^>^-ir~ Z BY ^t)c trustees OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. -r ^ %^i(o v.*>& l1 PEE FACE. The volume now issued as the Second Keport on Economic Zoology contains a large part of the information furnished by the Director of the Natural History Departments of the British Museum to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries between November, 1902, and November, 1903. It also contains the replies given hj the Zoological Department to other correspondents in connection with Economic Zoology, as well as special notes and some longer papers dealing with the subject. Mr. Frederic V. Theobald has carried on the whole of tliis worl^ and drawn up the Eeports now printed. He has been assisted in preparing certain replies to the Board and to other correspondents by Messrs. C. O. Waterhouse, M. ii. Oldfield Thomas, F.E.S. and R. 1. Pocock, of the Staft' of the Zoological Department of the Museum. Mr. C. 0. Waterhouse lias carei'ully r<'ad the proof-sheets . — Animals bred or cultivated by man for food or for the use of their products in industry or for their services as livint;' thing's. Examples. — Flocks and herds ; horses ; dogs ; ])oultry ; gold-fish ; bees ; silkworms and leeches. Group ('. — Animals which directly promote man's operations as a civilised being without being killed, captured or trained by him. Examples. — Scavengers, such as vultures; carrion-feeding insects ; earthworms and llower-fertilizing insects. Group D. — Animals which concern man as causing bodily injury, some- times death, to him, and in otlier cases disease, often of a deadly character. Examples. — Lions; wolves; snakes; stinging and parasitic insects ; disease germ-camers, as flies and mosquitoes ; parasitic worms ; parasitic protozoa. Group R. — Animals which concern man as caiLsing bodily injury or disease (both possibly of a deadly character) to {A), his stock of domesticated animals ; or {B), to his vegetable plantations ; or (C), to wild animals in the preservation of which he is interested ; or {D), wild plants in the preservation of which he is interested. Examples. — Similar to those of Group D, but also insects and worms which destroy crops, fruit and forest trees, and pests such as frugivorous birds, rabbits and voles. (J roup V. — Animals which concern man as being destructive to his worked up products of art and industry, such as {A) his various works, buildings, larger constructions and habitations ; {B) furniture, books, drapery and clothing ; (C) his food and his stores. Examples. — White ants ; wood-eating larvai ; clothes moths, weevils, acari and marine borers. (iRoi'P (I.— Animals which ai-e known as "beneficials" on account of their l)eing destructive to or che(;king the increase of tin- injnrious animals classed under Gi-oups D, E and l'\ Exatnples. — Certain carnivorous and insectivorous birds, reptiles and amphibia ; parasitic and iiredaceous insects, acari, niyriapoda, etc. CONTENTS. PAKIV I. REPORTS ON ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY SENT IN REPLY TO VARIOUS CORRESPONDENTS. (British.) GROUP D.* I'AGEo Mosquito annoyance at Woodlbrd (Essex) and elsewheie ; the Biting ytomoxys; Haematopota causing annoyance in Kent; Dipterous larva? in children ........... 1-16 (i R 0 U 1:^ E . Sdb-group a. Sheep Scab ; Tyroglyphidx sent as Sheep Scab mites ; A true tick {Der- inacentor) and others attacking poultry; Geese Lice {Trinoton coiispurcatum) ; Pig Lice (^Hxmatopiims urius) ; GlyciphcKjun domesticus oil Tortoises .......... 17-2o SUB-GKOUP B. The Gout-Fly of Barley (Chlorops txniopiis) ; The Pea Weevil (Bruchus pisi) ; A Remedy for the Pea Weevil (Sitones Uuedtus) ; Turnip Flea in North Wales; Red Mag:j;ot (Cecidomyia trifolu) in cloyer; Big-bud Mite in Black Currants ; A IJed Spidcv (Tenuiimlpus) on fruit trees ; The Wood Leopard Moth ; The Little Ermine Moths (Uyj^oitomeutidse) ; The Pith Moth {Laverna atra) ; The Apple Ltaf Miner {Lyonctia clerckella) ; Caterpillars on Fruit-trees, and notes on grease-banding ; Poultry and Pigs as vermin destroyers in Orchards ; Pear Midge (Dtpiosis pyrivoni) ; Woolly Aphis {Sckizoneuralaniyera) ; 1'he Apple-sucker {Psylla mali) ; T'he Vine Scale (Fulvinaria nitis) ; Insecticides ; Fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas; Field Mice damaging Apple-trees; Slugs in Hop Gardens ; A general account of Slugs and Snails injurious to Farm and Garden Produce ; Wireworm in Hops ; The Cabbage Moth ; Cabbage Root Fly ; Acari at I ricking Cauarieusis ; Narcissus Buib Pests; Swarms of Luffia "Case-Ilearurh"' on garden wall; The Common Foot- » riie reader is referred to the First lleport, p. xi., for a complete elasBificatiou ot animals fr/.s;n7?i ;///(, hepaticumym Sheep; V av us ( J rhorion schoenleinii) in Poultry: iliug- worm {Tinea tonsurans) iu Calves. Wireworm (Prevention and Contents. ix Kemedies) ; Fever Fly Grubs {Bibiorddse) in Soil ;' Mustard Beetle or Black Jack (Phasdoii betulse) ; Beetles (Pterostichus madidus) damaging mangold ; Some Notes and Communications on Big-bud in Currants ; Spots on Black Currant Buds, etc. ; Red Spiders ; Straw- berry Beetles ; The Raspberry Beetle (Byturus tomentosus) ; Insect damage to Apple Trees ; Aphis Blight (Aphis pruni) on Plum Trees; " (Tiimming " in Cherry Trees ; Enchytrc-eus Worms ; The Mermis Woiin {Mermis nigrescens) ; Mites (Gamasidm) in Cucumber Beds ; Milliiiedes and Centipedes; The Dot Moth (Mamestra persicariae) \ A Plague of Earwigs ; Lipura on Roots of Cauliflower and Celery ; Grubs of Fhytomizidse in Marguerite and Cineraria Leaves; The Vine Weevil in Ferns and other Pot Plants; The Rose Aphis (Siphonophora rosse) ; Correspondence on the Importation of Foreign Ladjf-birds; The Brassy Willow Beetle {Phyllodeda vitelUnsR) ; The Pine Sawflies {Lophyrus pinl and L. rii/us); Larvaj of the Lime irIawk-Moth on an Ash Tree ; The Felted Beech Coccus {GryptocMccus fafji) ; The C'anker Caterpillai- of the Oak ( Tortrix viridana) ; Grouse Disease 126-175 GROUP F.'- Insects in Furniture ; The Saw-Toothed Grain Weevil (SUvanus surina- mensis) ........... 176-177 Other Short Reports 178-184 List of Leaflets prepared, revised, etc., and papers and notes sent to the Board of Agriculture for Journal ....... 184 APPENDIX. Egyptian Coccidae ......-•-. 185 Index ............ 190 LIST OF FIGURES. Fig. 1. Larva and Pupa of Theohaldia annulata .... Fig. 2. The Gout Fly (Chlorops tseniopus) ..... Fig. 3. The Pith Moth (Laverna atra) Fig. 4. The Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerckclla) Fig. 5. An Apple Orchard, showing method of grease-banding . Fig. 6. a, Nurmal apple leaves ; h, attacked by Fsylhc . Fig. 7. Pupa of Psylla mali ....... Fig. 8. w. Young turnip attacked and deformed by cabbage maggot b, young cabbage roots tunnelled by maggots Fig. 9. «, The Cabbage Root B'ly (Phorbia hrassicx) ; h, the pu[)arium Fig. 10. Stem of Plant passing through card disc lying close on the ground A, Star-shaped slit so as to allow stem to pass through card B, slit to push stem up to A Fig. 11. Ash tree attacked by Goat Moth Larvaj .... h 13 24 36 39 42 46 47 69 70 to 78 Contents. Fiij. 12. Ash tree in foreground attacked and killed l\v Goat'Moth, another on the right unaftected ^ . Fig. 13. The Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda) . Fig. 14. The Eesin Gall Moth (Betim'a reainrUa) Fig, 15. Nest of Retinia resineUa . Fig. 1(». Eggs of Ghermes Inricis . Fig. 17. Kough sketch of Ohermes lands Fig. 18. Ghermes laricis (winged female) Fig. 19, Spruce Gall Aphis (^Ghermes abietis) . Fig. 20, AVings of a ? of summer generation . Fig, 21, Household Mites , , . . Fig. 22. Ox Warble Fly {Hypoderma bovis and H. li Fig. 23. The Raspberry Beetle {Byturus tomen/osnf:) Fig. 24. Spruce attacked by Lophyrus rufufs . Fig. 25. a, Larva of Lophyrus ru/us ; b, of L. pini Fig. 26. a, Lophyrus Tuf us ; b, L. pini . Fig. 27. The Saw-Toothed Grain Weevil (Silv((nn!< Fig. 28. Larva of the Saw-Toothed Grain Weevil Fifj. 29. humns squamosits (n. sp.) 80 82 84 85 87 87 88 8i» 90 97 Uneata) 128 144 W; it;7 i(;8 surinamcusis) 177 177 180 PAET I. REPORTS ON ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY SENT IX REPLY TO VAKIOIJIS COIUiESPONDEXTS. SECOND REPORT ON ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY. BRITISH (pp. 3 to 110). GROUP D. Animals which concern Man as causing- bodily injury, some- times death, to him, and in other cases disease, often of a deadly character. Mosquito annoyance at Woodford (Essex), and elsewhere. During the past summer mosquitoes have been very prevalent in Essex, especially in the neighbourhood of Epping Eorest, and also in Kent and Surrey, notably along the valleys of the Thames and Kennet, and in the wide stretches of marsh land in the Lea and I;Ower Thames Valleys. They have also been reported to the Board of Agriculture as being most annoying near Bristol, and similar complaints have been sent me from Great Staughton, in Huntingdonshire, Weston-super- Mare, Worplesdon, Colchester, Canterbury, and Birchington. Certainly there has been a greater amount of annoyance caused by them this year than usual, but every year complaints are made in the Thames Valley. Eor some unexplained reason, however, tlieir bites have been more virulent than usual, in many cases causing a considerable amount of oedema, which has necessitated medical attendance. In many instances where people have been bitten on the face the swelling has been so great that the eyes have been closed up for some days. The medical officer for Leyton states that scores of instances of serious bites have come under his personal observation. H 2 4 Second Report on Economic Zoology. Numerous correspondents have written for information concerning these pests ; some of their letters and the reports sent to them are here reproduced. One personal visit has been made privately to Higham Hall, the seat of Lady Henry Somerset, on the borders of Epping Forest, and others by Mr. Lowe, who has been employed by her ladyship tu superintend the treatment of the pools, tanks, etc., in which the mosquitoes were found to be Ijreeding. As a rule. Anopheles maculipennis and A. hifurcatus are in great abundance in the valley of the Stour, in Kent, but this year they have been comparatively scarce ; Culex ^:)^2'^e7ls and Theohaldia animlata, on the other hand, have been present in great numbers, and have bred much more rapidly than usual. Although the latter species has been the cause of much annoyance elsewhere (vide letters re mosquitoes at Weston-super-Mare), it has not been found to bite in the Stour Valley, neither is any annoyance caused by Culeo: pipiens in that region. Undoubtedly the most vicious biters have been Tlieobcddia anmdata, Culex nemorosus, Culex diversus, Ctdex morsitans, and Grahhamia dorsalis. In woodland districts of East Kent, Culcr. cantans, Meigen, bites very ravenously at dusk, especially on the ankles. I. Mosquito annoyance at Woodford and Epping Forest. Towards the end of May, Lady Henry Somerset wrote from Higham Hall, Woodford Green, Essex, asking how to deal with the enormous increase of mosquitoes in that neighbourhood. In a subsequent communication she stated that : — " The cold weather seems to have driven them in, and I have not seen a single one to-day, but if I possibly can I will endeavom- to procure one or two. They are large and extremely poisonous — so much so, that almost everybody who is stung here have their limbs swollen, and it is exceedingly painful and disfiguring. At the bottom of the meadow, probably a quarter of a mile away, there is a large lake. Of course they may breed there ; I do not know." On the following day a large mosquito was sent, which proved to be Culex diversus, Theobald. On the 12th of June I paid a private visit to Higham Hall and the surrounding area, including part of Epping Forest, which sur- rounds part of the estate, and in consequence sent the following report to Lady Henry Somerset : — Reports to various Correspondents. Report on a vidt to Higham HalJ, Woodford, V2th June, I'.tOS. The annoyance caused by Mosquitoes in your neiglibourliood is due at present to tlie presence, amongst others, of one of our largest Britisli mosquitoes, Gutex diversut^, Theobald. (OtliiT species occurred in greater numbers later, vide p. 7.) This species, previous to the last few weeks, has only been once recorded (in the neighbourhood of Tunbridge Wells). Other species will probably occur later. During the last week complaint has readied the Board of Agriculture that this same spscies of Cvlex has been causing great annoyance near Bristol during the last five years. At present nothing is known of its life-history, but from its general structure I imagine it to be a sylvan species, and nut a domestic one, such as the common gnat Ctdex pijmns. I could detect no traces of the larvte in any of the natural pieces of water or in any of the artificial collections near your house. This is probably because the species has not yet oviposited. Nevertheless, a much more thorough search should be made. In the immediate vicinity of the house the following possible breeding grounds were observed : — A. Artificial collections of water. 1. A large overhead tank used for conservatory. (The shed in which this is placed is said by your under-gardener to be full of Gulex at certain times.) 2. A large tank in stable yard. 3. A barrel used to receive waste water from a standpipe near stable yard and outside the garden. 4. The overflow from the above into a ditch near by. 5. Several open pieces of water in connection with the greenhouses in the garden. 6. A large tank partly open on the roof of the Hall. B. Naturcd collections of water. 1. Two small ponds in meadow below the Hall. 2. Several small pits in the forest close to the house. 3. Several small, unhealthy pools and larger pieces of water on the common close to the main road. 4. Higham Lake at the bottom of the meadow, some distance from the Hall. All the artificial pieces of water are likely places to find Culez larvas, and also most of the natural collections. I do not anticipate much danger from the lake, and for the present should leave that out of consideration. I should advise the following provisionally : — (1) That the tanks referred to near and on the house, and also the open pieces of water in the garden used for greenhouse purposes be closed 6 Second Report on Economic Zoology. over with board lids or with fine perforated zinc covers, the former in preference. Instructions being given to the ruen to see they are always kept closed. (2) The o^•erflow (No. 4, paragraph 2) should be either allowed to How more freely away or drained off with pipes. (8) The small stagnant pieces of water on the Liorders of the Forest and just inside might easily be filled in with rubbish, and also the stagnant pieces oi; the Common, or the latter might be drained. (4) The ponds in the meadow below the Hall, and the two larger clean pieces of water on the Common should be treated with paraffin as soon as any signs of the Gide.t larvae are seen, and also any other pieces of stagnant water that cannot now be filled in. The method of treating with ])araffin is appended. (5) Observations should either be made by some com])etent person or some intelligent man in the locality to find out when the lar\a3 occur, and then the paraffin treatment ado])ted. Although there arc several widely scattered places likely to prove suitable breeding-grounds for this mosquito, the cost of treatment would not be great, and if the presence of the larvffi is noted and treatment carried out then in conjunction with the recommendations 1 give regard- ing the artificial collections of water, I see no reason why this pest should not be completely stamped out. Destruction of Culicid Larvj^;. 1. The best culicicide to use is paraflin. 2. It is best applied to pools by dipping a bundle of rags attached to the end of a stick into the paraffin and dabbing the surface every here and there so as to produce a thin film all over the water. 3. The pools should be treated once a week during the time the larvae are found in the water. 4. Do not be too sparing with the paraffin — an even thin film over the whole pool is necessary. This film needs to be applied to all the small puddles around the larger ones, as larvie may often be found in very small collections of water. I have examined the Mosquitoes taken around Higham Hall by Mr. Lowe and find the majority belong to two species, (1) the Common Gnat or Household Mosquito {Culex pipiens, L.), and (2) the "Wood Mosquito {Culex nemorosvs, L.). Both these bite, but especially the latter. The common gnat breeds in rain barrels, tanks, cisterns, etc., and can be easily destroyed ; the larva; of this species were found by Mr. Lowe in numbers in such places near your house. Gidex neynorosus breeds in almost any water, even in lakes, so that probably fresh lots might come from the lake in the park ; the smaller pools in the forest are just the pools for them to breed in, and by treating tliem with paraffin I think the nuisance will be abated. Should this not be so, the edges of the lake must be paraffined in still weather where the larvae occur. It would Reports to various Correspondents. 7 be advisable to have the water treated several times at a week's interval, as I Jiud Giilex are breeding very rapidly this month. Three other species have occurcod in the collection from this locality, namely— (1) Culex diversus, Theobald ; (2) (hilpx cantans, Meigen ; (3) Grahhamia dormlis, Mei^en. A sinsrle specimen of each of these species only occnrred. All three are vicious biters. We know that CuJex cantans breeds in small pools, and I expect the other two do also. The chief pests are, however, evidently Gulex pipiens and Culex nemoroms, especially the latter. Mr. F. Lowe lias since been employed by Lady Henry Somerset to superintend the destruction of these pests, and the reports of his visits to Woodford are here appended. "Acting on instructions given by Mr. F. V. Theobald after his inspection of the estate, three visits were made at int'irvals of three weeks from June 2r)tli of this year to carry out in detail the plan of campaign against these hies, as arranged by Mr. Tiieobald. " On the first visit — a very hot day — attention was given to the artificial collections of water in the gardens and stable-yard, tanks, rain- water butts, gullies, greenhouse tanks, ditch, etc. " Each was examined with the utmost care for the eggs, larvre and pupag of mosiputoes by dipping with a wide-mouthed glass beaker, skimming imd straining. In one only — a rain-water butt containing about six inches of putrid water and (juite a foot of sludge— did T find any of the pests — the larvse of the common Gulex pipiem, in all stages of growth, and in such numbers as to blacken the surface of the water. After taking samples of these larvtB, the butt was emptied on the path, and when the water drie 1 up the residue was shovelled into the rubbish pit. Of the larvte taken away, one only survived the journey home, the remainder being killed, I believe, by the disturbance of the water caused by the jolting of tlie train. " The large uncovered tank in the stable-yard : An exhaustive inspection of this resulted in no Culicids, bat numerous ' Blood Worms,' the larvae of Chironomus. The water was run off and sludge removed, tank scrubbed and flushed out, overhanging ivy cut away and a match- boarding tarred-lid fitted to keep out the flies. The tank is to remain empty for the present, as any water required can be obtained from the standpipe. " Gullies were cleaned out and treated with a liberal supply of paraffin. " Greenhouse tanks : no aquatic larval or pupal stages of the pest. Cleaned out and the water covered with a film of paraffin. Xo harm will arise from this when dipping for water, if the bucket or watering-can is plunged well below the surface. "Xo Culicid larv!^ could be found in the ditch which drains off overflow from tub in orchard, etc. Well paraffined. Recommendation — should be drained away with pipes. " In beating the hedge at the side of the ditch in the orchard, I set up, and netted, a large female Gulex nemorosns — which I thought at the time wa^ a specimen of the rare Gulex diversus, Theobald — so I continued 8 Seco/id/' Report on Economic Zoology. to beat the hedge and also the ivy on the stable-yard wall for nearly two hours, but did not see another Culicid. " Tub in orchard for cattle to drink from, filled from standpipe : Clean — no Culicids. " On the second visit — also a scorching hot day— I made the round of the collections of water tested and treated on the first visit, but no signs of the enemy. Afterwards, I extended my work to the shrubbery and wood, and made my first discovery of adult mosquitoes in numbers, in an earth closet close to the Hall, the roof and ceiling of which were covered with hundreds of (Jiilex pipiens, all sluggish females with distended abdomens. The next capture was a female of Grahhamia dorsalis at rest on the side of a manhole near the Hall ; the male escaped. " In the wood which adjoins the gardens and extends for about half a mile to Higham Lake, I saw first a few of the ' Wood Mosquito ' {Culex nemorosus), and individuals of the ' Banded -legged Mosquito' {Guhx canians) ; then, as I proceeded towards the pools by the Lodge and Higham Lake, their numbers increased to such an extent that, when forcing my way through the bracken — shoulder high in places — in search of their breeding pools, the Culices rose in clouds and attacked me so viciously and persistently that I had to cover my head with my net. While testing the pools for ' egg-rafts ' and ' wrigglers ' of these two species, the bloodthirsty creatures bit all exposed parts, and, moreover, bit either through my flannels or crawled under to do so. Over fifty hard bumps the size and shape of a split pea marked where they had punctured. As the only inconvenience was an irritation, particularly after washing and shaving, no remedy was applied, and in the course of a week they had all disappeared. " No traces of mosquitoes in any aquatic state could be found in either the large open pool near the Lodge or the small ones surrounded with dense undergrowth in the wood. Nevertheless, all pools were treated with a heavy dressing of paraffin. The small pools are being filled in with refuse from the Hall and Lodge. " The two permanent ponds in the meadow for cattle to drink from were inspected — no mosquitoes in any state — many Dragon-flies on the wing. " Higham Lake — I worked unsuccessfully all round it for the larvte of Ciilex nemorosus, the adults of which were numerous and annoying on the banks. " On the third visit — a sultry day — the cistern closed with two doors fitted over the servants' entrance to the Hall was first examined — hundreds of the ' Household Mosquito ' {Culex plpiens) were hanging on the ceiling, though a thorough search revealed no other than adult female forms. " This cistern was emptied, scrubbed and flushed out, the walls and ceiling brushed down, then the doors closed and all open joints doubly papered to prevent mosquitoes entering for hibernating or egg-laying purposes. " The large rain-water cistern on the flat leaded roof was next inspected — thousands of adults of the ' House Mosquito,' but none of its early stages. " Crevices and corners were brushed out and the water thickly coated with paraffin. Reports to various Correspoiulents. g " The stokehole was next inspected, and when the gardener and self entered and lit candles legions of the 'Common Domestic Gnat' {Gulex pipiens) flew out. They covered the walls and roof, though the favourite resting-place seemed to be the lower half of the iron pijies, where they were actually packed, and by passing the hand quickly along after the manner in which one catches flies, a handful could be obtained. " The water in tank overhead for supplying the small feed cistern was baled out and a quart of paraffin poured in. The stokehole being the hibernating headquarters of the pest it would be advisable to close temporarily tlie entrance and fumigate from time to time as they gathered there. " In a general search round the Hall, I found what I believe to be the chief breeding-place of the ' Common House Gnat,' a large sink for taking the rain-water from roof of porch, &c. The gully was stopped up, and the sink contained about four inches of bad smelling water with a green scum, and three or so inches of sludge. Its sheltered position would prevent it being dried up, even in the hottest weather. The sink was crowded with larvae and pupse of pqmns, and the sides with adults of both sexes. The gully was opened, the water run off and the sludge taken away, sides of sink scraped down and the whole scrubbed out with paraffin and finally flushed. " In a shady way between a screen of two privet hedges leading to a convenience near by, the gnats were on the wing in such numbers that I netted them in thousands and crushed them. "While at work on the estate each day from 10 a.m. till 7'30 p.m. Oidex nemorosus and cantans always bit savagely, pipiens never, though they were often swarming round me. " The methods detailed above, followed up and modified or extended as occasion demands, or knowledge suggests, will undoubtedly keep down the mosquito in the immediate neighbourhood of the Hall, but the district could only be cleared by combined action by the authorities and residents. " From observations and enquiries made, the mosipiito nuisance would appear to be general in the district, also any measure to lessen it would be welcomed by the inhabitants." II. Mosquito annoyance at Worplesdon. Mrs. Malcolm Thompson, of Bridley Manor, Worplesdon, also wrote stating that a very large-sized gnat had invaded the house, and had especially pervaded two south-eastern rooms in great numbers. They have a very undulating flight and a loud buzzing noise, and their sting is very painful. The house stands high and open, but there are pinewoods and extensive commons near. There being no -stagnant water near, Mrs. Thompson wished to know where they would be likely to breed. The following note was sent in reply : — "The insects causing you such annoyance at Bridley Manor, lo Second Report on Economic Zoology. Worplesdon, and invading the rooms in great numbers, are one of our common mosquicoes, formerly known as Cahix annulatus o\ Meigen, now placed in a new genus — Tlieohaldia (Neveu-Lemaire). It is especially noticeable in the autumn, and occurs over the winter, hibernating in houses, cellars, sheds, and under any convenient outdoor shelter. " This particular species of mosquito has been very prevalent in the south and south-east of England this autumn. I have found them active during the last two weeks (December 1-14), and the snow has been a foot deep on the ground all the time, and there have been hard night frosts. As you say, it is a very vicious biter, especially during the cold weather. The bite is very painful, and often causes large swellings around the point of insertion of the proboscis. " It breeds entirely in water — I have found the larvae and pupa: in pools, in cisterns, in water-butts, etc. It does not fly any great distance. Eggs are laid in the summer upon the water in the form of 'rafts,' and the larvre mature by August and September, but many not until October. The flies causing you annoyance have probably bred close to the house. It would be well to have all rain- barrels, cisterns, etc., looked to about July (and in August), and if the large 'wrigglers,' as the larv;e are called, are present, have the barrels, etc., either emptied or a small quantity of paraffin put upon the surface of the water. This should be done again in August and September. " The best way to clear them out of the rooms would be to fumigate tlie rooms with pyrethrum powder (Persian insect powder). You can often buy this insecticide made up into cones for burning, or you can obtain the pure powder and make it up into little cones yourself by moistening it. When dry burn them in the rooms with all windows and doors closed and leave shut up for a day. It is non-poisonous to man and animals, but deadlv to insect life." III. Mosquito annoyance {Theohaldia annulata) at Weston-super-Mare. Another correspondent, Mr. W. Hatchett Jackson, D.Sc, Ead- cliffe Librarian at Oxford, wrote in January concerning this species as follows : " This mosquito is very much dreaded at my own country house. I have been badly ])itten by it myself and this year it has been so exceptionally numerous that few persons have escaped and some have suffered severely. The consequence of its bite may be so Reports to various Correspondents. 1 1 severe indeed that the patient lias to go to bed. ... I have had Anopheles macidipennis from the same neighbourhood, but it is relatively rare." The following reply was sent : " The mosquitoes you send are the common European annidata, now the type of a new genus — Theohaldia (Neveu-Lemaire). It occurs in America, having recently been found there, and also in India. " Ficalbi is wrong in saying it does not bite. It is one of our most annoying and venomous species. It has been abnormally abundant this last year and I have had several enquiries concerning it. I have taken it all through the winter at home (Kent) in numbers." Later Mr. Hatchett Jackson wrote that, " When last at home at Pen Wartha, Weston-super-Mare, I gleaned some interesting facts a.s to the bite of this very venomous species." Again he gives an interesting fact, namely, that '• From September, 1902, to the beginning of this year we were terribly bothered by it. In early autumn it invaded us in myriads. In a summer-house with glass windows I counted 132 ? 's on November 8th, 1902." The following notes were drawn up by him regarding this pest and are i-eproduced in toto : — Notes on Theohaldia annulata. It usually occurs in the flat country round Weston-super-Mare in large numbers during September and October, bat it only invades the town of Weston itself to any appreciable extent when the w±id blows from the plains, that is to say between N.E and S. It has Iteen relatively rare round Weston and on the Glastonbury Plain the last few years owing to the ponds and the wet dividing ditches, known in Somerset as rhines, being dry or almost dry in summer. In the autumn of the past year (1902) there has been a veritable plague ; there was a sufficiency of water in the warm months and a prevalence of easterly winds in autumn. Hence few persons in Weston and its neighbourhood have escaped the attack of this gnat, The consequences of its puncture may take one of three distinct lines : — (1) It is followed by a simple, hard swelling, which, however, rises more slowly and disappears more slowly than the swelling caused by any other gnat known to me. It is also larger, and traces of it may exist for months, e.g.. in my own case I still have a 12 Second Report on Economic Zoology. slight thickening now (5. Feb. 03) due to a puncture made Nov. 8. 02. (2) A swelling arises as above detailed, but it is accompanied by a large reddened and puffy area of inflammation. A clear vesicle containing a yellowish lymph develops in the centre of the hard swelling. There is more or less severe itching. If opened, the vesicle drains lymph for three or four days and the inflammatory area diminishes 'pari -passu. Cases have occurred, especially in women, where there have been four or five simultaneous punctures, and the patient has suffered so much malaise as to retire to bed with fever ranging up to 101° F. (3) The hard swelling is slight or absent, but there is great and extensive oedema. A case occurred in the practice of a friend of mine in which there was a puncture on the man's liaud ; the whole arm inflamed and was extremely painful, with oedematous swelling extending up to the shoulder-joint. Our own cook had a puncture this autumn on the forearm, and developed a regular attack of " water in the elbow-joint," so that the arm became almost immov- able. This year 1 caught specimens of tlie ? of this species as late as January 13th in a summer-house with glass windows, as well as in our own house. I saw no males after the second week in November, 1902, and at that time I noticed, on a sunny day, in a warm nook of our garden, numbers of this gnat — all ? 's — flying about and settling on the stems of plants and inserting their pro- boscides, apparently engaged in sucking. The two plants attacked were periwinkle ( V. major) and young wallflowers. Most people at Weston are well acquainted with this species owing to its speckled wings, and it is usually to be met witli in autumn in the woods of Worlebury Hill behind Weston on the north. Indeed, it is sometimes spoken of as the " Wood Gnat." Further Observations on its Life-history. During the past year this gnat has been more than usually abundant in my own neighbourhood (Wye), and like Anopheles mactdvpcnnis it has not been found to bite man. On the other hand, I have observed the females, just as Mr. Hatchett Jackson records, feeding upon plants. Some hundreds hatched out of a water barrel in my garden during August, commencing on the 17th and going on until the 27th. They all hatched out between 8 and 11 o'clock in the morning. The first few days 9 's alone appeared, then for two days nothing but $ 's and then $ 's again. Many of Reports to various Correspondents. o \ \. ^ -^ .,-^ ^ '^•■^^ ---T^^fSsa-«^ i*"!^^ P'hl^^ Fig. 1. Larva (a) and ptipa (b) of Theobaldia anniilata. Meigen. 14 Second Report on Economic Zoology. the (J 's died ou the water, as many as 70 being counted at one time floating on the surface. They, it seems, are very easily killed by rain when hatching out, which is not the case with the ? 's. Another interesting feature was that the males nearly all hatched in the centre of the barrel, the females against the sides. None were found in the house or privies near. It thus seems to be a wood species until late in the autumn, when it enters buildings and remains in them all the winter, coming into activity as soon as the weather becomes warm. The larvte also occur in small pools and ditches, and I found some in a saucerful of water, others in a jam pot. They are quite large when mature, reaching nearly three-quarters of an inch ; pale greyish-brown in colour, the head smaller than the thorax, and with a rather short thick siphon (Fig 1 (a) ). The pupa (&) has the sides of the thorax, when in the water, silvery in hue, due to air, which collects at tlie sides ; the siphons are truncated and rather curved, the anal flaps prominent and a very distinct tree-like tuft on the first abdominal segment. The eggs are laid in large boat-sliaped masses. Amongst other localities whence mosquitoes have been enquired after in Great Britain may be m.entioned Canterbur}-. Mr. Hammond, writing on the 25th of October, enclosed specimens of T, anmdata, stating that they were brought to him by two Canterbury people who complained of being bitteii by them and of having been made very ill in consequence. Gnats, he says, have been very plentiful there this autumn. The Biting Stomoxys. {Stomoxys calcitrans, L.) Several enquiries have been made concerning the Storm or Biting Stomoxys — the Stomoieys calcitrans of Linnaeus. During August and September many seemed to have entered houses in such numbers that they became quite a pest, but few reports were given of their biting man, which they do sometimes very severely, and they have been noticed giving considerable annoyance to horses. This fly is said only to approach houses and enter them previous to a storm and in late autumn. This is nearly always the case, and I have noticed that they appear hours before the storm approaches or any indication in the barometer. The bite of this fly is very sharp, and they will bite man even through thick clothing. It does not seem to be entirely sanguineous, for it may frequently be seen Reports to various Correspondents. 15 sucking up the nectar from flowers. It is common to Europe and North America. Besides entering houses it also invades stables, cow-sheds, pig-styes, and fowl-houses, feeding off the blood of fowls as well as mammals. It prefers to attack horses on the legs. The bite is followed by the formation of a large papule, upon which the hairs stand erect. They may be found from late spring to late autumn, and especially worry horses near woods. In houses they are frequently taken for house flies, but a casual examination of the head reveals a distinct piercing proboscis project- ing from below the head. When resting the Stomoxys carries its proboscis forwards, the Musca downwards. The fly reaches between 10 and 12 mm. across the expanded wings, and is about 8 mm. long ; it is deep brown with grey reflections, the face white between the large brown eyes ; palpi and antennte brown ; thorax with two median dark stripes, two linear dark spots in front and two longer ones behind in a line with them, the paler areas of the thorax with cinereous reflections ; the abdomen has a basal dark band to each segment, which spreads out in the middle, nearly across the segments, and so forms a broken dark dorsal line ; each segment except the last has two deep brown apical spots ; legs deep brown, almost black, except the base of the tibise, which are bright testaceous. The male is darker than the female, and the spots on the abdomen larger, and the dorsal stripe less interrupted. The projecting pro- boscis is deep brown. The eggs are laid in horse-dung and manure of all kinds, the former by choice, where the white maggots change when mature into rather pyriform brown puparia. They appear to pass the winter in the latter stage. They may soon be cleared out of a room by opening the windows at the top as soon as the weather brightens. Haematopota causing annoyance in Kent. Mr. Jeffreys, of Ashford, Kent, wrote asking for informotiou con- cerning the fly he sent, which, lie stated, bites severely. This biting fly proved to be one of the Tahanidw, and belongs to the genus Biematopota, the species being crassicornis, Whlbg. The most common one found about Kent is H.phmalis, L. The two species are very similar. A third species occurs in Great Britain, H. italica, Meig. I have not seen it in Kent. Walker gives it as a synonym of pluvialis, but it is not so. These Hseviatopota are locally known as " Brimps " in Kent, and as Eain Breeze Flies and Horse Breeze Flies in other parts. They are particidarly abundant ahmg reads and paths 1 6 Second Report on Economic Zoology. through woods, and in the neighbourhood of water. They are most vicious of all the Tabanidm, attacking both man and animals, especially horses. Their bite is very painful, and they not only draw away quite a lot of blood, but leave behind a wound from which blood continues to ooze. Many nasty wouuds are caused by these flies. They undoubtedly carry poisonous germs, which pass into the system when the proboscis is inserted. To bathers in most small rivers in the south of England they are most annoying. The females only bite, the males live upon the juices of flowers. Their flight is silent and like other species of Tabanidx., they occur in greatest numbers in hot and sultry weather, delighting in the brightest sunshine. Dipterous Larvae in Children. Dr. J. K. W. Stephens forwarded in November two kinds of dipterous maggots with the following note : — " The larva^ are of a lot passed per rectum of a child ; two cases in Liverpool." These larvse belong to the genera Musca and Homalomyia. The first-named is just like Mvsca domcstica, but there are eight round knobs to the lateral processes, not seven, as in domcstica. Probably it is M. corvina. This is the first record of the larva of Musca living in human beings. The Homalomyia were hatched out by Dr. Stephens and proved to be H. canicularis, L. A paper on these two interesting cases of Myiasis is being prepared by Dr. Stephens. Reports to various Correspondents. 17 GKOUP E. Animals which concern Man as causing bodily injury or disease, both possibly of a deadly character, to (A) his stock of Domesticated Animals, or (B) his Vegetable Plantations, or (C) to Wild Animals in the preservation of which he is interested, or (D) Plants in the preserva- tion of which he is interested. SUB-GROUP A. ANIMALS WHICH CAUSE BODILY INJUEY OR DISEASE TO MAN'S STOCK OF DOMES- TICATED ANIMALS. Sheep Scab. In answer to an enquiry from Mr. E. G. Wheler, Commissioner to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, concerning the life-history of the Scab-mite, the following Report was sent. This Report was further enlarged at the request of the Land Agents' Society, and appeared in amended form in their " Journal." * Sheep Scab. Sheep Scab is caused by three different Acari, namely : (1) Sar- coptes scahici (de Geer), var. ovis ; (2) Psoroptcs communis (Fiirst), var. ovis ; and (3) Chorioptes communis (Verheyen), var. ovis. Of these three the Sarcoptcs cause head scab, the CJiorioptes foot scab, and the Psoroptcs the common scab. Salmon and Stiles give a fourth type, FoUicula or Demodectic Scab ; this I have not seen in England, and, anyhow, it is of little importance. The foot scab produced by Chorioptes is rare — Zurn wrote upon it in Germany ; it does little harm even when present. The Head Scab or " Black Muzzle," due to Sarcoptes, appears on the lips, nostrils, ears, eyelids, and spreads to any part of the body where the wool is scanty. It is easily told from common scab : first, * " Journal Land Agents' Society," vol. ii., p. 156-160, May, lOOo. C 1 8 Second Report on Economic Zoology. by its position ; secondly, by being very much smaller than the common scab-mite ; it is almost invisible to the naked eye. Crusts are produced like the common species, which run together. The parasites sink into the skin, grow and produce their young. The young move about and then penetrate the skin, as did the parents. The scabs later become thick, grey, and hard; the sheep rub the scabby places and the scabs get torn off, and open cracks and bleeding surfaces are caused. The mites occur in the moist layers under the scabs and so get detached. This Sarcoiifes also lives on the goat. Common Scab. (PsorojJtes communis, var. ovis.) The life-history of all these three acari is roughly the same ; the Common Scab Mite lays from fifteen to twenty or more eggs on the skin and under the scabs ; now and then they appear to be fastened to the wool close to the skin. The esfcjs hatch in from two to five days, as far as those were concerned which I have kept under obser- vation, but the usual time is from three to four days, according to Oerlach. The length depends on the temperature and moisture. The larvae are six-legged, but they soon moult, for in four days they have assumed the eight-legged stage. At the end of from seven to eight or nine days tlie mites are ready to reproduce. After copulation the male dies, but the female casts her skin, this second stage lasting four days, sometimes five (according to Stiles) ; a third moult follows immediately, and eggs are laid and the adult dies. Stiles says a fourth moult may take place, but apparently without any further production of eggs. Speaking roughly, a generation may be completed in fifteen days, allowing for variations. The mites live under and near the edges of the scabs, and are removed with the wool and crusts when the sheep rub themselves against wattles, hedges, posts, gates, etc., or tlie scabs may fall off on to the ground. The mites possess great vitality under favourable conditions, but I have not been able to keep them alive more than three weeks when detached from scab and avooI under normal conditions. I think it is an exception for them at an ordinary temperature to live more than a month — more often they die in a few days. But there are cases recorded where they have lived up to from six to eight weeks away from the sheep. There are cases where sheep have become infected Reports to various Correspondents. 19 in places where no sheep have been for twenty-four months. In the latter case, I feel sure the cause is due to distribution by starlings, ■t;tc. The chances of these Acari living over the winter is very small when detached from the sheep ; and, from those I liave tried to keep, I do not think, given sun, wind, and rain, they will live imany weeks away from their host. AVetness is very harmful to them — a heavy drenching with cold water kills them readily, but, of course, does not affect the eggs. I have been unable to keep them alive many days on damp, sodden ground, and found the eggs then hatched out and the larva; perished. The way in which they live longest detached from the host is when tags of wool and scabs get torn off by the sheep on hurdles, hedges, etc. The eggs may remain dormant up to possibly eleven days. This is the longest period recorded. I feel sure that is very exceptional, probably only in very cold, dull dry weather. I once kept some ova in a dry temperature of 30° F. for two months, and then being raised to 67° F. a few of them incubated. Varieties of Psorrrptes occur on horses, goats, rabbits and cattle, but they will not attack sheep, nor •will the sheep form attack them. With regard to extermination, of course dipping is the main thing, and for this one must have a sulphur or tobacco dip. Dipping should be done twice at least to be completely effectual. The second dip should be about ten days after the first. I have noticed the acari become active about May, and in bad cases I should certainly say dip before the sheep are shorn, but dipping is most effectual afterwards (from four to six weeks). Spring dipping before shearing can only be partly successful, but if the flock is bad it would be worth while. It has another point in its favour — destruction or removal of the Ticks, " Keds," and Lice (Trichodectes) ; but for scab alone, after shearing would be best for compulsory measures. As a rule sheep are dipped from four to ■six weeks after shearing. The fleece has then sufficiently grown to be able to hold the dip. Sheep of course are often put back on the same land after dipping, w^iich is foolish. All pens should be well disinfected, and also the ground where shearing has taken place, another point often overlooked. I once found fifty ticks and any number of " Keds " in a few yards around the men shearing at home. With regard to a dye in the dip, one would have to proceed very cautiously. If one is known tliat will not affect in any way the wool and will disappear, it certainly would be an excellent plan, but if only used after shearing it would not matter. c 2 20 Second Report on Economic Zoology. Tfroglypliidae sent as Sheep Scab Mites. Specimens sent from the County Chemical Laboratory, "Worcester^ supposed to be Scab Mites, had nothing to do with the parasite that causes Sheep Scab {vide p. 17.) They were mites of the family Tyroglypliidee,, which occur in all manner of places. A few are found as parasites on man and animals, but they do not cause marked diseases like " Sheep Scab " and the allied " Itch " in human beings. The mites that cause Sheep Scab, Sarco'ptidse, present quite a different appearance. A true Tick {Dermacentor) and others attacking Poultry. The poultryman at the Agricultural College at Wye tells me that a tick which I had received is common in some parts of the country on fowls and turkeys. The specimen sent was immature, and being unknown to me was forwarded to Mr. Wheler for deter- mination. There are no records of any of the Ixodidse living on fowls except species of Argas. Mr. Wlieler, the chief authority on British ticks, sent the following reply : — " The tick you send is a fully distended nymph. I am practically sure it is Dcrmaccntor reiicidatus (Fabricius). It is not stated to have- been found on poultry, but chiefly on sheep. At Eevelstoke, however, it has developed into a great pest, affecting the gardens and herbage in March and attacking human beings when gathering flowers. Being immature it is not possible to say the species. It may be another species of Dcrmaccntor. If so it is new to England." Several poultry people have talked to me of " Ticks," but when they have been sent they have always proved to be Goniodes or Goniocofcs. The poultryman at the S. E. Agricultural College knows all the lice well, so there must be something in this Tick pest. The only known British Tick parasitic on fowls, but chiefly on pigeons, is Argas rcfiexus. Other species are occasionally found on birds, but not habitually. Argas rcflexus is flat, with a wrinkled margin all round the back. It is, however, rare in this country even amongst pigeons. It is frequent in Italy and in some parts of France ; it also occurs rarely in Germany. The Argas in all its stages Hats on blood, the larva^ being fixed for a longer time to their host than Reports to various Correspondents. 21 the adults. They are nocturnal, hiding away in crevices of the fowl- house or dove-cot. Young lairds are most affected by it, in fact when this pest once gets into a dove-cot it is almost impossible to raise young birds. Death may ensue, according to Neumann, in from •eight to fifteen days. Amongst fowls, however, this species is rare, and I am not aware of their having caused any annoyance. Besides birds this Bordered Argas attacks man, Megnin having received specimens from Strasburg gathered from the clothes of a man. Cliildren are frequently bitten on the Continent during sleep, especially on the hands and feet. It was probably this species that at one time caused some inconvenience to worshippers in Canterbury Cathedral, the ticks falling down from the roof, where they were evidently abundant, living upon the numerous pigeons, etc., that breed in the towers. Other ticks of this genus are well knowu as attacking poultry abroad, namely, the Mauritius Argas (Argas mauritianus, •Guer), which causes considerable loss in the poultry-yards of Mauritius, and the Tampan, Wandluis or Fowl Tick of South Africa {Argas persicus). Frequent instances of fowls and ducks dying from the effects of Fowl Tick attack are reported according to Mr. Louns- bury,* This pest occurs in many countries having a warm climate. It is particularly troublesome to man in Persia, where it is known as the Miana-bug by Europeans, the Gerib-gez or Malleh by the Persians. In America and Australia an Argas (A. americamts, Packard) also attacks domestic fowls and turkeys and occasionally cattle. Geese Lice ( J'rinoton conspurcatum, Nitzsch) and others. Some lice sent by Professor Vale from geese proved to be dark-coloured specimens of Trinofon conspurcatum, Nitzsch. Tliis is one of the largest of the Mallophaga, which is frequent on geese and swans, both wild and domesticated. The Trinoton conspurcatum, Nitzsch, is according to Denny a very common parasite on domestic geese, and may, he says, be frequently seen running on that bird with great velocity, either in a progressive or retrogade direction, and owing to its polished and flat surface it is difficult to retain when caught. Besides being found on the Domestic Goose it is recorded from the Common Gull {Larus canus) and Bewick's Swan (Cygnus * " Report of Cape of Good Hope Government Entomologist, 1899," p. 33. 22 Second Report on Econoimc Zoology. Benidii), and by Dr. Burineister on the Domestic Swan {Cygmm olor). Another smaller species (Trinoton squalklus, Denny) also occurs on the Domestic Goose and on the White-fronted Goose {Anser alhifrons) and on the Shoveller {Anas chjjpeata). This last-named louse is much smaller than the former. In colour it is pale yellowish-grey, with smooth shiny coat, black head with four dark lateral spots on it, black lines on the thorax and a dull brown band near the apex of the femora, and the tibire fringed with long hairs. Length 1^ lines. It is undoubtedly the same species that Nitzsch described as Trinoton lituratnm. Piaget records it also from Dendrocygna arborea, and I believe it has also been found on the SmeM', A Lipeurus {Lii^eurus jejunus, Nitzsch) is also found on the Goose. This long, narrow louse is pale yellowish-white with a dark margin, the first eight segments with quadrangular bands ; legs dusky. Length 1 to 1^ lines. It is generally distributed amongst the goose tribe both wild and domesticated. I have not seen this species, but I presume it works in a similar way to the Lipeiirus found on fowls and pigeons. Another Lipcurus (Z, anseris) has been described, but I know nothing of it. Piaget, however, retains it as a distinct species. The specimens were taken on Domestic Geese. Pig Lice [Hsematopinus iirius, Nitzsch). Specimens of lice, Hmmatopinvs urius, of Nitzsch, affecting pigs,. were received from Mr. Mitchell, of Laddingford Manor, Yalding. It is the largest of the lice belonging to the Pediculinse. The pig is often attacked and inconvenienced by this pest. The skin becomes marked by red papules, and becomes inflamed and diseased. They cause intense irritation, unrest, and frequently check growth in young pigs to an alarming extent. In many cases young porkers have succumbed to theu" attack. The head and abdomen are dull yellowish -grey, the thorax reddish-brown, the legs pale brown, and the abdomen has dark markings, variable in shade ; the head is long and narrow. The female when ungorged is about 5 mm. long, but some sent in a very distended condition were as much as 6 mm. in length. There is nothing like creolin for such parasites, 10 to 15 per cent. in water, two or three dressings of which are necessary. Paraffin was tried, but the lice appeared again. Reports to various Correspondents. 23 Glyciphagus domesticus on Tortoises. The household mite Glyciphagus domesticus was sent by the Ilev. J. Harvey Bloom, of Whitchurch Eectory, taken from domesticated tortoises. This species is found in all manner of places, and may he found on living creatures, but it is not their habitat. They are not parasitic at all, and it is doubtful if they would do the tortoises any harm, although they may cause some imtation if present in large numbers. SUB-GEOUP B. ANIMALS WHICH CAUSE INJURY OR DISEASE TO MAN'S VEGETABLE PLANTATIONS. Section I. Animals Injurious to Agriculture. ANIMALS INJURIOUS TO CEREAL CROPS. The Gout Fly of Barley. {Chlurops twittojiifs, Meig.) Some specimens of this pest were sent by Professor John Percival, Director of Reading College Agricultural Department, from Arthog, Dolgelly, N. Wales, who stated that " every one plant in ten is affected, and does not seem to be likely to send up ears." The pest proved to be the common Gout Fly, Gldorops tmiiiopus. Certain differences in the place of pupation made it difficult to say at first, hence the doubt as to species in the following report sent : — " The barley you send is attacked by one of the Gout Flies {(Jliloropidse). " It is probably the Ribbon-Footed Corn Fly {Chlorops tseniopuH), but, as a rule, that species pupates in the groove made by the larva, and not as in the specimens you send between the sheathing leaf and the damaged ear. It is a common pest all over the country, especially on poor soil ; on chalk lands it is, as a rule, most prominent. I think there is more than one species that does the damage. " None of the plants as badly attacked as the ones you send will 24 Second Report oil Economic Zoology. be any good ; the ears will not come out of many, and most were completely spoiled. " Eemedies are, of course, impracticable, even when the disease is in a much younger stage than that which you send ; but when the stunted plants are noticed earlier in the year, dressings of stimulating manure have been found to push the plant on, and so save part of each ear. In districts where ' Gout Fly ' is prevalent, early sowing has been found of the greatest benefit. In one instance the following was noticed : (1) Sown in ]March, practically free from injury ; (2) sown April 6th, affected 2 per cent. ; (3) sown May 3rd, affected 20 per cent. It always seems to be late-sown barley that is damaged. " It is especially bad on wet, low-lying parts of fields, near grassy headlands, and along the borders of ditches and furrows ; also where land is exposed to a sweeping wind. " Grassy headlands should be cut and burnt in winter, if not at the present time (August). " The flies will hatch out in September, and lay their esss on wild grasses, and on howlns larvae at x ; c, the fly; a. larva; e, egg, ryC Or any CCrcals that may greatly enlarged. (Partly after Curtis and OrmerodO -^^ aboVC <7rOUnd, COUtinuino" into October. If the crop is harvested this month, which I presume it will not be in North Wales, the sheaves should be well shaken before being stacked, as many of the puparia will fall out, and can be swept up and burnt. All refuse sliould be burnt after stacking or thrashing." These flies commenced to hatch out on the 27th of August, and continued until the \i\\ of September. They lived some two weeks ; Fig. 2. — the gout fly (Cldowj^s txniojncs). i. Barley deformed liy the larva; ; h, stalk of same, Reports to various Correspondents. 25 the females deposited but few eggs, wiuch are laid on grasses. The eggs (Fig, 2, e) are of a very elongated oval form, creamy-white in colour, the upper surfiice has a reticulate sculpturing of hexagonal depressions arranged in longitudinal rows ; ventrally the surface is unadorned, but has a wide ventral groove. They are exactly 1 nnu. long. ANIMALS IXJUPJOL'S TO PULSE. The Pea Beetle. (Brwhus pisl, L.) A letter asking for information regarding the cause of damage to some peas was lianded to me by Mr. I'ocock from Mr. F. G. Atlalo, of Teignmouth. The pest was tlie Pea Beetle. This beetle is well known in Europe and America, and may be said to be cosmopolitan in distribution. In America it is called the " Pea Bug." The beetle is a small grayish-brown insect about one-fifth of an inch long, with two very conspicuous black spots on the end of the body. These beetles emerge from the peas in late autumn and spring. Those that ■emerge in the autumn hibernate under rubbish, in outhouses, barns, etc. The majority seem to pass the winter in the peas. As soon as genial spring weather occurs they become very active and fly to the fields. If the peas are up they feed first on the leaves, and in that way in Canada they have been noticed to do some damage. The real harm is caused by the larvie, however. The beetles lay their eggs on the young pods, and the larvae — white footless maggots — pene- trate into the pods and then enter the nearest peas. There they live and mature, pupating in the autumn or winter, and the adult beetles escape from the peas, leaving behind a large round hole. j\Iany iDeetles have not escaped by the time the peas are sown. It is general in shops and granaries, but most of the instances coming to my notice where it has been a very harmful pest have been traced to foreign importation. Fowler records it as feeding on Sisymbrium at Stretford, near Manchester. Treatment consists of fumigating the peas with bisulplude of carbon as soon after harvesting as possible, 1 o'/.. carbon bisulphide to every 100 lbs. of seed. Place the seed in closed bins or any closed chamber and put the bisulphide in a saucer on the top of the seed and leave for forty-eight hours. The bisulphide is highly infiammable, 26 Second Report on Economic Zoology. and the fumes as well as the actual substance are poisonous to man and animals. Seed at any time may be treated in this manner. Diseased seed should never be sown ; they may be fed to stock witliout doing any harm to the latter. If the use of the bisulphide of carbon is objected to owing to the inflammable nature of the liquid and its poisonous fumes, the only other way is to hold the seed over until the second year. The vitality of tlie pea is not harmed, and by that time all weevils will have hatched out and died. Seed peas may also be treated in the following way : put them in an air-tight box and then pour half a pound of chloroform on to a rag- for every twenty-five bushels of peas and pusli the rag down into the peas, close up the box and leave for a week. The chloroform kills all the insects and does not harm the seed or affect the flavour in any way. A Remedy for the Pea Weevil. {Sitones lincatus, L.) Dr. A. H. T. de Montmorency, of Carrickmines, co. Dublin,, sends the following useful note regarding the Pea Weevil and the prevention of its damage : — " Last spring I was worried with my peas being eaten away, and I could not get any information in seed shops or elsewhere as to the circular pieces eaten out of the young shoots when coming up. I went over with tulips to the Temple Garden Flower Show, and remaining in London for a while, I went down to the Natural History Museum, and on looking at one glass case, ' Pests of the Garden,' I saw about the Pea Weevil, and at once saw I had the enemy that had compelled me to sow the rows a third time before I left home. When I returned home I found my third sowing also eaten away except one row. Here is the point. This row I had covered with fine earth I was removing from a house I grow potatoes and tomatoes in. They were in splendid order, and a fine row con- sequently. Why not put in the case as a remedy — cover with fine earth. The insects have not the hiding-places as they had in other places, as my soil was all very coarse and lumpy owing to the wet season. It was so marked that I thought it well to brins it under yom- notice." Reports to various CoriTspomients. 27 ANIMALS INJURIOUS TO ROOT CHOPS. Turnip Flea in North Wales. Turnips were lepoitetl by Mr. A. 0. Walker, F.L.S., of Ulcumbe^ Kent, as having been damaged by Flea Beetles in North Wales ; the species proved to be PhijUotfcta consohrina and not F. nemoncm. Tliis black metallic Flea Beetle occurs in greatest abundance on chalky soils, but also on light sandy soils. It is most abundant in southern and western counties. In Kent it does enormous mischief some years. This is the first record of the damage done by it, liow- ever, in North Wales. ANIMALS INJURIOUS TO FORAGE CROPS AND GRASS. The Red Maggot (Cecidoim/ia trifolu, Fab.) in Clover. In answer to the following enquiries a general report has been sent out. This clover pest seems to have been abnormally prevalent this year. Three enquiries only are mentioned as examples. 1. From Mr. Thomas Batting, bailiff for E. Ellis, Esq., Shalford, Guildford, Surrey : — " I enclose a few roots of clover and mixed grasses affected by a small maggot." " The clover only was attacked, as far as I could tell, from the material. The damage was apparently entirely (.bne by the small red maggots of a Cecid Fl}^, known as the Clover Gnat Midge, or Red Maggot, Cecidomyia trifolii, Fabricius. 2. From Cooper Wacher, Esc}., Ford, Hoath, near Canterbury, Kent :— " The field that is attacked is at Ridgeway Farm, Heme ; it is 24^ acres in extent. It has gone in brown patches, mostly seen where the field slopes most." 3. From C. Marshall, Esq., Hadres Court, Canterbury, 21 June, 1903 :— "The field in 1900 was in a poor condition. In 1901 a very good crop of swedes was grown, the ground having ten loads of manure and also some superphosphate. The swedes were fed off by sheep having plenty of cake and oats and a crop of barley put in very late (which came up thick but very short of straw) and clover was drilled. .^8 Second Repoyf on Economic Zoology, This, after the barley was cut, looked very promising all o\ er the field, but since has been gradually going back, andi now there is hardly any on the field of eighteen acres, except in spots and one end where theie is a moderate crop, but none is worth cutting. As far as I can make out the field has not grown clover for six years, and therefore it can hardly be clover-sick. Can you give any idea of the cause of failure, etc." To this the following answer was sent with accompanying Report : — " The clover has been destroyed by a pest that has been very "prevalent in Kent this year, namely, the Clover Midge {Cecidomyia frifolii). A serious attack occurred near Heme, otliers at Gravesend, Huntingdon, etc. " The larva? you send in the tube (small yellow orange maggots) are the culprits. Tliey are of the second brood referred to in the enclosed report. The small gTeen caterpillar sent is not the cause < »f the damage. " There is no remedy for such an attack. I should if the crop is worth saving give some stimulating dressing; if it is very badly •damaged it would be best to plough uj) deeply so as to bury the larviB many of which liave now gone to earth — fresh flies will appear and the progeny of these will do damage mentioned in the ireport." Clover is frequently attacked by small red maggots, which are to be found in the outer layers of the roots and amongst the tufts of young leaves, often buried deeply in the centre of the leaf tufts, at other times between the two sides of a young bent leaf. Tliis insect is not uncommon on clover and vetches, and is known as Cecidomyia trifolii, Fabricius. It may be found on wild species of vetches. The maggots are of all sizes and various tints of orange and yellow and, as in all this group of insects, quite legless. There are two closely related species known also as Clover Midges, viz., Cecidomyia leguminicola and C. lathyri. This Clover Midge can easily be told from them by the shape of the small ventral process imder the head end — the " anchor process." The maggots also attack the lower leaves of the clover, fastening them together and forming really galled structures in which the larva? change to pupse. There are evidently two broods in the year, the larvse found now hatching in the summei', and the flies of this generation seem to lay their eggs on the clover leaves generally, and galled structures are formed by them. Tlie second brood live on the decaying roots and in the growing tuft of the clover and seem to cause its decay. Reports to various Correspondents. 29 Another species, C. leguminioola, feeds in the flower heads and also lives at the roots during the winter. The adult fly of Cccidomyla trifoUi is a small brown midge with a reddish brown abdomen ringed with black, the two wings are yellow at the base and covered with brown hairs and are somewhat iridescent. Little is definitely known CDUcerning this pest. There is no remedy, but a good dressing of artificial manure often carries the plant over the damage. As such pests may continue from year to year, I should feed off the clover and plough deeply with a skim coulter, so as to bury the larvee and pupjc in the soil, so that when the flies liatch out they cannot come above ground. Of course this is only advised if the crop is sev^erely damaged. Such pests when once they become plentiful may cause endless harm unless drastic measures are taken against them. ►Some doubt has been expressed by Miss Ormerod of these red maggots doing damage, but I cannot agree on that point, as I have seen acres of clover ruined by them. There were no other insects present, no sign of eel worm, and not enough fungi to account for the haroi done in any of the specimens sent this year. ANIMALS IXJUEIOUS TO FLUIT AND FEUIT TREES. Big-bud Mite in Black Currants. A number of enquiries have Iteeu received concerning the Big Bud Mite. Diseased plants have been sent from various parts of Kent, from Harpenden, and from Guildford. Doubts have been expressed that any clean black currant stock can be obtained. As far as Kent is concerned there is very little, but in other districts a few enquiries soon revealed that such con- ditions do not appear everywhere. Mr. Wm. Bear, of Magham Down, Hailsham, writes that his Lee's Prolific are quite clean ; some infested Baldwins he obtained were eventually destroyed and the disease reduced to a minimum. This stock of Lee's Prolific came from Preston. I applied to the grower and his answer was that he had stock of Lee's Prolific and Carter's Champion quite clean. These two kinds he had grown for years and had kept free from mites ; but Black Baldwins he had given up growing, having found two or three bushes, purchased three or four years ago, with a few 30 Second Report on Economic Zoology. " big-bud " on tliein. No bushes are grown more than three years, only the stools are kept for the cuttings, of course being cut back every year. Mr. E. J. \^'heler, of Alnwick, Commissioner of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, tells me he has no " big-bud " in his garden, and states that he had little doubt that clean stock could be got in tlie neighbourhood if desii^ed. Mr. A. T. Gillanders, of the same district, writes : " I have not seen a single specimen on black currant during the five years I have been here. Further enquiry has shown Northumberland to be practically free. Mr. Wlieler writes me later that the Duke of Northumberland's forester assures him that Northumberland is practically clear of the mite. Information obtained in Ireland has shown the " big-bud " to be comparatively scarce, particularly in Armagh and co. Down. I have seen little in Devon or Hampshii'e. Further enquiries have ceased pro tern., owing to the Eoyal Agricultural Societies' zoologist, Mr. Cecil Warburton, reporting on this subject after touring in parts of Great Britain. A Red Spider {Tenuipalpus) on Fruit Trees. Numerous enquiries have been sent concerning a Eed Spider which is very abundant on fruit trees. The round globular eggs are very noticeable in winter and spring in the axils of the buds and twi<^s. The eggs hatched out in March and April, and specimens were sent at once to Mr. Albert Michael for identification. The specimens were identified by Mr. Albert Michael as species of the genus Tenuipalpus — probably T. glaber of Donnadieu — but it is not possil;)le to be certain of the species from immature speci- mens. This species can easily be hatched out from the round bright red eijgs which thickly encrust the smaller stems of fruit trees. I have failed to trace any damage caused by these acari, even when they have swarmed over the trees. They reach the mature state in April and then disperse. From a series of observations I am sure they feed upon the spores of various fungi and lichens growing on the frait trees. The Wood Leopard Moth. The Wood Leopard " Borer " is the larva of the Wood Leopard Moth (Zeuzera sescidi). It has been sent from Eynsford and Goud- Reports to various Correspondents. 31 Imrst in Kent. It does a good deal of damage to a tree and is Ly no means uncommon in Kent, being frequently sent from orchards round Maidstone and Tonbridge. ]\Ir. Till, of Eynsford, writes : " It is very destructive, and I lind one young tree quite destroyed by the perforating action going on in the trunk — an apple. I have had the specimen I send on my desk two or three weeks papered up, but I see the destruction of the wood goes on all the same, so the grub is not dependent on living tissue." It occurs in apple, pear and cherry mostly. This pest is dealt with in the Board of Agriculture leaflet, No. 73. The Little Ermine Moths {Hyponomeutlda^, Enquiries concerning the Little Ermine Moths which attack tipple trees and hawthorn hedges are some years very numerous ; in 1903, as with many other insect pests, they have been largely con- spicuous by their absence. The only enquiry received has been from Mr. Wm. Bear, of Magham Down, Hailsham, who, in writing for information concerning these pests on the apple, sent the following •observation, which has not I fancy been previously recorded : •" Numbers of these small moths," ^viites Mr. Bear, " are on my apple trees (4. 8. 03), and when disturbed drop to the ground with wings folded and can be caught by hand easily." AVriting five days later, he says, " Very few can be found now." They were examined, and from various descriptions I am led to believe that this apple pest is jiot the same as that found on the hawthorn, any more than the two are the same species on the Continent. The apple species was separated by Zeller and is known as H. malinella, the hawthorn species is H. padcUa, L., the name by which our apple species has been previously recorded. An account of the two species injurious] to fruit trees is given here. The Apple Eemine Moth of Gp.eat Bkitain {Hijpononwuta malinella, Zeller), and other Species. The Small Ermine ]\Ioths or Hi/poiwmmtirlfe, of which there are seven species found in Great Britain, are easily known by the leaden grey or white front wings having small l^lack spots spread over them and by the habit of their larvir living under a nest of silk. Three of the seven species live during tlieir caterpillar existence on the foliage of the Spindle tree {EitowjnULS europmis), namely IT. plum- 32 Second Report on Economic Zoology. hella, Fabr., H. cognatella, Hub. and H. irrorella, Hub. ; both the former are very abundant some years in the South of England, where they not unfrequently defoliate the trees and even gnaw the bark off the young stems. They are often very destructive to ornamental Eaonymus in gardens. The larvae of both occur in destructive form in June, the adults in July and August. H. irrorella, Hub., also found on the same food plant, is scarce. Three species attack fruit, namely, H. maJinella, ZelL, H. cvonyinella, L., and H.padella, L. The former is known as a fruit tree pest attacking the apple ; it has been recorded, however, as H. padella, which it closely resembles. H. imdella feeds on hawthorn, and in France on plum and cherry, in Italy on plum. Although this last species is said to be found on apple, the nest made by the larvae on hawthorn in this country certainly differs from that made on apple, being much looser. The form on the apple was named riialivorella by Stainton, but was apparently sunk as a synonym of j^^idella by him' later.* Zeller described the apple form of Europe as malinella. It has not been recognised in England. H. evonymella only occasionally does any harm, its normal food-plant being the Bird- cherry {Fni.nus padvs). It has been sent to me on more than one occasion from cultivated cherries in Kent and also from apple. "NATiitehead says it is the species most usually met with in the north of England. H. jjadella often does much harm to hawthorn hedges, frequently quite defoliating them. In Italy it attacks tlie plum, being known as " tignola del pruno," in France cherry, plum and grapes. It also attacks the cherry in England. The Apple pest {H, nudinelld) was most troublesome in 1865,. 1877 and 1880. Whole orchards were entir-ely devastated in the two first-named years, the foliage being as bare as in midwinter. Such an attack not only ruined that year's crop, but so harmed the trees that they did not bear crops in subsequent seasons. Life-history of the Apple Ermixe. The life-history seems to have been confused in describing this pest with that of H. 2>culella. The fact that the same species was thought to attack both hawthorn and apple probably is the cause of this. I feel convinced the two are distinct. The apple species is smaller than that found on the hawthorn, measuring about 17 mm. ; the head is white and also the palpi, the thorax is snowy-white with black spots, as also are the fore wings, * Lep., Tineina, Ins. Brit. iii. p. GO, 1854:. Reports to vayioits Corrcspoiideuts. 33 which have about twenty small black spots, the cilia a similar colour to the wings ; posterior wings grey, the fringe uniformly grey, thus differing from H. padella, in which the fringe of the posterior wings is pale grey or white with grey apex. The moths appear in July and August. The earliest record I have of them is July 4th and the latest August 10th. Whitehead says they appear towards the end of June. I have never observed them as early as this. Those sent by Mr. Bear were taken on August 2ud. Mr. Bear's note, p. 31, being quite a new observation and by no means an unimportant one. As in all this genus the female deposits her eggs on small twigs, in circular patches about one and a half lines in diameter ; these egg masses are then covered over with a glutinous substance which is at first yellow, but which gradually becomes brown, until they resemble the colour of the bark upon which they are situated. They are laid in groups of fifty to eighty ; they are placed in roM\s which overlap one another like tiles. These eggs hatch in the autumn and the minute larvio remain under this case, now composed of a glutinous substance and the debris of egg shells. As many as two to six dozen larvic form each group and there, they remain all through the winter. They are at lirst of a pale yellow colour with black head and dark succeeding segment and \arv in length from one-half to two-thirds of a line. As soon as the buds begin to burst these little larva- escape from the nest and enter the expanding buds and can then be easily found. In May they seem to disappear, but have mined their way into the soft parenchymatous tissue of the leaves, leaving the epidermis untouched. Uuring this period they cause the leaves to become red in patches and later to become Ijrown owing to their tunnelling into them. As a rule about a dozen occur in each group on the leaves. As soon as the miners are sufficiently strong they leave the protection of the leaves and feed upon them. They may also be found in the developing calyces of the blossoms and feed upon them. At first they retain their yellow colour, but after becoming free they gradually become a dirty ashy grey colour spotted with black, and later the ground colour becomes dull yellowish leaden-grcy with more prominent black spots. Soon after they vacate the blossoms and leaves and they become gregarious and live for the rest of their larval existence beneath a nest of yrey silk spun at first between the folds of a leaf or leaves and later between the twigs. The small leaf nests are found in j\lay. IJy June they make large nests and are nearly mature, and towards the end of tlie month they spin delicate cocoons often side by side in the nest iu whidi the larvie pupate and i'rom whicli the D 34 Second Re port on Economic Zoology. moths appear in July and August. The pupal stage lasts about two weeks. Marcluil also records this species as a pest to alniunds iu France.* The Hawthokn and Chekiiy Ermine. {Hyjjonmitcttta paddla. L.) This small Ermine Moth feeds normally un hawthorn, often quite defoliating the hedgerows. It also attacks cherry and plum. It is somewhat larger than the apple-feeding nudinclla, and differs in having the fringe of the anterior A\ings ash-coloured above, perfectly white below, without any dusky s])Ot. It measures about 22 mm. across the open wings. The head, antennte, and palpi white ; the fore wings white or gTey, variable in colour, with three lines of black dots, two of which are close and parallel to the interior margin, the third along the anterior edge, with other black dots near the fringe ; the wings ash-grey below, about the same colour as the upper surface of the inferior wings. A few black spots on the thorax. They appear in July and August. The life-history is very similar to that of the preceding. The larva is of a dirty whitish-yellow colour, with black head, and twt) dark spots on the first segment, forming the thoracic shield, and another the anal plate ; thoracic legs black. A median dusky line along the back, and on each side two rows of eleven round spots, brown in colour and slightly hairy. The pupa is yellow in the middle, l)rownish-black apically, and the same colour on the wing-cases. They live and pupate much as iu the former species, but the cocoons are much lighter, so much so that the pupa can be seen within, whilst in H. malinella they are compact and opaque. They are placed differently also; for in iiudinella they are in grou])-like packets, in tliis species they are never found in groups, but are more or less isolated, nor is the tent nearly so compact. Peevention and Remedies. Washing with arsenites has but little effect upon these pests, owing to their feeding between tlie silken nests, which protect the leaves from contact with the wash. Whether spraying with caustic alkali wash in winter would kill the young larvte is also doubtful, if used at the strength generally euiployed, but it can be used at double * Bull. Sue, d'Etudes et de Vulgarisation de la Zuol. Agricole, No. 4, p. 17, i90L\ Reports to various Correspondents. 35 that stren^^^tli ujj dormaut wood, even if '.>S per cent, strength of com- mercial caustic soda is used. The stronger solution would, T feel sure, destroy the glutinous cover over the young caterpillars. The tents should always be collected as soon as they are seeu forming, and burnt with their complement of larvip, or collected and put in pails of quicklime. Those high up may be cut off with long-handlei/f, i.kaf minku (Tjijonctia clcrckcUa). a, Tunnelled leaf; 6, cocoon on uiipei- surface of leaf; c, laiTa ; d, pupre, ilorsal anj ventral views ; c, clialciil parasite ; /(•, two cocoons on leaf. olhera not until live weeks. The larv^a can be seen in its tunnel by holding the leaf against the light. They fit in so closely that iliey can scarcely move towards the end of their gTOwth. When mature they leave the leaf by eating their way out of the 40 Second Report on Economic Zoology. gallery and crawl about upon the leaves for a short time. Usiially in a few hours they commence to spin a cocoon on the leaf. These cocoons are generally spun on the under side of the leaves (Fig. 4, }?^, but may occur on the upper side (Fig. 4, V), the latter only when they settle upon small or curled leaves. Very often the cocoon is spun on the leaf in which the larva has tunnelled, or it may be a fresh leaf. This case is formed of very fine shiny white silk, and is made in well-formed examples as follows : a thick strand extending from one branch vein to another on each side, usually parallel and about 5 mm. apart. The length of these lateral strands depends upon the distance of the ribs apart. I have measured some 30 mm. long. The cocoon is spun between these and attached to them by anotlier strand of silk on each side. The cocoon itself is cylindrical and open at each end. They may also occur with the treads running from the mid-rib to the edge of the leaf (6^). The pupa (Fig. 4, (I) is pale apple green, the front fawn-coloured and also the wing-cases. The third segment of the abdomen has a large apical yellow patch, and the liase of tlie fourth is also yellow, the venter pale green, with the tips of the leg-cases black, also the eyes. It is formed a few days after the larva has commenced to build the nest. It is notched in front, and behind tlie antennal cases stick out as two prominences. The leg-cases and wing-cases are long and pro- minent, and there are black marks noticeable at the apices of all the legs. The pupa is 3 • 5 mm. long. The pupal stage lasts from ten to twenty days. The larvre found in April give rise to a brood of moths in June and July. These lay their ego-g again, and we find the larvpe occurring in Julv and beginning of August. They mature and give rise to a third brood in September and October. This latter brood of moths hibernate, but those that occur early in September (some hatched out this year cm the 1st) may lay eggs and produce another generation of larvae whicli mature in the middle of October and join in hil^ernating with the late-hatched previous brood. Treatment. It is extremely difficult to say what to do in such an attack, but fortunately it is so far limited to a few trees, and these usually pyramids and espaliers, where hand-picking can be carried out. The whole life seems to be spent on the tree in a protected condition, the only time the larvae are free being when they leave the tunnels and commence to spin. They then take no food, and as the}' hatch Reports to various Correspondents. 41 out irregularly, two broods even overlapping, nothing can be done to destroy them. All we can do seems to be the rather drastic measure of destroying all the leafage in September by means of a strong arsenical wash and so killing the larvae and pupa3, or constant spraying with paraffin emulsion in the spring to prevent egg-laying. The former will of course check to a small extent the growth of the tree 'pro tern. ; the latter is only successful when rains do not come and carry away the effects of the wash. It is certainly worth while to hand-pick trees that are attacked constantly so as to exterminate the moth which may occur under certain conditions in dangerous numbers. This is especially to be borne in mind by growers, for we can hold out less hope of com- bating this insect than the Pear Midge, which still to some extent baffles treatment and yet has a distinct period in its existence when we should be able to destroy it. In examining specimens sent from Huntingdonshire I found many of tlie larvae dead in their galleries. Each of the dead ones had the larva (Fig. 4, c) of a Chalcid parasite which had destroyed it. These natural enemies unfortunately did not hatch out. Caterpillars on Fruit Trees and notes on Grease-banding. Although caterpillars were not so abundant on fruit trees during 1903, yet numerous inquiries have been made. Mr. Cecil Hooper, of Swanley, sent a selection of larvte, asking for information, to which the following reply was sent : — " The green- and yellow-lined larvie are Winter ]\Ioth {C. hri('inuta). There were two others in the box : (1) one dull green with dark head and the normal number of legs — this is the caterpillar of one of the Tortricids^the so-called Allied Bud Moth (AntUhesia variajana) ; (2) the second specimen, reddisli in colour, was the larva of the destructive Bud Moth {Hedya ocellana), which, by the liye, ]ias not been so harmful this year. There are quite a number of Tortricid larvaj on fruit trees besides these two you send, 1)ut they are two of the commonest." Larvae of the ]\Iottled Umber IMotli (Ifi/heniur (UjWuirla) have also been sent from Sussex. Several instances have been recorded of the great Ijeneflt derived ])y grease bunding for Winter Moth, mid wht^i-e this ])(^st is i\w chief culprit there is not tlie least doubt that it does au innnen.se lot of 42 Second Report on Economic Zoology Reports to var20?ts Ciwrespoiidents. 43 fTood, A figure is given of the best method of applying the bands (Fig. 5). On old trees this is an easy process, but in young staked stock it is necessary to either band above the stake or to band both tree and stake. Mr. Robert Amos, of Perry Court, near Ashford, writes that he had plain evidence this last year that the female moths go up the stake into the tree. With regard to this grease-banding mucli depends on the quality of the grease used ; some kinds sold are inferior and do not last on the bands any time. Before buying the grease it is well to find on I the best firms to obtain the grease from. Paper is another point to be looked to ; the thin grease-proof paper once used, that can be bought at any grocer's, is enough, but stout ]3apers are now made for this purpose which can undoubtedly l»e left on the trees for two years without the trouble of removal ami replacing fresh. Messrs. Ellis e^- Sou, fruit growers, Bramley, Surrey, wrote in -July regarding the damage done by "Winter ]\loth larv.ie and asking for any help in regard to destroying them. Their remarks regarding the effect of Paris green are given elsewhere. It was pointed out that much benefit is derived from grease-baading and the employment of poultry in the orchards. Poultry and Pigs as Vermin Destroyers ; in Orchards. The immense benefit derived from keeping poultry or pigs in orchards is becoming more generally known. Xo one can appreciate the benefit these domesticated birds and animals do unless they keep part of their plantations with these useful and remunerative creatures doing their work and part without. The difference is so marked that no one can fail to detect it ; whilst the foliage of the latter will be riddled or even cleared l)y "caterpillar," that of the former will be bright and sound. Both fowls and pigs devotir the grubs of the Codling ]Motli, ihe caterpillars of the Winter ]\[oth and other pests when they fall to the ground, not to mention other subterranean enemies of minor importance. Moreover, pigs are of great benefit in cleaning a foul plantation overrun with weeds. During the present summer, Mr. Clive Murdock, of Eeason Hill Farm, Linton, showed me some very foul damson and gooseberry plantations overrun with l)ine-woed, most difficult to destroy by cultivation. Pigs Avere penned on tho. land and could be watched liurving tliemselves in the earth, grubbing 44 Second Report on Economic Zoology. lip this pernicious weed; 'although the land looks as if cut up by shell-fire, no damage is done to the gooseberry or other bush fruit, whilst it is speedily cleared of the vegetal encumbrauces, not to mention the innumerable insect pests, as Gooseberry Sawfly and the others previously mentioned. Pear Midge. {Diplods lyynvora. Riley.) A communication was received in February from Mr. N. D, Berry, of Scarbutts Manor, Boughton, near Faversham, as follows : — " Our Hazel Pears were last year very badly attached by the I'ear Midge. Unfortunately, being busy, an application of Kainit at tlie time was overlooked. Can I check them this year before the damage is done, or must I now wait until the diseased pears are ready to fall and then destroy them ] " The following reply was sent : — " Unfortunately we do not know any certain means of checking the Pear Midge (Dtplo-'^is jvjrivoni). Kainit does good according to one report ; another says no use. Personally I have found it of great benefit if applied at the right time. " Now (February) you are too late to use it. You might try a lieavy dressing of soot put on about the second week in June. Ti'evious to this the ground imder the trees should be heavily rolled, \vhicli will prevent many of the delicate flies escaping from the soil. " I tried last year heavy waterings with paraffin emulsion around the known affected trees, but this only met with partial success owing to the smell of the oil soon going. I thinlc soot most likely to do good put on just before the flies escape." The pear crop having been almost nil in this country during the past season, this pest must surely be checked. "Woolly Aphis. (SeJiizoneura lanigcra, Haus.) Some apple twigs sent by Mrs. Durham, of Ellerdale Pioad, Fitzjohn Avenue, N.W., were attacked by the Woolly Aphis, the so- called American Blight, ScMzoneura htni