ssc ee “< aca = fan ens Ree aN Wibrary of the Museum COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, AT HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. The gift of hy onlemolo gual Jocectry vt Ontario | 0. F070, / , 4 Moa. 21 5b Depp. 1553 he heh de ‘ ra raga _e PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, FOR THE YEAR ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 1879. Printed by u “Order of the Ceaistative Assembli Y. ————:. TS SOD Bt SOS es ee By i Se ee . | @orpnte: | PRINTED. BY © BLACKETT ROBINSON, 5 JORDAN STREET. it 1880. ANNUAL REPORT ez ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. FOR THE YEAR 1879. wy ——s Hrinted by ortler of the Legislative Assembly. ~= - Toronto: _ PRINTED BY C, BLACKETT ROBINSON, 5 JORDAN STREET. ‘Tae | 1880, ¥ ey ew 7 A PAGE. GER eee ee ee 73 BESS ee ee ree ae 68 Sy eee ee ee 50 NINERS 0s oes oe ioe ans Se avs bwin 83 ES ee 44 SEEGER. cris tidinest dies selene 38 NRE, Se oo cP cdots ved «sscecess. 41 NN inh tseisi aie ons nature printed .................. 88 Cc Wf butterily eS Bye ee 8 ES a ee 45 Ne, et iia oa os ninco 67 GN ae 30 0 EL ee eee 8 RS Ey Wile Veco oda yes nnekce 74 PAGE Cecidomyia leguminicola .................8. 28 Celzena “herbimacula ................c0csceeee 44 oF 4s , BOMMIBOTE Crd elctiesivcis ce eke, 4 Chalcophora liberta............cscceesceeeeuee 5 Chisognathus grantii .............. Badd nae hie 65 OES SE i eee Ane noe eee 77 Clisiscampa sylvatica.............sescee0s 7, 8, 22 lo Ver-Ond: By ios oe occa othbRED ects esas! 28 MOG brin wporEs fi) te elo tei este 8 Colorado potato beetle.................. 8, 20, 21 Conotrachelus nenuphar..................68- 8, 84 Corymbites vernalis.......... iS cack oe 83 Cossus Centerensis .............cesceeeesees OM Cotaips lanisers, (........5..+.dstvaee. aocta 70 CGtenisa GalifOrnies, . ...... 0.552 0iGidibes ones 60 Curent: DOrers............ science. aoe 76 Cut-worms.. Canatiatic . csc Soe ee. oe ce eee $191 08 ‘< Members’ Fees, and sales of Entomologist ................ 229 78 i) Mdse: pias, lists, porkrie) bh. Bete 2 > ce ee 29 16 ‘Adverts ements...) . hh Se Ree ee eee eee 20 00 “ Saterest. oF ee Pete ce ee 12.57 “< Government Grant... 7. Aa ee ee eee 750 00 : $1,232 59 oe: a 3 = : Disbursements. By ea ae Seed ese ee ees bak $20 25 ‘ Expenses of Council, Delegations, &. .................. 65 00 ‘« Petty expenses, freight, Oe ED AY ct a 2 10 75 « Annual vote to Editor and Secretary ..................... 150 00 «* Expenses on Annual Report...... PS eth dl 149 74 OemnnIE ES FIRIEY es ere. Oe EE PE doe, 13 45 ES 8 7 a Tie Dia 7 Ss 63 90 mueinimmmeliniomotogises 2 oe. I. 878 20 ‘Mailing Pee yen s Es PTE Fa 32 00 *« Paper for PN eo. Uae Ga Ce ge Woe os 84 80 ee) Denner, Aero rst ecole SSE Oe, BAe 10 68 UTNE teas feb ess OEE IPE ys OS PEO 26 25 Pr ee eh eee. oe Sea le we vee 80 00 amma ceceas tema. ese ey SY ee we’ 152 62 $1232 59 We certify the above to be correct. Cuas. CHAPMAN, | Wetditos Sept. 18th, 1879. Asm. PuppiIcoMBE, The report of the Council was read and adopted. © 5 REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. © Your Council feel highly gratified at the success which has attended the efforts of the Society during the past year. Nine years have now passed since our incorporation ; age have all been prosperous years, and the one we have just completed has not been less so than any of its predecessors. All the operations of the Society have been carried on harmoniously, and we have been able to present the public with many of the results f your investigations which will prove of value to it. Br. Our Report to the Government, which you have all had the opportunity of perusing, continues to maintain its interest, if we may judge by the manner in which it is sought after. We think that it is perhaps our best medium for reaching those whose know- on of Entomology is limited, and to whom it is necessary to present the science in its more elementary and popular forms, if we would create a taste for its study. The in that our reports are so much in demand indicate that the science of practical ‘< ntomology is rapidly growing in favour among the more intelligent of our ‘iculturists. x The new enterprise of the ‘“‘ Fruit Growers’ Association,” the publication of the Horticulturist, to the pages of which your members contribute largely, will, we trust, be a means of still more widely diffusmg Entomological knowledge, as this journal enters the homes of nearly all our horticulturists, and in addition to the many valuable - p hire on fruits and flowers which it contains, it carries much information on our noxious and beneficial insects. One great drawback to the Society’s efforts has been the lack of funds to carry on is Operations, and to enable us to procure woodcuts and electrotypes to illustrate the pages of our journal. We are satisfied that without figures of the insects we treat of, nuch of our labour is lost as far as the general public is concerned ; we earnestly hope eatin long our annual grant may be sufficiently increased to enable us to overcome is ty. — Our journal, The Canadian Entomologist, has now completed its eleventh year, and 8 made a reputation for itself which is second to none in the same department of ) science ; it has been regularly issued and has always been well filled with useful matter. The articles have been almost entirely original, and any new developments in Entomo- logy have been promptly recorded in its pages. The meeting of the Entomological Club of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was held at Saratoga, commencing on the 26th of August. Our society was represented by the President, Mr. Wm. Saunders, and the Vice- President, Rev. C. J. 8. Bethune, M.A. It has been decided to exhibit our collection of Canadian insects at the Dominion Exhibition at Ottawa, and our collection of foreign ones at the Western Fair in Lon- don. The Ottawa collection is formed of the bulk of our Centennial display, so that those members who visit Ottawa, who have not before seen our collection, may be enabled to judge of its value. Our branches in Montreal and London are still carrying on a successful work, and join the Parent Society in hailing the coming year as one of increased usefulness and success. Submitted on behalf of the Council, by Jas. H. Bowman, Secretary- Treasurer. Mr. Couper then read the report of the Montreal Branch, indicating very satisfac- tory progress; this was referred for publication. The annual address of the President was next in order, after the reading of which a vote of thanks was tendered to him, both in the name of the Society and also in that of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, for his exceedingly interesting and instructive - address, and a copy was requested for publication in the Annual Report. ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. To the Members of the Entomological Society of Ontario: GENTLEMEN,—Again it is my privilege as your retiring President to address you, to draw your attention to Entomological subjects, and more especially to the operations of the insect world about you, and to record the progress or decline of those noiseless dis- turbers of our peace—injurious insects. The City of Ottawa being one of the great centres of our lumbering interest, it seems fitting that I should on this occasion call your particular attention to some of those insects most injurious to our pine forests. The losses occasioned by the destruc- tive work of borers in pine trees, both before and after they are cut, are unfortunately too well known to those interested in the lumber trade, although the sufferers may not be familiar with the life histories of their enemies so as ‘to be able to recognize them in the various stages of their existence. The lumberman suffers from the work of a num- ber of destructive species, nearly all of which inflict their greatest injuries during the larval stage of their existence. There are three families of beetles in which are included the greater number of our : enemies in this department. I allude to the longicorns or long-horned beetles, Ceram- _ bycide ; the serricorn or saw-horn beetles, Buprestide, and the cylindrical bark beetles, Scolytide. To go over this long series in detail would weary you. A brief sketch of the life history of a single example in each family will serve as representatives of th whole. ‘ One of the most destructive of the species included in the Cerambycide is a large grey beetle with very long horns, known to Entomologists under the name of Monoham- mus confusor, and popularly in this district as the ‘‘ Ottawa Cow.’’ Where trees have become diseased from any cause, or where a fire has ravaged a pine forest and scorched dk at me) hin ne a a an SE = ea partially destroyed the timber, or where logs after being cut have been allowed to a remain a season in the woods or in the mill yard—there these insects gather and soon iuultiply to a prodigious extent. The mature insect is over an inch in length; the antenne of the male reaches the extraordinary length of from two to three inches, _ while those of the female are shorter. The female lays her eggs in the crevices of the bark, where the larve when hatched eat their way into the wood, burrowing extensive "galleries through the solid timber ; when mature they are large, white, almost cylindri- _ eal, footless grubs. They pass their chrysalis stage within their burrows, and the per- fect insect on its escape eats its way out through the bark. There are about a dozen _ species in this family known to be destructive to pine. Most of the insects belonging to the family Buprestide may be recognized by their brilliant metallic colours; they have very short antenne which are notched on one side like the teeth of a saw, and are often hidden from view by being bent under the thorax. Chalcophora liberia is one of the most destructive to pine trees, and its history is very _ similar to that of the long-horned beetle just described, but the larva is of a different _ form, and has the anterior segments or rings of the body very large, reminding one of the appearance of a tadpole. The perfect insect is about three-quarters of an inch long, _ of a brassy or coppery hue, with the thorax and wing-covers deeply furrowed by irregu- lar longitudinal depressions. Dr. Fitch enumerates twelve species belonging to this family which are known to be injurious to pine. Additional information in reference to G these beetles may be found in an article contained in the last annual report of our Society, by Mr. J. Fletcher, of Ottawa. ‘The cylindrical bark beetles, Scolytide, are also a numerous family, eight species of which are known to attack pine. The boring Hylurgus, Hylurgus terebrans, is probably one of the commonest. This beetle is about a quarter of an inch long, of a chestnut red colour, thinly clothed with yellowish hairs, and is found during the month of iss. The larva, which is a small yellowish white footless grub, bores winding passages ‘In every direction in the inner layers of the bark of the tree, and also through the outer surface of the wood. ___ In some parts of our Province pines are greatly injured and sometimes killed by the attacks of a woolly bark louse, which covers parts of the trunk and branches with @ white cottony secretion, under the protection of which myriads of tiny lice live, oe the bark with their sharp beaks and exhausting the trees by feeding upon the sap. __- While we are mainly interested in the preservation of our mature forests, the future of our country demands that we shall not overlook the young growth on which the lum- ber supply fifty or a hundred years hence must largely depend, and which it should be the policy of our rulers to protect as far as possible. Most of the governments of iste are now fully alive to the importance of this matter, and are annually spending large sums of money in establishing young forests. Two years ago I called your atten- tion to an insect then recently discovered by Prof. A. R. Grote, of Buffalo, which was g greatly injuring the terminal shoots of both the white and red pines in Western Ney York; it was the larva of a small moth, Nephopteryx Zimmermani, which fed under the a ark, causing a free exudation of resinous matter from the wounds it made, followed usu ally by the death of the twigsinfested. Since then it has been found over a much wider area than was at first anticipated, and I have no doubt but that it is to-day ma- terially retarding the growth of young pine trees in many portions of our Province. ___ At arecent meeting of the Entomological Club of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (where our Society was represented by your President and Vice- -President), Mr. S. H. Scudder, of Boston, submitted some observations on another ] ier idopterous insect which is injuring the young pines growing on the Island of Nan- tucket. It is a species of Retinia closely allied to Retinia duplana of Europe. The moth = s her eggs near the tips of the twigs, down which the younglarve burrow, killing them outright, and thus stunting and almost destroying the trees. Prof. Comstock, of Wash- gton, also referred to two other species of Retinia which he had observed injuring the e trees in that city. : “In addition to all these, there are a score or two of species of insects which are known 4 6 to devour the leaves of the pines, damaging them in some instances very much. From the facts enumerated it is evident that we are suffering serious loss in all our lumber- ing districts from the silent workings of these insidious foes, and since in some measure to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed, I desire to call the special attention of those im- mediately concerned in the prosperity, present and future, of the lumbering interests of our country, to this important subject. Unfortunately it does not as yet seem to be within the power of man to do much directly towards restricting the operations of these enemies to our forests; yet this should not deter us from studying their habits and his- tory, since an intimate acquaintance with these may result much more to our advantage than we now anticipate. A few trees, such as a belt, or a group planted for shelter or ornament, may be protected from the leaf and twig destroyers by syringing with a mix- ture of Paris Green and water in the proportion of a teaspoonful to a pail of water, and the bark lice may be killed by the use of alkaline washes applied with a brush or broom, and a timely application of the same will prevent the operations of the borers; but itis scarcely possible that such remedies can ever be applied over extended areas of forest. It is, however, gratifying to know that in addition to the numbers devoured by our in- sectivorous birds, almost every injurious species is in turn attacked to a greater or less extent by insect parasites of the most active habits, who seek out and destroy these pests with ceaseless diligence ; were ii not for these friendly insects the destructive spe- ciés would be far more numerous individually than they now are. ‘ The question as to how best to check the increase of destructive insects is of the greatest practical importance, and probably no insecticide has of late played so import- ant a part in this connection as Paris Green, which is a compound of arsenic and cop- per, comparatively insoluble and a substance which seems admirably qualified for the destruction of insect life. Besides its special use as a potato-beetle killer, it can be suc- cessfully used to destroy any and every insect which eats the leaves of plants, shrubs or trees. So poisonous an agent should be handled with caution if accidents are to be pre- vented, and it is a matter of great regret that in consequence of carelessness in its use the lives of many valuable animals have been sacrificed, and occasionally even human ~ lives have been imperilled or lost. From the ease with which it can be procured it has also been resorted to in several instances by those determined on suicide. These unfortu- nate occurrences are greatly to be deplored, and every possible precaution should be taken to avoid accidents. It is quite a common occurrence for painters, hardware dealers and general merchants to sell Paris Green and to send it out without label of any sort, and sometimes the parcel is very insecurely put up and packed with groceries and other articles for home use in the most indifferent manner. Such recklessness should not be permitted and no one should be allowed to sell any substance so dangerous un- less itis properly labelled with the name of the article and the word ‘‘ Poison” promi- nently attached; with such precautions generally adopted many aceidents which now occur would be prevented. It has been urged by some that so many evils have attended the use of Paris Green that it does more harm than good, and that its use should be discontinued ; but in this I am not prepared to concur, as I am satisfied that without it, unless some suitable substitute were found, the potato crop in many localities could not be preserved from destruction. If reasonable care is exercised and the powder be used mixed with water, there is no danger attending it, and its use in this manner in the pro- portion already mentioned of a teaspoonful to a pail of water and applied with a whisk, is not only safe but most economical. For some years past experiments have been made with various other substances with the view of finding a substitute for Paris Green which would be less dangerous in the hands of the careless, and among them I believe none have been used with greater success than common blue vitriol or sulphate of copper, in solution in the proportion of about an ounce to a pail of water, and applied in the same manner as the Paris Green mixture. This article is worthy of, and will doubtless receive, a more extended trial, as its use under any circumstances would be attended with but little danger. For the de- | struction of household pests Insect Powder has lately attracted much attention, and is probably the most valuable agent we have for this purpose, and it is quite harmless to man and the higher animals. There are two sorts of this powder, known in commerce 7 y 2 } 7 q ; a F ee under the respective names of Persian and Dalmatian Insect Powder; the former is the _ powdered flowers of Pyrethrum rosewm, the latter of Pyrethrum cinneraria-folium. The - Dalmatian Powder is most highly esteemed. The powder is diffused through the atmos- _ phere by means of a small bellows, or insect gun, and in a very short time it brings house- flies, cockroaches, etc., on their backs, and dusted among bed-clothing is equally effec- tual on noxious pests there. It does not at first kill the insects outright, but paralyzes them so that they are unable to use either legs or wings, and after remaining in this - condition many hours and sometimes days, a solitary individual here and there will __ either wholly or partially recover, but the great bulk of them die. A very active blue-bottle fly placed under the influence of the powder was brought _ enits back in one and a half minutes. After six minutes it performed some remarkable evolutions, throwing itself about in the most desperate manner by the aid of its wings, for by this time it had lost the use of its legs; in a few moments more it was quiet, but still able to move its legs, and this power it retained for two days, after which it was lost | sight of. The same powder was applied to a full-grown grasshopper; immediate un- easiness was manifested, and within two minutes its hind legs were partially paralyzed _ so that they could not be used with much effect. The first symptoms were a general rubbing of the legs against each other and a peculiar backward movement of the body ; _ in four minutes there was a trembling of the whole frame, while all the legs were so much affected that locomotion was very feeble. In six minutes the insect’ had lost all _ control over its limbs, and in nine minutes it was on its back, with no power to recover - itsnatural position. A second patient manifested precisely similar symptoms, but was not affected quite sorapidly. Applied to house-flies in a room, some of them begin to - fall powerless in two or three minutes ; others will remain active several minutes longer, but manifest constant uneasiness, evidenced in unnatural movements of wings and legs, and a frequent thrusting out of the proboscis. Having operated in a room one day about noon, I swept up after a few minutes several hundred flies and put part of them ina tumbler covered witha small plate, and the remainder ina chip box which I carried in my pocket for the first day, where the flies would receive some warmth from the body. _ After five or six hours the box was opened, when several crawled out or flew with a very weak, short flight ; these were evidently recovering ; the others remained on their backs, _ many of them moving their legs now and then. At the same time those in the tumbler were looked at; all were on their backs, but still alive. Im twenty-four hours after- _ wards those in the glass were in the same helpless condition, barely alive, while in the box three more had so far recovered as to be able to walk, and one of them could fly a little. The following day they were examined again and every one of those in the box _ were dead, while in the tumbler, out of 137, there were 22 alive, which number was yey to three the following day: this small remnant survived two days longer, when all died In the use of Insect Powder on the green Aphis, which infests house plants, the _ same course was observed; the insects dropped from the plants as if paralyzed, and after a short time were incapable of locomotion. After two days they were found still live, but in this instance there was no sign of recovery in any of them, and all died Sathin two or three days afterwards, but whether from the direct effects of the powder or “from starvation I was unable to decide. - When I addressed you last year I referred to a strange disease which had destroyed large numbers of that destructive pest, the Forest Tent Caterpillar, Clisiocampa sylwat- ica, After the disease had reached a certain stage the larve remained motionless, re- ta aining their hold on fences and the trunks of trees; shortly, although in appearance hey were quite natural, when touched they were found to be dead, and their bodies were * assayed as to burst with a very gentle handling. Subsequent observations convinced e that this was the result of a fungoid disease to which caterpillars, as well as some erfect insects, are very subject. A similar disease sometimes attacks the silk-worm — and causes great devastation, and the common house- fly 1 is liable every autumn to die from the effects of a fungus which multiplies with amazing rapidity within the fluids of 1e fiy’s body, soon destroys life, and forms a circle of luxuriant growth all around its icti im. Examples of this may be found on the windows of almost every dwelling during —s the month of September. Some years agoa learned European professor claimed that he had proved the identity of this fungus with the common blue mould and also with that of yeast; and in proof used the fungus of the fly for the purpose of raising bread, and shewed that it was possible to brew beer with the common mould. The close re- lationship, if not the actual identity, of these three was thus established. Quite recently it has been proposed by Dr. Hagen, of Cambridge, Mass., to use a diluted solution of yeast in water with an atomizer as a means of destroying noxious caterpillars and other insects by introducing disease among them, and it seems quite likely that the use of this remedy may to some extent prove effectual. The Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rape, having pretty well colonized the northern por- tions of America, is still travelling southward. During the present season it has been reported as common in many localities in the State of Alabama, and has nearly reached the Gulf of Mexico ; it seems as capable of adapting itself to extremes of heat as of cold. The Forest Tent Caterpillar, Clisiocampa sylvatica, which has been so very numerous and destructive in our neighbourhood for two years past, has almost disappeared. The Col- orado Potato Beetle seems to have fairiy established itself in several places in Europe, and if it proves as prolific there as here it will be rapidly disseminated. The Wheat Midge, Cecidomyia tritici, has appeared in the neighbourhood of Port Hope, Ont., but not to any alarming extent. The Plum Curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, has been common as usual, while reports have been received from several districts of the increasing preva- lence of the Codling Worm, Carpocapsa pomonella. Our journal, The Canadian Entomologist has been well sustained during the past year, and through the kindness of our esteemed contributors we have been enabled to present our readers with many original papers of great practical value. Mr. W. H. Edwards, of West Virginia, has continued his very useful and valuable papers on the life histories of our butterflies. Dr. Bailey, of Albany, N. Y., has given us an interesting description of the various stages of Cossus Centerensis, illustrated by an excellent litho- graphic plate. Many new species of insects have been described by Messrs. A. R. Grote, W. H. Edwards, V. T. Chambers, Prof. Fernald and others, besides which we have pub- lished a very large number of papers of general interest. Among the more important recent contributions to our Entomological literature may be mentioned a new edition of the Catalogue of the Described Diptera of North America, by Baron Osten Sacken; the Coleoptera of Florida and Michigan, by John L. LeConte, M. D., and E. A. Schwarz; Report on the Insect and other Animal Forms of Cale- donia Creek, New York, by J. A. Linter; the Coleoptera of the Alpine Regions of the Rocky Mountains, by John L. LeConte, M. D.; on the Collection of Insects made by Dr. Elliot Coues in Dakota and Montana—the Orthoptera by Cyrus Thomas, Hemip- tera by P. R. Uhler, Lepidoptera by W. H. Edwards; Notice of the Butterflies Collected by Dr. Edward Palmer in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, in 1877, by Samuel H. Scudder; and an account of some insects of unusual interest from the tertiary rocks of Colorado and Wyoming, by the same distinguished author. The elaborate and volumi- nous report of the U, 8. Entomological Commission on the Rocky Mountain Locust, with maps and illustrations, issued in 1878, did not reach us in time to be noticed at our last annual meeting. It is a work which has involved great labour, and besides containing much thatis new, covers the entire field of our knowledge in reference to this destructive pest. Prof. C. V. Riley, of Washington, has issued a special report on the Silk-worm, being a brief manual of instructions for the production of silk, with illustrations. Prof. A.R. Grote has written Preliminary Studies on the North American Pyralide, and Samuel H. Scudder a Century of Orthoptera. Several additional numbers of Edwards’ magnificent work on North American Butterflies have appeared, with charming plates. The members of the Entomological Commission of the United States are devoting their attention this year especially to the Hessian Fly, investigating its habits, preparing statistics of the losses occasioned by its attacks, and testing the various remedies which — have been suggested for itsdestruction. In a circular issued in June last they solicit the | co-operation of Entomologists, many of whom will, I trust, be able to render them efficient aid in this good work. During the year, death has removed from our ranks three well ilsue labourers in Be tntomologionl field, Dr. Asa Fitch, late State Entomologist of New York; Dr. . H ermann Loew, the eminent German Dipterist, who has done so much to advance our In Eowledge of American Diptera; and Frederick Smith, the renowned English Hymen- terist. Thus, year by year, we are called to mourn the loss of those whose names, for their works’ sake, we revere. They have gone to their reward ; we live to labour. Let s each endeavour to make the best possible use of the time and opportunities we have, h owever limited they may be, and dilligently and contentedly labour in the sphere in which God has placed us; prompted by pure motives, may we with earnest effort probe ~ eep into the secrets of nature, and draw from thence treasures new, so that when we pass away, we may leave behind us some little lustre which may lend a light, however dim, to those who will fill our places. I have the honour to be, very sincerely yours, Wma. Savunvers. “id The election of officers then took place, resulting in the appointment of the fe ollowing gentlemen :— ___~-President.—W. Saunders, London. Vice-President.—Jas. Fletcher, Ottawa. ___-~Secretary-Treasurer.—Jas. H. Bowman, London. __Council.—Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, M.A., Port Hope; Wm. Couper, Montreal; J. . Denton and E. B. Reed, London; R. V. Rogers, Kingston; G. J. Bowles, Montreal ; ind W. Harrington, Ottawa. Editor of Entomologist.—W. Saunders. Editing Committee—Jas. Fletcher, G. J. Bowles and E. B. Reed, ___ Librarian.—W. E. Saunders, London. _ Lnbrary Committee.—E. B. Reed, J. M. Denton, H. B. Bock, London, with the President, Librarian and Secretary. _ Auditors.—Chas. Chapman and A. Puddicombe, London. Sy short time was agreeably spent in asking and replying to queries in reference to asects and their habits, ~and in examining the collections of insects in the Museum, af er which the meeting adj ourned, a: ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LONDON BRANCH. "The Annual Meeting of the London Branch of the Huctctuamilonioas Society of ont io, was held on the evening of February 11th, 1879, at the residence of the ident, Mr. J, M. Denton. The President occupied the chair. ‘The Secretary- Treasurer read his annual report, which was adopted. His report howe that the finances of the Branch were in a satisfactory condition. The election of officers than took place with the following results. 3 President —J. M. Denton. Vice-President. —A. Puddicombe. onal Treasurer.—W. E. Saunders. - Curator.—C. Chapman. _ Council.—Messrs. H. B. Bock, E. B. Reed and W. Saunders. _ Auditors.—H. B. Bock and Jas. H. Bowman. a Permission was asked by Mr. C. Chapman for the School of Design to use speci- a ‘sm some of our large Butterflies and Moths as models for the drawing and painting 8, which was cheerfully granted. . Saunders gave an interesting account of his recent visit to Florida, and ed some of the insects obtained by him while there. 10 — — ie se _———$_ $$ $$ Mr. H. B. Bock kindly presented the Society with a number of specimens of Coleoptera from Germany. Subsequently an hour or two was spent in social intercourse and participation in the many means for enjoyment provided by Mr. Denton for the members. After spend- Ing an exceedingly pleasant evening the meeting adjourned. W. E. Saunpers, Secretary-Treasurer. MONTREAL BRANCH OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The Sixth Annual General Meeting of the Montreal Branch of the Entomological Society of Ontario was held at the residence of G. J. Bowles, Esq., on Tuesday the 8rd June, 1879, at 8 o’clock p.m. Mr, Bowles read a paper entitled, ‘‘ Some of the insects that frequent the orchard and garden, under what circumstances they increase unduly, what insects to spare, what to kill, and how to kill them, with other useful information,” by the Rev. F. W. Fyles, corresponding member of the Natural History Society. The annual report of the Secretary-Treasurer was then read and adopted. This report shewed that after meeting the current expenses of the year, there still remained a very fair balance on hand. _ The proceedings were closed by the election of the following officers for the ensu- ing year :— President, G. J. Bowles; Vice-President, H. H. Lyman; Secretary and Treasurer, Geo. H. Bowles; Curator, F. B. Caulfield ; Council, Robert Jack, W. Couper and G. B. Pearson. The meeting then adjourned. G. H. Bownzs, _ Secretary. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MONTREAL BRANCH OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. In presenting their Sixth Annual Report, your Council have much pleasure in stating that the Society is still making satisfactory progress. Eight very pleasant meetings have been held during the year, and besides the many interesting Entomological items recorded in the minutes of the Society, the following papers have been read before the members :— 1. ‘‘On the Larve of Papilio Brevicauda and Pieris Borealis, and the food plants.” —W. Couper. | . “On the May beetle, Lachnosterna quercina, and its parasites.’ —G. J. Bowles. . ‘Introductory notes on the Ichneumonide.”—G. J. Bowles. . “Notes on Phyciodes Harrisii and Nycteis.”—H. H. Lyman. - ‘*On the Saw-flies.”—G. J. Bowles. . ‘My Entomological trip to the Godbout River, 1878.”—W. Couper. . ‘On the Insects ot the Mammoth Cave” (selected).—Geo. H. Bowles. The following books have been added to the Library :— ‘‘Riley’s Reports,” 2,4 and 5, making the set complete. The nine reports have been bound in three volumes, and form a very valuable addition to our library. ‘‘ Hentz’s Spiders of the United States,” with 21 plates. ‘* Sausser’s Solitary Wasps of America,” with 4 plates. ‘“* La Crysomele des Patates,” from the Department of Agriculture, with 1 plate. “ Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 1878.” ‘Reports of the Fruit Growers’ Association of Montreal, 1877 and 1878.” “am OF > & bo -. —- —— Our order for books to the Naturalists’ agency is still not quite filled, and a balance of about $10 remains in their hands. Your Council would note that additions are still being made to the list of species in the ‘‘ Montreal Catalogue,” and would recommend the work to the members as one worthy of zealous prosecution. ____ In regard to the labours of the coming season, your Council feel glad to report that the members are beginning their collections with renewed vigour; and they trust that the next year’s operations will show a great advance in the study of our fascinating science in Montreal. The whole respectfully submitted, Gro. Jno. Bow zs, Montreal, 3rd June, 1879. President , MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCI- ATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. The Annual Meeting was held, as announced, on the 26th day of August, in the Town Hall, in Saratoga, N.Y. The first session began at 12.30 p.m.,-the President, J. % Lintner, of Albany, in the chair. The following members were present during the several sessions: Dr. John L. LeConte, S. H. Scudder, C. V. Riley, A. R. Grote, C. H. Fernald, Dr. John G. Morris, Rev. C. J. 8. Bethune, Wm. Saunders, J. H. Comstock, EK. P. Austin, F. W. Putnam, B. P. Mann, H. F. Bassett, W.S. Barnard, eS. Martin, . L. Graef, Dr. J. 8. Bailey and E. H. Pohlman. | q The Secretary, Mr. B. P. Mann, read the minutes of the last meeting in St. Louis, Mo., after which the President delivered the following address :— ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. _ GentLemen :—In the remarks which I presented to the Club at our last annual meeting, a brief review was given of the progress in American Entomology within the Biscding half century. It was shewn that within the last few years rapid progress had been made; that the study of insects had enlisted the labours of many earnest and + ecessful workers, and given to them names honoured in science both at home and abroad ; that many large and valuable collections had been accumulated—several of wh 1ich contained so large a number of types that their preservation in the future was a matter demanding serious consideration ; that the literature had become quite exten- ive ; that much had been done in working out the life-histories of our species and pre- Be Satine them to the public in their economic relations; and finally, that the importance of the Study had at last been recognized here, as long ago it had been in Kurope, by a Co mmission appointed by our General Government, for ‘the investigation of some of the ect pests which were the occasion of serious pecuniary loss, poverty, and almost star- om. 3 in some portions of our country. ‘“ It affords me pleasure to be able to report, that the past year has shewn no om minution of interest or activity in our department, but that work in it is being secuted with an energy and with results fully up to any other department of Natural iience, if we except those to which Congress and several of our States are ments the ir liberal aid. __ If fewer new species have been described during the year, we may find gaanllaty2. me ont in the explanation that we are approaching the period, if not already reached, vhen a new species may not be claimed as the reward of every Entomological excur- ion. And indeed, there does not seem to be urgent need of descriptions of forms so ry far in advance of some degree of knowledge of transformations, habits and relations > t ne vegetable world. __ An evidence of increasing interest is to be found in the frequent inquiries made for astructions in collecting, apparatus for preparation, and books for study. While the ‘st two requests can be promptly met, not so with the last. We are unable to place . gh 12 in the hands of the student the volumes which he requires for naming his collections. This cannot but be the occasion of discouragement to the beginner, and often the cause of diversion of earnest labour to other departments of Natural History. A great need of our science at the present is, monographs of the families prepared by specialists, in which descriptions of all the species shall be given (not simply referred to), and accom- panied by such synoptical tables and illustrations as will enable the student readily to ascertain the names of any species which has been described. At our last meeting I stated to you that the names of 281 persons are recorded in the last edition of the Naturalists’ Directory who are making Entomology their study in North America, and that it was probable that a full list would extend the number to at least 850. It now appears that half the truth was not told. A list kept by the Secretary of the Cambridge Entomological Club, published in Psyche, vol. ii, p. 9 of Advertiser, accompanying the numbers for Sept.-Dec., 1878, contained at the close of last year the names of 762 Entomologists in the United States and Dominion of Canada. I am in- formed by the Secretary thai the list at the present time, without having been subjected to a critical revision, contains 835 names. As a record of the current literature of any science is virtually a record of the progress of that science, may I ask your attention to a brief notice of some of the publications of the year following our St. Louis meeting. A work that might serve as a model in the illustration of insects in their reJations to the plants upon which they feed or frequent, is one of the unique series by Mr. Glover of Manuscript Notes from My Journal, entitled, ‘‘ Cotton, and the principal Insects frequenting or injuring the plant.” In its twenty-two quarto plates, engraved on copper, is shown the cotton plant in every stage of development from the seed to the mature plant, and in its various conditions as resulting from insect attack or from disease. In association with these figures, twenty-four insects frequenting the plant are represented. Several of the species are illustrated in an agreeable prodigality, giving enlarged views of the egg, the larva at different stages of growth, the pupa, the cocoon, the perfect insect at rest and in flight, its under surface, enlargements of parts, and the more marked © varieties ofthe larva andthe imago. Although not so stated, it is believed that the edition of these Notes was no larger than the others of the series, and consequently, that only about fitiy societies and individuals have been the fortunate recipients of @ COpy. The Natural History of the Agricultural Ant of Texas is avolume of 208 pages and 24 plates, by H. C. McCook, treating at length of the habits, structure and architecture of this interesting insect. The histological details have been worked out from prepara- tions made by Prof. J. G. Hunt. A volume, upon which Baron Osten Sacken has been for a long time engaged, has recently been completed and published by the Smithsonian Institution. The Catalogue of the Diptera of North America prepared by this author and published in 1858 was simply a compilation of published names, not claiming synonymic accuracy. It con- tained 1,800 species, but many of the number were too imperfectly described for identif- cation. The new Catalogue is of such merit as to deserve more than a passing mention. It is fully up to, and in itself materially advances, our knowledge of the Diptera of our country. Its author modestly regards it as only critical in part—so far as the families have been worked out into monographs, and as still remaining a mere list of reference to earlier writers, in those families which have not been studied, or in which the existing collections are to a great extent still unnamed, as in the Culicide, Chironomide, Cenopide, the group of Muscidae calyptere, and the section Asilina. Its critical character may be seen from the statement, that of the 102 species of Tabanus enumerated in the old Cata-_ logue, only 36 have been adopted in this. An admirable feature of this Catalogue is that a large proportion of the species which it records—over 2,000 carefully described and authoritatively labelled species— are contained in the Collections of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, — ee ee ee edn Le Ee Ee eee te ee eee ee ee he 2ets- ne fue fwhere every possible care is given to them, and where they are accessible to the student or comparison and study. Most of these are types of Loew and Osten Sacken, or their determinations. ——s rors. ae 13 es re z a The remarks of the author on synonymy, nomenclature and priority, seem to me to be most excellent and worthy of serious consideration. In an extended discussion of the merits of the descriptions of Diptera of the late Mr. Walker of the British Museum, he characterizes them as so extremely superficial—descriptive rather of the specimen than of the species, that in his opinion, they should be entitled to no claim for priority whenever they cannot be positively identified without an examination of the type specimen. Thus, of twenty-six species of Dolichopus described by him, not a single one could be recognized. The question suggests itself, to what extent might this rule be extended to descriptions in the other orders of insects by this author, and in general, to the writings of other authors. In considering the number of Diptera, Osten Sacken believes, that rejecting those descriptions which will probably prove irrecognizable, the number of described Diptera of North America, north of Mexico, will hardly reach 2,500; that the undescribed - material at present in collections, if worked up, would perhaps double the number; and that when the long neglected order shall have received the attention given to the Coleop- tera, it will equal if rot exceed the latter, numerically. Reference at the present to studies in the Diptera, naturally suggests the great loss which Dipterology has sustained in the recent death—in April last—of the distinguished Prussian Dipterist, Dr. H. Loew, long known as one of the most eminent cultivators of _ this branch of Entomology. During the last twenty years he has been engaged in the study of North American Diptera, and at the request of the Smithsonian Institution he has prepared a series of monographs, three volumes of which (Parts i., ii. and iv.) have been published by that Institution. While hisremoval from his work at this stage of its progress, cannot but be deeply deplored, there is a consolation to be found in the know- ledge that it is not to be wholly arrested, but that a worthy collaborator—Baron Osten _ Sacken—remains to conduct it to a completion, we hope, of the plan proposed. The series of Dimmock’s Special Bibliographies, now being published at Cambridge, _ Mass., will prove to be of eminent service to the student who desires to avail himself of the literature of our insects, so widely scattered through the various scientific and popular journals, government surveys, and other publications. Two numbers of the series have been issued—the first containing a complete list to date, it is believed, of the Entomo- logical writings of Dr. John L. LeConte, and the second, those of Dr. George H. Horn. _ A third, of the writings of Mr. S. H. Scudder, is nearly completed. I regret that it has _ been thought necessary, in this series, to dispense wholly with the use of capitals in ail scientific names, even in the family and ordinal divisions, and I believe that many of you will agree with me in claiming for the royalty of science exemption from conformity to _ an innovation based on mere convenience. , a Prof. C. V. Riley and J. Monell have contributed to the Bulletin of the U. S. _ Geolog.-Geograph. Survey (vol. v., pp. 1-32) a paper entitled Notes of the Aphidide of the United States, with Descriptions of Species Occurring West of the Mississippi. Part I con- tains extended biological notes on the Pemphigine, by Prof. Riley, and Part II., notes on __ Aphidinz with descriptions of new species, by Mr. Monell. The paper, illustrated by two plates,is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of these exceedingly interecting insects. A special Report from the Department of Agriculture, entitled, The Silk-worm, being _ & brief Manual of Instruction for the Production of Silk, has been prepared by Prof. Riley, : and largely distributed by the Department, to meet the demand from various portions of _ tke United States for information upon the important industry of silk-culture. The _ Manual is quite full in the natural history of the Silk-worm, in the methods of culture, and directions for reeling the cocoons. There seems no reason why this industry, _ properly fostered, may not be made to add materially to the productive resources of our a country. . Abstracts of the papers presented by Prof. Riley at the St. Louis meeting of the _ American Association for the Advancement of Science, have been published in the Pro- _ Ceedings of the Society, and also in a separate pamphlet. Among these are Notes on _ the Life-History of the Blister Beetles and on the Structure and Development of Hornia ; on the Larval Characteristics of Corydalus and Chauliodes, and A New Source of Wealth to the _ United States (Sericulture]. A Century of Orthoptera, commenced by Mr. 8. H. Scudder in 1868, and continued at intervals in vols. 12-20 of Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., has been completed during the present year by the publication of the last three decades, in vol. 20, op. cit. The species described pertain to the Gryllides, Locustarie, Acridii and Forficularie. The several parts as originally published have been reprinted in a pamphlet of 84 pages. Mr. Scudder has also published (Psyche, vol. u., p. 154) a short list of Orthoptera collected in Appalachicola. Entomological Notes, No. vi., by Mr. Scudder, issued the past year, is mainly a reprint of papers upon the Orthoptera originally published in the preceding year.. The accompanyingindex furnishes a ready means of reference to the species contained in the several papers. In the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1878, Prof. Cyrus Thomas reports upon a small collection of Orthoptera made in the Explorations and Surveys of the San Juan region of Colorado. The same volume contains a report by Mr. H. Strecker, on the Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera from the same region, in which several new species of Heterocera are described, and a few figured. Of our Entomological serials, the Canapian Enromonocist continues to sustain its high reputation, and to merit the contributory aid which it is receiving from nearly all of our American Enntomologists, and from some of our European friends, Psyche, the organ of the Cambridge Entomological Club, is near the completion of its second volume. With the commencement ofits third volume such improvements are promised as will render it of still higher importance to every student of American Entomological literature. The Transuctions of the American Entomological Society have reached the seventh vol- ume. Although the Society has become a section of the Academy of Natural Sciences © of Philadelphia, it is proposed to continue the publication of the Transactions as at present as rapidly as the‘limited means available for the purpose will permit. The Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society is continued. That of the Long Island Society has been discontinued. | The second volume of the Butterflies of North America, by Mr. W. H. Edwards, is in course of publication. It continues to maintain the high reputation which it has com- manded, from its admirable delineations of forms and colouring, and the exceedingly interesting new biological details presented. The North American Entomologist is a new candidate for favour and support, of which two numbers have appeared. Itis a monthly periodical, published at Buffalo, N.Y., under the editorial charge of A.R. Grote. It purposes to present articles of value both to the specialist and the agriculturist on the subject of North American insects, to- gether with notices of current entomological literature, Descriptions of the Noctuide have been continued by Prof. A. R. Grote in contribu- tions to the Canap1an Enromotoeist and in the North American Entomologist. With a diminution in the number of new forms of Noctuze presenting themselves, Mr. Grote has directed his attention to the Pyralide, and has published a paper in the Bull. U. S. Geolog.-Geograph. Survey (vol. iv., pp. 669-705), entitled, Ad Preliminary Study of the North American Pyratide, in which a number of new species are described, the species of Botis enumerated, and the venation given of certain genera of the Phycide. A sup- plement to this paper follows in the North American Entomologist, No. 2, pp. 9-12. To the study of the Tortricide—a family which has received scarcely any attention in this country since the death of Mr. C. T. Robinson, Prof. C. H. Fernald, of Orono, Me., has been devoting special and earnest attention. He has been able to examine nearly all the material contained in the principal collections in this country, and during the past winter has visited the larger collections in Kurope for their study and a com- parison with our forms. In England, the Tortricidz in the following collections were critically examined by him: those of the British Museum, of H. T. Stainton, R. McLachlan, C. J. Barrett and Lord Walsingham ; and on the continent, the collections in Brussels, Berliz, Munich, Naples, of Prof. Zeller in Stettin, Dr. O. Staudinger, MM. Deyrolle and Ragenot and the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. The above amount of pre- liminary work should certainly enable Prof. Fernald, as is his hope, to present us with \ ee a a ee ee ee ee a a ee = 15 a _ a rearrangement of this extensive family quite in advance of any heretofore proposed. Prof. Fernald has prepared a synonymical list of our North American species, which is nearly ready for publication. The work of Mr. V. T. Chambers on the Tineide of the United States, has been _ vigorously prosecuted, as may be seen in his frequent publications in the Caisnuae En- TomoLocist. His paperson Tineina and their Food-plants, and Index to the Described _ Tineina of the United States and Canaaa (Bull. U. 8. Geolog.-Geograph. Surv., vol. iv., pp. 107-167), have been appreciatively received as very convenient for reference. _ The comparatively small but difficult group of the Pterophoride has engaged the attention of Mr. Charles Fish, of Oldtown, Me., and his studies have already made him - our best authority in these forms. q From the above references to special studies in several of the families of the Lepid- _ optera, it will be seen that this attractive Order gives every promise of soon occupying high vantage ground. In the other Orders—it is quite unnecessary that I should refer in the Coleoptera to the labours of Drs. LeConte and Horn. You will know of their untiring work, _ which has made the field which they are so thoroughly working almost exclusively _ their own. In the Diptera, Mr. C. P. Whitney has published descriptions of a few species of Tabanide. i Mr. W. H. Patton has communicated some descriptive papers on Hymenoptera to the Canapran Entomotoeist. Mr. H. T. Cresson has pnblished a catalogue of North American Apide, with de- scriptions of new species, comprising 108 pages ‘of vol. vii. of the Trans. Amer. Ento- log. Soc. Some valuable lists of species collected in particular regions have been given us, which are of service in extending our knowledge of i Distribution. Among _ these, in the Coleoptera, may be mentioned, a list by E. Schwarz of 1,457 Florida ‘species (Proc. Amer. Philosoph. Soc., v. 17, pp. 358-472) ; se 1,246 species from the Lake _ Superior region by H. C. Hubbard and E. A. Schwarz; by the same, of 1,787 species from the lower Peninsula of Michigan (loc. cit., v. 17, pp. 593--666); by Dr. LeConte, of 220 species collected in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 6,000 feet and upwards ' (Bull. Geolog,-Geograph. Surv. Terr., v. 4, pp. 447-480); additions to Messrs. Austin and LeConte’s Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Mt. Washington, of 89 species, extending _ the number to 319, by I’. Gardiner, jr. (Psyche, v. 2, p. 211); 316 species from Wallace Co., Kansas, by F. H. Snow (Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. vol. vi. , pp. 61-70) ; and additions of 435 species to the Catalogue of Kansas Coleoptera, by H. A. Popenoe (ut. cit. pp. 77- 86), increasing the number to 1,711. ' In the Lepidoptera, Mr. C. E. Worthington furnishes a list of 229 species of Noc- 00 ide from the vicinity of Chicago, Ill., (Canad. Entomol., v. xi., p. 68); Mr. W. L. eer creanr, a shorter list of species taken in Wayne Co., N.Y. (ut. cit., p. 105) : Prof. F. . Snow, a list of 104 species collected in Colorado, by the Kansas. University Scientific 5 xpedition i in 1876. _ The valuable biological studies of Mr. W. H. Edwards have been continued with their wonted earnestness. Through the success attained by him in carrying a large oy umber of species of butterflies from the egg through their transformations, he has "8 Shred their entire life- histories, several of which have been published during the past year, and othersillustrated in the volume of the Butterflies of North America. Of the Batyride, the larva of which are so rarely met with that I may venture to say many ‘members of this Club have not seen a living example, he has reared all of our Eastern species with the two exceptions of Satyrus Pegale and Chionobas semidea. The interesting e