border
of the State, gave rather more conclusive results, the sowings of Sep-
tember 22 being almost entirely exempt from the arteeks of the Hessian
fly, while earlier plats were infested.

In regard to my own experiments here on the Experiment Station
grounds at Lafayette, 1 may state that I have never been able to pro-
voke a disastrous attack of the pest, though there has been nothing left
undone which could possibly induce the adult flies to oviposit at any
time between March and December; and there is probably not a month
between these dates during which the insect could not have been found
in all of its stages. The two destructive broods, however, invariably
appear in May and September; in the latter case usually before the
20th.

My own experimental showings were rather more elaborate and ex-
tensive than those of any of my correspondents, comprising a number
of varieties and extending over several months. Without going into
details, the experiments and results may be summarized: as follows:
1887, plats comprising the varieties Michigan Amber, Clawson and
Velvet Chaff, each one width of a grain drill twenty rods in length, were
sown on the following dates: August 13, 27; September 10, 24; Octo-
ber 8, 27; November 5,19. The autumn was very dry, and the plants
of the first six plats went into winter in poor condition, being very
small, while the last two sowings did not come up until the following
spring. The severe winter destroyed the plants so generally, that only
the first three produced sufiicient grain to pay for harvesting. These
were also the only ones to suffer from the fall attack of the fly, the first
producing adults October 1. Plat 8 was attacked on the following June,
and on the 26th was badly infested with young larve, full-grown larvae
and puparia, the latter, the most numerous, were found on the 16th of
July. The plats harvested produced a poor crop, but the Michigan
Amber ranked first, Velvet Chaff second, and Clawson the poorest of all.

69

The condition of the Hessian fly in these three plats, at the time of
harvest, July 10, 1888, may be inferred from the result of examinations
made on this date.

BMD Lyell AMS CO Spee cee pie cs acon minivan ces corte se sila oie eyocisinvcicae 15
Containing healthy pups or parasites..-.-..--------. -i.:-------- 69
MEAN Nes Solara tens cea cts Stele ea eaa alate ne cael selec cieih cto sisers sissies 16

Mo tales ants arse aaer se asic nisie Sona cls Seis a ainSerettcieic oe fecedicinas 100

August 3, the state of the insect in these same plats was as follows:

EDM Lah aSGCOd Smetemaatatere Seicieselces/ seinicaa aaa a cis ies cinininhoa ee, e cisions 53
Containing healthy pups and parasites......-...---...--------<. 47

Ota eesc sins ess Coase loses asecestaekebemeUe secre eieras coeds 100

The condition of the insect on September 1, as shown by examination
of the stubble, is indicated below:

Bm puysdlaKseed sesso sees ce ee cas eee sae oie cersaiieies cise saitiomiers 55
Health yetlaxseedst sa. vice emo tect ae sae bina de ce oaeek AZ et aoee 28
HALASIbIZOURMAXSOCUS eas acs oe biecee <leet-2 Jehlaceue ws chase wideeseats 17

Moti reeset aie oa's se clole ace saa nse se eee aes Seta woe se ees acer 100

Notwithstanding the per cent of healthy puparia passing the summer
was small, there is little probability that many adult flies emerged.
A plat of the same dimensions was sown July 16, along one side of the
first three sown the previous fall, the plants of this last sowing coming
up ten days later. This plat was closely watched. After July 17 only
an occasional larva was found. By August 4 plants had been de-
stroyed by the combined influences of chinch bugs and dry weather,
but a second plat has been sown adjoining, and the plants of this ap-
peared above ground on August 6. On September 4, 200 plants were
examined and but two larve were found thereon. A second examina-
tion of the same number of plants from this plat, on September 15, re-
vealed a small number of young larve. A third examination of this
plat on October 6 showed about 1 per cent of the plants to be infested.
Stubble from the three original plats, keptin breeding cages, out of doors,
did not give adults until the 17th of September, although it is quite
probable that some few were abroad before that date. It will be seen,
however, that no great number could have emerged from the stubble,
and the increase in the number of empty flaxseeds between July 10 and
September 1is doubtless to be attributed to parasites. This appears all
the more probable, as I have repeatedly observed these parasites
during July and August emerge in breeding cages, and at once begin
to oviposit in flaxseed in the stubble from which they had themselves
emerged. The percentage of healthy puparia reaching September in
safety, however, was probably unusally small, as experiments on the
same ground the following year did not suffer near somuch from either
fall or spring attacks. Another feature of these experiments is, that
it strongly indicates that the larger per cent of the parasites emerge
prior to the Ist of August. Indeed, stubble from the entire length of

70

the State, collected in June and placed in breeding out of doors here
at La Fayette, has indicated the truth of this.

The sowings of 1888 were made on August 30, September 18, October
3, 6. Ofthese, only the first sown were attacked in the fall, that sown
on September 18 being in the best condition the following July. Dur-
ing May, 1889, the plants of these plats were found to be much less
infested than somé fields a considerable distance away, although such
fields had been sown on oats stubble, while the ground on which my
experiments were located was the same that had been used for this
purpose the previous year.

The sowings of 1889 were continued on the same grounds, the plats
being sown September 3-20, October 4-18, November4. The autumn
attack was the most severe on the first plat, but the extremely mild fall
and winter was so favorable to the development of the flies that the
spring attack was unusually severe, and appeared to fall upon the
three earlier sown plats with about equal force. The later sown plats,
though the plants were much the younger, did not suffer so much, but
these were very seriously affected by the weather during early spring.

These experiments appeared to indicate that, in this latitude, while
wheat sown as early as the last of August may under favorable con-
ditions and during particular seasons produce as good or even a bet-
ter crop than when sown at a later date, yet such cases are the ex-
ception and not the rule; but that wheat sown as soon as possible
after the 20th of September stands the best chance of evading the at-
tacks of the fly and withstanding the unfavorable weather, the regular
operations of the University farm during the last seven years certainly
substantiate. It is the custom with the experiment farm, each year,
to sow the regular field crop at this time, and in no case has severe
injury been sustained from attacks of the Hessian fly. Fields on ad-
joining farms sown at earlier dates have frequently been seriously in-
jured, although this has not invariably followed.

Another series of experimental sowings was carried on for me by Hon.
W. A. Banks, near La Porte, Ind., about latitude 41° 35’, The first
series of these sowings was begun in August of 1887. The sowings of
1888 were not carried on under Mr. Banks’s immediate supervision, and
were of little value. No experiments were made in 1889, but a well
planned and carefully executed series were sown in the fall of 1890,
The series of 1887, each of which comprised two widths of a grain drill,
extended along one side of the field about 60 rods in length, the first
of which was sown on August 13, the plants appearing above ground
within a few days. The second sowing was on August 23, a third on
September 2, the fourth September 12, the fifth September 22, the
sixth and last on October 7. These plats were visited by me on Octo-
ber 14, and their condition found to be as follows: The first was found
to be infested by great numbers of larve and puparia, some of the
shells of the latter being empty, and the plants were seriously dam-

71

aged. The second plat was even worse injured than the first, and the
third much worse than either of the others. The fourth appeared to be
almost as badly infested as the third, but it had only partly tillered,
and hence there was a better prospect for it to throw up unaffected
shoots. The fifth had not tillered, and was only very slightly infested,
with very young larve, while the sixth was not yet up.

On April 12, 1888, the plats were visited again. About 25 per cent
of the plants on the first three plats appeared to have survived. The
fourth was apparently 50 per cent better, the fifth was in almost
as good shape as the fourth, while the sixth was backward, the plants
being small and thin on the ground.

The estimate yield, made by Mr. Banks at time of harvest, on
the basis of 20 bushels per acre as an average yield, was as follows:
First plat, 50 per cent; second, 50 per cent; third, 65 percent; fourth,
90 per cent; fifth, 70 per cent. The remainder of the field was sown
on September 2, and shared in the destruction in common with plat
3. Another field at some distance from this was sown about Septem-
ber 20 and sustained no material injury.

It will be observed that the first three plats were sown almost at the
same time as the first three at La Fayette, yet stubble from the first
three plats at La Porte, collected on September 2 and placed in a breed-
ing cage beside another containing stubble from the first three at La
Fayette, gave adult flies nearly a week earlier. In other words, the
majority of the adults from Mr. Banks’s plats emerged prior to Septem-
ber 15, while those from my own did not reach their maximum num-
bers until after the 15th, and from then on till the 25th. In both
cases, however, a few stragglers emerged occasionally until early in
October. As previously stated, the plats of 1888 were not properly
sown, Mr. Banks not being able to attend to them himself; but a visit
to the locality on November 8 revealed but very little injury to wheat
which had been sown after the middle of September.

The experiment plats of 1890 were sown September 1, 10, 20, 30.
These were examined late in October and fully substantiated the ex-
periments of previous years. The sowing of September J was consid-
erably injured, while that of the 10th was very seriously affected, as
was also a large field adjoining sown but a day or two later. The sow-
ing of September 20 was comparatively free from attack, while that
sown September 30 appeared to have almost entirely escaped injury.

The sixth and last series of experiments were made for me by Hon.
J. N. Latta, at Haw Patch, Lagrange County, in about the same lati-
tude as La Porte. The scwings were made in 1887, the first being
drilled on July 28, but owing to drought the plants did not appear
above ground until about the 28th of August. The second plat was
sown on August 15, but came up the same time as the first; the third,
sown September 1, came up September 6; the fourth, sown September
12, came up September 21; the fifth, sown September 24, came up the

72

28; while the sixth and last was sown October 12, and did not come
up until about the 20th. These plats were examined by me on Octo-
ber 17; the first three and the last sown were very poor, the fourth
and fifth promising a fair yield. <A field adjoining, sown on the same
day as plat 5, did not suffer from the fly and produced nearly an aver-
age yield of 20 bushels per acre.

The results of these meager experiments have, as a rule, proven
correct in the fields of the farmers. I have not only observed this
myself, but it has become well known in the locality that wheat sown
before September 15 and after the 30th of the same month seldom pro-
duces a good crop, while that sown between the 15th and the 25th is
the most likely to escape the attack of the Hessian fly, and, as a general
thing winters, as well as that sown earlier.

In summing up the results of this entire system of experiments, it
seems that while no exact date can be Jaid down for the appearing of
the fall brood of fly in any precise locality, there is, notwithstanding,
a gradual delay in its appearance as we go from the north southward.
In other words, there is here a characteristic element in the life history
of the species which may be utilized by the farmer to his advantage.
Fruit-growers, I believe, estimate that in spring the season advances
northward at the rate of about 12 miles per day. This would be a
trifle less than 6 days per degree of latitude. If farmers in extreme
northern Indiana and southern Michigan can sow their wheat with
safety about the 12th to the 15th of September (and we have demon-
strated that the fall brood emerges largely prior to the 15th), and
farmers in extreme southern Indiana must delay sowing until after the
first days of October, there must be a general system of retardation,
which, if understood, may be used to advantage throughout the inter-
vening territory.

Starting in southern Michigan on the 12th to 15th and passing 4
degrees south to the vicinity of Evansville, Ind., we should expect
about the same condition of the Hessian fly during the first week of
October. That is, if we pass the danger line about the second week
of September in southern Michigan, we should expect to encounter it
again in southern Indiana in the first or second week of October. A
considerable correspondence and my own experiments indicate that
this is usually true. It is not to be supposed, however, that it is
possible for me to give precise dates for given localities, as there is
another element which is likely to figure in these calculations, viz, ele-
vation. It has been stated upon reliable authority that ‘‘an elevation
of 350 feet is equal to 1 degree of cold in the mean annual tempera-
ture, or 60 miles on the surface northward.” * While we can hardly
expect this to influence comparatively level countries like the State of
Indiana at least to any marked degree, extensive areas of high table-

= Draper's Intellectual Development of Europe, Harper Bros., New York, revised
edition, vol. 1, p. 29.

fh2)

lands would be apt to show its effect more distinctly. There may also
be some obseuré influence peculiar to the natures of the different soils.

It will be seen, therefore, that the experiments have fallen far short
of settling the whole problem, yet it seems to me that they have been
carried as far as profitable, and the matter is now in proper state to be
taken up by the intelligent farmer, whose experimental plats are his
fields. And it may be added that this is done with a feeling on my part
that whatever of truth there may be in the matter will stand as a nu-
cleus about which others may build, while whatever there may be of
error will as surely disappear.

THE EFFECT OF THE LARVZ ON THE PLANTS.

The effect of the larva, especially on the young plants, does not ap-
pear to be generally understood, and I have myself been able to verify
either the figures or descriptions of Fitch and Packard only in excep-
tional cases. The swollen bulb just above the roots in Fitch’s figures
gives but a vague idea of the true appearance, while Packard’s figure
represents plants which have very evidently sprung from seeds only
slightly covered by thesoil. Besides, the former figure only represents
the condition of the plants long after the larve have done their work,
and the latter, aside from the shoot being shorter, gives no idea of the
appearance of an infested stem, as found in nature, growing in the fields.
The yellow color of the foliage—there is usually more brown than yellow
about it—appears later, after the larvie are full-fed, and then it is largely,
at least, confined to the younger leaves, the older ones, under whose
sheaths the larvee occur, are killed by the freezing weather of winter. In
Circular No. 2 of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Purdue Uni-
versity I have given a representation of an infested plant fresh from the
field drawn from nature. The plant had been attacked soon after its ap-
pearance above ground and had not tillered. The leaves under these
conditions are broader, darker green, more vertical and bunchy. The
youngest leaf on a healthy plant as it unfolds and pushes upward is of
a tubular form and spindle-shaped, somewhat as represented in Pack-
ard’s figure of a healthy plant. In the case of an affected plant, the
stem having been destroyed below ground, the spindle-shaped central
leaf is always absent. The difference between a healthy and infested
plant is shown by a comparison of figures. If a plant has already till-
ered, each of the identical laterals, as they are attacked, will begin to
take on the form and color above described. It is, therefore, not only
possible to detect an infected plant without removing it from the
ground, but also to determine the individual tiller infested. Now, while
this feature of infested plants is so very clearly marked, at least after
the larve are one-third grown, and from an economic standpoint of so
much importance that it is surprising that it should have been over-
looked, yet I can not myself lay claim to the fact by right of discovery,
as it was pointed out to me by a farmer in the autumn of 1884, and was

74

the outcome of circular No. 1, issued in October, 1884, from Purdue
University. It was only after testing the stability of this feature in
various fields, under widely different conditions, that I placed full
reliance upon its permanency. An illustrated circular of inquiry, No. 2,
issued by myself from Purdue University during the fall of 1887,
brought also a great number of replies, from among which I have
selected the two following, because of their widely separated localities
and the well-known ability of the writers:

CLYDE, N. Y., December 9, 1887.
DEAR Str: In regard to the appearance of wheat plants infested with Hessian fly,
and as illustrated and explained by Fig. 3 of circular, I believe that it is correct in the
main, especially the darker color possessed by infected plants over healthy plants,
and this is, as yousay, quite different from the information given by Fitch and Pack-
ard; and you have published this quite constant and true form and condition for the
first time, I believe. I had noticed this somewhat a year ago, and in bringing up the
destruction done by the Hessian fly in a Grange meeting, I found that a number of
farmers reported this very condition, viz: when fields or parts of fields looked extra
dark colored and healthy, damage from the fly was to be apprehended there. Still,
the yellow color came after a while, especially with early-sown winter wheat in a
long autumn or the following spring. I think the spring brood are apt to select
tillers.
Truly,
W. L. DEVEREAUX.

Prof. F. M. WEBSTER,
La Fayette, Ind.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE,
Berkeley, December 15, 1887.

Dear Srr: Your favor of November 28, with circular relating to appearance of
grain infested with Hessian fly, received. The appearances you describe are quite
characteristic of fly-infested grain here, but it is not seen in the fall, for we do not have
any grain above ground at that time. The districts in which the fly is found in this
State are of narrow area comparatively near the coast. In these parts it is not usual
to sow grain until after the winter rains have wet the ground enough for plowing,
and sowing can some years be made as late as the last of February, and still do well.
It is better, however, both for the growth of the grain and baffling of the fly, to sow
in January if the soil is in proper condition. For these reasons we do not find the
flaxseeds until about the first of March, and then it is that the grain assumes the fea-
ture you describe. It is a very bunchy growth, with very few yellow leaves and ex-
ceedingly few seed stems thrown out. On some of our plats there will not bea single
stem, but the grain will remain bunchy and low for weeks, and then will turn yellow
and die as the dry season comes on. On other plats there will be aseed stem thrown
out here and there, and a few heads will ripen.

Such is wy recollection of the appearance of past crops. We do not intend to sow
wheat and barley this year on our fly-infested ground, but the pest may follow our
sowing on another part of the grounds, and if it will be of interest to you, I will
watch the plants and send you specimens.

Yours very truly,
E. J. WIcKSON.

Prof. F. M. WEBSTER,

= Ts

75

If the soil is rich and the plants are attacked before they have til-
lered, these last will be thrown out from the roots which are not
injured. These, if the fall be very favorable, and the winter does not
commence too early, will often winter through and produce stem-bear-
ing heads the following harvest. On the other hand, if the autumn be
dry, or the ground be frozen early in the season, the crop will probably
prove a failure. Thisis the reason why some fields will present a much
better appearance the following June, and give a much better yield
than could have been anticipated from appearances during the fall. The
practical value of knowing how to detect the infested plants readily
is in that the destruction may be observed and the damage estimated
long before the foliage turns brown or yellow, and the fields be plowed
up and resown or allowed to remain, as the owner judges best. If re-
sown, it would seem best to replow also. Mr. W. A. Oliphant, of Pike
County, southern Indiana, writing me in the fall of 1884, in reply to
circular No. 1, stated that of 300 acres he had resown 200 acres after re-
plowing, and 100 acres without plowing. The first yielded him 274 and
the last 11 bushels per acre.

The popular notion in regard to the effect of larve on the straw is,
so far as I know, usually correct. This year, however, has been an ex-
ception, at least so far as southern and central Indiana is concerned.
As far north at least as La Fayette the larvee of the spring brood were
located just above the roots, and the straw did not break at the lower
joints, as is usually the case, but either fell or was blown over from the
roots, the culm usually being uninjured elsewhere. I observed this to
a very limited extent at Oxford, Indiana, in 1881. In fields about La
Porte, in the northern part of the State, none of this lower attack of
the plant was noticed, the larve and later the puparia being invariably
found just above some of the lower joints. Mr. James Fletcher, Do-
minion entomologist of Canada, reported at the meeting of the En-
tomological Club of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science at Indianapolis that the wheat about Ottawa, Canada, had
this year suffered from the attacks of larve of the spring brood in pre-
cisely the same manner as I had observed at La Fayette and south-
ward. Quite a percentage of the pupz in the fields about La Porte
were located so high up the stem as to render it probable that they
would be carried away with thestraw. As yet I have not found a good
reason for this difference, but have a vague idea that the killing down
of the plants during the preceding March migbt have had something
to do with it, as this was less severe in the northern part of the State.

THE EFEECT OF THE WEATHER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FALL BROOD.

It is quite probable that some autumns are more favorable for the development of
the insect than others, but just what the favorable influences are is not well under-
stood. Mr. Ratliff, at Richmond, saw an adult emerge from the pupa on October 16;
the wheat which it infested appeared above ground on September 4. Between these

76

two dates, Mr. Ratliff’s notes give the following record of minimum temperatures
through which the insect must have necessarily passed.

Sepbemben2o(irOsb) ieee cee ese eet ieee aa eee ee ee "26°
October 6i (ight frost) Mansa eere es cae ecess once sehen eee eee 26°
October 11 (ight frost) pao seee ees = secs cise woo wise wiceinen seen eteeioe 34°
October 12i@ioht frost) ese eae eset soe cy vappcmioe see ee eee 26°
October 14 (heaw y frost) Se ece mawiscete seielocloc cle moteinoececasenise eee 24°
October 15) (frost). s226 a pase eas fe se crise s de Sieh Ba Sen ete ee 26°
October 16, (ight frost) fae. Fas soe ws ct se src celeron ne ce sin= ele sae ent 29°

Rains on September 11, 26, October 19. Total precipitation during September and
October, 2.50 inches.

At La Fayette, the same year, I found adults ovipositing on November 3, but of the
origin of these flies of course nothing wasknown. The temperature through which
these must have passed, supposing the eggs from which they evolved were deposited
after September 1, was as follows:

Min. temp.
Se DUNNO PRY cee Sapo oSbe 00 COSCUO ROS OSH CAD EODONOOSU cabo CosesnHSODOS 39°
Sepbember'24 (frst WrOst))saeesee sacl sen = se eiaa ena eoee eee eeemea
October Ml 3.325 Fs cree se sacs poe ltene se ae ees ae te seers 39°
October?) (irosb) Pisano see eee ee eels see ee eee ete es 202
October 14)\Crost) Mceh acco eee see ocean estes oeneeate oneal ee eerie 33°
October 5 (rost) 5 -2.cee se vines e hyo ee bas oe cee eee se eee eee 31°
October W6rsss ose cate cs seis Sacipe aeeyee eciaia ele eee eee 38°
October:19:Girost) Sek e382 se sess dt chee eae ae eee eet 31°
October'20' Gightisnow) ee sees eos worsen toe ehaa ee see Ry
Ogtober:21 2225 Fa Sees ee We es Bees alee Sei ae oer ober eens 29°
October 22: ccse Fis seis sins ces iaisel- te'- le rensios Seep ee eee eee eer 219
October. 25 (frost) a2e.46 oes bg eae es wee eee ee eee ate Sane eee
October V6i(Eostis Gace oases tee se eeu see =e eye eae eee eerie
October27 (frost) 25 ae aa Ses en aeioe weretatsie eee le eee emo
October 238i Gros) ses sacs tao nae Sao sees ic cise eceenls ee oe arene aiere 28°
Octobermgd : w jwad as: eke clos as sos a ieciatae Bas aloe te che oleinee ete sees) eee eee JOC,
OctobersO: (fLOSt) Hae ae soe e ke eye tne lecle Seohse ss rae eet eee ete 19°
October Bleak cases esses Se eine Sree ese Senet ee eee een 28°
November. 1 (frost) (s-22,-c2.32. <2 se25 5 ees aes nose ecrsiaeaeseees 28°
Novemiber)2\(@rost) as sscesee oes Jueie i Saaeinsss Lee aee Nes ote ee Oe
November3 (frost). <- 32! saciecenc oss cae oascces catscetae ce emesis 32°

Rains on September 7, 13, 14, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, October 3, 9, 10, 12,
23. Total rainfall, 4.64 inches.

From this it will be observed that the adult flies may emerge and
oviposit under what we suppose to be very adverse circumstances. To
what extent the eggs and young larvie are able to withstand such
weather I have no facilities at present for demonstrating. The major
portion of the small brood of flies, however, emerge during a more
favorable period, and for meteorological aid against these we can only
look to the dry, hot weather of July and August, though to the south
a portion of September might be included. But the straggling indi-
viduals, which, as I have proved, may originate from stubble, volunteer,
or even early sown grain, and which I myself can find no satisfactory
reason for not considering either the retarded or accelerated individuals
of either one or the other or both broods, have it in their power to repro-
duce a considerable progeny, which, though of themselves not a serious

7

menace to the crop, yet, added to that of the remainder of the brood,
greatly increase the probabilities of serious damage. For these along,
mild autumn, extending into December, would appear to be exceedingly
favorable, as it would enable their progeny to enter winter in a com-
paratively hardy state, and probably produce late appearing larve
the following year simultaneously with or but little in advance of the
progeny of the earlier appearing adults of spring. In other words, the
one winters as advanced puparia or tnemerged adults, the other as ad-
vanced larve or newly formed puparia. Itthus appears that while the
autumn usually has little effect on the major portion of the fall brood,
a mild October and November may emphasize the destructiveness of
the pest. So far as observed by me, a damp spring, even though a
cold one, is also favorable to the development of the insect, while dry,
hot summers are as unfavorable, and cause serious mortality to the
earlier stages of the fall brood of adults.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES.

These may be noticed as follows: Sowing at the proper time; burn-
ing the stubble; rotation of crops; sowing long, narrow plats in late
summer as baits; applying quick-acting fertilizers to seriously infested
fields in the fall in order to encourage attacked plants to throw up fresh
tillers, and to increase the vigor of these that they may make sufficient
growth to withstand the winter.

None of the measures are original with me, and in fact the most of
them are as old as the history of the species itself. There is certainly
much to be gained by the farmer in timing his sowing so as to avoid
the larger part of the fall injury, and if all farmers of a neighborhood
would sow about the same time even a serious outbreak would be so
diffused as to lessen its injury.

The burning of the stubble after harvest, when it is practical to do
s0, is usually recommended by the majority of writers. The plan is
criticised by some authors on the plea that the parasites are also de-
stroyed, which, if allowed to continue, would themselves overcome the
fly. This idea has always appeared to me to be both theoretically and
practically wrong. If only the normal number of wheat plants allowed
by nature to spring up under a perfectly natural environment were pro-
duced, then the theory would be correct, because nature would then be
working out her plans from the beginning. As the facts exist hundreds
of thousands of plants are produced where nature intended but one.
Her domain is invaded and her law defied at the beginning. The Hes-
sian Fly is itself a parasite, the wheat plant being its host, and what we
term its parasites are practically only secondaries. In the Hessian Fly
nature has an efficient servant in controlling the wheat plant, and the
parasites of the former seem to be on guard to see that the duty is not
overdone. Now we outrage nature and expect that she will uphold us
by destroying these servants and permitting the indignity to go on.

78

With this state of affairs the American farmer has found that the Hes-
sian Fly will be overcome by its parasites only temporarily, and then at
the expense of a larger per cent of at least one crop. By burning the
stubble we destroy all of the pest and also numerous other enemies
which are to be found in the fields at the time. The present season,
however, many of the flaxseeds were so situated that it is doubtful if
enough heat would have reached them to have destroyed them.

In a rotation of crop the adults are obliged to travel about in search
of the fields, and there is a greater chance of their being destroyed while
thus engaged. This, however, has its exceptions, as we observed at New
Castle, about 30 miles northwest of Richmond, Indiana, on November 17,
1888. The whole field had been sown in standing corn, a portion of it
about the 5th of September and the remainder considerably later. The
early sown portion had been seriously attacked and at least 85 per cent
destroyed; the later sown portion was only slightly injured, as was late
sown wheat generally in the community. Here at the Indiana Experi-
ment Station the plan of rotation is as follows: Corn one year, followed
by oats one year, wheat one year, clover and grass two years. The
wheat fields are never seriously affected by the ravages of the Hessian
Fly.

Sowing narrow strips about the fields, early in the fall, as decoys, was
long ago strongly advocated by Dr. Fitch, but the nities has been, so
far as I have observed, totally ignored 1B the farmer. While it is
hardly possible to thus entrap the major part of the fall brood of larve,
it is certainly possible to entice to these plats the stragglers and inter-
lopers, which we have shown to be capable of considerable injury. In
this way the farmer can, in a measure, continue the influences of sum-
mer and winter in sharply separating and defining the two broods. In
other words, while he can not eradicate the pest in this way, he can
weaken its power to commit serious injury. It is very doubtful if the
volunteer wheat, springing up after the wheat has been plowed, can be
used as decoys, and if allowed to stand until the date of sowing the
fields, these volunteer plants should, by all means, be plowed under
as deeply as practicable, or grazed off by pasturing. Simply killing
the plants will not do, as has been illustrated by the experience of Mr.
Oliphant, previously cited, and by the observations of Professor Forbes
in Ilinois.* If volunteer wheat is allowed to stand at all, it should not
be for over a fortnight. The proper time for sowing these decoys will
probably vary with the latitude. For northern Indiana they should be
sown during the latter part of August, and in the southern part of the
State not later than the first week in September. To the north and
south of this I have, as previously stated, no definite information as
to the date of appearance of the fall brood of flies, and hence can not
undertake to settle the date of sowing. These decoys should not be
permitted to stand over four weeks at the farthest, and should be plowed

* Bulletin 3, State Ent., Ill., p. 48, 1887.

19

very soon after the crop is sown, turning the infested plants under and
thoroughly covering them. Simple cultivation, whereby the plants
are only killed, would probably only destroy a portion of the insects,
the full-grown larve very likely going through the remainder of their
transformations.

The application of fertilizers is, I believe, here in this State confined
to the poorer soils, and there more for its general effect on the crops
than as against the effects of insects. The idea in late sowing is to
retard the plants so that they do not appear until after the greater part
of the fall brood of flies have appeared and died, then to overcome
the effect of this delay by aiding the plants to make the greatest possi-
ble growth before winter closes in, which will the better enable them to
withstand its rigors. In this direction, it would seem that the applica-
tion of proper commercial fertilizers would pay by the effect upon the
growing plants, even though the land itself was not in actual want of
such treatment. The application to a field which has previously been
seriously damaged, with a view of encouraging the throwing out of
fresh tillers, is for practically the same purpose; and if thereis a tend-
ency to throw out the later shoots freely, if not too late in the season,
many may be enabled to secure sufficient vigor to sustain them until
spring. Whether it would be more profitable to plow and resow than
to try to secure a crop from the infested field by the aid of fertilizers
is, of course, a question which each farmer must decide for himself in
accordance with the time of year and extent of injury already done.

These measures are all of them practical and entail little if any
unusual expense. In fact, good farming presupposes that the most of
them will be carried out as among the essential elements of the business.
Where clover is to follow wheat it of course precludes the burning of
stubble or the destruction of volunteer plants, but it necessitates the
rotation of crop, and decoys can be sown and the seeding delayed. It
is hardly possible for a farmer to become so situated that he can not
carry out some of these measures, and if this were done generally, and
every year, the Hessian fly would, in all probability, become of so little
importance that it would cease to enter seriously into the problem of
successful wheat growing.

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END hex;

Abbot’s white pine worm, 60.
Acer saccharinum, 10.
Agallia siccifolia on beet, 16.
Agrotis, 46.

spp. injuring beets, 14.

Alfalfa crops injured by grasshoppers and army

worm, 44,
Allygus sp., on beet, 17.
Alnus, 42.
Aloes as remedy for scale insects, 36.
Amarantus, 16, 17.
Ambrosia, 14.
trifida, 54.
Amphipyra pyamidoides, 55.
Anisota rubicunda, 9.
Aonidia aurantii, 20.
Aphides found on beet, 17.
Aphidide, prevalence of, in Missouri, 48.
Aphidius, 48.
Aphis ambrosiz, 54.
atriplicis, 17.
brassice, 54.
chrysanthemi?, 54,
cucumeris, 17.
mali, 54.
prunifolii, 54.
Apion sp. on beet, 16.
Apple leaf skeletonizer, 59.
Microlepidoptera injurious to, 51.
Arabis, 47.
Army worm damaging beets, 14,
attacking alfalfa crops, 44,
- Arphia sordida, 59.

Arsenites of ammonia, experiments with, 55, 61.

Aspidiotus aurantii, 19, 26, 29,
citrinus, 29, 36.
perniciosnus, 26, 27, 28.

Athysanus (? sp.) on beet, 17.

Atriplex, 13, 15.

Australian lady-bird, 19.

Beetles injuring beet leaves, list of, 14.

beet roots, list of, 17.

Beet insects, list of, 13.

remedies against, 18.
Black chrysanthemum aphis, 54.
scab, 26, 28.

Blissus leucopterus on beet, 16.

Blister beetles on beets, 15.

Botis pesticata, 14.

Brown scale, 26,

Brauner, Lawrence, report by, 9.

25910—Bull. 23——6

Bugs on beet, 16.
Caceecia fervidana, 50.
Cecilius aurantiacus, 27.
California insects, notes on, 19, 37.
Caloptenus devastator, 44,
Camnula pellucida, 44.
Cankerworms, 46.
Cantharis nuttalli destructive to beets, 15.
Ceanothus, 42, 43.
Centrinus penicillus on beet, 16.
perscitus on beet, 16.
Cercocarpus, 43.
Cereal crops, report on insects affecting, 63.
Chetocnema denticulata, 15.
pulicaria, 47.
Chalcid parasites of Clisiocampa, 43.
Characlea angulata, 55,
Chenopodium, 14, 15, 16, 17.
Cherry slug, 60,
Chinch bug, 16, 46.
Chrysanthemum Aphis, 54.
Chrysopa, 48.
Cidaria diversilineata, 55.
Citrus trees destroyed by red scale, 19.
Clisiecampa californica, 43.
constricta, 42, 43.
erosa, 42.
thoracica, 42.
parasites of, 43.
Codling moth, 9.
Colaspis brunnea on beets, 15.
Coleoptera attacking beet leaves, 14.
beet roots, 17.
Colorado potato-beetle on beet, 16.
Conotrachelus, 47.
Copidryas gloveri, 14.
Coquillett, D. W., report by, 19.
Corn ear-worm, 9.
flea-beetle, 47.
root-worm, 9, 60.

Corrosive sublimate as remedy for scale insects, 34.

Cottony cushion scale, 19.
Crambus exsiccatus, 58.
Crate gus, 42.
Cryptolechia nubeculosa, 50.

schlegerella, 50.
Cut-worms destructive to beets, 14.
Cydonia, 45.
Darapsa myron, 55,
Datana angusii, 49.

ministra, 49, 50, £5, 60, 62.
81

82

Deilephila lineata feeding on beet leaves, 14.
Deltocephalus debilis, 58.

inimicus, 58.

gayi, 58.

melsheimeri, 58.

Desmia maculalis, 55. 6

Devastating locust, 44.

Devereaux, W. L., letter, 74.

Diabrotica, 55. 7

longicornis, 9, 60.
12-punctata, 14, 60.
vittata, 60.

Disonycha cervicalis, 15,
crenicollis, 15.
triangularis, 14.
xanthomelena, 15.

Dissosteira carolina, 14, 59.

Doryphora 10-lineata, 16, 55.

Dried Crambus, 58.

Echinocystis lobata, 16.

Emblethis arenarius, 16.

Empretia stimulea, 49, 55.

Epicerus imbricatus attacking beet, 15.

Epicauta cinerea, 15.

cinerea var. marginata, 15,
maculata, 15.
penpsylvanica, 15.

Epitrix cucumeris, 15.

Eragrostis major, 16.

Erythroneura sp. on beet, 17.

Euclea querceti, 48, 49.

Eurycreon rantalis destructive to beets, 14.

Euthoctha galeator on beet, 16.

Experiments for scale insects, 32.

False chinch bug on beet, 16.

Flea beetles, 15, 47.

Fluted scale insect, 19.

Forsythia, 45.

Fumigation for red scale, 20.

Garden web-worm injuring beets, 14.

Gas treatment for red scale, 20.

Gelechia intermediella? description of larva and

imago, 53.
roseosuffusella, 54.
rubensella, 54.

Geocoris bullatus on beet, 16.

Glue as remedy for scale insects, 35.

Gortyna nitela, 46.

Grain Aphis, 47.

Grasshoppers, 10, 44.

Green-striped maple worm, 10.

Hadena, 46,

Handmaid moth, 60, 62.

Helianthus, 14.

Heliothis armigera, 9, 46, 55.

Hemiptera attacking beet, 16, 17.

Hessian fly, numberand development of broods, 63.
effect of larvz on plants, 73.
effect of weather on development of

fall brood, 76.
preventive measures against, 77.

Heteroptera attacking beet, 16.

Hibiscus militaris, 15.

Homoptera attacking beet, 16.

Hydrocyanicacid gas as remedy for red scale, 19,20.

Hy phantria cunea, 50.

Icerya purchasi, 19.
Ichneumonid parasites on Clisiocampa, 43.
Ichthyura inclusa on willows, 50.
Indiana, report of insects of, 63.
Insecticides, experiments with, 54,
Insects injurious in California, 19, 37.
Indiana, 63.
Iowa, 57.
Missouri, 45,
Nebraska, 9.
to beets, list of, 13.
Iowa, injurious insects of, 57.
Jassidz in grass, 58.
Jassus inimicus, 58.
June bugs attacking beets, 17.
Koebele, Albert, report by, 37.
Lachnosterna fusea attacking beet roots, 17.
Lagoa crispata, 49.
Leaf-hoppers attacking beet, 16, 17.
in grass, 58.
Lecanium hesperidum, 26.
olex, 26, 28, 29, 31.
Lepidium, 47.
Lepidoptera injurious to apple, 51.
beet, 13.
Leucania unipuncta damaging beets, 14.
Liburnia intertexta on beet, 17.
Ligyrus gibbosus destructive to sugar beet, 17.
Limacodes larva, 48. ’
scapha, 49.
Lime wash for scale insects, 32.
Locusts, 10.
Lophophanes inornatus, 44.
Lophyrns abbotii, 60.
Lygus pratensis on beet, 16.
Mawmestra picta attacking beets, 13.
trifolii, attacking beets, i4.
Maple, soft, 9.
worm, 10. }
Melanoplus atlanis, 14.
bivittatus, 14.
differentialis, 14, 59.
femur-rubrum, 14, 59.
spretus, 14.
Mercuric chloride as remedy for scale insects, 34.
Microlepidoptera injurious to apple, 51.
Missouri, injurious insects of, 45.
Montilia, 17.
Murtfeldt, Mary E., report by, 45. |
Myzus persica, 54. |
Nicholson, H. H., letter, 12. |
Nebraska, injurious insects of, 9. |
Nemobius vittatus, 59. .
Nysius angustatus on beet, 16, |
Opuntia engelmanni, 21. ¥
Orgyia leucostigma on sycamore, 50. |
Orthoptera injurious to beets, list of, 14.
Osborn, Herbert, report by, 57.
Papilis turnus, 59.
Parasa chloris, 48.
Pempelia hammondii, 59.
Penthina chionosema, description of larva and
imago, 51.
Pezotettix olivaceus, 14.
Pieris rap®, 55.
Piesma cinerea on beet, 16.

83

Pine worm, 60.
Phobetron pithecium, 49.
Phyllotreta sinuata, 47.
vittata, 47.
Phylioxera, experiments with resin compounds
on, 37.
Plant lice, 47.
Plochionus timidus, 50.
Plum curculio, 47.
Plusia brassice attacking beets, 14.
Potato stalk weevil, 60.
Proteopteryx spoliana, description of larva and
adult, 52.
Psychomorpha epimenis, 55.
Psylliodes convexior on leaves of beets, 15.
Purshia tridentata, 42.
Purslane bug, 16.
Quercus agrifolia, 42.
Red scale destructive to citrus trees, 19.
gas treatment for, 20.
Red spider, 26.
Remedies against beet insects, 18.
Resin compounds on phylloxera, 37.
wash for San José scale, 27.
Rhamnuus californica, 43.
Rhus copalina, 49.
glabra, 49.
Saddle-back caterpillar, 49.
San José scale, 26.
resin wash for, 27.
Salt and lime wash, 32.
and sulphur wash, 32.
wash for scale insects, 31.
Saturnia io, 49.
Scale insects, methods for destroying, 19.
Schizoneura lanigera, 26, 54,
Selandria cerasi, 60,
Tose, 55.
Silpha opaca, occurrence in beet fields, 17,
Silver-top in grass, 58.
Siphonophora avene, 47, 54.
crategi, 54.

Siphonophora pisi, 17.
rose, 56.
rudbeckiz, 54.
Snout-beetles attacking beet, 15, 16.
Sodworm, 58.
Solanum nigrum, 15.
Spharagemon equale feeding on sugar-beet, 14.
Sphinx quinque-maculata, 55.
Spilosoma isabella injuring.beet leaves, 13.
virginica injuring beet leaves, 13.
Steganoptycha sp., description of larva, 52.
description of imago, 53.
salicicolana, 53.
Stinging larve, 48.
Striped flea- beetles, 47.
Sugar beet culture, suggestions in regard to, 11.
insects, 11,
Sulphur wash for scaie insects, 32.
Systena frontalis, 15.
teeniata var. blanda, 15.
Tachina flies parasitic on clisiocampa, 43.
Teniocampa, 43.
Tetranychus telarius, 26.
Tomonotus sulphureus, 59.
Trapezonotus nebulosus, 16.
Trichobaris trinotatus, 60.
Trimerotropis latifasciata, 14.
Trioxys, 48.
Turf web-worm, 58.
Turnus butterfly, 59.
Vedalia cardinalis, 19.
Washes for scale insects, 27, 30, 31, 34.
experiments with, 31.
Webster, F. M., report by, 63.
White grubs attacking beet roots, 17.
pine worm, 60.
Wickson, E. J., letter, 75.
Wire-worms on beets, 17.
Wisteria, 49.
Woolly Aphis, 26.
X. O. dust, experiments with, 54,
Yellow scale, 29.

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bus ». DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
BULLETIN No. 26.

Br
oF REPORTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WOKK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

Te.
xy :

2 Wrest iNGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,

18G2.

, by Gub-ser,es

U.S, Bere tMENT OF. AGRICULTURE,

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
BuLLETIN No. 26.

REPORTS

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

iit theaclicCal WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,
1892.

—t ¥

CONTENTS.

a ENTEIBES RIE) Fem B EDA UNS METIS Tis 5, cee Sco < oe eG SER ioe ree ie cen sere oe ences he
RBREEXU CLIO Nimes mesma wn era cis Na ee ese So Sa SO Sek Cee meee eae
REPORT UPON INSECT DEPREDATIONS IN NEBRASKA..---.-- Lawrence Bruner ..
REPORT ON THE SCALE-INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA.-..-...--.--- D. W. Coquillett-.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE SEASON OF 1891...._-- Mary E. Murtfeldt-.
- REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE COTTON BOLL
\QIR » csogeisgeeChbOSSe 0605 Sa BB UAU DOE ep C ae aCe Seo aS ace eeee F. W, Mally..
PIE NCIS/ OW PHE SHASON IN LOWA os. << 260 6ccc0 cece bees oe ecee Herbert Osborn..
REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL WORK OF THE SEASON OF 1891..F. M. Webster.
REPORT UPON THE GYPSY_MOTH IN MASSACHUSETTS....---- Samuel Henshaw - -
REPORT OF APICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS IN 1891.............---- A. J. Cook..

3

Page.

on o

15
36

45
57
63
75
83 ©

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., January 3, 1892.
Str: [ have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 26 of
this Division. It comprises the reports of the field agents of the Divi-
sion for the past year (1891), a summary of which has been included in
your annual report.
Respectfully,
C. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. J. M. Rusk,
Secretary of Agriculture.

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS IN THE PRACTICAL
WORK OF THE DIVISION.

INTRODUCTION.

Mr. Albert Koebele, the agent of the Division at Alameda, Cal., was
sent to New Zealand and Australia early in August, and much of his
time for a month or so previous to his departure was taken up with
preparations for the journey. The course of experiments assigned to
him was therefore interrupted, and there is no formal report from him
the present season. The reports of the other agents are included in
this Bulletin, including a report of the season’s observations upon the
Boll Worm by Mr. Mally. These reports are little more than summaries
of the work performed by each of these agents. Special investigations
have, from time to time, been assigned to them and upon matters of
immediate importance reports have been received at different times
through the year and summarized in short articles in INSECT LIFE.

Mr. Bruner’s report includes only a brief account of the injurious in-
sects which have been most prominent during the year in Nebraska.
The greater portion of his time was devoted to the investigation of
destructive locusts, a full account of which will be published in Bulle-
tin No. 27.

Mr. Coquillett gives a full account of his work upon California scale-
insects, and includes many new facts and the results of a number of
important experiments. His report upon the work of the destructive
locusts of California during 1891 will also be published in Bulletin
No. 27.

Miss Mary EK. Murtfeldt gives in her report her usual summary of the
injurious insects of the season in Missouri and of experiments with in-
secticides.

Prof. Osborn, in addition to a report upon the destructive locusts of
Kansas, has submitted a report upon the insects of the season in Iowa,
and includes with this an account of some successful trials with a sin-

7

8

gle coal-oil pan against leaf-hoppers and young locusts, and other in-
sects injurious to pastures.

Mr. F. M. Webster reported last year upon the development of the
Hessian Fly, indicating the desirability of late sowing as a means of
lessening the fall attack. He has found the present season that where
this late sowing is practiced a procrastination in preparing the ground
for seeding leads to the development of other injurious insects, viz, the
larve of certain Crane-flies upon which he reports this year in full.
He recommends plowing in the latter part of August or the early part
of September, and refraining from seeding until later.

Prof. A. J. Cook, who was temporarily in charge of the experiments
in Apiculture, reports upon a series of investigations which he ear-
ried out during the season with the help of Mr. J. H. Larrabee.

Mr. Samuel Henshaw has been engaged chiefly in work on the bibli-
ography of economic entomology, but was requested to make some
observations on the Gypsy Moth, and the report on that insect and on
the work being done against it by the State of Massachusetts is also
included.

0. V. i

REPORT UPON INSECT DEPREDATIONS IN NEBRASKA
FOR 1891.

By LAWRENCE BRUNER, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

LINCOLN, NEBR., October 17, 1891.

Srr: In accordance with past custom I submit herewith a report upon the results
of my labors as special field agent for Nebraska, engaged in the studies of life-his-
tories and habits of insects related to agriculture during the past summer. In pre-
senting this report I am pleased to be able to record a season of comparative free-
dom from the ravages of most of our common insect pests, but wish that it might
have been even better in this respect than it has, for during years when insect depre-
dations are comparatively light and scarcely noticeable it is safe to say that fully as
much as one-tenth to one-eighth of the entire production of a country is thus de-
stroyed. ;

While we have had comparative immunity from insect ravages here in Nebraska,
it has not been so in some other States. Even here we have been obliged to recog-
nize a few species as being more than ordinarily abundant and destructive. These
will be mentioned briefly in the following pages.

Very respectfully yours,

LAWRENCE BRUNER.
CV, Kinny.

U. S. Entomologist.

The present summer has been an extraordinary one for Nebraska as
far as its agricultural interests are concerned. We have had abundant
crops of nearly every one of our staple products, and our climatic condi-
tions have been such as to indicate even better results for next year.
But few insect enemies appeared in destructive numbers, and these few
only in limited areas. Some of these are mentioned below, along with
a few notes on their occurrence and habits.

MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS.

The Corn-root Worm, Diabrotica longicornis, appears to be alarmingly
on the increase over many of the eastern counties of the State. During
the past summer it has been reported from a number of new localities,
and has been noted as especially numerous in some of the counties

9

10

along the Elkhorn River. Everywhere that it has been reported as
uncommonly destructive investigations reveal the fact that rotation in
crops is not practiced, but that corn is planted year after year upon
the same grounds. This fact alone would account for its increase and
spread, as has been demonstrated by repeated experiments by different
entomologists as well as by farmers themselves. It had been my inten-
tion during the past summer to make special efforts to ascertain whether
or not this insect had other food plants in this region, but my absence
from home for the greater part of the time when this would have been
under way made this investigation impossible, and it must be under-
taken next year.

The Green-striped Maple Worm.—This insect continues to strip our
silver maples of their leaves in the cities and towns of the State. Usu-
ally the spring brood does not appear in sufficient numbers to entirely

defoliate the trees; but, as a rule, the next brood is numerous enough .

to do this. Thus far it has been my experience that it is next to impos-
sible to induce the owners of property to do anything toward protect-
ing their shade trees from the injuries of this and other insect enemies.
They will do everything but the right thing, even to bandaging them
with cotton (medicated) as a protection againt this and similar moths.
As matters appear at present we will have an abundant crop of Maple
Worms in this part of the country next year again; also a number of
bared trees along the streets to advertise the ignorance of our people
as to the life-history of this insect.

Lyda sp.—During the month of June specimens of the larvee of some
species of sawfly, belonging to the genus Lyda, were received from a
number of correspondents residing in various portions of central Ne-
braska. These “slugs” were said to completely defoliate the wild plum
trees of the respective localities from which the reports and specimens
came. None of the mature insects were reared or received, hence I
‘an not say to which species they belonged.

The Gooseberry Span-worm.—tThis insect attracted especial attention
during the year. The larve of this moth appeared in great numbers
in portions of some of the newer settled regions to the north and west
of here, where in many cases they completely defoliated currant and
gooseberry bushes. Over the older settled portions of the State, how-
ever, they were not reported at all. This fact is probably due to the
presence of insectivorous birds and parasitic insects in greater num-
bers where the country has been settled for a longer time. Such is
evidently the reason for having most of my inquiries come from the
newer settled districts.

SUGAR BEET INSECTS.

A study of the insect enemies of the Sugar Beet has been continued
throughout the spring and summer, with the results of adding several
species to the list as published last year. Beyond these additions no

——

11

new facts of importance have come to light; nor do I find it neces-
sary to change my recommendations of the use of kerosene emulsion
and the arsenical sprays as remedies against the attacks of insects
upon this plant.

Monowxia guttulata Lee.—This leaf-beetle has been sent to me from
the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station by Prof. F. L. Washburn,
who reports it as very injurious to the Sugar Beet in the State of Ore-
gon. He also stated that he had found three teaspoonfuls of Paris
green in 4 gallons of water, in which 4 ounces of whale oil and soft soap
had been dissolved, to be an effective remedy without injuring the foli-
age. He suggests that probably the poison would have been equally
effective without the whale oil and soap.

Prof. Washburn also reports that he has taken Hippodamia convergens
and Diabrotica vittata feeding on the leaves of the Sugar Beet in his
State. The latter insect has also been taken here in Nebraska during
the present year while feeding on leaves of both the ordinary and
the Sugar Beet. Diabrotica longicornis has also been collected upon
this plant two or three times here at Lincoln. Whether or not it feeds
upon the beet, I can not say at present, since the matter has not been
verified by actual observation.

Cutworms.—In the early part of the season the larve of several of
these insects were very plentiful upon the experimental farm here at
Lincoln, where they almost destroyed the entire crop of Sugar Beets
growing upon two of the plats. One noticeable fact in this connection
was that where there had been fall plowing and plowing again this year
but few of the worms were present and consequently little injury was
done to the beets growing on such portions of the field.

CABBAGE INSECTS.

Cabbage Butter flies.—These insects were not especially numerous over
the State during the year, but are referred to here simply because I
wish to call attention to a reported “new” remedy against them. To
say the least, it is unique as well as simple, if it proves as effectual
as is claimed for it. This remedy was brought to my notice about two
weeks ago (September 29) while at West Point, my old home, on busi-
ness connected with my work for the Division of Entomology. The
remedy is simply this: The cabbage plants are sprinkled with ordi-
nary corn meal while they are wet with dew or immediately after a rain
so the meal will cling to the leaves at all points. My informant cer-
tainly had nice cabbages that were free from worms, and all he had done
in the way of a preventive or remedy was to use this corn meal as above
directed or explained. He claimed that in a few days after sprinkling
on the meal all the worms would be found dead and turned black, cling-
ing to the leaves of the plants. Several cabbages that had purposely
been left untreated were rather full of the caterpillars of different sizes.
In order to test the corn-meal remedy for myself I treated these. On

12

the 10th of October I received the cabbages thus treated by express

just as they were when cut from the roots. The accompanying letter
reads as follows:

The worms seem to become torpid at first—at least inactive, and then seem to dry up.
How the meal acts on the worms I can not say. Can not say whether they eat it by
itself or whether it gets mixed up with the leaves they eat, or whether the meal] that
gets on them, by adhering to them, acts like poison on them. The meal does not seem
to do any good unless there is a heavy dew on the cabbages and it will adhere well.
Perhaps they get killed by the meal getting on them while the dewisonthem. But
I think not.

When the cabbages were received by me the worms were dead and
partly dried up, just as they had been described to me. I do not know
what to think of the matter, and give the facts as they appear here.

Eleodes tricostataa—A cabbage pest in the shape of a rather active,
cylindrical, grayish-brown Coleopterous larva was noted for the first
time during the past spring here at Lincoln. In some of our market
gardens this larva did even more injury than was committed by the
various cutworms that were quite plentiful and against which we are
obliged to contend every spring. This larva not only attacked cab-
bages, but also showed a decided inclination to feed upon various other
products of the garden. It was also found to be a general feeder both
upon the prairies and in the fields where it even attacked the weeds.
By placing specimens of nearly full-grown larvee into a breeding cage
it was a surprise to me when I found that from them developed the
common Hleodes tricostata. This insect appears to be greatly on the
increase here in Nebraska, and especially does it seem to be increasing
over the settled portions.

While speaking of this beetle, it might be well to record the fact that
I have very frequently observed attached to the elytra of tricostata and
opaca the eggs of some Tachina fly. In several instances as many as
three or four of such eggs were observed upon the back of a single
beetle. No effort has been made by me to rear these Tachinids, nor
even to ascertain whether or not the eggs had hatched, and, if so,
whether or not the young maggots had succeeded in entering the bodies
of the beetles.

REPORT ON THE SCALE-INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA.

By D. W. CoquiLLEttT.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

Los ANGELES, CAL., October 17, 1891.

Sir: I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1891, consisting of notes on
the principal kinds of scale-insects found in this State, together with the remedies
employed for their destruction.

The Fluted or Cottony-cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi Mask.) has been kept in
subjection by the Anstralian Ladybird (Vedalia cardinalis Muls.) first imported into
southern California by this Division under your direction. The propagating houses
erected at San Gabriel by our State Board of Horticulture at the suggestion of its
president, and especially intended to preserve these Ladybirds from being destroyed
by the inclement weather of the winter season, were not stocked with the lady-
birds until nearly half of the winter season had passed by; from these houses a great
many colonies of these useful insects were distributed to various parts of the State
during the first half of the year, but none are in either of the houses at the present
time and I am informed that none will be on hand for distribution before next March.
Fortunately, however, Mr. A. F. Kercheval, of this city, formerly the President ot
our County Board of Horticulture, infested with the Iceryas a large patch of nettles
growing in the hills, several miles from any cultivated orchard, and later, after the
Iceryas had become very numerous upon these nettles, he introduced a uumber of
the ladybirds among them, so that at the present time these ladybirds can be ob-
tained from this source in sufficent numbers to meet all local demands. In accord-
ance with your instructions I had a tent erected over an orange tree in this city for
the purpose of breeding a sufficient number of Iceryas to serve as food for the Lady-
birds intended to be sent to foreign countries, since I have heretofore found it quite
impossible to obtain sufficient of these for this purpose from other sources.

Respectfully yours,

D. W. CoquiLuEett.,
Prot: Via Riuny,

U.S. Entomologist.

NOTES ON SCALE INSECTS.

In this State there is no class of insects more destructive to fruit
trees than those commonly known as scale insects. Other insects may
occasionally strip the tree of its leaves or rob it of its fruit, but none
appear over such wide areas and cause such widespread destruction to
the trees themselves as do these insidious, highly destructive pests.
Up to the present time but little has been written upon the habits and

13

14

early stages of these insects. A few observations of this nature are

given in the Annual Report of this Department for the year 1880, fur-
nished by the former Entomologist, who spent afew weeks in this State
during the year above mentioned. The habits and natural history
of the Fluted or Cottony Scale (Icerya purchasi Mask.) have been
thoroughly studied out and a complete account has been published by
Prof. Riley in the former reports and bulletins of this Department. I
have nothing new to add to what has already been written and pub-
lished in regard to this pest.

The following notes upon various kinds of scale-insects occurring in
this State were taken by the writer during a residence of about eight
years in various parts of the State, and, although of a fragmentary
nature, will still throw some light upon the habits and early stages of
these pests. To these notes I have added my experience with various
remedies employed for the destruction of these insects.

THE RED SCALE.
(Aspidiotus aurantii Mask.)

This at the present time is the most injurious scale-insect that our
growers of citrus fruits have to contend with. As near as I have been
able to learn it was first introduced into this State in the year 1879,*
upon lemon trees brought from Australia and planted in one of the
orange groves of this city. Mr. Alexander Craw, who formerly had
charge of a large orange and lemon grove almost adjoining the one in
which these infested trees were planted, informed me that when he first
saw the Red Seales upon these imported trees he feared that they would
prove to be a great pest, and expressed his fears to the owner of the
trees, advising him to destroy the infested trees with fire. This he
promised to do, but shortly afterward was taken sick and died, and
the property passed into the hands of an administrator, who claimed
that he had no legal right to destroy any of the property placed in his
care, and therefore the infested trees were allowed to stand and the
scale spread from them to the adjoining groves until it was found im-
possible to eradicate them.

At about the same time that these infested trees were brought to
Los Angeles others from the same locality, and like them also infested
with the Red Scale, were taken to Orange and planted in one of the
groves there; and from these trees almost every citrus grove in that
locality became infested with these pests.

The number of broods that this species produces in one season is not
definitely known, and doubtless varies with the character of the sea-
son, hot weather accelerating their development, while cool weather
retards it. From observation which I have made it is quite evident
that in ordinary seasons at least four generations are produced in one

‘Facts which we have not space to detail here make it tolerably certain that the
Red Scale was introduced at least several years prior to this date.—C. V. R.

ee

15

year. The adult female deposits eggs, but these are in such advanced
stage of development that they usually hatch out within twenty-four
hours after being deposited. I find by reference to my note book that
on the 28th of May, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, I found beneath an
adult female of this species one recently hatched young scale-insect and
two eggs, all of them being of a pale yellow color; one of these eggs
hatched out a few hours after I found it and the other hatched out the
day following its discovery. The young seale-insect from the last-men-
tioned egg had formed a thin white scale over it by 8 o’clock the next
morning, the scale being regularly hemispherical in shape. This spe-
cies evidently breeds during every month of the year. I have found
adult males early in the month of March and as late as October. — Karly
in March I have seen the young scale-insects crawling about, and by
the latter part of July adult females may be found upon the green fruit,
which usually sets in February or March. The greatest increase, how-
ever, occurs during the three months of July, August, and September.

While the Red Scale prefers citrus trees to all others, and probably
could not maintain itself for a succession of years upon any other kind
of tree or plant, still I have frequently found adults of this species
upon the following plants growing in the immediate vicinity of infested
citrus trees:

English Walnut, Castor Bean,
Eucalyptus, Kennedya rubicunda,
Acacia, Passion Flower,

Pear, Fuchsia,

Rose, Solanum douglasii,
Camphor Tree, Bidens sp.,

Grape, Solidago californica,
California Palm, and various other weeds.

Date Palin,

On one occasion I saw a young English walnut tree the bark of which
was as thickly infested with Red Scales as any citrus tree could be; it
Was growing only a few yards from several orange trees on which these
scales were extremely abundant.

Among the insect enemies of the Red Scale the Twice-stabbed Lady-
bird (Chilocorus bivulnerus Muls.) is perhaps the most common and
widespread; I have repeatedly seen the larva of this ladybird tear off
the upper scale and feed upon the scale-insect itself, and in some in-
stances fully one-half of the scales on several of the oranges and lem-
ons had been destroyed by these larvee. For some reason, at present
unknown, this ladybird never becomes sufficiently numerous to keep
these seale-insects within due limits, even in restricted localities. About:
one year ago Mr. A. Kercheval, of this city, at that time president of
the Los Angeles County Board of Horticulture, inclosed in a tent one
of his orange trees quite thickly infested with the Red Scale, and then
introduced into this tent a large number of these ladybirds, for the

16

purpose of ascertaining if they were capable of freeing this one tree of |

the Red Scales; but after waiting several months he found that the
ladybirds had not made any appreciable headway against the Scales,
the latter being quite as numerous as they were at the time the lady-
birds were first confined in the tent with them.

In the early part of May, 1890, I found two of these ladybirds to
the underside of whose bodies was attached a fungus growth of a yel-
lowish color and very noticeable even to the naked eye. These speci-
mens were submitted to Dr. Roland Thaxter, the Mycologist of the
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, who has made a special
study of these low forms of plant life, and he ascertained that this
yellowish fungus belonged to a new genus and species which he has
since characterized under the name of Hesperomyces virescens. It is not
probable that this fungus would ultimately have caused the death of
the Ladybirds, since Dr. Thaxter writes as follows concerning the
members of the group to which it belongs:

The Laboulbeniacexw constitute a small group of very peculiar and minute forms
which have been placed by De Bary among the doubtful Ascomycetes. Their para-
sitism is an external one, which apparently results in little, if any, inconvenience
to the host, each individual being fixed by a pedicellate attachment to the legs,
thorax, or other portion of the affected insect. (Memoirs Boston Society Natural
History, Vol. Iv, p. 135.)

Another ladybird whose larva I have found feeding upon the Red
Scale is an undetermined species of Scymnus, closely related to Seym-
nus marginicollis Mann., but having a distinct metallic, somewhat
brassy tinge upon the wing cases. This ladybird measures less than
an eighth of an inch in length; the head and thorax are of a light red-
dish color, the wing cases black, with a slight brassy tinge and thickly
covered with rather short, light-colored hairs. Its larva has never
been described so far as [am aware. It is of the same general form as
the other ladybird larve, being broadest at the middle and somewhat
tapering toward each end. The color varies from a brownish gray to
olive brown, and in the younger individuals even to a blackish brown.
In the middle of the back on segments from 4 to 7 is a lighter,
somewhat pinkish stripe, darkest in the middle, and on the front part
of segment 4 it is encroached upon by the dark ground color. There
is sometimes a whitish stripe on each side of segments 2 and 3.
Low down on each side of the body are two rows of black warts sit-
uated on whitish spots, each wart giving forth a cluster of several short
whitish bristles. On the back are two rows of similar but much smaller
warts, those on segments 4 to 7 being light-colored. The head is
brownish gray, with the sides more blackish. The full-grown larva
measures about one-seventh of an inch in length. When about to as-
sume the pupa form it attaches the posterior extremity of its body to
some convenient object and after a short time the skin splits open at
the front end and is gradually worked backwards until it covers only

ee

LY

the last one or two segments of the abdomen, where it is allowed to
remain. The pupa is of the usual form and of a very pale yellow color,
except that the back and under side of the abdomen is tinged with
orange yellow. The entire pupa is thinly covered with short light yel-
lowish hairs. It measures about one-ninth of an inch in length. One
of these larva assumed the pupa form on the 14th of July and was
changed to a beetle six days later.

I have seen numerous thickly infested oranges and lemons upon each
of which were from two to half a dozen of these larvee, while the scales
were so torn up as to give the infested fruit a roughened appearance
very noticeable upon a slight inspection. I have also found this larva
upon apple trees infested with the Woolly Aphis (Schizoneura lanigera
Hausm.), and in such cases the larva frequently attaches to the bris-
tles on various parts of its body portions of the woolly substance taken
from the bodies of its victims.

Besides the larve of these two ladybirds, I have also seen the larva of
the California Lace-wing (Chrysopa californica Coq.) feeding upon the
Red Scale. Almost every fruit-grower in southern California is famil-
iar with the appearance of these active, pale gray larve which have
somewhat the appearance of miniature alligators, and provided with a
pair of long, slender, pincer-like jaws projecting some distance in front
of the head. In attacking a Red Seale this larva inserts its right man-
dible, or jaw, beneath the scale, then presses the tip of its other mandible
against the upper side of the scale, thus bringing the scale-insect be-
tween the tips of its mandibles; in this way it extracts the juices of the
scale through its right mandible which, being hollow, answers this pur-
pose admirably. These larve feed upon a great variety of insects and
their eggs, and even do not hesitate to attack each other, the stronger
attacking and devouring or rather extracting the juices of the weaker
ones, while the latter take this proceeding as a matter of course, never
so much as making the least show at resistance. It is doubtless largely
due to this cannibalistic propensity of theirs that these highly benefi-
cial insects do not become more numerous and render greater service to
the horticulturist by destroying the noxious insects that infest his trees
and plants. Their numbers are also still further decimated by the at-
tacks of internal parasites. From the larve and pup of this Lace-
wing I have bred no less than four different kinds of these parasites,
only one of which, the Isodromus icerye Howard, has as yet been de-
seribed. These parasites seldom issue until after the Lace-wing larva
has spun its cocoon. The parasitic larve spin no cocoons of their own,
but assume the pupa form within the cocoons of their hosts, and, after
being changed to the perfect or winged state, they gnaw irregular
holes usually in one end of the cocoon, out of which they escape. I
have bred two of the parasitic Isodromus from a single pupa of the
Lace-wing, while from another pupa issued sixteen specimens of an
undetermined species of Tetrastichus. Of the other two kinds of para-

2d382—No, 26-———2

18

sites referred to above, one of which is a Pteromalus and the other a
Perilampus, only one specimen has thus far issued from a single pupa
of the Lace-wing.

Besides the losses in their ranks occasioned by the attacks of these
internal parasites, and the losses sustained through the cannibalistic
habits of their fellows, the Lace-wings suffer still further from the at-
tacks of spiders, which I have occasionally seen feeding upon the eggs
of this insect as well as upon the adult Lace-wing itself. Notwith-
standing the fact that the eggs of this insect are elevated on the tip
of a slender pedicel, an evident provision of nature to protect them
from the rapacious jaws of the Lace-wing larve, still many of them,
as just stated, fall a prey to spiders and doubtless also to various kinds
of predaceous insects, or even to the attacks of the Lace-wing larve
themselves, as if nature were unable to cope with the scheming and
cunning of her many children. With all of these drawbacks to con-
tend with, it is not to be wondered at that these Lace-wing larve never
become more numerous than they have at any time in the past. At
the same time it is evidently not within our power to change the exist-
ing conditions to such an extent that these larvae would become so
numerous as to free our plants and trees of the noxious insects that
infest them.

Besides the above-mentioned enemies of the Red Seale there are also
other agencies not at present clearly understood, but which occasionally
very materially lessen the numbers of these pests. A few years ago
Mr. H. F. Gardner, of Orange, in the adjoining county of the same
name, drew my attention to the fact that a large percentage of the Red
Seales of all sizes upon his orange and lemon trees, as well as of the
Black Seales (Lecanium olew Bern.) upon his olive trees were dead,
although they had not been treated with any kind of insecticide. A
close inspection of his trees revealed the fact that fully 80 per cent of
the Red Scales upon these particular trees were dead, while upon the
adjoining olive trees we found only a single colony of Black Seales still
alive. This latter colony was in a sheltered situation and contained
about a dozen individuals of all sizes. All of the other Black Seales
upon the trees that I examined were dead and dry. In neighboring
orange groves I also found several trees upon which fully 60 per cent
of the Red Seales of all sizes were dead. Thinking that perhaps these
might have been destroyed by some low form of fungus, I submitted
specimens of them to Mr. Galloway, the Mycologist of this Department,
with the request that they be examined for traces of such fungus, and
under date of October 11, 1889, Miss E. A. Southworth, the Assistant
Mycologist, wrote me as follows concerning them:

I have examined the scales on the lemons and find that the black ones are covered
with a fungus which also spreads over the fruit to some extent. Whether or not
this fungus is what kills the scales I can not say positively, but I find a little

of the fungus on some of the scales that seem to be living, which would indicate
that it does attack the living ones and destroys them.

19

In reply to an inquiry for further information upon this subject Miss
Southworth wrote me as follows, under date of November 2, 1889:

I think the fungus which I found on the orange scale is a Capnodium, although
there is an unusual absence of effused mycelium, the spores appearing to be borne
mainly on upright conidiophores. It is in the conidial stage and no pyenidia or
perithecia are present. It is accordingly impossible to be certain of the species,
although I incline to the belief that it is C. citri. This species has now, however,
been changed to Meliola citri.

I do not think I stated positively that I found the fungus on living scales. I found
it sparingly on Red Scales, but I could not be sure they were living.

The fungus referred to as Capnodium citri is the same kind that
causes the “ black-smut” on citrus and other kinds of trees, and is sup-
posed to draw its nourishment from the excretions of various kinds of
insects that feed upon the sap of these trees. It seems very probable,
therefore, that this fungus would also attack the living insects them-
selves, although, as Miss Southworth states, we can not say positively
that such is really the case.

But, notwithstanding the great number of these scale-insects that
annually fall a prey to their various insect enemies, and the thousands
that perish from some cause as yet not clearly understood, still these
pests manage to multiply at an astonishingly rapid rate, making it
necessary for owners of infested trees to employ artificial means in
order to save their trees from utter destruction.

One of the most successful remedies ever used for the destruction of
the Red Scale on citrus trees is the treatment with hydrocyanic acid
gas, first used by the writer in the autumn of 1886. AsI gave a full
account of this treatment in my annual report for the year 1890, pub-
lished in Bulletin No, 23, Division of Entomology of this Department,
(pp. 20 to 27) it will be needless to more than refer to it in this con-
nection.

Among the different kinds of washes that have been used for the de-
struction of these scales, the one giving the best results is known as the
resin wash, and is fully described in my annual report for the year 1889,
published in Bulletin No, 22 of this Division (pp. 10 to 17). This wash,
while it does not destroy as large a percentage of the Red Scale as the
gas treatment, stillis fatal to the Red Spider (Tetranychus sp.) and also
to the eggs of the Black Scale (Lecanium olew Bern.), both of which
are frequently found on the same trees as the Red Seales, and neither
the Red Spider nor the eggs of the Black Scale are destroyed to any
great extent by the gas. For these reasons some of our fruit-growers
have adopted the method of using the gas treatment and the resin
wash alternately, first spraying the infested trees with the wash in July
or August, which destroys the greater portion of the Red Spiders and
Black Seales, as well as a large percentage of the Red Scales. Then in
November or December the trees are treated with the gas, which pretty
thoroughly completes the destruction of the noxious insects infesting

20

them. By this method the trees may be almost entirely freed of the
Red and the Black Scales, so that when the oranges and lemons are
gathered the following spring they will be practically free of these pests.

THE CONVEX SCALE.
(Aspidiotus convexus Comst.)

This scale appears to confine itself wholly to the bark of the trees it
attacks. I do not remember of a single instance where I have found it
infesting the leaves. Although usually attacking the Willow, on the
trunk of which it frequently occurs in immense numbers, still I have
also found it upon the Lombardy Poplar, Cottonwood, Walnut, and even
upon orange trees. By reference to my note book I find it stated that
on the 24th of April, 1890, I found a branch of an orange tree very
thickly infested with these scales. The branch at its thickest part
measured about 24 inches in diameter and was covered with these scales
to a distance of about 4 feet on its basal or thickest part.

This scale-insect is quite subject to the attacks of internal parasites,
although up to the present time I have known of only one species thus
to attack it. This is a small Chalcid fly known as Aphelinus fuscipennis
Howard. Ihave bred these parasites in June and July from scales col-
lected in the preceding April.

If it is desired to destroy these scales this can doubtless be most read-
ily accomplished by the use of the resin wash referred to in the preced-
ing article.

THE OLEANDER SCALE.

(Aspidiotus nerii Bouché.)

This species, which appears to be pretty generally distributed all
over the known world, infests a great variety of plants. I have found
full-grown specimens on the following-named plants and trees:

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). Oak (Quercus agrifolia).

Arbor Vite (Thuja occidentalis), on | Madrone (Arbutus menziesii).
the cones. Nightshade (Solanwm douglasii).

Century Plant, or Aloe (Agave | China Tree (Melia azedarach).
americana). Lemon.

Magnolia grandiflora.

I do not find by my notes that I ever found these scales on citrus
trees of any kind, but I distinetly remember having found them upon
green lemons still hanging upon the trees, and my impression is that I
also found them upon the leaves of these trees. In the Annual Report
of this Department for the year 1880, the Entomologist also resords hav-
ing found these scales on lemons received from various sources (p. 302).

In the above-mentioned report it is stated that the eggs of this spe-
cies are very light yellow in color, but I find by reference to my note
book that on the 14th of June, 1883, while examining an adult female

21

of this species under a compound microscope I saw her produce a living
young. It would be interesting to ascertain if the same species can
be both oviparous and viviparous, but my subsequent notes on this
species are silent on this subject.

Although I have repeatedly inclos.d specimens of this species in
boxes I have never succeeded in obtaining any internal parasites from
them, nor can I find any published reference to parasites having been
bred from seales of this kind.

THE SAN Joské SCALE,
(Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst. )

This is by far the most destructive scale-insect with which growers
of deciduous fruit trees have to contend. Its origin is uncertain, but
the fact of its being so frequently found upon plants imported from
Japan would seem to point to that country as the home of this pest.
The name of San José Scale was first applied to this species by the late
Matthew Cooke, from having first received specimens of it from the
neighborhood of the city by that name in Santa Clara County. It is
to be regretted that any locality should be thus stigmatized by having
its name applied to a pestiferous scale-insect, and it would have been
far better had the later name of Pernicious Seale, first applied to this
species by the former entomologist of this Department, been adopted.
However, with the late Asa Gray, I do not consider it advisable to
change old names.

This scale insect never attacks citrus nor coniferous trees so far as I
am aware. I have examined full-grown specinens upon the following
trees:

Pear, Prune,

Peach, English Walnut,

Almond, Euonymus,

Apple, And other ornamental shrubs.

The specimens from English walnut were received from Mr. Henry H.
Wheeler, a prominent fruit-grower of Pomona, who writes me that he
has also found specimens of this species on almond trees.

This is the only scale-insect known to me that causes a red spot to
appear upon the fruit or green bark which it infests. This discolora-
tion is usually attributed to the saliva with which the scale-insect
dilutes the sap of the infested tree or fruit, but why this should pro-
duce such a discoloration in the case of the present species but not in
that of any other species is no easy matter to explain. It need not be
taken for granted, however, that the saliva of all the ditterent species
is identical in its composition. That of the present species may pos-
sess some peculiar, irritating principal which does not exist in the
saliva of any of the other species, and therefore the effects of the
attacks would not be the same in the different species.

22

Young branches thickly infested by this species soon present a
gnarled, knotted, and stunted appearance, and if everything is favorable
to the rapid increase of these scales the tree is finally killed by them.
They appear to have a discrimination in relation to their food plants
that is difficult to account for. I have on more than one occasion seen
Leconte pear trees growing in the midst of other varieties of pear trees
which were thickly infested with these scales, and yet it was impossible
to find even half a dozen specimens of these scales on the Leconte pear
trees. I have also been informed that the Black Tartarian Cherry tree
enjoys the same immunity from the attacks of these pests, even when
completely surrounded with badly infested cherry trees.

Among insect enemies the most common and widely distributed
species is, perhaps, the Twice-stabbed Ladybird referred to above in
the chapter treating of the Red Scale. I have frequently seen infested
pear trees upon which these ladybirds occurred in large numbers,
still | never knew of an instance where even a single tree had been en-
tirely or even very nearly freed of the scales by these ladybirds.
Another ladybird which also attacks the San José Seale is the small
Seymnus referred to in the chapter above mentioned, but this species,
like the preceding one never occurs in suflicient numbers to entirely
exterminate the scales.

Of internal parasites I have bred from these scales large numbers of
small, four-winged Chalcid flies known as Aphelinus fuscipennis Howard,
a parasite that appears to be quite a general feeder, as it has been bred
from at least half a dozen different kinds of scale-insects belonging to
species which are protected by a shell or scale. Although occurring in
such large numbers, still this parasite is not able to keep the scales in
check. It doubtless breeds throughout the year, as I have bred speci-
mens as late as the 10th of November. Although I have never bred
any other kind of internal parasite from the San José Seale, still it
would appear that other kinds attack it in the northern part of the
State. On the 31st of March of the present year I received from E.
M. Ehrhorn, of Santa Clara County, two different kinds of Chalcid
flies for naming, and in the accompanying letter occurred the state-
ment that both of these parasites had been bred from San José Seales.
These parasites proved to be the Chalcid flies, known as Aphelinus
mytilaspidis Le B. and Coccophagus citrinus Craw.

It appears that certain conditions of the climate affect these scales in
an injurious manner, just as is the case with several other kinds of
seale-insects. A few weeks ago Mr. C. H. Richardson, of Pasadena,
one of the county inspectors of fruit pests, showed me several pear
trees in that locality which a year ago were very thickly infested with
these scales, as was evidenced by the gnarled appearance of the branches
as well as by the dry scales still adhering to the trees. After a care-
ful examination of these scales scarcely a live onecould befound. Mr.
Richardson assured me that these trees had not been treated with any

23

kind of insecticide, and they certainly gave no evidence of such treat-
ment. The dead scales showed no indications of having been destroyed
by ladybirds nor yet by internal parasites. Wishing to ascertain if
this singular mortality was general among these scales in other locali-
ties, I examined several infested pear trees in this city, but found that
the fruit and new growth upon them were thickly infested with these
scales, which were alive and to all appearance in a very thriving con-
dition. It would appear, therefore, that this mortality among the San
José Seales was entirely due to certain climatic influences, unless it
can be shown to have been due to some low form of fungus growth.
The remedy most extensively used in this State for the destruction
of the San José Scale on dormant trees is the one containing lime, salt,
and sulphur, described in my annual report to Prof. Riley for the year
1890 and published in Bulletin No. 23, Division of Entomology, of this
Department (pp. 50 to 34). I there gave an account of a series of ex-
periments which I had made with the above-mentioned substances,
both when used singly and also when used in various combinations,
and expressed my intention of pursuing this subject still further the
following winter with a view of improving upon the insecticidal proper-
ties of the wash used at that time. Accordingly, on the 10th of Feb-
ruary, 1891, I made a number of experiments with the above-mentioned
ingredients, and give herewith a brief account of the principal ones:

Experiment 260.—Sulphur, 30 pounds; lime, 43 pounds; water sufficient to make
100 gallons. The sulphur and lime were placed in the kettle together and water
added; the whole was then boiled for two hours without first allowing the lime to
slake; the solution did not assume an orange-yellow color as soon as in other experi-
ments where the lime was first slaked before being boiled with the sulphur. Strained
the solution and sprayed two pear trees with it at about 2:20 p. m.; sun shining;
light breeze. Examined these trees March 26 and found a great many living San
José Seales upon them.

Experiment 261.—Same as in the preceding experiment, except that before spray-
ing it upon the trees I added 23 pounds of salt to the diluted solution and stirred it
until the salt was dissolved, then sprayed a peach tree with it at about 2 o’clock in
the afternoon. Examined this tree March 25 and found upon it many living San
José Seales. Still, these were not as numerous as upon the trees treated in the pre-
ceding experiment, where no salt had been used.

Experiment 258.—Sulphur, 45 pounds; lime, 65 pounds, water sufficient to make 100
gallons. The sulphur and lime were first placed in the kettle; water was then added
and the lime allowed to slake, after which more water was added and the whole then
boiled for two hours. At first the solution was of a pale yellow color, but it soon
became dark orange yellow, assuming this color much sooner than was the case in
experiment 260, where the lime was covered with water and boiled without first be-
ing allowed to slake. The solution when properly diluted was strained and two
apple trees were sprayed with it at about 2:40 p.m. I examined these trees March
26, and found quite a large number of living San José Scales upon them.

Experiment 259.—Same as in 258 except that when diluted ready for use I added 34
pounds of salt to the solution and stirred it until dissolved, then sprayed a prune
tree with it at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I examined this tree March 26 and found
a few living San José Scales upon it, much less than in experiment 258, or any of
the preceding ones.

24

In experiments 258 and 260 the bisulphide of lime (CaS,) was
formed, but this did not prove as destructive to the scale-insects
sprayed with it as was the case where a certain amount of salt had
been added to it. From this it would appear that the bisulphide does
not of itself and alone constitute the insecticidal property of this wash;
at the same time, my previous experiments prove that salt alone simply
dissolved in water possesses very little value as an insecticide. Still,
when these two substances are combined, the resulting solution pos-
sesses much greater insecticidal properties than does either of them
when used separately.

In making the above experiments I was aided in the mechanical part
of the work by Mr. C. H. Richardson, of Pasadena, who kindly placed
his infested fruit trees at my disposal.

The first rain which occurred after the above experiments were made
began on the morning of February 15, and continued almost incessantly
for the space of two days and one night. Two days later this was fol-
lowed by a long-continued rain. Since the solution was upon the trees
- for the space of about four days and five nights before the rain began,
it would appear that it had sufficient time in which to act upon the
seales before being washed off by the rain, and that its effectsupon the
scales would have been about the same had no rain occurred for several
months after the various solutions were applied to the trees.

The wash used in experiment 261 is practically the same as the one
in common use all over this State for the destruction of the San José
Scale on dormant deciduous trees. Still, as stated above, it did not
prove fatal to all of the scales sprayed with it. Even when used one-
half stronger than this, as it was in experiment 259, it did not destroy
all of the scales sprayed with it. These and other experiments which
I made with this wash during the past winter confirm the opinion ex-
pressed in my preceding report, to the effect that this wash is not as
effectual as the resin wash made one-half stronger than when used on
citrus trees. I have given a full account of this resin wash of the above
strength on pages 27 to 30 of Bulletin No. 23, referred to above; so it
will be unnecessary to more than give the formula in this place:

ROSIN 202 sociale na c.c Son = ope ee eee pounds.. 30
Caustic soda (70 per cent strong) ..........-...-..-.-.----- d0seee 9
MASH 01S oo. Sec fore setae 2 ae See eke ee eee ene ere pints... 4}
Water, sulicientto make callons..s-cs-5-24- | Sone eee ee eee ee 100

This wash can only be used upon dormant trees. Owing to the fact
that in some portions of the State the winter rains interfere to a great
degree with the spraying of the trees at that season of the year, fre-
quently rendering wholly ineffectual the labor of a whole day and mate-
rially lessening the insecticidal effect of the wash used during the
preceding week, it is the custom with some growers to confine their
Spraying operations entirely to the rainless summer season. At this
season, of course, it would be impossible to use as strong a wash as

25

could be employed during the winter season, owing to the injury it would
occasion to the foliage and blossoms or fruit. For the purpose of ascer-
taining how strong a wash could be used on various kinds of deciduous
fruit trees during the summer season, I made, a series of experiments
with resin washes of various strengths on the 4th of September of the
present year. I used a wash two-fifths and also one three-fifths as
strong as in the formula given above; these I sprayed upon apple,
pear, peach, and prune trees a short time before the noon hour, and at
a time when the sun was shining brightly, but none of the leaves on
any of these trees were injured even by the strongest wash. Only the
apple trees contained any fruit, but this was not injured by the wash.
The stronger wash is of the same strength as that commonly used for
the destruction of various kinds of scale-insects upon citrus trees in
the hottest part of the summer season, and the above experiments in-
dicate that it can also be safely used upon growing deciduous trees.

I also sprayed some of the stronger wash upon a rose bush, but the
leaves on this bush were slightly injured by it; on these bushes, there-
fore, it would be necessary to use a somewhat weaker wash.

THE GREEDY SCALE.
(Aspidiotus rapax Comst.)

This scale-insect received its name not from a voracious nature and
consequent destructiveness, but rather from the fact that it infests such
a great variety of different kinds of trees and plants. The following is
a list of those upon which I have found full-grown specimens of this
species :

Apple, Pear, Loquat, Myosporum, Birch, English Laurel, Maple, Sil-
vertree from South Africa (Leucadendron argenteum), Rhamnus croceus,
California Walnut (Juglans californicus), English Holly, Fuchsia, Cot-
tonwood, Camellias from Japan, also on oranges and lemons.

The last two fruits sometimes become very thickly infested with these
scales, but this seldom happens, except in the case of those allowed to
remain on the trees for several months after they are ripe; in such
cases I have never found one of these scales upon any other portion of
the tree.

This insect was evidently imported into this State from some other
country, although I can not find any reference to it in foreign countries
in any work to which I have access. It is possible, however, that this
is the same insect previously described by Boisduval under the name
of Kermes camellie, and which has been referred to the genus Aspidiotus
by later authors. This latter species also infests Camellias, Euonymus,
and various other kinds of ornamental shrubs and trees in Europe, New
Zealand, and perhaps also in other countries.

26

THE SOrr OR BROWN SCALE.
(Lecanium hesperidum Linn.)

This is perhaps the most common and widely distributed of the scale-
insects, being found in the four quarters of the globe, and although not
infrequently occurring in large numbers, still 1 have never known of a
single instance where a tree or plant has ever been destroyed by it.
Its general effect is to weaken or stunt the infested plant and to ren-
der it black and unsightly by reason of the black fungus which always
accompanies its attacks.

This scale-insect is quite a general feeder, infesting wild trees and
plants as well as cultivated ones. I have found full-grown specimens
on the following trees and plants:

Lombardy Poplar, Grape, Loquat, Rubber Tree (Ficus macrophylla),
Ash, KEuonymus, Maple (Acer dasycarpum), Rhamnus crocea, Heteromeles
arbutifolia, Rhus integrifolia, Pepper Tree (Schinus molle), Willow, Apri-
cot, Citrus trees, Fig, Locust, English Ivy, English Holly, Rose, Calla
Lily, Oleander, and Pittosporum. » It infests the leaves and green bark,
but is very seldom found upon the fruit.

This species brings forth its young alive, although when first ex-
cluded they are still enveloped in a very thin sac, which in a short
time is cast off. They remain for several days beneath the parent and
then start out for themselves. The greatest number of larve and
pseudo-ova that I ever found at one time beneath a seale of this spe-
cies was twenty-four, of which number twenty-one or twenty-two were
fully developed young ones. This was in the month of May, and dur-
ing the same month I repeatedly found from eighteen to twenty of these
larvee beneath an adult scale.

This species is very subject to the attacks of internal parasites, of
which no less than five different kinds are known to attack it in this
country alone. Of this number I have bred Hneyrtus flavus Howard,
and Coccophagus lecanii Fitch from specimens of this seale-insect col-
lected in this city. The Hneyrtus attacks principally the larger seales,
each of which frequently contains three or four of the parasites lying
transversely to the longest diameter of the scale, and readily distin-
guishable by their lighter yellow color. On the other hand, the Cocco-
phagus principally attacks the younger scales, only one of the parasites
infesting a single scale, which it causes to swell up and assume a black-
ish color. I have frequently found whole colonies of these scales every
meinber of which had been destroyed by one or the other of these par-
asites.

On the 11th of October, 1890, I collected several of these parasitized
scales, all of which had been killed by having been subjected to the
treatment with hydrocyanic-acid gas referred to in the chapter on the
Red Scale, and three days later an apparently healthy specimen of Coc-
cophagus lecanii issued from one of them. This parasite being in the

27

pupa state at the time its host was subjected to the poisonous gas, was
not affected by the gas to the same degree it would have been if in the
perfect or adult state, since I have repeatedly proven it to be a fact that
larve and pupe of insects are not affected by this gas to the same de-
gree that the adult insects are. At the same time, when a scale is in-
‘ested with one of these parasites and is sprayed with a resin wash
sufficiently strong to kill the scale, this also proves fatal to the included
parasite. This is one of the many advantages which the gas treatment
possesses over any kind of a wash for destroying scale-insects.

Besides the gas treatment and the resin wash, both of which are re-
ferred to above in the article treating of the Red Scale, another remedy,
which has the advantage of being very simple and nearly always at
hand, consists of spraying the trees with a solution of common brown
laundry soap—1 pound dissolved in 3 gallons of water. I have seen all
of these scales on small orange trees entirely destroyed by a single ap-
plication of this remedy.

THE HEMISPHERICAL SCALE,

(Lecanium hemisphericum Tare—Tozz.
o

My collection contains three different forms of Lecanium which are
here commonly known under the name of ZL. hemisphericum. The
largest individuals of the largest form measure 5™™ long by 4 wide
and 3 high; these I have found upon pear and orange trees, and alsoon
Sycamore (Platanus racemosus), Wild Lilac (Ceanothus divaricatus) and
on California Holly (Heteromeles arbutifolia). The largest individuals
of the medium form measure only 33™" long by 3 wide and 2 high;
these I have found only on orange trees. The third and smallest form
Thave found only upon the Hare’s-foot Fern (Davalliacanariensis), where
they occurred in such large numbers as to kill the plant infested by
them. The largest individuals measured only 5™™ long by 2 wide and
1s high. The largest formis evidently the Lecanium hibernaculorum of
Boisduval (originally described as a Chermes), since it agrees very well
with che description of this species given in The Entomologists Monthly
Magazine, Vol. Xx, p.78. This description is by Dr. J. W. Douglas, who
has made this groupof insects his special study, and who had before him
specimens identified by Dr. Signoret, the highest authority upon scale-
insects. The medium form found upon orange trees is evidently the
true hemisphaericum, while the smallest one is just as certainly the Le-
canium filicum of Boisduval (also originally described as a Chermes).
Mr. Maskell, of New Zealand, another well-known authority upon seale-
insects, considers hemisphericum and filicum as belonging to one and
the same species, and is inclined to consider hibernaculorum as being
only a larger variety of the above species; it is very doubtful, however,
that he had the true hibernaculorum before him when making his ob-
servation, since the measurement he gives (one-ninth of an inch in di-

28

ameter, being less than 3™™) is much too small for my specimens and
those described by Dr. Douglas. The latter author considers these
three froms as belonging to three distinct species. The specimens in
my own collections indicate that hibernaculorum is undoubtedly distinct
from the other two forms, being larger, destitute of distinct lateral ca-
rine, and the flattened margin is much narrower than in either of the
other forms. I incline to the belief, with Maskell, that hemisphericum
and jsilicum are but forms of one species, but to settle this point defi-
nitely it would be necessary to compare the larvee of these various forms
which as yet I have not had the opportunity of doing. Neither of these
three forms are at all common in this portion of the State.

THE BLack SCALE.
(Lecanium olee Bern.)

This seale-insect is widely distributed, being found in nearly every
portion of the civilized world, living in greenhouses in the colder coun-
tries and in the open air in the warmer climates. It is not so destrue-
tive to plants as some of the other species are, and I have never known
of a single instance where a tree or plant has been killed by them, al-
though they sometimes occur upon certain trees in immense numbers.
The injury caused by them is seen in a general weakening of the entire
tree, which, if badly infested, is rendered unsightly by reason of the
black fungus which exists upon the liquid exudations of these insects.

Citrus trees are very subject to the attacks of these scales, and the
fruit of trees infested by them is rendered so unattractive in appear-
ance on account of the black fungus above referred to that its market
value is much less than it otherwise would be. Among deciduous trees
the Olive and Apricot appear to be more subject to the attacks of these
seales than any of the other kinds. The Black Scale, however, does
not appear to be very particular as to the kind of plants upon which to
gain a sustenance, as will be seen by reference to the following list of
plants and trees upon which I have found full-grown specimens of this
scale-insect:

Citrus trees. Lombardy Poplar.
Apricot. Myosporum.
Almond. Melaleuca purpurea.
Sycamore. English Laurel.
Rhus integrifolia. English Holly.
Heteromeles arbutifolia. Beech.

Oleander. Ash.

Baccharis viminalis. Acer dasycarpum.
Ficus macrophylla. Rhamnus crocea.
Habrothamnus elegans. Pepper Tree.
Guava. Grevillea robusta.

Irish Juniper. Ligustrum japonicum.

29

Indian Cedar. Sonchus oleraceus.
Cedar of Lebanon. Cycas revoluta.
Euonymus. Artemisia californica.
Red Pepper. Solanum douglasii.
Castor Bean. Abutilon.

Quite a large number of these plants and trees in this list are wild
ones, and in several instances they were situated several miles from
cultivated plants of any kind. There can be little room for doubting
that in these instances the scales were carried to them by birds which
had visited the infested cultivated plants, and afterwards flown to and
alighted upon the wild ones.

The observations which I have made upon these scales indicate that
there is but a single generation produced each year. I give herewith
my notes upon this subject as I find them recorded in my note books;
these notes cover a period of several years, but were mostly made in
Los Angeles County.

February 4.—Found a great many empty scales of Lecanium olee on orange trees
on the green twigs near the terminal ends of the branches; also found a great many
young ones from 1 to 14 mm. long, some of which show the dorsal and two transverse
carinae quite distinctly.

February 8.—Found several Lecanium olee about one-half grown on Baccharis vimi-
nalis.

February 10.—Found empty scales and a great many young of Lecanium olee on an
Oleander.

March 11.—In an extended search for the eggs of the Black Scale today none were
found.

March 30.—¥ound Black Scales about one-third grown on Indian Cedar and Cedar
of Lebanon.

March 31.—Found several eggs of the Black Scale.

April 7.—Found a living Black Scale, beneath which were about fifty eggs, the first
I have found this year; found no other eggs of this species after an extended search,
the majority of the scales being not more than half grown.

April 3.—Found a Black Scale, beneath which were about a dozen eggs, but the
most of the other specimens were not yet fully grown.

April 16.—Found a few eggs of the Black Scale.

May 21.—Kggs of the Black Scale just beginning to hatch.

June 2.—The Black Scales have deposited from one-third to one-half of their eggs.

June 3.—Beneath the largest Lecanium olew I could find on an orange tree were a
trifle over 2,200 eggs and young larve.

June 22.—Received many Black Scales on Oleander from Santa Clara County; they
were from one-half to fully grown, and several of the latter individuals covered
eggs.

August 10.—Under some adult Black Scales all of the eggs have hatched out,
while beneath others from one-sixth to one-third of the eggs are still unhatched.

September 22.—Found no eggs of the Black Scale after an extended search.

These observations were made upon scales living in the open air, and
indicate that the greater number of the eggs are deposited during the
months of May and June, although a few may be found as early as the
last week in March and as late as the first week in September; outside
of this period but few eggs of this species will be found. Although this

30

species is quite generally known as the Black Scale, still this term is
an evident misnomer, at least as far as some specimens of this scale are
concerned. On the 16th of April, 1890, Mr. F. O. Cass, of this city,
brought me several leaves and twigs of Oleander upon which (para-
doxical as this may seem) were three Black Scales of a uniform white
color; some of the other scales were dark brown, while the remaining
ones were of the normal brownish-black color. I submitted them to
Prof. Riley, and under date of April 23, 1890, he wrote me as follows
in regard to them:

I have received a box containing white ‘Black Scale.” I feel sure that this is
Lecanium olew, but do not recollect that I have seen anything like it before. It is

more probably to be accounted for as a case of albinism, which is the only case I
know of in Coccids. Lecanium does not molt in this way.

I have never observed this characteristic in any other kind of seale-
insect, and it appears to be of rare occurrence among the individuals
of the present species.

The young of Black Scale after issuing from the eggs usually remain
beneath the body of the parent for several hours, finally crawling out
and taking up a position on some other portion of the plant; they do
not settle down in one place permanently, but change about as cireum-
stances may make it necessary. Ihave seen half-grown individuals
thus crawling about. As arule they infest only the leaves and bark;
only in rare instances do they attack the fruit. The eggs first laid are
hatehed out before the last egg is deposited, and thus the processes of
deposition and hatching proceed simultaneously until the last egg
has been deposited. The number of eggs deposited by a single female
is simply enormous; as stated above, I counted beneath one of them
over 2,200 eggs and young larve, all of which were undoubtedly the
progeny of this female.

Among the insect enemies of the Black Scale may be mentioned the
Twice-stabbed Ladybird (Chilocorus bivulnerus Muls.), the larva of
which I have repeatedly caught in the act of feeding upon these seales.
Thave also seen the larva of the Tineid moth, Blastobasis iceryeella Riley,
feeding upon these scales. I find by reference to my note book that on
the 11th of March, 1887, [ found a larva of this species beneath three
empty full-grown Black Seales on an olive tree; this I transferred to
one of my breeding cages, In which I placed a branch of an olive tree
upon which were Black Seales of all sizes. A few days later I examined
this cage and found that the larva had spun a thin, loose silken web
over some of the Black Seales and had partially devoured several of the
half-grown ones. This larva had changed to achrysalis when examined
on the 4th of May following and the moth issued May 28. A full de-
scription of this insect will be found in the Annual Report of this De-
partment for 1886 (pp. 484-486), and a figure of the moth is also given
at Fig. 3, Pl. 11, of the above-mentioned report.

By tar the most effectual destroyer of the Black Scale, however, is a

31

small, four-winged Chalcid fly known as Dilophogaster californica
Howard. A description and figures of both the male and female of
this useful parasite will be found in the Annual Report of this Depart-
ment for the year 1880, p. 368, and Pl. xxiv, Figs. 3 and 4. The name
Tomocera, under which this insect was described in the above-men-
tioned report, was found to have been previously used for another group
of insects belonging to the order Thysanura, and the name Dilophogas-
ter was therefore substituted for it. I have quite frequently found
orange trees upon which fully 80 per cent of the adult Black Scales
had been destroyed by these parasites. I find by reference to my note
book that I bred parasites of this kind on the 14th and again on the
27th of June from Black Seales collected on the 25th of the preceding
April; and that on the 22d of September I found a full-grown larva
of this parasite under an adult Black Scale. I also captured specimens
of this Chalcid on the following dates: January 17, July 2, August 31,
September 21, and October 12. This would seem to indicate that at
least two and perhaps even three generations of these parasites are
produced in one year.

It is to be regretted that these useful parasites sometimes fall a prey
to other insects, but such is the case. I find by reference to my note
book that on the 21st of September I saw a larva of a slender greenish
bug known as Diplodus renardii Hol. engaged in feeding upon one of
these parasites; the beak of the larva was inserted into the body of the
Chalcid fly and the juices of the latter had been nearly extracted by
the voracious captor. Fortunately, these predaceous insects are not
abundant. I have occasionally seen them preying upon other kinds of
Chalcid flies besides the Dilophogasters; on the 1st of September I
captured one of the adults which had its beak inserted into a Perilam-
pus sp., one of the Chalcid parasites of the Lace-wing referred to above
in the chapter treating of the Red Scale; the Diplodus held the Chaleid
beneath his front feet, somewhat as a dog holds a bone while gnawing
it. Ihave occasionally found the square or roundish egg masses of this
Diplodus attached to the upper surface of the leaves of orange trees;
each mass contains from thirty to forty eggs which are regularly ar-
ranged in rows, the eggs in one row alternating with those on either
side of it. Hach individual egg is nearly cylindrical in form, of a honey-
brown color, except the top, which is white, and near its center is a
small puncture as if made with the point of a needle. The mass is
fastened to the leaf by a very sticky substance, which, however, does
not hold it firmly, and the egg mass may be easily removed from the
leaf with the thumb and fingers of one hand. The adult Diplodus
measures nearly half an inch in length, is rather slender, and of a
yellowish-green color variously marked with black and yellow.

Notwithstanding the immense numbers of Black Scales and their
eggs which are annually destroyed by the Dilophogasters, still these
scales frequently become so abundant as to render it necessary te em-

32

ploy artificial means in order to rid the trees of these pests. For this
purpose the treatment with hydrocyanic-acid gas and the resin wash,
both of which are referred to above in the articles treating of the Red
Seale, are also employed for the purpose of destroying the Black Scale.
The gas treatment proves fatal to the scales, but does not destroy all
of the eggs. The resin wash destroys the greater number of the eggs
and also of the younger scales that it reaches, but it does not always
destroy the larger individuals. On the 6th of November, 1890, I had
eleven olive trees sprayed with the resin wash made according to the
following formula:

1idiryh Wes nein ee ceecesoaossosn Soobagbo DUE Sade Coo usDSodSec pounds.. 18
Caustic soda (70 per cent strong)..----...-...---..-:-.----- (eos |S
Wish Ollesseese cree eae eee eee er eeriaee er eee pints... 24
Water, sufficient to make ...........--.---------------=- gallons.. 100

The Black Seales infesting these trees were less than one-third grown.
IT examined them on the 13th of December, and found that nearly all
of the scales were dead, those still alive having to all appearance es-
caped being sprayed with the wash; the leaves and fruit upon these
trees had not in the least been injured by the wash.

On the 22d of September of the above-named year I sprayed a small
olive tree with a wash made in accordance with the above formula, and
after carefully examining the Black Scales upon it on the 21st of the
following month I found only a single living scale, while the leaves on
the tree were uninjured. On the 6th of January of the present year I
was shown an Abutilon plant thickly infested with Black Scales, and
was informed that it had been quite recently sprayed with a wash
practical'y the same as that described above; still quite a large per-
centage of the oldest scales had not been destroyed by the wash. It
would therefore be advisable to spray the trees at a time when the
scales are very young; this period in ordinary seasons extends from
about the first of October to the beginning of the new year.

In place of the above wash, some of our fruit growers use one which
contains no fish oil, being composed simply of resin, caustic soda, and
water. This, besides being cheaper than the preceding wash, is also
less troublesome to make, and while it is not so effectual as the former
wash, still it proves fatal to a large percentage of the younger Black
Seales. One of my correspondents, Mr. C. B. Messenger, of Pomona,
in a letter to me bearing date of March 31, 1890, gives his experience
with a wash of this kind as follows:

Last year some of the trees I sprayed in midsummer witha wash consisting of resin,
25 pounds; caustic soda, 6 pounds, in 100 gallons of the wash, were almost perfectly
cleaned of Black Scales, but I now find that the fruit, or rather a small portion of it,
was made unsalable by the solution giving the oranges arussety appearance. Some-
times the whole orange is thus affected, but usually only in streaks where the solu-
tion collected and ran around to the under side, where it was the worst. Thespray-
ing did not act in the same way on the fruit in the other orchards, although the
same strength of wash was used throughout the season. ‘The present work was fol-
lowed by very hot weather. Was this the cause of it?

33

I have often noticed, and in my writings have frequently called at-
tention to the fact, that when used in very hot weather all washes are
more liable to injure the tree or fruit than would be the case if used in
cooler weather. For use on bearing citrus trees in very hot weather
no wash should contain over 5 pounds of 70 per cent caustic soda in
100 gallons of the wash; if a greater quantity than this is used at such
times there is great danger of marking the fruit in the manner above
described. When only resin and caustic soda are to be used, 5 pounds
of the latter and 18 pounds of the former in 100 gallons of the wash is
as much as should be used in very hot weather on bearing citrus trees.
I have never known of a single instance where a wash of this strength
has marked the fruit even when used in the very hottest part of the
summer season.

It is interesting to note that the wash used by Mr. Messenger is pre-
cisely the same as the one [ used on the 7th of August, 1889, in my
experiments 199 and 200, an account of which I gave on page 15 of
Bulletin 22, referred to above. I there recorded the fact that the wash
had produced rusty, brownish spots upon the young oranges, just as
Mr. Messenger also found that it would do.

In traveling about over the southern portion of the State I have
frequently noticed that the Black Scale thrives best near the coast,
and that in the hot, dry interior valleys a large percentage of them are
destroyed by the extreme heat. Even in localities not far from the
coast, large numbers of the younger scales perish during the excessively
hot weather that sometimes occurs during the months of July and Aug-
ust. In fact, in almost any locality these scales will be found in the
greatest numbers upon trees having a dense foliage, or which are so
situated as to be more or less shaded from the direct rays of the sun.’
For this reason a judicious use of the pruning knife will accomplish
much in the way of preventing trees from becoming unduly infested
with these scales, while at the same time it will cause the tree to be in
a better condition for being treated with artificial remedies.

THE FROSTED SCALE.
(Lecanium pruinosum Coq.)

Since writing up the account of this species which appeared in In-
sEcr LIFE, vol. 111, pp. 382-384 I have made but few additional notes
on this species. One new food-plant must be added to the list given
in the above-mentioned account; this is the common Cork Elm, quite
largely grown for ornamental purposes, especially in the northern part
of the State. On the 24th of May I received twigs of this tree thickly
infested with Frosted Scales; these were sent by Mr. G. W. Harney,
President of the Yuba County Horticultural Commission; and during
a recent visit to Marysville Mr. Harney showed me the original tree
from which these scales had been taken, Several of the branches on

21382—No. 26——3

o4

this tree were very thickly infested by the seales, indicating that the
tree is perfectly congenial to their tastes and requirements.

In the above-mentioned account I stated the fact that at that time
no insect was known to attack these scales, but since this was written
I have bred from them numerous specimens of a small Chalcid fly,
known as Coccophagus lecanti Fitch. These attack only the younger
seales, and only one of the parasites infests each scale, causing the lat-
ter to assume a more convex, much smoother form than when not para-
sitized, and the entire upper portion of the parasitized scale becomes
black.

Tut BRowNn APRICOT SCALE,
(Lecanium sp.)

In the Santa Clara Valley, south of San Francisco, occurs a species
of Lecanium which is sometimes very destructive to various kinds of
deciduous trees. On the 21st of March of the present year I received
specimens of these scales from Mr. F. M. Righter, an extensive grower
of deciduous fruits located in the above-mentioned valley. The scales
were of two sizes, representing two different generations, the old dead
and dry females and the nearly half-grown young ones. A careful ex-
amination of these specimens convinced me that while they were evi-
dently closely related to the Frosted Seale of the preceding chapter,
still they evidently belonged to a distinct species. The more marked
differences consisted in the smaller size of the adult females, the fact
that they never became covered with a whitish powder, and the further
fact that the younger ones are destitute of the submarginal row of long
bristles which occur in the young of the Frosted Scale.

In the letter which accompanied these specimens Mr. Righter writes
as follows concerning them:

I send you by today’s mail specimens of the Brown Apricot Scale, so called, not-
withstanding they infest prune trees as much or more than apricot. They are also
found on peach, pear, apple, and cherry, but principally on apricot and prune.
* * * JT think they are not the same as the Brown Scale you mention; they are
never covered with a white powder.

Thinking that perhaps the submarginal bristles may have existed in
perfect specimens of the young scales but had been accidently broken
off of the specimens sent me through the mails, I requested Mr. Righter
to examine the young scales fresh from the tree and ascertain if these
submarginal bristles existed upon them; and under date of April 18,
1891, he writes me as follows:

I have a microscope of very high magnifying power, and have carefully examined
both the young and the full-grown scales, and find that neither of them are pro-
vided with bristles around the edge of the body. Nor can I find any as large as you
mention, 7. @., seven twenty-fifths of an inch in length; the largest I can find meas-
ure seven thirty-seconds of an inch in length.

Again, under date of May 12, he writes as follows:

The Brown Apricot Seale seems to have completed its work. Its eggs are laid,
and it is seemingly wholly inactive.

35

The largest adult specimens received from Mr. Righter are 4™™ long
by 3 wide and 13 high, and the smallest adult specimens are 3™™ long,
2 wide, and 1 high; the color is a light yellowish brown, the outline oval,
narrowing anteriorly; the sides are rugose and transversely carinate,
the dorsum much smoother, and with indications of a medium carina
most distinct anteriorly; the edges are thin and spread out.

My library contains references to upwards of fifty descriptions of as
many different kinds of Lecanium, and it is quite impossible to decide
to which of these numerous species the Brown Apricot Scale belongs.

As aremedy, the stronger resin wash described in the chapter on
the San José Scale will doubtless be found effectual when used against
the present species; it should only be used while the trees are dor-
mant, and at that time none but the younger scales will be found alive,
there being but a single generation each year. Common brown laun-
dry soap, 1 pound dissolved in 3 gallons of water, will doubtless prove
fatal to these scales, as I have known it to do when applied to the com-
mon soft Brown Seale.

THYMO-CRESOL AS AN INSECTICIDE.

Some time during the past summer I received a can of thymo-cresol
for experimental purposes. No opportunity occurred for testing this
insecticide until on the 4th of September, at which date I sprayed some
of the diluted liquid on an orange tree infested with the Yellow Seale
(Aspidiotus citrinus) and with the Soft Scale (Lecanium hesperidum),.
Lused it in the proportions of 1 gallon to1,000 gallons, and also to 2,000
gallons, of the wash, these being the proportions recommended for de-
stroying scale-insects on orange trees as given in the circular which
accompanied the can of insecticide. The weaker wash did not prove
fatal to a very large percentage of the scales, but the stronger one de-
stroyed about 90 per cent of them; there were very few of the soft scales
on this tree, but all of them were destroyed by the wash, while the
fruit and leaves were not injured. In the printed directions it is rec-
ommended to syringe the trees with pure water fifteen minutes after
applying the wash, but this I did not do, since it would occasion too
much labor to carry out this plan in the case of large orange groves.

According to a schedule of prices which accompanied the can, a
3-gallon can of the thymo-cresol costs $5.25; at this rate, each gallon of
the stronger wash used above would cost somewhat less than one-fifth
of a cent per gallon, which would make this an extremely cheap insecti-
cide.

In the printed directions it isrecommended to make three applications
of this wash, at intervals of eight or nine days, each application to be
followed by a spraying with pure water fifteen minutes after the appli-
cation is made; this plan might be followed in regard to a few plants
or small trees, but it is altogether too expensive for adopting in the
case of large orange groves.

/

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE. SEASON OF 1891.
ny

———— 3

By Mary E. MuRTFEBOT.

LETTER OF SUBM

Krrkwoop, Mo., October 31, 1891.
Sir: I herewith inclose a record of some of my observations and experiments for the
past year relating to economic entomology. “ie
Respectfully yours, -
Mary E. MuRTFELDT,
Dr. C. VY. RILEY,
Entomologist,
U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Taking one locality with another, this State may be said to have
suffered less from the ravages of insects during the season of 1891 than
for many years previous. The climatic conditions from early spring
until the middle of August, a period covering the growing season of the
most important crops, was exceedingly favorable to the perfection of
vegetation. As a consequence, the yield of grain, hay, fruits, and many
sorts of vegetables has been abundant and the quality unsurpassed.

In certain localities there were irruptions of injurious insects which
for a time caused anxiety, but these were, as a rule, over limited areas,
and the aggregate of loss occasioned by them was less than had been
anticipated.

The most annoying pests of the spring and early summer were Aphi-
did of numerous species. The punctures of the fruit-infesting forms
produced on the new growth of grapes, peaches, and plums consider-
able blight and deformity.

The Woolly Aphis of the Apple (Schizoneura lanigera) is an almost
invincible enemy of young orchards in some sections of the State, es-
pecially on gravelly soils. On such specimens of diseased roots as were
sent to me I could find no trace of parasites or other natural enemies.
Drenching with strong, hot soapsuds was recommended, and was re-
ported as quite successful in checking the work of the insect, but in
sone of the orchards the roots were so warty and diseased that recupera-

36

aM

xii

, and uprootin

i
tion was immossiBte
only advisable pla} to pursue.

The Grain Aphis\ (Siphonophor@avene) was sent to me from several
localities, butits appearance was My no means general, and the oat crop,
which in Missouri suffers most frdm this insect, was good in almost all
parts of the State.

The Chinch Bug (Blissus lewcopterus) appeared in considerable num-
bers in the western and southwestern parts of the State, first on wheat,
which it did not materially injure, and Jater on corn, some fields of
which were seriously damaged. The dissemination of the germs of so-
ealled ‘chinch-bug cholera,” by Prof. Snow, of Kansas, and Prof.
Forbes, of Ilinois, was actively carried on, and the confidence of farmers
in this natural remedy for the most serious pest of their grain fields was
proved by the extent of the demand for the diseased bugs. Probably
not all made use of the latter in a way to accomplish the ridding of their
fields of the bugs, but so far as I have been able to learn a very encour-
aging measure of success attended the introduction of the disease germs
into infested wheat and corn fields.

The Joint-worm (Isosoma grande Riley) appeared in several sections
of the State about the firstof June and excited much apprehension for
the safety ot the wheat crop. In thesamples of grainsent me the larvee
were invariably working in the heads, then just in bloom. . None were
found in any of the lower joints. Infested heads were, of course, utterly
destroyed, as from three to six worms were often found in one head.
Mr. J. F. Les, of Lexington, found about 80 per cent of the heads
injured in a certain field, and anticipated the loss of his crop, but later
he informed me that the damage was mainly confined to a portion of a
field that had been planted on wheat stubble of the previous year.
The specimens reared from lary sent me were all females, and but one
head contained pup that had the appearance of being parasitized, but
I was not able to obtain the flies of the latter.

The Plum Cureulio (Conotrachelus nenuphar).— Notwithstanding the
almost total failure in this locality of all cultivated and most of the
native stone fruits, for the two preceding years, this hardy and adapt-
ive insect presented itself this season in sufficient numbers to inflict
considerable damage upon the sweet cherries, early plums, and free-
stone peaches. On the latter, however, its work was not disastrous,
and the later varieties escaped with very few punctures. The fruit
that tided it over last year was probably the Wild Black Cherry (Pru-
nus serotind) and possibly some of the pip fruits, although I have never
reared it from any of the latter. I have, however, repeatedly bred it
from larvae in gooseberries.

The Harlequin Cabbage Bug (Murgantia histrionica) was not only
unusually destructive to cabbage, cauliflower, and other cultivated
Cruciferee, butin the southern counties attacked beans, peas, and sey-
eral other sorts of vegetables. This pest seems to be steadily advane-

rind burning the trees seemed the

38

ing northward and has now reached about the middle of the State,
having been sent to me from Phelps, Washington, and Boone counties.
The mature bugs are long-lived, and my correspondents claim that
eggs, young larvie, nymph, and perfect insects are contemporaneous
throughout the season, and that wherever they abounded the cabbage
crop was almost, or quite, a failure. With a view to test insecticides
upon them, I obtained in July, from Phillipsburg and elsewhere, several
lots of the mature insects. Many of these had deposited their beauti-
ful egg-clusters in the boxes by the time they reached me. There was
considerable variation in the intensity of the markings of these eggs,
some being very dark, while others had the black lines but faintly in-
dicated, and one set of about a dozen was entirely pearl white. The
young bugs hatched in the course of two or three days, emerging
through the lids of the little “ barrels,” which were lifted on one edge,
the shell retaining its form and ornamentation after giving up its in-
mate.

Part of the young bugs were transferred to plants in the garden con-
fined under wire screens, while others were retained in the breeding
cages.

The insecticides experimented with were X. O. dust and Pyrethrum,
neither of which made much impression, and arsenites of ammonia in
the proportions of two tablespoonfuls to a gallon of water. This killed
some of the young bugs, but also severely burned the plants, and
would not, in any case, be safe to use on such a vegetable as cabbage.
Kerosene emulsion killed the young bugs but did not affect those that
were full-grown. Thymo-cresol—one part to thirty of water—a very
strong solution, was also of no avail. Hot water was then used, taken
boiling from the range, carried about 100 yards to the garden, trans-
ferred to the sprinkling can and immediately applied to the infested
plants. The temperature was not taken, but it could not have been
much below 150° Fahr. The plants were but slightly wilted, and the
bugs were all killed. In this experience all my correspondents who
have tried the remedy coneur. The only difficulty is to bring this, or
any other application in contact with all the insects, as they seem to pre-
fer feeding on the undersides of the leaves. But if the drenching with hot
water be supplemented by careful hand-picking, two or three times
during the season, the pest may be temporarily eradicated,

Cutworms this season gave far less trouble than usual. I am con-
vineed that warm, wet winters do not agree with them. Nephelodes
violans was the only abundant species. This was found in hay fields
eating the stalks and blades of timothy grass.

Orsodachna atra Ahy.—This Chrysomelid was observed early in April,
on the grounds of a neighbor, swarming on the blossoms of the peach.
It would crowd into the unfolding buds, tear open the anthers, and
devour the pollen proceeding from blossom to blossom with great ra-
pidity, destroying every anther in its progress. In their haste and

, 39

greed these beetles would accumulate considerable pollen outheir heads
and fore tarsi, and it is probable, that some of this was brought in con-
tact with the stigmas, but there was every reason to fear that they would
devour the lion’s share of the golden grains and that the ovules would
not receive enough to fertilize them. A few days later I found a con-
siderable number of the same beetles at work on an isolated tree on our
own place, and as the variety of peach was not very choice, it afforded
a good opportunity to test the result of the insect attack. They were
accordingly suffered to cut as many anthers as they would. As a
matter of fact, this tree, though young, vigorous, and favorably situated,
and covered with blossoms in the spring, bore very little fruit, while
others of the same variety, on which Orsodachna had not been seen,
produced abundantly. Should it become a pest in future years, its
habit of dropping to the ground when disturbed would enable fruit-
growers to destroy it by jarring it down upon cloths or trays moistened
with kerosene.

The Cottony Maple Scale (Pulvinaria innumerabilis).—The vanguard
of the hosts of this pernicious Coccid appeared again in St. Louis dur-
ing the past summer upon the trunks and branches of various trees
and shrubs in the parks, and in many private grounds, and unless
timely attention is given to the matter it will next year proveas annoy-
ing and destructive as it was six or seven years ago.

The Post Oak Coccid (Chermes sp?).—The clusters of globular female
scales of this insect were to be found in the axils of almost every twig
and leaf of the Post Oak (Q. obtusiloba) during the past summer. These,
in connection with an undetermined fungous disease, produced a re-
markable blighting of the new growth, and in a number of cases seemed
to be the cause of the death of the tree. So noticeable was the effect
in the forests around Kirkwood that many people contended that it
was “locust year,” and wondered why we had not noted the shrilling
of the Cicada. It was with difficulty that I could make them believe
the contrary.

My attention was not attracted to this insect sufficiently early in the
season to enable me to observe its development, and at present the
scales contain only a mass of empty shells or skins. No guest insects
were bred from them during the season.

The White-marked Tussuck-moth (Orgyia leucostigma).—The larvee of
this insect were very destructive to the foliage of Willow, Walnut, Chest-
nut, Maple, and some other shade trees of the streets and parks of St.
Louis, as well as to Apple and Plum in private grounds, but I noted in
it a habit which will (or might) enable those suffering from its ravages
to destroy a large proportion of the eggs, namely, the trapping of a
great number of the caterpillars as they were seeking a hiding place
in which to spin, by the cotton bands with which so many of the trees
that shade the sidewalks are encircled. Some of these bands that I
have examined have been quite crowded with the chrysalids and egg-

40

masses of the insect, and, if removed and burned before spring, will
certainly prevent the development of myriads of the pest. From young
larve sent to me last spring I reared several parasites (Limneria flavi-
cincta, Ashin.), but these were not sufficiently numerous to materially
reduce the numbers of the host insect. If the infested trees be sprayed
with Paris green, in the proportion of 1 pound to 300 gallons of
water, or a very dilute solution of arsenites of ammonia, 1 pint to 100
gallons of water, the insects will be killed without injury to the foliage
of any tree.

Chamyris cerintha Treat.—The singular larve of this beautiful moth
were taken this summer feeding on the foliage of the Damson Plums
They devour the leaf on both sides to the mid-rib, leaving the latter.
I think they have not heretofore been recorded among insects that dep-
redate on the foliage of fruit trees.

Catocala grynea is becoming with us quite a serious orchard pest
during the latter part of May and June. The larve rest during the
day, closely appressed to the trunk and larger branches, and feed at
night. Spraying with Paris green is an effectual remedy.

Edema albifrons, which has not been found here for anumber of years,
made a serious attack on the white and post oaks early in the summer,
inflicting considerable injury on the foliage. No experiments were
made in the application of artificial remedies.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOREST TENT-CATERPILLAR.

While on a visit to Minnesota in May I had an opportunity of wit-
nessing a remarkable outbreak of the above-named insect (Clisiocampa
disstria Hbn.). In all the forests around Minneapolis, and especially
on the fine trees along the shores of Lake Minnetonka, the oaks, elms,
lindens (Tilia), and ash trees were entirely stripped of their young
leaves, the larve migrating from tree to tree as fast as the latter
were defoliated. Many would descend by the trunk, but a large pro-
portion preferred to leave the tree by means of silken ropes, often
stretched from the highest branches to the ground, and which, by
the thread contributed by each descending worm, became eventually
as thick as packing cord and very strong. Down this the worms
crawled in single file. In driving along the woodland roads these long
swaying strings of worms presented a most singular spectacle. Occa-
sionally one of these ladders would be carried by the wind (or possibly
by the accidental impact of a bird) from one tree to another, and even
across the roads, forming festoons of crawling worms through which it
was anything but agreeable for nervous people to drive.

The few orchards of that part of the country were also badly infested
by the same species. >

I could not observe much of the tent-making habit. Even when
molting in companies the larve merely spun mats of silk against the

Al

bark of the tree and in very few cases was there any attempt at a
shelter.

From accounts in the papers of that date it would seem that the in-
sect prevailed throughout the forests of the Northwest, and in some
instances, while moving in armies from one locality to another, they
were so numerous on railroad tracks as to occasion delays and stoppage
of trains. Poultry refused to feed upon them, and, so far as I was able
to observe, very few birds attacked them. My stay was not sufficiently
prolonged to enable me to ascertain what proportion of the larve were
destroyed by parasites. I was informed by friends who were summer-
ing at Lake Minnetonka that one still, warm evening early in July all
the moths seemed to issue at once and were so numerous that the flut-
tering of their wings up and down the trunks of the trees and among
the branches filled the air with a distinct and peculiar humming sound
that attracted very general attention and curiosity.

On the succeeding evening scarcely a moth could be seen, and it was
supposed that the brisk wind that blew during the day had carried
them into the lake. So far as I could judge by their behavior in the
rearing cage, they develop with remarkable regularity, hatching, molt-
ing, and transforming simultaneously, so it is probable that in one or
two evenings of winged existence they had fulfilled their mission of
providing for the continuance of their kind.

NOTES ON SOME NATURAL ENEMIES OF PERNICIOUS INSECTS.

The Web-worm Tiger (Plochionus timidus) (if I may be permitted to
give it a popular name) realized all that was anticipated of it this sea-
son in its work of exterminating the insect it has selected for its special
prey.

June 6 I found two colonies of Hyphantria cunea, one on a young tree
of Box Elder and the other on a vigorous sprout of Laurel Oak, both in
excellent position for observation in situ. The larvee in each case had
inclosed but two or three leaves and seemed to be about ready for the
first molt.

On the 10th a single specimen of Plochionus was observed running
up and down in each of these webs. On the 16th a close examination
of the nest revealed a dozen or more of the slender white eggs attached
to the twigs and petioles of the leaves and a few laid loosely in the
web. On the 20th larve about 3"™ in length were seen in the web and
probably others had attached themselves to the Web Worms, now about
1im™™, or one-half inch in length.

When next visited, June 23, the colony on Box Elder had migrated
and separated into three companies on different parts of the tree.
They had not, however, in this way escaped their relentless foe, for a
number of the active little Carabids were running about among them
apparently quite at home wherever the worms were. Two were seen

42

with their jaws buried in the bodies of the Hyphantria larvee just back
of the head.

June 27, the presence of this savage and persistent enemy seemed
to utterly “‘demoralize” the web worms, causing them to repeatedly
“break up housekeeping” and seek new locations, separating into
smaller and smaller groups in the instinctive search for safety. But
the attempt is vain; for no sooner are they established than Plochionus
is on the trail, and is not long in discovering their whereabouts and
biting into them whenever it is hungry.

By the end of June the colonies on both trees, though not nearly full-
grown and greatly reduced in numbers, had dispersed, the gregarious
instinct having evidently been lost much sooner than usual. A few
Plochionus larve about one-half size were to be seen in the deserted
webs for a day or two after the web worms had disappeared, after which
they, too, departed, and I presume descended to the ground, where they
preyed upon such larvie as could be found there. A few were placed
in a rearing jar and supplied with Spilosoma, Orgyia and other hairy
larvee, but these were not attacked, nor was I able at the time to find
any other species upon which they would feed, and all perished without
completing their development.

The second brood of Hyphantria, which with us has always been
most numerous and injurious, was very sparsely represented in this
locality. Upon my return from the East I made diligent search in
Kirkwood and vicinity for the remains of webs or other evidence of the
worms, but could find very few. To my mind there is no question
that this happy immunity is due primarily to the agency of the little
Carabid, which has in some way suddenly acquired the habit of prey-
ing upon them.

Uropoda americana.—About the middle of July I received from Mr.
F. M. Webster a few specimens of the Striped Cucumber Beetle (Dia-
brotica vittata), thickly infested with the above-named large brown
mite, with the request that I attempt to colonize it on the same or allied
species of beetles here. Just at that season I could find but very few
examples of D. vittata, but as D. 12-punctata was abundant I hoped the
mites would accept the latter as a substitute. In this I was disappointed,
the parasites refusing to leave their original hosts. After a few days
two or three specimens of vittata and several each of Colaspis pre-
texta, C. tristis, Lema trilineata, and Doryphora 10-lineata were intro-
duced into the jar and each supplied with its preferred food. The jar—a
large one of clear glass—was kept on my desk under constant observa-
tion, and in two days I noticed a few of the mites on each species of
Colaspis, with a very evident preference for the pretty blue tristis. In the
course of a week all the specimens of the latter were thickly covered and
much weakened, while only a few were found on pretexta and none at
allon any of the other species, not even on the fresh specimens of their
original host. In accordance with a suggestion, the attempt was made

43
to colonize them upon Anasa tristis and other Hemiptera, but without
SUCCESS.

A few of the mites had, when first received, been introduced into the
cucumber bed, and upon leaving home in August I transferred all the
beetles to the garden in the hope that they would disseminate the para-
site. To what extent this has been done I can not now say. Upon my
return home, after an absence of a month, I found the garden suffering
from heat and drought, the cucumber plants nearly all dead, and no
mite-infested beetles to be seen. I hope, however, that Uropoda may
reappear next season in time to save us, in a measure, from the attacks
not only of the cucumber beetle, but from those of Colaspis on flowers
and grape foliage, on which both the bronze and the blue species have
for several years inflicted much damage.

The Cabbage-worm Parasite (Apanteles glomeratus).—It is with great
satisfaction that I announce the advent into Missouri of this valuable
natural check to the ravages of Pieris rape. It was observed about
the Ist of August in the gardens of Kirkwood, and about the same
time was reported to me by Mr. C. P. Fox, of the experiment station at
Columbia, in this State. Mr. Fox claimed that in his locality it had
destroyed about 80 per cent of the worms. Unfortunately many of the
cocoons received from this gentleman were infested with a secondary
parasite (Tetrastichus sp.?) which may interfere somewhat with its future
abundance. In this vicinity the primary parasite was unmolested, but
was not so numerous as at Columbia, not more than one in five or six
of the worms being affected. It was found, also, upon two larvee of P.
protodice, which in our garden were feeding upon Sweet Alyssum. It
has been several years since I found the latter larvee upon cabbage.
In some unexplained way P. rape seems to have driven them from the
field.

I have not yet learned how general the appearance of the cabbage-
worm parasite was during the past summer in this State, but, judging
from the fine crop of cabbages sent to our city markets from the north-
ern and western counties, the vegetable must have been rescued by
some natural agency from its most serious enemy, and this agency, I
strongly suspect, was the little Apanteles under consideration.

INSECTICIDES.

The only new preparation experimented with this summer was
“'Thymo-cresol,” Lawford Bros., importers, Baltimore, Md. This fluid
is offered to the public more especially as a “cold-water dip” for sheep
and for use on poultry and other animals in the case of vermin. It is
also claimed to be a valuable disinfectant and antiseptic. In aceord-
ance with instructions from the Department it was tried as an insecti-
cide in the place of kerosene emulsion. Added to 50 parts of water it
forms a milk-white, soapy fluid that distributes readily through the
Lewis hand sprayer. It has no disagreeable odor, a point that counts

44

in its favor, and is not irritating to the skin, nor in any degree poison-
ous.

The first use made of it was against that worst of all poultry pests,
the Chicken Louse (Goniocotes hologaster). This is a minute creature,
much resembling the Red Spider so injurious to plants. It is often
found in birds’ nests and is probably in this way communicated to
chickens. In the case in question these lice not only appeared in the
chicken house, but invaded the adjacent stable, where they proved ex-
tremely irritating to not only the horse, but to the person in charge. As
soon as the matter was mentioned at the house measures were taken to
exterminate the pest. The chickens and other animals were excluded
from their usual quarters and the buildings fumigated with burning
sulphur. This was followed by a thorough dusting with air-slaked
lime, usually a dependable remedy. In this instance, however, these
measures did not suffice to expel all the lice, and complaints of the nuis-
ance continued. As a last resort the Thymo-cresol, a package of which
had just been received, was, recommended, and a large quantity ot
water was prepared with the proportions of the remedy according to
instructions. With this the chicken house, inside and out, and the en-
tire stable was thoroughly drenched by the aid of the appliance men-
tioned above, and there was no further trouble with the louse.

As a disinfectant its use was continued throughout the season in the
barn and outbuildings.

Asaninsecticide my experiments would not justify me in recommending
itfor general use. Itwas tried upon the beetles and larvee of the Potato-
beetle; upon the Squash Bug (Anasa tristis); upon the Twelve-spotted

sucumber Beetle (Diabrotica 12-punctata); upon the Harlequin Cabbage
Bug (Murgantia histrionica), and upon a number of other Coleoptera
and Hemiptera without appreciable effect. Various Aphididie were
destroyed by repeated applications; the larvee of the Cabbage Butter-
fly were also sickened by two or three doses, but a single wetting did
not suftice to do much good; a strong solution—1 part to 50 of water
was used upon Harris’s Apple Scale (Chionaspis furfurus) and upon the
Rose Seale and seemed to penetrate to and destroy the eggs; but on
the whole it is not sufficiently drastic to kill at once by contact, and is
not speedily poisonous to vegetable-feeding insects if taken in with the
food. Its effects on vegetation are not injurious, except when a num-
ber of applications are made in succession without spraying with pure
water to rinse it off. I hope to repeat and extend experiments with it
another year, especially to give it a thorough trial on animal parasites,
for which but little opportunity offered the present season,

REPORT OF PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE
COTTON BOLL WORM.

By F. W. MALLty.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

SHREVEPORT, LA., October 9, 1891.

Sir: At your request I have hastily prepared a very brief and condensed summary
of this season’s work, carried on under your direction, upon the Cotton Boll Worm
(Heliothis armigera Hiibn.).

All details as to experiments, observations, and special notes have been omitted,
as the summary was only to give an adequate idea of the present condition of the
investigation.

Very respectfully, yours,
F. W. MALLY,

Assistant.
Dric.V. KILEY,
Entomologist.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND DESTRUCTIVENESS.

The Boll Worm is found throughout the whole cotton region. Over the
greater portion of this area its injury is only slight and not worthy of spe-
cial economic consideration. The regions where special remedial or pre-
ventive measures are practicable comprise that portion of Texas included
by an irregular line drawn from Paris to Tyler, to Cameron, to Temple,
to Gainesville, to Paris. For Arkansas a narrow belt from Fort Smith
to Morrilton, to Little Rock, to the southeastern portion of the State
For the Indian Territory a strip running from Gainesville, Tex., to Fort
Smith, Ark, These are the areas of greatest destructiveness, and for
the whole area the injury may range from 10 to 15 per cent of the whole
crop. For certain counties the percentage of injury is greater. Again,
individual plantations may be almost wholly destroyed while a dozen
others adjoining may escape with only slight injury. The sensational
reports of damage are nearly always based upon these individual ex-
amples, and an accurate scientific estimate of the average for a county
or district is seldom made. The worst infested fields are, in most cases,
those which for some of many reasons which could be given in a de-
tailed report behind the others; that is, late cotton. This makes them

45

46

more attractive to the moths and accounts, in part, for the fact that
one field is badly injured while surrounding ones are not. The injury
in other portions of the cotton region not specially outlined above
amounts to less than 2 per cent, and is so scattering as not to demand
serious attention, unless, perhaps, in a few isolated exceptional locali-
ties.

FOOD-PLANTS.

Corn is well known as its choice food-plant. Cow-peas rank next,
and cotton probably third, though there is evidence that if the tomato
crop were in as prime a condition later in the season when corn matures
the tomato would rank third, and cotton, at best, about fourth. This
accounts in part for the slight injury to cotton over most of the cot-
ton belt, where many of the crops just mentioned are planted a second
time later in the season, and which, therefore, divides the attack of the
Boll Worm on cotton. Experience has abundantly shown that cotton as
a food-plant is more a compulsion than a choice. More stress should
be placed upon the importance from an economic, entomological stand-
point upon the many host plants already on record for this species. In
localities where the cultivation of tobacco is being introduced it is to be
noted that the Boll Worm abundantly attacks the crop, and care must
be exercised in order that its ravages may not attain serious propor-
tions and endanger the progress of the introduction of this crop. In
large cities even flower gardens entirely isolated from corn or cotton
fields, have been frequently found to be infested with Boll Worm. This
‘an not be accidental, as might be urged, if these gardens were exposed
to badly infested fields, and it simply illustrates the reckless, apparently
indifferent habit of the female as to the host plant upon which she de-
posits. Special mention in city flower gardens should be given the
Verbena, Geranium, Abutilon, rosebuds, and Jack Beans.

CHARACTERS AND TRANSFORMATIONS.

These have been so fully described heretofore that nothing further
deserves special mention in this connection, except the habit of can-
nibalism among the worms. As for the imagos, former observations as
to their diurnal habits have been fully verified the present season. At
Arlington, Tex., last August, hundreds were seen flying and feeding
freely on cow-peas from 9:30 to about 11 a. m. Though carefully
watched, deposition at this time was not observed, and it appeared that
they were only breakfasting. Deposition, however, could be frequently
noted in the afternoon several hours before sundown.

NUMBER OF BROODS AND HIBERNATION.

As to the number of broods nothing additional need be mentioned
at this time. The question of hibernation, however, demands special
consideration, and steps must yet be taken to determine more definitely

AT

the facts. Your agent, unfortunately, has been located in regions not
especially infested, and it transpires that owing to the scarcity of adults
at any season in the localities under observation that hibernating speci-
mens would be rarely found.

There is no question but that many pup do not issue in the fall, but
remain as such over winter. Many of these even enter the pupa state
as early as the middle or latter part of September and remain quiescent
until April or May. The decided overlapping of the broods from the
beginning of the season is thus easily explained, for doubtless the
hibernating moths appear earlier than those issuing from the pup in
spring.

Observation proves beyond a doubt that a great majority of the
destructive brood on cotton in August and September issue as imagos
before the close of the season. The facts also prove that instead of the
number of worms which might rightfully be expected from these imagos
to appear in greatly increased numbers absolutely appear in decreased
numbers. This indicated that some of the moths of this brood were
bent upon hibernation and refrained from depositing at this time. In-
deed, the facts disclosed by the latest observations warrant the asser-
tion that many of the imagos resulting from this destructive brood
hibernate. The majority of the worms spoken of in previous reports
as found so late in the season are mostly those from the eggs of belated
females of the preceding brood and worms whose most rapid develop-
ment has been hindered by various, perhaps accidental, unfavorable
environments. Furthermore, as previously stated, the broods from the
very first of the season overlap. Doubtless, therefore, a great portion
of the worms found during the latter part of September and later con-
sist also of the lap, so to speak, of the last brood, and should not be
counted as a separate brood or even a partial one.

NATURAL ENEMIES.

The cannibalistic habit of the Boll Worm makes it its own greatest
enemy, as will be shown under the head of remedial measures. All the
enemies noted in Bulletin No. 24 of the Division have been observed
again. The same special stress and importance must again be repeated
in speaking of the egg parasite (Trichogramma pretiosa). Its value can
not be overestimated. Among birds the Sapsucker, Crow Blackbird,
and Crows deserve special mention. Another species of Robber Fly
was noted catching the imagos. Observations upon the habit of ants
(Solenopsis geminata) earlier in the season makes it absolutely certain
that at that season they frequently capture a Boll Worm. They do so
mostly when the worm travels or comes out of the ear of corn to molt.
They seldom enter an ear of corn for a deliberate search after their vie-
tim. Later in the season, when there is a greater diversity of insect
life and also vegetable growth, the ant loses special interest in the Boll
Worm.

48

A small Capsid (Triphleps insidiosus) is found abundantly on corn
silks. It punctures and feeds upon the eggs of Heliothis and probably
very young Boll Worms. Many beneficial insects, especially the small
Scymnid beetles, are also abundantly found on corn silks. This sub-
ject will, however, be treated more fully in a subsequent report.

INSECT RAVAGES EASILY MISTAKEN FOR THOSE OF BOLL WORM.

All of those noted in Bulletin No. 24 of the Division have been ob-
served again, with the additional one of Thecla paas, which, however,
had been previously recorded. Among the Tortricidae, a number of
species have been reared on cotton. The habits of the larve are well
known to be such that it is reasonable to expect that those species of
Pyralide and Tortricide which feed on cotton at all may occasionally
in doing so bore a stem or peduncle, or even the bolls, forms, and
squares themselves.

Many Hemipterous insects puncture very young forms and squares,
or their peduncles, causing the prospective fruit to fall. The mark re-
sulting from the puncture closely resembles the working of very young
Boll Worms, and by many planters the latter are held responsible for
the injury. To Hemipterous insects is due much of the shedding of
cotton in August and September, and ravages are popularly called
“sharpshooter” work. The most injurious, and perhaps also the most
abundant of the sharpshooters is a large leaf-hopper (Awlacizes sp.).
Calocoris rapidus, Largus cinctus are among those also which do much
damage. The life-history and ravages of these insects must be re-
served for more complete discussion in a subsequent report.

REMEDIES.

The great range of food-plants of the Boll Worm, its habit and method
of feeding upon special portions of these host plants, together with the
isolation of individuals which necessarily follow such food-habits, make
all insecticidal measures of any nature little of or no practcial utility.
In the regions designated heretofore as injured probably about 2 per
cent or less, the attack by the Boll Worm is divided between so many
different crops that the application of any insecticide upon one crop be-
comes much more expensive for that crop than the injury done by the
worm. Furthermore, such measures are inadequate unless applied to
all the crops attacked at any specified time in any given locality. For
these regions it is evident, therefore, that insecticidal measures are
entirely impractical, even though the insecticide be apertectly efficient
one and can be applied with the greatest effect. The same can be said
for localities worse infested, though the difference in destructiveness
partly mitigates the excess of expense. In any case, the vast areas of
cotton to be treated in addition to other crops still make such measures
questionable as to expense, aside from the time required during the

49

busy season when such remedies must be applied. It is the opinion,
therefore, of your agent that no insecticidal measures, even though
efficient as such, are to be recommended, because from the nature of the
case they are burdensome and impracticable. The whole work must
be accomplished by preventive measures, such as are hereinafter dis-
cussed, and which have been suggested by the food-habits of the species
in question, and which by experiment have been found adequate. In
this way it was determined that the Boll Worm has a choice food-plant
among the long list recorded, and, as will be seen, it has been the effort
of your agent to demonstrate the practicability of manipulating this
food-plant so as to concentrate the attack upon it, first trapping the
worms and then destroying them.

PLOWING.

Fall plowing, as a preventive measure against Boll Worm in slightly
infested regions, is not practical as a purely boll worm measure. In
badly infested regions it is to be done when possible. The great diffi-
culty with this measure is that the top crop of cotton is seldom all picked
timely enough to make fall plowing possible before the rainy, wintry
season begins. Due to this fact, it must be urged that plowing be done
in spring, as early as it is possible to plow and pulverize the soil. This
early plowing, with the cold, rainy weather and occasional frosts, which
occur as late as April 1, will insure the destruction of many of the
ehrysalids. The after-preparation of the soil at planting time will
doubtless destroy a small percentage of the surviving pup.

Karly plowing, in addition to being a boll worm preventive, has its
strong advocates among leading agricultural men, who insist that it
should be followed as an improved method or practice of farming, since
larger and better crops are produced when done.

CORN.

Corn is beyond doubt the choice food-plant of the Boll Worm. From
about the middle of April, when the corn becomes large enough for the
Boll Worm to work in it, this worm may be found, and continuously so
on through the season so long as green corn in suitable condition for
food is found. Until about the middle of May or first of June, Boll
Worms are rarely found on any other plants than young corn. This
being true it is surprising to find that the first brood is sosmall. From
numerous accurate accounts in May and early June, at Shreveport, La.,
it was found that about 2 per cent of the young corn plants showed
signs of Boll Worm ravage, while (due to the change of plants by the
worms) less than 2 per cent actually contained worms.

At this time thereis presented the first and most important opportu-
nity for inaugurating preventive measures, namely: to cut out the in-
fested plants and burn them or simply crush the “bud” of the corn

21382—No, 26 4

50

and mash the worm it contains. The small percentage of corn which,
even by the severest method, will be destroyed, together with its ab-
solute certainty in attaining the desired end makes this a cheap, effect-
ual, and practical measure to practice at this season of the year.

Some advise the application of oil emulsions to the “buds” of the
young corn plants, but the time required to prepare the emulsions, ex-
pense of material and apparatus for applying properly the liquids or
powders used, again throws it beyond the realm of the practical. There
can be no practical advantage gained since no remedy of this nature
can be more satisfactory and expeditious than the practice of crushing
or cutting out and burning of the “buds” of infested plants as already
described.

This preventive measure has the advantage of being inaugurated
at atime when labor is not so much needed for other purposes, and
hence can be done at a lesser cost and sacrifice. It can be utilized,
however, only during the fore part of the season, before the corn tas-
sels, and hence the importance of early action on the part of the plant-
ers at the time specified.

As a second preventive measure the cotton field should be so ar-
ranged that four or five rows of corn are planted for every forty or fifty
rows of cotton, the corn to be planted at a such a time as to be in the
prime of silking and roasting ears a week or ten days after the July
brood of Boll Worms matures in the regular crop corn; that is to say,
at the time when the moths of the destructive August brood which at-
tacks cotton begin issuing. Finding the regular crop corn too near
maturity they are compelled to go to the cotton. This occurs from
about the first to the middle of August, depending more or less upon
the locality. The important point is to have green corn in suitable con-
dition for food at the time when what is called “the destructive brood”
goes to cotton. This time, as is well known, varies some in each local-
ity, and can and must be best determined by the farmers of their re-
spective localities. In most cases the result will be accomplished if the
trap corn spoken of is planted from about the first to middle of June.

By some dozen experiments with trap-planted corn in various loeali-
ties, its practicability as well as efficacy has been demonstrated. The
female unquestionably selects the trap-planted corn for egg deposition
to the practical neglect of the surrounding cotton and all other food
plants except cow-peas. The trap-planted corn being reduced to the
minimum quantity, the egg deposition upon each individual ear is un-
naturally increased. Oftentimes fifteen to twenty-five or thirty eggs
were found on the silks of a single ear. The worms fed and found
plenty of room in the ear of corn for a time, but as they grew larger
they became crowded and began to prey upon each other. When this
preying is once started it is carried to such an extent in these infested
ears that rarely more than one (sometimes two) of the twenty or thirty
worms ever attain maturity. Those even which attain maturity have
yet the risk of capture by natural enemies, parasites, disease, ete., te

— = =D

51

experience when leaving the ear and traveling about seeking a suitable
place for pupation. The number of ears of corn having been reduced
to a minimum by trap planting, it is found that the cannibalism in-
duced among the worms reduces those reaching maturity to minimum
also. More than a minimum can not be accomplished, whatever be
the remedial or preventive measures. It becomes questionable, there-
fore, whether it is to be recommended that the trap-planted corn be
cut and burned so as to destroy the few worms attaining maturity in
it, because the value of the corn more than compensates for the small
percentage of worms thus maturing.

Again, the numerous fresh corn silks so late in the season seem to be
specially attractive to many beneficial insects as suitable resorts, and
the egg parasite and many of the other smaller natural enemies of the
Boll Worm are found abundantly on these silks and in the ends of the
ears. Whether they are attracted by the corn silks being fresh or in
search of the objects of their prey, the fact remains that, being thus
conveniently quartered in the trap itself, these beneficial insects have
more frequent and better opportunities for successfully preying upon
the obnoxious insect. Their attack under such circumstances may be
said to be artificially concentrated more or less against a specified in-
jurious insect and hence makes them more efficient agents in reducing
and assisting in the control of the ravages of that species. A portion
of these beneticial insects would also be destroyed by any treatment of
the corn looking to the artificial destruction of the Boll Worm. In view
of these additional facts it seems best not to urge such a measure.

As to the first preventive measure, some insist that cutting out
infested corn early in the season endangers a good stand. In reply it
can be said that,much of the corn being drilled in, some is chopped out
at the time of the first plowing. At the time of this first chopping a
greater proportion of the drilled corn can be left and at the time neces-
sary to most efficiently attack the Boll Worm the portion cut out will
be counterbalanced by the slight excess left from the first thinning.
But, as already stated, absolute chopping and burning need not be
resorted to if care is exercised so that the crushing process be thor-
oughly done. In that case the worm is destroyed and the plant, as
experiments have shown, is not materially injured and still makes a
good ear of corn.

To the second, some object that by planting a trap crop in the man-
ner recommended you actually encourage the greatest possible devel-
opment in point of numbers, that succeeding broods will be proportion-
ately greater, and hence the measure will be worse than no remedy.
This has already been partially answered. The trap corn is reduced
to the minimum in quantity. This makes a maximum crowded condi-
tion which induces the maximum cannibalism in the species and, as
already explained, actually makes the Boll Worm its own destroyer.
On the other hand, if the trap corn were not planted the moths would
of necessity deposit on cotton. Here there is plenty of room and each

52

individual worm would feed and mature independently; hence no con-
ditions exist to induce their preying upon each other and the maximum
number of worms attain maturity.

The results of this preventive measure may be concisely stated to
be: First, protection of the cotton. Second, the minimum number of
Boll Worms reach maturity without .additional expense after being
trapped. Third, the first and second are both attained without special
cost, in that no money outlay is necessary; no additional labor, since
the same would be required were the rows cotton instead of corn; at
any rate corn enough is produced to pay for the time and labor re-
quired. Fourth, beneficial insects are more or less attracted and their
attack concentrated to a certain extent upon a single obnoxious insect.
Fifth, the planter thus protecting his cotton is certain to succeed,
whether his neighbors attempt equally with him to protect theirs or
not, for, having fresh corn in good condition in his cotton, visiting
moths from adjoining farms will choose to deposit and the resulting
worms will ravage the corn to the practical neglect of the cotton.

COW-PEAS.

For attracting or diverting the Boll Worm moth from the cotton this
crop ranks next to corn. The essential point to be attained is to plant
the peas at sucha time that the crop will be in the height of its bloom-
ing period during the latter part of August and September. The
Boll Worm moth is very fond of sipping the sweets at the base
of the developing blooms and very young pods. The peas answer the
purpose best it seems if planted in distinct rows adjoining cotton fields.
The growth should be rank and dense, so as to induce the moths to
make these rows of dense growth their hiding place. From observa-
tion it has been often found that where patches of peas in-prime con-
dition were met with during August and September the moths were
found there in great abundance and to the practical exclusion of them
in the adjoining cotton.

In case it is found that the late-planted trap corn will mature rather
too early to be of the greatest value, and especially in regions where
drought is apt to prematurely ripen corn, it is to be urged that cow-peas
be planted between the rows of corn in time to furnish a continuation
of the trap through the rest of the season. In any case it would be
well to plant the peas as suggested as an additional attraction along
with the trap corn. Care must be taken that only a minimum area is
planted, in order that, possibly, other remedial agencies can be applied
with the least possible expense if found advisable to do so.

POISONED SWEETS.

The only crop upon which there is a probability of practically utiliz-
ing poisoned sweets is that of the cow-peas, planted in limited areas as

53

previously recommended. With a limited number of rows, and these
swarming with Boll Worm moths, a tasteful and attractive sweet well
poisoned and thoroughly applied is of some value. <A great difficulty
is met with in that the liquid applied dries after a short time and what-
ever moths are to be poisoned in this way must feed soon after the ap-
plication. This process makes a daily application necessary and of
course renders the crop as forage entirely useless. The worst feature,

however, is that the poisoned sweet, in order to be an effective poison,

must be ee so strong that one ioreoen application burns the foliage
and checks the growth of the vines to such an extent that from that
time the pea-vines become useless as a crop for attracting the moths.
Thus the very purpose for which it was planted is suddenly discon-
tinued. If the brood of moths found at this time issued evenly, this
might not be so serious an objection, but, since the brood issues very
scatteringly, it is desirable to have the tan a continuous one.

lence it appears that whatever of benefit is attained by the use of
this insecticide it is at too great a sacrifice to make the extensive appli-
cation of it advisable.

Experience has shown that the poisoned liquid must be actually ap-
plied to the food-plant in order to be most attractive, and hence most
efficient. If placed in pans or plates or on posts, boards, and like ob-
jects, a few moths are trapped occasionally. These catches even seem

rather accidental, as the great majority are not attracted and, in fact,
the liquid offered in any other locality than upon choice food. ee
seems really to form no decisive attraction.

PYRETHRUM.

As already intimated, no insecticide can be of practical utility against
the Boll Worm. Much work has been done, however, in making decoc-
tions and various extracts of this powder. The principal points con-
sidered were those of determining the difference in extractibility of hot
and cold decoctions, hot and cold extracts with oils, such as kerosene
or head-light oil. These various extracts and decoctions were always
made into an emulsion with oil. The emulsions were then diluted and
applied in the usual way. There is some difference in the extent of
extraction of the insecticidal properties by hot and cold processes, as
also the aqueous and oil extracts. The difference by one of the proe-
esses is a decided one, though its practical utility upon this particular
species is questionable, except in special cases under certain conditions.

LIGHTS.

Numerous and decisive experiments with lamps for trapping Boll
Worm moths were made. Some of these were made under the most
favorable circumstances. They all proved the absolute folly of this
practice among planters. The moth is not attracted much at any stage

5A

of its existence, and whatever insects are captured are on the whole
decidedly beneficial. This practice then is a positive injury, in that it
systematically destroys beneficial insects without accomplishing any
good as a recompense. ‘This measure, So commonly practiced by plant-
ers, Should, in view of the decided and constant harm attendant upon
its use, be unhesitatingly condemned whenever opportunities are pre-
sented for doing so.

INSECT DISEASES.

In order that any insect disease should be most efficient and prac-
tical, it is necessary that the pest to be infected be gregarious in habit
and travel freely enough to intermingle frequently. For the Boll Worm
both of these conditions are found directly by opposites, it being soli-
tary in habit and not traveling about as frequently as most species of
worms of economic importance do.

Furthermore, feeding on the inside of the portions attacked their
chanees for infection through natural agencies and communication with
diseased worms are proportionately decreased. Even should a Boll
Worm become diseased, in the majority of cases it would die in a boll
or ear of corn and the deliquescing portions of the body containing the
germs would be absorbed by the rotting or fermenting boll. No other
worm, therefore, 1s ever exposed to infection from it. The solitary hab-
its of the Boll Worm in the midst of suitable plants offering a great
plenty of food furthermore insures the most healthy and least acciden-
tal condition possible. None of the factors, such as excessive numbers,
often resulting in a scarcity of food, thereby reducing the vitality of
the worm, enter into consideration in the case of the Boll Worm. AI
or any of these are conditions which greatly favor the propagation, in-
fection, and distribution of diseases. These facts concerning the num-
bers and food-habits of the Boll Worm make it impossible to accom-
plish anything in a practical way with this species, even though the
diseases in question were highly contagious and efficacious as destrue-
tive agencies. The reason, as already stated, consists in the fact that
there are certain conditions required in order that contagious diseases
can be introduced and disseminated, and those conditions are wanting
in this species.

Again, if there were any contagious insect diseases of economic im-
portance prevalent in the cotton belt they would before this time have
made evident their efficacy, especially when it is considered how long cot-
ton and other crops have been under cultivation, and which have been so
long ravaged by all the various insects, from some of which we might
expect the occurrence and spread of disease. There are such diseases
found in the cotton region, and they have been found in such localities
as to make infection possible under the conditions as above stated. By
observation it has been determined that occasionally Boll Worms do die,
and apparently from disease. Whether peculiar to the species or due

——o

55

to infection from other sources need not be stated here, because the
important point is that, in either case, the results thus attained natu-
rally are for this species, probably the best possible even by the codper-
ation of artificial means. This is in reference only to any possible in-
sect diseases already found in the region where the Boll Worm depre-
dates on cotton.

The only hope then would seem to be the introduction of a foreign
disease, or at any rate one not already found in the infested regions.
This was thought to be the case with the Cabbage Worm disease.
This disease, even in localities in the South where it is prevalent, pro-
duces no wholesale exterminative destruction of that species. This
disease in itself, then, under the local existing circumstances, is not ot
that virulent kind necessary in most cases for the infection of a new
pest in a new locality. (This is only generally speaking, and is not to
be understood as meaning that a disease virulent in one species will be
equally so in another, or that a disease mild in one pest might not be
virulent in another.) Furthermore, the Cabbage Worm disease is
already found in a mild form in some portions of the cotton belt; also, a
very prevalent disease of the Cabbage Plusia (Plusia brassice), and
which is probably the same as the Cabbage Worm disease. Small
patches of cabbage are found here and there at quite frequent intervals
throughout most of the cotton plantations, a condition resulting from
the system of small negro tenantry prevalent among Southern planters,
Thus every opportunity is offered for the spread of the disease in ques-
tion in case it were highly contagious and of practical economic import-
ance in this connection. In fact it has been found that the Boll Worm
is occasionally found to be diseased. From symptoms and other bae-
teriological evidence it is now quite definitely determined to be identi-
cal with the Plusia and Cabbage Worm disease. It is quite probable,
therefore, that these diseases are already doing their work as exten-
Sively as is possible under the specially peculiar circumstances already
mentioned, and which are such as to quite effectually baffle artificial
means.

The importance of the work with insect diseases is not to be under-
estimated, however. The work which it was possible to do simply dem-
onstrates that by mere contagion and transmission no great and won-
derful results are to be obtained. Rather in this case the question
becomes one of virulence, and not merely susceptibility to infectious
diseases. One acquainted with bacteriological methods knows that
these two objects can not primarily be accomplished simultaneously in
a single investigation; that is to say that the question of the inefficacy
as a practical economic measure by the transmission of any contagious
(lisease must be determined first, and then attention is given, if the
pest is found susceptible, to those conditions which might increase the
virulence of the disease-producing germs in question. The work, there-
fore, so far as followed out, is thorough and conclusive, but trom the

56

nature of the case only one portion has been completed. What possi-
bilities lie in the way of experimenting purely with the germ in order
to attain the necessary virulence actual experiment will have to dem-
onstrate. In addition to giving attention to the virulence of the dis-
ease germs, more study should be given the natural conditions in order
to determine whether they may be artificially varied so as to be more
conducive to the dissemination of disease.

Above all, the subject ought not to be summarily dismissed, since
only a limited number of germs could possibly be experimented with.
True, the most hopeful ones were experimented with first, but yet it may
transpire that other well-known diseases, not yet tried, may be efficient.
The work has really been one of elimination of some specific germs by
which it was thought certain desirable results could be attained rather
than such as to conclusively demonstrate the impracticability of util-
izing insect diseases in the province of economic entomology.

INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA.
By HERBERT OSBORN, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

AMES, Iowa, December 5, 1891.
Str: I submit herewith my report on the more important insects of the season in
Towa. The year has been one of unusual prosperity and excellent crops in the State
and the ravages of insects have attracted correspondingly little attention. Observa-
tions on some other species than those here mentioned are still in a condition too
fragmentary to warrant detailed report.
Very respectfully yours,
HERBERT OSBORN.
Dr. C. V. Rizey, Entomologist,
Washington, D. C.

The past season has been quite free from any sweeping insect inva-
sion, and, aside from the prominence of plant-lice and their great mul-
tiplication upon plums and wheat and the spread of the Clover-seed
Midge, there were none to attract special attention or to cause serious
alarm. There were of course the ordinary species present in their
usual abundance, and there is no doubt that crops were affected in con-
siderable degree; but the loss was not such as to attract unusual atten-
tion, and it is of course a matter of regular occurrence for a certain
amount of loss to occur in all crops without causing much inquiry from
cultivators. In fact, it is the common rule to consider these attacks of
little moment, or to believe them too little to be worthy the expenditure
of time and money to attempt their prevention. For some crops, and
where the cost of application of remedial measures would be large, it
is doubtless true, but there are certainly many instances where the
expense of applying some remedial agent or the trouble of adopting
some method of culture to avoid insect increase would be abundantly
repaid. é

The White-winged Bibio (Bibio albipennis) attracted considerable
attention in the spring, appearing in great numbers in many parts of
the State, and in a number of cases it was sent in with the statement
that it was eating foliage of various plants. The evidence gained, how-
ever, did not suffice to establish any case where actual damage was

57

58

done to foliage, and we ean but think that the flies occurred on plants
that had been previously eaten by some other insects and that the work
was erroneously attributed to these Bibios when they appeared in such
numbers.

Plant-lice were very abundant on almost all kinds of plants, and
especially on plum trees did a great deal of damage. The species
known as Aphis prunifolii was one of the most abundant forms, but
other species occurred, and one which was apparently the most common
and destructive appears to be referable to Myzus persice. This is a
brown or reddish-brown species, with greenish legs, and it occurs in
great abundance on the terminal portions of the twigs and causes very
extensive curling and twisting of the leaves, being almost as bad as
some gall-forming species in the amount of distortion produced. On
this account it is more difficult to destroy with kerosene emulsion than
the forms that are less protected, and we found that in some cases the
only satisfactory method of reaching them was to dip the worst branches
directly into the emulsion and wash them about till all the corners and
cavities had been reached. Later in the season the parasitic insects
affecting these lice became abundant and their injuries were practically
stopped. They can most seriously affect the growth of the fruit as
well as the general health of the tree. On a small tree upon which I
allowed them to develop for the purpose of watching their progress,
they clustered on the stems of the plums, and even on the plums them-
selves, and the fruit thus infested became much wilted, much of it
covered with exuded juices; and even after the lice had been destroyed
by parasites failed to recover and make a good growth, some attained
only about half size, and were tough and of poorest quality when
ripened, while a portion became so withered that they failed to ripen
at all. It is evident that the insect should be attended to early in
spring, before the lice become numerous and the leaves become curled,
as then they can be destroyed very much easier and it will prevent the
damage to the fruit.

Two other forms, apparently distinct species and quite different also
from Phorodon humuli, were observed in small numbers on wild plums,
but they have not as yet been referred to any described species.

The Wheat Plant-louse (Siphonophora avene), which has been abun-
dant in States east of here for a few years past, appeared in abundance
in the eastern part of the State this season, especially in the north-
eastern portion (Jackson and adjoining counties). It seems to have
been noticed first only a few weeks before ripening of grain, and for
two or three weeks I received a great number of samples. In almost
every case, however, the specimens sent were noticed to be in large part
affected with parasites, and I could reply that the injury from the lice
would probably soon cease. In all cases where I received a second
notice from the same place it was to the effect that the parasites had
been increasing and that the injury had ceased. ‘The louse is evidently

59

widely spread. It was seen at Ames in small numbers on oats, but in
this case also accompanied by parasites; and while it is probable that
wheat and oats may be affected by the louse another year, 1 think we
may depend upon the parasites being sufficiently numerous to prevent
serious loss. It would, therefore, not seem advisable to reduce in any
degree the planting of wheat or oats or any of the crops that may be
affected by this species on account of possible loss from this pest.

The Dogwood Plant-louse, which has been referred to in previous re-
ports, has been observed further and some additional facts secured, but
there are still some points of importance to be determined. Eggs of
this species and of the Dogwood Aphis (Aphis cornicola) were deposited
freely on some small dogwood bushes near my office last fall, and I
had an opportunity of watching them pretty closely during the spring.
The eggs near the ground seemed to pass the winter most perfectly,
and for the Schizoneura hatched in fair numbers in spring, a short time
before the blossoming of the Dogwood. The insects gathered upon the
expanding leaves and also on the blossom buds, and as the latter
opened they seemed to gather by preference in the bunches of blossoms
clustering upon the stems and at the bases of individual blossoms.
Apparently the second or third generation acquired wings, and the
Schizoneura then disappeared entirely from the Dogwood. They were
not to be found on grasses for some time later, but they would neces-
sarily be scattered widely and difficult to find at first.

During the autumn I received word froma Mr. Bower, of Norway,
that his corn had been troubled with plant-lice, and he sent me sam-
ples of Setaria infested with Schizoneura, which he said were the same
as he had been troubled with on his corn.

Thinking it probable that it was Aphis maidis that was affecting the
corn, and not the Schizoneura, I requested him to send samples if he
could then find them of the lice on the corn roots, and he soon sent me
some roots of corn on which were a number of Schizoneurv resembling
in every respect the Schizoneura so common on grass. Some of these
were quite evidently acquiring wings, and shortly after I secured from
them a winged individual, which agrees closely with Schizoneura corn,
except that the antennal sensory pits are not so distinctly developed.

As the specimen was mounted while still quite fresh, there is a possi-
bility that the sensory pits had not become as well marked by the rigid
chitinous border as in more mature individuals, and while I can not
affirm their identity it seems probable that they are the same. If iden-
tical with the species affecting the Foxtail, it is evident that there is
an important relation between this weed and the corn with which it
grows so abundantly. It is certain that we have in the species of
Schizoneura here noticed another corn pest that is easily equal to the
common corn-root lousein its power to injure this important crop.

The Clover-seed Midge has become a serious pest in many parts of
the State, and, while it has been observed before and attention called to

60

the necessity of preparing for its probable spread here, this year is the
first one in which there has been a loss so great as to cause much alarm
amongst the farmers. Its most serious ravages have been in the north-
eastern part of the State, where clover has recently become a quite im-
portant and extensively cultivated crop. In many localities from which
T have received reports the loss of the clover seed this year has been
quite complete. In some cases it appears that the clover has been quite
extensively infested with the Clover Thrips (Phlwothrips nigra), the
slender red larva of which seems to be by some mistaken for the larva
of the Midge. The Midge was treated in Bulletin 13 of the Iowa Ex-
periment Station, illustrated with your figures, and it is hoped that this
discussion and the quite general attention it has received from the
agricultural press of the State will enable the growers of this valuable
crop to adopt measures by which to secure good crops of seed.

Another quite serious pest during the year was the Clover-seed Cater-
pillar (Grapholitha interstinctana Clem.), which appeared in this locality
in great abundance and caused the loss of a large percentage of the seed,
though, since for the first crop there was no effort to secure a crop of seed,
the loss was, of course, not so important. This species has been treated
in detail by Mr. Gossard and myself in Bulletin 14 of the lowa Experi-
ment Station and in an article presented to the Association of Keo-
nomic Entomologists (published in INSECT LIFE), and it is therefore
unnecessary to go into detail regarding it here. Itmay be stated, how-
ever, that it has been determined to be three-brooded here and that it
was found that, when the clover was cut and stored for the first crop
with the larve of the first brood still in the heads, all the larve per-
ished, and it is deemed a complete method of destruction for the species
to cut and store the clover while still in bloom the first time, provided
this is quite general, so that larvew infesting the scattering clover in
fence corners and along roadsides are not developed in abundance to
lay eggs for the later broods of the season.

The Flavescent Clover Weevil (Sitones flavescens) also occurred in
considerable abundance here, and it is probably quite generally dis-
tributed through the State, since its habits are such as to attract little
attention.

The common species of locusts were abundant and in some localities
I learned of considerable damage to clover and other crops.

In a number of trials of the hopperdozer plan of treatment for the
Grass Leaf-hoppers (which works effectually also for the young of
locusts), it was found that a simple flat sheet of sheet iron covered with
coal tar on the upper surface and drawn along by means of cords at-
tached at each end was a most effective method of capturing the jump-
ing species not only of leaf-hoppers, but young locusts and a number
of other small insects. A paper giving results of these tests was read
at the Washington meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Agri-
cultural Science, and published under joint authorship with Mr. Gossard

61

in Bulletin 14, lowa Experiment Station. The most important results
may be here stated. In an experiment upon a plat of grass land a por-
tion was treated with the tarred sheet on May 29; the remainder of the
plat, or rather a corresponding portion on the opposite side of a nar-
row roadway, was left untreated. On June 9 a trial by running the
tarred sheet over a strip 3 rods in length on each plat, it was determined
that by actual count the leaf-hoppers were more than five times as plenty
on the plat that had been untreated as on the treated plat. And July .
2, when the hay was cut on each plat, the yield from the treated plat
was 34 per cent better than that of the untreated plat.

On June 20 the tarred sheet was tried on another part of the lawn,
and, “in moving 55 feet with the dozer, the number of leaf-hoppers taken
was estimated by counting the insects on three sections of the dozer,
each 6 inches long and extending the entire width of the dozer. The
counts were 183, 319, and 226, respectively, which averages 243 for each
section, or 4,151 on the whole pan. At this rate about 376,000 insects
would be caught per acre.

** Another test was made at the same time, dragging the dozer over
66 feet of lawn. This time five sections of 6 inches each were counted
off and averaged, instead of three, which resulted in giving 2,805 insects
on the dozer, or 215,089 would be taken on an acre.”

In previous reports I have given some estimates as to the number of
these leaf-hoppers that may occur on an acre of grass land, and it will
be seen that these trials not only give confirmatory evidence as to the
great numbers of these pests that live in grass, but show that they can
be captured successfully by the hopperdozer plan. Since the latter
trials were made in hot weather and when most of the insects were
winged, if was impossible to capture all of the hoppers, and it is prob-
able that the actual number of hoppers on the Jand averaged well up
to 1,000,000 per acre. By selecting best conditions, it will be possible
to capture a larger percentage, and the profit of securing even half of the
hoppers in the grass will, I believe, well repay all expense and trouble
of treatment.

A very interesting occurrence of the year was the remarkable in-
crease of a parasite (Apanteles glomeratus) affecting the common Cab-
bage-worm (Pieris rape).

About the Ist of May I received from you some parasites imported
from England, but they were already issuing from the cocoons and
there had been no cabbages planted at the time in this locality, so that
my only hope of getting them established here was to place them on
Black Mustard growing wild, and even here I had little hopes of getting
them established, as P. rape had only begun to appear in the imago
and there was little possibility of larve being ready in time for oviposi-
tion of Apanteles. About the 1st of August I was somewhat surprised
to have brought to me a number of rape larve with cocoons of a para-
site that resembled exactly the Apanteles. When the imagos issued

62

they proved to be, so far as I could see, identical, and my opinion was
confirmed by referring the specimens to your office. The Apanteles
had been most abundant in the gardens of a Mr. Gregory, a gardener
near Ames, but about 3 miles from where the Apanteles had been in-
troduced, and it seemed almost impossible that they could have become
so widely distributed and so abundant inso short a time. I made care-
ful inquiries of Mr. Gregory, and found that the parasite had been first
observed by his wife in the fall of 1890, but in small numbers, and at
the time supposed to be an injurious species, and all that were observed
had been destroyed. During the summer just past, however, she had
seen the larvee issuing from the caterpillars and rightly appreciated
their beneficial nature. They became so abundant in Mr. Gregory’s
garden that he told me they had entirely destroyed the cabbage worms
on his place, and they also multiplied extensively in the cabbage patches
on the college farm, so that there will probably be very few of the cab-
bage worms another season and even if they appear in some numbers
the parasites should be so thoroughly distributed as to be able to keep
them entirely in check.

While this occurrence of the Apanteles by some previous introduction
makes it impossible to say with certainty whether any were established
as a result of the introduction of last spring (and the probabilities were
against a successful issue in this case) there is the strongest proof of the
ability of the species to thrive and to successfully reduce the numbers
of Pieris rape. It would be of interest to ascertain the source from
which they were introduced, but nothing could be learned of any proba-
ble introduction direct from any distant point and it seems most likely
that the species has simply spread through its own powers of dispersal
from other parts of the country where it has been present. It would
seem to be a very easy species to distribute from one point to another,
but for the Northern States it would seem more easy to introduce in the
latter part of the season, as the imagos issue in spring too early to find
rape larve ready for them to oviposit upon. Mr. Gregory informed me
that the parasites were noticed issuing from the pupz as well as from
the larvee.

The Apple Maggot, which reports indicated as common in some sec-
tions of the State last year and which it was feared might prove trouble-
some to our orchardists, has not been heard from the present season, al-
though the apple crop has been a large one. Should it make no further
appearance it would seem to strengthen the idea that it does not thrive
in this region, perhaps on account of unfavorable soil, a condition that
may be viewed with much satisfaction by our fruit-growers,

REPORT OF ENTOMOLOGICAL WORK OF THE SEASON OF
1891.

By F. M. Wesster, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

. CoLumMBus, OHIO, October 10, 1891.

Str: I herewith submit my annual report for the current year. My last report
preceding this related to the development of the Hessian Fly, and especially as show-
ing the desirability of late sowing as a means of warding off the fall attack. It
seems, however, that where the carrying out of this advice leads to a procrastination
in the preparation of the ground it is likely to lead to injurious effects, where wheat
is to follow clover. I have, therefore, prepared the accompanying report in order to
show the nature of another class of depredators, and how it is, doubtless, possible
and practicable to follow out the directions as to late seeding and still avoid contact
with this second evil.

Yours very respectfully,
F, M. WEBSTER,

Special Agent.
Drs VevRILEY;

U.S. Entomologist.

INTRODUCTION.

During the fall of 1890, after the rendering of my annual report for
that year, I was engaged in the study of various insects, notably those
affecting young growing grain. On February 2, 1891, I started ona
tour of investigation through Arkansas and Texas, in order to continue
work begun by me in 1886, relative to the occurrence and effect of vari-
ous species of Simulium infesting the streams of the valley of the lower
Mississippi, and also to investigate the depredations of the Grape Cur-
culio in northwestern Arkansas. From the 20th of February to the 1st
of April I was in Texas engaged in further studies of Simulium and
grain insects. A report of the work of this trip has been forwarded
you and published in INSEcT LIFE. Soon after my return, in accord-
ance with your direction, I visited the farm of Dr. I. W. Chamberlain,
at Hudson, Summit County, Ohio, to investigate an occurrence of the
Clover Hay-worm. <A report of this and further investigation of the
species involved has been forwarded to you, Further investigations

63

64

into the habits of some destructive species of Tipulidz were made, and
a report, illustrated by drawings, was presented to you for publication.

A report on observations upon many species of Coleoptera has also
been prepared and forwarded to you for publication. In pursuance to
your instructions, I secured a large number of eggs of Lachnosterna,
especially of LZ. fusca, L. gibbosa, and L, hirticula, and, after carefully
watching the development of these eggs, placed the larve in breeding
boxes, and have colonies of larve of each of these three species, reared
from the egg, and at present thriving nicely in confinement.

On April 23 I received from you a consignment of Semiotellus nigripes,

and, in accordance with your instructions, placed the larger portion in
a wheat field seriously affected by the Hessian Fly, and the smaller
portion were placed on fly-infested plants, under a cover of Swiss mus-
lin. Later I received from Prof. Bruner a second consignment, which

vas promptly forwarded to Prof. Charles E, Thorne, Director of the
Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, who placed them in two fields
of wheat near Columbus, Ohio. In regard to the success in introduc-
ing these parasites, [am not yet able to report. I did not rear adult
Semiotellus from those released among grain, under cover, but this is in
no way to be construed into a failure to colonize them in the field.
When received many had emerged from the flaxseeds, and some of
them had perished, and the larger portion of those remaining were
placed in the fields. At the time of the release at La Fayette, Ind., the
adult Hessian Flies and native parasites were abroad in great num-
bers. The field where they were placed had been seriously attacked by
the fly during the preceding autumn, fully one-half of the wheat plants
being affected. That portion of the field where colonization was made
has not been molested since, except to remove the crop. Wheat was
again sown on the larger portion of this field and also on another ad-
joining, also in wheat last year, so that at present there are two fields
of wheat growing within 20 yards of the spot where the liberation took
place. Therefore, while | am unable to say whether or not the parasite
has become established, I can say that it has had every opportunity to
do so, and a failure in this case would almost prove conclusively the
imposibility of colonization. The number of living parasites placed
was too small to show immediate results, and, therefore, time must be
given for them to multiply before expecting absolute proof of coloniza-
tion. Withregard to those released here I am not so hopeful, as wheat,
owing to dry weather, did not germinate quickly after being sown, and,
I fear, may have come too late to afford hosts for the Semiotellus. Both
fields where the parasite was liberated still remain uncultivated.

On July 1 of this year I severed my connection with the experiment
station at La Fayette, Ind., and formed a similar connection with the
Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station located at this place, a change
which was approved by yourself.

Since locating here several destructive insects haye demanded atten-

VE Cee TG

65

tion. The Wheat Midge, Diplosis tritici, appeared in limited numbers
and was investigated in accordance with your instructions. A bulletin
was issued by me from the station dealing with chronological data in
regard to the pest, and a report submitted to yourself relating to this
and some other closely allied species.

Many inquiries in regard to the Hessian Fly have been received, and
in order to meet a popular wish my report of 1890 to yourself, and ap-
pertaining to this species, has been received and adapted to a station
bulletin, which was issued in November of the present year. This, L
think, will afford the desired information to the farmers of the State
and reply to a vast amount of inquiry, which would otherwise have to
be answered by letter.

The indications are that several important pests will demand atten-
tion next year, and, with your approval, considerable time will be spent
in becoming acquainted with the State and the people, with a view of
securing assistance from the farmers and affording the same in return.
The facilities offered by the station will enable me to push some inves-
tigations which I have not been able to do before.

REPORT ON SEVERAL SPECIES OF CRANE-FLIES INFESTING MEADOWS
AND PASTURES, AND WHICH MAY ALSO PROVE INJURIOUS TO
WHEAT.

Any extended study of the species belonging to this group of insects,
the Tipulidee, is impeded by many obstacles, owing, first, to the great
difficulty of securing a proper determination of the species involved,
and, second, to the fact that they are among farmers to a considerable
extent associated with cutworms, the larve being known as cutworms
and the adults as “cutworm flies;” so that it is not only a difficult task
to indicate the exact insect, but equally so to secure accurate data with
respect to its habits in the fields. In England these insects have long
ravaged fields of young wheat sown after clover, but in this country
such attacks have not often been observed. With the increasing pop-
ularity of clover-growing, both for pasture, meadow, seed, and fertilizer,
it would appear that we are on the verge of a new era with respect to
the effects of these insects in our clover fields; and even now one who
watches them carefully and notes the numbers of adults which are often
to be observed about our clover fields can not help but suspect that
they are working an injury which we either fail to observe, or, obsery-
ing, attribute the loss occasioned thereby to other causes. So far as
grain crops are concerned, the indications are that the American hus-
bandman will have little trouble in preventing serious ravages in his
fields. What the future of our clover lands is to be, especially if allowed
to remain intact for a number of years, is yet to be seen. Of the species
studied, there is not one the ravages of which can not be almost en-
tirely prevented in young wheat by plowing the ground during late
August or early September, and there is every reason to believe that if

21352—No. 26-——_5

66

the fall growth of clover is kept mowed or grazed off during September
and October little trouble will likely follow from the depredations of the
larvie the following spring. Some species, notably the ones studied in
the Indiana fields in 1588 and 1890, are two brooded, the eggs being de-
posited in spring and fall, while Tipula bicornis, which was reared from
the field at Ashland, Ohio, and a species near or identical with Tipula
angustipennis Loew, are probably single brooded, ovipositing during
late September and October only.

TIPULA BICORNIS Loew.

On May 17, 1888, we received the following note from the editors of
the Anderson Herald:
ANDERSON, IND., May 16, 1888.

We send you by today’s mail a bottle with some worms which are taking the place
of cutworms in our county. We send them to have them named or to find out the

name,
THe HERALD COMPANY.

We visited the locality on May 25, but could learn of but one infested
field, this being on the farm of Mr. J.C. Beesom, located about 35 miles
from the city of Anderson. This field consisted of 22 acres of under-
drained clay loam, with the soil of the depressions darker colored, the
surface, however, being nearly level. The field for the two preceding
seasons had been devoted to red-clover pasture, but not pastured dur-
ing the last year after about August 1. After this date there sprung
up a rank growth of clover, and, besides, a great number of Rag-weeds
(Ambrosia). During March of 1888 the clover had been almost totally
killed, the owner thought by the weather. About April 16 Mr. Beesom
began to break the field, and then discovered myriads of these larve,
which were new both to him and his neighbors. At this time, from a
square foot of ground he took two hundred of the larvee, and did not
dare to plant his fields from fear of these worms destroying his crop.
On May 16 he found them still in the earth in immense numbers, and
noticed that a considerable percentage had disappeared—doubtless
pupated.

When I visited the field fully 90 per cent were in the pupal stage,
their numbers fully confirming Mr. Beesom’s statement as to the num-
ber of larvie, the lower and darker colored spots being the worst in-
fested. There were, at the time of my visit, very few adults tobe
found in the grass along the edges of the field, but in the sod, which
was that of Blue Grass, no larve or pup could be found. Although
the two stages were pretty generally distributed over the whole area of
the field, they were especially abundant under clods, turf, or half-cov-
ered bunches of weeds and other débris. On the level plowed ground
the pup could be detected by round holes which they occupied in a
vertical position. Under the clods this feature was not so noticeable;
although in these cases they seemed to favor the edges of their coverts,

67

The country was originally thickly wooded, but has for a long time
been cleared up, except frequent groves, which are usually pastured.
The infested field was one cleared by pioneers many years ago.

The advanced stage of development to which the insects had already
attained precluded the possibility of thorough study in the field, espe-
cially of the larval habits, and hence we were obliged to be content with
a few and a good supply of pup, with which we returned home.

After the general habit of these insects the pupa occupies a vertical
position in the earth, and the adult, just prior to emerging, pushes from
one-half to two-thirds of its body above the surface. In this position a
large number of pup were placed in breeding cages and the result
most carefully watched. The first adult, a male, appeared on May 25,
and did not burst from the pupa until after the latter had been protrud-
ing from the earth for several hours. The pupa case first bursts along
the head and prothorax, and the head and shoulders of the adult first
appear. Until enough of the body has been delivered to clear the tips
of the wings, egress is brought about by muscular extension and con-
traction of the abdominal segments. After the wings are free, but
while still in its vertical position, the imago changes its tacties, and
begins to rock gently backward and forward, drawing up the legs
slightly at each backward motion, until they are finally withdrawn
from the case, and the now nearly emerged insect bends forward with
the nearly empty pupa case and crawls forth. In the case of the
female, loaded down with her burden of eggs, the assistance of the
male is often required to finally extricate her.

On the 26th a large number of adults of both sexes emerged in the
breeding cage, followed on the 27th by still greater numbers, the males
in the majority; but hardly to the extent indicated by Mr. Beesom in
the following letter, received a few days later:

ANDERSON, IND., May 29, 1888.
Mr. F. M. WEBSTER: According to promise I will give you a history of the worms
and fly. On May 26 the flies were very numerous around the fences, multiplying each
day until the 29th, when the field was swarming with the ““eran’daddy long-legs.”
On the same day there was some not yet hatched, but not many, and some were just
coming out. I watched their habits, and think from appearance there was about one
female to one hundred males. The female is full of eggs when hatched; has about
three hundred eggs of a jet black color. I saw the male helping the female out of
the shell. He would do this by standing upright with the female pushing back and
forth. In this case the shell would be half way out of the ground. As soon as he
would get her out he would impregnate the eggs. This is about all I can tell you

now.
Yours etc.,
J. C. BEESOM.

Soon after emerging, sometimes within a few hours, the female begins
her work of oviposition. Three newly emerged females, placed sepa-
rately in glass tubes, produced respectively 297, 282, and 289 eggs. In
confinement, these eggs were thrown off at the rate of from 3 to 10 per
minute.

68

Authorities differ as to the mode of oviposition among the Tipulidee;
and it is not improbable that there may be a difference of method in
different species. Curtis opined that the British species oviposited
while on the wing, and Miss Ormerod says that Tipula oleracea Linn.,
oviposits in or on the surface of the ground, while Dr. Riley states that
he has witnessed the oviposition of an American species, Tipula trivit-
tata Say, and the eggs are forced into the ground by means of a double
pair of valves, something as in the case of our common locusts.

In the species under consideration, the terminal abdominal segment
of the female is much more obtuse than in some other of the American -
species, ending in a pair of broad, concave valves or plates, whose office
appears to consist in holding the eggs in place and assist in directing
them to within the reach of a second pair of organs. With the female
standing on a horizontal surface, in a natural position, the egg appears
to pass down the oviduct with the concave surface downward, but on
nearing the terminus of the oviduct the posterior end of the egg is
thrown under and forward, thereby bringing the concave side upward,
and lying, seemingly, directly under a small liguliform plate which is
attached only at its base. The apical portion of this triangular plate
appears to fit the concave side of the egg, which is prevented from going
too far backward by the anal valves previously mentioned. It is here
that the second pair of plates or valves, apparently the most important
appendage, is called into play. This is situated just beneath or a little
back of the triangular plate, their bases having very nearly a common
origin, and is composed of two movable valves, or claspers (whose base
is broadened into a thin flap, which, coming upward at the sides, forms a
receptacle for the egg) which, when closed together, form a hemispheri-
cal cup having almost the exact form of one-half of the epicarp of the hick-
ory nut; and each of the two parts, when opened, as faithfully represent
one of the valves of the epicarp. When the egg is in position on the
triangular plate these valves are pressed against and about it, inclosing
it on all sides, leaving only a portion visible along the apex; and drop-
ping downwards slightly, but gently, the egg is projected forth with a
slight snapping sound, seemingly propelled in much the same manner
as one would eject the pit froma ripe cherry by pressing it between the
thumb and forefinger. Whether the liguliform plate follows the valves
in this downward movement, or not, | could not determine, but think
such is the case, as the egg is not projected directly backward, but de-
flects considerably downward. ‘The movements of oviposition are made
so quickly that it is exceedingly difficult to observe the exact action of
the parts, and therefore I give them as they appeared to me. Further
observation may require a slight revision.

[ have an idea that the two elevations at the base of the liguliform
plate, which is drawn as seen from beneath, may serve to keep the
ege from slipping backward and may also assist in pushing it for-
ward. At the base of plate, on the under side, are two loose ap-

69

pendages fixed at base and middle, forming, as it were, a sort of basal
pocket for each of the claspers. The exact use of these I can not un-
derstand, but suspect they assist in Some manner in holding, or, pos-
sibly, propelling the egg, as, in Pachyrrhina, they are reduced to what
appears to me to be a mere cushion.

I wish it distinctly understood that I did not witness oviposition, ex-
cept under artificial environments, and therefore it would not be best
to take too much for granted. But, in view of the mechanism of the
organs of oviposition, and the manner in which they are called into
play, together with the fact that in the breeding cages the eggs were
scattered about, without the least indication of a desire to secrete them,
it seems at least doubtful about this species ovipositing in the ground,
though it must be confessed the organs of oviposition have a strange
resemblance to those of migratory locusts.

The egg.—The egg is 0.8™™ in length, and from 0.3 to 0.4"™ in breadth, elongate-
ovoid, strongly concave on one side, of a jet black color and highly polished.*

The larva.—The larva is about 20™™ in length, and in maximum diameter is about
5mm; head retractile, small and horny, whitish in color, and spotted with black; an-
tennze yellowish; body strongly wrinkled, transversely, especially the posterior seg-
ments. In the young larve there are on most of the segments sparsely placed, stout,
curved bristles, but in the mature larve these are more frequently missing. The
first segment is small, the others increasing to the eighth; thence decreasing to the
twelfth. The first seven segments are much smoother, but not as clearly defined as
the last five. The terminal segment is very obtuse, and armed above with a row of
four stout hooked spines, curved posteriorly, beneath which are two large spiracles,
and below each of these is ashort, fleshy spine, curved upward. General color, dingy
white. : J

The pupa.—The pupa varies in length from 13™™ to 18™™, and in breadth from 3™™
to5™™; head, with eyes, distinct; the antenne is insecurely attached along the breast,
short, eleven-jointed, the last joint strongly constricted at tip; horns prominent,
knobbed, curved, moderately distantly separated at base, with an intervening median
black ridge; thorax quite prominent, and rotund above; wings extending to anterior
margin of first ventral segment; legs extending, usually, to posterior margin of first
ventral segment, where they all terminate together, forming a sort of flap, easily
detached from the segment and from each other. The abdomen is usually rather
strongly depressed, widening from base to third segment, gradually tapering from
thence to tip. Excepting the terminal, all of the abdominal segments are provided
with a transverse row of short spines on the dorsal surface, and likewise on the ven-
tral surface, with the exception of the first and second, which have, instead, two
large and two small spines, one of each placed on either side of the middle. The
terminal segment ends with a cluster of closely placed, fleshy pustules, which appear
to be more or less retractile. Back and above these are two fleshy spines, eight in
number. The lateral margins of the abdomen are wide and thin, armed with a lateral
row of spines, two on each segment. General color of pupa, dull, dingy brown.

As clover was seriously injured throughout the West during the
winter and spring of 1888, any attempt to estimate the injury occasioned
by these worms would, of necessity, be mere guesswork.

“Eggs very similar to, if not identical with, these were described some years ago
by Dr. Riley, to whom they were sent by Prof. S. A. Forbes, he having found them
in the stomach of the Catbird in Illinois. (See Am. Ent., vol. 11, p. 24.)

70

That this species is double-brooded there is no reasonable doubt, later
observations showing that the eggs of the fall brood are deposited
principally during September, the insect wintering over in the larval
stage and finishing this stage in early spring, its period of development
being a little later than the following species, although the two may be
found abundantly at the same season, the Pachyrrhina appearing first
and seeming to be well advanced in the work of oviposition by the time
this begins to appear in noticeable numbers.

Respecting natural enemies, Mr. Beesom had observed great numbers
of crows and “bee birds” hovering about this field almost constantly,
and he was quite positive that they were engaged in the destruction of
the larvee. From what has already been stated, it seems probable that
the adults are, to some extent at least, destroyed by the Catbird. Of
the probable insect enemies, Pterostichus lucublandus was particularly
abundant, and Mr. Beesom at once pointed them out as the most nu-
merous in the field, and particularly where the larve were then congre-
gated. Harpalus pennsylvanicus, H. caliginosus, and Pterostichus femor-
alis were also present in considerable numbers, aS were also the larvie
of some species of Harpalus and Platynus, these larve being especially
abundant in places where the pup of the Tipula were massed.

PACHYRRHINA sp.?

Late in April, 1890, news came to me of the depredations of a new
insect pest in fields of young wheat near Farmersburg, Sullivan County,
Ind. This time the depredators proved to be the larvee of a species of
Pachyrrina, but whose depredations were very much like the preceding;
a visit to the locality on the 26th, and especially to the fields of Mr. T.
H. Kendall, revealing the nature of the depredator and effect of its
ravages. The insect was at that time most abundant in the pupal
stage, these pup, after the manner of the Tipulidz in general, occupy-
ing vertical cells in the ground. Larve were, however, present in con-
siderable numbers, both in the earth and on the surface, the day being
rainy, and not only about the wheat plants, but also about stray clumps
of timothy, of which there were a considerable number scattered over
the field among the wheat. For reasons which will appear further on,
the numbers present in both stages did not correspond at all with the
reports of Mr. Kendall, nor with the amount of damage clearly attrib-
utable to the pest. The most seriously injured fields were those which
had been in clover the previous year.

Of two fields adjoining each other, one sown on oat stubble, the other
on clover sod plowed early in October, the latter was damaged fully 50
per cent, while the former had escaped uninjured. Another field a
short distance from these, also in clover last year but plowed late in
August, was damaged only about 15 per cent. A clover field adjoining
the first two had been completely ruined, but this might have been in
part due to the winter, although the insect was present in abundance.

|
b.
4

71

A close inspection of the most seriously injured fields showed large areas
of grain totally destroyed, while other areas among them were little
injured. The plants themselves had not been thrown out by the frost,
but were well fixed in the soil. The day was rainy, and many of the
dead plants had a green appearance like that of wetted hay, and did
not at all resemble those killed by frost or freezing, indicating that they
had withered.

Mr. Kendall stated that up to the 1st of February his wheat was in
fine condition, but after that time it began to die, and continued to do so
rapidly until about the first week in April, since which time the dep-
redations had gradually ceased. Soon after the trouble began he had
observed the larve in myriads both above and below ground, but they
worked below, not cutting off the plants, but apparently wounding them
and sucking the juices. In working about just beneath the surface of
the ground they raised ridges like those made by moles, but about the
size of straws, and the earth immediately about the plants was often
worked up as if by ants or earth-worms.

A large number of larve and pup were secured and taken home,
in order that I might be able to study the method of feeding in the
former, secure adults, and watch the oviposition of the females, which,
I judged, might differ from those previously studied in case they proved
to be of a different species. While collecting this material, not only
many dead pup were noticed, but larve also, lying on the surface of
the ground, many of which had turned black wholly or in part, after
the manner of diseased cabbage-worms. This led to the suspicion that
they had been attacked by a fungous disease, which had reduced their
number and consequent injury. While all living material was, on my
arrival home, placed in a breeding cage and thus kept out of doors,
nearly all of the pup were destroyed, almost entirely, I believe, by this
fungoid enemy, which Dr. J. C. Arthur informs me is undescribed, and
for which he proposes the manuscript name Hmpusa pachyrrhine. One
larva constructed its cell in the earth in the breeding vage and trans-
formed to the pupa, but the next day this pupa worked itself upward
out of the cell and was found lying on the surface dead, and covered
with spores of Empusa. How much this fungus had to do with the
stopping of depredations of the larvae on the wheat it is, of course, im-
possible to say, but it must have destroyed a large percentage of the
pest.

The first adult appeared in the cage on the 28th, two days after
removal from the field. Other adults emerged so very sparingly, and
at such long intervals, that no opportunity was offered to secure fer-
tilized eggs or note the ovipositing habits of the females. The first of
the only two females reared was nearly dead when a male emerged,
and, though fertilized, died without ovipositing, and the male refused
to pair a second time, leaving the second female without a mate, she
dying before a second male emerged. Two females and four males

12

were all the adults secured from the material brought home, the others,
as I believe, having been destroyed by the Empusa previously mentioned.

The same species was found in abundance in clover fields about
Lafayette during the whole of the month of May, eggs being secured
on the 28th from a female taken in the field. We have this year
reared adults which appeared June 4. About the 10th of August males
began to appear again in great abundance, and both sexes were ob-
served on the 15th, and by the 27th they seemed to be in the height of
the ovipositing season; but the females stubbornly refused to oviposit
in confinement, and it was only by securing a female while laying her
eggs in the field that [ secured an additional supply, though I saw a
female which had been caught in a spider snare depositing her eggs
freely. By the 20th of September the species had nearly disappeared,
only spent females being seen, though the present season, near Colum-
bus, Ohio, one was observed filled with eggs as late as the 22d. It
seems, therefore, that the ovipositing seasons are, aS a rule, from about
May 1 to June 15 and from about August 10 to September 25, the
period covering about six weeks.

The organs of oviposition in this species are very different from those
of the preceding, giving to the posterior segment of the females a very
different appearance. Instead of the broad valves we have a pair of
chitinous forceps while the lower plates are produced with the pro-
longations vertically flattened, and the base forms an elongate recepta-
ele. The liguliform plate is less robust and partakes more of a carti-
laginous than a chitinous nature, its office evidently being in part sus-
tained by the teeth with which the interior basal part of the second pair
of plates is provided. The two pair of plates, when not in use, close up
and form a slender prolongation of the last abdominal segment. The
egg differs from that of the preceding species by being smaller and hay-
ing five distinct grooves, presumably allowing the teeth of the lower
plates to gain a stronger hold on the egg itself, and thus reénforcing
the liguliform plate, which, as in the preceding, seems to fit into the
concavity of the egg. The manner of oviposition is as follows: The egg,
leaving the oviduct, drops into the second or lower pair of claspers and
under the small liguliform piece, the concave side upward. Here it
seems to be held in place while the upper organ or plate is drawn back-
ward, the lower being at the same time slightly advanced until the two
flattened prolongations drop in between the two upper ones, when there
is a Sharp click and the egg is thrown forth at an angle of probably 40
degrees. As with the preceding species, the rapidity of the movement
renders it difficult to observe accurately or to determine the exact source
of propulsion. The females of this species utterly refuse to oviposit in
confinement, and it is only by capturing them in the fields, after they
have probably begun oviposition, that one is able to secure eggs.
Kven here, however, we have not been able to witness undisturbed
oviposition, and therefore not avle to observe whether or not they use

— —se |

13

the combined organs with which to place the eggs in the earth, as their
general contour would indicate might be the case. More especially does
this seem possible as the preceding species, whose organs of oviposi-
tion do not seem fitted for placing eggs, oviposit freely in the breeding
cage. Besides being grooved, the eggs of these Pachyrrhinez are smaller
and less robust than those of Tipula bicornis. The number of eges
which the female produces is also uncertain, as I have not been able to
secure accurate data on that point.

On May 7, 1891, I received a number of Tipulid larve from Mr. D.
F. Wise, of Ashland County, Ohio, with the statement that they were
present in one of his fields in myriads, and he was afraid to plant corn
therein through fear of their destroying his crop. The owner described
the infested field as having been devoted to wheat three and two years
previously, yielding about 20 bushels per acre; was seeded to clover, and
last yearacrop of haywasremoved. Thisspring, however, the clover had
disappeared and the entire field of 14 acres furnished only feed enough
for twenty-two ewes and their lambs. From these larve reared, June
4, a male and female of this species. Mr. Wise wrote me later that he
had observed these worms in his clover fields, and had noticed unae-
countable injuries thereto for the last nine years, but thoughttheintruders
were ordinary cut-worms. About the first of April,this year, he began
tiling his field, and on the following morning found the bottom of the
ditch, though covered with water, was swarming with these larvie, and
the fact of their living in water raised the suspicion that they were not
true cut-worms. On May 16, nearly six weeks later, he wrote that those
larve were still living in the ditch.

When I received the larve from Mr. Wise they were placed in a large
glass with considerable earth and a clover plant, but no drainage.
After waiting a considerable time for other adults to emerge from the
larvee, I concluded that the remainder had died, and paid no further
attention to the glass in which they had been placed.

TIPULA COSTALIS Say.

Early in July an examination of the earth in the glass mentioned
above, now nearly a solid mass, showed several larve, and, what was
more surprising, they were still alive. During my removal from La-
fayette, Ind., to Columbus, Ohio, and the rearrangement of things,
this glass accidentally became filled with water, and remained so for
nearly two weeks, when, judge of my astonishment on examining the
contents, ten larvee were found alive and completely submerged in the
water, one floating about with its posterior upward. The larvze were
at once removed and placed in a flower-pot, in which a fresh clover
plant was placed, and this kept watered. Nothing appeared until Sep-
tember 20, when a male emerged, followed on the next day by a female.
These were kept together, and, though copulation took place, the
female stubbornly refused to oviposit, and died without furnishing me

74

with a single egg. The same day on which the latter of these two
adults emerged, while riding along the road, myriads of both sexes
were observed. They were also received from Mr, J. M. Jones, of
Dunkirk, Hardin County, who wrote under date of September 19,
stating that they had appeared about the 15th and were literally
swarming. He also called attention to the popular notion of their
originating from cut-worms. All facts taken together indicate that this

species is single-brooded, the eggs being deposited during late Sep-

tember and early October. Mr. Wise states that the larvee of these
Crane-flies are most abundant in low, grayish-black soil, and where the
ground is the wettest, and that during heavy rains they appear to work
nearer the surface of the ground. He also states that to his knowledge
they have never injured corn planted in these fields, and the present
season has shown no exception.*

From the foregoing it seems that our clover fields are menaced by at
least three species of Crane-flies, one of which is known to be, under
certain conditions, exceedingly destructive to wheat, while the other
two may vest under grave suspicion. In a former report to this Depart-
ment I clearly showed the desirability of sowing wheat late in the
fall—the exact time depending upon the locality—as a protection against
the fall attack of the Hessian fly. It seems now that though sowing
should be deferred, plowing, in cases where wheat is to follow clover,
should be done late in August, or at least before the middle of Septem-
ber, in order to escape injury from the larvee of Crane-flies.

Besides the enemies of Crane-flies already given, I have observed an
ant, Aphenogaster fulva, attack and drag away a living female of Pa-
chyrrhina, and in addition to the bird enemies given by Mr. Beesom the
following is a list of birds found to have preyed upon these inseets in
Illinois (see Bull. State Lab. Nat. Hist. Ill., No. 8, pp. 104-135):

| Ratio of

No. of fopdie
Species of bird. MOOS Ij
amined. | posed of
| Tipnlidee.
RODIN eee sees Eforthe, tis eka! cS taha Nes 114 | 01
Catbind {22-3528 Aebite acre secpees ee 70 | .05
Wiood Whhrush) 2casctesse-ecese oc. sates 22 | aly
Alice Dhmushics-te- estes es eee eee 11 . 08
Swalnson hrs hesacec eees sees 11 . 04

* Since the above was written letters have been received from Mr. Wise stating
that the corn in the field infested by the larvie of this species did not yield half a
crop. The plants were thrifty until in Angust, when they suddenly ceased to grow,
with the result stated. Roots sent me show unmistakable signs of attaeks by in-
sects, such attacks not being made until after the plants had become well rooted,
after which a vast number of small roots had been thrown out to replace the larger
ones destroyed. While, therefore, it is as yet too much to say that Tipula costalis is
a corn-destroying insect, there seems a prospect that future study may prove it to be
such.—F. M. W.

roa ee

ieee aoe a

i», dd te ay bel, hy em eee

REPORT UPON THE GYPSY MOTH IN MASSACHUSETTS.

By SAMUEL HENSHAW, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

CAMBRIDGE, MAss., December 7, 1891.
Sir: I herewith submit my report upon the Gypsy Moth (Ocneria dispar) in Massa-
chusetts, undertaken in accordance with your instructions,
Yours truly,
Sam’L HENSHAW.
Prot. C:, V,. Rinwy;
U.S. Entomologist.

This insect, a native of Europe, is mentioned in the American Ento-
mologist for February, 1870 (Vol. 11, p. 771), as accidentally introduced
into New England (Cf. also Kiley’s Second Missouri Report, 1870, p.10).
Though noted at that time as “spreading with great rapidity” it was
not until November, 1889, when Prof. C. H. Fernald, of the Hatch
(Massachusetts) Experiment Station, issued a special bulletin, entitled
“ A dangerous insect pest in Medford,” that the species attracted gen-
eral attention.

Prof. Fernald’s bulletin, aided by notices in the daily press, led to the
mention of the insect by Governor Brackett in his message to the State
legislature in January, 1890; he said: “A new enemy is at present
threatening the agriculture, not only of our State but of the whole
country. I refer to the Gypsy Moth (Ocneria dispar), a European in-
sect which has recently appeared in the State. They are said to attack
almost every variety of tree as well as the farm and garden crops.
They are now confined to a very small area in Middlesex County, but
have become acclimated and are spreading with great rapidity. If
their eradication is to be attempted, immediate measures are of the
utmost importance.”

A hearing was given by the Committee on Agriculture and an act
was passed by the legislature authorizing the appointment by the
Governor of a Gypsy Moth Commission to consist of not more than
three members.

76

The following is the act:
(Cuar. 95.]
AN ACT to provide against depredations by the insect known as the Ocneria dispar or Gypsy Moth.

Be it enacted, ete., as follows:

SEecTION 1. The Governor, by and with the consent of the Council, is hereby author-
ized to appoint a commission, of not exceeding three suitable and discreet persons,
whose duty it shall be to provide and carry into execution all possible and reason-
able measures to prevent the spreading and to secure the extermination of the Oc-
neria dispar, or Gypsy Moth, in this Commonwealth; and to this end said Commission
shall have full authority to provide itself with all necessary material and appliances
and to employ such competent persons as it shall deem needful; and shall also have
the right in the execution of the purposes of this act to enter upon the lands of any
person.

Sec. 2. The owner of any land so entered upon, who shall suffer damage by such
entry and acts done thereon by said Commission, or under its direction, may recover
the same of the city or town in which the lands so claimed to have been damaged
are situate by action of contract; but any benefits received by such entry and the
acts done on such lands in the execution of the purposes of this act shall be deter-
mined by the court or jury before whom such action is heard, and the amount thereof
shall be applied in reduction of said damages; and the Commonwealth shall refund
to said city or town one half of the amount of the damages recovered.

Suc. 3. Said Commission shall have full authority to make from time to time such
rules and regulations in furtherance of the purposes of this act as it shall deem need-
ful; which rules and regulation shall be published in one or more newspapers pub-
lished in the county of Suffolk, and copies of such rules and regulations shall be
posted in at least three public places in each city or town in which said Ocneria
dispar or Gypsy Moth shall be found by such Commission to exist, and a copy thereof

shall be filed with the city or town clerk of each city or town. Any person who

shall knowingly violate any of the provisions thereof shall be punished for each vio-"
lation by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

Src. 4. Said Commission shall keep a record of its transactions and a full account
of all its expenditures, in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the Goy-
ernor and Council, and shall also make return thereof to the Governor and Council
at such time or times and in such form as shall be directed by the Governor and Coun-
cil. The expenses incurred under this act shall be paid by the Commonwealth, except
claims for damages by the entry upon the lands of any person and acts done thereon
by said Commission or by its direction, which shall be paid as provided in section
two of this act.

Src. 5. The Governor and Council shall establish the rate of compensation of the
Commissioners appointed under this act, and the Governor may terminate their com-
missions at his pleasure.

Sec. 6. Any person who shall purposely resist or obstruct said Commissioners or
any person or persons under their employ while engaged in the execution of the pur-
poses of this act, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for
each offense.

Sec. 7. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly bring the insect known
as the Ocneria dispar or Gypsy Moth, or its nests or eggs, within this Commonwealth;
or for any person knowingly to transport said insect or its nests or eggs from any
town or city to another town or city within this Commonwealth, except while en-
gaged in and for the purposes of destroying them. Any person who shall offend
against the provisions of this section of this act shall be punished by a fine not ex-
ceeding two hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the house of correction not
exceeding sixty days, or by both said fine and imprisonment.

Sec. 8. To carry out the provisions of this act a sum not exceeding twenty-five
thousand dollars may be expended.

Suc. 9. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

ee ee

77

This act was approved March 14,1890, and the Governor named W. W.
Rawson, of Arlington; Pearl Martin, of Medford, and J. H. Bradley, of
Malden, as the Commissioners; they organized March 22, 1890. The
appropriations for the work were authorized in the following act and
resolve, approved April 2, 1890, and June 3, 1890:

[ CHap. 157.]

AN ACT making an appropriation for the extermination of the insect known as the Ocneria dispar or
Gypsy Moth.

Sec. 1. A sum not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars is hereby appropriated
to be paid out of the treasury of the Commonwealth from the ordinary revenue, for
the purpose of meeting expenses authorized by chapter ninety-five of the acts of the
present year providing against depredations by the insect known as the Ocneria dispar
or Gypsy Moth.

Src. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

[CHAP. 66. ]
RESOLVE relative to the insect known as the Ocneria dispar or Gypsy Moth.

Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the treasury of the Commonwealth
asum not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars, in addition to the twenty-five
thousand dollars authorized by chapter ninety-five of the acts of the present year,
for the purpose of continuing the work of the Commission appointed under said act
in preventing the spreading and securing the extermination of the Ocneria dispar or
Gypsy Moth in the Commonwealth.

Of this sum of $50,000 only $25,514.31 was expended during the work
of the season.

Naturally the first work of the Commission was to determine the
limits of the infested region. The only data at hand stated that the
Ocneria was confined to an area in the form of an ellipse about a mile
and a half long by half a mile wide situated in Medford. It was at
onee discovered that the Ocneria was abundant in many other localities.
By the end of May, 1890, the infested region was stated to cover a dis-
trict 4 miles wide and 16 miles long.

At the end of their term of service (February 25, 1891), the Commis-
sioners stated that the infested territory was confined to Everett, Mal-
den, Medford, the westerly parts of Chelsea, the northwesterly of
Arlington, the easterly edge of Winchester, and a few scattered locali-
ties in Somerville, in all an area of about 50 square miles. The district
being determined, an inspection of trees, shrubs, fences, etc., followed,
all infested being marked with a piece of red flannel. Attention was
first given to the masses of eggs and their destruction was pressed
energetically until the first days of May, when spraying began. Lighted
kerosene torches were used to destroy the egg masses. They were
applied to the eggs in the positions in which they were found.

Many acres of brush land were burned over. The work of spraying
began May 12 and was practically finished July 23. Mr. C. A. Longley
was in charge of the work and the insecticide used was Paris green,
one pound in 150 gallons of water. During the season about 2 tons
of Paris green were used and 70,000 trees sprayed. The spraying equip-
ment consisted of a cask mounted upon a wagon, a force pump with
stirrer, 100 to 200 feet of hose and nozzles. Four men accompanied each

78

team. A means taken to prevent the spread of the Ocneria was the
employment of officers with authority to stop and examine every team,
carriage, horse car, or person passing outside the limits of Malden and
Medford and to examine the same. Though the utility of this work
was doubted from the first it was continued until most of the larvee
had transformed into pup. In the fall months the Commission also
did some work destroying the egg masses.

On February 25, 1891, Governor Russell, acting under authority of

Section 5, Chapter 95, acts of 1890, sent a message to the Legislature
and to the Executive Council removing the Commissioners for cause and
placing the work in charge of Messrs. W. R. Sessions, N. S. Shaler,
and F. H. Appleton. All the new appointees are connected with the
State Board of Agriculture and serve gratuitously. See INSECT LIFE,
Vol. Il, pp. 472-474 for the act passed by the general court in 1891

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and for the rules and regulations of the Committee. Early in March
the Committee placed the field work in charge of Mr. E. H. Forbush,
to whose tireless energy most of the good results are due.

Starting with the information as to the limits of the infested region
given by the Commission of 1890 it was soon discovered that the Ocneria

was abundant in many places in addition to those reported. It can
now be stated to occur in Marblehead, Salem, Swampscott, Lynn,
Lynnfield, Reading, Wakefield, Saugus, Rey ere, Chelsea, Charlestown,
Cambridge, Somer valle, Watertown, Waltham, Belmont, Arlington-
Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, Stoneham, Melrose, Mal,
den, Everett, and Medford. There is a great difference in the abun-
dance of the Ocneria in the various localities, and the bulk of the dam-
age has been confined to Everett, Malden, Medford, and Axlington,

—T Ts CU Ue

79

The main lines of work this year have not been different from those
adopted the preceding year, though in some details there have been
changes. The greatest attention has been paid to the destruction of
the eggs. It was thought that the method of burning the eggs in situ
adopted last year was injurious to the trees and that many of the eggs
were not only not destroyed but scattered about. Consequently such
as were in exposed situations on trees, fences, etc., were cut out and
burned.

The danger of scattering the eggs by this method would not seem to
be very much less than by burning them in place.

For egg masses that could not be collected and destroyed another
method has been employed. This is called blazing, and is applied
chiefly to stone walls, trunks of old trees, heaps of stone, ete.

The apparatus used consists of a cyclone nozzle attached to a pole, a
brass rod passes through the pole, a line of hose connects the pole with
a tank, from which crude oil is pumped. A blaze thus started, a run-
ning fire is secured, and it soon penetrates all the cracks and crevices.
This seems a useful and effective way of destroying many eggs not
readily reached by any ordinary method. The committee and their
superintendent place their greatest hope of the extermination of the
Ocneria upon the destruction of the eggs; to an impartial observer,
however, the probability of the detection of every mass of eggs scattered
over an area of 50 square miles seems very small, especially when it is
remembered that they are placed in almost every conceivable situation
upon the trunks, branches, and even the leaves of trees and shrubs,
upon fences, the sides of houses, under stone walls, piazzas, board walks,
ete. So far as my observations go the search for the eggs has been
carefully done, though I have found masses of the eggs after the inspec-
tion of the locality had been completed. Many similar cases have been
reported; they should be considered as a criticism of the method rather
than an indication that proper care had not been exercised, for as Prof.
Fernald says, “it is not at all probable that one will find all the egg
masses even with the most careful searching on the trees in a small
orchard.”

Owing to a lack of time or insufficient force some of the most badly
infested districts were not inspected during the spring search.

Early in May the committee turned their attention to destroying the
larve by spraying with Paris green. After the visit of the United
States Entomologist, about the middle of June, a nozzle that would
throw a mist spray was obtained, an ordinary garden nozzle having
been used up to that time. A tendency to cover too much ground in a
given time was noticed, and also much unevenness in the effectiveness
of the spraying. It is quite possible, however, that this unevenness
due to inexperience was inevitable under the circumstances.

Though this indiscriminate spraying undoubtedly did much good in
lessening the ravages of the cankerworms, Orgyia, etc., it certainly in-

80

creased an already existing strong feeling against the use of Paris
green, and many land-owners did all in their power to annul or neutral-
ize the work of the committee.

To prevent the larvee ascending the trees two methods were used ;
the one consisting of a band of printer’s ink and the other of strips of
bagging. While the larve were unable to cross the band of ink, its
composition was such that it required renewal every few days, and its
application left each tree with an ugly girdle and possibly did injury to
the trees. Insect lime would have been a desirable substitute. The
strips of bagging served as a hiding place for any wandering larve,
which were collected and destroyed.

The work of inspecting vehicles passing out of the district was dis-
continued after a trial of about two months; information as to the chief
direction of travel from the infested district seems to have been the
only result of this work.

Considerable work was done in trimming trees, clearing away and
burning rubbish, and in cementing holes in trees, fences, etc. The hab-
its and natural history of the Ocneria as observed here differs some-
what from the same in Europe.

I have no evidence that it is double brooded. The winter is passed
in the egg state. There is much irregularity in the hatching of larve,
they were first observed on April 15,in 1890, and on the 20th of the same
month in 1891; they were abundant May 20. In 1891 larvee hatched
as late as June 17 and by the 10th of July young larve, fully grown
larvee and all intermediate stages, pupze and imagos were found. The
young larve on hatching seatter, feed chiefly during the night, resting
during theday upon the leaves, branches, etc. The tendency to wander
increases with growth. In confinement they cluster together, eat more
continuously and strip the twigs in a more methodical manner than ob-
served in those feeding at large. Pup were abundant July 10; this
stage usually lasts from twelve to twenty days though several have
given imagos after eight and nine days.

The males fly readily but the females are excessively sluggish; even
when blown by the wind they have a marvellous faculty of getting to
the ground or to the sheltered side of a tree or fence. The greatest
distance I have seen one fly was a little short of 6 feet. The moths are
not readily attracted by light.

As is well known the Ocneria is a most general feeder. Ihave found
it on Linden (Tilia), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus), Maple (Acer), Pear,
Cherry, Plum (Prunus), Rose (Rosa), Apple (Pyrus), Ash (Fraxrinus),
Elm (Ulmus), Hickory (Carya), Birch (Betula), Alder (Alnus), Oak
(Quercus), Beech (Fagus), Willow (Salix), and Poplar (Populus). It has
also eaten, in confinement, Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsis), Dogwood
(Cornus), and Fringe-tree (Chionanthus). It refused Grape ( Vitis).
Other records include Quince, Apricot, Pomegranate, Hornbeam, Hazel-
nut, Lime, Norway Spruce, Larch, Fir, Azalea, Myrtle, Corn, Wisteria,

81

Cabbage, Chestnut, Arbor Vite, Yew, Hex, Pine, Mespilus, Peach,
Millet, Plane-tree, Hawthorn, Mulberry, and Strawberry.

An interesting point in connection with their ability to feed on so
great a variety of piants is the facility with which they can be changed
from one food-plant to another. I have fed a number of lary all from
a single mass of eggs, the food-plant of every one of which was differ-
ent, and with others have changed the food-plant every day during
their entire larval history. The larve of Ocneria are frequently found
with the eggs of a Tachinid attached to them. Generally there is but a
single egg, though sometimes two, three and four have been observed;
they are usually on or near the head. In most of the cases that came
under my observations the Ocneria moulted before the eggs of the
Tachinid hatched. Two of the Tachinids which pupated August 19,
gave imagos September 2. Another fact which must lessen the value
of this Tachinid as a destroyer of the Ocneria is a habit the larve
have of rubbing the head against some hard substance. This was
observed several times, and in some cases the eggs though not detached
were injured. Although [can not state that Pimpla pedalis is parasitic
upon the Ocneria it has been very abundant in the infested region this
year, and I think it very probable that it will be found among the para-
ites of the Ocneria.

Doubtless many birds will be found feeding upon the Ocneria. At
this time there are but two species, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and the
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus and C.erythrophthalmus), that
Tean name as aiding quite materially in the destruction of the larve.
Among invertebrates the following can be named: Cicindela 6-quttata,
Camponotus herculaneus, Sinea diadema, an undetermined Syrphus, and
Chrysopa, Lithobius forficatus; also the following spiders: Hpeira stria,
Steatoda borealis, Lycosa sp., Drassus sp., Agalena nevia, Phidippus gal-
athea (mystaceus), Epiblemum scenicum, Marptusa familiaris, and Tho-
MiLUS SP.

While the original creation of the Commission and the subsequent
transfer of the work to the State Board of Agriculture were warranted
by the nature of the emergency, it was undoubtedly a mistake to appoint
men to look after such important work—work demanding, in the words
of the appointing power, ‘prompt, judicious, and energetic action”—who
were already more than occupied with other work. The fact that they
were appointed with the distinct understanding that their services
should be given gratuitously, while not equivalent to saying that their
services would be slight, does indicate that they would be secondary
to more important affairs.

And while it is only just to the present committee to state that they
have devoted more time to their work than could have been asked or
expected, it is interesting to note that one of them is now in favor of
at least a per diem compensation, and recently so testified before a leg-
islative committee. ;

21382—No. 26—_6

82

The destruction of the Oecneria being primarily an entomological
question, the need of an entomologist acting in constant concert with
the committee would seem to be undisputed. That there was no such
person employed is proved by the fact that the Committee allowed the
most important month for spraying to pass without procuring the most
improved apparatus.

The attention drawn to this insect should lead to the passage of a
general law against insect and fungus pests. A State officer acting
under the direction of the State Board of Agriculture could recommend
to farmers and others the means to be used against noxious insects and
fungi, and the law should be so framed that penalties could be imposed
upon owners who took no precautions after due notice had been given.
Some such legislation would soon bring the orchards and shade trees
of Massachusetts into a more creditable condition, and the introduction
of the Ocneria could be looked upon as a benefit rather than an
injury.

REPORT OF APICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS IN 1891,

By A. J. Cook.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, MicH., November 15, 1891.

Sir: I beg leave to submit the following report of experiments in apiculture for
the season of 1891. It will be noticed that in this report the plural pronoun has
been used, and this is eminently proper, as Mr. John H. Larrabee has not only had
charge of the work directly, but has aided very much by offering many excellent
suggestions.

Respectfully, yours,
A. J. Cook.

The past season has been very unfavorable for apicultural experi-
ments, not only in Michigan, but throughout the entire country. The
secretion of nectar from clover, and indeed from nearly all other honey
plants, was very meager indeed. In Michigan the season has been
peculiar for drought and cold. The exceptionally cool temperature has
been very general throughout the country, while in many sections there
has been an excess of rainfall. As the honey production has been very
light in nearly all sections, it would seem that the low temperature
might be the chief cause of the light honey crop for this season.

.

SPECIAL PLANTING FOR HONEY.

The experiments of this season have been a continuation of those of
the past three years. The aim has been to determine whether it would
be profitable or not to plant solely with the view of increasing the acre-
age of honey plants, and so the production of honey.

As the expense of planting, use of land, and danger of failure to
secure a crop are considered, we easily see that we can not hope for
a profitable return unless the plants have value besides for honey, are
sure to give us honey despite the season, to grow when planted even
though drought confronts us, to grow and thrive with but little care
after planting, and to hold their own against insects, drought, and all
discouragements,

83

84

THE CHAPMAN HONEY-PLANT.

As this plant has been very highly extolled, was lauded by a special
committee selected to examine it, and has been widely distributed by
Government, it was considered a desirable plant with which to experi-
ment.

Quite a large area was planted to this Hehinops spherocephalus on two
successive years. The soil was clay loam. The ground was fitted as
well as for corn, the seeds sown in drills, and cultivated the first season.
The plants came well and grew remarkably well. They never blossom
until the second season, so there are no returns the first year. This is
the first serious objection to them as honey plants. The second summer
the plants blossomed full. They were very vigorous and the blossoms
very numerous. The bees seemed to visit the flowers very freely. Mr,
Th. W. Cowan, a celebrated apiarist of England, said to me some
years since regarding this plant: “The bees hang around it persistently,
but I could never see that the gain in honey in the hive was ever per-
ceptible.” I found the same true here. Actual weighing showed very
little gain, nor was our honey crop superior to that of our neighbors
with no Echinops within range of their bees. The plants blossom from
July 20 to August 20, at a good time and for a long season, if they were
of any value.

In the winter we cleaned the seed. Although previously warned,
and consequently protected by veils and gloves, the barbed awns sought
out our eyes and skin everywhere. The pain caused was intense. AT
who aided in cleaning the seed were in agony for several days. Even
this alone would or should preclude this plant from general use. To
my disappointment, these plants seemed to exhaust themselves this first
season. The next year there were almost no blossoms, but new plants
came up very thickly from seeds scattered the previous autumn. This
failure of the plants to afford blossoms the third season from planting
I know is not always true, as I have had blossoms for four years from
plants on sand. It is probable that when the plants are very luxuri-
ant and are allowed to seed we can only count on a single crop of blos-
soms. This season, the fourth from planting, we had a rather feeble
growth of plants. The grass and weeds fought with the Echinops for
the land and succeeded in so far that we secured a very meager quantity
of bloom, and apparently no valuable results in our honey crop. Thus
the failure to blossom the first year, the failure to secrete any large
amount of nectar, the failure in many cases to bloom the third year,
and the inability to compete with grass and other weeds without expen-
sive aid, makes it certain that if amy plants will pay for honey alone
this is not one of them.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEE PLANT.

This plant (Cleome integrifolia) has again been tried for the third year.
That it is a very superior honey plant and blossoms at just the right

ei . se ‘ -Siehiin™ WALA, ee a a ’ ee ee ed ‘ vagy

85

time, all through July and August, is certainly true; but it is not a
very pushing plant, and the seeds will not germinate unless exposed to
the weather for months. Thus it is necessary to plant in August or
September of the previous year if we expect a fair stand of this plant.
When this is done, unless the land is very free from grass and weed
seed, the latter will get the start, and our Cleome will be choked out.
Thus I think we have proved that Cleome is only suitable for planting
in waste places, when from its beauty and excellence as a honey plant
it rivals even the Sweet Clover.

There seems little doubt but that we should secure much honey from
this plant were we to take the necessary pains to secure a full stand of
acres of vigorous plants. But this can be done only at large expense,
too large to ever pay in actual practice.

RAPE.

Knowing from the study of small plats, that have been grown here
for years, that the Rape (Brassica campestris var. colza) and the mus-
tards seemed especially attractive to the bees, and knowing that the
former was regarded very highly by many farmers for pasture, especially
for sheep, it was thought advisable this season to sow several acres of
ground to this plant. Part of the land was light sand and another part
clay loam. As the plant blooms in about four weeks from seeding, we
sowed it the middle of June.

We are likely to have a severe drought at this time, and this year was
no exception. The seed failed to germinate well, especially on the sand.
By the middle of July both fields were in full bloom, yet the bees did
not swarm on the flowers, as we had hoped they would, nor did the
honey product seem affected by the near presence of the rape. I am
not sure that we gained any special advantage from it. If we did it
was not perceptible. The weather for nearly all the time was very cool.

I do not believe it will ever pay to sow rape specially for honey. If
it is sown for pasture, as recommended in England and Ontario, there
will be but little bloom, and so, even in favorable years, the beekeeper
would receive but small advantage. If grown for seed there would be
a profusion of bloom, and in favorable seasons the honey product would
be without doubt greatly augmented.

It is certainly wise for the apiarist to encourage and even urge the
planting in his neighborhood of any and every useful honey plant, as
Rape, Alsike, Clover, and Buckwheat. Often from unfavorable weather
they will not afford nectar, still they may bridge the whole distance
between failure and success.

SWEET CLOVER.

Bee-keepers have long known that Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba),
though often failing to secrete nectar, is still one of our first honey
plants. It not only yields in favorable seasons very abundantly, but

86

the honey from it is very white and excellent. This plant is known as
Melilot, Sweet Clover, White Melilotus, and Bokhara Clover. While one
or two authorities, Prof. Thorne, of Ohio, and Prof. Tracey, of Missis-
sippi, have stated that it possesses value as a forage plant, the con-
sensus of opinion throughout the country is that this luxuriant plant
possesses little value to feed either green or as hay. It has been sown
in many parts of the country by beekeepers and others in waste places
and along roadsides, and in such locations has frequently added deci-
dedly to the honey product. It is a beautiful plant, with a sweet per-
fume, and may well replace Ragweed, Mayweed, Smartweed, etc., along
our highways.

We sowed several acres of this plant this spring, six on sand and three
on clay. The drought came on and the yeung plants upaen the sand
withered and died. On the clay the catch was only partially successful,
but the plants have stooled and we think will produce a fairly good crop
of bloom. It is our purpose to see if it may not be a valuable silage
plant. Itsurely produces abundantly. Ifit will be appetizing as silage
so as to possess value to the farmer them from its double value as a
silage plant and a most excellent honey plant it may well be grown by
the bee-keeping farmer and may be urged conscientiously by the apiarist
upon his neighbor farmer. This plant, like nearly all the clovers, is a
biennial, and so we must wait till next year to complete our experi-
ment, when we hope to prove that Melilotus is valuable for silage.

Our conclusions thus far are that special planting for honey will
never pay. Unless we can find a plant that will always secrete nectar,
and, as seasons of honey failure occur in all countries, we conclude that
none such exist, and we certainly can not afford the expense and labor.

We think our experiments warrant this conclusion. That it may
and often has paid well to scatter seeds of Sweet Clover in waste places
there is no possible doubt. Along the roadside this plant may well
replace such utterly worthless and ugly plants as Ragweed—species of
Ambrosia, and Mayweed—Maruta cotula. The first year’s growth and
the second till after bloom are very handsome. After bloom the dry
ugly stock may be cut, when the undergrowth from the seeds of the
present year will make a pleasing border to the road. Cleome may also
be planted in all waste places. This has been done with excellent re-
sults in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is a very handsome plant, and
like Sweet Clover is easily subdued if not wanted. In case this is de-
sired the seeds should be planted early, as early as August or Septem-
ber, else they will not germinate well the following season.

BEES AS FERTILIZERS.

Spraying fruit trees in early spring to prevent the ravages of various
insects is becoming very common. Spraying trees while in bloom is
very likely to poison the nectar and destroy the Honey Bee. This has
been done in several cases. Not only have the mature bees been poi-

.. a i Eee. . eo *

87

soned, but the brood has also been destroyed. The fact that doubt has
been expressed in reference to such poisoning, and the fact that even
legislators have expressed disbelief in the value of bees to horticultur-
ists, led to the following experiments:

Bees in cages were given foliage sprayed with sweetened water, and
in other precisely similar cages the same sweetened water in which
London purple had been mixed in the proportion of 1 pound to 200 gal-
lons of water. The bees in the first cages were in no way affected,
while the others were all dead in thirty-six hours, and in many cases
in twenty-four hours. :

Thus we have positive proof, both in the field and from laboratory
experiment, that bees are very susceptible to the poisonous effects of
the arsenites, and that to spray fruit trees while in bloom always en-
dangers the lives of all bees that visit the flowers. In the other ex-
periments we desired to learn how important bees were in the work of
fertilization and cross-fertilization of plants. Trees examined in May
while in bloom showed twenty bees to one of other kinds of insects.
On a rather cold day, such as are likely to occur in time of fruit bloom,
hundreds of Honey Bees were found at work on the apple bloom, while
almost no other insects were to be seen.

In the following experiment the same number of blossoms were
counted on each of two adjacent branches on various trees, shrubs,
and plants. In each case one lot was marked by a tag giving the date
of the experiment, while the other was surrounded by cheese cloth
just before the blossoms opened, thus precluding the visits of all insects
from this lot, except such very small ones as Thrips, Jassids, ete., which
were so small that they would escape notice. After the blossoms with-
ered the covers were removed, and two weeks later examination was
made to note the results. The following table gives the results of the
this experiment:

| Fruit
| z Date | Number Date siehe “+
Variety. i areee V-| unecov- of blos- exam- a pea Remarks.
3 ered. soms. ined. ? Sai
Apples os--s=-} May 4] May 25 40 | June 11 0 15
WO re aa aemen= May 4] May 19 75 | June 11 0 3
Crab Apple .-.-| May 4] May 19 200 | June 11 0 3 | Affected by the frost.
DPlO=sa-s<=-=- May 4] May 19 160 | June 11 2 | 9 |
IPEgi ice aeeee ses May 4] May 19 140 | June 11 0 7
(Oinrapeeeacaces May 4] May 19 300 | June 11 9 119
Strawberries ...| May 18 | June 16 60 | June 22 9 27
IDM sensesioee | May 18 | June 16 212 | June 22 80 104
IUD sesetocce May 18] June 16 123 | June 22 20 36
Raspberries --..| May 26 | July 6] 2canes..| July 6 }-.-.....-.|.--...-. As many perfect berries as
y S yi % ;
on canes not covered.
1D) anceecose May 30] July 6 184 | July 6 93 160
ID anes eee | May 30| July 6/1cane...| July 6 |........|.....-.. No difference by count or
appearance of fruit.
Red Clover..-.. | June 12 | July 30 | 10heads.| July 30 0 191
White Clover .-| June 5 | July 30 | 10heads-| July 30 0 541

In the case of the strawberries boxes covered with cheesecloth were
set over the plants. As these stood on the ground, of course insects may

88

have come up from the earth. Thus a few insects may have gained ac-
cess to the flowers, as we note that the plants were covered for about
a month.

We see that in every case the fruit was greatly lessened, if we except
the two cases of raspberries. In several cases, notably those of the
clovers, no fruit or seeds were secured in the covered specimens. The
strawberries seem less affected than any other of the plants, except the
two cases of the raspberries. This may be owing, as suggested above,
to the presence of insects that could come up from the earth beneath
the plants. Perhaps strawberries, when the blossoms contain both sta-
mens and pistils, are less dependent on insects than many other fruits.
The two cases of raspberries are curious. We can not explain then.
The fact is very apparent that fruit-growers are nearly or quite as much
interested in the presence of bees as are the bee-keepers. Pomologists
then may well join hands with the apiarists in demanding and securing
a law making it a grave misdemeanor to spray fruit trees while they
are in bloom.

EXPERIMENTS IN BREEDING.

That bees, like all other organisms, are greatly subject to variation is
known to every bee-keeper. That they can be greatly improved by
careful selection is equally well understood by ali observant queen-
breeders. The mating habits of bees are such as to make experimenta-
tion in breeding difficult, but the obstacles are not unsurmountable.
We are working to overcome them and to develop a superior strain of
bees by judicious crossing and selection. This is slow work, and we
can hope for decided results only after a long period.

Our stock is from Syrian and Carniolan, and, as the former predomi-
nates, we have this season bred very largely from Carniolan. Several
of the most prolific queens are selected, and it is our purpose to use the
ones from these that winter the best the coming winter for breeding
next season. We shall try to test the Punie bees and, if they show
superiority, introduce some of this blood.

Besides the above, several other experiments of a miscellaneous char-
acter have been conducted which are of more or less interest.

CONSUMPTION OF HONEY IN THE SECRETION OF WAX.

This experiment was performed that we might determine how much
honey it requires to enable the bees to secrete 1 pound of wax. Three
colonies were taken, which we will designate as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3,
the bees of which weighed 64, 84, and 54 pounds, respectively. No. 1
was given a virgin queen and no comb or honey. No. 2 was given a
virgin queen and empty combs. No.3 was given a laying queen and
empty combs. A vigorous colony on scales during the experiment
gained 44 pounds. The bees did not fly from these hives as vigorously
as from hives not in the experiment. The feeding doubtless had some-

i i i a eS 5

—_——— ee

89

thing to do with this. No. 5 seemed to gather more honey and to be in
a more normal condition than Nos. 1 and 2. No.3 had a full frame of
brood nearly ready to seal at the expiration of the experiment. August
15, 28 per cent of the bees in No. 1 had wax scales, while none of No.
2 that were examined had wax scales. The experiment commenced
August 11. The bees of each colony were fed 21 pounds of honey.
The experiment lasted ten days.

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.

Pounds.| Pounds.| Pounds.
ieINO MU CESCA MOTI yan mera. taro: cmc ntact saa aan aes Sean sete 64 | 84 5t
Total weight August 11,7 p. m 35 43 403
Total weight August 22,7 a.m 46 62 614
SrchueiTeaC ORO tit AT TCOM CAV S mp2 ato cycle ow mma a fm ween iolo) a Sees whim sei a 11 19 203
SRO UMPAMOMM OL TEC: SUMED amen ee ole were ee cismisetns oe calsania(ee nics sieaate © = 21 21 21
Weirhtiot honey extracted August 22... -...- 2.2.0.3 22.52252-05-5-5- 9 164 18
ILGRE SR WUE EG | e585 She soap ee ba teaGess Sa s6 acco SdeEs soduseseacoessas| 12 43 3
Sai MIWeLGhTiM TENUGa YS. s-7/.6\2 alas sta aaa. cio toe yy -aeie soles © 11 19 203
REESE ETOLOU DYING a enone Sie SNe ae readies ye aap eam eee DS ess seeeael -teecmemce
Moen eMmyCOMm UsrsineN) soe an Re Gases eae tae eS aut. edhe s abet ers + 14 t4
UD ialMmelo ht Remo cdran ClOSC\ya—. <b ske emcee nasacne -baeesssce tense 104 18 22
APPArenbienciency Cueto SCHIeS: 22.425 5-22 sn's Jase ace sie see eeeee 2 Tey 14
CMU WELO Nb. OF INO. 2/OVER NOo Us na. cS 2 ajme nm nemictinin = on eel SoundsSeslaaseesa-o- [este walactacs ee eters

* Ounces. +t Weight of young brood aud pollen.

114 :8—16 : x, or about 11 pounds honey to 1 pound of wax.

This experiment gives 11 pounds of honey as the amount necessary
to secrete 1 pound of wax. Huber decided, as the result of careful ex-
perimentation, upon 20 pounds as the amount, while Viallon and Hasty
concluded that the amount was less even than we have found in the
above. Of course, in such experiments there will be errors, as from the
conditions the colony is not kept in an absolutely normal condition.
No brood-rearing should be allowed, and so virgin queens were given to
colonies. Whether the bees work with less vigor physically or physio-
logically when a laying queen is replaced by a virgin, I can not say.

We thought over the experiment a long time and concluded on the
above as the nearest approach to the normal of any plan we could de-
cide upon.

The results from colony No. 3, which was normal, show that the error
was not great. A repetition will add correctness to the experiment.
We shall hope to repeat it another year. We believe the results are
not very wide of the truth in actually normal conditions.

DO WORKER BEES FEED THE DRONES?

Several times in the past we have tried experiments to determine
whether the worker bees fed the drones, as they do the queen and
larvee, the albuminous portion of their food. We know that drones are
great honey-consumers. It is reasonable to suppose that they are
equally great consumers of the albuminous food or bee bread. There
is little or no doubt that the upper head glands of the younger worker
bees secrete the liquid that digests the pollen. These glands are
large and turgid in the young or nurse bees, shrunken and inactive in

90

old worker bees, and absent in the drones and queens. From analogy,
then, we would reason that the queen, drones, and older workers—
the bees that do the outside work—as well as the larvee, are fed the
digested pollen, which is rich nitrogenous food. If this is true, and
there can be no longer any doubt, then we have double reasons to re-
duce the number of drones in the apiary, to save honey and pollen and
also the energy of the nurse bees.

To prove this point we repeated the previous experiments of caging
drones in the hive behind asingle wire gauze, a double wire gauze, the
space between being more than 0.26 of an inch, which is the maximum
length of the worker’s tongue, and a perforated zine cage. Honey was

‘placed in each cage in such a manner as not to daub any bees. In the
first kind of cage the bees could reach the drones through the single
gauze, though at some inconvenience, so as to feed them the digested
food. In the second cages this would be impossible and the drones
could only get honey for food. In the third cages the drones were con-
fined, but could be and were freely visited by the worker bees, as the
workers could pass freely through the zinc, which the drones could not
do. In the single wire-cloth cages the drones appeared somewhat neg-
lected after several days. ‘They lived from four to seven days, while in
the cages with double wire cloth none lived over three days, and they
generally died inside of forty-eight hours. Those confined in cages cov-
ered with perforated zine lived for over two weeks and would probably
have lived much longer.

These experiments agree very closely with those previously tried.

THE CONDUCTIVITY OF WAX.

It is acommon practice among bee-keepers to confine the bees in
winter to a portion of the hive, thus to economize heat and the better to
preserve the health and vigor of the bees. Some experiments by Prof.
Gaston Bonnier, of Paris, France, seem to show that the combs are as
good a protection as is a division board, especially if fastened to close-
fitting frames, or, as in nature, to the side of the hive. To test this
matter we used a common division board, a close-fitting empty comb,
and a close-fitting comb full of honey These were used successively
to confine the bees to one part of the hive and leave a vacant space on
the other side. A thermometer was suspended in this empty space
and the temperature observed several times daily, and estimates
made with reference to the outside temperature. The averages showed
no difference with respect to the division board and the empty comb,
but did show a slight difference in favor of the comb full of honey.
We then used an empty hive, dividing it into three compartments by
means of a division board of wood and of empty comb, and again by the
use of the wooden board and a full comb of honey, the combs being made
equally tight-fitting with the wooden division board. A small lamp
was placed in the middle apartment and thermometers in the other

oi

two. The hive was placed in the cellar where the thermometer marked
a temperature of 58° F, The temperature in the compartment of the
hive with the lamp was 110°F. As between the board and empty
comb there was no difference in the temperature in the outer compart-
ments, while with the comb of honey the temperature was 44 degrees
cooler beyond the division, showing this to be a poorer conductor of
heat and a better protection for the bees than either the board or empty
comb.

Thus we see that for winter protection special division boards are
unnecessary if we but use close-fitting frames of comb or make such
frames close fitting in the winter time. It is also apparent that combs
full of honey are better as nonconductors than are empty combs. Thus
in nature bees are well fortified against the cold of winter, as they are
combs walled in on each side by several full combs, which are fastened to
the side of the receptacle. We also see that close-fitting frames or else
frames with wide or close-fitting top and end bars are better to protect
the bees than are the common Langstroth frames. It is easy to see
from the above why box hives and hives with close-fitting frames, like
the Heddon, are well arranged to secure success in wintering.

CELLAR VS. OUTDOOR WINTERING.

In the more northern latitudes of the United States bees winter bet-
ter as a general thing and consume less honey in the cellar than on
the summer stands, even though packed or kept in chaff hives. The
last winter was an exception. Our bees in chaff hives wintered out of
doors consumed less honey apparently and were certainly in better
condition in the spring than were those wintered in the cellar. If we
could be sure of such mild winters as the last two have been, cellars for
wintering would certainly go out of use. Hence it is to be feared that
many bee-keepers will become confident, forgetting the cold and disas-
trous winters of the past, and soon there may come a return of the
severe cold and the mortality among the bees will be as terribly dis-
astrous as in the worst winters of the past. It is well to prepare for
war in time of peace. The wise bee-keeper will arrange each autumn
for a severe winter. Then he will be safe in any event.

PACKING ABOUT THE HIVES IN SPRING.

We have proved for the past two or three springs prior to that of
1891 that to pack closely about the hives with excelsior or other poor
conductors, confining the same by a large, well-covered case set around
the hive, has paid exceedingly well for the expense of the case and the
labor of adjusting it and the packing. The past spring we could see no
such advantage. The unprotected colonies gained as rapidly and were
as strong in May as were those in the hives that were protected. The
explanation is not far to seek. The last spring was very mild and bees

92

suffered very little in any kind of hive. Usually we have many very
cold bleak days in April and early May; then protection pays exceed-
ingly well. The principle is a good one, “ It pays to protect.” Occa-
sionally we have a spring like that of 1891, when it is unnecessary, but
we should conduct our business for the general, not the exceptional.

Pe <a

INDEX.

Aphenogaster fulva, attacking Pachyrrhina, 74.

Apicultural experiments, report of, 83.

Anasa tristis, attempt to colonize mite on, 43.

thymo-cresol useless against, 44.
Apanteles glomeratus, advent in Missouri, 43.
increase in Iowa, 61.
Aphelinus fuscipennis, parasite of Aspidiotus
convexus, 20.
my tilaspidis, parasite of San José scale, 22.

Aphididx, thymo-cresol against, 44.

Aphis cornicola, notes on, 59.
grain, in Missouri, 37.
maidis, m., 59.
prunifolia, destructiveness in Iowa, 58.
woolly, of apple, in Missouri, 36.

Seymnus larva destroying, 17.
Apple maggot, in Iowa, 62.
Aspidiotus aurantii, food-plants of, 15.

notes on, 14.

citrinus, thymo-cresol against, 35.
convexus, notes on, 20.
nerii, notes on, 20.
perniciosus, notes on, 21.
rapax, notes on, 25.
Beehives, spring packing for, 91.
3ee-plant, Rocky Mountain, expts. with, 84.

Bees, as fertilizers of plants, 86.
cellar vs. outdoor wintering for, 91.
experiments in breeding, 88.
worker, do they feed drones, 89.

Bibio albipennis, wrongly reported injurious, 57.

Black smut, caused by Capnodium citri, 19.

Black seale, fungus attacking, 18.
enemies of, 30.
habits of, 28.
resin wash against, 19.
treatment of, 32.

Black Tartarian cherry, exempt from San José

seale, 22.

Blastobasis iceryeella, feeding on black scale, 30.

Blissus leucopterus, in Missouri, 37.

Boll worm, broods and hibernation, 46.
characters and transformations, 46
distribution and destructiveness, 45.
food-plants, 46.
investigation of, 45.
lights for trapping, 53.
natural enemies, 47.
poisoned sweets against, 52.
ravages mistaken for those of, 48.
remedies against, 48.

Brassica campestris var. colza, asa honey plant, 85.
Brown apricot scale, notes on, 34.
Brown scale, notes on, 26.
Bruner, Lawrence, report: of, 9.
Cabbage butterfly, in Nebraska, 11.
thymo-cresol against, 44.
insects, in Nebraska, 11.
Plusia=Plusia brassice.
-worm disease, 55.
-worm, increase of parasite of, 61.
-worm parasite, advent in Missouri, 43.
Calocoris rapidus, on cotton, 48.
California Lace-wing, feeding on red seale, 17.
Capnodium citri, fungus of orange, etc., 19.
Capsid enemy of Heliothis, 48.
Catocala grynea, an orchard pest, 40.
Chamyris cerintha, on plum, 40.
Chapman honey plant, expts. with, 84.
Chermes sp.?, on post oak, 39.
Chicken louse, thymo-cresol against, 44.
Chilocorus bivulnerus, enemy of scale insects, 30.
enemy of red scale, 15.
Chinch bug in Missouri, 26.
Chionaspis furfurus, thymo-cresol against, 44.
Chrysopa californica, feeding on red scale, 17.
Cleome integrifolia, expts. with, 84.
Clisiocampa disstria, in Minnesota, 40.
Clover hay-worm, in Ohio, 63.
Clover-seed caterpillar in Iowa, 60.
midge, in Iowa, 59.
Clover, sweet, as a honey plant, 85.
Clover Thrips=Phleothrips nigra.
Coccid, post oak, in Missouri, 39.
Coccophagus citrinus, parasite of San José seale, 22.
lecanii, parasitic on scale-insects, 26.
Colaspis pretexta, attempt to colonize mite on, 42.
tristis, attempt to colonize mite on, 42.
Conotrachelus nenuphar, in Missouri, 37.
Convex scale, notes on, 20.
Cook, A.J., apicultural report of, 83.
Coquillett, D. W., report by, 13.
Corn, boll worm work on, 49.
Corn-root worm, in Nebraska, 9.
Cottony-cushion scale, see Fluted scale.
Cottony maple scale, in St. Louis, 39.
Cow-pea, as trap for boll worm, 52.
Crane-flies, bird enemics of, 74.
report on, 65.
Cucumber-beetle, striped, its Uropoda parasite, 42
twelve-spotted, thymo-cresol useless against,

44
93

94

Cutworms, in Missouri in 1891, 38.
Cutworms, on sugar beet, 11.
Diabrotica longicornis, in Nebraska, 9.
on sugar beet, 11.
vittata, attempt to colonize Uropoda upon, 42.
on sugar beet, 11.
12-punctata, thymo-cresol useless against, 44.
Dilophogaster californica, parasite of black scale,
31.
Diplodus renardii, preying upon Chalcidids, 31.
Diplosis tritici, investigated in Ohio, 65.
Dogwood Aphis = Aphis cornicola.
Doryphora 10-lineata, attempt to colonize Uropoda
parasite on, 42.
Echinops spherocephalus, expts. with, 84.
Edema albifrons, in Missouri, 40.
Eleodes opaca, Tachina on, 12.
tricostata, on cabbage, 11.
Empusa pachyrrhine, fungus on Pachyrrhina, 71.
Encyrtus flavus, bred from Lecanium hesperidum,
26.
Entomological notes for 1891 in Missouri, 36.
Flavescent clover weevil = Sitones flavescens.
Fluted seale, subjugated by Vedalia, 13.
Frosted scale, notes on, 33.
Goniocotes hologaster, expts. against, 44.
Gooseberry span-worm, in Nebraska, 10.
Grape curculio, trip to investigate, 63.
Grapholitha interstinctana, in Towa, 60.
Greedy scale, notes on, 25.
Gypsy moth, birds feeding upon, 81.
food-plants of, 80.
legislation against, 76.
line of work employed against, 79.
region infested by, 78.
report upon, 75.
Harlequin cabbage-bug, in Missouri, 37.
remedies against, 38.
thymo-cresol, useless against, 44.
Harpalus caliginosus, probable enemy of Tipula,70.
pennsylvanicus, probable enemy of Tipula,70.
Harris’s apple scale, thymo-cresol against, 44.
Heliothis armigera, investigation of, 45.
Hemiptera, attempt to colonize Uropoda ameri-
cana on, 43.
Hemipterous insects on cotton, 48.
Hemispherical scale, notes on, 27.
Henshaw, Samuel, report of, 75.
Hesperomyces virescens, on Chilocorus, 16.
Hessian fly, remarks on, 63.
report on, 65,
Hippodamia convergens, on sugar beet, 11.
Honey, consumption of, in the secretion of wax, 88.
special planting for, 83.
Hopperdozers, for leaf-hoppers and locusts, 60.
Hydrocyanie gas treatment, reference, 19.
Hyphantria cunea, Plochionus timidus destroy-
ing, 41.
Icerya purchasi, kept in subjection by Vedalia
cardinalis, 13.
Insect depredations in Nebraska, report on, 9.
diseases, and their relation to boll worm, 54.
Insects of the season in Iowa, 57.
Insect ravages mistaken for those of boll worm, 48.
Insecticides, experiments with, 43.
Isodromus iceryx, parasite of Chrysopa, 17.
Tsosoma grande, in Missouri, 37,

Joint-worm, in Missouri, 37.
Kermes camelliz, possibly synonymous with As-
pidiotus rapax, 25.
Laboulbeniacez, parasitism of, 16.
Lace-wings, cannibalistic habits of, 17, 18.
Lachnosterna, work on biology of, 64.
fusea, work on biology of, 64.
gibbosa, work on biology of, 64.
hirticula, work on biology of, 64.
Ladybird, Australian, fluted scale kept in sub-
jection by, 13.
twice-stabbed, enemy of scale-insects, 15, 30.
(Seymnus) feeding on red scale, 16.
Largus cinctus, damaging cotton, 48.
Leaf-hoppers, grass, hopperdozer against, 60.
Lecanium filicum, 27. i
hemisphezricum, notes on, 27.
hesperidum, notes on, 26.
thymo-cresol against, 35.
hibernaculorum, 27.
olew, fungus attacking, 18.
habits of, 28.
resin wash against, 19.
pruinosum, notes on, 33.
sp., notes on, 34,
Lema trilineata, attempt to colonize mite on, 42.
Limneria flavicincta, parasite of Orgyia, 40.
Locusts, abundant in Iowa, 60.
Lyda sp., on wild plum, 10.
Mally, F. W., report by, 45.
Maple-worm, green-striped, in Nebraska, 10.
Melilotus alba as a honey plant, 85.
Meliola citri, fungus on citrus trees, 19.
Monoxia guttulata on sugar beet, 11.
Murgantia histrionica in Missouri, 37.
remedies against, 38.
thymo-cresol useless against, 44.
Murtfeldt, Mary E., report of, 36.
Myzus persice, destructiveness in Towa, 58.
Nephelodes violans, abundant in Missouri, 38.
Ocneria dispar, report upon, 75.
Oleander scale, notes on, 20.
Orgyia leucostigma in St. Louis, 39.
Orsodachna atra on peach blossoms, 38.
Orborn, Herbert, report of, 57.
Pachyrrhina sp., notes on, 70.
oviposition of, 72.
Perilampus sp., bred from Chrysopa, 18.
preyed upon by Diplodus, 31.
Phieothrips nigra, on clover in Iowa, 60.
Pieris rape, increase of parasite of, 61.
parasites of, 43.
Plant-lice, abundant in Iowa, 58.
Plant-louse, dogwood, notes on, 59.
wheat, abundance in Iowa, 58.
Plochicnus timidus, enemy of Hyphantria
cunea, 41.
Plum ecurculio, in Missouri, 37.
Plusia brassice, disease of, 55.
Pteromalus sp., bred from Chrysopa, 18.
Pterostichus femoralis, probably an enemy of
Tipula, 70.
lucublandus, probable enemy of crane-flies,
70.
Pyralide on cotton, 48.
Pyrethrum, against boll worm, 53.
Quercus obtusiloba, Chermes sp. on, 39,

Rape as a honey plant, 85.
Red scale, fungus attacking, 18.

notes on, 14.

remedies for, 19.
Red spider, resin wash against, 19.
Resin wash against scale-insects, 19.
Robber fly capturing boll worms, 47.
Rose scale, thymo-cresol against, 44.
San José scale, enemies of, 22.

habits of, 21.

remedies for, 23.
Scale-insects killed by fungus, 18.

of California, report on, 13.
Schizoneura, on dogwood, 59.

lanigera, in Missouri, 36.

Scymnus larva destroying, 17.
Seymnus sp., larva feeding on red scale, 16.
* Semiotellus nigripes, colonization of, 64.

“Sharpshooters”’ on cotton,48.
Simulium, trip to investigate, 63.
Siphonophora avene, abundance in Lowa, 58.

in Missouri, 37.
Sitones flavescens, abundance in Iowa, 60.
Soft scale, notes on, 26.

thymo-cresol against, 35.

Solenopsis geminata, capturing boll worms, 47.

Spiders, enemies of lace-wings, 18.

Spraying injurious to honey bees, 86-88.
Squash bug, thymo-cresol useless against, 44.
Sugar-beet insects, in Nebraska, 10.

95

Sweet clover, as a honey plant, 85.
Tachina (fly) on Eleodes, 12.
Tent-caterpillar, forest, observations on, 40.
Tetranychus sp., resin wash against, 19.
bred from Chrysopa, 17.

Thecla peas, on cotton, 48.
Thymo-cresol, as an insecticide, 35, 43.

useless against Harlequin cabbage-bug, 37.
Tipula angustipennis, notes on, 66.

bicornis, description of preparatory stages, 69.

notes on, 66.

costalis, notes on, 73.

oleracea, notes on oviposition, 68.

trivittata, note on oviposition, 68.
Tipulide, work on, 64,
Tortricide, on cotton, 48.
Trichogramma pretiosa, egg parasite of boll worm,

47.

Triphleps insidiosus, enemy of Heliothis, 48.
Tussock moth, white-marked, in St. Louis, 39.
Uropoda americana, attempts to colonize, 42.
Vedalia cardinalis, Icerya subjugated by, 13.
Wax, conductivity of, 90.
Webster, F. M., report of, 63.
Web-worm, fall, Plochionus timidus destroying, 41

tiger, enemy of fall web-worm, 41,
Wheat midge, investigated in Ohio, 65.
White-winged Bibio—Bibio albipennis.
Yellow scale, thymo-cresol against, 35.

| NT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION: OF ENTOMOLOGY,

BULLETIN No. 30. | . ae

/

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

\.
WASHINGTON:
|. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1893.

Yet Re ae thiols
Sib aSe np.es~

.

U.S. eeee MENT OF AGRICULTURE.

PEVision OF BNTOMOLOGY.

BULLETIN No. 30.

REPORTS

——_———

OF

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

thie PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

ESO3;

PPR Aa SNAG Cn

CONTENTS.

MORE OMA NS MEDD AL co <c0\ce/cjelaem oie c ss sisi e cisyocte = Semele sae Se eicisG swiss ciclo Oe
LS REIN CI ION oes bloabs SOs GOB DE Ca OAbeH ID ACUSS Gace Ie eA Oe aio IER eerie eee ees
REPORT ON SOME OF THE BENEFICIAL AND INJURIOUS INSECTS OF CALIFOR-

INI neg. 6ctigo cap SGU CCUG R ESE C DOO UO SD AIRE A aP EHP et ears D. W. Coquillett
Report upon Insecr INJuRIES IN NEBRASKA DURING THE SUMMER OF

0 ee ae ata ca Sree ele siete ae Mee eae ne Sele taiele Lawrence Bruner
REPORT ON INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA....---...------ Herbert Orborn
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE SEASON OF 1892.-....--.-Mary E. Murtfeldt
REPORT ON EXPERIMENTS IN APICULTURE, 1892 ...........-...d. H. Larrabee

3

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., March 25, 1893.
Str: I have the honor to transmit for publication Bulletin No. 30 of
this Division. It comprises the reports of the field agents of the Divi-
sion for the past year (1892), a summary of which has been included in
my annual report.
respectfully,
C, V. RILEY,

Entomologist.
Hon. J. STERLING Morton,

Secretary of Agriculture.

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REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS IN THE
PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION.

INTRODUCTION.

The present bulletin is a continuation of the series of annual reports
of the field agents of the Division, Bulletins 22, 23, and 26 of this Divi-
sion comprising those for 1889, 1890, and 1891, respectively.

Mr. Koebele’s continued absence in Australia up to the middle of the
summer, and other duties connected with the closing up of his last
Australian mission, have occupied his time to such an extent that no
regular report from him is included.

Owing to the reduction in the appropriations for the Division, Mr. ¥.
M. Webster, in Ohio, and the apicultural agent, Mr. J. H. Larrabee,
in Michigan, were suspended from duty July 1, 1892. The former was
immediately appointed entomologist of the Ohio Agricultural Experi-
ment Station, and has made no report upon his operations as agent of
the Division for the first six months of the year.

Mr. Larrabee, however, has sent in a somewhat full report upon the
experimental work in apiculture, which is published herewith, and which
will be found of interest to apiarists. Accounts of his experiments upon
the important questions of cross-breeding, temporary removal of the
queen to prevent swarming, the amount of honey consumed by bees in
secreting one pound of wax, the cultivation of honey plants, and others,
are included.

Mr. D. W. Coquillett, agent at Los Angeles, Cal., reports in full
upon his experiments with the beneficial insects received from Mr.
Koebele from Australia and New Zealand, giving detailed descriptions
of the different states of the species brought over. He also treats of
aspan-worm (Boarmia plumigeraria Hulst), which has lately proved
very injurious to Walnut in parts of California, and closes with some
account of experiments against the Codling Moth and a few other
insects which have been injurious to fruit trees in California during
the year. ‘

The Nebraska agent, Mr. Lawrence Bruner, reports upon the outlook
for destructive locusts, but devotes the main part of his report to a
consideration of certain sugar-beet insects, closing with a short sum-
mary of the miscellaneous injurious insects of the season.

7

8

The Iowa agent, Prof. Herbert Osborn, gives a general summary of
the injurious insects of Iowa for the season of 1892, reports upon
further experiments upon grass insects, and gives an account of cer-
tain tests made with the White Grub fungus of Europe against our
American species.

The Missouri agent, Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt (who was also fur-
loughed at the close of the last fiscal year on account of the reduction
in the appropriation), gives in her report an account of certain insects
which have been prominent in her vicinity during the season, bringing
out, notably, an important point in the life-history of the Cabbage
Curculio, and describing a serious attack upon Spinach by a small

leaf-beetle.
Op Vi Rk.

REPORT ON SOME OF THE BENEFICIAL AND INJURIOUS
INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA.

By D. W. CoquimLLEtTt.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

Los ANGELES, Cat., November 3, 1892.

Str: I submit herewith my annual report for the year 1892. The major portion of
this report consists of an account of the beneficial insects sent to me from Australia
and New Zealand by Mr. Albert Koebele under your directions. The caring for these
insects and the working out of the life history of the most important ones has con-
sumed a large portion of my time during the past season. The present indications
are that the Orcus australasie will prove of more benefit than any other of these
recently introduced species.

Early in the season reports were received of the occurrence in destructive numbers
of certain kinds of caterpillars or span-worms, in the counties of Santa Barbara,
Alameda, and Santa Clara; and in accordance with your instructions I visited each
of these localities, and spent several days in investigating these destructive insects.
The species causing the damage in Santa Barbara County proved to be a kind of
span-worm which had occasioned considerable injury to the leaves of English wal-
nut trees; an account of this pest is given in the following pages. The principal
depredator in Alameda and Santa Clara counties proved to be also a span-worm or
canker-worm, closely resembling the well known Fall Canker-worm (Anisopteryx
pometaria Harr.), but as the moths have not yet issued the species can not be deter-
mined at present, but will be reported upon later.

The Fluted or Cottony-cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi Mask.), is still held in subjec-
tion by the Vedalia cardinalis. Since sending in my last annual report I have, at
your instance, sent colonies of this useful insect to New Zealand, South Africa, and
Egypt, besides sending a large number of colonies to various parts of this State.

The treatment with hydrocyanic acid gas is coming into more general use and con-
tinues to be the most effectual remedy at present known for the extermination of
the various kinds of scale-insects. The sheet fumigator, described in my letter to
you of March 18, and published in the June number of INsEcT LIFE, is more widely
used than any other kind, being less expensive and easier to operate than those here-
tofore in use. During the present season the supervisors of Los Angeles County
instructed Mr. John Scott, the horticultural commissioner, to purchase seventy tents
and the necessary chemicals, and to fumigate the infested trees at cost to the owners.
The city of Riverside has also purchased a large fumigating outfit with which to
exterminate any scale-insects that may be introdnced there, and the citizens of Ana-
heim, in the adjoining county of Orange, have also purchased a fumigating outfit
and have treated nearly all of the infested trees in that vicinity. From the States
of Louisiana and Florida I have received letters in relation to this treatment, and

10

the entomologist of the experiment station in the former State, Mr. H. A. Morgan,
recently wrote me that he was making preparations to test it on certain kinds of
scale-insects infesting orange trees in his State.
As in former years, I am greatly indebted to you for numerous favors, especially
in the matter of identifying insects, for all of which please accept thanks.
Very respectfully yours,
D. W. CoquiLLetTt,
Special Agent.
Dr. C: V. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.

BENEFICIAL INSECTS IMPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEA-
LAND.

At the last session of the legislature of this State the sum of $5,000
was appropriated for the purpose of importing from foreign countries
beneficial insects that would prey upon the injurious ones found in the
State, and this sum having been placed at the disposal of the Secre-
tary of Agriculture at Washington, D. C., Mr. Albert Koebele, one of
the agents of the Division of Entomology, was sent on this mission,
with instructions to collect specimens of all kinds of beneficial insects
and forward them to the writer for propagation and distribution. A
large portion of my time has been consumed in caring for and working
out the life histories of the insects thus received. Many of the species
originally preyed upon insects not found in this State, and much time
was spent in testing them with the different kinds of injurious insects
found here, in the hope that they could be induced to feed upon them.
Hight separate consignments were received at intervals of four weeks,
between October 30, 1891, and May 14, 1892. As the majority of these
were received during the rainy season, I had three cloth tents erected
over aS many infested orange trees, the better to protect the insects
from the inclement weather.

The first consignment of these insects, collected in the vicinity of
Auckland, New Zealand, was received on the 30th of October, 1891,
and consisted of two living adult specimens of Leis antipodum Mauls.
and one adult and seventy larvee of Scymnus flavihirtus Brown. The
body of this larva is black, and is rather sparsely covered with very short,
blunt, white bristles; on each side of the body are several prominent
bristle-bearing warts, the three low down on each side of the fourth,
eighth, and ninth segments, and also the two on the eleventh segment,
being white, the others blackish; the upper one on the eighth and
ninth segments is smaller than the others; the head and thoracic legs
are dark brown; length 3mm. The pupa is entirely greenish-yellow,
and the old larval skin is worked backward until it covers only the
extreme end of the pupa. In the same box with these larve were
leaves infested with a Coccid which is apparently the Ctenochiton
depressum Mask., a species thus far known to oceur only in New Zea-

11

land. I tested the above larve with specimens of Aspidiotus aurantii
Mask. and with Lecaniuwm hesperidum Linn., and they fed sparingly
upon them, The next day I placed these larve and the adult speci-
men upon a tree thickly infested with the Lecanium; this tree I have
examined at intervals, but at the last examination did not find any of
these ladybirds in any of their stages either upon this or any of the
adjacent trees. Still, it is possible that they are established here, but
in such small numbers that it is difficult to find them, the insects also
being small and inconspicuous.

The two specimens of Leis antipodum received with the above I tested
with several different kinds of scale-insects, but they did not appear
to attack any of them and died on the 20th of the following month
without having deposited eggs. All of the other insects which came
in this consignment were dead when I received them.

With the above consignment was received, October 30, 1891, the fol-
lowing letter, dated Auckland, New Zealand, October 8, 1891:

By this steamer I send a number of Scymnids, several species, and but two single
Leis antipodum, which I wanted very badly.

I think it would be a good idea to feed them up at first in large glass jars with
Lecanium hesperidum and Red Scale; but do as you think best, yet let the insects
have light and air besides food,

Please write to me how they arrived and what they feed upon. Let me particu-
larly know about the Leis, should they arrive living. Give them Lecanium hesperidum
and L. olew. I think they will feed on these, if anything.

As it looks, these little beetles have not much of life in them; they are probably
hibernated insects, and through with life; yet the larvee may be all right. I hope

for the best.
Am very well at present and hope to do much better by next steamer. It is too
early here as yet, and Sydney I will find warm, if not already hot.—ALBERT KOEBELE.

Under date of November 3, 1891, I wrote to Mr. Koebele, giving an
account of the condition of the insects when received by me, and
advising him to always pack the insects in Sphagnum moss, as those
packed in this manner had reached me in much better condition than
had those packed in paper cut into fine strips. As there was no address
given in his letter, I simply addressed my letter to him at Auckland,
New Zealand, but in the month of May of the following year it was
returned to me by the post-office officials, having for some reasons failed
to reach him.

The next consignment of insects reached me on the 28th of Novem-
ber, 1891, and the boxes, with the single exception of one from Sydney,
Australia, were marked as having been filled at Parramatta, Aus-
tralia, between the 25d and 30th of October, 1891. With this con-
signment was received the following letter, dated Sydney, Australia,
November 1, 1891:

You will receive by Wells, Fargo & Co. a lot of insects, all Coccinellide. Please
select an orchard badly infested with the Red Scale, and also some Black Scales, as

many of the things feed on this as well as Lecanium hesperidum. Turn all the things
loose in such an orchard. There are plenty of them to start with.

12

The large red and black spotted Coccinellid is Leis conformis, feeding upon Aphids,
which I fear you will not have now; but I send a lot of this to San Francisco to be
placed in apple orchards infested with the Woolly Aphis. You will find two boxes
with eggs of the little blue beetle. Place them upon trees with Red Scale. This
is and will prove to be the best remedy for that scale I shall be able to send. The
large blue beetle with orange spots also feeds on this scale, Aud as to the Scymnid,
I have marked upon boxes what they feed on: all the smaller upon Aspidiotus auran-
tii, and one box contains about 90 or 100 of one species found, as yet, feeding only
upon a species of Chionaspis, upon a Banksia.

Make preparation, and as soon as the box arrives take them into the field and lib-
erate the insects. A short delay would be death to many of them.

I will run up to Queensland, but will be here again to make up another sending of
these beetles for next steamer.—ALBERT KOEBELR,

This consignment contained the following living insects: Four spec-
imens of Orcus chalybeus, five of Orcus australasie, and six specimens
of an undetermined Scymnid. All of the other insects, including the
eges and larve, were dead when received by me. I tested the living
insects with specimens of Aspidiotus aurantu, and they fed upon them.
Not being willing to turn such a small number of insects loose, as was
suggested in the letter, I had a cloth tent erected over an orange tree
thickly infested with the above-mentioned scale and placed all of the
ladybirds on the tree under this tent. This tree was kindly placed at
my disposal by Mr. A. F. Kercheval, of this city.

The next consignment reached me December 28, 1891, accompanied
by the following letter, dated Sydney, Australia, November 29, 1891:

Be ready for a large lot of specimens coming per Wells, Fargo & Co. Liberate
them in same place as you did the last so they can find each other. Of the two Orcus
you will receive large numbers; inclosed some of O. australasie in box with Lecanium
olew, where you may find eggs; also, O. chalybeus and a large black Scymnid, which
has been, as yet, found only on L. olew and L. hesperidum.

*« * * Box “ Vedalia sp., Toowoomba, Parramatta.” Try and breed this little
beetle on Icerya. It is the insect destroying this scale here and at Queensland.
They will readily lay their eggs in a large glass jar if supplied with scales. You
will also get a large lot of Thalpochares cocciphaga, both larve and pupxe. Do not
set them free, but breed in confinement in large glass jars covered with muslin and
well supplied with LZ. olew, * * *

Please save all the boxes with dead insects for me, as I shall want them for future
notes. Of course you can have specimens for collection if you should want them. I
may now wait in sending future lots of Orcus until I hear from you how this arrived.
It is not possible that all should die. ;

It would bea good arrangement to have three jars for the Thalpochares—one to feed
the smaller larvee, one for pup, and a third with plenty of fresh food to place the
moths in as they appear. The sticks with scales could be taken out from time to
time and fastened onto orange trees infested with the scales in the field.

I think that these larve attain their growth in from three to four weeks. They
are a stupid lot, always spinning everything together. Therefore it would be well
to give them plenty of room.

The larve of Orcus could be got by the thousands, but I can not send any on
account of the parasites.—ALBERT KOEBELE.

In this consignment were the following living insects: Three speci-
mens of Orcus chalybeus, one Orcus australasie, eleven undetermined

13

Scymnids, one hundred and seventy-five specimens of Alesia fromata,
twenty-four specimens of a large, reddish-yellow Coccinellid having six
irregular spots besides the elytral suture black, three specimens of
Novius kebelei, twelve small black ones having a large red spot on each
elytron, twenty-two specimens of a black Scymnid having only the
apex of the abdomen red.

I tested them with a great variety of different kinds of insects, and
ascertained that the Alesia—the yellowish one with six elytral black
spots—the Cryptolemus, and the black one with two elytral red spots,
all fed upon the Cabbage Aphis (Aphis brassicw). Accordingly, I turned
them loose in a field of cabbages thickly infested with these Aphides.
The Novius I placed in a jar containing Iceryas; the remaining speci-
mens I placed on the orange tree under the tent where I had placed the
previous consignment.

On the 30th of December, 1891, I wrote Mr. Koebele as follows:

‘The two packages of insects which you sent me from Sydney reached me in very poor
condition. In your first sending were only four living Orcus chalybeus, and in the
last sending three. Of Orcus australasie, five were alive in the first lot, but only one
in the last. As these are the two species that we look to for ridding the infested
trees of the Red Scale, it would be well to pay especial attention to them in your next
sending. Try especially to send the pupx, as these withstand the voyage better
than the adult beetles. The square boxes with sliding lids are better for sending
them in than are the smaller circular ones. I noticed that those packed in Sphag-
num moss’ came through in better condition than those you packed in paper cut into
strips. A good plan would be, to place in the bottom of the box a thin layer of damp
Sphagnum, then twigs infested with the scales, after this the ladybirds, placing on
the top another thin layer of Sphagnum.

Packages intended for me should be addressed tome at 236 Winston street, so that
the express company will not have any difficulty in delivering them.—D. W. Co-
QUILLETT.

The next consignment of insects reached me January 23, 1892, and was
accompanied by the following letter, dated Sydney, Australia, Decem-
ber 28, 1891:

A lot more of Coccinellids, to be let loose in same place as previously. Also anum-
ber of things in one box, to breed in confinement. Donot open boxes outside of room
or with open windows. ‘The parasites will not only destroy these larve, but all or any
Coccinellid. Ihope yousee the point, and I trust to you not to let any escape. Also,
more larve and pups of ZT. cocciphaga. Feed Coccinellid larve from Whitton on
Lecanium, as also those of O. australasic.

Why did you not write about the New Zealand insects?—ALBERT KOEBELE.

In this consignment were four hundred living adults of Orcus chaly-
beus, seventy-five of which I placed on the orange tree under the tent,
and liberated the remainder in the orange grove adjoining this tree,
this grove being very thickly infested with Aspidiotus aurantii. The
consignment also contained forty-five adults and thirty-six living pups
of Orcus australasie ; twenty-two of these I placed on the orange tree
under the tent, while the balance were placed on an ash tree thickly
infested with Lecanium olee. I retained the pup in my office until

14

the beetles issued, then placed the latter on the ash tree above men-
tioned. Besides these, there was also a package of twigs on which were
numerous specimens of Lecanium olee infested with a fungus; these I
placed on an oleander bush thickly infested with the above-mentioned
Lecanium. The package also contained eight large black Scymnids,
which fed sparingly upon Lecanium olew, and I therefore had a tent
erected over an orange tree thickly infested with these scales, and
placed the Scymnids in this tent. This tree was placed at my disposal
by Judge E. Silent, of this city. ;

I received the next consignment on the 20th day of February, 1892.
It was not accompanied by any letter. The entire package was com-
pletely soaked with water when it reached me, and several of the boxes
were broken open. This consignment contained eight living adults of
Orcus chalybeus, which I liberated in the same orange grove where I
had placed those of the previous sending; twenty-three Scymnids, which
I placed on the orange tree infested with Aspidiotus aurantii, under the
tent, and thirty adults of Orcus bilunulatus, which I placed on the
orange tree infested with Lecaniwm olew under the tent at Judge Silent’s.

The next package of insects reached me on the 21st of March, 1892,
and was accompanied by the following letter, written at Sydney, New
South Wales, February 22, 1892:

T have your letter of December 30. Sent a lot more of Orcus and a small Seymnid
on Red Scale; this latter is as good as Orcus in destroying these scales.

In box with Eriococcus you will find some Scymnids feeding on Black Scales, also
their larve, larve of Thalpochares and of a Pyralid (?). This latter you had before.
They may feed on Lecanium. Breed all these in confinement, and not get box near
Eucalyptus. A whole box full of Lecanium with internal parasites. You had better
not place them on trees, but at a distance from them, as, if necessary. in case the
Seales should establish themselves, they could be promptly destroyed. The same
may be said of the Eriococcus, which, although only feeding on Eucalyptus, is a bad
thing on these trees.

Await Leis antipodum and rear on Lecanium hesperidum.—A. KOEBELE.

This package did not contain a single living insect when I received
it. Among the dead insects was a ladybird larva which I recognized
as belonging to Scymnus lophanthe Blaisdell, a species which had evi-
dently been imported into this State from Australia several years ago,
and upon procuring specimens of the larve of this ladybird from orange
trees in this city I found that the two forms were identical. The
package also contained dead specimens of a ladybird which agree in
every particalar with specimens of the above-named Scymnus contained
in my collection and which were captured in this city several years
ago. Specimens of both were submitted to Dr. Riley in order to settle
this question definitely, and he writes me that the two forms, the one
received from Australia and the other collected in this city, are indis-
tinguishable, and that both belong to the species recently described by
Dr. Blaisdell as Scymnus lophanthe (see “ Entomological News,” vol. 111,
p. 51). I gave a description of the larva and pupa of this ladybird in

15

Bulletin No. 26, Division of Entomology of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture (pp. 16 and 17), where it is referred to as ‘‘an undetermined
species of Seymnus, closely related to Scymnus marginicollis Mann., but
having a distinct metallic, somewhat brassy tinge upon the wing-cases.”
I have found this larva feeding upon the Red Scale (Aspidiotus awranti?)
as well as upon the San José Scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus) and the
Woolly Aphis (Schizoneura lanigera). This is doubtless the “small
Scymnid on Red Scale” referred to by Mr. Koebele in the letter given
above and which he says is ‘‘as good as the Orcus in destroying these
scales,” the other Scymnids referred to being much larger species.

Another package of insects from Sydney, Australia, was received on
the 15th of April, 1892. No letter accompanied this package, which
contained the following living insects: Twenty-seven specimens of Orcus
chalybeus and nine of Orcus australasie, all of which I liberated in the
orange grove in which the former consignments were set free; four speci-
mens of Leis conformis, and five of the large yellow Coccinellid with six
elytral black spots, which was also represented among those received
December 28, 1891, and alluded to above. The specimens of the last
two species I placed on an orange tree thickly infested with Aphides.
There was also a box containing a number of larve and chrysalides of
the moth Thalpochares cocciphaga in their cocoons; these I placed in
breeding cages in my office and kept them well supplied with Lecaniuwm
olee. During the month of May nine adult parasites belonging to the
genus Bracon issued from these larve or chrysalides. The moths issued
in the latter part of June and during the month of July, and after the
last one had finished depositing her eggs I placed the entire contents of
these cages in an orange tree thickly iufested with Leeanium oleae.

The eighth and last consignment of insects from Sydney, Australia,
reached me on the 14th of May, 1892. This package also was not accom-
panied by letter. For the first time, all of the insects had been packed
in Sphagnum moss, as advised in my letter to Mr. Koebele, of December
30, 1891, a copy of which is given on a preceding page, and the insects
reached me in much better condition than did those of any previous
sending. This package contained 560 living specimens of Orcus chaly-
beus, 20 Orcus australasie, 170 specimens of Leis conformis, and 5 speci-
mens of the yellow Coccinellid with six elytral black spots. I retained
20 of the Oreus chalybeus and 10 Oreus australasic, for breeding in my
office; the remainder I turned loose in an orange grove, in this city,
thickly infested with Aspidiotus aurantii, Lecanum olew, and a certain
kind of Aphis. The specimens ot Leis conformis I liberated in an apple
orchard, in this city, thickly infested with the Woolly Aphis (Schizoneura
lanigera), while the yellow ladybirds with six elytral black spots were
kept in my office, in a large glass jar well supplied with Aphides. On
the 28th of May a parasitic larva issued from the under part of the body
of one of the last-named ladybirds, and spun its tough brownish cocoon
beneath the latter, thus attaching the ladybird to the surface upon ‘

16

which it rested, and the adult fly issued from this cocoon eight days
later. On the 30th of May another parasitic larva issued from a second
of these ladybirds, and spun its cocoon as the previous one had done,
and the winged parasite issued seven days later. I submitted both
specimens of this parasite to Dr. Riley for identification, and he writes
me that they agree in every particular with specimens of Huphorus
sculptus Cr. in the collection of the National Museum, Itis interesting
to note that on page 57, volume 111, of INSECT LiFH, Dr. Riley records
having bred this same species from adults of the native ladybird,
Megilla maculata, collected at Washington, D. C., and also at La Fayette,
Ind.; while here in California I have bred what he pronounces to be
this same species from two of our common ladybirds, Hippodamia con-
vergens and Coccinella sanguinea, both of which are also found in the
eastern part of this country. Thus this parasite is known to occur on
both sides of this continent as well as in Australia. With the above-
mentioned package was received a box of Aspidiotus aurantii infested
by a fungus; these I placed in an orange tree thickly infested with this
kind of scale-insect. ;

As stated above, no insects were received by me from Mr. Koebele
later than the 14th of May, 1892.

The following are my notes and descriptions of the early stages of
some of the insects received from Australia. These are not complete
in regard to all of the species, since a sufficient number of specimens
of several of the species was not received to permit of my making
descriptions of all the stages, and I was unwilling to hazard the life of
any of the larve belonging to species not thoroughly established here
by submitting them to repeated and critical examinations such as it
would be necessary to make in order to describe the various stages
through which these insects pass:

ORCUS AUSTRALASIA.—Egg.—Elongate-ellipsoidal, two and half a times as long as
broad, polished, but slightly scabrous, one end bearing numerous minute tubercles;
color, light lemon yellow; length, 14™™, Deposited beneath dead, empty specimens
of Lecanium olew partially raised from the surface upon which they rest; usually
deposited in pairs, the eggs being attached at one side to the under surface of the
scale.

Time from deposition to hatching, eighteen days.

Larva.—First stage.-—Body brownish black; first segment encircled in front and
on the sides with a row of fourteen small tubercles each tipped with a single bristle,
except two of the lateral ones each side, each of which bears two bristles. There is
also a pair of smaller subdorsal bristles near the posterior end of this segment; sec-
ond segment bearing twelve tubercles, arranged on each side of the segment, one
subdorsal, three suprastigmatal arranged in the form of a triangle, and two stigma-
tal tubercles placed one in front of the other, the anterior of these being much
smaller than the posterior one, and destitute of a bristle. Eachof the other tuber-
cles bears a bristle which is more than twice as long as the tubercle itself, except
the anterior of the three arranged in the form of a triangle. This bears two bristles ;
one, which is shorter than the other, is inserted below the apex on the front side, at

which point this tubercle bears a minute branch; third segment like the second,
except that the upper of the three tubercles in the triangle is wholly wanting, leave

%

L7

ing only ten tubercles on this segment; fourth segment bearing a tranverse row of
six tubercles, the subdorsal ones each bearing two bristles, the second of which is
inserted below the apex on the front side; each of the suprastimatal tubercles bears
three bristles, two of which are inserted below the apex, one on the front side and
the other on the outer side; the lowest tubercle bears but a single bristle; fifth to
tenth segments, like the fourth; eleventh segment like the fourth, except that the
lowest tubercle on each side is wanting, leaving only four tubercles on this seginent;
twelfth segment destitute of tubercles; head wholly black,

Duration of this stage, six days.

Second stage.—Body brownish black, a yellow dot on the posterior margin of the
first segment; a larger medio-dorsal yellow spot on the second, third, seventh, and
eighth segments; tubercles black, except the posterior four or six on the first segment,
all of those on the second, all except the lowest ones on the third, all on the seventh
and eighth, and all except the lowest on the ninth segment, which are largely or
wholly yellow; sometimes, however, the lowest tubercles on the second, seventh, and
eighth segments are black; first segment encircled in front and on the sides with a
row of sixteen long tubercles, each of which bears a long apical and several shorter
lateral bristles; there is also a small, yellow subdorsal tubercle each side of the
middle, near the posterior end of this segment, each tubercle bearing a bristle which
is three times as long as the tubercle itself; other tubercles arranged as in the first
stage, each bearing an apical and several lateral bristles, the apical one not appreci-
ably longer than the tubercle itself, except in the case of the tubercles situated low-
est down on each side of the body; the anterior of the two lowest tubercles on the
second segment is scarcely more than half as long as the pos‘erior one; the anterior
of the two lowest tubercles on the third segment is minute and scarcely apparent;
head entirely black.

Duration of this stage, seven days.

Third stage.—Marked as in the second stage, except that all of the tubercles on the
ninth segment and the subdorsal ones on the tenth are yellow; tubercles arranged
as in the second stage; the subdorsal tubercles near the posterior end of the first
segment are now much larger, being scarcely shorter than the bristles at their apices ;
the anterior of the two lowest tubercles on the third segment is scarcely one-sixth
as long as the posterior one, and is yellow; the four tubercles on the eleventh seg-
ments are noticeably longer than any of the others.

Duration of this stage, eleven days.

Fourth stage.—F¥irst segment yellow, the center above, including the greater portion
of the space inclosed by the tubercles, black; second segment black, the anterior
and posterior margins and the sides broadly yellow, that on the posterior margin
being produced forward in the middle above; third segment yellow, marked with a
pair of black spots in front and with a second pair behind the subdorsal tubercles ;
there is also a black spot in front of the upper of the two lateral pairs of tubercles,
and another at the base of the posterior of the two lowest tubercles; fourth, fifth,
and sixth segments black, marked with an irregular silvery- white stripe between the
tubercles, the sutures of these segments yellow; seventh segment silvery-white,
marked with a small black spot between the two upper tubercles and with a larger
one behind the upper of the two lateral tubercles; eighth segment black, the greater
portion of the space between the subdorsal tubercles silvery white, and there is also
a spot of the same color at the base of the lowest tubercle; ninth segment black,
the middle of the posterior margin, extending nearly as far as the upper of the two
lateral tubercles, silvery white; tenth segment black, the posterior margin silvery
white, which color crosses the segment obliquely between the subdorsal and the
upper of the two lateral tubercles; eleventh segment like the tenth, except that
there is a silvery-white spot at the base of the lower tubercle; twelfth segment
wholly black; there is also a silvery white medio-dorsal line extending from the

19866—No. 30: 2

18

second to the eight segment; venter yellow, the abdominal segments marked with
dusky black; tubercles arranged as in the preceding stage, black, all of those on
the first, second, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth segments yellow, as are also
those on the third, with the exception of the posterior of the lowest two; the low-
est tubercle on each side of the sixth segment is also yellow; the subdorsal tuber-
cles near the posterior margin of the first segment are nearly as large as those on
the sides of this segment; the anterior of the two lowest tubercles on the second
segment is slightly longer than either of the three arranged in the form of a triangle
above it; the anterior of the two lowest tubercles on the third segment is not half
as long as either of the two above it; except on the first segment, none of the bristles
are as long as the tubercles which bear them; head black, marked in the middle
with a yellow spot. Length, 8™™.

Duration of this stage, eleven days.

Pupa.—Yellow, marked with a medio-dorsal row of oval black spots, one to each
segment, and on each side of these is a row of larger black spots, one to each seg-
ment, except the first, those on the second segment sometimes connected along the
front end of this segment with the median spot; wing-cases entirely, or at least
their upper edges, black; entire surface thinly covered with a yellowish white,
appressed, scaly pubescent; first and second segments bearing several short, erect
bristles; remaining segments each bearing a large cluster of bristles in the subdorsal
and alsoin the stigmatal region; length, 7™™.

Duration of this stage, eleven days.
In pupating the old larval skin is rent along the back from the head
to the front end of the eighth segment.

The time passed by this ladybird in its preparatory stages from the

depositing of the egg to the issuing of the adult insect is seen to be
about sixty-four days, divided as follows: Egg, eighteen days; larva,
thirty-five days (first stage, six days; second stage, seven days; third

stage, eleven days, and fourth stage, eleven days); pupa, eleven days.

These periods are for the months of August and September, the insects
having been bred in breeding cages kept in the window of my office,
where they received the benefit of the afternoon sun, It is probable
that in the open air they would have passed through their various
changes in a somewhat shorter period of time than that indicated above.

On the 14th of May of the present year I placed in one of my breed-
ing cages, 10 of these ladybirds received that day from Sydney, Aus-
tralia, and kept them well supplied with specimens of Aspidiotus au-
rantit, Lecanium olece, and various kinds of Aphides, but more than six
weeks elapsed before any eggs were deposited. At certain intervals
after this [ removed the larve from this cage, and placed them on an
orange tree thickly infested with Aspidiotus aurantii and Lecanium olee;
on the 16th of August I thus removed about 100 of them, on the 5th
of September 13 more, and on the 28th of September I placed the
entire contents of this cage on the same orange tree. At this latter
date several of the beetles originally received from Australia were
still alive, which would indicate that they are comparatively long lived,
since I had them in my possession for a period of over four months,
and they may have been several weeks old at the time of their capture
in Australia.

19

ORCUS CHALYBEUS.—Lqg.—Elongate-oval or elongate- ellipsoidal, from somewhat
over twice to nearly three times as long as broad, surface polished, the upper end
scabrous and on one side of the middle bearing a white, flattened, branched process,,
having somewhat the appearance of an antler of a Moose-deer; color of egg, light
lemon yellow; length, 13”. Placed on one end in clusters of from 4 to 10 eggs each.

Time from deposition to hatching, eight days.

Larva.—First stage.--Body yellow, the tubercles dusty; first segment surrounded
in front and on the sides by a row of ten long tubercles, and with a transverse pair of
much smaller tubercles onthe dorsum near the posterior end of this segment,each of
these smaller tubercles being as broad as long; second segment bearing a transverse
pair of long tubercles, each size Leside a dorsal transverse pair of much smaller tu-
bercles, and a single small tubercle in front of each of the lowest tubercles on this
segment; each of these small tubercles is as broad as long; segments three to eight,
each bears a transverse row of six long tubercles; segments nine and ten each bears
a transverse row of four long tubercles; eleventh segment bearing a single transverse
pair of long tubercles; twelfth segment destitute of tubercles; each of the small
tubercles above mentioned bears a single long bristle at its apex; each of the long
tubercles is truncated at its apex, where it bears a stout bristle which is usually
longer than the tubercle itself; in addition to this, the second tubercle on each
side of the middle of the dorsum on the second and third segments bears a sec-
ond Jong, stout bristle on its outer side a short distance below the apex;-each of
the long tubercles also bears one or two short lateral bristles; the surface of the body
is thinly covered with minute tubercles, each giving rise to a very short yellowish
hair; head light yellow, thinly covered with slender bristles and bearing three
black ocelli each side in the form of a triangle.

Duration of this stage, six days.

Second stage—Same as in the first stage with the following exceptions: Each of the
small tubercles in the transverse subdorsal pair near the posterior end of the first
segment, as well as those in the subdorsal pair on the second segment and the fore-
most one of the two lowest on each side of this segment, is nearly three times aslong as
broad; each of these smaller tubercles bears a single apical bristle which is slightly
longer than the tubercle itself, and each of the remaining one bears a pair of apical
besides several lateral bristles of various lengths, but none of them are as long as
the tubercle itself.

Duration of this stage, six days.

Third stage.—Same as in the second stage, with these exceptions: Dorsum of seg-
ments two to nine black, most extended on the second and third segments; the
tubercles in the dorsal pair near the posterior end of the first segment and also
those on the second segment are nearly as long as the adjacent ones, being some-
what more than four times as long as broad, but the anterior of the two lowest
tubercles on each side of the second segment is still much shorter than the others,
and is scarcely over two-thirds as long as the posterior one; each of these tubercles
bears several short lateral bristles.

Duration of this stage, seven days.

Fourth stage.—The black of the dorsum is extended so as to include four rows of
tubercles, and on the second and third segments it is divided by a medio-dorsal
yellowish line. There is also a yellowish line on segments four to nine between the
first and second rows of tubercles each side. ‘The black coloring on the outside of
these lines is not so intense as it is within them. The anterior of the two lowest
spines on the second segment is five-sixths as long as the posterior one. Otherwise
as in the preceding stage. Length, when fully grown, 5™™,

Duration of this stage, fourteen days.

Pupa.—Light citron yellow, head almost surrounded with blackish, first three seg-

ments each marked with a pair of oblique black dorsal spots, those on the second
Segment the largest; fourth segment marked with a pair of smali black dorsal dots

20

which are scarcely apparent; segments five to eight each marked with a pair of
black dorsal spots, those on the sixth and seventh segments larger than the others;
wing-cases bordered above with black; surface thinly covered with a light yellow
pubescence; length, 5™™,

Duration of this stage, fourteen days.

From these data it will be seen that this species passes through its
various stages in a somewhat shorter time than is the case with Orcus
australasie. In all of its stages it is much more delicate than the last-
named species, and the beetles appear to be much shorter lived. On
the 14th of May I placed twenty adults of Orcus chalybeus in one of my
breeding cages and kept them well supplied with specimens of Aspi-
diotus aurantii and Lecanium olece, but no eggs were laid until about
two months later, or on the 25th of July; and the last beetle in this
cage died on the 2d of August. Specimens of Orcus australasia,
obtained at the same time as these and treated in the same manner,
were still living nearly two months after the last chalybeus had died.

On the 10th of August a larva of chalybeus, only four days old, was
attacked by a whitish, feathery fungus which spread out on all sides
of its body, giving the latter the appearance of resting upon a minia-
ture mat of feathers. I submitted this specimen to Dr. Galloway, the
mycologist of this Department, by whom it was referred to Mr. J. B.
Ellis, a well-known authority upon fungi, who reported that this fungus
was either the Microcera coccophila, or else a species of Isaria, probably
the latter. The Microcera here alluded to is known to attack various
kinds of seale-insects in Australia, and it would be interesting to learn
if the spores of this fungus were brought over with the ladybirds
recently imported from that country; but a second letter to Dr. Gallo-
way upon this subject elicited the fact that the specimen in question
had been mislaid and could not be found.

NOVIUS KOEBELEI.—L£gg.—Elongate-ovate, two and a half times as broad, the sur-
face very scabrous; color, deep orange-red; length, 0.75™™. Attached lengthwise to
the body of an Icerya, or thrust into the egg-sac of the latter.

Time from disposition to hatching, six days.

Larva.—First stage.-—Body, including the head and legs, blood-red, the first three
segments each marked with a pair of subdorsal black spots, those on the first seg-
ment the largest; first segment bearing four long bristles, two on each side, besides
two shorter ones near the front end; second segment bearing a transverse pair of
bristles each side, of which the upper bristle is the shorter; third segment like the
second; segments four to nine, each bearing a single long stigmatal bristle each
side, which springs from a small black tubercle; segments ten and eleven on eaeh
side bearing a subdorsal and a stigmatal bristle; twelfth segment destitute of
bristles; the long bristles described above are slightly longer than the transverse
diameter of the body, and curved upward; there are also several much shorter
curved bristles thinly scattered over the body, and they likewise occur on the head
and legs; on the under side of each femur are two long bristles; each tarsus bears
four rather long, knobbed bristles, resembling the digitules on the tarsi of certain
kinds of Coccids. ‘Towards the end of this stage the body becomes thinly covered
over with a very short, white, woolly substance.

Duration of this stage, five days.

—— ee ee

21

Second stage.—Same as the first, with these exceptions: First segment bearing twelve
long bristles, of which four are in a row along each side of this segment, one is located
slightly above the second bristle in each of these rows counting from behind, besides
asubdorsal bristle each side, situated near the middle of this segment; segments
three to seven each bear a transverse pair of bristles each side; the longest bristles
scarcely exceed the transverse diameter of the body.

Duration of this stage, three days.

Third stage.—Body, blood-red, the subdorsal region being the darkest, but there
are no definite black markings; first segment bearing fourteen bristles, six of which
are in a row on each side of the segment, and one is situated above the second
bristle in each of these rows, counting from behind; segments two and three each
bearing a stigmatal cluster of four bristles each side and with asingle bristle in front
of each of these clusters; segments four to nine each bearing a stigmatal cluster of
four bristles each side; segment ten bears a subdorsal bristle besides the stigmatal
cluster of four bristles each side; segment eleven bears a subdorsal bristle and a
stigmatal cluster of three bristles each side; segment twelve bears a transverse row
of four rather short bristles; each of the clusters of bristles above described issues
from a large elongated tubercle the apex of which is rounded and blackish; the bris-
tles in these clusters are arranged one in front, another behind, and with a transverse
pair between them, but on the eleventh segment the anterior bristle is wanting;
these bristles are of unequal lengths, the transverse pair being longer than the others,
these but slightly exceeding one-half of the transverse diameter of the body; head
slightly darker than the body and marked with a black spot on each side; legs red,
the tarsi slightly blackish ; the surface of the body is thinly covered with a very short,
white, crinkled, woolly substance which does not entirely conceal the ground color.

Duration of this stage, three days.

Fourth stage.—Same as the third stage, with these exceptions: Body marked each
side by a subdorsal black stripe which passes between two rows of low, transversely
oval warts which are blackish at their apices, two warts to each segment, except on
the second and third segments, where only the lower wart is present, but neither
the warts nor the black stripes extend upon the first segment; this segment bears
eighteen bristles, of which seven are arranged in a row along each side of the seg-
ment, and one is situated above the first and second bristles in each of these rows,
counting from behind; the eleventh segment bears a stigmatal cluster of four
bristles each side; the remaining bristles are arranged as in the preceding stage.

Duration of this stage, ten days.

Pupa.—Orange-red, first segment marked with a medio-dorsal black spot, second
and third segments each with a large transverse black spot; segments six, seven,

-and eight each with a transverse black spot on its anterior end, that on the sixth
sometimes divided medially into two spots; surface thinly covered with a short,
light yellow, mostly recumbent pubescence, which converges towards the middle of
the dorsum, forming a small cluster near the center of each segment; length, 4™™,

Duration of this stage, fourteen days.

About three days before pupation takes place, the full-grown larva
attaches itself to some object by the posterigr part of the body, and in
pupating the old larval skin is rent from the head to the anterior end
of the seventh segment, and is allowed to remain, partially enveloping
the pupa. About ten days after pupation takes place the pupa-skin is
rent, disclosing the included beetle, but the latter does not issue from
the pupa-case until four days after this stage is reached.

This ladybird breeds as readily in confinement as does the Vedalia car-

-dinalis and closely resembles the latter in all of its stages. The obser-

22

vations above recorded were made during the months of August and
September, and the insects were kept in glass jars in a sunny window
of my office. The eggs are darker and much rougher than those of the
Icerya, which they otherwise closely resemble, and are usually thrust
into the egg sac of the latter. The young larve prefer the eggs of the
Icerya to the insects themselves as food, and shortly after issuing from
the eggs they burrow into an egg sac and frequently remain in it until
full grown. On several different occasions I have reared a Novius
larva from the egg to the adult state upon the eggs in a single egg mass
of the Iecerya. They spend a somewhat longer time in their preparatory
stages than the Vedalia does, this being especially noticeable in the
pupa stage; and being much smaller insects they do not destroy the
Iceryas as rapidly as the Vedalia does. The latter appears to prefer
the Novius larvee to the Iceryas for food, and whenever the larve of
these two ladybirds inhabit the same plant the Novius larva falls a
prey to its more powerful rival. I learn from Mr. John Scott, the
Horticultural Commissioner of Los Angeles county, that he introduced
a few Vedalia larvie into a glass jar containing a colony of the Novius,
and, although he kept them well supplied with Iceryas for food, still in
a short time the Vedalias had completely annihilated the Novius
larvee. |

LEIS CONFORMIS.—lgg.—Elongate-ovate, twice as long as broad, the outline quite
regular, tapering gradually toward each end, the upper end convex, the lower one
flattened at its attachment; surface highly polished, but under a highly magnifying
power appearing somewhat scabrous, owing to minute, blisterlike, raised spots
which are thinly scattered over its surface; color, light lemon-yellow; length, 14™™,

The eggs are attached by one end to a leaf or other object and are
deposited in clusters of from three to forty-one eggs each. Time from
deposition to hatching, seven days.

Larva: First stage.—Body of the usual Coccinellid form, being widest in front and
tapering quite rapidly posteriorly; olive-brown, varied with black, and bearing
many black, somewhat conical tubercles, each tipped with a black style which atits -
apex is compressed laterally and is truncate or sometimes slightly emarginate; first
segment somewhat flattened above and bearing a circle of twenty-six tubercles; of
these, the anterior fourteen (seven on each side) are arranged in a single row, and
the style at the apex of each is longer than the tubercle itself; next to these are
four transverse pairs of tubercles, two pairs on each side of. the segment, the two
tubercles composing the second pair being united at their bases; following these
are four tubercles two on each side, in which, as also in the tubercles, comprising
the four pairs above mentioned, the style is shorter than the tubercle itself: besides
this circle of tubercles, there is also a transverse pair near the center of this segment;
second segment, on each side, pearing a subdorsal oblique pair of tubercles which
are united at their bases, a suprastigmatal cluster of five tubercles, three of which
are united at their bases, the other two being slightly above .and on either side of
them; below this cluster is a single tubercle. in front of which is a stout bristle;
third segment the same as the second except that the suprastigmatal cluster con-
tains only four tubercles, the anterior of the two single ones being absent; fourth
segment, on each side, bearing a subdorsal cluster of three tubercles united at their
bases, a suprastigmatal pair of tubercles which are also united at their bases, and
below them is a single tubercle; segments five to eleven are the same as the fourth;

23

each of the tubercles on segments two to eleven is longer than the style at its apex;
twelfth segment oneach side bearing two subdorsal and two small stigmatal, widely
separated tubercles, each of which is shorter than the style atits apex; head polished
black and bearing a few stout bristles; legs black and also bearing a few stout
bristles.

Duration of this stage, three days.

Second stage.—Same as the first, except that the color of the body is black and the
tubercles on the seventh segment are yellow; the styles of the tubercles are not com-
pressed at their tips; the united bases of the tubercles which are arranged in pairs
or in threes are longer than the tubercles proper and each bears a few slender
lateral bristles; the posterior tubercle in each cluster of three is longer than either
of the others in the same cluster.

Duration of this stage, three days.

Third stage.—Same as the second, except that sometimes, but not always, some or
all of the tubercles on the fourth segment are yellow.

Duration of this stage, three days.

Fourth stage.—There is no appreciable difference between this and the preceding
stage.

This is as far as I was able to carry these larvee, a host of mites
belonging to the species Heteropus ventricosus of Newport having
invaded my breeding cages and in a very short time destroyed not only
these larvee, but also many others which I was rearing at the same
time, the soft, recently transformed chrysalides and pup being
attacked as well as the smaller larve of all descriptions. No specimens
of the Leis were received by me after the above date, so [ was unable
to procure a fresh colony of larvee and thus complete the life history.

On the 14th of May I placed in one of my breeding cages about a
dozen adult specimens of Leis conformis and supplied them with orange
twigs infested with an undetermined species of Aphis. Three days
later some of the beetles were paired, and on the 19th of May I exam-
ined the twigs in this cage, but found no eggs; [ then replenished it
with fresh twigs infested with the Aphides, and in the afternoon of the
same day this cage contained two clusters of eggs, containing seven
and ten eggs, respectively. The beetles were very lively and fed
greedily upon the Aphides. The females laid eggs readily in confine-
ment, even when inclosed in a small-sized box. The larve were com.
paratively easy to rear and fed readily upon the Aphides, large numbers
of which were destroyed in a day by a single larva.

UNDETERMINED COCCINELLID, (elytra yellow, marked with six black spots),.—
Egg.—Elongate-ellipsoidal, two and a half times as long as broad, light lemon-yellow,
the upper end markeé with a rather large white spot, surface highly polished, but
under a high magnifying power appearing slightly scabrous, owing to minute blister-
like spots, which are scattered over its surface; length, 13™™,

Placed on end in clusters of about ten eggs each. Time from depo-
sition to hatching, five days.

Larva: First stage-—Body of the usual Coccinellid form, olive-brown varied with

black, sides of the fourth segment lighter, almost white; first segment bearing a
circle of twenty-six elongated tubercles, besides a transverse pair near the center

24

of the dorsum; second segment, on each side, bearing a subdorsal cluster of three
tubercles, a suprastigmatal cluster of five, below which is a pair of tubercles, and
there is alsoa single tubercle situated between the subdorsal and suprastigmatal
clusters; third segment on each side bearing a subdorsal and a suprastigmatal
cluster of three tubercles, while between these two clusters, and also below the low-
est one, is a pair of tubercles; fourth segment, on each side, bearing a subdorsal
and a suprastigmatal cluster of three tubercles, and below the latter is a pair of
tubercles, the anterior of which is smaller than the posterior one; segments five to
eleven are the same as the fourth; all of the tubercles above described are black;
twelfth segment, on each side, bearing a pair of subdorsal and a widely separated
pair of stigmatal bristles; head polished black.

I was unable to carry these larve any further, owing to the invasion
of the mites above referred to. Two of the beetles were destroyed by
internal parasites, as already stated on a previous page of this report;
the remaining beetles died without depositing eggs, and as no more
specimens of this insect were received from Australia subsequently, I
was unable to obtain any more eggs of this species and thus complete
its life history.

The beetles were received at the same time as the Leis conformis above
described, and were treated in the same manner as the latter. They
were not as lively as these and did not deposit eggs so readily in con-
finement. Both the adults as well as the larve fed greedily upon the
Aphides which I introduced into their breeding cages.

THALPOCHARES COCCIPHAGA.—gg.—Turnip-shaped, being twice as broad as high,
attached at one end, the upper end rather deeply concave and furnished with a small
rounded tubercle in the center; surface covered with irregular raised lines which
encircle the egg, besides others which extend vertically, these lines forming shallow
cells of various shapes and sizes; diameter, nearly $™™. Deposited singly.

Larva.—First stage.—Body whitish; head grayish-black; cervical shield dark
gray; provided with six thoracic, four abdominal, and two anal legs, the abdominal
legs located on the eighth and ninth segments; these as well as the anal prolegs are
extremely short, but are encircled with minute hooks at their tips.

Full-grown larva.—Body very robust, dull white, usually with a tinge of yellow or
pink; piliferous spots indistinct, pale brown; spiracles yellowish; head and cervical
shield blackish-brown; no anal plate; legs as in the first stage; length, 8™™.

Chrysalis.—Of the usual form, light yellowish-brown; destitute of transverse rows
of teeth-like processes; posterior end rounded and bearing a transverse, slightly
curved row of six rather short, recurved spines.

Shortly after issuing from the egg the larva spins around its body an
oval case of light gray silk, which it drags around after it when crawl-
ing about in search of food. This consists of the younger specimens of
Lecanium oleew, and perhaps also the young of other kinds of Coccids.
As the larva increases in size it enlarges its case by the addition of new
material, and it frequently attaches to the outside of its case fragments
of the scales, besides various other small objects, these being so small
in size as to be scarcely noticeable except upon a close inspection. The
case is closed at one end, while at the opposite end is a somewhat
Square opening, out of which the larva protrudes its head and the fore
part of the body when feeding or when moving about upon the tree.
Each of the four sides of this opening is furnished with a rounded silken

25

lobe, or prolongation of the case, and these lobes converge toward the
center of the opening, thus closing the latter when the larva retreats
into its case. After each meal the larva fastens its ease to the bark
by a few silken threads, then retreats into its case and remains hidden
from view until the pangs of hunger again force it to come out in
search of food. The chrysalis stage is passed within the silken case,
and frequently ten or a dozen of the cases are fastened together in a
mass by their occupants a short time before the latter assume the
chrysalis form. :

It is quite impossible to extract one of these larvee from its silken
case without fatally injuring the larva, so firmly does it retain its hold
upon the inside of the case by means of the small hooks with which the
prolegs are provided, and nothing short of cutting open the case will
accomplish the removal of the larva. When removed from its case and
placed upon a flat surface the larva is able to move about, but only very
slowly, and in walking the posterior end of the body is elevated, no use
being made of the last pair of prolegs. Whenever two of the larve thus
removed from their cases meet each other a fight is almost certain to
occur, each larva seeking to grasp with its mandibles the mouth parts
of the other, and, if successful, it will frequently shake from side to side
the head and fore part of the body of its opponent, somewhat as a terrier
shakes arat. In these encounters the softer parts of the body are never
attacked, and the encounters are apparently in the nature of sport.
The moths, as might be expected, are nocturnal in their habits, remain-
ing perfectly quiet during the daytime and coming forth rather early
in the evening.

My notes on this species are necessarily imperfect, as but few of the
larve were obtained from eggs laid in confinement, and in order to
work up their complete life history it would be necessary to frequently
remove the larve from their cases, and this I was unwilling to do until
the species becomes firmly established in this State.

At the present writing two of the most important of the imported
species, the Orcus australasie and Orcus chalybeus, are breeding in two
localities in this city, as well as in an olive grove in Santa Barbara
County, and the former species is also breeding in Alameda County.
While they do not increase with sufficient rapidity to give us the as-
surance that they will be able to practically free all of the trees in
this State of the different kinds of scale insects that infest them, still
they will undoubtedly prove valuable allies in keeping these scale
insects in check.

' Novius kevelei is also firmly established here. I have it breeding
in my office at the present writing, and have sent a few colonies to dif-
ferent localities in the State. The horticultural commissioner of this
county, Mr. John Scott, also has colonies of this insect breeding in his
office, and has sent out colonies in place of the Vedalia cardinalis.
While this last-named insect has effectually kept in check the destruc-

26

tive Fluted or Cottony-cushion Scale (Jcerya purchasi), still of course
there is abundant room for this second species to aid in this commend-
able work. Being much smaller than the Vedalia and not passing
through its changes any more rapidly,it is very doubtful whether the
Novius could have accomplished the same work in the same time that
the Vedalia did in California.

It is very probable that four other kinds of beneficial insects, the
Leis conformis, Alesia fromata, the reddish-yellow ladybird with six
elytral black spots, and the small black one with two large elytral red
spots, are also established here, but these were received in such small
numbers that some little time must elapse before they will have multi-
plied sufficiently to be met with except after a long and careful search
for them. It is also possible that the Cryptolemus and two or three
species of Scymnids, as well as the Thalpochares, may yet be found to
have gained a foothold here, but this can be determined only after the
lapse of several months, or perhaps even longer than this. I have
already alluded to the fact that the Scymnus lophanthe was also among
the specimens introduced, but this can hardly be considered an intro-
duction in the same light as the other species, since it was already
established here before these later specimens were received.

I have not observed that either of the two species of fungi received
from Australia, the one attacking Lecanium olew, the other on Aspidi-
otus aurantii, has spread to the healthy scale insects, but of course it
is possible that the spores of these fungi may remain dormant until the
wet season sets in.

THE WALNUT SPAN-WORM.

The English Walnut is quite extensively grown in certain localities
in this State, and, in proportion to the amount of care bestowed upon
it, yields a larger revenue than almost any other tree grown upon this
coast. It is remarkably free from the attacks of insects, those here-
tofore known to attack it never occurring in sufficient numbers to cause
any widespread destruction of the trees or nuts. .Two years ago,
however, a span-worm appeared in such large numbers in a certain
locality that many trees were almost completely defoliated by it.

The first intimation I recefved in regard to the appearance of this
new pest was a letter from Hon. Ellwood Cooper, of Santa Barbara,
under date of April 29, 1890, and which reads as follows:

I send you by this mail a box of worms. Please write me by return mail what
they are, whether from a moth, miller, butterfly, or beetle. What kind of eggs, and
the time required for them to hatch? When do the worms go into the pupa state,
and where? Nothing of this kind has ever been seen on the ranch before. My fore-
man said he saw the very small worms about ten days ago. I had never seen any-
thing on the walnut trees, and hence did not at once go to look after them. A few
days later I made an examination, but could find no eggs, yet very minute worms.
I sent the foreman, but none could be found. The eggs must have been laid on the
twigs, because the leaves have only been out about fourteen days. About one week

”
4
SS

27

ago there were but few signs, now the whole thing is being eaten up. I never saw
anything so ravenous. Please write me at once what to do and what it is. I fear
the crop is gone.—ELLWOOD COOPER.

Thinking the matter of sufficient importance to require investigating,
I paid a visit to Mr. Cooper soon after the middle of May. Prior to
this, however, the trees had been sprayed with Paris green and water
at the rate of 1 pound of Paris green to 130 &allons of water, and now
it was no easy matter to find any living, healthy worms. The trees at-
tacked were very large ones, being about 30 feet high, andthe branches
extending a distance of nearly 20 feet, making for the tops of the trees
a diameter approximating 40 feet. The span-worms appeared upon
nearly every tree in a grove containing 20 acres, but they were most
abundant near the center of the grove, where they had almost com-
pletely defoliated the trees. They also appeared upon the walnut trees
in an adjacent grove, but not in such large numbers as in the one above
mentioned. Mr. Cooper informed me that he has lived on this ranch
continuously for nineteen years, but never before had these or any
other kind of span-worms appeared upon his trees in sufficient num-
bers to attract attention, and he is unable to account for the present in-
vasion.

The following year these span-worms were also present upon some
of the trees, but were far Jess numerous than during the preceding
year. The infested trees were again sprayed with Paris green and
water at the rate of 1 pound to 180 gallons, and this effectually de-
stroyed the span-worms. In the month of March of the present year,
however, Mr. Cooper wrote me that the span-worms were again appear-
ing in large numbers and requested me to come to his ranch and inves-
tigate them. Having received instructions from Dr. Riley to this ef-
fect, | again, on the 6th of April, visited Mr. Cooper, and found that,
while the span-worms were quite abundant upon some of the trees, still
they were in much smaller numbers than during the season of 1890. I
also made a careful examination of the trees growing near the walnut
trees; these consisted of Olive, Persimmon, Eucalyptus, Sycamore, Al-
der, Oak, Elder, Willow, and a few other kinds of trees, besides various
kinds of shrubs and plants, but failed to find specimens of this span-
worm upon any of them, with the single exception of the Oak (Quercus
agrifolia). The new, spring growth was just starting out upon this
tree, and I found several of these span-worms feeding upon the newly
expanded oak leaves; a careful comparison of these oak-feeding speci-
mens with those from the walnut trees failed to disclose the slightest
difference, and when I tested them with walnut leaves they also fed
readily upon them. Several trees of black walnuts are also growing on
Mr. Cooper’s ranch, but these were not yet in leaf at the time of my
visit.

During a visit which I made, in the latter part of April, to portions
of Alameda and Santa Clara counties I found specimens of this same

28

kind of span-worm on some apple and prune trees as well as on Eng-
lish walnuts in some of the orchards of the above-mentioned counties.
Under date of April 27, 1892, Mr. Cooper writes me that he recently
found this pest in three gier erives of English walnut in Santa Bar-
bara County, where it was very destructive to the leaves of these trees-
Thus it appears that already this span-worm is quite widely distributed
over the State, and unless active measures are adopted to suppress it
there is every probability that it will in time very seriously interfere
with the profitable growing of English walnuts upon this coast.
Unfortunately, the moths have not yet issued, so it is impossible at the
present writing to identify the species or to ascertain if it has proved
destructive in other States than our own.

The eggs from which these span-worms hatch are flattened oval, as
if compressed between the thumb and finger; the surface is quite scab-
rous, and bears numerous minute transverse ridges; at each end of
the egg are numerous quite large, shallow punctures; the color is a
dark greyish drab, with a strong brassy tinge; length, about ¢™™.

These eggs are fastened to the small twigs of trees, in loose, irregu-
lar patches, each egg lying on one of its flattened sides; there is no
regularity in their arrangement upon the bark of the twig. One piece
of a twig an inch and a half long by a quarter of an inch in diameter
contains upwards of two hundred of these eggs. The young span-worm
issues through a nearly circular hole in the larger end of the egg, and
the empty eggshell is of an iridescent, pearly white color.

The full-grown span-worm closely resembles the larva of the Eastern
Angerona crocataria as figured on PI, vit, Fig. 6, of Packard’s “ Guide
to the Study of Insects,” but the piliferous spots are larger, giving to
the body a much rougher appearance, and when viewed from the side
there is seen to be a large prominence on the dorsum of the fourth and
sixth segments as well as on the fifth and eleventh. I give herewith a
detailed description of this span-worm, in order that it may be recog
nized in the future:

Body of nearly an equal thickness throughout its length, the head and first tho-
racic segment slightly wider than the rest of the body; head as seen from front a
trifle wider than high, the lobes rounded and destitute of a tubercle or other proc-
ess; color of head dark brown, variegated with yellowish; body light pinkish
gray varied with darker gray or purplish, or sometimes with black and yellow, never
marked with distinct lines; piliferous spots tuberculiform, black, or dark brown, and
back of each of the spiracles situated on the fifth and sixth segments is a large, coni-
eal, fleshy prominence surmounted by a piliferous spot, and on the dorsum of each ot
the segments four, five, six, and eleven, is a pair of similar but smaller prominences ;
in front of the pair of prominences on the dorsum of the eleventh segment is a pair
of spots which are of a clearer yellow or gray than the ground color, each spot
usually bordered each side by a short black line; spiracles orange-yellow, ringed
with black and usually situated on a yellow spot; venter concolorous with the upper

side, marked in the middle with a faint whitish stripe, and with a less distinct one
near each outer edge; ten legs; length, 20™™,

29

These span-worms reach their full growth in May and then enter the
earth to adepth of from two to four inches; here each one forms a smooth
cell, but does not spin a cocoon. The chrysalis state is assumed a few
days after the cell is completed, but the moth does not issue until the
following winter or early spring. The chrysalis is of the usual form,
of a dark reddish brown color, and the posterior extremity bears two
diverging spines; the tips of the wing-cases almost reach the posterior
end of the fifth abdominal segment; length, 14™™.

Perhaps the most important enemies of these span-worms are cer-
tain kinds of insectivorous birds, particularly the black birds, which
1 repeatedly observed in the infested trees, and Mr. Cooper informs
me that he has seen one of these birds carrying four of the span-
worms in its beak. Of internal parasites, only one species is at pres-
_ ent known to me to attack these span-worms; this is a small black,
four-winged fly belonging to the genus Apanteles. The sides of its
abdomen are largely yellow, the front and middle legs, including their
cox, are also yellow, while the hind legs, with the exception of the
tips of the femora and tibiw, and the whole of the tarsi, are of the
same color. I found several of the white cocoons of this parasite
attached to the trunks of the infested trees on the 21st of May, and
near each was the shrunken remains of one of the span-worms in which
the parasite had lived. One of the parasitic flies issued one week
later. It is probable that a Tachina-fly of some kind also attacks these
span-worms; on the day above mentioned I found one of them to whose
body was attached a white egg, evidently of one of these flies, but as
no parasite issued from this span-worm I am unable to settle this point
at the present time.

Mr. Cooper informs me that he sprayed some of the infested trees
with Buhach and water at the rate of 1 pound to 50 gallons, but this
did not destroy the span-worms. He also tried the kerosene emulsion,
such as he uses for the destruction of the Black Scale (Lecanium olee)
on olive trees, but this was not effectual. Paris green was also used
in varying strengths, from 1 pound in 50 gallons to 1 pound in 200 gal-
lons of water, and this latter strength he found effectually destroyed
the span-worms without injuring the trees. With each 100 gallons of
this mixture he used 20 pounds of a soap made principally of mutton
tallow and caustic soda; this caused the solution to spread more
readily over the leaves, and also had a tendency to cause the poison to
adhere more firmly. The soap was first dissolved in hot water, after
which the Paris green was added, then the balance of the water, and
the solution was kept constantly stirred while being applied to the trees.
Mr. Cooper informs me that five men—one to drive the team, one to
stir the solution in the spraying tank, another to pump, and two to
handle the spraying nozzles—sprayed on an average 27 of his largest
walnut trees in a day; this is equivalent to one acre of trees per day.

30

THE CODLING MOTH.
(Carpocapsa pomonella Linn.)

It is not my purpose to give a complete account of this insect at the
present time; its habits and life history are pretty well known to those
of our fruit growers who suffer by reason of the inroads it makes in
their deciduous fruit crops. A very full account of this pest, written
by Mr. L. O. Howard, will be found in the Annual Report of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture for the year 1887 (pp. 88-115). I will there-
fore simply record a few additional notes which have come under my
observation during the last eight or nine years.

In the above-mentioned account it is stated that in the northern
part of this country the Codling Moth is two-brooded, while in the
south it is three-brooded. My notes indicate that in California, as
might be expected, it is also three-brooded, the moths from the hiber-
nating worms issuing in the latter part of March and during the first
half of April, those of the next brood appearing in June and during
the first half of July, while the third brood of moths appear in August
and the early part of September.

Of the two kinds of internal parasites reported as preying upon the
larvee and pupee of the Codling Moth in this country, the Pimpla annu-
lipes is not represented in my collection from California. The second
species, Macrocentrus delicatus, not heretofore known to occur upon
this coast, I have never bred from the larve of the Codling moth; but
my notes indicate that on the 3d of September, 1891, I bred three
specimens of this parasite from larvie of a Tortricid, Padisca strenuana
Walker, which lives in the dry stems of a wild sunflower, Helianthus
annuus. I notice that in volume rt of INSECT LIFE (p. 59), the editors
record having bred this parasite from another Tortricid, the Cacecia
JServidana, as well as from one of the Dagger-moths, Acronycta oblinita,
making in all four different insects upon which it is known to prey.

In the above-mentioned account it is stated that the Dermestid
beetles, Trogoderma tarsale and Perimegatoma variegatum, are reported
as preying upon the pup of the Codling Moth in California. My
observations on the larvewe of these two beetles lead to the belief that
the Trogoderma larva feeds upon dead insects, but will not attack the
living ones; on the other hand, while the Perimegatoma larva doubt-
less prefers dead insects upon which to feed, yet it will also feed upon
the smaller living pupe, or chrysalides, of moths; and perhaps also
those of other insects.

This latter larva bears quite a close resemblance to the one figured
at 396, on page 448, of Packard’s “Guide to the Study of Insects.”
It is of a dark-brown color, with the sutures of the segments whitish ;
the body is quite hard, somewhat flattened, of nearly an equal width
throughout, except that the last fourth tapers slightly posteriorly,
and the body is a trifle widest at the fourth segment; there are appa-

5

dl

rently only eleven segments, the first of which is the longest, and is
nearly.as long as wide; the last segment is rounded behind, and is des.
titute of a projection of any kind; the body is thinly clothed, with
rather long yellowish and dark-brown hairs, and in the older individu-
als each of the last three or four segments bears a transverse pair of
short, brush-like tufts of black hair, which are wanting in the younger
individuals; the head is nearly as wide as the first segment of the
body, is of a reddish brown color, and is thinly covered with rather
long reddish hairs. This larva attains a length of about 6™™, and
the pupa is formed within the old larval skin, the latter simply split-
ting open along the back. The larve are found during the greater
portion of the year, and are quite frequently met with among the dead
leaves and other débris lying in the crotches of orange trees. I have
bred the beetles in June and also in December.

On the 17th of July, 1890, I found a larva of this kind engaged in
feeding upon a dead and dry moth. I also inclosed three of them in a
box containing a dead and dry chrysalis of the moth Teniocampa ruyula,
and in a few days they had devoured it. I then placed in their box a
living chrysalis of this moth, but they did not harm it, and in due time
it was changed to a moth. A fresh, living chrysalis of a Tineid moth
which I placed in their box, however, did not fare so well; I saw one of
the larve feeding upon it, and it was finally entirely consumed. I also
placed in their box a living chrysalis of a Codling Moth still in its
cocoon, and they finally gnawed a hole through the cocoon, entered,
and devoured the chrysalis.

The fact above recorded, that one of these larve was found feeding
upon a dead, dry moth, and the further fact that the larve devoured a
dead dry chrysalis of a moth, but would not attack the living chrysalis
of the same kind of moth, is sufficient evidence to prove that these
larve prefer dead and dry insects to living ones. Still, the other cases
here recorded indicate that under certain conditions they also attack
the healthy living chrysalides.

The larva of the Trogoderma quite closely resembles that of the
Perimegatoma above described, but is a much more robust form; the
body is widest at the last third of its length, and is of a lighter, more
yellowish color; the short brushes of hairs on the posterior portion
of the body of the older individuals are also yellow instead of black.
I have repeatedly found these larve within the empty cocoons of the
Codling Moth, but there was nothing to indicate that they had entered
the cocoons prior to the escape of the moths, and if is probable that they
fed only upon the empty shell of the chrysalis and the cast-off skin of
the larva. I placed a dead and dry Horse-fly in a box containing several
of these larve, and they soon attacked it and in a comparatively short
time reduced it to a powder. I then placed in their box a living larva
and two living chrysalides of a Tineid moth, but they had not attacked
either of them after a lapse of six weeks, This would seem to indicate

32

that these larvee feed only upon dead insects, and that they never attavk
those still alive. ‘

For the destruction of the Codling Moth our growers of deciduous
fruits depend almost altogether upon spraying the young fruit with
Paris green and water. The proportions vary from 1 pound of the
Paris green in 160 gallons of water to1 pound in 200 gallons. My own
observations and experiments indicate that the former strength is lia-
ble to injure the leaves somewhat, so it will be advisable to use it not
stronger than at the rate of 1 pound to 200 galions of water.

On the 12th of May, 1890, I had twenty-two pear trees sprayed with
Paris green and water at the rate of 1 pound in 160 gallons, and to
this was added 4 gallons of the resin wash, composed of: resin, 20
pounds; caustic soda, 6 pounds; fish oil, 3 pints, and water sufficient to
make 100 gallons. This was added for the purpose of causing the solu-
tion to spread more readily over the trees and fruit. These pear trees
were kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. C. H. Richardson, of Pasadena.
They averaged about 10 feet in height, and the tops measured about 4
feet in diameter. Twenty-eight gallons of this solution were used on
these twenty-two trees. I examined them at intervals throughout the
summer; the fruit had not been in the least injured by the solution,
but a very few of the leaves had small brown spots burned in them, not
sufficient, however, to produce any material injury. When ripe, fully
five-sixths of the pears on these trees were free from the attacks of the
larve of the Codling Moth, whereas on adjacent trees not treated
nearly all of the fruit had been attacked by these larve.

Throughout the entire summer season these sprayed trees remained
free from the attacks of the Pear-slug (Hriocampa cerasi Peck), although
I found leaves on some of these trees in which the eggs of this insect
had been deposited; and upon adjacent pear, apple, and quince trees
that had not been sprayed these slugs were quite numerous. It would
well repay our growers to spray their trees with the above-mentioned
solution as a protection against the attacks of these slugs and other
leaf-eating insects.

It is the custom of some of the growers in the northern part of the
State to first dissolve the Paris green in ammonia before adding it to
the water, but it is very doubtful that this is any improvement,
Ammonia is known to be very injurious to vegetation whenever brought
in contact with it. Iam informed by Dr. H. W. Wiley, the chemist of
this Department, that Paris green, which ordinarily consists of a mix-
ture composed of one molecule of the acetate of copper and three mole-
cules of the arsenite of copper, is changed to an entirely different
chemical compound when treated with ammonia, this compound then
consisting of the acetate and the arsenite of ammonia combined with
an ammoniate of copper—a mixture much more soluble in water than
Paris greenis. It is evident that the more insoluble the Paris green
is rendered the less liability there will be of its injuring the foliage of

a a

33

_ trees sprayed with it, and there will be less danger of its being washed
off of the trees by therains. Instead, therefore, of seeking to render it
more soluble, the opposite course should be pursued, and, it possible,
the Paris green should be treated in such a manner as to render it
whally insoluble in water. To accomplish this result it is only neces-
sary to mix a pound of freshly slaked lime with each pound of the
Paris green, add a gallon or two of water, and let stand over night.
Treated in this way, the portion of the Paris green that is soluble in
water, and that produces the injury to the trees sprayed with it, unites
with the lime to forma compound wholly insoluble in water; by this
simple and inexpensive treatment the Paris green is rendered harmless
to the tree, while at the same time its poisonous nature is not lessened
to any appreciable extent. This process was first used by Prof. C. P.
Gillette, now entomologist of the Colorado Experiment Station, and
his observations have been confirmed by a number of other experi-
menters.

The great benefits resulting from treating fruit trees with Paris green
for the destruction of the Codling Moth are well understood by the
majority of our growers of deciduous fruits, a few of whom have learned
this by bitter experience. At a recent meeting of the horticultural
commissioners of southern California, Mr. John Scott, the commissioner
for Los Angeles County, stated that early in the present season he in-
structed his inspector in a certain locality to serve a notice on all of
the fruit growers in his district to spray their pear and apple trees with
Paris green and water for the destruction of the Codling Moth. The
majority of the growers complied with the request, but one of them, for
some reason, asked to be allowed to defer the spraying for a short time,
and his request was granted. The spraying, however, was deferred
longer than was originally intended, and it was now considered too late
in the season to obtain good results, so his trees were not sprayed.
Long before his pears were ripe this grower made a contract with the
manager of one of the canneries in this city whereby he was to deliver
his crop of pears to the cannery, for which he was to receive the sum of
$2,000. When, however, he delivered his first load of pears, so badly
were they infested with the-larve ef the Codling Moth that the manager
of the cannery refused to accept them. The grower then offered them
at three-quarters of the original price, but his offer was refused; he next
offered them for one-half of the price originally agreed upon, but the
manager informed him that he would not accept the pears even if they
were given to him free of all expense. By the outlay of a very small
sum of money necessary for spraying the trees all of this loss to the
grower might have been averted,

19866—No. 30-——3

REPORT UPON INSECT INJURIES IN NEBRASKA DURING
THE SUMMER OF 1892.

By LAWRENCE BRUNER, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

LINCOLN, NEBR., Nov. 12, 1892.
Sir: As special field agent for Nebraska, I submit herewith a report upon insect
injuries in this State during the summer of 1892. The report touches upon the out-
look for destructive locusts, but is mainly devoted to a consideration of certain sugar-
* beet insects, with a brief notice of the miscellaneous injurious insects of the season.
Very respectfully yours,
LAWRENCE BRUNER,
C. V. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist. .

DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS.

On account of the great amount of injury done by destructive locusts
during the past few years and because of their threatened increase
again early the present season in many localities over the country at
large, a careful watch has been maintained during the season that has
just passed for reported injury to crops by these much-dreaded insects.
It is with pleasure, therefore, that I am enabled to state that com-
paratively little damage has been done by them the country over.
True, in a few localities, there was some local injury; but, when we
take into consideration the fact that last year a number of different
species were unusually numerous in various portions of the country,
west, north, south, and east, it is certainly encouraging, to say the
least, that so little injury has resulted the present year.

Here in Nebraska several species hatched in rather large numbers
and began to do some injury to gardens; but during the summer these
became more or less infested with parasites of different kinds. These
parasites thinned their ranks materially. In a number of localities the
fungous disease known as Hmpusa grylli killed off myriads of the

34

35

remaining individuals, while at the same time others became literally
covered with the Locust Mite (Trombidium locustarum). In fact, so
extensively were these insects beset with afflictions of one or another
kind that but few eggs were deposited. Even where they were, the
large number of the egg parasites present will likely insure compar-
ative immunity from locust attack next year.

From the northward we have heard but little of the pest that at one
time last year appeared to be becoming so formidable. In central
Idaho and portions of Utah and Nevada, where several species did
considerable damage to both crops and grasses on the range, compara-
tively little injury has been reported, while from Colorado, western
Kansas, and southwestward, the pest seems to have dwindled to nearly
the normal condition for the region. Even in portions of Indiana,
Ohio, and other sections of the East, where last year these insects did
some injury, the conditions have somewhat improved.

CAUSES FOR THIS DECREASE IN THEIR NUMBERS.

It is not at all surprising that these insects have so suddenly become
less numerous in the many localities where they were so recently
threatening devastation. The large number of parasites and preda-
ceous insects which attack them have had an opportunity to increase
also. These latter, together with the Entomophthora, which has been
unusually abundant and severe during the past few years, have com-
bined in reducing the pest. Here in the city of Lincoln and envi-
ronments this year the dead bodies of Melanoplus differentialis were
to be seen by the thousands clinging to weeds, stems of grasses, and
other vegetation, where they were overtaken by death from the effects
of the disease. On some single weeds more than a dozen of the hop-
pers were frequently to be seen. The dead bodies of other species like
the femur-rubrum, bivittatus and atlanis were .also occasionally to be
met with upon the same weeds. These latter were, however, much less
common.

One feature observed in connection with the distribution of locusts
of this region was the presence in many parts of middle and eastern
Nebraska of such species as Dissosteira longipennis and Melanoplus spre-
tus, which must have come from abroad. Here at Lincoln both of these
species were of quite common occurrence. On the university campus
a female of the former was taken in coitu with a male of Dissosteira
carolina. Other specimens of the same species were taken at Norfolk,
Grand Island, West Point, and Columbus, and even in the vicinity of
Hot Springs, S. Dak. S

Such species as Camnula pellucida and the ees ae form of M.
atlanis, that have been mentidned on former oceasions as gradually
moving eastward and southward, were this year met with in rather
large numbers in different parts of the Black Hills and even in the
northwestern counties of Nebraska.

36
BEET INSECTS.

Possibly more attention was paid during the summer to sugar-beet
enemies than to any other class of insect pests inthe region watched
by me. This was due to the interest which is centered in that partic-
ular crop at the present time and also because of my having already paid
considerable attention to this subject. It is needless, therefore, for me
to state that during the season several additional species have been
found attacking that plant here in Nebraska. Among these a small
Hemipteron (Hadronema militaris Uhl.), that has heretofore been fre-
quently seen and taken on different species of Amarantus in the
western part of the state and in Colorado, was very common, in fact
quite numerous, upon a small patch of beets in Sioux county during
the latter part of July. Like others of these Hemiptera it attacks
the leaves and leaf stems by inserting 1ts beak and sucking the sap.
Usually, but not always, the points attacked show as stained or par-
tially deadened spots. Two or three additional leaf-hoppers were also
taken upon beets here and at Norfolk, West Point, Grand Island and
other locaties where beet fields were visited. These, however, were not
present in sufficient numbers to do any noticeable injury to the parts
attacked. The names of these were not ascertained, but will be re-
ported later if deemed advisable. 7

Blister-beetles of several species, though none that were new to the
plant, were unusually common and troublesome at a number of locali-
ties within this State and parts of Kansas during the season. Here at
Lincoln, as well as at other localities, the common black one, Epicauta
pennsylvanica, was exceedingly annoying to the owners of patches of
beets. This beetle always comes and goes in comparatively large num-
bers, and one never knows where it will settle in the field. Choosing
certain plants the insects congregate upon them and either eat the
leaves full of holes or completely strip off all the foliage before going
to the adjoining plants. Or, possibly, as soon as one plant has been
stripped, they will go to another part of the patch or else leave alto-
gether. In Sioux county the small Spotted Blister-beetle, Epicauta
maculata, appeared to be the most common of these insects, and
was always met with in large numbers on upland wherever beets were
erowing or a clump of the Chenopodium album occurred. Others of the
blister-beetles were taken in the beet fields during the season, but
these were present in much smaller numbers, and did but little dam-
age as compared with what was done by the two species named above.
Hand picking was more successfully used in combating these insects
than any other remedy tried. Poisons in the case of Hpicauta pennsyl-
vanica proved to be of little or no value, since the insects often left
immediately after the application was made, and at all times before
they had eaten sufficient of the poisoned leaves to have any visible
effect upon them. In the case of the Spotted Blister-beetle, poison was
not tried that I am aware of; but I believe it would be more effective

Crt >

37

against it than against pennsylvanica, for the former is less easily dis-
turbed when feeding, besides being more regular in its habits than the
latter. Like that species it is exceedingly gregarious in its nature,
and always occurs in immense numbers when found at all.

Some indications were found at West Point of the possible injury
that ean be inflicted upon the beet crop by White Grubs. Here on
one small field it was found that fully 15 per cent of the beets had been
killed or injured by some insect working under ground. An investiga-
tion soon showed the criminal to be the grubs of some one or more spe-
cies of Lachnosterna. These grubs had eaten away the tap-root and
all the fine fibrous roots at a distance varying from 6 to 8 or 9 inches
below the surface, but averaging about 7 inches. A dry spell coming
on the tops began wilting, and finally died, after which the roots rotted
in the ground. In this case the ground had been idle a year or more.
This would suggest to us the’advisability of not using grass land for
beets; but to plant in ground that has been thoroughly cultivated for
two or more years prior to its use for beets.

The Beet Web-worm.—Preéminent among the insects that attacked the
beet crop here in Nebraska during the season which is just coming toa
close, were two or more species of web-worms belonging tothe genus Lo.xo-
stege as at present restricted. Of these the one known as Lowostege stic-
ticalis has been the chief depredator. Its history as an injurious species
can be given briefly, as follows: By investigations instituted here at the
experiment station only after the injuryhad mostly occurred it was ascer-
tained that last year it was noticed that beets growing in the vicinity
of Grand Island, Norfolk, and some of the adjoining towns, which sup-
plied the beets for the two factories in the state, were infested by a
few of the worms. These, however, did not appear in sufficient num-
bers to cause alarm at the time, or even to suggest to the interested
parties the advisability of learning something of their nature, life his-
tory, and possible remedies. This year the caterpillars again made
their appearance in these same localities and also at the Government
station located at Schuyler. Considerable injury was done at this last-
named locality on the experimental plats of sugar beets by a brood of
the worms that matured late in July. Whether or. not this was the
first brood that appeared during the season 1s not positively known;
but that it was the first brood that did visible injury is quite evident.
Had this been otherwise the notice of Mr. Maxwell would have been
salled to them earlier in the season. As soon as the insect was ob-
served by him to threaten the beets in his charge, as I am informed,
specimens were at once sent to you in Washington. He also told me
that experiments were at once started with a view to controlling the
pest. Just what was accomplished in that direction I was unable to
learn at the time of my visit to Schuyler on the last of August when the
next brood was at its worst, but I presume he has reported to the
Department just what was accomplished in this direction,

38

We did not have the insect here at Lincoln in sufficient numbers to

attract attention. Althoughseveral larveof theordinary Garden Web-
worm (Lowxostege similalis) had been taken early in July, nothing was
thought of the matter and no further considerations taken concerning
them until after the destructive brood had done its work at Grand
Island and Schuyler, and a report of its presence and injuries was seen
in the state papers. A special inspection of our beet plats at this time
resulted in the finding of a number of specimens of another web-worm
that we had noticed on several former occasions working on Amarantus
and Chenopodium, but not on the beet. Upon visiting the station at
Schuyler it was found that this second web-worm was identical with
the one which occurred there; and, as Dr. Maxwell assured me, the
‘same as was then present at Grand Island and several others of the
surrounding towns where beets were being grown. A couple days
later the same insect was found to be quife plentiful at Norfolk, Platte
Center, and Genoa, where many of the beet fields either had been
stripped or were at the time being stripped of theirleaves. At Norfolk
the greater part of half a day was spentin company with Mr. Huxman,
the agriculturist in charge of the fields which supply that factory.
Here a careful examination of the grounds was made and some facts
gathered in relation to the insect as it appeared in this locality at least.
Several new insects were here added to the list of “ beet insects” as
heretofore recorded. Afterward Norfolk, Stanton, Wisner, Beemer,
and West Point were visited. At each of these localities sugar beets
had been planted for the Norfolk factory, and at each some signs of
the insect in question were found, though in much smaller numbers
than where beets had been grown the year before.

From observations made at these different localities, and from infor-
mation gathered through conversations held with various persons who
were interested in the culture of beets, the following facts were gath-
ered: These web-worms are more numerous away from sheltered locali-
ties than near bordering groves; and on high grounds, as hill tops and
slopes, than on low flat grounds; they are never plentiful on a piece of
ground planted to beets for the first time unless if adjoins one that was
in this crop the year before; they are more plentiful in the middle of
large fields than in small ones, and those that were allowed to run to
“pig weeds” the preceding year, than in those where these weeds were
kept down. ‘The insects are also apparently more numerous where the
soil is sandy than where it is heavier; at least this latter appeared
to be the case in the localities where I made my observations. It was
also learned that these web-worms are very subject to the attack of a
number of parasitic insects, as well as falling prey to several species of
predaceous beetles, bugs, and wasps, while birds and toads seem to rel-
ish them. Chief among the parasites reared from the specimens se-
cured at Schuyler, Norfolk, and Grand Island is a small yellowish
Hymenopterous fly. Next in point of numbers is a species of flesh-fly.

39

This latter was observed to be rather common in the fields both at
Schuyler and Norfolk, while it has been bred in fairly large numbers
from Grand Island worms. In addition to these, several other para-
sites have thus far been bred from the web-worms contained in my
breeding cages.

As to the life history of these web-worms we are posted only in a
general way, and not specifically. Our observations on the present spe-
cies, Loxostege sticticalis, have not extended over a period of more than
three months, hence we can not positively assert how it carries: itself
throughout the year. That it varies somewhat in its transformations
and developments at different periods of the year is quite evident from
what little we have seen of it so far. But two weeks is required be-
tween the maturity of the late July caterpillars and the appearance of
the moths for the next brood. ‘These immediately mate and deposit
their eggs for another brood. The worms must therefore transform to
chrysalids immediately after entering the grotind. Such is not the case
with the caterpillers of the last brood. With these the chrysalis stage
is not entered for some time—possibly not'until very late in the fall or
even during the following spring. When I visited the Grand Island
fields, fully three weeks after the last worms had entered the ground,
they were found still in the caterpillar stage. Even at the present
writing most of those in my breeding cages are unchanged. In this
respect the insect imitates the slugs of some of our saw-flies. Its bur-
row is made and lined with silk, and the inner cocoon constructed
immediately on entering the ground, but the worm instead of at once
changing to the pupa stage lies in a semi-torpid condition until the
proper time arrives for the change to take place, whether the insect
enters the ground during the summer brood or broods when transform-
ing, was not learned; but, if its life history is similar to that of the
common Garden Web-worm, Loxostege similalis, it does not, but merely
spin among the débris on top of the ground. Some of the larve of the
August brood transformed and issued during September and October.
It is barely possible that there is another set of caterpillars produced
by these stragglers during the fall if the weather permits; but, as
indicated above, the majority of the August brood remain unchanged
until sometime during the following spring.

At least three distinct forms of these web-worms were taken from
beet fields in different parts of the State, and a fourth one was found
upon Chenopodium album growing in waste places here at Lincoln.
Possibly still others might have been recognized if a close observation
had been kept for that purpose. The similar food habits among the
species of a genus of insects will very likely give us several more of
these web-worms to add to our already large list of beet insects.

The web-worm found feeding on the Chenopodium album here at Lin-
coln can be recognized by the following description which was drawn
up at the time of capture, and before itspunup: Length, 20™™; slender,

40

tapering gently towards both ends. Of a light transparent green, the
head and cervical shield inclining to amber yellow, but with a greenish
tinge. Four small, whitish piliferous spots upon dorsum of segments—
the anterior pair somewhat nearest together. Very fine hairs arising
from these piliferous spots, as well as from sides. Larva very active—
jumping aside and squirming vigorously when touched, as in the larvie
of Gardenand Beet Web-worms. Also spins a slight web when feeding,
to which it retreats when at rest.

Mamestra sp.—While walking through the beet fields at Norfolk
a number of specimens of a Noctuid larva, apparently a Mamestra,
were taken, in company with the web-worms mentioned above. This
larva is about the size and has something of the same general appear-
ance of the dark form of M. chenopodii, but differs from that insect in
habits and markings. It was apparently quite plentiful, as specimens
were taken at several different points in the fields, and three of them
were found on a single row within 6 feet of one another. None of them
were reared, aS my breeding jar was overturned and the caterpillars
destroyed by some one who meddled with affairs not belonging to his
duties.

Anthomyia sp.—In connection with beet insects it might be well here
to refer to a Dipterous larva that was taken herein Lincoln mining the
leaves of Chenopodium album. Whether or not this is one of the spe-
cies of Anthomyia which Lintner found mining the leaves of beet in
New York, I can not say; but, from what I have observed heretofore
in connection with these weed-feeding insects, there is danger of all of
the enemies of the Chenopodaceous plants attacking the beet. Hence,
whether this is a recorded enemy of the beet or not, it is very liable to
become such sometime in the future. In its mode of attack this larva
is somewhat peculiar, entering the leaf and feeding upon the pulp it soon
separates the cuticles, making the leaves appear blistered. The mag-
got, in case of the Chenopodium, requires the substance of severalleaves
before coming to maturity, hence is obliged to pass from one leaf to
another. These maggots are from 7 to 8™™ in length and nearly 2™™
in their greatest diameter. When ready to transform they enter the
ground and there undergo their change to the pupa. One of the im-
agos issued within ten days of the time of entering the ground. The
others, of which there were five, are still in the ground.

Silpha opaca.—During my visit at Norfolk and while talking with
Mr. Huxman relative to Beet Insects in general, he mentioned the fact
of theinjury done by Silpha opaca in Germany. He said that the larva
of this beetle was by all odds the most troublesome insect pest with
which beet growers in that country had to deal. Hand picking was
the remedy usually resorted to. He also stated that he had seen sey-
eral specimens of the insect during the past summer at West Point,
this State, upon sugar beets, and that he had killed them. He said
that he could not be mistaken about the insect, as he had seen too

41

many of them in Europe not to know them at sight. With this second
reported presence of this insect in beet fields at this one locality it
begins to appear that perhaps, after all, it is present in America.

CHINCH-BUG NOTES.

While this insect has not been general over the State, it has begun
to increase in such numbers in some of the counties along our southern
boundary as to cause an uneasy feeling among the farmers of the sec-
tion in question. Several letters have been received from different
individuals in the counties of Nuckolls, Franklin, and Fillmore, asking
for aid in the suppressing of this insect, which, as their letters stated,
was becoming quite numerous and was threatening the fall wheat.
They all asked for diseased bugs with which “to innoculate the healthy
ones” in their respective neighborhoods. These letters were received
during the latter part of September. Heavy rains have fallen in the

“region since, and nothing further concerning the bugs has been heard.

MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS.

Aside from the damage to beets by web-worms, the most marked

injury done by insect pests in Nebraska during the season which has

- just come to a close was due to the presence of several species of cater- -
pillars and saw-fly larvee. Some of these have been excessively numer-
ous in portions of the State, where they did great injury to the trees
attacked. Some of these were the tent caterpillars, Fall Web-worm,
the Walnut Datana, Cecropia larva, Green-striped Maple-worm, Tus-
sock Moth, the Ash-tree Sphinx, Cvlodasys unicornis, and a species of
Lyda (?) that worked upon the wild and tame plums. The Pear-tree
Saw-fly also made its appearance within the State and did some injury
to trees growing near Norfolk, in Madison County.

In towns and cities the caterpillar pest appears to be greatly on the
increase, and it is next to impossible to impress upon the authorities
the necessity for taking decisive steps toward their destruction, ‘The
comparative absence of insectivorous birds and of predaceous and para-
sitic insects is the cause for their increase. These latter are kept down

. by the burning of rubbish and other refuse under which they hide and
spend their winters.

REPORT ON INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA.

By HERBERT OSBORN.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

Ames, Iowa, November 5, 1892.
Dear Sir: I inclose herewith a report on some of the observations for the year
1892, and beg to acknowledge at this time the many favors received which have been
a material assistance in the prosecution of the year’s work.
Very respectfully yours,
HERBERT OSBORN.
Drm. sv. hiley;,
U. S. Entomologist, Washington, D. C.

Perhaps the most striking features of the insect conditions the
present year have been the almost total absence of many of the com-
mon pests during the early part of the season, a consequent slight
amount of damage from insect attack, and the rapid multiplication of
insects during the later months of the year and some quite conspicuous
injuries. One of the most striking instances of this is to be noted in
the plant-lice which were exceptionally rare during the spring and sum-
mer, butin late summer and autumn multiplied prodigiously and caused
serious injuries to many kinds of plants.

The season was unusually backward and the spring months marked
by much rain and cold weather, which retarded insect lifein general.

Such reports as were received during the early part of the season
indicated little if any damage even from such common pests as cut-
worms, squash beetles, etc.

The species of “ bill-bugs” (Sphenophorus), which have been searcely
noticed in the State heretofore, have become plentiful, and one species,
Sphenophorus parvulus, quite threatening in its attacks upon corn. This
indicates naturally a considerable damage to grasses and probably
wheat and other cereals, which passes without notice. It is quite prob-
able that this species will demand serious attention from Iowa farmers
during the next few years. Sphenophorous ochreus has attracted some

42

=

43

attention, but no serious damage has resulted from its presence so far
as I know, and I do not anticipate from it any serious difficulties for
this State.. Attention has been called to these in a paper read before
the Association of Economie Entomologists at Rochester and pub-
lished in INSECT LIFE (vol. V, p. 111), and no further notice of them
need be given here. Several cases of insects affecting grain in storage
have come to my notice, and especially in the case of mill owners there
seems to.be a decided interest in the subject and a: desire to adopt
remedies for the insect pests that infest their mills. It is needless to
add that the recommendation of bisulphide of carbon has given very
satisfactory results.

The Potato Stalk Weevil (Trichobaris trinotata Say) has been quite
plentiful and destructive, causing a loss of a large percentage of the
crop on the college farm and probably over a considerable part of the
State, though from the nature of its attack it seems to escape the
notice of most growers.

A quite notable outbreak which came directly under observation was
that of the Diamond-back Moth (Plutella cruciferarum) upon Rape,
Cabbage, Cauliflower, and related plants. This insect has seldom
caused any noticeable injury, though often observed as occurring in
limited numbers, but this year it became so abundant as to seriously
damage all the patches of Rape on the college grounds. The worms
are so well protected in folds of the plant leaf and many of them on
the under side that they are difficult to kill, and sprays of London
purple were only partially successful, and it seemed that this poison
applied in the form of powder diluted with flour and blown among the
leaves was more effective.

The Cabbage Plusia (Plusia brassice) was also plentiful and accom-
panied the preceding species in their attacks on Rape, Cabbage, ete.
For a time they caused more injury than that species. They were,
however, attacked by a disease that swept many of them off, so that
their damage was perhaps not so important in the aggregate as that
of the preceding species.

The Imported Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapw) was not seen at all
in the early part of the season and it was thought that the Apanteles
glomeratus mentioned in last season’s report had accomplished a thor-
ough work; but late in August and early in September buttertlies ap-
peared in large numbers and larve were fairly plentiful in some cab-
bage patches during October. Of course the scarcity during the fore
part of the season may have been due to the previous abundance of
parasites, but it shows that such parasitism does not furnish a perma:
nent check. Specimens received from Des Moines were abundantly ©
parasitized with Pteromalus puparum, and this species, with the Apan-
teles glomeratus and the epidemic disease that occasionally sweeps them
away, certainly conspire to assist greatly in the reduction of damage
from this widespread pest,

44

Specimens of the larvae of the Army Worm (Leucania unipuncta)
were received from Muscatine County with the information that they
were injuring crops in a considerable area in that county, but as they
were evidently full grown probably their injuries ceased almost im-
mediately afterward, so that I have no further information as to in-
juries from them or of their being present in any other localities in that
part of the State.

The Clover-seed Caterpillar (Grapholitha interstinctana) was again
plentiful and caused a considerable loss in the clover crop. This
species feeds readily on the leaves or in the crown of the plant and so
does much injury aside from its destruction of the clover seed.

A common Pyralid moth related to the species of Crambus, the
Nomophila noctuella, was extremely plentiful in grass land during early
October, swarms of them being seen in all pastures and meadows. In
a previous report I have called attention to this species as a probable
Serious pest 1n grasses, with habits similar to those of Crambus, and
the observations this season on the numbers of the adults and their
habits confirm my opinion that they have larval habits similar to
Crambus and that they must cause a serious loss in pastures and
meadows. Work upon other species has precluded any effort to trace
the larval history the past season, and so far as I am aware nothing
has been recorded with regard to it. It seems to me well deserving of
juvestigation. The imagos of Crambus exsiccatus, a species which has
heretofore been reported upon, with details of its life history, were
plentiful this season, but not in such numbers as in some former years.
Still they may be counted as among the very constant destructive
species.

Edema albifrons was quite plentiful on Oak, and has been received
from other localities, and would seem to be more than ordinarily
destructive this season.

The larve of quite a number of Lepidoptera that are usually rather
scarce or inconspicuous were during autumn quite abundant. Among
these I may mention Papilio cresphontes, which, though usually very
rare here, was taken in considerable numbers upon Prickly Ash.
Mamestra picta, generally rare here (which may sound strange to ento.
mologists in some other localities), was fairly common, though not to be
counted a destructive species. Actias luna was quite common and
many specimens were brought in by students. Also Hyperchiria io,
very seldom seen in any great numbers, was found in considerable
numbers. Datana angusti, as usual, was abundant, and Grapta inter-
rogationis and Vanessa antiopa were conspicuous in their attacks. The
common species, Papilio turnus and Papilio asterias, were more abun-
dant than usual, and in some cases did damage to their respective food-
plants.

At the meeting of the Association of Economic Entomologists held
in August I reported some notes on the life histories of certain Jassi-

45

dz which have been noted as specially destructive in this State, and
which have a general distribution over the country. Since these have
a general importance and some further details have been worked out
since the presentation of that paper, I will venture to repeat briefly the
facts as at present available.

A quite important step has been gained in the determination of the
winter conditions of the strictly grass-feeding species, notably Delto-
cephalus inimicus, D. debilis, and Diedrocephala mollipes. These all
deposit eggs in autumn in the leaves or stems of grass and the eggs
remain in such situations over winter, hatching in spring.

The suggestion made in my report for 1889 (Bulletin 22, Div. Ent., U.
S. Dept. Agriculture) is therefore well founded, and the burning over
of grass land in late fall or early spring, when the grass is dry enough to
burn down to near the surface of the ground, should prove a most effec-
tive and inexpensive method of treatment for pastures and meadows to
reduce the numbers of these pests.

The life histories of the most common and abundant species may
now be summarized as follows:

Deltocephalus inimicus.—Larve hatch from eggs deposited in fall, the
larvee appearing when fairly warm weather begins—ordinarily in April.
The larve is at first light colored, but after the first molt has a black
lateral border, a character by means of which it can be readily sepa-
rated from debilis. These larvee mature by the latter part of June,
and imagos are plentiful during the last of June and fore part of July,
becoming scarce again the latter part of that month, but depositing eggs
which hatch in July and early August, and larvee are very plentiful
during early August and mature during the latter part of that month
and early in September. This brood deposits eggs which remain over
winter, though some of the earlier deposited eggs probably hatch in
the fall and produce a late brood of larvee, some of which seem to mature,
and this probably accounts for the numerous individuals sometimes to
be seen on warm days in Jate autumn and early winter. These seem to
all perish before spring and probably without depositing any eggs.
There is naturally a considerable amount of irregularity in the first
appearance of adults and the time of egg deposition, but as these
broods observed in the field have been paralleled with laboratory breed-
ings there can remain little doubt as to the normal number and the
time at which the bulk of the broods appear.

Deltocephalus debilis has practically the same life history, except that
the broods appear about two weeks earlier, so that some adults will be
found at the time the majority of inimicus are nearly grown larvee.
This makes it possible to use the tar pan at the time when the greatest
numbers may be secured, which for most seasons will be at the time
of the appearance of larve of both species, in late May and early June,
again in early July, and a third time, if necessary, late in July or early
in August. Of course applications will be made with reference to times

46

when larve or adults are noticed as hopping abundantly, and it seems
from results of this season’s work that the greatest numbers of hop-
pers are captured in the afternoons of warm days, with little or no wind,
the hoppers seeming to jump best between 3 and 6 p. m.

Further tests of the tar pan have confirmed its value in destroying
these pests, and a field test made with the codperation of the farm
department of the Experiment Station, and reported in full in Bulletin
19, lowa Experiment Station, has shown that its use will practically
enable the farmer to keep a larger number of cattle, sheep, or other
animals upon grass land. In the experiment referred to, the result
showed a gain of 68 per cent, but inasmuch as the experimental plat
lay alongside other grass land and was subject to invasion from. this,
it seems to me that by a continued use of the treatment and over whole
pastures, so as to preclude migration of insects from adjacent areas, we
would get a still better result, and while it is perhaps too much to
hope to get an increase sufficient to double the number of animals pas-
tured on an ordinary field, I should hope to secure some such propor-
tion, at least, if other destructive insects were also kept within bounds.

Another very widespread and destructive species is the Diedrocephala
mollipes, and this has been the subject of a thesis study by Mr. J. A.
Rolfs, a senior student in entomology here this year. The main facts
in its life history may be stated in brief in this connection. The eggs
in fall are mostly deposited in the rank grass of low ground, the insects
preferring low ground during dry weather, which usually prevails for
a few weeks in autumn. The larve hatching in spring, during May or
early June, become adult by the latter part of June or early July, and
in ordinary seasons will largely migrate to higher ground and deposit
eggs, so that the second brood of larve, which appears in September,
for the most part will be found widely distributed on both high and
low ground, and may cause great damage. These larve mature by
early October, and the imagos will, many of them, move to low ground
to deposit eggs. It is evident that the burning over of sloughs and
swampy or low ground is very desirable in the treatment of this
species.

Plant-lice have been very plentiful during the autumn months, a
strong contrast to their scarcity during the early part of the season.
I had hardly returned from the Rochester meeting, where I reported a
scareity of these insects, when they became very conspicuous in their
abundance.

Myzus persice on wild plum trees was among the species most notice-
able, but the injuries it caused were by no means so severe as oceurs
when it is abundant in the early part of the season and attacks the
growing twigs and the fruit.

Aphis brassice was specially noticeable on Rape, where it caused a
considerable amount of damage, rendering the crop unfit for feeding.
It was quite numerously infested with parasites in late autumn.

AT

Many other species were abundant, and especially during October
hosts of individuals were seen migrating from their summer locations
to the plants which support their winter eggs. On some of these
observations were made, but they can best be included in a discussion
of the species in detail when their full life histories are worked out.

Last year I made a trip for the Division to western Kansas to inves-
tigate a local outbreak of grasshoppers, a report of which, with the
recommendations suggested, was published in INSECT LIFE, vol. Iv, p.49.

Naturally, I was interested to know the outcome for the present sea-
son and wrote to parties in Garden City and Lakin, asking for a state-
ment as to the abundance and injuries and what steps, if any, were
taken in destroying them, I received two letters, from which I extract
the following:

GARDEN City, KANs., August 20, 1892.

DerAR Srr: The grasshopper has been quite bad in localities. I think, from
reports, that it will do almost as much damage as last year in the aggregate. Ona
few farms the wheat was injured and oats entirely destroyed—probably not more
than one-half crop at the best. Farmers report that the fly is not killing many of
them. Machines were made for capturing them. Some report large numbers taken.

ANDREW SABINE.

LATER.—Since writing the within I have been making inquiries and find that the
hopper has been destructive only in spots. Wheat has not been injured. Some
fields of oats destroyed. In other places only a few acres would be destroyed. They
are commencing to disappear. Some say that they are dying rapidly. I met noone
who had looked for the cause of death. Toads were innumerable this year—so much
so that “ everybody” was talking about it. I think the damage this year will fall
much below that of 1891.

A. 8.

LAKIN, KAns., August 7, 1892.

* * * As to the number of hoppers I see very little difference from last year.
By far the most damage has been done by Melanoplus differentialis. I send yousome
hoppers caught this morning; also some dead ones found on asparagus. You can
judge from the stalks the effect that they have had on that. There is a little green
growth on the bottom yet. Parasitic Tachinids have destroyed more than last year.
As to fighting them very little has been done, and that in a half-hearted way. I
cleaned them out of the orchard wherever I cultivated the ground early enough and
solidly. Am satisfied that they can be caught on the alfalfa by hopper-dozers, We
have had some trouble in getting pans made, but they are bound to work if taken
in time.

These hoppers will be likely to stay and grow fat just so long as we give them a
good breeding ground and plenty to eat. We had some cold wet weather lastspring
just as they were hatching, which checked them some, but they seem to have out-
grown it. I find a good many young ones now.

J. W. LONGSTRETH.
Prof. H. OSBORN,
Ames, Towa.

TESTS OF THE BOTRYTIS TENELLA ON LACHNOSTERNA.

During the spring we received from your office a tube of Botrytis
tenella from France, with instructions to test it on Lachnosterna lary
in this locality.

48

Four tests were made of the material, following the directions for
preparing and applying that accompanied the tube. Two of these tests
were made in the laboratory in small glass root cages and two of the
tests were in outdoor plats.

In the first laboratory experiment, May 26, about twenty larvee were
treated, ten of which were inciosed in a root cage two and one-half by
four feet deep, and ten in an outdoor plat. Examinations later showed
no result.

At the same time a few treated larve were placed in a glass root cage,
the earth in which had been sterilized by continued baking, and kept
in the laboratory for the purpose of closer observation. One specimen
included in this cage was found to be covered with a small cyst of earth
filled with a mycelial growth and the larve itself was covered with a
dense white growth of mycelia. Another grub in this same cage went
on and pupated and showed no signs of being affected by its treatment
nor from being in contact with the diseased larva.

On June 25d another test was made, both in laboratory and _ field.
Twenty-three treated larvee were inclosed in a glass root cage 24 by 36
by 34 inches inside. This was filled with sterilized earth to within 6
inches of the top. The earth had been sterilized by heating in a hot
air oven from six to eight hours at 70° to 90° C. These were examined
August 28. Three live grubs were found and five beetles. A num-
ber of larve, with no signs of growth, were observed dead on the sur-
face afew days after treatment, and it is probable that they had been
slightly injured before or during collecting, as they were picked up in
furrow after the plow. The outdoor experiment, as in the first case,
gave no result.

It will be seen that the only successful inoculation was of a single
larva in a laboratory cage, and this diseased larva did not communicate
the disease to another in close proximity to it. The field experiments
showed no result whatever, though it can not be said but that larve
became affected and escaped our notice in later examinations and that
the disease may appear hereafter.

The tubes evidently contain a small proportion of spores and a large
proportion of starch, so that it is possible the larve did not all get an *
inoculation with spores.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE SEASON OF 1892.

By Mary E. MurtFe.pt,

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

Kirkwoop, Mo., November 2, 1892.

Str: I herewith submit such of my entomological notes for the past season as
relate to species of economic importance, including accounts of a few species that
have not hitherto been included in that category. I have been much interested in
the study of several other species, also pernicious or beneficial, but as these have not
yet reached full development, I beg to reserve my notes upon them until I shall be
able to complete the record.

Respectfully
‘ Mary E. MURTFELDT.

Dr. C. V. RILEY.
U. S. Entomologist.

MISCELLANEOUS MEMORANDA,

The climatic peculiarity of the past season throughout the Missis-
sippi Valley was found in the excessive rainfall and the low temperature
of the spring and early summer. That these conditions would produce
a noticeable effect upon insect life can not be doubted. Wheat fields
and corn lands that were inundated during April and a part of May,
so far as I have been able to ascertain, entirely escaped attack from
Chinch Bugs and Bill Bugs. I am also inclined to ascribe to the same
cause the somewhat remarkable non. appearance of the Colorado Potato-
beetle over a wide area of the country. So absolute was this disap-
pearance that repeated and careful search in this locality for specimens
upon which to test insecticides failed to reveal a single beetle or larva.
I can not say, however, that the potato crop was the better for this
immunity. The plants seemed sufficiently vigorous, but the tubers
were few and small and the crop in Missouri almost a failure.

Another insect that seems to have mostly deserted this section of the
country is the Grape Phylloxera. For two or three seasons I have not
noticed any galls on the leaves of even the most susceptible varie-
ties, and examinations of the roots of Delaware, Taylor, Catawba, and

19866—No. 30-———4. 49

50

Herbemont have shown them to be free, or almost free from the sub-
terranean form of the pest. Such old vines of the above and other
delicate varieties of the fruit as had been suffered to remain in some of
the vineyards around Kirkwood, have, for the last two years, renewed
their vigor and borne good crops.

Flea-beetles gave very little trouble where gardeners had been care-
ful, during previous seasons, to eradicate such weeds as Lepidium and
Ar aoe from the neighborhood of their vegetable beds, since it is in the
leaves of these that Phyllotreta sinuata Steph., with us by far the most
abundait and destructive species, chiefly breeds.

The Cabbage Cureulio (Ceutorhynchus rape Gyll.) occasions much
loss and annoyance to market gardeners in some parts of the State, by
boring into the crown and roots of young cabbage and cauliflower
plants, in many cases destroying 25 per cent of the plants in the hot-
beds and just after they are set out, As this insect does not trouble
the plants after the heads begin toform, I was at a loss to conjecture
what became of it during the summer and autumn, From experiments”
conducted this year I am convinced that it returns to its original food
plant, the wild Pepper-grass (Lepidium virginicum). I succeeded in
obtaining young larve in stems of the latter plant in July, but as the
plants did not thrive indoors I was unable to bring the insect through
its transformations.

Disonycha collaris is establishing its title as a spinach pest, its perfo-
rations being seen during Apriland May in almost every leaf of that
highly esteemed potherb. As both beetles and larvae drop to the
ground upon the slightest disturbance of their food-plant they are sel-
dom associated with their destructive work.

The foliage of roses in Kirkwood and vicinity suffered this summer
from the attacks of all three of the species of sawfly larvee described in
vol. v, INSECT LIFE (p. 6), Cladius pectinicornis being very numerous and
reducing the leaflets on some bushes to mere shreds. An infusion of
white hellebore proved an effective remedy, but the necessity of apply-
ing it at intervals throughout the season adds materially to the labors
of the rose-grower.

The Twelve-spotted Diabrotica appeared in countless numbers in
flower gardens during September and October, and wrought ruin on
the blossoms of dahlias, zinias, cosmos, and early chrysanthemums.
To kill it on the flowers, or render them distasteful to it, involves
the sacrifice of all the beauty of the latter, by spraying with the
arsenites or kerosene emulsions. Where the insect breeds in such
swarms I have not been able to discover. Certainly it was not in any
of the corn fields around Kirkwood, for I uprooted a large number of
plants in the immediate neighborhood of our flower garden without
finding any trace of larve or pup. I think its native and favorite
food-plant remains to be discovered. Another unmanageable pest, of
which there is complaint is the the Corn Ear-worm (Heliothis armiger).

51

It shows a marked partiality for the sweet table varieties, of which it
destroyed in the gardens around St. Louis between 25 and 30 per cent
of the ears.

The Tineide as well as the larger Lepidoptera contribute their full
quota of species injurious to growing vegetation, in addition to those that
prey upon stored grain and household property. Among the former the
Box-elder Gracilaria (Gracilaria. negundella) was exceedingly abundant
during the past season in this locality, the leaves of the favorite shade
tree upon which it feeds being thickly spotted with its preliminary mines
and having almost every lobe turned down to form the three-cornered
tent, within which the larva feeds after its first molt. Many of the
cocoonets of the latest brood were parasitized, however, aud it may not
another season prove so disfiguring to the trees.

ADDITIONAL INJURIOUS INSECTS.
THE OSAGE ORANGE PYRALID

(Loxostege maclure Riley.)

Among the insects that are to be recorded for the first time with
“noxious species” the one named above has, in this section of the
country, acquired especial prominence.

Its work was first observed upon the hedges of Kirkwood and vicin-
ity in the autumn of 1890, where for a few yards in a place the twigs
and branches appeared nearly denuded of foliage. Examination failed
to reveal the author of the mischief, and it was attributed to some
Orthopteron, especially to those of the Tree Cricket family. The fol-
lowing year its ravages were seen on all the hedges of the county,
greatly impairing their beauty. Late in summer the pest was dis-
covered, and the habits by which it had so long eluded my search
brought to light. During the present year its work has been increas-
ingly destructive, and unless concerted action is taken for its extermina-
tion the hedges of the Mississippi Valley will no longer be either orna-
mental or useful.

The depredator is a small, glassy, pale green caterpillar, more or less
gregarious, especially during the first larval stages. It is the young
of a rather inconspicuous Pyralid moth, new to this region, if not to
science, which may be popularly described as follows:

Expanse of wings nearly seven-eighths inch, or 24™™, Fore-wings satiny in tex-
ture, of a pale brownish-gray color, sometimes, when the insect is perfectly fresh,
faintly tinged with green or roseate, and always crossed by three curving, wavy,
interrupted, dusky lines; the outer margin back of the very short white fringes
being also dark. Hind-wings similar in color to the fore-wings, but thinner, without
the dark cross lines, but with dusky shadings on the lower edges. Body, brownish-
gray above, satiny white beneath. Head narrow, with projecting, beak-like palpi,
margined with white, very long tongue, large hemispherical eyes of a mottled, dark-
brown color, and slender, tapering, threadlike antenne three-fourths the length of
the wings. The abdomen is very slender, and somewhat constricted or laterally
compressed, with long terminal joint upturned. Legs long, of a glistening white
color,

52

These moths emerge in spring from the first to the middle of May,
and may be seen on warm evenings fluttering in great numbers about
the hedges. They are not much attracted by lamplight, but occasion-
ally one enters a lighted room. The eggs are laid on the under sides of
the Osage Orange leaves in irregularly shaped masses of from twenty-
five to fifty. They are circular, very flat, pale yellow, and each has
a delicate semitransparent membranous border. Like those of certain
other Pyralids, they overlap, fish-scale fashion, and as the embryo de-

velops each egg displays two minute black marks or lines. The larva

hatch in five or six days, and, unless disturbed, remain in a close cluster,
feeding upon the parenchyma of the under side of the leaf, which sur-
face they closely resemble in color. At the slightest jar they curl up
and drop to the ground. In six days the first molt takes place, and, if
they have not sooner exhausted their food supply and been forced to
scatter, they now migrate in small companies to fresh leaves, which, in
feeding, they begin to perforate. When not feeding they stretch them-
selves alongside the midrib and principal veins, where their translu-
cent, pale green color and very slender form enable them to escape
observation. As they approach maturity they become still more elu-
sive, retiring from the leaves during the day and resting upon the inner
twigs and stems, which their coloring at this period usually imitates.
They spin considerable web upon the under sides of the leaves, and
draw out the threads as they craw] back and forth from the stems to the
leaves. In these webs and threads more or less of the castings are
caught, and add to the disfigurement of the plant.

Larva.—The full-grown larva is from eight to nine-tenths of an inch long (20
to 24™™) by about three-twentieths (4™™") inch in diameter in the middle when
crawling. It is somewhat contracted and broadened in repose. The form is sub-
cylindrical, tapering slightly toward either end. The color at this stage is variable,
in some specimens translucent pinkish, in others dull green, and again of the gray-
brown shade of the twigs, always obscurely striped on the dorsum and sides with a
darker shade of the ground color, and having a narrow, but distinct, ivory-white
stigmatal band. Piliferous dots black, surrounded with a paler ring, largest just
above stigmatal band; four in subdorsal spaces on eleventh segment being in the
hollow of conspicuous crescents, convex toward the sides. Head narrower than
thoracie joints; cordate, with rounded lobes of a pale brown color, with irregular
stripes in a slightly darker shade, trophi fuscous. Legs and prolegs concolorous
with general surface.

The cocoon in which the worm incloses itself for transformation is of
irregular shape and fits the chrysalis very loosely. It is of a fine tex-
ture and pale pinkish or dingy white color. The summer broods change
to chrysalis soon after inclosure, but the hibernating one remains in
the larva form until late in winter.- The chrysalis is from 12 to 14™™
long, very slender, with slight corrugations on the posterior edge of
the segments, and of a bright brown color. The cocoons are formed,
sometimes several together, among the webbed and fallen leaves on the
surface of the ground. At this date (December 1) the hibernating larve
are somewhat shrunken and all of an opaque yellowish-white color, on

- yo

53

which the fuscous dots, rings, and crescents are very prominent. I
have learned of the presence of the insect in one or two counties
besides St. Louis, and have reason to think it quite widely disseminated,
although not so destructive to hedges in more sparsely settled localities
as it is in the various suburbs of St. Louis. Thorough spraying with
any of the arsenites will kill it, but the process needs frequent repeti-
tion during the season, and much pains must be taken to wet the inner
as well as the outer leaves.

The principal enemy of this insect, in its own class, is the Spined
Soldier-bug (Podisus spinosus), of whose larvee and pup: I found a large
number at different times with their beaks inserted in the bodies of
the wriggling larve. <A few larve were also destroyed by the small
Ichneumonid, which was kindly determined for me at the Department
as Bracon juglandis Ashm.

THE BLUE-GRASS WORM,
(Crambus teterrellus Zinck.)

For two or three years the moths of this species have in this locality
outnumbered alli the other species of Crambids combined. In the day-
time they would flutter up from the grass before us at every step and at
night our lighted windows would be covered with them. About the first
of August, when these moths were most abundant, I had occasion to dig
up a bit of sod from the lawn, and upon examining it closely I found sev-
eral galleries of fine white web, with sparse minglings of castings
formed against and between the stems and blades of the grass. In
each of these tubes was a minute, dingy white larva, then 4 or 5™ in
length. This piece of sod was carefully planted in a large rearing jar
and watered, so that it might continue to grow. A day or two after
this a considerable number—eighteen or twenty—of minute, salmon-col-
ored eggs were found ona window-sill near a dead specimen of the moth
above named. By means of a fine camel’s hair brush these eges were
transferred to a glass tube containing several blades of grass, and in the
course of two or three days about a dozen tiny larve, of a cream-white
color, with brown heads, had hatched. Placing them upon growing
grass, they soon began the formation of tubes or galleries similar to those
taken out of doors, and as they continued to develop, it was plain that
they were identical with the latter.

During the dry weather of August and September others were found
on the lawn, where the grass had withered in small patches, and it was
evident that to this species is dune to a considerable degree the faded
appearance and scanty growth of the blue grass during the latter part
of summer.

The growth of the larvie was very slow and seemingly out of all pro-
portion to the amount of web tubing constructed. <A single larva, not
more than one-third of an inch long, seemed to require for its demicile

54

a gallery 2 or 24 inches in length, and with a diameter two or three
times in excess of its own. The upper part of this tube would be
exceedingly diaphanous, but as it descended more and more of the brass
was intermingled until at the base it became quite compact. During
the day the larva rested quietly in this retreat, but at night it emerged
and fed upon the freshest of the contiguous blades. So far as I could
ascertain it seldom or never cut through the stalk or bored up or down
through the heart of the plant.

The larvee seemed to attain maturity from the middle to the last of
September, after which they rested quietly for some time in their gal-
leries, without inclosing themselves in more protective cocoons.

Being absent from home for four or five weeks, from early in October
until the middle of November, my jars were overlooked in the water-
ing process, and upon my return I found all the larve dead and dry.
As the species was known to ine, however, this was not so unfortunate
as it might have been.

In the jar containing specimens collected at various ages from the
lawn were the remains of two or three hymenopterous parasites and four
cocoons of the characteristic form, color, and structure of Meteorus,
closely resembling those of J. hyphantrie.

I append more particular description of egg and larva.

Egg.—Obconical 0.5" long, beautifully sculptured under the lens, with longitu-
dinal ridges and finer cross lines, giving it a checkered appearance. Color, bright
salmon pink.

Larva.— At first of a dingy cream white, minutely speckled with brown, with
brown head.

At maturity 15™™ in length, by 2™™ in diameter, subcylindrical, slightly larger
across thoracic segments.

Color dingy yellowish or greenish white, with dull green medio-dorsal
stripe. The surface is much roughened with impressed lines, with
conspicuous, raised corneous, fuscous plates, from each of which arises
a long, coarse, tapering, golden-yellow hair. Head with protruding
lobes and rugose surface, and of a dull whity brown color. Cervical
shield inconspicuous, darker than the head.

Pupa not yet observed.

The moth is well known as one of the least conspicuous of the group
of beautiful species to which it belongs. It expandsabout three-fourths
inch, with a brownish-white body and hind-wings. ore-wings grayish-
white, streaked with pale brown, with two silvery gray shaded wavy
lines crossing the outer third; just back of the fringes, which have a
golden, metallic luster, is a row of seven small but distinet black dots,

LASIOPTERA SP? IN TwiGs OF HONEY LOCUST.

The work of the above Cecidomyiid was first noticed in the summer of
1891 on the shoots and new growth of the Honey Locust, a shade tree
of considerable value with us, and during the past season it became
more and more injurious and conspicuous. The irritation of the plant

55

tissue produced by this insect causes remarkable tumefaction and dis-
tortion of the twigs and scantiness and yellowing of the foliage, result-
ing in a complete checking of growth.

The perfect insect is a minute fly or gnat, expanding about 4 inch,
having a glossy black body and broad transparent fore-wings, with a
rather strong marginal vein, and a faint, forked vein on the lower
edge. These gnats emerge from their cells early in May and lay their
eggs (which I have not so far been able to detect) on the succulent
new growth of the tree into which the microscopic larve easily burrow
and begin the formation of their cells, very shortly producing gall-like
swellings and twisting of the stems. These cells, each about 4 inch
long, and oblong in shape, become, as the season advances, exceed-
ingly compact, almost stony, and in some cases almost fill the shoots
for a space of from 5 to 7 inches in length. They are placed longi-
tudinally, and a cross-section of a twig one-fifth inch in diameter will
often cut four or five, although they are seldom regularly arranged
side by side. The larve attain their growth in July or August, and
remain unchanged in their cells until the following spring. They are
at this time from three to four millimeters in length by one in diameter,
cylindrical, with segments well defined, of a bright salmon-pink color,
with conspicuous “ breast-bone” in dark brown.

The outlet to the surface is probably by the passage through which
the larva worked its way within the stem, though in what way extended,
to admit of the egress of the much larger pupa, I can not tell. At all
events when ready to emerge the pupz are protruded, sometimes
singly, in other cases in clusters of three or four where the larval
cells have coalesced, from minute orifices all along the stem, giving it
quite a tringy appearance with the erect translucent white empty pupa
cases.

Two species of parasites have been bred from these Lasioptera galls,
and examinations of infested twigs within a few weeks discloses more
larve of parasites than of the original gall-makers.

DIPLosIS sp? ON Sorr MAPLE.

This is a probably undescribed species, also a Cecidomyiid, which
destroyed a considerable proportion of the very young leaves of Soft
Maple in Kirkwood and vicinity early in the spring. The punctures of
the insect caused a peculiar curling and shriveling of the leaves, and
in every depression would be found a minute white larva not more than
2e™ in length and 0.5 in diameter across the anterior end, from whence
it tapered slightly posteriorly.

The first brood of flies emerged in June from little flattened oval
cocoonets spun against the surface of the leaves. A second brood
appeared late in July rolling the edges and crinkling the centers of the
more tender leaves, but was far less injurious to the appearance of the
trees than the earlier one.

56

Still another Cecidomyiid, of which I did not obtain the fly, attacked
the foliage of the sugar maples in Kirkwood, curling and producing a
gall-like thickening of the edges of the leaves. The affected portions
turned crimson and gave the foliage the appearance of being covered
with long, slender, red worms.

My attention was not called to this insect until it was too late to learn
its natural history or to attempt the use of any remedy.

SCARCITY OF PARASITES OF CODLING MOTH AND PLUM CURCULIO.

Having always had some misgivings that in the practice of spraying
fruit trees with the arsenites, we were destroying our most valuable
allies in our warfare with the above-named pests, I made it a point dur-
ing the past season to ascertain what proportion of them were really
parasited.

Infested fruit was collected from an unsprayed orchard at intervals
throughout the season, and both Codling Moth and Curculio bred in
considerable numbers with a result that 4 per cent of Curculios were
parasited, and from about one hundred Codling Moth larve not a single
fly appeared. As the deluge-like rains of the spring and early summer
may have had something to do with this unexpected result, I propose
to repeat it another year, and hope to make a more satisfactory report.

i

EXPERIMENTS IN APICULTURE, 1892.

By J. H. LARRABEE.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, Micu., November 77, 1892.
] ; >]

Srr: I beg leave to submit herewith a report upon the experimental work in api-
culture conducted at this place during the season of 1892. While the results
obtained may vary with varying conditions, either more or less favorable than those
under which these experiments have been conducted, yet it is hoped that some of the
conclusions reached may prove of definite value to the important interest of apicul-
ture>

Very respectfully,
J. H. LARRABEE.
©. Vi. RILEY,
U.S. Entomologist.

During the season of 1892 the branch station for experimenting in bee
culture at the Michigan Agricultural College was continued at the ex-
pense of the U. 8. Department of Agriculture, Division of Entomology,
and of the Michigan State Experiment Station.

An effort was made to undertake a line of experiments closely con-
nected with the practical work of the apiary. While all of the experi-
ments undertaken have not given results of practical value, some have.
Especially gratifying are the results obtained in the experiments upou
the subject of wax secretion and the evaporation of honey, for the
reason that they were nearly free from those elements of uncertainty
that must necessarily enter into nearly all experimental work in the
apiary, such as season and condition of bees.

When the bees were taken from the cellar, on April 18, they were in
rather poor condition, due doubtless to the dampness of the cellar and
the character and amountof the stores. The loss during the winter and
spring was about one-third of the number placed in the cellar.

Tn May and June the bees of the whole apiary were transferred from
the old hives into modern dovetailed hives, and from the old reversible
frames, of three distinct sizes, to the new, wide, thick, top-bar frames of
the Langstroth size. In this operation all drone comb or other imper-

57

58

fect combs were rejected and rendered into wax. By this change the
apiary was placed upon a modern footing, the hives made uniform, the
operations and manipulations of the apiary rendered more rapid, and its
beauty and value increased.

The spring was very backward and rainy. During fruit bloom the
bees flew but little, and their influence upon the fertilization of the
flowers of our fruits is seen in the almost complete failure in this vicin-
ity of all tree fruits and others largely dependent upon the bees for the
dissemination of pollen. As the rainy, cloudy weather did not cease
until about the first of July, the early part of the clover bloom was lost
to the bees. No supers were put on until July 8, and at that time
strong colonies were swarming, with almost no honey in the hives. All
of the white surplus was taken from Basswood, which yielded well.
July 25 the season for white honey closed. A little surplus of late
honey was gathered during August, and the bees filled up the hives
well for winter. A yield of about 25 pounds of surplus per colony was.
obtained, and there are now in the apiary fifty-five colonies in excellent
condition for winter.

BREEDING.

During the year 1891 the apiary was entirely requeened, only a few
old queens being reserved for breeding. This season the opportunity
was taken to replace all those of the former year’s rearing that had
proven themselves inferior. A number of Carniolan queens were intro-
duced, and queens bred from them. Added familiarity with the cross
of the Carniolan bee with the yellow race increases my satisfaction
with their valuable traits. They have proven themselves equally as
desirable as either race in its purity, and they have some points of
superiority.

A test was made of the claims advanced for the Tunisian or so-called
“Punic” bees. During the early part of the season they exhibited no
traits that would distinguish them from the native black bee, showing
the same nervousness under manipulation. They build large numbers
of queen cells, and do not cap their honey with that peculiar whiteness
characteristic of the common black bee. After the close of the honey
Season they best showed their origin and distinctive peculiarities.
Whenever attempts were made to handle them they became exceedingly
angry. This trait of excessive irritability seems to be their most
distinctive mark. As no point of superiority was discovered, their sev-
eral manifest defects make them a race not to be recommended as de-
sirable for introduction among our American bee-keepers.

REMOVING THE QUEEN TO PREVENT SWARMING.

As the bee-keeping industry develops and new methods and devices
come into use, each tending to lower the price of the product, an increased
tension is placed upon the apiarist in an effort to manage large num-

59

bers of colonies to increase his annual yield. The natural tendency of
bees to increase by swarming and the care and attention occasioned
thereby have given rise to various plans for its prevention or control.
One of the best of these plans, yet one little used, is outlined in the
following, the value of which, at the suggestion of Mr. Aikin, of Love-
land, Colo., I undertook to test: Early in spring two colonies were
selected, as nearly_alike in strength as it was possible to get them.
These were kept at the same strength, the amount of brood in the hives
having been equalized several times. The harvest did not open until
about July 6, and upon the 8th supers were given them. July 12,
queen cells were found partly constructed in colony No.1. The queen
was removed, and four days and also eight days afterward all queen
cells were destroyed. On July 25 (thirteen days after her removal) the
queen was returned. This colony did not swarm at all. The other
colony (No. 2) was allowed to work without interference, and it was not
until July 21 that they swarmed. As the harvest from Linden was
about closing, the swarm was returned and all queen cells destroyed in
the hope that they would not attempt to swarm again before the close
of the season. They did not swarm, yet it may be supposed that this
interference with their instincts tended slightly to decrease their
energy. The results in total amount of honey gathered are as follows:
No. 1 gained in weight 37 pounds between July 6 and 25, and No. 2
gained 46 pounds during the same time.

If from the total gain of No. 2 we substract 5 pounds as the weight
of brood it contained in excess of the brood in No. 1 on July 25, we still
have 4 pounds as the amount of honey gathered by No. 2 greater than
the amount gathered by No.1. These colonies were both worked for
comb honey with like treatment of supers.

This experiment is valuable testimony to prove that the removal of
the queen to prevent swarming does somewhat affect the amount of
honey gathered by the bees. The supers showed even a larger differ-
ence in the amount of honey stored in the sections for the reason that
where the queen is absent the bees fill the brood chamber with honey.
When the queen is returned this will to a greater or less extent be
removed to the sections. Although the interference in this manner
with the economy of the hive probably always reduces the amount of
honey stored, yet because of the lessening in the labor and watching
necessary during the swarming season, I deem it advisable to follow
this method when any similar plan seems necessary.

WAX SECRETION.

To determine the amount of honey consumed by the bees in secreting
one pound of wax, thisexperiment, first undertaken in 1891, was repeated
this year. As the conditions were much more favorable, the results
were very gratifying. There was entire absence of a natural honey
flow, the weather was favorable, the colonies were of the same strength,

60

and in prosperous condition, they took the food rapidly and built comb
readily. The result gives a less amount of honey as necessary to be
fed the bees in order to have 1 pound of wax secreted than was obtained
in this experiment last year. This was to be expected because of the
more favorable and exact conditions. Two colonies were taken which
I have designated as Nos. 1 and 2. No.1 was given a virgin queen
and no comb or honey. No.2 was given a virgin queen and empty
combs. It was noticed that the bees did not fly from either of these
hives as vigorously as from the others of the apiary, and that No. 1
was the more quiet of the two. Twenty-four anda half pounds of food
were given, and almost exactly 1 pound of wax was secreted by No, 1.
By weighing the combs both before and after being melted and taking
the difference, the amount of pollen was ascertained. In both colonies
the young queens had begun to lay, having been fertilized during the
ten days the experiment was in progress. I now feel confident that
more careful work on the part of others who have undertaken to solve
this question will give practically the same results as are summarized
below:

Was Secretion.

Colony No.1. Colony No. 2.
Lbs Oz.| Lbs. Oz.| Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz.
SWielohtiOl NGOS wen cctcea ences. sie clades = ceca se eerentem cea cae Gi SB a ledeucenes (hr I Bsa 55
Gross weight, Ale. 2. With BCS elute (ai-islalalelenle ie cle isem ee mioina|| nla omelet PU) US aeta wetal—r 34 4
Gross weight, Aupil2: with bees. -ccescs-nmcicrseacs aslo alee eeainee a AD: ON Ste cacen ke 56 8
Gross gain in weight 10 days .-.------------22- 222-022 ---ee ee |e eene-= = 1D pe Dal cree 22 4
Heed maw Pi a seras earem ae eicisrinticese sae seme eee e leis PALS fh alloca sane Pe ete Re asm
Minnsheneysextracted 2 a0 < sis <fs)saie mic wiajaninlsieis/ <2 eine ieee as = Oy aeons ZO SU se aces noo
HIGHVOS DENCY CONSHME |. «2c osccicis cecmins eee eceise e eee Phe onsen oS5 4 ferorSeencs
Honey consumed by No. 1 in excess of No. 2: 12—4=8 pounds.-|......---.|----.-.---|------- Solan 5 356 bers
Wiasxiscereled py INO: dasa <lemice oes SOAs eases nese cee 1G} sl Bepeeooaeel Boepaes aoa aeicaasGs
Pollen in-combsigbicloser.2 222 =cs-o-3 cee 2 so acseea eee eesanese Ieee Wleciacdose Di Soest
Honey, wax, and pollen removed (8 pounds honey consumed
inseeretine 154 Gun CeS!OL WAX = ---2 2. a = cltenemiies cele aiaclee M4 BGS4| oe cencia sie 22) 18) ler ateeteeaes

PLANTING FOR HONEY.

There were in bloom at the station this season three acres of Sweet
Clover (Melilotus alba) sown in June, 1891. It was sown upon rather
poor clay soil, yet it made a fair growth last fall and came through the
winter in good condition. It began to bloom July 8, and continued in
bloom until the 20th of September. The period of greatest bloom and
honey secretion was from July 20 to September 1. It grew rapidly and
was very rank, reaching a height of about six feet. The amount of
bloom was great and the bees were continually busy upon it, yet during
the period from July 24 to August 10, while it was in full bloom and
while all other natural sources were absent, no honey of any apprecia-
ble extent was gathered and the hive upon scale lostin weight. Prob-
ably some honey was obtained during the season from this sweet clover,
but in such limited quantities as to make any estimate of the value of
the plant as a honey producer impossible. At the present time the

61

ground is covered with brush, so that labor will be necessary in
clearing the land before plowing can be done.

With the idea of obtaining an opinion of the value of Sweet Clover as
a silage plant an alcohol barrel was filled with the cut stalks, solidly
packed, and sealed air-tight. This was done on July 14, just as the
clover was getting fairly into bloom and while the stalks were yet
tender and nutritious. On September 23 the barrel was opened and
the ensilage was fed. A horse that had previously eaten corn silage
ate it very readily, but another horse and a cow that had never eaten
silage would not touch it. Several experts upon the subject pro-
nounced it excellent. There is no doubt but that it would be a very
desirable plant for the purpose if the feeding value per acre could be
made equal to that of corn, An estimate made from the amount cut
for silage gave between 6 and 7 tons per acre. Although its feeding
value may be much higher than that of corn, it is still doubtful if it will
pay to use it for this purpose alone, from the above estimate.

In concluding these experiments in planting for honey carried on by
Prof. Cook and now concluded for the present, I desire to say that no
results have been obtained with any plant sown or planted for honey
alone that will warrant the bee-keeper in expending money and labor
in this direction. Bee-keepers have in the past spent much time and
money in the effort to cultivate some plant for the honey the bees may
obtain from its flowers. In no case coming under my observation have
these efforts been a success and the practice has never been continued
at a profit. Therefore let me caution all apiarists against spending
money in the attempt to cultivate at a profit any flower for honey
alone. Bee-keepers should cease these useless efforts and turn their
attention more persistently to extending the area of all wild honey-
producing plants and urging upon all the superiority of Alsike Clover:
and Japanese Buckwheat as farm crops and the Linden as a shade tree.

EVAPORATION OF HONEY.

Nectar of flowers taken into the stomach of the bee undergoes certain
chemical changes before it is finally deposited as honey in the cells of
the honeycomb. Therecent analyses, by direction ofthe United States
Government chemist and those instituted at the Michigan State Exper-
iment Station, prove that there is no chemical change made in the
honey by the bee after it is deposited in the comb. There, however,
remains much water in this honey that must be evaporated by the heat
of the hive and the current of air through the hive caused by the fan-
ning of the bees. It is well known that this labor of evaporation and
the room occupied by this thin honey interferes greatly with the rapid
gathering of nectar. In this opinion I am confirmed by a study of many
records of colonies placed upon scales during the honey flow. It is
often desirable to extract all of the honey gathered from one species of
honey plant before the flow from other sources begins and before the

62

former has ripened to the usual consistency of good honey. The prop-
erty of granulation in honey is so troublesome that its prevention would
be very desirable. The experiments in this line have plainly indicated
that the “ water of crystallization” can be easily expelled by a proper
artificial heat and the product sealed, so as to preserve it in a liquid
state for an indefinite time. For these reasons it was thought best to
experiment in this direction with various forms of artificial heat in the
effort to devise some cheap and sure method to assist the bees in this
work. For this purpose there were constructed a series of six shallow
pans 19 by 28 inches in size, with partitions 2 inches in height, open on
alternate ends, similar to the partitions in a maple-sirup evaporator.
These were arranged in a cabinet, one above the other, so that honey
entering at the top was obliged to flow some 75 feet before passing out
at the bottom. An oil stove was placed beneath the whole, and a pipe
at the top caused a current of heated air to pass upward over the
honey. The fumes of the stove were carried off by means of a second
pipe, in order to avoid all danger of their injuring the flavor of the
honey. Honey of average body with 10 per cent by weight of water
added was reduced again to the normal condition by passing twice
through the pans at a temperature of 120°, and about 100 pounds per
day was evaporated at that temperature. Thin nectar, extracted from
the hives very soon after being gathered, was evaporated to the thiek-
ness of good honey at about the same rate. This apparatus was kept
in operation about ten days upon honey of various thickness and upon
clear water with the above definite results. The flavor of the first
honey was injured—probably by the first acid action of the honey upon
the outer coating of the tin. Afterwards this was not as apparent.
The color was also somewhat affected.

The heat of the sun was also tried for purposes of evaporation. A
shallow pan 28 by 54 inches in size was filled 3 inches deep with
thin honey. This was covered with glass 6 inches above the honey and
left in the sun for four days, when about 5 per cent of moisture was
evaporated. As the honey lies at rest the water rises to the top, some-
what aiding evaporation. The flavor and color are not affected as much
as by the method of running through pans. In this way honey with
30 per cent, and even 40 per cent, of water added was evaporated to the
consisteney of very thick honey in three weeks’ time, so thick that it
has not at this date showed any signs of granulation. During favor-
able periods of sunshine a temperature of 165° was reached. By this
method a tank 4 by 6 feet, with 6 inches of honey and weighing 1,500
pounds, should be evaporated 10 per cent, or from the consistency of
freshly gathered honey to that of average body, during about two weeks
in July or August.

The common method of exposing to tbe air in open vessels in the
warm upper story of a building was also tested with honey to which
10, 20, 30, and 40 per cent of water had been added, That having 40

ts REE Me

63

per cent added became strongly fermented in a week’s time, while only
a slight change had taken place in the 30 per cent dilution, and at the
end of a month it tasted like a very poor quality of commercial ex-
tracted honey or like honey dew. The 20 per cent dilution was not
nearly as bad, and the honey, with only 10 per cent of water added,
was during the month returned to the consistency of very fair honey.

Nectar extracted two or three days after the combs were placed in
the hives contained, during the dry weather of July and August, from
10 to 15 per cent of water above the amount always found in honey that
has been sealed in the comb by the bees. This was determined by
evaporating in test tubes in hot water.

Summary.—(1) The method at present promising best results for
artificial evaporation is that by solar heat under glass well ventilated.
A small portion of a greenhouse or forcing-house arranged for conserv-
ing the heat of the sun, and so located that honey could be run into the
shallow vats directly from the mouth of the extractor and drawn off
fromthe bottom of the vats into marketing receptacles, should give good
practical results.

(2) Very thin honey or nectar will not sour as quickly as supposed
by many, and may be safely kept during any period of cloudy weather
we may have during the hot summer months.

(3) The method of exposing to air in a warm room can not be
depended upon to ripen very thin honey, although it may be service-
able for evaporating a very small percentage of water.

(4) The method of evaporating by artificial heat of stove or furnace
is expensive and troublesome, requiring constant watching and care
and not giving as good results as had been hoped for.

(5) The possibilities in the line of evaporating honey for the purpose
of increasing the yield and preventing granulation are very great. A
series of experiments to determine the increase in production by ex-
tracting freshly gathered honey would be next in order and value.
When the utility of this method is fully demonstrated supers with
fixed frames and extractors holding whole cases will be used and other
apparatus conformable to the needs of the new system.

FEEDING BACK.

Feeding back extracted honey tosecure the completion of unfinished
sections at the close of the harvest is practiced by some apiarists, but
with varying financial success. Extracted honey can be transported
long distances with much greater safety than can comb honey. For
this reason it has been thought it might be profitable to feed bees ex-
tracted honey costing 7 or 8 cents per pound to produce comb honey
selling at 13 to 15 cents, locating the apiary designed for this purpose
near a large city or other favorable market. With the idea of adding
light upon this subject, extracted honey was fed to a number of colonies
under the following conditions: The hives were contracted and the

64

queens kept in the brood apartment by means of excluding zine. Five
colonies were given two crates each of unfinished sections, the sections
of the whole weighing 113 pounds. Three hundred and thirty-eight
pounds of honey were fed these five colonies during twelve days. The
honey was thinned with 12 per cent of water and warmed before feeding.
The amount of finished honey obtained was 367 pounds, or a gain of
254 pounds by feeding 338 pounds of honey. The hives were weighed
both before and after the honey was fed, and a gain of 36 pounds dur-
ing the feeding recorded for the five hives. The following gives the re-
sults from a financial view:

254 pounds comb honey by feeding, at 14 cents .-.....------------------+----- $35.56
36 pounds stored in hives, at 8 cents ..-.-..---.----+---+--22 eee eee eee eee eee 2.88 .
38. 44

Minus value of 338 pounds fed, at 8 cents ....-....--------0- oe 0 - eee enn anne 27. 04.
Profit as pay for, labor, 6t¢.2 0.25 Gee oe0- =e one as ee ee 11. 40

Two colonies were given crates of sections with full sheets of foun-
dation and were fed extracted honey, under the same conditions as the
five colonies above:

Pounds.
Amount-of honey fedjeach colomy, 2255-2. 1 oc wre <i wisi oe ie eee 664
Colony No.1, finished comb honey .-.---.-----.------+------+---- + +--+ +2222 414
Colony No.1, gain in weight of hive.....-..-.-----.----+------- ------eeeee- 9
Colony No. 2, finished comb honey ........-.--------- +--+ +--+ ++ +--+ e+ 022+ eee 38
Colony No. 2, gain in weight of hive...--.--.--.-----------------5 -e-e eee 74

Taking these two colonies as a basis, the following financial state-
ment is made:

794 pounds comb honey, at 14 cents.-..-------------- ----- e+e 2 ee eee eee eee $11.13
164} pounds honey stored in hives, at 8 cents. ......-----------------+--+--+-+--- 1.32
12. 45
Minus value of 133 pounds honey fed, at 8 cents. .-...----.------------------ 10. 64
$1.81

Deducting from this profit the value of the sections and foundation
used, the actual profit, as pay for labor, ete., is, at most, nominal.

Wien this whole experiment was begun, and during the time it was
in progress, no honey was gathered from the fields, but before the seal-
ing was all accomplished the fall honey flow began, and for this reason
the experiment was ended and the honey removed sooner than would
otherwise have been advisable.

The results obtained in this work or in any experimental work of a
similar character might vary under more favorable or unfavorable con-
ditions of environment, and a continuation in various seasons, and under
other conditions, would alone give really reliable results. The above
trials are, however, very encouraging, and longer and varied work in
this line is desirable.

INDEX.

Actias luna, common in Towa, 44.
Alesia fromata, feeding on cabbage aphis, 13.
imported from Australia, 13.
probably established in California, 26,
Amarantus, web-worm on, 38.
Ammonia, no improvement to Paris green, 32.
Anthomyia sp., possibly a beet enemy, 40.
Apanteles glomeratus, parasitic on Pieris rape, 43.
Aphis brassicz, on rape in Iowa, 46. :
Apiculture, desirability of continuing experi-
ments in, 64. *
report on experiments in, 7, 57.
Army worm, appearance in Iowa, 44.
Ash-tree Sphinx, in Nebraska, 41.
Aspidiotus aurantii, fed upon by Seymnus loph-
anthe, 15.
perniciosus, eaten by Scymnus lophanthe, 15.
Bees, breeding of, 58.

removing queen to prevent swarming, 58,
Beet insects, in Nebraska, 36.
web-worm, injury by, 37.
life history of, 39.
Beets, attacked by white grubs, 37.
Bill-bugs, scarcity of, in Missouri, 49.
plentiful in Iowa, 42.
Blister-beetle, spotted, on beets, 36,
Blister-beetles attacking beets, 36.
remedies tried against, 36.
Blue-grass worm in Missouri, 53.
Botrytis tenella vs. Lachnosterna, 47.
Box-elder Gracilaria, in Missouri, 51.
Bracon juglandis, parasite of Loxostege ma-
elure, 53.
Bruner, Lawrence, report by, 7, 34.
Cabbage butterfly, imported, rare in Iowa, 43.
Curculio, in Missouri, 50.
Plusia, plentiful in Iowa, 43.
Camnula pellucida, in Nebraska, 35.
Canker-worms, outbreak of, in California, 9.
Carpocapsa pomonella, in California, 30.
Cecidomyiid, on sugar maples in Missouri, 56.
Cecropia moth, in Nebraska, 41.
Ceutorhynchus rap, in Missouri, 50.
Chenopodium album, Anthomyia sp. on, 40.
Epicauta maculata on, 36.
web-worm on, 38, 39.
Chinch bug, checked by rains, 41,
notes on, in Nebraska, 41.
Chinch bugs, absence of, in Missouri, 49.
Chrysanthemum, twelve-spotted Diabrotica on,
50.
Cladius pectinicornis, on roses in Missouri, 50.
Clover-seed caterpillar, plentiful in Iowa, 44.

19866—No, 30-——5

Coccinella sanguinea, parasitised by Euphorus
sculptus, 16.
Coccinellid, an undetermined, 23.
Coccinellidw, received from Australia, 11.
Codling moth, benefits of spraying for, 33.
in California, 30.
parasites of, 30, 56.
Paris green for, 32.
three-brooded in California, 30.
Ceelodasys unicornis in Nebraska, 41.
Cooper, Ellwood, letter of, 26.
Coquillett, D. W., report by, 7, 9.
Corn ear-worm, on corn in Missouri, 50.
Cosmos, twelve-spotted Diabrotica damaging, 50.
Cottony-cushion scale, Novius kcebelei an enemy
of, 26.
still controlled by Vedalia, 9, 26.
Crambus exsiccatus, injuricus in lowa,-44.
teterrellus, description of egg and larva, 54.
hymenopterous parasites of, 54.
in Missouri, 53.
Cruciferous plants, enemies of, in Lowa, 43.
Ctenochiton depressum, feeds sparingly on scale-
insects, 11.
received from New Zealand, 10.
Dahlia, twelve-spotted Diabrotica damaging, 50.
Datana angusii, abundant in Iowa, 44.
Deltocephalus debilis, life history of, 45.
inimicus, life history of, 45.
Diabrotica, twelve-spotted, injuries of, 50.
Diamondback moth, in Iowa, 43.
Diedrocephala mollipes, winter conditions of.
45.
Dissosteira carolina, in coitu with D. longipen-
nis, 35.
longipennis, in Nebraska, 35.
Diplosis sp., on soft maple, 55.
Disonycha collaris, a spinach pest, 50.
jdema albifrons, injurious to oak in Lowa, 44,
Empusa grylli, fungous disease of locusts, 34.
Entomological notes for 1892, Missouri, 49.
Entomophthora, prevalent among locusts, 35.
Epicauta maculata, on beets, 36.
pennsylvanica, on beets, 36.
Eriocampa cerasi, checked by spraying, 32.
Euphorus sculptus, hosts of, 15, 16.
parasitic in America and Australia, 16,
Experiments in apiculture, 1892, 57.
Fall web-worm, in Nebraska, 41.
Field agents, work of, 7.
Flea-beetles, not numerous in Missouri, 50.
Fluted scale, destroyed by Novius keebelei, 26.
still controlled by Vedalia, 9.

65

66

Fumigating outfit for scale-insects, purchased by
city of Riverside, 9.
Funigation for seale-insects in California, 9.
Fungous disease of locusts, 34.
Gracilaria negundella, in Missouri, 51.
Grape Phylloxera, absence of, in Missouri, 49.
Grapholitha interstinctana, plentiful in Lowa, 44.
Grapta interrogationis, conspicuous in Iowa, 44.
Grasses. Nomophila noctuella swarming in, 44.
Grasshoppers, in Kansas, 47.
Green-striped maple-worm, in Nebraska, 41.
Hadronema militaris, attacking beets, 36.
Helianthus annuus, Peedisca strenuana on, 30.
Heliothis armiger, on corn in Missouri, 50.
Heteropus ventricosus, attacking Leis confor-
mis, 23. |
Hippodamia convergens, parasitised by Euphorus |
sculptus, 16.
Honey, amount gathered influenced by removal
of queen, 59.
consumed in secreting wax, 59.
evaporation, by artificial heat, 62.
. by sun heat, 62.
experiments in, 61.
summary of experiments, 63.
feeding back, 63.
planting for, 60, 61.
results of experiments in feeding back, 64.
Honey-locust, Lasioptera sp. (?) in twigs of, 54.
Hydroeyanie acid gas treatment, extension of, 9. |
Hyperchiria io, numerous in Iowa, 44.
Icerya purchasi, destroyed by Novius keebelei, |
26. \
still controlled by Vedalia, 9, 26. |
Imported cabbage butterfly, rare in Iowa, 43.
Insect injuries in Nebraska, 34.
Insects, beneficial, $5,000 appropriated by Califor-
nia for importing, 10.
from Australia and New Zealand, 10.
excessive rainfall adverse to, 49. |
injurious, scarcity of, in Missouri, 49.

miscellaneous, in Nebraska, 41.
of California, report on, 9.
of Iowa, report on, 42.
Isaria sp., probably attacking Coccinellid, 20.
Jassidx, destructive in Lowa, 44.
Kerosene emulsion, not effectual against walnut
span-worm, 29. .
Koebele, Albert, letters of, 11, 12, 13, 14.
second mission to Australia, 7, 10.
Lachnosterna, attacking beets, 37.
not affected by Botrytis tenella, 47.
Ladybirds, Australian, importation of, 10.
possibly established, 26.
Larrabee, J. H., report by, 7, 57.
Lasioptera sp., on honey-locust, 54.
Leis antipodum, fails to attack scale-insects, 11.
received from New Zealand, 10.
contormis, descriptions of egg and larva, 22.
parasitised by Heteropus ventricosus, 23.
probably established in California, 26,
received from Australia, 12.
Lepidium virginicum, Ceutorhynehus rape on,
50.
Leucania unipuncta, appearance in Towa, 44.
Lime an improvement to Paris green spray, 33.
Locust mite, Trombidium locustarum, 35.

Locusts, causes of decrease, 35.
destructive, in Nebraska, 34.
parasites and diseases of, 34,
fungous disease of, 34.
Loxostege maclure, description, 51.
on Osage orange, 51.
similalis, in Nebraska, 38.
sticticalis, attacking beets, 37.
life-history of, 39.
Lyda? sp.,on plams in Nebraska, 41.
Macrocentrus delicatus, and Codling moth, 30.
hosts of, 30.
Mamestra picta, frequent in Iowa, 44.
sp., on beets, 40.
Maple, soft, Diplosis sp. (?) on, 55.
worm, green-striped, in Nebraska, 41.
Megilla maculata, parasitised by Euphorus sculp-
tus, 16.
Melanoplus atlanis, in Nebraska, 35,
killed by fungus, ete., 35.
bivittatus, killed by Entomophthora, ete., 35.
differentialis killed by Entomophthora, ete.,35.
femur-rubrum, killed by Eutomophthora, ete.,
39.
spretus in Nebraska, 35.
Microcera coccophila, probable fungus attacking
Coccinellia, 20.
Murtfeldt, Mary E., report by, 8, 49.
Myzus persicze on plum, in Lowa, 46.

| Nebraska, insect injuries in, 34.

Nomophila noctuella, plentiful in Lowa, 44.
Novius keebelei closely resembles Vedalia, 21.
descriptions of early stages of, 20.
established at Los Angeles, 25.
not so efficient as Vedalia, 25.
received from Australia, 13.
Oak, Edema albifrons on, 44.
wainut span-worm on, 27.
Orange, beneficial insects imported for, 10.
Oreus australasiz, description of early stages
of, 16.
established at Los Angeles, 25.
probably more beneficial than other impor-
tations, 9.
received from Australia, 12.
chalybeus, descriptions of early stages of, 19.
established at Los Angeles, 25.
from Australia, 12.
fungus on, 20.
bilunulatus from Australia, 14.
Osage Orange Pyralid, description, 51.
destructiveness in Missouri, 51.
parasites of, 53.
Osborn, Herbert, report by, 8, 42.
Pedisca strenuana, host of Macrocentrus deli-
eatus, 30.
Papilio asterias, abundant in Iowa, 44.
cresphontes, abundant in Iowa, 44.
turnus, abundant in Lowa, 44.
Parasites of Codling moth, 30.
scarce in Missouri, 56.
of Plum curculio, scarce in Missouri, 56.
Paris green, against walnut span-worm, 29,
for codling moth, 32.
spray improved by lime, 33.
not improved by ammonia, 32.
proportions for, 32.

»

Pear slug checked by spraying, 32.

-tree saw-fly in Nebraska, 41.
Pepver- grass, wild, cabbage curculio on, 50.
Perimegatoma variegatum vs. codling moth, 30.
Pieris rape, parasites of, in Iowa, 43.

rare in Iowa, 43.
Pimpla annulipes and codling moth, 30.

Phyllotreta sinuata, notnumerous in Missouri, 50.

Plant-lice, plentiful in Iowa, 46.
Plum curculio; scarcity of parasites of, 56.

wild, Myzus persice on, 46.
?lusia brassicz, plentiful in Lowa, 43.
Plutella cruciferarum, in Iowa, 43.
Podisus spinosus, enemy of Loxostege maclure, 53.
Potato stalk weevil in Iowa, 43.
Prickly ash, Papilio cresphontes on, 44.
Pteromalus puparum, parasite on Pieris rape, 43.
Punic bees, characteristics of, 58.
Quercus agrifolia, waluut span-worm on, 27.
' Rape, Aphis brassicz on, 46.
Red scale, fed upon by Seymuus lophanthie, 15.
Roses, attacked by Cladius pectinicornis, 50.

San José scale, fed upon by Scymnus lophanthie, 15.

Scale-insects, hydrocyanie acid gas for, 9.

Senizoneura lanigera, fed upon by Scymuus lo-

phanthe, 15.
Scymnids, black, from Australia, 13, 14.

Scymnus flavibirtus, feeds sparingly on scale-in-

sects, 11.
received from New Zealand, 10.
lophanthie, feeding on scales, 15.
trom Australia, 14.
Silpha opaca, a possible beet enemy, 40.
Soldicr-bug, spined, enemy of Loxostege maclure,
53.
Span-worm, walnut, description of, 28.
eucmies and parasites, 29.

67

eee —— ee

Span-worm, walnut—Continued.
in California, 26, 27.
remedies for, 29.
Span-worms, injurious in California, 9.
Sphenophorus parvulus, threatening corn, 42.
ochreus, in Iowa, 42.
Spinach, Disonycha collaris on, 50.
Spraying for Codling moth, 32.
benefits of, 33.
Suntower, Predisca strenuana on, 30.
Sweet clover as silage plant, 61.
Tent-ceaterpillars, injurious in Nebraska, 41.
Thalpochares cocciphaga, descriptions of early
stages of, 24.
imported trom Australia, 12.
parasitised by Bracon sp., 15.
Trichobaris trinotata, in Iowa, 43.
Trogoderma tarsale, not an enemy of codling
moth, 30.
Trombidium locustarum, locust mite, 35.
Tunisian or Punic bees, characteristics of, 58.
Tussock moth, in Nebraska, 41.
Twelve-spotted Diabrotica in tlower-gardens, 50. *
Vanessa antiopa, plentiful in Iowa, 44.
Vedalia cardinalis, sent to Egypt, 9.
sent to New Zealand, 9.
sent to South Africa, 9.
Walnut Datana in Nebraska, 41.
Walnut, English, insects on, 26.
Walnut span-worm. See Span-worm.
Wax secretion, experiment in, 59.
Webster, F. M., tield work of, 7.
Web-worm, garden, in Nebraska, 38.
Web-worms attacking beets, 37, 38.
White grubs attacking beets, 37.
Woolly aphis, eaten by Scymnus lophantha, 15.
Zinias, damaged by twelve-spotted Diabrotica, 50.

aS - ‘ 7 s a = ay ‘ ” 7 m .\
So) ee ee, Oe eee ee 2 eee ee J Te a eee re. a”

|| U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DEVESION: OF ENTOMOLOGY.

sat eee | BULLETIN No. 82.
ee ot
5° is :
gs >
mee Ps he Bro RES

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE. ENTOMOLOGIST,

(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1894.

Or ; ‘
Sy MAY - BCYi 2

qe
iP

i> UP PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

FOLENS N Ox -o2.

REPORTS

OF

~ OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

IN

THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,

MADE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST,

(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1894.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., April 14, 1894.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit for publication Bulletin No. 52 of
this Division. It comprises the reports of the field agents of the Divi-
sion for the past year (1893), a summary of which has been included in
my annual report.
tespectfally,
; C. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. J. STERLING MORTON,
Secretary of Agriculture.

iP)

CONTE NGS;

GENER RAO Wie PAN GN TIED A Ne Ste aversie eereaio eee hrccre orelerne cineetierg wie erainns alec is eo atele Se
USIP OTD GHA WON SSeS aes es cae oS Caen OI re as Oi ne tea 9, ae nel yg EP
REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS IN NEBRASKA AND ADJOINING DISTRICTS
RN ee is ee OE = Senn ne a See lara Soe ws ceee ceecee -- Lonrence Bruner. -
REPORT ON SOME OF THE INJURIOUS INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. .D. IV. Coquillett.-
REPORT ON ENTOMOLOGICAL WORK IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA; NOTES ON
ING STR AUNT AUNG INP OR DAT LON Ge tseeelee ce) tee oo eee yeis Albert Koebele..
REPORT ON THE INSECTS OF MISSOURI FOR 1898. ..-...-.-- Mary E. Murtfeldt..
INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA IN 1893. -...-.----.---.---- - Herbert Osborn...
REPORT ON INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FOREST TREES ..-....-.--.. A. S. Packard...
2)

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS IN THE
PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION.

INTRODUCTION.

For some years past it has been the custom, with the approval of the
Secretary of Agriculture, to bring together in a single bulletin, at the
close of each season, the formal reports of the field agents of the Divi-
sion; thus, Bulletins 22, 23, 26, and 30 of the Division comprise the
reports of the field agents forthe years 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1892. This
present bulletin is a cortinuation of,this series. All of the field agents
represented in Bulletin 30, with the exception of Mr. Larrabee, were
continued through the year 1893. All, however, were discontinued
February 15, 1894, and are no longer connected with the Division, with
the exception of Mr. Coquillett, who has been called to Washington and
is now an office assistant.

Mr. Bruner has reported in the main on the observations made upon
injurious locusts, and judging from these observations there is no reason
to fear serious injury during the year 1894. The occurrence in special
abundance of several injurious insects, including the army worm and
the wheat-head army worm is reported, and a number of new insect
injuries are mentioned.

Mr. Coquillett’s report consists principally of a somewhat detailed
account of several different kinds ofleaf-eating caterpillars which attack
fruit trees and nut trees in California. To this he adds a section on
arseniureted and sulphureted hydrogen as insecticides.

Mr. Koebele presents a few additional observations upon the sub-
ject of the hop plant-louse in the northwest, and some additional facts
regarding the latest importation of beneficial insects from Australia.

Miss Murtfeldt gives a general summary of the injurious insects of
Missouri for the year 1893.

Prof. Osborn, in a like way, reports upon the injurious insects of
Jowa tor the season, and includes some important observations on the
hatching of the eggs of the horse bot-fly.

Dr. Packard reports the almost complete recovery of the regions in
Maine ravaged in, 1878~87 by the spruce worm, and he includes a
number of new observations upon insects injurious to forest trees.

Oa Vii:
ts

REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS IN NEBRASKA AND
ADJOINING DISTRICTS.

By LAWRENCE BRUNER, Special Field Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

LINCOLN, NEBR., November 3, 1893.

Sir: I submit herewith a short report upon my investigations among the injurious
insects of Nebraska and adjoining districts during the past summer. While these
pests have not been generally numerous and destructive over the region assigned
me, a few species from among the hosts of these creatures that are ever present have
been sufficiently abundant to commit injury to the crops attacked and to require
special attention on the part of the entomologist and agriculturist. Some of my
time has also been given to a further study of destructive locusts and allied insects
belonging to the order Orthoptera, in which I have been especially interested for
some years. For this purpose three separate trips were made into quite distinct
regions, viz, one to Colorado for the purpose of investigating a local locust outbreak
about the town of Grand Junction, a second to western Nebraska and eastern Wyo-
ming to examine into a reported appearance of the Rocky Mountain locust, and,
lastly, a short tour of inspection through the eastern and central parts of Nebraska
for the purpose of ascertaining exactly how numerous and extensive were the inju-
ries caused by the ‘‘ native ” species of locusts that had been reported as committing
havoe with various garden truck, small trees, grape-vines, and also in some instances
field crops.

Many of the notes made on other insects than locusts, and in fact some of the lat-
ter also, were obtained in connection with work carried on at the University of
Nebraska or while engaged in field work for this institution. These latter are sub-
mitted herewith as of some possible value to the general public aside from citizens
of the State.

Very respectfully, yours,
LAWRENCE BRUNER.

CAVESRITHY;

U.S. Entomologist.

LOCUSTS OR ‘*GRASSHOPPERS.”

The past summer again has been noted as one in which the various
species of indigenous locusts were present in overwhelming numbers
over a large area of country. The injuries wrought by these insects
were, therefore, great and widespread. Reports bearing on the subject
were received from a number of correspondents located in this and
adjoining States. The newspapers also contained like reports, from
all of which it becomes quite evident that something definite in the

9

10 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

way of remedying the evil must be done soon if we would expect to
escape future ravages from this source. Many of the common species,
like the red-legged locust (Melanoplus Jemur-rubrum), the two-striped
locust (Melanoplus bivittatus), and the differential locust (Melanoplus
differentialis), and others of like nature, are becoming more and more
reconciled to ‘civilized ways” each succeeding year, and hence are bet-
ter enabled to withstand these conditions than are others. This being
true, they increase proportionately as the area embracing the conditions
under consideration enlarges. Other influences, of course, also either
favor or retard the increase of these particular species, us they do allied
forms; but these influences seem to have less to do with the matter in
their case than in that of the majority of species. They are the “hardy
forms” of the family, and are capable of adapting themselves in their
life struggle to a greater amount of variation in climate, altitude, and
surface configuration.

Several trips were made during the summer in connection with the
study of our destructive locusts. Besides the time thus spent, some
attention was given the subject here at home. One of these trips was
made during the latter part of June to western Colorado, where I went to
examine into locust injuries in and about Grand Junction. Although
I reported at the time, I submit the following account of this trip for
your inspection:

A Report on Locust Injuries in the Vicinity of Grand Junction, Colo.—
At the request of the Board of Trade of Grand Junetion, I visited that
place during the month of June to examine into a plague of locusts that
were engaged in devastating the region about that city. After spend-
ing a week here I found the conditions to be about as follows: About
four years ago it was observed that grasshoppers were unusually abun-
dant on a piece of waste land near the Grand River, a little south of
the town of Fruita, which is situated about 12 miles west of Grand
Junction. As the hoppers had plenty of food and were not destroyed
by parasites or disturbed by the settlers or by birds to a sufficient extent
to reduce their numbers, and having suitable places for the deposition
of their eggs, the result is plain. The winter following the egg-laying
reported was favorable, and the following spring, being likewise favor-
able to the young, resulted in the spreading of the pest to several of the
surrounding farms, where they did some damage to crops and orchards.
Again nothing was done to diminish their numbers or to prevent their
injuries or their spread to new ground. The season was also favorable
to their development, egg-laying, and spreading. The opening of the
third year came, and in course of time the young hatched and began
their work upon the crops over a greatly extended area. Their injury
was quite extensive, in fact, and comprised both field crops and orchards.
This year many thousands of dollars’ worth of property was destroyed
by them. The orchards in particular suffered from their depredations.
As the principal product of the region is fruit, the destruction of fruit

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 11

trees was greatly felt by the settlers who happened to lose by their
attacks. One orchard alone is reported to have suffered to the extent
of $25,000. That this estimate was none too great I can attest from
personally having visited and examined it. The orchard in question is
of 80 acres in extent and composed of thrifty trees, all of bearing
size. Fully one-half of the trees were destroyed by the locusts, which
came by the millions from adjoining fields of alfalfa. They ate off the
leaves and even stripped the smaller twigs of their bark. A great
many other orchards were more or less completely destroyed by the
pest last year. Even with all this amount of injury going on about
them, the inhabitants did but little toward protecting themselves, and
what little fighting they did do was undertaken so late in the year that
it did comparatively little good even in the line of preventing egg depos-
iting. The warfare did not begin until after the “hoppers had attained
their wings and were spreading out over the region preparatory to egg-
laying. At this time they had mostly left the fields of alfalfa and grain
and were nearly all in the trees composing the various orchards of the
region. Here they remained upon the twigs and branches, feeding upon
the leaves and tender bark of the new growth. In this situation it was
next to impossible to dislodge them or get at them with a remedy.
Some bran and arsenic was used by a féw of the settlers in fighting the
pest, but this was handled so carelessly in many instances that not
only were domestic fowls and an occasional larger animal destroyed,
but also nearly all of the native birds of the region that occasionally
add to their insect diet other food were killed. In fact, the only good
feature connected with the use of the bran-arsenic remedy in this par-
ticular instance was the destruction of many rabbits. These latter
were killed by the hundreds and pretty well exterminated in the imme-
diate vicinity of the orchards where the remedy was used.

The present year, the fourth in which these insects have been pres-
ent in this region, I chanced to visit the locality about a week before
the mass of hoppers had attained their growth. I was therefore in
time to do some good for the residents by suggesting and showing them
a more profitable and, at the same time, practical method of warfare
suitable to the particular occasion, viz, the ‘‘ hopper-dozer,” or keroseue
pan. It was ascertained that the majority of the insects were still
confined to the edges of alfalfa and grain fields, or else were to be found
amongst the rank vegetation growing along the edges of irrigating
ditchesand over such grounds as were more or less frequently watered by
the wastefrom these ditches. In such localitiesit was seen thatthe most
practical remedy that could be employed at this time was the ‘: dozers.”
Accordingly several of these machines were ordered made, and meet-
ings of the farmers and fruit-growers and other interested parties called °
for the purpose of discussing the subject preparatory to attacking the
foe. At these meetings, held in both Grand Junction and Fruita,
addresses were delivered outlining the various methods that have been

12 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

used at various times in the past in different countries and under divers
conditions in fighting the locust pests of the world. In connection
with the remarks made, charts were exhibited showing the differences
among the species committing these injuries against which relief had
beensought. Both the practical remedies, or such as can be applied with
asaving, and the impractical remedies, or such as cost more to apply than
would be the value of the crops intended to be saved, were described
at some length. It is needless to say that I favored the practical rem-
edies, although there were many among the audiences who insisted upon
the adoption of some remedy where there would be little or no outlay of
labor. Nevertheless the “practical” methods were insisted upon by me
since the people were not overburdened with cash to such an extent
that they could afford to go into a series of doubtful experiments at
this late date of the trouble.

Every circumstance seemed to favor the use of the hopper-dozers at
this time. Prior to my arrival the citizens of Grand Junction had
secured a 10,000-gallon tank of crude petroleum for use in destroying
the’hoppers. This, as I afterwards ascertained, was intended to be
used for pouring into the irrigating ditches and allowing it to spread
over the country so as to come in contact (?) with the insects which it
was intended to destroy. In my addresses I insisted that this would
only be throwing the material away and would also destroy the vege-
tation wherever the oil reached, and that the locust would be mostly
left unharmed. We tried the oil in the ’hopper-dozers and were sur-
prised atthe results. It worked much better,if possible, than the refined
oil, and its cost was so very much less, being only 4 cents per gallon
delivered at Grand Junction, that its use in this connection could be
highly recommended. ‘The comparative thickness made it more desira-
ble because of its remaining in the pan to betteradvantage. It could
even be cheapened by adding water to the oil in the pan on the dozers.

There were several species of locusts concerned in the depredations
in and about Grand Junction, as well as at other points in the surround-
ing regions of Colorado. I found Melanoplus atlanis, M. bivittatus,
and MW. differentialis in the fieids of the region examined. There were
also several other species very numerous in the valley and upon the
surrounding hills wherever the vegetation was of sufficient size to sup-
port them. One was an undescribed species of Pezotettix, as these
insects have been classed by American writers, Somewhat resembling
AM. turnbulli Thos., only with very short and rounded tegmina. Like
M. turnbulli, it seems to be confined chiefly to species of the Chenopo-
diacewe, of which the region contains many forms. It is especially
fond of the greasewood (Sarcobates vermicularis). Peculiar enough
was the fact that on my arrival much of the preparation for defense
that was then under way was for the destruction of this Pezotettix,
that did none or very little of the injury that had thus far oceurred in
the valley. I have proposed for this species the name Pezotettix cheno-

ere

>

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 13

podii, and have furnished for publication in Insect Life a more Bega
description than is here given.

Whether or not my visit to the region in question resulted in any
good to the settlers I can not say, for I have not heard from there up
to the date of this writing. If the instructions which I gave and
insisted upon being carried out were followed the valley could be
practically freed from the pest.

In estimating the cost for the extermination of the plague in this
particular region, I believe that it could have been done with an
expenditure not to exceed a couple of thousand dollars in money. Of
course, the labor necessary for the extermination would be quite an
item were it performed solely for the destruction of the “hoppers without
any regard to the saving of crops, and if not done by the settlers them-
selves upon their own and adjoining lands. Some of these figures were
given to the public in my talks above alluded to.

In closing my remarks concerning this visit to Grand Junction, I
wish simply to add that nature has made the region one of the very
best fruit districts in the country. Climate is favorable, but few insect
pests have been introduced from abroad, and these cannot live in the
changed conditions of the arid climate belonging to the country. Few
of the native insects can ever become injurious on account of the differ-
ences in the food-plants that this change would entail. Lastly, the
grasshopper plague of the past few years is due entirely to careless-
ness on the part of the settlers themselves, and a repetition of such an
occurrence can be prevented by a little watchfulness on their part. A
little care in the way of cleaning up about the waste lands lying along
the ditches will be all that is necessary.

West Nebraska and Wyoming Trip.—On the 23d of August I left
Lincoln for the western part of this State and eastern Wyoming to
examine into the reported locust injuries in that section of the country.
Stops were made at Sidney, Pine Bluffs, Cheyenne, and the country
lying at the headwaters of Pole and Crow creeks. Over this entire
scope of country the various “ native species” of Acridians were exceed-
ingly numerous—much more so than ordinarily—and any one who has
collected these insects here knows what such an assertion means.
Judging from the collections made at each of the localities visited, I
have no hesitation in making the statement that fully one-half of the
species common to the country embraced were injuriously numerous.
Some of these had never before been observed by me to occur so plenti-
fully. While but little farming is done in this region, the injury was
nevertheless much felt by the settlers. The ranges were much reduced
in value by these insects, which must have devoured fully one-half of
all the grasses and other forage plants growing upon them. In many
places the vegetation had been eaten so closely that a sheep would
have had a hard time to feed upon the remnants.

In settled districts and where irrigating is resorted to remedies can
be suggested, but upon the high, dry plains of western Nebraska and

14 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

the adjoining portions of Colorado and Wyoming it is impossible to
destroy these locusts by any artificial means known to me. Climatic
conditions alone must be depended upon for remedying the evil, since
the scope of country that would necessarily have to be covered is too
great to think of stamping out the pest artificially.

Rocky Mountain or Migratory Locust.—The Rocky Mountain or
migratory locust (Melanoplus spretus) has not been reported from any
point in excessive numbers during the past summer so far as I am
at present aware. Still it seems to have been sufficiently common over
portions of the subpermanent region to warrant our watching its move-
ments. On or about the 18th of August it was reported that grasshop-
pers in considerable numbers were seen in the air at West Point, this
State. Although it is not definitely known to just what species these
hoppers belonged, they were without doubt stragglers of the present
species, since at about the same time it occurred in moderate numbers
here at Lincoln and several neighboring places. In fact, it has been
noticed by me both in the air and on the ground several times during
the summer, as it was also last summer. At no time, however, was it
observed in sufficient numbers to do perceptible injury to crops or
other vegetation, nor were the insects seen to deposit eggs. It did not
appear among the species that caused the observed and reported dam-
ages during the season.

Injuries from ** Native” Locusts.—Much injury was done during the
summer by different species of our native locusts that have been very
common at a number of localities in this and adjoining States. Here
at Lincoln we were obliged to fight thetm upon the experimental farm;
and from a field of oats of about 50 acres in extent at least 50 bushels
of winged locusts were captured with a hopper-dozer. They were
hatched upon waste land adjoining the farm, and during the dry, hot
weather of August left the weeds and moved into the more inviting
fields. Numerous reports of similar injuries reached me from nearly
every portion of this and adjoining States where farming was carried
on extensively. The species concerned were the common ones usually
engaged in such depredations in this central region, viz, the red-legged,
the two-lined, the differential and the Jesser migratory. In some loeal-
ities all, in others only one or two, of these were concerned in the
injuries. At different localities different ones were present in greatest
force.

As stated above it is quite evident that if the losses occasioned by
these insects do not soon cease, something will have to be done to pre-
vent their further depredations.

OTHER INSECTS.

The Army Worm.—This year has been noted in Nebraska as one in
which the army worm (Leucania wnipuncta) was exceedingly abun-
dant and did much injury to crops in many of the western, northwest-

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 15

ern, and northern counties. Millet appeared to suffer most, although
late oats and corn in a few instances were injured to some extent.

One of these regions, viz, Ordai, in Valley County, was visited for the
purpose of studying the insect in its work upon the crops. In this
section of country several fields of millet had been almost entirely
destroyed by the worms about a week prior to my visit. From the mil-
let the worms moved into adjoining corn fields, at the edges of which
they were fought in two or three instances by means of deep furrows
in which logs were dragged backward and forward. Many of the lar-
ve or caterpillars had already entered the ground and transformed to
chrysalids; but still others remained in the fields hidden away under
garbage of all kinds, or crept about on the ground. Nearly all of
these contained the eggs of Tachina flies upon their heads and thoracic
joints. Flying and walking about the infested fields were large flocks
of Bartram’s sandpiper, red-winged blackbirds, sparrows, meadow-
larks and several other birds that had been attracted by the rich food
supply. These, together with the dipterous parasites, predaceous
ground-beetles, and several wasps, had, I was informed at the time,
destroyed more than three-fourths of the pests, thereby illustrating the
value of these creatures in keeping injurious insects in check.

Reports also reached me of the presence of this insect in hurtful
numbers at the following localities: In Dixon, Holt, Jefferson, Custer,
Valley, and several other counties not definitely stated.

The Wheat-head Army- Worm.—This year for the firsttime I have seen
the larva of Leucania albilinea to recognize it. Whilerunning the hop-
per-dozer on the experimental farm in capturing destructive locusts,
numerous specimens of the caterpillars of this insect were found
mingled with the dead hoppers in the kerosene-oil pans. They were
clinging to the stems of the grain and were knocked down by the
machine as it was dragged through the field. Although quite plenti-
ful, the larvee did not appear todo any appreciable injury in the field
of oats that had been planted to cut for hay. No attempt was made
to breed parasites from the insect, although some specimens were seen
to contain eggs of some dipteron upon the thoracicsegments and head.

The Fall Web-worm.—This insect was again quite prominent among
the insect enemies that were present in cities and towns during the
summer. Especially was this true with respect to its first brood. In
the cities of Omaha and Lincoln it appeared in large numbers, partic-
ularly in the former city, where it stripped and covered the branches
of most of the box-elders and some of the other shade trees with its
unsightly webs. So alarmed about its continued presence and further
injuries were many of the citizens that they cut down the trees ‘ to
save them.” In fact, the moths for the second brood issued in large
numbers, laid theireggs and died. These eggs hatched, and the situa-
tion certainly appeared quite critical. [For some reason the greater
proportion of the caterpillars of this second brood died or were destroyed

16 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

before they had become half grown. Whether their demise was due to
disease or to the attacks of certain predaceous and parasitic insects, or
both, Ihave not learned. That they disappeared at this particular
stage of their growth remains a certainty, as I have been assured by
several correspondents who were greatly interested in the subject and
who watched them very closely. In this city also this second brood of
caterpillars was less numerous than the first, and, as in Omaha, they
dwindled from time to time so that comparatively few matured.

The Hight-spotted Forester.—During July reports of injury by this
insect to vineyards reached me. About the second week of the month
a few of the grape-growers in the vicinity of Omaha became so alarmed
about the ravages of the larve of this moth that they asked me to
visit their vineyards at their expense. Idid so and found that the cat-
erpillars had been quite numerous and done much damage by devour-
ing the foliage in several of the smaller vineyards. At the time of my
visit (July 13) most of the caterpillars had disappeared; but such as
remained were much infested with the eggs of some Tachina fly. As
many as four to eight of theseeggs were frequently found upon a single
caterpillar. These parasitic flies had evidently been quite abundant
during the reign of the caterpillars.

Some spraying with Paris green and London purple was done with
beneficial results; but most growers ‘trusted in Providence,” and in
this instance, at least, fared fully as well as did those who “ fought.”

The Stalk-borer.—While investigating the ravages of the eight-
spotted forester about Omaha much injury caused by the common
stalk-borer (Gortyna nitela) was also observed. The larve of this
insect seemed exceedingly common, and were working on sweet-corn,
tomatoes, egg-plant, etc., many of the stalks of which were bored into,
causing them to die. In some instances two, occasionally even three,
of the caterpillars were found working in a single stalk. It is needless
to state that considerable injury resulted from their attacks. As a
remedy I suggested the collecting and burning of all injured stalks
containing larvie.

Unknown Lepidopterous Larva boring in Stalks of Corn.—Late in
August a specimen of the work of some lepidopterous larva boring in
the stalks of corn was received from Mr. H. 8. Smith, living uear Pen-
der, this State, with the accompanying letter:

““T today send you by mail an insect that is working on the corn to
a considerable extent, and that is at least new tome. It generally works
about the second joint above ground. Have now mostly left the corn—
not over one in twenty still in stalk.”

In a second letter (September 5) he wrote: ‘* Would say that the insects
wanted have almost entirely left the corn. Only succeeded in finding
two, which I send you. Found one that was being eaten by a white
maggot that looks like the larva of the common ‘bluebottle. There

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 17

are always two holes in the cornstalk, one at each end of where it has
bored the inside out. The injured stalks break off in wind storms.”

The insects had entered the chrysalis stage when received, so that the
larva isunknown to me. It would appear from what Mr. Smith writes
that some of the larve leave the stalks to transform, while others do
not. At any rate, its comparative abundance and boring habits would
indicate that we have in this insect a quite dangerous corn pest. It
certainly will require additional study before we are entirely acquainted
with it in all of its changes and life-story. The only encouragement
that I ean now offer is the presence, apparently, of a dipterous parasite
in the ‘*‘ white maggot,” mentioned by Mr. Smith.

Swarms of a Noetwid Moth.—Large swarms of Noctuid moths appeared
almost simultaneously at many widely separated points in Nebraska
and adjoining regions during apple-blooming time, and a number of
letters were received concerning them. Many of my correspondents
seemed to think they were the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonelia)
that had issued somewhat prematurely and were simply waiting for the
proper time for oviposition. Consequently, their having taken alarm
could not be wondered at. Judging from the material accompanying
some of the letters, it is supposed that the swarms were chiefly made
up of a single species of cutworm moth (Chorizagrotis introferens),
although several other species were represented in some localities. The
material. received varied greatly in size and markings, as could be seen
even from the much-rubbed specimens in question. At the time nothing
was thought of the matter, and none of the insects were saved. A little
later, when the Entomologist requested an investigation of the larval
stages of this species, with its life-history and food-habits, the swarms
of moths had disappeared, their going having been apparently as sud-
den and complete a mystery as was their coming. <A careful search by
myself and several students at different places where moths had been
very plentiful during the invasion failed to reveal any larvie in uncom-
monly great numbers; and all requests by letter among such corre-
spondents as were addressed on the subject were just as futile.

It is greatly to be regretted that no solution of this insect’s life-
history and food-habits were made when such apparently good
opportunities were offered for the purpose. Was not this one of those
peculiar cases of an ordinarily rare insect gathering in countless
numbers and migrating to regions new that we sometimes hear about
or have occasion to record? Were not the swarms of moths gradually
brought together and wafted into the region by some peculiarly favor-
able winds from the southwest? I can imagine no other solution of
this problem. It seems identical with the case of the Aletia xylina,
which often appears over much of the region lying to the far north of
its natural range, and away from all of its known food-plants.

1495—Bull. 52

92
iad

18 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.
SUGAR-BEET INSECTS.

Tanymecus confertus as a Sugar-beet Enemy.—Early in the season
information reached me of considerable injury to young sugar beets at
Ames, this State. With the report were inclosed specimens of the beetle
known by the above name. A visit to the infested fields a few days
later resulted in confirming what had been claimed by my informant,
viz, that this insect was present in large numbers upon a certain field
of about twelve acres in extent, the greater portion of which had been
completely defoliated. Investigation convinced me that the insect,
although quite a general feeder, was more partial to several of the
weeds growing in the field with the beets and only attacked the latter
when the others had been devoured. Chief among the weeds thus
attacked was the common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium). Such
other weeds as Chenopodium alba and Polygonum sp. were also eaten.

At the time of my visit the insects were mating, and as the cockle-
bur appeared to be their first choice as a food plant, it was surmised
that that was the plant which naturally attracted the insect in such
large numbers, and that the beet was only attacked after the other
had been exhausted. Further investigations reveaied the fact that
last year, and in all probability for several previous years, the same
field and several of the adjoining tracts of land had been allowed to
erow up with cockleburs. This leads me to conclude that the insect
had bred upon or within this plant in such numbers as to become a
pest the present year when most of the weeds upon which they fed
through choice had been destroyed. Later the insects dispersed and
nothing further has been heard of them as a beet enemy.

Numbers of the beetle were carried home with me and kept confined
in a fruit jar with several plants as food. In all instances the cockle-
bur was totally destroyed before the others were attacked.

Eges were laid by the insects indiscriminately upon the sides and
bottom of the jar, as well as upon the vegetation placed in the jar for
food. These, however, did not hatch, as they were evidently abnor-
mally placed. Here would have been a splendid opportunity of ascer-
taining something of the life-history, had I been provided with breed-
ing facilities for rearing and studying its various stages. My limited
room here prevented such a study and the opportunity was lost to me
for this year at least.

Where the insects attacked the young beets a sprinkling with Lon-
don purple was said to be effective in checking their injury, but whether
by killing or driving the insects away was not reported.

The Juniper Bark-borer.—Aun insect that is of special interest to us
in this part of the country where but few evergreens grow naturally, is
the one known as the juniper bark-borer (Phlwosinus dentatus) on account
of its usual mode of attack upon our red cedar (Juniperus virginiana).
During the year this insect was called to my attention by Mr. h. Harvey,
of St. Paul, through the secretary of the State board of agriculture. It

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 19

appears that it has been brought into this particular region by means
of a shipment of cedar posts and, escaping, has found the trees upon
the lawn of Mr. Harvey. These trees being smaller than the trees
usually attacked by this insect, the mode of attack was necessarily
changed to conform with the conditions. Instead of working under the
bark by running its galleries between the wood and bark, it attacked
the smaller twigs and limbs where it entered at the axils of these with
the still smaller twigs, reminding one of the attacks of Amphicerus
bicaudatus upon apple trees.

I remember another case, something similar to the present, where the
shipment of posts of this tree was the means of introducing a number
of specimens of the cedar borer (Hylotrupes ligneus). Some of the
mature beetles escaped and found a tree growing in the lawn of a resi-
dent of West Point, this State, which they attacked, and deposited
eggs that developed into larvee that killed the tree.

Lyda sp. on Plum.—The past summer, as in previous years, a species
of sawfly of the genus Lyda has been exceedingly numerous npon the
wild and some of the cultivated plum trees growing in parts of the
central region in this State. The larve or slugs feed in colonies, spin-
ning webs and drawing the leaves of the branches and twigs together
in a somewhat similar manner to that of the choke-cherry Tortrix
(Tortrix rileyana). Although this insect has been exceedingly common
and destructive to this tree for several years I have thus far failed to
obtain specimens for the purpose of rearing the imago. Such few speci-
mens as have been sent in have always arrived in a condition that
prevented their development, and circumstances have always prevented
me from visiting at the proper time the regions overrun to secure them
for myself, nor have any of my correspondents from whom accounts of
the insect were received sent me material that could be used for breed-
ing purposes.

That this is a dangerous plum pest there can be no doubt, for entire
groves are reported to have been stripped by the slugs within a very
few days. Its unsightly webs and the curled dead leaves frequently
remain upon the trees months after the injury has been committed.
Several trials with London purple sprays have been reported as only
partially successful.

The Cucumber Plant-iouse.-—The cucumber plant-louse (Aphis cucum-
eris) has recently made its appearance in the State in hurtful numbers.
During the past summer complaints of its abundance were made by the
Gedney Pickle Company, of Omaha, which has about 1,000 acres of
cucumber vines planted each year. A visit on the 27th of July to the
fields near the city of Omaha showed the louse present in moderate
numbers in a few of the fields, but as Mr. Gedney remarked, ‘in a few
days the entire field could be overrun by the pest.” He, Mr. Gedney,
has paid some attention to the study of this insect, and was very
anxious about the outcome of the attack. Last year he said the com-

20 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

pany lost more than one-half of their entire crop of cucumbers on account
of its attacks, and to be threatened again the present year was quite a
check to the industry. This was especially hard since the custom fol-
lowed by the company is to contract with the different farmers of the
surrounding vicinity to plant a certain number of acres of the plants
and agreeing in turn to pay for the crop at a given rate per bushel.
The injuries wrought last year by the Aphis made it very difficult to
induce others to plant for them the present year. The kerosene emul-
sion was suggested as a remedy that could be effectively used.
Whether or not it became necessary to wage war upon the insect later
I have not learned. The pickle industry has become of sufficient
importance in the State to warrant our giving attention to the study
of the insect enemies of the cucumber in future, and I shall try to male

a special study of them another year.

Pine Scale-insects—Reports of injury to pines by Chermes pinicorti-
cis have reached me from time to time during the past two years. Thus
far, however, no specimens of the insect have been received. Several
times correspondents have sent twigs of pine containing the scales of
the pine-leaf scale-louse (Mytilaspis pinifolie.) I have also observed
this last-named insect in great numbers at several widely separated
points within the State. It was seen upon a couple of trees growing on
the lawn of Mr. J. H. Masters, near Nebraska City. In Omaha it was
found upon some trees; at Tekamah it has been very abundant, and
among the native pines of the northwestern part of the State it is the
most characteristic insect enemy of these trees. Wherever this and
other scale-insects abound they are attacked by several of our Coccinelid
beetles, but more especially by the one known as the twice-stabbed
ladybird (Chilocorus bivulnerus). Sometimes this ladybird is so numer-
ous as to be present by the hundreds upon a single branch of trees
infested with seale-insects.

Chinch-bug Infection.—In compliance with your request I present here-
with a short statement relative to my experience with the chinch-bug
infection for field use during the past summer here in Nebraska.

Early in the season (April) indications pointed to the probability of
considerable injury during the year by the chinch-bug. Consequently
it was decided by the board of regents at one of their meetings to carry
on some experiments in the line followed with apparent success by Prof.
F. H. Snow of the University of Kansas during the four or five years past.
Certain funds were set aside with which to equip and carry on a labora-
tory for the propagation and spread of the fungus, Sporotrichum globu-
liferum, that is parasitic upon certain insects. Infected bugs with which
to start were obtained from Prof. Snow. Live, healthy bugs were
then gathered from whatever source they could be obtained, and these
were placed in jars, boxes, etc., with the “starters,” and the conditions
made to conform as nearly as possible with the directions issued by the
Kansas University and sent with shipments of the infected bugs. As

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. PAs

a rule no trouble was experienced in securing the spread of the disease
from the infected to healthy bugs in the laboratory. Only twice dur-
ing the earlier portion of our experiments did the infection seem tem-
porarily to lose its virulence on account of lack of material. For a con-
siderable time after starting in it was almost impossible to obtain the
necessary live bugs from farmers living in infested portions of the
State. As long as this was the case but few lots of dead or infected
bugs were sent out from the station. Later, when bugs were received
by us every day we found no difficulty in securin g fungus-covered bugs
in sufficient quantities to supply all applicants with the disease to be
used in field experiments. Accompanying each small shipment of dis-
eased bugs were sent directions for their use, these instructions being
practically the same as those sent out by the Kansas station.

Later, about the third week in September, a circular letter asking for
information was sent to each person who had received bugs from us.
This was for the purpose of obtaining facts relative to the success or
nonsuccess attending the experiments in the fields over the infested
area by the farmers who had undertaken this portion of the work. Up
to the present writing about one hundred replies have been received. Of
these about one-half are favorable, the other half, uncertain or negative.

During the trials in the fields the weather was very unfavorable to
the growth of Sporotrichum, being very dry and hot; hence the sur-
prise that so large a proportion of the replies should be favorable.

Some of the correspondents reported the gathering of bugs in clus.
ters where they died without presenting any indications of the fungus
growth. These evidently died from the bacterial disease mentioned by
Prof. Snow. It also was present occasionally in our breeding cages in
the laboratory, where it did very effective work. It was especially
noticeable during the warmer and dryer part of the summer.

REPORT ON SOME OF THE INJURIOUS INSECTS OF CALI-
FORNIA.

By D. W. CoquiLyETT, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL,

WASHINGTON, D. C., November 7, 1893.
Sir: I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1893. This consists prin-
cipally of accounts of several kinds of leaf-eating caterpillars which attack various
kinds of fruit and nut trees in California.

Very respectfully, yours,
D. W. COQUILLETT.
Dr. C. V. RinEy,

U. S. Entomologist.

The Walnut Span-worm (Boarmia plumogeraria Hulst).—In Bulletin
No. 30 (pp. 26-29) of this Division, I gave an account of a span-worm
that had occasioned very serious damage to English-walnut trees in a
certain locality in southern California. At the time of submitting that
report none of the moths had issued from the chrysalis state, and I was
therefore unable to give the technical name of the insect. Moths began
to emerge January 5, 1893, and continued at intervals to March 25.

Owing to the fact that the female is wingless, and that the chrysalis
state is passed in a cell in the earth, we are enabled to prevent the ray-
ages of this pest by simply preventing the female moths from ascending
the trees and depositing their eggs. To accomplish this many devices
and substances have been used, as in the case of the canker-worms, the
females of which are wingless, and the transformations of which are
similar to those of the present species; hence every remedy that can
be successfully used against the canker-worms is equally applicable to
the present species.

Perhaps the simplest device to use for the purpose of preventing the
female moths from ascending the tree consists of a band of tarred
building paper about 6 inches wide, wrapped around the tree close
to the ground and fastened with a stout string passed around the band
near its upper edge. The lower edge of the band should be pressed
firmly into the earth, so that no portion of the tree below the band is
exposed to view. Some kind of sticky substance should be painted or
smeared around the upper portion of this band to a distance of two or

22

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 23

more inches in width. For this purpose may be mentioned tar, printer’s
ink, molasses, melted India rubber, and a mixture of oil and resin
boiled together. These bands should be placed upon the trees a short
time before the first moth issues from the ground, and should remain
upon the trees until the last moth of the season is dead. My notes
indicate that in southern California this period extends from about
January 1 to the latter part of April, and during this period the sticky
substance should be renewed at short intervals, never allowing it to
become sufficiently hard to permit of the moths passing over it. After
the last moth of the season has passed away the bands should be
removed from the trees, and thoroughly scalded, in order to destroy any
eges that may have been deposited upon them.

For a description of the numerous devices that have been employed
for the purpose of preventing the female canker-worms from ascending
the trees and depositing their eggs, the reader is referred to the Third
Report of the United States Entomological Commission (pp. 183-188).

Procherodes nubilata Pack.—This is a second kind of span-worm
that sometimes occurs in destructive numbers on the cultivated Eng-
lish walnut in southern California. It does not confine its attacks to
this tree, however, as I have frequently found it upon apple and
willow; but it appears to prefer the English walnut to any other tree.
This span-worm is considerably flattened, and during the day time
remains at rest in a crevice or other irregularity in the bark of the
tree, and being of nearly the same color as the bark its presence is not
easy to detect. In this respect it closely resembles the caterpillars of
the red underwinged moths (Catocala), but is readily distinguishable
by possessing only two, instead of eight, abdominal prolegs.

This span-worm has the same general appearance of the walnut
Span-worm referred to above, except that the tubercles or piliferous.
spots on various parts of the body are of neaily a uniform size, whereas
in the latter some of those on segments 4, 5, 6, and 11 are much larger
than the others.

When jarred from their perch these span-worms, in common with the
other members of this group, spin a silken thread, by means of which
they remain suspended in the air. I have never observed them assume
a rigid attitude, attached to some object by the four posterior prolegs
alone, a habit so common in related forms. Instead they rest with the
body closely appressed to the bark of the tree.

The eggs from which these span-worms hatch are deposited singly,
being attached at one of their sides. The young span-worm, in issuing
from the egg, makes its escape through a circular opening in the flat-
tened end. The full-grown span-worm secretes itself in crevices on the
tree, usually beneath a loose piece of projecting bark; here it spins a
thin cocoon, and shortly afterwards assumes the chrysalis form.

My notes indicate that at least three broods of these insects are pro-
duced in one year; the winter is passed in the larva state, and the

24 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

moths from these issue during the month of April. A second brood
issues in August, while the third and last brood of the season makes
its appearance in November and during the first half of December.

Soth sexes are winged and it would therefore be quite useless to place
obstructions around the trunks of the trees, as is sometimes practiced
in dealing with those kinds of span-worms which are wingless in the
female sex; moreover, as already stated above, the larve of the present
species assume the chrysalis form on the tree instead of entering the
earth, and this habit of itself renders the above-mentioned method
entirely useless in dealing with this species.

Whenever these span-worms appear in destructive numbers, about
the only practical remedy we are able to suggest is to spray the infested
trees with Paris-green solution, composed of one pound of Paris green
thoroughly stirred into 200 gallons of water. If a small quantity of
soap is added to the solution this will cause it to spread more evenly
over the tree. It should be borne in mind that a very small quantity
of this poison will prove fatal to the recently-hatched span-worms,
whereas the nearly full-grown ones will be able to withstand a much
larger quantity of the poison. Hence the importance of applying the
poison while the span-worms are still very young.

The Orange Leaf-roller ( Tortrix citrana Fern).—This is a small, greenish
caterpillar that ordinarily lives in a rolled or folded leaf, upon which it
feeds, but it also has a habit of burrowing into the green oranges, caus-
ing them to turn prematurely yellow and finally to drop from the tree.
I first obtained specimens of this insect on the 6th of May, 1885, and
since that time have occasionally met with if, although never in large
numbers. Last season, however, it appears to have been quite plentiful,
judging from the number of letters received asking for information con-
cerning it.

Although ordinarily met with upon orange trees, I have also found
this leaf-roller upon apricot, willow, oak (Quercus agrifolia), wild wal-
nut (Juglans californica), and golden-rod (Solidago californica).

The larve which live in the oranges desert their burrows and creep
into some sheltered place when about to pass through their transforma-
tions, but those which live in rolled or folded leaves assume the
chrysalis form within such leaves. 3

The time passed in the chrysalis state varies greatly according to
the season of the year; my notes show that five of the chrysalides
remained in this state 9, 11, 11, 12, and 19 days, respectively. There
are doubtless four or five generations each year. I have found this
insectin some stage of its growth during the mouths of January, March,
April, May, June, and September, but it is most abundant in early
summer. The species was described by Prof. C. H. Fernald, in Hntomo-
logica Americana (vol. V, p. 18), from specimens bred by the writer.

Two different kinds of internal parasites are known to me to attack
this insect. The first of these is a small, black, four-winged fly belong-
ing to the Microgastrine. The larva of this parasite when full-grown

i

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 25

issues from the caterpillar of the Tortrix and spins a compact, white,
elongate-ellipsoidal cocoon measuring nearly 6 millimeters in length.
When about to issue, the parasitic fly cuts a circular lid out of one end
of its cocoon, from which to make its escape.

The second kind of parasite, of which I bred only a single specimen,
is a small, grayish-black, two-winged fly belonging to the family
Tachinidz and apparently to the genus Phorocera, but the species is
probably as yet undescribed.

Should the orange leaf-rollers ever appear in destructive numbers, I
know of no more effective remedy to use for their destruction than that
of spraying the trees with Paris green and water at the rate of 1
pound of the Paris green to 200 gallons of water. I have used this
preparation on orange trees without in the least injuring the trees upon
which it was sprayed.

It is quite impossible to ascertain to what country this species is
native, though I strongly suspect that it was imported into California
from some of the Pacific Islands. It is interesting in this connection to
note that in his Narrative of an Exploring Expedition (vol. m1, p. 13)
Capt. Charles Wilkes states that the oranges grown upon one of the
Friendly Islands ‘‘do not succeed because they are injured by an insect
which leaves its larva on the fruit, and causes it to fall before it reaches
maturity.” While this description tallies fairly well with the present
species, there is also a possibility that this reference is to a dipterous
larva belong to the family Trypetide, two species of which are known
to attack oranges in this manner.

The Brassy Cutworm (Teniocampa rufula Grote).—On the 6th of J une,
1888, I received a package of green apples, pears, and peaches from
Mr. C. R. Johnson, of Pomona, Cal. The apples and pears had large
cavities eaten into them, extending sometimes to the core, and nearly
buried in one of the peaches was a naked caterpillar having the gen-
eral appearance of an ordinary cutworm. The apples and pears were
from three-quarters of an inch to an inch in diameter, and the peaches
were somewhat larger.

Accompanying this package was the following letter:

I mail samples of the worm referred to in the Pomona Times, of which you make
inquiry in your letter received today; also some fruit samples upon which they
worked; viz, apple, pear, peach, and apricot. I found it difficult to get any of the
worms; since the sun has been shining and the weather warmer they have almost
entirely disappeared. I have not been able to learn of any very serious damage to
the fruit in our immediate neighborhood. I think they would have destroyed the
small amount that I have, but I went around each tree, and inside of a circle of about
12 inches in diameter, just at the roots, I dug out from 15 to 40 worms to each tree.

The Rev. J. F. Moody, of this place, tells me today that in his neighborhood he
noticed that quite a large hole had been dug around each tree by the chickens, which
I think destroyed the worms. A lady in the southern part of this city says that one
of her neighbors has found some prunes with the inside eaten out by a worm of the
same description as the one I send you.

During the cool, cloudy weather they could be found up in the trees throughout
the day, and they destroyed flowers and small shrubbery.

26 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

This caterpillar has a polished appearance, and in certain lights
shows a slight brassy reflection. When first exhumed from beneath
dead leaves or other litter, it feigns death, but soon makes its escape
by crawling beneath some object, its movements being quite rapid. It
pupates within a small cell in the earth.

There are two well-marked broods of these caterpillars each year.
The first brood pupates in January and February and the moths issue
about six weeks later. The caterpillars of the second brood assume
the chrysalis state in the months of June and July and are changed to
moths from the first week in September to the middle of October.

It is very probable that the food of the caterpillars of this moth
ordinarily consists of the leaves of various kinds of weeds, and that
their fondness for green fruit has only recently been acquired. I have
repeatedly found them beneath stones, dead weeds, and other litter
lying upon the ground, and on the 9th of June, 1888, I found forty five
of these caterpillars beneath dead weeds lying upon the ground under
some orange trees in the city of Los Angeles.

Up to the present time this species has been reported only from Cal-
ifornia.

Associated with these caterpillars were the following predaceous
beetles, which doubtless prey upon them: Calosoma peregrinator, Cala-
thus ruficollis, Platynus maculicollis, Pterostichus vicinus, Amara calt-
‘ornica, and Amara stupida. With two exceptions all of these beetles
when exhumed endeavored to hide themselves again, but the Calosoma
and Amara stupida would nearly always start up the trunk of the
nearest tree. In the month of May of the present year I saw an allied
species, Calosoma latipenne, engaged in feeding upon a caterpillar of
Agrotis saucia. Indeed, this habit is so prevalent among the different
species of Calosoma that they are called “ caterpillar hunters.”

The caterpillars above described are but little subject to the attacks
of internal parasites. I have bred but a single specimen from a large
series of caterpillars placed in my breeding cages from time to time.
The parasite referred to is a large Tachina fly, which issued on the 29th
of July, 1888. It apparently belongs to the genus Eucnephalia.

As to a remedy, the one practiced by Mr. Johnson, of exhuming the
caterpillars and then destroying them, is perhaps the most effectual
that could be adopted. If it should be proved that these caterpillars
will feed readily upon green alfalfa or upon weeds of any kind, quanti-
ties of these could be gathered and pressed into balls, which could then
be soaked in a strong solution of Paris green and water and placed
upon the ground beneath the trees; the caterpillars by feeding upon
these poisoned balls would thus be destroyed. Trees might be pro-
tected from the attacks of these insects by placing around the trunk
of each tree a collar of smooth tin or other obstruction over which the
caterpillars could not make their way. The custom of allowing chick-
ens the run of the orchard before the fruit ripens will also result in

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 27

great benefit, since these useful fowls will succeed in digging up and
destroying large numbers of these and other noxious insects.

While on the subject of caterpillars injuring green fruits, I may add
that the well-known corn ear-worm (Heliothis armiger) sometimes eats
out the interior of green peaches. On the 14th of June of the present
year, Mr. G. A. Compere, of Los Angeles, handed me a green peach
containing a caterpillar of this kind that had hollowed out the entire
interior of the peach. I removed it from its habitation and offered it
a fresh, half-grown peach, into which it at once began to gnaw an
entrance. This caterpillar pupated during the latter part of June, and
the moth issued on the 25th of July.:

As also bearing upon this subject I may add that on the 13th of
September, 1891, I received from Mr. F. G. Ryana green orange about
three-quarters of an inch in diameter, in which were two holes extend-
ing quite to the center of the orange, and in one of them was a half
grown corn -ear-worm, busily engaged in feeding upon the interior
portion of the orange. This is the first instance that has come to my
notice of this insect attacking oranges, although I have occasionally
seen it feeding upon orange leaves.

Tent Caterpillars.—During the latter part of April, 1892, while inves-
tigating the leaf-eating caterpillars occurring in the orchards of
Alameda and Santa Clara counties, I found quite a large number of
colonies of a thinly hairy caterpillar which, by rearing to the per-
fect state, was identified by Dr. Riley as Clisiocampa thoracica Streteh.

The moths appear during the month of June, and shortly afterward
deposit their eggs upon the smaller twigs of the trees on the leaves of
which the caterpillars are to feed. The eggs are deposited upon one
end in an irregular band completely encircling the twig and measuring
from 5 to 9™™. in width, each cluster containing upward of 250 eggs.
These are arranged somewhat spirally, and are partially covered over
with a brown substance resembling glue; but this does not entirely
conceal the eggs. They do not hatch until the following April.

Shortly after issuing from the egg the young caterpillars proceed to
spin over them a silken web or tent, and in this tent they pass the
greater portion of their time when not engaged in feeding. Before
attaining their full size they desert their tent and live exposed upon
the tree, but still keep together in companies, and during the warmer
portion of the day may frequently be seen huddled together upon one
side of the trunk of the tree. I have found colonies of these caterpil-
lars on cherry, plum, prune, and willow, and they fed indiscriminately
upon the leaves of each of these trees. The caterpillars from the dif-
ferent trees were indistinguishable, as were also the moths into which
they were finally transformed. On one occasion I saw a nearly full-
yrown caterpillar of this species feeding upon the leaf of the common
nettle (Urtica holosericea), This was growing beneath a willow tree,
and the caterpillar had evidently fed upon the leaves of the latter
until dislodged by accident.

28 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

When full grown, these caterpillars crawl into some sheltered place
and spin their thin, pure white cocoons. The cocoon proper measures
from 18 to 26™™, in length, and the width is about two-fifths of the
length. It is thinly sprinkled with a yellow powder, and around it is
spun quite a large quantity of fine, soft, white silk. About four weeks
elapse between the spinning of the cocoons and the issuing of the
moths, the latter issuing at various hours of the day, from 9 o’clock in
the morning to 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The sexes appear to be quite
evenly divided; out of a total of 27 moths which I reared, 15 were
males and 12 females.

I did not succeed in breeding internal parasites of any kind from
these caterpillars, but they evidently do not altogether escape the
attacks of such parasites, since I found two of the caterpillars each of
which had a white egg of some kind of Tachina fly attached to its
head. This parasite, however, appears to be very rare. Out of a total
of 350 of these caterpillars which I examined the two mentioned above
were the only ones showing any indication of its attacks; and from
about 300 reared not a single parasite made its appearance.

As stated above, the young caterpillars spin a silken web or tent in
which to dwell, and as this is a very conspicuous object, their presence
upon the trees may be easily detected and the web with its entire con-
tents may then be removed from the tree and burned, or destroyed in
some other manner. Later in the season, when the nearly full-grown
caterpillars are congregated upon the trunk of the tree they may be
destroyed by wrapping a barley sack tightly around the trunk of the
tree where they are located, thus crushing them. The method first
mentioned is greatly to be preferred, since the white webs of the young
caterpillars are much easier to discover than are the caterpillars them-
selves, and of course it is far better to destroy them at this time than
to wait until they have committed all the injury to the trees that they
are capable of doing.

In a certain locality in Alameda County I found a second species
of tent-caterpillar upon cultivated gooseberries, and in a neighboring
canyon this same species occurred in large numbers upon wild black-
berry (Rubus vitifolius) and also upon willow. It is readily distin-
guished from the one described above by the velvet-black color of
its body which is marked with a series of indistinct dull orange yellow
dashes that sometimes form two more or less distinct dorsal lines and a
lateral line; on either side of each of the segments from the second to
the eleventh is a transverse, bluish-gray subdorsal spot; the spiracles
and venter are wholly black; the body is thinly clothed with reddish
hairs which are most abundant on the back and low down on each side
of the body; the head is opaque black, the clypeus gray and bordered
below with yellow. The full-grown caterpillar measures about 35™™
in length. The cocoon resembles that of the preceding species but is
somewhat darker and more dense, the yellow powder is more abundant,

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 29

and the loose, fine, soft silk spun about the cocoon is less in quantity.
The cocoons are spun in May, and the moths issue in the latter part of
that month and during the month of June. The two sexes are so dis-
similar in color that they might readily be supposed to belong to two
distinct species. The males are of areddish brown ground color, while
in the females the color is a light, ocher yellow. The moths issue at
almost every hour of the day and night, and the sexes are evenly dis-
tributed. This species is Clisiocampa californica Pack.

I found but a single cluster of eggs of this species, but these had
already hatched and near them was the silken tent and colony of
young caterpillars that had issued from these eggs. This cluster was
attached to a small twig of a willow tree; it measures 16™™ in length
and reaches only two-thirds of the distance around the twig. The eggs
number about 150 and are arranged in irregular oblique rows; they are
thinly covered with a substance somewhat resembling glue, which on
one-half of the cluster completely conceals the eggs from view.

As in the preceding species, the young caterpillars spin a silken web
or tent in which to live, but after becoming about half grown they
desert this and lead a wandering life; they do not appear to possess the
habit of congregating together when not feeding, which is such a char-
acteristic trait of the preceding species. Besides the food-plants men-
tioned above, Mr. Henry Edwards states that these caterpillars also feed
upon the leaves of the apple, pear, oak (Quercus agrifolia), ash (Fraxi-
nus oregona), buckeye (disculus californica), California holly (Hetero-
meles arbutifolia), and Madrotie (Arbutus menziesii). (See Fifth Report
U.S. Entomological Commission, p. 119).

Three different kinds of internal parasites are known to me to attack
these caterpillars. On the 17th of May, 1892, a larva of a Tachina fly
issued from one of them and soon afterward pupated. On the 9th of
May a larva of an Ichneumon fly spun its cocoon within the body of a
one-third grown caterpillar in which it had lived, causing the body of
the caterpillar to swell out and burst open on the underside, the cocoon
as spun protruding through this opening and fastening the body of the
caterpillar to the surface upon which it rested; the winged parasite
issued ten days later, and has been identified by Dr. Riley as Limneria
fugitiva Say. This parasite has not previously been reported as occur-
ring west of Missouri, where Dr. Riley bred it from the larvee of four
different kinds of moths, including the forest tent-caterpillar (Clisio-
campa disstria Hiibn.). (See Insect Life, vol. 111, p. 157).

The third parasite referred to issued on the 28th of May. It belongs
to the family Braconide and to the genus Rhogas.

The above two were the only species of Clisiocampa that I found in
the orchards of Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Neither of these
occurs in southern California, so far as I am aware, but a third species,
Clisiocampa constricta Stretch, is not rare in certain parts of Los
Angeles County, where the caterpillars feed upon the leaves of an ever-

30 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

green oak, Quercus agrifolia. These caterpillars are not common in the
valleys, but along the mountain sides they are sometimes very abun-
dant, and I have found them at an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet. So
far as at present known, they attack only the various kinds of oak.

So far as I have observed, these caterpillars do not spin a web or
tent in which to live at any period of their lives. The cocoon is of a
pure white color, and the powder with which its meshes are partially
filled is also white, and not yellow, as in the two preceding species.
The loose silk spun about the cocoon is scant, and is much coarser and
stiffer than that of the preceding species. The cocoons are spun in
May and June, and the moths issue in June and July. Two male and
four female moths which I bred all issued from the chrysalis after 5
o’clock in the afternoon.

Three different kinds of internal parasites are known to me to attack
the caterpillars of this Clisiocampa. On the 5th of July, 1891, two
Tachina flies issued from some of these caterpillars in one of my breed-
ing cages; these flies are known as Masicera frenchit Will., hitherto
reported only from Maine, where it attacks the larve, or chrysalides,
of a large butterfly, Papilio turnus var, glaucus. Under a high power
the eyes of this parasite are seen to have a few microscopic hairs.
Heretofore it has not been reported west of Colorado. Ihave bred a
closely related species, Masicera archippivora Riley, from the chrysa-
lides of two kinds of butterflies, Pyrameis cardui and P. carye.

A single specimen of a second kind of Tachina fly was bred in July,
1592, from a caterpillar of the above Clisiocampa by Dr. A. Davidson,
of Los Angeles, to whom I am indebted for this specimen. It issued
from the caterpillar after the latter had spun its cocoon, but before
the change to the chrysalis had taken place.

The third kind of internal parasite which attacks the caterpillar of
this Clisiocampa belongs to the family Ichneumonide, and has been
identified as Pimpla inquisitor Say. In the month of June, 1887, six
larvee of this parasite issued from one of these caterpillars after the lat-
ter had spun its cocoon, and spun their white cocoons within that of
their host; the winged parasites issued during the following autumn.
This parasite is very widely distributed, being found as far eastward as
Washington, D.C. It infests a great variety of caterpillars and has
also been bred from larvee found feeding upon the eggs of spiders. On
the 26th of April, 1892, Dr. Davidson bred five specimens of this Pim-
pla from some egg-mass:s of the spider, Epeira angulata Clerck.

ARSENIURETED AND SULPHURETED HYDROGEN AS INSECTICIDES.

Not being entirely satisfied with my experiments with these two
gases in the past, and wishing to test arseniureted hydrogen pro-
duced in a different manner than previously employed by me, with
a view of discovering a cheaper gas than hydrocyanie acid to be used
for the destruction of scale-insects on citrus trees, etc., I decided to

ite

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 31

makeaseriesof experiments with these two gases. Accordingly, during
the months of March and April of 1893, I carried out such a series of
experiments, the results of which but confirm my previous statements
to the effect that both in regard to the expense and effectiveness
hydrocyanic-acid gas is preferable to either of the two gases men-
tioned above.

For the production of sulphureted hydrogen I used iron sulphide
(FeS), commercial sulphuric acid (H,SO,), and water. The iron
sulphide was obtained for 20 cents per pound, aud requires about the
same quantity of sulphuric acid and water that potassium cyanide
requires in the production of hydrocyanic-acid gas. The sulphide was
partially pulverized, and none of the pieces were over one-eighth of an
inch in diameter. When the acid was added to the sulphide, no action
took place, but as soon as the water was added, quite brisk action at
once began, with evolution of the ill-smelling gas. The action of the
acid and water upon the sulphide was very much slower than their
action upon potassium cyanide, even when the latter is used in large
pieces. The tests were made during the month of. March, from about
9:30 o’clock in the forenoon to about noon of different days, when une
weather was comparatively cool.

When used so strong that its cost about equaled that of potassium
cyanide used for the purpose of generating hydrocyanic-acid gas, the
resulting sulphureted hydrogen was fatal to a very small percentage
of the insects (Lecanium hesperidum and L. olew) on the orange trees
experimented upon, and the leaves upon these trees were not injured
by the gas. Here I used about three times as large a quantity of the
sulphide as would have been required of the cyanide to destroy all the
insects of the tree, but it was scarcely one-tenth as effectual as the lat-
ter, and I therefore considered it would be quite useless to continue
experimenting further with the iron sulphide.

I had in previous years generated arseniureted hydrogen by acting
upon small pieces of sheet zine with commercial sulphuric acid in the
presence of an aqueous solution of white arsenic (AS,O3), but as this
is a Somewhat imperfect method I decided to test the method of gen.
erating this gas by acting with water and sulphuric acid upon zine
arsenide (AS.Zn;). Failing to obtain the last-mentioned substance at
any point on the Pacific coast, I was under the necessity of having it
manufactured expressly for my use. Accordingly I made the neces-
Sary arrangements with Wade & Wade, manufacturing chemists of
Los Angeles, Cal. The arsenide is manufactured from metallic zine
and arsenic, one and three-tenths parts of the former being used to one
of the latter. The price of metallic arsenic in San Francisco, is 50
cents per pound, and of granulated zinc, 60 cents. The two metals
in the proportion above given were placed in a crucible along with a
small quantity of powdered charcoal, and the crucible closed and sub.
jected to the heat of an assayer’s furnace for a space of about twenty

82 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

minutes, after which it was removed from the furnace and allowed to
cool. The resulting arsenide was very brittle, and pulverized readily.

Even when the arsenide was used in such large quantities that its
cost was three times as great as that of potassium cyanide used in
sufficient quantity to destroy all the insects on the tree, it proved fatal
to only about two-thirds of the scale-insects (Lecanium hesperidum and
L.. olew) on the lower portion of the tree, while those on the upper por-
tion escaped unharmed; the tree operated upon was less than five
feet in height, and was not appreciably affected by the gas. The latter
was confined upon the tree for a space of a full hour, and yet, owing
to the great specific gravity of the gas, it did not become thoroughly dif-
fused throughout the space inclosed by the tent. Owing to this char-
acteristic of arseniureted hydrogen, and the further fact of its being
more expensive than hydrocyanic-acid gas, there is nothing to recom-
mend it over the last-named gas.

These experiments indicate that for the destruction of insects on
trees hydrocyanic-acid gas is much cheaper than either arseniureted
hydrogen or sulphureted hydrogen.

REPORT ON ENTOMOLOGICAL WORK IN OREGON AND
CALIFORNIA; NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN IMPORTA-
TIONS.

By ALBERT KOEBELE, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

ALAMEDA, CAL., November 8, 1893.
Sir: I herewith submit to you my report of observations during the year. Special
reports on work done in Oregon and Washington upon Phorodon humuli Schrank., and
on the investigation of the condition of predaceous insects sent from Australia dur-
ing my last trip to that country, have been made and forwarded to you. Ishall here
mention only certain additional facts connected with the same and note some other
observations made.
* Respectfully, yours,
ALBERT KOEBELE.
C2 Vee RILEY,
. U.S. Entomologist.

The hop louse, as could plainly be noticed during spring, has not been
so humerous during the present season in Oregon and Washington, owing
to the increase of insects living upon it, as shown by the interesting
letter of September 16, 1893, from Mr. H. J. Miller, of Aurora, Oregon,
as follows:

* * * The hop crop is very light, owing to cold rains in the spring and then
continual dry weather. In the spring when the lice emigrated to the hop the weather
was cold and rainy, and I noticed that the lice on the vines would turn white and
sickly and finally die. No spraying was done, as it was not necessary in this vicin-
ity. A few lice survived the cold weather, and just before picking time the weather
turned sultry, cloudy, and rainy, favorable for development of lice, and it could be
noticed that they increased very fast; but picking time was too close at hand for
them to do any damage.

As to collecting the lice from the plum trees, I have great faith in it, but to make
it successful, farmers for miles around should closely inspect their trees and free them
from vermin. One hop yard seemed to be infested as muchas any of those of our
neighbors, but as some of our nearest neighbors had plum trees and did not clean
them, I am sure some of the lice emigrated from their trees to our yard, for they must
be able to travel long distances. The ladybirds increased for a while in the spring,
but as the summer advanced they began to dwindle away, and at picking time were
getting scarce, * * *

1493—Bull. 32

3 33

34 REPURTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

A fungous disease appears to have destroyed large numbers during
the early summer. It was only at picking time that the lice became
numerous, and in consequence the coming season may again show an
increase. As already mentioned, the importance of an early warfare
against the hop louse can not be overestimated. Spraying and hand-
picking should be practiced upon all the plum and prune trees during
the autumn and early spring.

Since the season has been so backward it is not possible for me to
give a list of the most efficient enemies of the hop louse, viz, the
Syrphid flies, and but few of these were observed during my work.
Coccinellidee, however, could be seen by the thousands during early
spring. I give alist of those met with in the yards, with notes thereon.

Notes on Ladybirds found in Hop Yards.—The largest number were of
the genus Hippodamia, and it isa difficult matter even for an expert to
define the species when seeing large numbers together. Hippodamia
convergens Guer. and H. ambigua Lee. were the most numerous in the

hop yards during the early spring and were preying upon various:

Aphidids infesting weeds. After devouring all these, they, as well as
all other species, left in all directions and could be found almost any-
where where plant-lice existed. As observed, these insects will also
prey upon Lecanium in its young stages after the most of the Aphidids
have disappeared. H. 13-punctata has been but rarely met with. * H.
spuria Lec. and H. parenthesis Say were more numerous and always
upon plant-lice. Coccinella annectans Crotch is a rare insect that feeds
upon Aphidids as well as upon the young of Lecanium. Coccinella
trifasciata Linn. is an abundant ladybird that is found feeding any-
where upon plant-lice, and as these become rare with the advance
of the season, it readily feeds upon bark-lice. (. transversoguttata
Fab. is one of the largest of this group and was also found in numbers
in the hop yards as long as the plant-lice upon which it preys existed.
The first eggs of any found amongst hop vines belonged to this species.
This was before the yards were plowed, which will destroy nearly, if
not all, the early stages of these valuable insects. Cycloneda sanguinea
Linn. is a very common ladybird and one of the most active in hunting
up the solitary Aphidids. Many colonies of the hop louse under
observation on plum and prune trees were entirely cleaned out by this
beetle and often in a single day. In order to get at the proper results
of the experiments it often becomes necessary to cover the lice treated
with netting on account of this insect. Adalia bipunctata Linn. is only
occasionally found. I have bred the same from larvee feeding upon an
Aphidid infesting Cratzegus at Sisson, Cal. It has also been found near
Alameda, upon orange trees infested with Lecanium.

A. humeralis Say was found feeding upon plant-lice in Oregon and in
California. I found it more often upon plants infested with black
scale. A very common and variable ladybird is Harmonia picta
Rand,, which is met with occasionally feeding upon plant-lice. The

wens

eu

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 30

pine and fir treesin Oregon which are infested with Kermes are alive
with this beetle, and the same may be said of the Monterey pine
infested with Lecanium, upon which this insect preys. H. 12-maculata
Gebl. has been but rarely found in Oregon feeding on plant-lice.

Our largest Coccinellide, Mysia and Anatis, are also aphis-feeding
insects, yet they are but rarely met, with since they live upon high
coniferous trees infested with Lachnus. In warm days during early
spring they were often found coming out from their winter quarters,
out of old stumps, from behind bark of trees, etc. Amongst the conif-
erous trees, Mysia hornii Cr., Anatis 15-punctata Oliv., A. rathvoni
Lee. and A. subvittata, Muls., were met with.

Psyllobora 20-maculata Say is found nearly everywhere, yet I can say
nothing in regard to its value as an aphis-feeder. It can be found in
large numbers and in all stages feeding upon the powdery mildew
(Uncinula spiralis B. & C.) upon our grape-vines and no doubt upon the
mildew of other plants as well.

Our smallest Coccinellidz, the Scymnids, are chiefly found to be
Coccid-feeding insects, yet Scymnus nebulosus Lec. can be considered a
valuable agent in destroying the hop louse. In one instance this
beetle destroyed a colony that had been established upon a vine for
about three weeks. Seymnus sp. near tenebrosus Muls. is occasionally
found upon the hop louse, also in large numbers feeding upon Kermes
on fir trees.

Some Oregon Fruit Insects.—One of the most abundant and injurious
insects to fruit buds in Oregon is Syneta albida Lee. I noticed that a
great part of the buds and blossoms on prune and plum trees were
eaten out, and it was not long before this beetle could be observed
doing the mischief. So numerous were they that along the edge of a
fir forest, upon plum trees, from fifty to one hundred could be shaken
off of every tree. Owing to its pale color, this beetle is not easily
noticed among the blossoms where it hides itself, yet it can easily be
shaken off.

A Tortricid larva that eats into and destroys a large part of the cur-
rant berries was observed in Oregon. The green as well as the ripe
fruit is attacked by the larva that lives in a web among the berries.

Carpocapsa pomonella has become very numerous and destructive in
that State, and as with nearly all newly introduced insects, its work
will be very seriously felt for a few years to come, until some natural
enemies will acquire the habit of feeding upon it. The enemies of this
insect are already many. During the present season I have bred this
pnoth from cherries.

In Australia I have bred many species of Oscinids from larve prey.
ing both upon Coccide and Aphidide. After my return to Alameda
a Similar larva was found preying upon a small Aphidid that infests
Physianthus alba. During the autumn of 1892 six of these larve were
placed in a vial and from these three parasites were bred this spring.

36 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

During July of the present year these larve were again very numerous,
as well as the mature flies upon the same plant, and many were bred
from larve inclosed. While the larve of these flies prey upon all
sorts of Aphidids in Australia and are frequently found upon those
on orange and corn, this is the first time that I have observed them in
California.

During July of 1891 many of the eggs of Selandria cerast examined
upon young pear trees were found to be infested with a parasite, while
others showed holes from which parasites had issued.

Notes on an introduced Australian Ladybird.Since reporting upon
the recently introduced Rhizobius ventralis Gr. I have made further
notes which may be of interest. A colony of these beetles received
from Hon. Ellwood Cooper and liberated by Mr. 8. F. Leib, of San José,
upon Lecanium ole infesting prune trees July 23, 1893, were examined
August 23 of that year, and numerous half-grown larve were found. On
looking over the same trees September 22, only afew grown larve could
be found, yet pupz were numerous. At my own place a few of the
mature insects were liberated upon Physianthus alba infested with L.
olee August 21. Grown larvee were here observed October 6, and on
the 17th of the same month many pup were present. One of the
females liberated upon this plant August 21 was still present and lay-
ing eggs. The same conditions were found at two other places in Ala-
meda where this insect had been colonized upon black scales. As this
Rhizobius will breed during the entire year, fully six broods cau be
expected in the southern part of the State. The mother beetle will
deposit her eggs under the older Coccids in numbers. Often an entire
scale is found completely filled with the eggs of the Rhizobius. After
the young larve issue they remain under the scales and devour eggs
and Coccids before leaving. The plants may be full of young larve, yet
these are seldom seen, since they most always remain under the older
scales and feed upon the contents. As they become larger they can
occasionally be noticed walking around while feeding, yet are found
more numerous hidden away between curled-up leaves and even
among spider webs, where many pupate. If liberated upon any bush
or tree infested with Lecanium, a gravid female will at once begin to
oviposit, and will not leave the plant as long as there is sufficient food
for the offspring.

While looking over a lemon tree infested with Lecaniwm olew and L.
hesperidum, upon which this Rhizobius had been liberated August 21, I
was agreeably surprised, not only in finding large numbers of the same
“in all stages, but also R. debilis Black. that had been liberated in my
yard upon Aspidiotus perniciosus by Mr. Craw during May of 1892,
The tree mentioned is about one-half mile distant from the original spot,
where the same insect can still be found.

wit see

NOTES ON THE INSECTS OF MISSOURI FOR 1893.

By Mary E. Murtreipt, Temporary Field Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

KirkKWwoop, Mo., November 22, 1893.
Sir: Linlose herewith my account of the more conspicuous of the injurious insects
observed in Missouri during the past season. As in previous years, my grateful
acknowledgments are due to you for many determinations.
Very respectfully,

Dr. C. V. RILFY,
U.S. Entomologist,

Mary E. MURTFELD?T.

Among the entomological developments of the earlier partof the cur-
rent year may be noted the appearance of the army worm (Leucania
unipuncta),in such numbers as to justify its appellation, in hay and
grain fields contiguous to streams and lowlands, where it caused con-
siderable loss. It also occurred in large numbers together with other
cut-worms in vegetable gardens as well as on the lawns and meadows
of St. Louis County, and was frequently brought or sentto me asa dep-
redator upon vegetables. So far as it came under my personal obser-
vation, however, when found in gardens, it was merely feeding upon
the grasses that had come up among the other plants. The moths
were unusually abundant during September.

During the latter part of the season there was an unusual outbreak
of our indigenous locusts (grasshoppers). The meadows, gardens,
berry beds, nurseries, and young orchards were seriously ravaged by
these pests. The species most abundant were Schistocerca americana,
(Edipoda sulphurea, Gi. xanthoptera, Melanoplus bivittatus, and the omni-
present M. femur-rubrum. In some of the nurseries and newly set
orchards of St. Louis County not a leaf was left entire on apple, pear,
and plum trees, and the tender twigs were also in many instances com-
pletely barked, thus destroying the season’s growth. Spraying with
Paris green was resorted to by numbers of nurserymen, and, in a meas-
ure, protected the stock from premature defoliation. So far as I can
jearn the hopper-dozer is not extensively, if at all, used in Missouri, and,
indeed, on the hilly and uneven surface of the greater part of the State
it could not be employed to much advantage.

37

ao REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

Among orchardists there was, in the spring, great complaint of the
work of the buffalo tree-hopper (Ceresa bubalus). Bundles of scarred
and blighted twigs were sent to me from many sections of the State,
including the Olden fruit farms, in Howell County, the most extensive
in the country, and the Flint Hill orchards, in Oregon County, both on
the southern boundary of the State; from Kansas City on the west, and
from Holt County in the extreme northwest, showing that the insect is
by no means local. A considerable proportion of these twigs showed
the cuts of several previous years, as well as the more characteristic
recent punctures. From this it would seem that the insect remains in
the neighborhood of its breeding place until the languishing branch or
tree no longer affords it sustenance. Like all haustellate species it
can be exterminated only by such insecticides as kill by contact, such as
kerosene emulsion, thymo-cresol, and preparations of carbolic acid;
and the use of these on the tender foliage, amid which the little spiny-
backed hoppers lurk in the early summer, is apt to have a bad effect.
From eggs placed the preceding autumn was bred in considerable num-
bers a minute egg parasite, which proved to be an undescribed species
of Cosmocoma. ‘This little fly had destroyed the larger proportion of
the eggs sent to me, and may in time render its host innocuous. The
tree-hopper is quite common in the vicinity of St. Louis, but no con-
spicuous injury from it has come under my observation.

A leaf-hopper, Ormenis pruinosa, was remarkably abundant in vine-
yards, where it was popularly mistaken for “‘mealy bug,” and caused
considerable blighting of leaves and twigs. An interesting parasite,
which attacks the full grown larve and pupe, inclosing them with
itself in a convex disk composed of two mica-like plates joined at the
edges, was bred from a number of the clusters and determined as an
undescribed Dryinus. This parasite is unfortunately rather rare.

The Osage-orange Pyralid (Lowostege maclure Riley) is spreading
over the State, its work being most disastrous on young hedges, the
growth of which it seriously checks. Spraying with Paris green dur-
ing the months of June and July has been practiced to some extent in
the vicinity of St. Louis, and has been found a reliable remedy. But
it is so difficult to secure concerted effort in this direction that the
increase of the insect is not materially interrupted. Close clipping of
hedges about the 1st of August is also advisable, as at this time a
majority of the eggs and newly hatched larve of the second brood are
on the leaves and are, by this process, removed and burned. In the
course of a few minutes’ examination of some clippings, I found many
egg masses and clusters of young larve, and noted that during the
remainder of the season the worms were far less numerous than they
had been the previous year when the hedge had been trimmed earlier.
Pruning about this time may therefore be relied upon as an important
preventive measure.

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 39

It is perhaps worthy of record that the large, formidable appearing
larve of both QOitheronia regalis and LHacles imperialis were never
before so abundant in this locality as they were this autumn. They
were brought to me again and again as something very wonderful and
from appearances very dangerous. About the 1st of August a bat-
tered female of imperialis was brought me in a box in which in the
course of two or three days she placed two hundred and seventy-five
eggs. These were subglobose, 4™™ in diameter, of a cream-white
color, streaked or tinged with pale brown. The larvee hatched in seven
days. AsI was about leaving home for several weeks the young larve
were placed upon a small sycamore tree (Platanus) and left to their
fate. Upon my return a careful examination resulted in the discovery
of about a dozen of the half-grown larve. These also disappeared
one by one, having been, in all probability, devoured by birds.

The Horn Fly.—The past season was notable for the invasion of the
State by this cattle pest, at least for its manifestation in such numbers
as to prove injurious to cattle and excite alarm among stock-growers.
The newspapers contained numerous references to it, many of them ot
a sensational character, although the reality was in most instances
quite bad enough. The insect was reported to me by letter from six
or seven different sections of the State and has undoubtedly appeared,
in greater or less numbers, over the entire area. In our suburb of
Kirkwood and on the neighboring dairy farms its attacks upon the
delicate and thin-skinned Jerseys were very disastrous, certain cows
showing much greater sensitiveness toits bites than others. The cause
of the trouble was not immediately recognized, but as soon as the fly
was identified the remedies suggested by the Department were applied
and brought measurable relief. Our town veterinarian recommended
for the cases to which he was called an application of liquid tar, to be
procured in pint cans from druggists. This was thickly spread over
the shoulders, neck, and udder, and, though very disfiguring, was, all
things considered, the best repellant used, as its effect extended over
a period of a week or ten days, much longer than that of kerosene
emulsion or carbolized vaseline. It is, however, more expensive both
in money and labor, and, therefore, not so well adapted to use on large
herds of cattle as the kerosene emulsion. The habit of the horn fly
of resting on the cattle by night as well as by day gives the latter no
respite, since, even when not biting, its presence seems to be irritating.
From my observations this year, however, I draw the hopeful conclu-
sion that in our climate and that of Kansas and southern L[linois it
will not be able to multiply as it does in localities not subject to annual
and protracted droughts. After dry weather set in the droppings were
so quickly hardened that the larve were unable to develop, and by the
Ist of August but few flies were noticed upon cattle in this locality,
We also found that chickens in the stable yard and pasture rendered
good service by scratching into and spreading the droppings and pick-

40 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

ing out whatever larve were contained therein. I have not been able
to learn that much was done in the State in the way of spreading or
liming the manure but this will doubtless in time become one of the
regular duties of our herdsmen ; while the use of the repellant sprays
and other applications, when necessary, will serve to protect the ani-
mals, not only from the particular insect under consideration, but from
the attacks of bot-flies, Tabanids, Stomoxys, and other biting flies from
which they ordinarily suffer exceedingly.

The Fruit Bark-beetle-—Previous to the current year there is but one
brief reference to the presence of the above-named insect, the Scolytus
rugulosus of Ratzeburg, in Missouri. This is found on the last page of
the third volume of the American Entomologist, published in 1880,
where Prof. Riley mentions, after determining the insect for various
localities in the Eastern States, that he ‘“ had received the insect some
years ago from Hillsboro, Mo., attacking the peach.” Probably it has
occurred, unrecognized, in many orchards since that date, where its
work was referred to that very comprehensive affection termed “ blight.”
However, during the past spring several correspondents of the Rural
World and the St. Louis Republic discovered the minute beetles emerg-
ing through the pin-hole-like orifices in the bark of twigs and small
branches of peach, plum, and cherry, and specimens were sent to me
for determination and for the purpose of finding a remedy. From Clay-
ton, in St. Louis County, Mr. J. W. E. Bellville, one of the county offi-
cials, sent me specimens of the insect early in May, emerging from
twigs of cherry, with the information that one or two of his trees had
already been killed by them and that the beetles were so numerous
that he feared the destruction of his entire orchard. An examination
of the twigs revealed a large number of the beetles, and under the bark
a few full-grown larvee and pup. The beetles were engaged in boring
back into the twigs, in every case, so far as noticed, entering through
the Jatent buds and even through some that were unfolding. By
August the trees severely affected had lost most of their leaves, the
bark of the branches was shrunken, and the twigs were breaking off.
Beetles were again found making their way back into such twigs and
branches as showed a measure of vitality. Very few larve were found
jn the portions of the trees examined, and such as were discovered were
ready to transform, indicating the double-broodedness of the insect.
Mr. Bellville wrote me that he thought he had protected some of his
trees by spraying at this time with Paris green. So far as I have been
able to find out by personal examination and inquiry the insect is yet
quite local in the State, and if horticulturists can be brought to realize
the danger of neglect in this case it can no doubt be held in check, if
not entirely stamped out.

The Pear-tree Clear-wing Borer in Apple.—This insect (dfgeria pyri
Harr.) appears for the first time, I believe, to swell theranks of the almost
mnumerable pests of the apple tree, upon which it may prove more
injurious than it has hitherto done upon the pear.

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. Al

Early in May I received from Mr. S. W. Gilbert, of the Flint Hill
fruit farms, in Oregon County, a few small lepidopterous larve taken
from the young apple trees, with the information that “the worms eat
the inner bark next to the hard wood and are usually, if not always,
concealed at least one-eighth of an inch from the dead bark.” Mr. Gil-
bert further says: ‘I find the insects especially abundant on trees that
have been ‘sun scalded’ on the southwest side. They work at the
edges of the green bark next to the dead portion of the tree. Among
the young Missouri pippin trees last year I found a large number that
had on their trunks from one to several spots of dead wood about twice
the size of a silver dollar, and in every case we find this spring these
worms working around the deadened spot.” The larvae accompanying.
the above note were about one-half inch in length by one-tenth inch in
diameter, subeylindrical, of a yellowish-white color, with a few scattered
soft white hairs arising from inconspicuous piliferous plates. Head
dark brown, rather broad and short, collar covering rather more than
half of the top of the first joint. The appearance was almost precisely
that of a Tortricid, except that the jaws seemed somewhat broader and
stronger. In the course of a few days, however, the peculiar cocoons,
or follicles characteristic of the A gerians were formed between pieces
of bark, except in the case of two larve, in whose place appeared two
rather large white cocoons of a parasite, probably an Apanteles. But
one of these developed and this, to my very great regret, escaped from
the rearing jar and could not be recovered. On June 9 two moths
emerged, both males, which upon comparison proved to be the species
above named. These were the only examples that I was able to obtain,
but several other correspondents reported borers in young apple trees
whose habits seemed to agree with those sent by Mr. Gilbert.

In all cases it was recommended to drench the trunks of the trees
with kerosene emulsion two or three times during the months of June
and July, or to apply the soft soap and soda mixture that has been so
often used to prevent the borer beetles from laying their eggs. As it
was not asserted that this A. gerian confined its attacks to that portion
of the trunk just above ground, as is the habit of the allied peach
borer, I could not advise mounding as a preventive.

The Peach or Plum Bark-louse-—While at Carthage, in Jasper
* County, last December, in attendance at the annual meeting of our
State Horticultural Society, one of the residents of the city brought me
a number of peach twigs from his orchard in the suburbs, thickly cov-
ered with the characteristic scales of Lecaniwm persice Fab., with the
information that many of his trees had become unthrifty and unfruitful
in consequence. This was ny first acquaintance with this scale, as it
has not hitherto proved sufficiently injurious to attract much attention
from peach-growers; and upon looking up such of its literature as was
at my command I found that its complete life history had not been pub-
lished.

42 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

Early in April other infested twigs were sent to me from Jefferson
County, and, about the same time, a subscriber of the Rural World
sent still others over which were scattered the largest and most brightly
colored seales that had yet met my eye. They were not darkened by
the smut fungus which after a year or two follows the attacks of this
insect and completes the disfigurement and destruction of the tree.
The seale is a very handsome one, as seales go. The form is hemi-
spherical, tending to conical in the center, 2.5 to 4™™ in diameter; sur-
face highly polished, though not smooth, being indented with more
or less distinet, shallow, crenulated grooves, radiating from the cen-
ter to the margin; general color black, or very dark brown, with a longi-
* tudinal dorsal band of bright, sealing-wax red and fine streaks of red
alternating with broader ones of paler brown to form a border. When
detached from the twig during winter or early in the spring, the under
side will be found slightly concave and, occupying the center, is the
still quite well-defined body of the female, surrounded by a brown
jelly like substance which fills the remainder of the shell across which
four, or sometimes six, diminishing white thread-like lines extending
to the edge of the scale, have the appearance of legs and would seem
to assist in keeping the scale in place. When lifted carefully from the
posterior end, the long hair-like beak can be distinguished with a strong
lens and is capable of being drawn out to a length of 2™™.

On May 2, my attention was called by a friend to a young Lombard
plum in his garden, which exhibited the worse case of attack yet seen—
probably the unchecked development of several seasons. The twigs
and smaller branches were absolutely incrusted on all sides with the
Coecids, presenting to other than entomological eyes, a repulsive spec-
tacle. Even at this late date segregation had not taken place. By the
20th of the month, however, the eggs were fully formed and every seale
was crowded with them. The egg is broad oblong in form, 0.5™™ in
length, pale yellow in color, and 1n themass quite free and granular.
Hatching began June 10 and continued for nearly a month. The
young larve were the largest species yet observed, very flat, uniformly
pale yellow, the carapace being indicated by a very thin lateral rim.
The legs were rather long and well developed. Antenne five or six
jointed, one-half the length of the body. By July 15 hatching was

completed, and in the meantime, those first hatched, of which a part *

were separated and kept on fresh twigs in the rearing jar, had nearly
all become stationary on the leaves and transformed to male pupe.
Twigs brought me from the tree at this date had the foliage covered
with the young in all stages, the majority being still ina state of great
activity, resembling in general appearance and in the peculiar wavy
motion when crawling, a myriad of small Tingitids. The sexes were
undistinguishable. The mature larval scale is about 2™™ in length,
slightly convex, of a translucent greenish-white color. Two converg-
ing caring inclose a narrow flat dorsal space, from which a border,

ee

————

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 43

divided into six or seven panes, by similar, though finer, opaque, white
ridges, slopes slightly on all sides. Under the scales, which were
stationary, and which in no respect differed from those that were still
moving about over leaves and twigs, were found male pupe entirely
detached and displaying wing pads and other members as seen in nymph
of the higher Hemiptera.

On the 22d of July winged males appeared in the rearing jar, the
pupal period being about one week. In this stage, also, the insect is
beautiful, with filmy, iridescent wings expanding 4™™; body rose red,
with some dark brown shadings about the head and tip of the abdomen,
and an especially distinct, dark-brown, transverse thoracic band.
August 10 hundreds of winged males, fresh pup, and active larvie
were still found on the leaves. The act of copulation did not come
under my eye, although the winged forms continually fluttered over
those that were crawling. The life of the male seems to be of about a
week’s duration. My observations on this insect were interrupted by
absence from home from the middle of the month until the 5th of Sep-
tember, when I found that the males had disappeared and that the
females had attached themselves to the bark of such twigs as still
retained a measure of vigor. The scales were about one-half grown,
had darkened, thickened, and become centrally elevated. As in all
scales, growth by the exudation of waxy material around the margin
was slowly progressing. At the present date (November 10) the
Seales are not more than two-thirds the size that they were last year
and not nearly so numerous and drop easily from the twigs upon which
the black fungus has appeared. This is very likely due to the debility
of the tree, which will scarcely survive the winter.

Among the natural checks of Lecanium persice, one true parasite
(Chiloneurus albicornis) was bred in small numbers from tie mature
scales and the active young were extensively preyed upon by Chrysopa
larve,; by Camptobrochis nebulosus—a small, speckled, gray bug that I
have always found in numbers upon leaves infested with Phylloxera
rileyi, the oak Chermes, and similar minute forms—and more especially
by the floceulent larve of a small Coccinellid about 3™™ long and
nearly as broad, black, with a red spot on each wing cover, which has
been kindly determined for me as Hyperaspis signata. The larve of
the latter were very numerous and active among the swarming young
of the Lecanium, but, strange to say, were not found on any other Coccid
or Aphis during the season. As I was desirous of preserving this

_Leecanium through the summer for study, no insecticides were used

upon the tree, but from experiments made upon several twigs and
branches there is no doubt that kerosene emulsion, thymo-cresol, and
an insecticide called Cannon’s fruit protector, would all prove efficient
remedies if systematically used, especially upon the young larve.

The observations of the past season upon the insect under considera-
tion have brought out the following peculiarities: The very late hatching

44 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

and dispersion of the young; the unusual length of active larval life;
the occurrence of both sexes upon the leaves; the fact that the females
do not fix themselves until after impregnation, and, under certain not
well-understood conditions, a very remarkable preponderance of males.

The Linden Leaf-Roller.—The only shade-tree pest of importance, not
observed in this locality previous to the past season, was the above-
named Pyralid (Pantographa limata Gr. & Rob.). This appeared on
both the native and European lindens (Tilia americana and T. europea)
along the walks and on the lawns of many residents of Kirkwood, and
attracted general attention by the peculiar manner in which it twisted
the leaves. On the trees of the “ Linden walk” in the grounds of Mr.
A. S. Mermod the insect occurred in such numbers that almost every
third leaf, of the European lindens especially, was thus rolled, and the
trees reminded one of Christmas trees covered with candles.

The newly hatched larva beginsits case by simply foldingunder a bit
of the edge of the leaf, severing the folded part at the end toward the
base, and feeding on the green tissue of the portion inclosed. After
the first molt, it effects another roll and by a series of stitch-like bands
of silk fastens it in place and continues the process until the entire
leaf (of the European linden) or the apical two-thirds of our native
species is included in the coil. During the dayit feeds sparingly upon
the included portions of the leaf, but at night, when it spins and folds,
it also eats ragged holes in the adjacent leaves or gnaws their edges.
The nearly full-grown larvee sometimes desert the first case and form
a fresh and very perfect one shortly before leaving the tree for pupa-
tion. Within this case the larva rests in slovenly fashion among a lot
of sticky web and scattered frass. The larva and its case are described
by Prof. Fernald in the Canadian Entomologist (vol. XVI, p. 26).

In the specimens examined this summer the form was rather sub-
cylindrical than fusiform and tapered only slightly posteriorly, and the
head and collar were more frequently brown than black. Prof. Fernald
also says: ** While the imago of Pantographa limata Gr. is a typical
Pyralid, the larva is so very much like Tortricid larve, both in strue-
ture and habits, that I unhesitatingly referred it to the Tortricide till
it emerged.” This is true of the larve after the last molt or just
before changing, but the younger larve have the somewhat slimy sur-
face and other less definite characteristics which the experienced
observer at once recognizes as peculiar to the leaf-feeding Pyralids,
When ready for transformation, the larva cuts a circular hole through
the side of its case and lets itself to the ground, where it forms from a
leaf a spacious, oval tent which it lines with silk, or more frequently
the leaf will be attached to the lower part of the trunk of the tree or
some other flat surface and will then be in the form of an eggshell
divided in half longitudinally and applied by the edges. In the rear-
ing cages, these large, low tents were affixed to the glass by numerous
stitch-like bands of silk, and the glass was so thinly coated with web
that the larva or pupa within was but slightly obscured from view.

we

——_——_

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 45

The pupa averages 16™™ in length, is rather stout for a Pyralid, of a
shining red-brown color, sometimes tinged with olive. Pup were first
observed on July 9, and the moths began to emerge on the 25th of the
same month and continued coming out in the rearing cage until the
10th of August.

This species is one of the largest and handsomest in the group, hav-
ing a wing expanse of from 1 to 13 inches (25 to 35™™), and being more
lustrous and variegated in coloring than is usual among its leaf-feeding
allies.

The second (or it may have been the third) brood of the larvee
appeared on the trees about the middle of September, and singularly
enough from one to three of them, still very small, were often found in
the large cones deserted by the preceding brood. In the rearing cages
they developed very irregularly, one or two moths appearing early in
November, while others that were, perhaps, somewhat underfed are

. still reposing in their cases unchanged.

No parasites were bred except a Tachinid of the genus Parexorista.
Spraying was not resorted to this year, but will be practiced should
the insect again appear in injurious numbers, as it is evident from
tests on a small scale that a very small proportion of Paris green in
rater is quickly fatal to it.

Insecticides—In the Missouri botanical garden, when necessary to
spray fruit or other trees, the arsenites were this year in many cases
combined with the most approved fungicides, and I was assured that
the latter were quite as effectual against vegetable parasites when
thus associated, while the lime and copper compounds seem to prevent
that scorching of the fcliage which frequently attends the application
of the simple arsenites and water. A number of nurserymen and
orchardists of my acquaintance have used the same combination when
spraying, and claim great success in it.

A preparation kuown as Cannonw’s fruit protector was tested against
certain insects, especially Coccide, with good success. In cdor and con-

sistency, as well as in its effects, it differs but slightly from thymo-cresol,

on which I have previously reported, and I do not think that it is in
any way superior to the latter. It is in the form of a molasses-like
fluid of which one part to eighty or one hundred parts of water are
used, to be applied as a spray or drench, as a combined insecticide and
fungicide. Delicate foliage was in some cases injured by it, appearing
as though greased, and after a few days shriveled and dropped, and I
would not recommend its use against caterpillars or Aphidids, but think
it would prove a good repellant on the trunks of trees against borers,
and might be advantageously applied to trees affected with bark-lice.

INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA IN 1893.

By Hersert Osporn, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

AmEs, Iowa, October 28, 1893.

Str: I forward herewith a report on some observations of the season of 1893
referring to the general insect attacks of the season, and with more special reference
to a few forms that are of unusual interest. Aside from the observations reported
here a number of other species have been studied, but full reports can not be pre-
sented at this date, and they can be better treated in special papers.

During the season I have prepared two papers, one On the Methods of Combat-
ing Insects Affecting Grasses and Forage Plants, and the other On the Treatment
of Parasites of Domestic Animals, presented at the meeting of the Association of

Economic Entomologists, at Madison, both of which were in large part the results of .

studies that had been made with reference to the division work. Allow me here to
express my thanks for many favors during the year.
Very respectfully, yours,
HERBERT OSBORN.
Cave Rirky,
U.S. Entomologist.

The season of 1893 has been somewhat exceptional in the nature of
its insect attacks, a number of species usually inconspicuous becoming
seriously abundant and attracting no little attention on the part of eul-
tivators. This has been especially true of the clover-hay worm, the
wheat-head army worm in some localities, the clover-seed caterpillar,
and the horn fly. The first part of the season was rather cold and quite
wet, so that insect injury, except that caused by the clover-hay worm
in barns and stacks, did not attract attention. The latter part of the
season, however, has been quite dry, amounting for a few weeks to a
drought, and within this time insects have shown their presence in
very destructive numbers. A somewhat detailed statement of the
various species will be in order.

From the conditions present this season it is probable that we will
have a pretty large number of grasshoppers another season, unless the
occurrence of the blister-beetles and Bombyliid larve, which destroy
the eggs, has been extensive enough to reduce their numbers.

On the Hatching of the Eggs of the Horse Bot-fly—On Septer ber 19 I
obtained a number of eggs of the common horse bot-fly, and from the

46

REPORTS OF ORSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 47

fact that two or three flies were at the time depositing eggs on the
animal, it seemed probable that a good share, at any rate, of those
obtained had been recently deposited. It occurred to me to make some
observations on the time and conditions when these eggs would hatch,
and the following record is the result: On September 23, four days
after collection, the eggs, when moistened, showed distinet dark bands
with rows of black spines upon the segments, indicating a well devel-
oped condition of the embryo, but there was no tendency to hatch and
the egg when opened showed the embryo to be only slightly active, its
Oe niches being slow, and it would appear that it was not really
ready for hatching at that time. An effort to hatch them by rubbing
was not made at this time but the eggs opened by picking off the cap.
On the following day, September 24, the eggs previously moistened did
not hatch, but one egg, upon being moistened and rubbed for some time
with the al of the finger in a manner to simulate the action of the horse’s
tongue, was hatched, and adhered to the finger. This specimen was
fairly active, especially the hinder portion of the body. This must have
been at least five days after deposition and, of course, may have been
longer than this, as some of the eggs may have been deposited some
days previous to the time of collecting. On September 25 the two eggs
which were first moistened but not rubbed were still unhatched, and it
would appear from this that moisture alone is insufficient to produce
the hatching, at least during the earlier time following deposition. On
the next day another egg was hatched by moistening and rubbing and
by also picking the cap of the egg witha pin. Therubbing alone did not
succeed in hatching it, although continued for a long time, but when
the lid was picked with a pin the larva appeared active and it would
seem perfectly capable of all movement necessary for migration to the
stomach. On September 27 another specimen was hatched, but this was
also hatched with difficulty, the cap being removed finally by slight
pressure with a needle point, the larve, as in previous cases, appearing
active. On September 28 another egg was hatched in the same man-
ner as the preceding one, the cap being removed with difficulty but the
larva active. It would seem from this that for at least ten days the
hatching occurs with difficulty and if these were average specimens it
would hardly be possible with the ordinary movement of the tongue to
secure the release of the larve. Some days elapsed before another
effort was made, but on October 21 another egg was tried and this one
hatched almost immediately upon being touched with the moist finger,
the larva adhering to the finger and wriggling about with great activity,
so that it would certainly have had every opportunity to find the con-
ditions for its survival. On the same day two other eggs were opened,
the lid being removed very quickly by being moistened with the finger,
but the larve from these two eggs were inactive, apparently dead,
and this would seem to confirm the view that the larve die without
issuing or breaking the cap from the egg unless moisture or rubbing is

48 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

applied. Again, on October 26, two or three eggs were used, each of
which gave off the cap very readily, but in none of them did I find any
active larvee, although one of the larvee seemed to be fresh and showed
very feeble movement. October 27 one egg hatched as before and gave
a larva which appeared inactive. Another, hatched at the same time,
appeared inactive at first, but, upon the addition of a drop of saliva,
sbowed at first a slight amount of movement at the head end, being
most apparent in the hooks and later quite decided contractions
appeared in the forward part of the body, the larva becoming in a short
time sufficiently active so that there would seem to be no difficulty in
its securing proper conditions for development and ability to attach
itself to the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal had it been set
free upon the horse’s tongue.

October 28 seven eggs were opened by means of moisture and rub-
bing as heretofore, and these all proved to be inactive, three of them
thoroughly plump, but not recovering when placed in a drop of mois-
ture, while the others were shriveled and two of them adhered to the
shell.

I also found among the remaining eggs one from which the larva was
partially free, the cap of the eggshell adhering to the front end of the
larva and the larve wriggling about actively, the tail portion only being
connected with the shell.

One or two other eggs had been noticed from which the caps were
removed, and these had probably hatched by their own efforts. This
would seem to show that it is possible, although not a normal habit,
for the embryos to push the egg cap off and escape without assistance.

Summing up the results of these observations, which were not as
complete as might be desired, it seems that we may, with considerable
certainty, reach the following conclusions. Some difference, due to the
changing conditions of moisture, may be possible under field condi-
tions, the conclusions being strictly applicable only to the conditions
under which these eggs were kept:

(1) That-the eggs of the horse bot-fly do not hatch, except by the
assistance of the horse’s tongue.

(2) That hatching does not ordinarily occur within ten or twelve days
and possibly longer, or, if during this period, only on very continuous
and active licking by the horse.

(3) That the hatching of the larve takes place most readily during
the third to fifth week after deposition.

(4) That the majority of the larve lose their vitality after thirty-five
to forty days.

(5) That larvee may retain their vitality and show great activity upon
hatching as late as thirty-nine days after the eggs were deposited.

(6) That it is possible, though not normal, for eggs to hatch without
moisture or friction.

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 49

(7) That in view of these results, the scraping off of the eggs or their
removal or destruction by means of washes will be very effective, even
if not used oftener than once in two weeks during the period of egg
deposition, and probably that a single thorough removal of the eggs
after the period of egg deposition has past will prevent the great
majority of bots in gaining access to the stomach, or at least so large a
proportion, that little injury is likely to oceur.

The Horn Fly.—This is the first season in which Hematobia serrata
has proved troublesome in this vicinity. Reports late last year indi-
cated some trouble in the eastern portion of the State, and in Kansas
it was reported much farther west, but was not observed in this particu-
lar locality. I have been informed, however, by some stockmen that
it was seen late in autumn. The present season it appeared in large
numbers in the first part of July, numbers being sufficient to seriously
annoy stock, and from that time on the pest has been very plentiful
and troublesome.

The Clover-hay Worm.—This species was one of the conspicuous pests
of the season, specimens being received from different parts of the
State and reports from other localities sufficiently to show that the
clover hay quite generally throughout the State and in adjacent loeali-
ties has suffered largely from its attack. The injury has been of the
characteristic form, the lower portions of the haymows and stacks
being eaten, filled with webs and excrementitious matter, entailing a
considerable loss. Aside from Pyralis costalis, the Pyralis farinalis has.
been quite abundant, appearing in large numbers in some of the barns,
and it is pretty certain that a considerable portion of the injury may
be referred to that species. Judging from the abundance of the moths
in certain cases, it would seem to be the more abundant form, but ina
number of cases where specimens have been received the larve were.
of the costalis form and proved upon breeding to be that species.
There is probably no difference in the habits of the two forms, so far as
their clover-feeding habit goes, that would necessitate any difference
of treatment. I have, in a few cases, recommended the use of bisul- —
phide of carbon for this pest with special precaution as to its use on
account of inflammability of the liquid, and while I have not had the
opportunity to test it personally, nor receive reports from any who may
have tried it at my suggestion, I am confident that it could be used for
the destruction of the larve, and that by this process barns could be
freed from the pests without the necessity of the cleaning out of the
old hay and burning the webbed portions, a process which involves
considerable labor and is sometimes quite inconvenient to adopt.

Clover-seed Caterpillar.—This species, Grapholitha interstinctana, has
received attention during the last two or three years, but its increased
abundance the present season makes it worthy of still further mention.
It has been forwarded from different localities and has certainly

1493—Bull. 32——4

50 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

attracted more attention from farmers this season than at any time
heretofore. So plentiful was it during the latter part of the summer
that there seemed no possibility of a profitable crop of clover seed, and
where it occurred in abundance the recommendation was made that the
clover be cut before the larve had matured or else pastured heavily,
with the hope of destroying as many of the larve as possible and pre-
venting a late fall brood of this species, which feeds largely upon the
leaves and at the base of the stems and later hibernates, to mature in
the spring.

The Sod Web-worm.—The sod web-worm, Crambus exsiccatus, was
more plentiful the present season than it has been at any time since
1887, and judging by the large numbers of moths that appeared at lights
during August and September, there must have been quite extensive
injuries from them.

The Wheat-head Army Worm.—Attention has been called to this
species, Leucania albilinea, in nearly every report during the past few
years, but it has this season appeared more numerously and attracted
more attention than at any time since the year 1857, and the distribu-
tion of the species in the State has been different from its occurrence
in previous seasons. The greatest amount of injury, judging from
reports, has been in the northeastern quarter of the State, particularly
in the line of counties running west from Dubuque to the middle of the
State.

Asin previous years, the reports have been in regard to injury to
timothy, and in no case have | learned of attacks upon wheat or other
crops, although it is not at all improbable that such crops have been
attacked, but injury has not been noticed. As the species has not been
abundant in the immediate vicinity of Ames, I have had no opportu-
nity to make direct investigations or to attempt immediate measures.
The varied food plant of the species, and particularly its inconspicuous
nature during the autumn months, make it difficult to suggest remedies
that are in any great degree successful or which could be considered
worthy of strong recommendation. In general, the recommendation has
been given that as soon as the injury is manifest upon timothy, and if
the worms are present in any considerable numbers, that the timothy
be cut immediately and saved for hay, since delay in the matter
would mean a loss of the seed crop and also loss of the hay. Even
at the time the worm becomes apparent in its stripping of the timothy
heads the hay is usually past its prime for forming the hay crop, but
it is much more profitable to save it then than to lose it entirely. This
method would, of course, be inapplicable in wheat fields, but, as already
stated, the injury from this species to the wheat in this section has not
at any time seemed serious. It is probable that the maintenance of
trap lights at the proper time would be quite effective, but the diffi-
culty of getting farmers to make use of any measures except at the
tine when the damage is apparent, renders this of little avail.

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. a

The Leaf-folder—During the latter part of the summer my attention
was called to a serious depredation of the leaf-folder in some nurseries
near Des Moines. Examination of the leaves showed the presence of
large numbers of the larvee, with a considerable number of pupe, and
from these pup I obtained, during the early part of October, consider-
able numbers of the winter form of the leaf-folder (Teras minuta). The
species has been somewhat prevalent during the past few years, but
this season became much more destructive and caused considerable
damage to several acres of yearling trees. The indications at the time
my attention was called to them were that the use of poison would be
effective for the larvee still immature, but they were so rapidly matur-
ing that it seemed hardly desirable to adopt such measures for the
present season. Both pup and larvee were in such condition, however,
as to be destroyed by pinching, and this was recommended on account
of the benefit it should give for the coming season.

The Leaf Skeletonizer (Pempelia hammondi) occurred in considerable
numbers in the nurseries where the leaf-folder was destructive, and was
responsible, probably, for about 20 to 25 per cent of the damage. Had
the injuries been noted somewhat earlier practically all the damage
done by this species could have been avoided by a spraying with
London purple or Paris green, but at the time mentioned the season had
so far passed that it seemed impracticable and of little use to make
applications.

Nomophila noctuellan—In two of my previous reports I have ealled
attention to the great abundance of this pyralid moth, and suggested
the probability of its being a destructive species in pastures and
meadows. The immature stages have, however, not been observed,
and no opportunity has been presented for giving the species a
special study. Last season Mr. E. P. Felt, at Cornell University,
bred the larve, and presents in the Canadian Entomologist (vol.
XXV, p. 129) a summary of the life history of the species with figures
of the larva and adult. He found it to feed upon clover primarily and
also upon grass, and his observations seem to establish the economic
importance of the species. Evidently this species is distributed very
generally throughout the country, and judging by the abundance of
moths in this locality it must rank as one of the particularly destructive
species. According to Mr. Felt, the collection of adults at lights would
be of little avail in this species, as those which gather at lights are for
the most part males. In the related species belonging to the genus
Crambus I have shown that the individuals coming to lights are in a
large part females loaded with eggs, and it seems to me that it is desira-
ble to obtain still more complete records as to the individuals attracted
to lights before a final conclusion is reached as to the value of this
method. The difficulty of attacking the insect in any other manner,
except by plowing, makes the use of lights, if in any degree successful,
an important method of destruction.

52 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

The Olover-seed Midge (Cecidomyia leguminicola).—This pest has
caused considerable trouble during the season, although I believe it is
subordinate to the clover-seed caterpillar mentioned elsewhere. Sam-
ples of clover heads have been received from various localities in which
the midge larve were abundant, and they have doubtless been respon-
sible for considerable losses. The farmers of the State seem impressed
with the importance of the species and are making efforts to control
it. The plan of cutting early for the first crop does not seem to meet
with so much favor with many of them as the plan of pasturing the
clover fields during the spring months so as to prevent the develop-
ment of a spring brood of midges. This method presents some advan-
tages and I am inclined to think it will prove most advantageous if the
clover is allowed to head before turning stock upon it, so that such
midges aS appear may deposit eggs, and then by turning on a good
number of animals the heads may be devoured before the larve have
had time to develop. When the crop is cut for hay there is, of course,
some danger that the more advanced larve may be shaken from the
heads and pupate, thus producing the second brood of midges. More-
over, the farmers are adverse to cutting for hay early on account of
the smaller crop and the interference with other farm work.

= |

—

REPORT ON INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FOREST TREES.

By A. S. PackarD, Temporary Field Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

PROVIDENCE, R. I., October 18, 1893.

Sir: I forward this day a report.on the work done the past season in Maine and
Rhode Island. Notes were also made on other insects, and partial life-histories
recorded which are not yet sufficiently complete for publication. In accordance with
your instructions I spent a portion of the season, most of June and the latter
part of September, in Providence, and the months of July and August in Maine,
and early part of September in New Hampshire.

Respectfully, yours,

Cc Y. Rinty,
U.S. Entomologist.

A. S. PACKARD.

Notwithstanding the uniformly severe and prolonged winter of
1892-93, during which there seemed to have been fewer sudden alter-
nations of severe cold and thaws than usual, there was in the summer
succeeding a remarkable dearth of insect life, especially of caterpillars
and other larve which feed exposed on the foliage of trees and shrubs.
I never knew such a scarcity of these insects, and this state of things,
T am told, prevailed to a greater or less degree throughout New Eng-
land.

The Spruce Worm and Larch Worm.—Two subjects of interest in
connection with my work in former years attracted my attention. These
were the effects of the invasion of the spruce worm (Tortria fumiferana)
and of the attacks on the larches or hackmatacks of the larch worm
(Nematus erichsonii).

The region on the shores of Casco Bay, in which I spent the months
of July and August, and which in 187887 was ravaged by the Spruce
Worm, as described in the Fifth Report of the U. 8. Entomological
Commission, was greatly changed in appearance since 1887. During
the past few years the former unsightly aspect of the shores, including
portions of the mainland, as well as the inner islands, have been most
decidedly and very pleasantly changed by the rapid growth of young
spruce and firs which had sprung up since the old growth had been
removed, with the result that what were formerly bare and unsightly
areas are now fresh and green tracts, with the promise of soon becom-

53

54. REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

ing thriving woodland, owing to the rapid growth of the young trees.
In one place in particular, on the new wharf road in Brunswick, of
which photographs were taken in 1883, and which are reproduced as
Plates x11 and XxIv of my report, the new growth of spruces and firs
has within ten years completely changed the aspect of the fields and
woodlands at that spot. And so itis with an extensive tract of land
on Birch Island, devastated by this worm about ten years previously.
These coniferous trees grow nearly a foot a year, under favorable condi-
tions, and thus rapidly cover and conceal old stumps, piles of trash
wood and fallen trees, as well as places more or less bare-of vegetation.

It is also to be observed that neither the caterpillars nor moths of
the species have been observed at or about Casco Bay since 1883 or
1884, none of the worms being detected on the trees, and none of the
moths being taken by the net or captured at light.

The larches or hackmatacks in Maine have in general recovered from
the attacks of the larch worm, which was so abundant a few years ago.
No specimens either of the worm or of the sawfly were collected or
observed during the past two years. While a few old trees died, the
younger ones, or those not too much ravaged, appear to have leaved
out and to have recuperated.

The Fir Leaf-sheaf Worm.—During the past two or three years the
firs on the shores of Casco Bay at Brunswick, Me., have been disfigured
in an unusual way by the larva of a Tineid moth, which has been
determined by Prof. C. H. Fernald to be Blastobasis chalcofrontella
Clem. My attention was called to the work of this caterpillar during
the end of June and in July, 1891, the worms occurring as late as July
15. The terminal branches of the trees bore some dead red “ needles”
or leaves, which, however, had not been gnawed off by the worm. On
the under side of such twigs or small branches were masses of castings
or excrement, enveloping what seem to be the swollen or hypertrophied
bases or sheaths of the leaves, and which look like flower buds. They
are about a fifth of an inch long, forming masses about an inch in
length. These empty capsules were sewed together by a few silken
threads, and among them the little caterpillar resides. It does not bore
into the twig itself, which is green and fresh, but the tree is none the
less seriously disfigured by its attacks. As the worms did not occur
later on in the season I judge they begin their work in the spring, or at
least in May. Some that were found July 15 finished their transforma-
tions towards the end of the season, the moth being found dead in the
breeding box in May of the following year. Whether it emerged before
the winter or not I can not state.

A small Tortricid larva was observed at Brunswick, Me., early in
the summer of 1890, and in 1891 at work on the end of the twigs of the
spruce. It cuts off the needles for a space of about an inch in length
and spins a web next to the twig by which the faded red needles are
attached to the twig. When about to transform it spins a rude,

—S e S ee

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. oo

long, slender, oval cocoon covered with pellets of excrement, within
which it changes to a chrysalis, the cocoon being situated under and
among the dead, reddish leaves. The larve were observed July 1, and
the moth appeared the following spring.

The Fourteen-flapped Geometrid.Several caterpillars of this species
from which I bred moths like Aplodes coniferaria occurred on witch
hazel, Hamamelis virginica, living among the tawny, yellowish-brown
leaflets of the ends of the shoots, September 8, at Brunswick, Me. Its
shape, markings, and color are such as to assimilate it to the peculiar
small yellowish leaflets at the end of the flower-twigs, and to enable it

_to easily avoid the attacks of birds. ‘It is an excellent example of pro-
tective mimicry. It changed to a chrysalis in a thin cocoon, and the
moth appeared in the breeding cage May 10 of the following year. It
probably lays its eggs in June on the opening buds or leaves.

It is probable that my Aplodes coniferaria is but a small form of A.
mimosaria.

Notes on Lepidopterous Larve attacking Forest Trees.—From the chest-
nut I have reared Acronycta hamamelis Guen. It spun a thin but reg-
ular cocoon, and changed to a pupa October 7. Also from the yellow
birch, the pupa occurring September 15-20, Acronycta ovata Grote.
Acronycta grisea Walk. was bred from the willow and poplar.

On the tupelo at Providence I found, September 28, the larva of
Catocala elonympha Hbn. The caterpillar is pale gray, resembling in
markings and color a piece of the twig of this tree. It has no very
distinctive markings or prominent warts or humps. It spun a thin
white cocoon and pupated October 4, and the moth emerged in the
breeding box on May 15 ensuing.

From the choke cherry I have had Hutrapela transversata Dy., the
moth appearing August 24.

From the willow I have reared at Brunswick, Me., Boarmia crepiis-
cularia, the moth appearing August 30, the pupa having been found
August 8.

From the chestnut at Brunswick, Me., I took, August 23, a pupa of
Acidalia insularia Guen., which disclosed the moth on the 27th of
the same month. I also collected from a maple, September 6, at Bruns-
wick, Me., the pupa of an Hupithecia near luteata in the shape of its
wings and markings, but yet apparently distinct.

The larva of Deilinia erythemaria occurred at Brunswick, Me., not
uncommonly on the willow and poplar, the moth appearing August 6.

Hypena seabra Hbn. was bred from the poplar, the moth appearing
September 5.

The following Tortricids were reared:

The pupa of Teras ferrugana Schiff. was found on a leaf of Betula
populifolia September 20, the moth appearing October 2.

Cenopis reticulatana Clem. The larva of this leaf-rollor, which is
recorded by Miss Murtfeldt (Fernald’s Catalogue of described Tortri-

56 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS.

cide, p. 20) as feeding on the oak, Osage orange, maple, persimmon,
and pear, was discovered July 12-16, feeding on Apocynum androsemi-
Jfolium or dogbane, at Brunswick, Me. It is pale greenish, with no
stripes or other markings. The head is honey-yellow. On each
abdominal segment, except the last two, are four dorsal whitish pilifer-
ous tubercles, the hairs arising from them being rather long. It
pupated July 19, and the moth appeared August 7. It is well repre-
sented by Robinson’s figure 34 (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., Feb., 1869).

Teras hastiana lL. was reared from a larva found feeding on the spruce
July 30, at Brunswick, Me. The caterpillar is green with a dark head.

The following Tineid moths were also reared:

Gelechia inscripta Wlsm. The larva was found feeding on the oak at

Brunswick, Me., September 1. The head and prothoracic shield of the -

larva are dark amber. color, the latter blackish in hind edge. Body
dark green, transversely ringed with red lines ending on a lateral dot,
the reddish bars being widest on the second and third thoracic seg-
ments. It pupated about September 8 or 9, and the moth was found
dead in the breeding box May 10 ensuing.

Coleophora cinerella Cham. A specimen of the moth was bred from
a larva found on the poplar at Brunswick, Me. The larva was not
described, but the sack is cylindrical, not flattened as usual, and the
posterior end is compressed, somewhat turned up, the anterior end
being cylindrical and tapering nearly to a point. It is of the color of
a dead, dry leaf. . The larve occur early in July, the moth appearing
July 14.

~

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INDEX.

Acidalia insularia, on chestnut, 55.
Acronycta grisea, bred from willow, 55.
hamamelis, attacking chestnut, 55.
ovata, attacking yellow birch, 55.
Adalia bipunctata, in hop yards, 34.
humeralis, in hop yards, 34.
#sculus californica, Clisiocampa californica on,
29.
#geria pyri, in apple in Missouri, 40.
Agrotis saucia, attacked by Calosoma latipenne,
26.
Amara californica, ref., 26.
stupida, ref., 26.
Anatis 15-punctata, in Oregon, 35.
rathvoni, in Oregon, 35.
subvittata, in Oregon, 35.
Aphis cucumeris, in Nebraska, 19.
Aplodes coniferaria, mimicry of, 55.
mimosaria = ? coniferaria, 55.
Apple, brassy cutworm on, 25.
Apricot, Tortrix citrana on, 24.
Arbutus menziesii, Clisiocampa californica on, 29.
Army worm, abundant in Nebraska, 14.
in Missouri, 37.
Arseniuretted hydrogen, as insecticide, 30.
Aspidiotus perniciosus, attacked by Rhizobius
debilis, 36.
Australian ladybird, notes on, 36.

Blackberry, Clisiocampa californica on, . 28

Blastobasis chalcofrontella, work of, 54.

Boarmia crepuscularia, on willow, 55.
plumogeraria, on walnut, 22.

Bot-fly of the horse, eggs of, 46.

Bran-arsenic remedy, ill success of, 11.

Brassy cutworm, in California, 25.

Bruner, Lawrence, report, 9.

Buffalo tree-hopper, in Missouri, 38.

Calathus ruficollis, ref., 26.
Calosoma latipenne, attacking A grotis saucia, 26.
peregrinator, ref., 26.
Camptobrochis nebulosus, attacking Lecanium
persica, 43,
Cannon’s fruit protector, test, 45.
Carpocapsa pomonella, in Oregon, 35.
Catocala elonympha, on tupelo, 55.
Cecidomyia leguminicola, in Iowa, 52.
Cedar borer (Hylotrupes ligneus), introduction
of, 19.
Phlicosinus dentatus on, in Nebraska, 18.
Cenopis reticulatana, on dogbane, 55.
Ceresa bubalus, in Missouri, 38.

Chenopodium album, food plant of Tanymecus
confertus, 18.

Chermes pinicorticis, in Nebraska, 20.

Cherry, Carpocapsa pomonella bred from, 35.

Chilocorus bivulnerus, attacking scales on pine, 20.

Chiloneurus albicornis, parasite of Lecanium

persice, 43.

Chinch-bug, infectious disease of, 20.

Chorizagrotis introferens, swarms of, 17.

Citheronia regalis, abundance in Missouri, 39,

Clisiocampa californica, food plants of, 29.

on Rubus vitifolius, 28.

Clisiocampa californica, parasites of, 30.
constricta, on Quercus agrifolia, 29.
disstria, ref., 29.
thoracica, in California, 27.

Clover-hay worm, in Iowa, 49.
seed caterpillar, in Iowa, 49.

midge, in Iowa, 52.

Coccinella annectans, in hop yards, 34.
transversoguttata, in hop yards, 34.
trifasciata, in hop yards, 34.

Coccinellide, in hop yards, 34.

Cocklebur, Tanymechus confertus on, 18.

Coleophora cinerella, bred, 56.

Coquillett, D. W., report, 22.

Corn ear-worm, on peaches and oranges, 27.

Crambus exsiccatus, increase in Iowa, 50.

Cucumber plant-louse, in Nebraska, 19.

Currant berries, Tortricid destroying, 35.

Cycloneda sanguinea, in hop yards, 34.

Deilinia erythemaria, on willow and poplar, 55.
Differential locust, increase of, 10.

Eacles imperialis, abundance in Missouri, 39.
Eight-spotted forester, injuring vineyards, 16.
Epeira angulata, ref., 30.

Eucnephalia sp., parasite of caterpillars, 26,
Eupithecia near luteata, on maple, 55.
Eutrapela transversata, on choke cherry, 55.

Fall web-worm, in Nebraska, 15.
Fir leaf-sheaf worm, work of, 54.
Forest trees, insects injurious to, 53.

lepidopterous larve attacking, 55.
Fourteen-flapped Geometrid, notes on, 55.
Fraxinus oregona, Clisiocampa californica on, 29.
Fruit bark-beetle, in Missouri, 40.

insects, in Oregon, 35.

Gelechia inscripta, bred, 56.
Golden-rod, Tortrix citrana on, 24.

57

58 INDEX.

Gortyna nitela, in Nebraska, 16.
Grapholitha interstinctana, in Iowa, 49.
Grasshoppers, in Missouri, 37.

in Nebraska, 9.
Greasewood, Pezotettix chenopodii on, 12.

Hematobia serrata, appearance in Iowa, 49.
Harmonia 12-maculata, rare in Oregon, 35.
picta, in hop yards, 34.
Heliothis armiger, attacking oranges and peaches,
27.
Heteromeles arbutifolia, Clisiocampa californica
op, 29.
Hippodamia ambigua in hop yards, 34.
convergens in hop yards, 34.
parenthesis in hop yards, 34.
spuria in hop yards, 34.
13-punctata in hop yards, 34.
Hop louse in Oregon and Washington, 33.
Hopperdozers, successful use of, 11, 12.
Horn-fly, appearance in Iowa, 49.
in Missouri, 39.
Horse bot-fly, hatching of eggs of, 46.
Hydrocyanic acid gas, cheapest fumigator, 32.
Hylotrupes ligneus, in Nebraska, 19.
Hypena scabra bred from poplar, 55.
Hyperaspis signata, larve attacking Lecanium
persicer, 43.

Insecticide gases, experiments with, 30.
hydrocyanic acid, cheapest, 31.
Insecticides, experience in Missouri, 45.

Juglans californica, Tortrix citrana on, 24.
Juniper bark-borer in Nebraska, 18.
Juniperus virginiana, injured in Nebraska, 18.

Koebele, Albert, report, 33.

Ladybird, twice-stabbed, attacking scales, 20.
Ladybirds in hop-yards, notes, 34.
Larch worm in Maine, 53.
Leaf-folder damaging nurseries in Iowa. 51.
skeletonizer in Iowa nurseries, 51.
Lecanium hesperidum in California, 36.
olee attacked by Rhizobius, 36.
Lepidopterous larve in cornstalks, 16.
attacking forest trees, 55.
Leucania albilinea in Iowa, 50.
in Nebraska, 15.
unipuncta in Missouri, 37.
in Nebraska, 14.
Lecanium persice in Missouri, 41,
parasite of, 43.
Linden leaf-roller in Missouri, 44.
Limneria fugitiva, parasitic on Clisiocampa cali-
fornica, 29.
Locusts in Colorado, report, 10.
in Missouri, 37.
in Nebraska, report, 9.
in west Nebraska and Wyoming, 13.
Loxostege maclure spreading in Missouri, 38.
Lyda sp. on plum in Nebraska, 10.

Masicera archippivora, parasite of Pyrameis, 30.
frenchii, parasite of Clisiocampa californica,30.

Melanoplus atlanis, in Colorado, 12.

bivittatus, increase of, in Colorado, 10, 12.
in Missouri, 37.

differentialis, increase of, in Colorado, 10, 12.
femur-rubrum, increase of, in Missouri, 10, 37.
spretus, not numerous, 14.
turnbulli, ref., 12.

Migratory locust, not numerous, 14.

Martfeldt, Mary E., report, 37.

Mysia hornii in Oregon, 35.

Mytilaspis pinifolia in Nebraska, 20.

“Native” locusts, injuries in Nebraska, 14.
Nematus erichsonii in Maine, 53.

Nettle, Clisiocampa thoracica on, 27.
Noctuid moth, swarms of, 17.

Nomophila noctuella in Iowa, 51.

Oak, Tortrix citrana on, 24.

CEdipoda sulphurea in Missouri, 37.
xanthoptera in Missouri, 37.

Orange, attacked by Heliothis armiger, 27.
leaf-roller in California, 24.

Osage-orange Pyralid in Missourl, 38.

Ormenis pruinosa in Missouri, 38.

Osborn, Herbert, report, 46.

Oscinids preying on Coccids and Aphidids, 35.

Packard, A.S., report, 53.
Pantagrapha limata in Missouri, 44.
Papilio turnus, var. glaucus, ref., 30.
Parexoristasp., parasite of Pantagraphalimata,45.
Peach bark-louse in Missouri, 41.

brassy cutworm injuring, 25.

attacked by Heliothis armiger, 27.
Pear, brassy cutworm injuring, 25.

tree clear-wing borer, in apple, 40.
Pempelia hammondi in Iowa, 51.
Petroleum, crude, for use in hopperdozers, 12.
Pezottetix chenopodii, n. sp., ref,, 12.
Phiceosinus dentatus on juniper, 18.
Phylloxera rileyi, ref., 43.
Pimpla inquisitor, parasite of Clisiocampa cali-

fornica, 30.

Pine-leaf scale-louse in Nebraska, 20.
Platynus maculicollis, ref., 26.
Plum bark-louse in Missouri, 41.
Polygonum, Tanymechus confertus on, 18.
Procherodes nubilata on walnut trees, 23.
Protective mimicry of Aplodes coniferaria, 55.
Psyllobora 20-maculata in Oregon, 35.
Pterostichus vicinus, ref., 26.
Pyralis costalis in Iowa, 49.

farinalis in Iowa, 49.

Quercus agrifolia, Clisiocampa californica on, 29.
Clisiocampa constricta on, 30.
Tortrix citrana on, 24.

Red-legged locust, increase of, 10.

Rhizobius debilis numerous in California, 36.
ventralis in California, 36.

Rocky Mountain locust, not numerous, 14.

Rubus vitifolius, Clisiocampa californica on, 28.

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INDEX. 59

Sarcobates vermicularis, Pezotettix chenopodii
on, 12.

Scale-insects on pine in Nebraska, 20.
Schistocerca americana in Missouri, 37.
Scolytus rugulosus in Missouri, 40.

Scymnus near tenebrosus, destroying hop-lice, 35.

nebulosus destroying hop lice, 35.
Selandria cerasi, parasitization of, 36.
Sod web-worm in Iowa, 50.
Solidago californica, Tortrix citrana on, 24.
Span-worms on walnut trees in California, 23.
remedies against, 24.

Sporotrichum globuliferum, chinch-bug dis-

ease, 20,
Spruce worm in Maine, 53.
Stalk-borer in Nebraska, 16.
Sugar-beet insects in Nebraska, 18.
Sulphureted hydrogen as insecticide, 30.
Syneta albida injuring fruit buds, 35.

Teeniocampa rufula in California, 25.
Tanymecus confertus on sugar-beet, 18.

Tent caterpillars in California, 27.

Teras ferrugana on Betula populifolia, 55.
hastiana on spruce, 56.
minuta in Iowa nurseries, 51.

Tortricid attacking currant, 35.

Tortrix citrana, food-plants of, 24.

parasites of, 24.
fumiferana in Maine, 53.
Two-striped locust, increase of, 10.

Uncinula spiralis, Psyllobora 20-maculata feeding
on, 35.

Urtica holosericea, food-plant of Clisiocampa
thoracica, 27.

Walnut span-worm in California, 22.

Wheat-head army worm in Lowa, 50.
in Nebraska, 15.

Willow, Tortrix citrana on, 24.

Xanthium strumarium, food-plant of Tanymecus
confertus, 18.

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