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, Y OFIRST ANNUAL REPORT 


377 ON THE 


BENEHFICIAL AND OTHER 


ENS eee. 


OF THE 


STATE OF MISSOURI, 


MADE TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, PURSUANT TO AN APPROPRIATION 
FOR THIS PURPOSE FROM THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE. 


BY CHARLES V. RILEY, 
STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 


JEFFERSON CITY, MO., 
BLLWOOD KIRBY, PUBLIC PRINTER,» 


1869. 


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ei INTRODUCTORY. 


To the Members of the Missourt State Board of Agriculture: 


GENTLEMEN:—I herewith present my first annual report on the 
Noxious, Beneficial and other Insects of the State of Missouri, pursu- 
ant to your instructions of April 1st, 1868. 

It. is neither so full nor so valuable as I hope to make its success- 
ors, should the office be continued. Thisis principally owing to the fact, 
that but eight months have elapsed since my appointment, and that 
the natural history of a number of the insects that received my atten- 
tion during the summer, can only be given after they have completed 
their transformations, which will require one, two and in some cases, 
even three years. 

I have been exceedingly gratified at the warm reception which I 
have met with from all quarters. Wherever I have been, from one 
end of the State to the other, the cordial hand has been extended, and 
I have found our farmers and fruit-growers thoroughly alive to the 
importance of the work, for they know full well that they must fight 
intelligently, their tiny but mighty insect foes, if they wish reward for 
their labors. During the year 1868, insects injurious to our fruits have 
been unusually numerous, but it may well be asked whether this in- 
crease is not a meteorological effect, as was suggested by Mr. W.C. 
Flagg, in his ad interim report to the Illinois State Horticultural Soci- 
ety, rather than one caused by the increase of our products. The 
severe drouth of 1867, had a peculiarly injurious effect on many trees, 
and it seems quite evident, that certain insects increase more rapidly 
in injured fruits and injured trees than in those which are healthy and 
vigorous. The part, indeed, which insects principally have to play in 
the economy of this world,is that of scavengers. They hasten the 
decay and dissolution of unhealthy vegetable organism, the quicker 
to convert it into mould, and make room for healthy plants; while 
they multiply at such a prodigious rate, that whenever the conditions 
are at all favorable to the increase of a particular species, that species 
appears as if by magic, over vast districts of country, and commits 
sad havoc to either orchard or field crops, as the case may be. 

With this view of the matter, we might materially check the in- 
crease of some insects, by anticipating Nature in her operations, and 


4 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


cutting down such trees as have been injured from whatsoever cause, 
so that they shall not remain from year to year as a hiding place for 
noxious insects, or as a hot-bed for equally injurious funguses. 


The peach crop failed pretty generally on account of the great 
increase of the Plum Curculio, and the opinion has been advanced 
and extensively published, that this insect will cause a failure of that 
crop in certain districts for very many years to come. Let the wise 
place no confidence in such predictions, for the predictors can have 
but a vague conception of the grand scheme of Nature, and of the 
laws which govern both animal and vegetable life. For many rea- 
sons unnecessary to mention, the prospect for a good crop the year 
succeeding an entire failure, is greater than at any other period—at 
least so far as insects are concerned. Because an insect is numerous 
and destructive one year, therefore it will be even more so the next, 
is apparently plausible but very fallacious reasoning. Hvery one of 
the thousands of species which are known to exist, multiplies at a 
sufficient rate to entirely cover our globe, in a comparatively short 
time, if nothing hindered; and the struggle and warfare necessary to 
enable all the different species to exist and hold their own, causes a 
constant fluctuation in the relative proportion of each. We have an 
illustration of this in the case of the Colorado Potato Beetle; for in 
those districts where it had caused so much alarm in 1866 and 1867, its 
enemies have so increased that it was comparatively harmless in 
1868. 


The importance of the study of Entomology has already become 
apparent to every tiller of the soil, but there is yet a class of citizens 
who fail to appreciate the laborious efforts of an Entomologist, and can- 
net conceive how the “study of bugs,” as they term it, will redound 
to the good of a State or community. For the benefit of such, let me 
say, that in his last annual address the president of our State Horti- 
cultural Society, estimated the annual loss to our State from insect 
depredations at stxty MILLION potLARS! Now, allowing this estimate 
to be twice as great as the facts will warrant, the sum is yet quite 
enormous. It is not possible by any preventive measures to save 
the whole of this immense sum, but it is perfectly practicable to 
gave a large percentage of it, and in this assertion I think the follow- 
fug pages will bear me out. A knowledge of the habits and trans- 
formations of insects frequently gives the clue to their easy eradica- 
tion and destruction, and enables the agriculturist and horticulturist 
to prevent their ravages in the future. It likewise enables them to 
distinguish between their insect friends and insect enemies, and 
euards them against the impositions of the numerous quacks and 
nostrum-venders, who, with high-sounding words are constantly put- 
ting forth every energy to sell their vile compositions. Such a 
knowledge of insects the farmer has not time to acquire, for it is 
only obtained by an immense amount of hard labor in the field and 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. ‘ 5 


anxious deliberation in the closet. Hence, the wisdom of having a 
State officer who can devote his whole time to the work. 

Fully aware that I write for those who, as arule, are unversed in En- 
tomology, I have endeavored to treat of each insect with as little of the 
nomenclature of science as is consistent with clearness of expression. 
Yet, as much that is of scientific interest, such as descriptions of new 
species, must necessarily be inserted, I have had such descriptions 
printed in a type of smaller size-than the text, so that it can be 
skipped if desirable, at the time of reading, and easily referred to for 
comparison, with specimens which one is desirous of naming. I have 
also endeavored to illustrate, as far as possible, the insects of which 
this report treats, believing that good illustration forms the basis of 
successful teaching in a science with which the general husbandman 
is not exvected to be acquainted; for the eye conveys to the mind, in 
an instant, what the ear would fail to do in an hour. The practical 
man cares little to what genus or family an insect belongs, so long as 
he can tell whether it be friend or foe. He must become familiarized 
with the insects about him without having necessarily to overcome — 
scientific detail and technicality. 

Ihave made no effort at a systematic arrangement of the insects 
treated of. Indeed, that were useless for the purpose in view; but in 
order that the reader may refer the more readily to any particular 
insect which interests him, I have separated them into three series— 
Noxious, Beneficial and Innoxious—and attached a very full index. 
For the benefit of those who are making a study of Entomology, I 
have also given, with each species, the order and family to which it 
belongs, in parenthesis under each heading. 

So far as possible, [have used a common name for each insect, 
knowing that the scientific name is remembered with greater 
difficulty, and is, consequently, distasteful to many. But as popular 
names are very loosely applied, and the same name often refers to 
different insects in different localities, a great deal of confusion would 
ensue without the scientific name, which is, therefore, invariably added 
for the most part in parenthesis, so that it may be skipped without in- 
terfering in any way with the sense of the text. 

The sign 5 wherever used in this report,is an abbreviation for 
the word male, the sign ¢ for female and the sign ? for neuter. 

Wherever the illustrations are enlarged, they are accompanied by 
hair-lines, which designate their natural size. 

Where the measurement of an insect is given, the dimensions are 
expressed in inches and the fractional parts of an inch, 0.25, thus im- 
plying a quarter of an inch, and 1.25 one inch and a quarter, ete. 

Many letters were addressed to me, during the summer, inquiring 
as to the value of the new carbolic acid, which has been so much 
spoken of. Having fully experimented with it during the summer, I 
am well pleased with it as an insect destroyer. But a word of warn- 
ing inits use is necessary. It is also known by the name of cresylic 


6 * FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 


acid, the difference between the two being one of purity only. Many, 
having seen it recommended, ordered the crude acid, and, using it— 
no matter how much diluted—they found to their sorrow that it killed 
their plants. Carbolic acid mixes well with alkalies, but not with 
water, and it can only be used as a saponaccous compound. This fact 
must be borne in mind by those who wish to use it. 

As I shall frequently have occasion te refer to the “ AMERICAN 
ENTOMOLOGIST,” it is but proper to say, that in conjunction with Mr. 
Benj. D. Walsh, State Entomologist of Illinois, I commenced last 
September, the publication of that journal. It is devoted to Economic 
Entomology, and is published monthly, by R. P. Studley & Co., of St. 
Louis, at $1,00 per annum. We felt that pending the issuing of our 
annual reports, something was needed, as amore frequent means of 
communication with the people. The paper has received the highest 
encomiums from the press throughout the country, and as an enter- 
prise has proved successful beyond our expectations—evidence of the 
great demand for, and need of, the kind of information which it gives. 

As there must necessarily be a limit to areport of this character, 
I am compelled to defer till another year, accounts of the Chinch 
Bug, Rocky Mountain Grasshopper, and some other insects which at- 
tracted general attention during the year, and do so the more willingly, 
that their habits have been pretty fully given in former publications, 
and in the above periodical. 

In conclusion, I tender my sincere thanks to those gentlemen, 
throughout the country, who have assisted me in one way or another, 
and especially to the Superintendents of the Pacific, Iron Mountain, 
Hannibal & St. Joseph, and North Missouri Railroads, for free passes 
over their respective routes. 

Respectfully submitted, 

CHARLES V. RILEY, 
Sr. Louts, Mo., Dec. 2d, 1868. State Entomologist. 


NOXIOUS INSECTS. 


THE BARK-LICE OF THE APPLE-TREE. 


(Homoptera, Coccide.) 


There are two species of Bark-lice that attack the 
Apple-tree in the United States, which I will briefly 
describe. 

The first, which is a native North American insect, 
is now known as Harris’s Bark-louse ( Aspidiotus Har- 
visit, Walsh.) The color of the scale is dirty white, 
and its form is irregular, being usually egg-shaped ; 
but, however variable in outline, it is always quite 
flat and causes the infested tree to wear the appear- 
ance of Figure 1; while the minute eggs which are 
found under it in winter time are invariably blood-red 
or lake-red. This species has scarcely ever been 
known to increase sufficiently to do material damage, 
é for the reason doubtless that there have, hitherto, al- 
ways 1S natural enemies and parasites enough to keep it in due 
bounds. Though I have not witnessed it in Missouri myself, I am in- 
formed by several persons that it occurs in the northern part of the 
State, and a communication from R. B. Palmer, of Hartville, Wright 
county, published inthe Rural World, of October 15, 1866, and stating 
that the lice are destroying the best apple orchards in that neighbor- 
hood, evidently refers to this species. 

The second species, whichis known as the Oyster-shell Bark-louse 
(Aspidiotus conchiformis, Gmélin), is by no means so harmless 
however, for it is one of the most pernicious and destructive insects, 
which the apple-grower in the Northern States has to contend with. 
This species presents the appearance of Figure 2, and may always be 
distinguished from the former by having a very uniform muscle- 
shaped scale of an ash-gray color (the identical color of the bark), 
and by these scales containing, in the winter time, not red, but pure 
white colored eggs. 


rites 
Kh 
At 


8 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


There is scarcely an apple-orchard in Northern Illinois, in Iowa 

or in Wisconsin, that has not suffered more or less from its attacks, 
(Nig. 2] and many an one has been slowly but surely bled to death 

q 4 by this tiny sap-sucker. It was introduced into the Eastern 


Din 
ee 


States more than seventy years ago from Europe, and had 
already reached as far west as Wisconsin in 1840, from 
whence it spread at a most alarming rate, throughout 
the districts bordering on Lake Michigan. It occurs at the 
y) present time in Minnesota and Iowa, but whether or not it 
) extends westward beyond the Missouri river, there are no 
data to show. Its extension southward is undoubtedly lim- 
ited, for though so abundant in the northern half of Ilinois, 
4 observation has clearly proved that it cannot exist in the 
He ie southern half of the same State. I have also experimen- 
a tally proved that if cannot exist in the latitude of St. 


HN 
ty 


ner: On the 12th of May last, I received some scales 
from Jesse Hodgson, of Panola, in Woodford county, Illinois, the 
eggs under which were at that- rae hatching. Upon fastening the 
bark containing these scales to the twigs of a living apple-tree, that 
being in a position where I could easily watch them, the young bark- 
lice crawled actively over these living twigs, and soon fastened them- 
selves, as is their wont, around the buds. They soon began to secrete 
the waxy fibres, shown at Figure 3, 3, and in time assumed the white 
appearance of the first scale, which has been very aptly termed the 
larval scale by Mr. Walsh. But the growth at this point was arrested 
and they all soon afterwards died. As there were three twigs thickly 
covered, and as I could discover no parasites or cannibals of any kind, 
it is to my mind conclusive that THIS BARK-LOUSE CANNOT EXIST FURTHER 
SOUTH IN MISSOURI THAN ST. LouIS. The experience of others is to the 
same effect, for Dr. Morse informs me that certain apple trees which 
he procured from the North, and which he planted at Kirkwood, St. 
Louis county, some years ago, though covered at that time with these 
bark-lice, are now entirely free of them; and Mr. Wm. Muir, of Fox 
Creek, in the same county, has had a similar experience with trees 
which he imported several years ago from Burrell & Co., of Lockport, 
N. Y., and which at the time of their receipt were very badly infested. 

The fruit-growers of Southern Missouri, have therefore little to 
fear from this Oyster-shell Bark-louse, and it is not unlikely that it 
would die out in the country considerably north of St. Louis, if im- 
ported there; but, as it exists and flourishes near the southern border 
of Iowa, and extends, in Illinois, below our northern boundary, there 
is every reason to believe that it will flourish in the extreme northern 
counties of our State if once introduced there. Now, up to the present 
time, it has not made its appearance, as far as I can learn, in any of 
the orchards in that part of Missouri, and it seems that, as a State, 
we are entirely exempt from this most grievous orchard pest. In or- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 9 


der to definitely decide this matter I took particular pains, while at 
Hannibal during the summer, to inquire of the old fruit men there on 
this point, and even John Fry, one of the oldest settlers, has never 
heard of its appearance in that vicinity. The responses from numer- 
ous letters that were sent, with the same query, to men living in other 
northern parts of the State, are to the same effect. Believing there- 
fore, that this insect can flourish in our extreme northern counties if 
once introduced there, and that at present the fruit-growers of that 
region are exempt from it, I cannot too strongly urge them to hold 
the vantage ground they now have. Jet every man therefore who 
reads this report, and who contemplates planting an apple orchard in 
North Missouri, in duty to himself and to his neighbors, subject every 
young tree which he receives from northern or eastern nurseries, to 
a@ rigorous inspection; and if any be found infested, let them be 
thoroughly cleansed before planting. By this means alone, can we 
hope to retain that immunity, which we have so far enjoyed ! 

It should indeed be a maxim with fruit growers to inspect all 
young trees received froma distance; for many of our very worst 
insect foes, such as the Canker-worm, Root-louse, etc., are undoubtedly 
transported from one place to another, principally on nursery stock. 
In order that the Oyster-shell Bark- louse may be at once recognized 
and thoroughly understood, I will proceed with its history : 

During the summer of 1867, three independent observers were 
closely studying the habits of this insect in Northern Illinois, unbe- 
known to each other, namely: Dr. H. Shimer, at Mount Carroll; Benj. 
D. Walsh, at Rock Island, and myself, at Chicago. Up to this time, 
though it had frequently been treated of, yet much that was recorded 
of its history was mere conjecture. For instance, Harris states that 
there are two broods each year, while Fitch assures us that the scales 
are the bodies of the gravid females, covenne and protecting their 
eggs; neither of which is the case. 

The gist of Dr. Shimer’s observations hick were recorded in a 
paper published in the Transactions of the American Entomological 
Society, (Vol. 1, No. 4) are, Ist—that he discovered that the tarsal 
joint of the newly hatched larva, which is very small, possesses no 
claw, but is furnished at the extremity with four fleshy hair-like pro- 
cesses upon which the young louse walks, and which he calls digitulz; 
2d—that the scale is constructed by the insect, and consists of the 
moulted skins of the louse, soldered together by some secretion which 
he believes to be the excrement. In these characteristics, he finds 
sufficient grounds for separating this insect from the Bark-louse fam- 
ily (Coccipz#) to which it has been referred by Linneus, Goeffroy, Fab- 
ricius, Burmeister, Reaumur, Curtis, Westwood, and many other au- 
thors, and erects a new family (LEprposaPHID&), and a new genus 
( Lepidosaphes), to contain it. He furthermore takes it upon himself 
to deny what all these authors have insisted upon, viz:—that the loss 
of members, or the change from the perfect and active larval form 


10 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


represented at Figure 3,3, to the motionless and memberless forms 
shown at 5 and6 of the same figure, is an evidence of the degenera- 
tion or degradation in this insect as it approaches the imago state. 

Mr. Walsh, whose observations are recorded in his First Annual 
Report, as Acting State Entomologist of Ilinois, found nothing to in- 
duce him to separate this insect from the old genus Aspidiotus in the ° 
Bark-louse family, to which it had hitherto been referred. He also 
showed that there were three distinct growths of the scale, differing 
from each other in size and color, which he named respectively the 
“larval scale,” “medial scale” and“ anal sack.” ’ He also inclined 
to believe that both the “medial scale” and “ anal sack” were formed 
“ by the anal surface of the original young larva being at two succes- 
sive periods abnormally dilated and extended backwards, in the form 
of a sack closed at tip; and that, after this process is accomplished, 
the insect always moults or sloughs off the whole of the external 
scale.” As to the formation of the “larval scale” he offers no expla- 
nation. 

My own observations will be found in the “Report of the Com- 
mittee on Entomology,” published in the Transactions of the Illinois 
State Horticultural Society for 1867—pp. 109-112. Having had no op- 
portunity of continuing them the past summer, and as they will con- 
vey a good idea of this insect’s mode of growth, I repeat them in part. 

[Fig. 3*.] 


The young lice usually leave the scales during the first week in 
June. Prior to their hatching, the eggs which were previously snow- 
white, become yellowish, and if the weather turn cool, immediately 
after hatching, they will remain for two or three days under the scales 
before dispersing over the tree. The following notes as before stated, 
were made in Cook County, Illinois. 

June 6th.—Most of the eggs are hatched, but the young have not 
yet left the scales. 


“These figures are highly magnified, the hair lines at their sides approximating the natural 
lengths. 1, egg—natural size scarcely .01. 2, larva, as it appears when running over the twigs— 
natural length .01. 3, its appearance soon after becoming fixed. 4, appearance of scale after the 
second plate is formed. 5, form of louse (ventral view) soon after losing its members. 6, form of 
louse (ventral view) when full grown and just about to deposit. 7, fully formed scale, containing 
louse, seit appears from the underside, when raised. 8, highly magnified antenna of larva, show- 
ing joints. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. il 


June 9th.—The past two days have been exceedingly warm, the 
thermometer rising above 90 degrees F. in the shade, and the young 
lice are running all over the twigs. 

June 11th—They have all become fixed, having gathered in the 
greatest numbers around the base of the lateral shoots of the termi- 
nal twigs. 

June 12th.—A white, waxy secretion commences to issue from the 
body, in the shape of very fine, delicate threads (see Fig. 3, 3). 

June 22d.—They have increased materially in size, the waxy secre- 
tion vanishing soon after the last date, leaving what appears to be the 
body, of a yellowish brown color, though in reality the body is under- 
neath and separate, and has lost all trace of members. 

July 1st—Though watehed every day, there is no perceptible 
change since the 22d of June. 

July 2d—They are now 0.03 long, or three times as large as when 
hatched, and a thin, waxy secretion commences to appear at the pos- 
terior end. 

July 6th.—This secretion has increased rapidly, and taken on a 
somewhat oval form, with usually a slight cut or depression posterior- 
ly. It appears quite distinct trom the original yellowish-brown por- 
tion, and is duller, or of a more grayish color. On raising it carefully, 
the louse is seen underneath, yellowish, of a flattened form, the ante- 
rior tapering more than the posterior portion, which latter is always 
distinguished by having a patch of bright reddish-brown (see Fig. 3, 5). 
Though from analogy it must have a beak of some kind, it is so ex- 
ceedingly fine and fragile that I have never been able perceive it. 

July 10th,—There seems to be another pause in the growth, the 
scale presenting the appearance of Figure 8, 4. 

July 12th.—A third plate or secretion has commenced from the 
posterior portion. 

July 15th.—This last plate enlarges rapidly, and is the exact color 
of the bark. 

July 20th.—The three plates are at present readily distinguished ; 
the last, which is considerably larger than the two others together, 
having usually taken a slight curve, which gives the scale its charac- 
teristic form. 

August 1st.—Their growth is to all appearances completed, the 
scale measuring 0.12, while the louse measure but 0.05, occupying thus 
about half the space within. The three different growths are now not 
readily distinguished, though the narrow end is always reddish-brown. 
On lifting the scale the insect does not fall out, being retained by a 
slight whitish fringe extending from each side of the scale (see 
Fig. 3, 7). 

August 12th.—Some of them have commenced to deposit eggs. 

August 28th—The eggs are now, apparently, all deposited, and I 
have watched with interest, as the deposition went on, the body of the 
parent louse shrinking day by day, instead of extending and becoming 


12 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


gravid, until it is now a mere atom at the anterior or narrow end of 
the scale, in a few days scarcely to be noticed at all. 

The oyster-shell bark-louse produces but one brood annually, and 
these eggs, therefore, remain under the scales for more than nine 
months of the year, subjected alike to the continuous warmth of the 
fall months, and to the severe frosts of winter; freezing and thawing 
again and again, without their vitality being in the least impaired. In 
order to show the conclusions which I came to, after the above obser- 
vations, I will, in a measure repeat them. 

All writers on this Bark-louse, copying after Fitch and others, tell 
you that the scale you see on your trees is the gravid body of the 
female insect. Now, though for aught I know the body proper of the 
female may, in some Coccidan species, extend and cover the eggs she 
deposits, itis no such thing in this instance; and I am prepared to 
affirm that the scale is no more the insect’s gravid body than is the 
empty muscle shell the distended outer membrane of the muscle, or 
the oyster shell that of the oyster. 

How this scale is formed I do not profess to have discovered. 
With regard to our native white species, already referred to (p. 7), Mr. 
Walsh, in the Practical Entomologist for December last, refutes Har- 
ris’s theory, namely, that it is formed in the same way as the down 
which exudes from other lice, and shows, with some plausibility, that 
it may consist of the cast-off skins of the insect. Now, in my own 
humble opinion, with the imported species under consideration, I am 
inclined to uphold Harris, for the following reasons: besides the fine 
waxy filaments which it secretes when becoming fixed, I have found 
that, even before these are thrown out, it is covered with a fine, white 
bloom, proving that it can and does secrete from the general surface; 
having carefully lifted the scale, every day during the growth of 
the third portion referred to, the louse has invariably been found in 
the same shape and condition, without apparent connection with it, 
while the scale, to all appearances, actually increases in bulk during 
the time the eggs are being deposited. Furthermore, the exuviz of 
such a tiny insect would be infinitely thinner and more delicate than 
is the scale, and as the insections, especially of the verter, are always 
plainly visible with a glass, in the louse, we should expect tosee them 
in the scale, which is, however, perfectly smooth. Again, the louse 
is of the same color throughout its growth, while at one time the 
three parts of the scale are perceptibly different in this respect. 
Moreover, Reaumur long ago (Memoires, tom. IV., p. 26) observed a 
species occurring on the peach in France to cast its skin in flakes, 
much in the manner as many of our Dipterous and Hymenopterous 
larve are known to do; while he also described a species (pp. 64, 65, 
ibid.) occuring on the vine, which covered its eggs with a white, 
gummy, cottony secretion; and Mr. Walsh himself, in the February 
number of the little monthly already referred to, p. 57, speaking of a 
species occurring on the under surface of the leaves of the Olea 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13 


fragrans, shows how in that species the “scale” is not formed of 
the lifeless body of the female, but is a distinct integument, con- 
structed by the female to protect herself and her eggs, and probably 
secreted from the general surtace of the body. 

However, I believe that the entomologist will have about as diffi- 
cult a task to ascertain its real mode of growth as would the physiolo- 
gist to learn how the flesh on your fingers acquires its natural form. 
We might with equal reason try to learn why and how the thousand 
different excrescences and galls caused by insects are formed ! Why 
isit that the larva hatching from an egg deposited on a rose leaf by 
a little four-winged fly, the Rhodites ignota of Osten Sacken, causes 
a peculiar growth or gall in the form of a mangel-wurzel, or béet seed, 
to surround it, while that of a similar fly, belonging to the very same 
genus—the Tahenicres radicum of Osten Sacken—hatched from eggs 
deposited in the root of the same plant, causes an entirely different 
gall? Why is it that the puncture of a little yellow louse, Pemphi- 
gus (?) vitefolia, Fitch (or as Henry Shimer, of Mt. Carroll, would 
have it, Daktylosphera vitifolve), by puncturing a grape leaf, causes 
an unnatural growth to surround and entomb itin the shape of the little 
green globular galls of different sizes,so common on Clinton grape vines, 
while thesame sized puncture of another louse (Ap/is vitis, Scopoli) 
produces no such effect? Why, again, does a little Lepidopterous 
larva, often found in the golden rod (the larva of Gelechia galiesoli- 
daginis, described in a future chapter of this report), produce an 
elongated hollow gall, while a Dipterous larva ( Trypeta solidaginis, 
Fitch), in a neighboring stalk produces one that is round and solid? 
Or, lastly, why should the suction of different species of Dipterous 
larvee (Cecidomyie), produce the wonderful galls found on our wil- 
lows, causing in many instances not only a total change in the texture 
of the leaf, but also in its mode of growth? 

To me the formation of our Bark-louse scale appears somewhatan- 
alagous to all of these, and a thousand other such phenomena known 
to science; and in answering how such growths, peculiar to each spe- 
cies, are formed, or why each is so constant in its character, I can only 
say that it is their nature; or, with Devere, “that ienowdednne of first 
causes belongs to Him Benes who allows the eye of man to see final 
causes only.” The more we endeavor to study the why and the 
wherefore of these things the more the mind is filled with the idea of 
Infinity, and escaping from all visible impressions of space and time 
rises to sublimest contemplation of the Creator. 

The growth of the scale under consideration, to my mind, depends 
no more on the will of the louse underneath it than does the sponge 
on that of the slimy, jelly-like creature which secretes it, or the coral 
on that of its polype; or, to use a more patent illustration, than the 
growth of our bones, though secreted from our organs, depends on our 
will. 


By carefully lifting one of these scales during the months of July 


FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


and August, any of you may find the true louse underneath, occupy- 
ing but a portion of, and being quite separate from it. 

From analogy we may presume that there are males as well as 
females of this species, since winged males are known to occur in the 
genus Aspidiotus, and it has been my great aim and hope to discover 
this gentleman. Though an extremely small percentage of the scales 
may generally be found dwarfed and empty during the first days of 
August, suggesting that a male may have escaped, yet as likely as not 
these may have been killed by some cause or other. In the latter 
part of June I counted five hundred scales ona single twig, and 
marked them to prevent mistake or confusion in recognizing them 
again. After watching them steadily, and carefully lifting each one 
on the 28th of August, they all, with the exception of two, were found 
to contain eggs. The same average would doubtless have been found 
over the whole tree; and from this fact Iam constrained to believe 
that as a rule no males appear, and that if there be exceptions where 
they do occur, they are in such proportion as to be of little avail. Mr. 
Shimer, in speaking of the Clinton grape gall, already alluded to, 
states that he opened thousands of them before he found a male; and 
it is difficult to conceive what effect a single delicate male, shut up 
in a gall, could have on the thousands of others not dignified by his 
presence. When we reflect onthe abnormities occurring among our 
plant-lice, 1 see no reason why our bark-lice should not be herma- 
phrodite as arule,and yet occasionally produce males. They are still 
lower in the scale of Nature than the plant-lice, and one of them—the 
celebrated Cochineal—puzzled naturalists a long time as to whether 
it was a plant or an animal. There is in fact so much of the anoma- 
lous about this family that it furnishes a rich and interesting field 
of study. 

The observations of both, Mr. Shimer, Mr. Walsh, and myself 
agreed as to the time of hatching; as to the mode of growth of the 
scale, and as to finding no females; but as to the process by which 
the scale was formed there was difference of opinion. The reason, it 
seems to me, is obvious enough: in attempting to elucidate the pro- 
blem we reach beyond the limits of our power of perception into the 
realms of conjecture. It is easy enough to watch the mode of growth 
of an oak-apple, but it is not such an easy matter to ascertain the 
reason why the kind which occurs on the red oak (produced by Cynips 
quercus-inants) should form inside with radiating spokes from a com- 
mon central cell; while that on the black oak (produced by Cynips' 
quercus-spongitica) should form inside with a dense spongy substance 
around a similar central cell. Mr. Shimer may, in part, be right in 
stating that the larval scale is formed by the young louse shedding its 
skin; but the extremely fine skin alone would not form such a 
scale, and he strangely overlooks the wax-like filaments secreted 
from the general surface of the body as well as the peculiar dis- 
tinction in the growth of the “medial” and “anal” sacks. That these 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 


two last scales are constructed by the louse, of its own cast skins and 
some excrementitious secretion, as he suggests, is also made ez- 
tremely doubtful, from the simple fact that you may raise them every 
day of their growth and find the louse underneath, entirely free and 
separate. But afterall, though of great scientific interest this matteris 
of no praetical importance whatever, for as we shall see hereafter 
the great point to be borne in mind, in a practical light, is the time 
of hatching of the egg. 


As the female Bark-louse is only capable of motion for a period 
of from two to three days at the most, after which time she becomes 
as permanently fixed for the rest of her life as is the tree on which she 
is fastened; and as the winged males (even if they ever exist) could 
not assist in the spread of the species, it may puzzle some to divine 
how this insect spreads from tree to tree and place to place. That it 
is transported to distant places, mainly on young trees, there can be 
no doubt, and there are various ways in which it can spread from 
tree to tree in the same orchard, though it can only thus spread dur- 
ing the few days of its active larval state. Mr. Walsh believes that 
the only way, as a general rule, that it can spread from tree to tree, 
when the boughs of those trees do not absolutely interlock,is by a 
few of these active young larve, crawling accidentally on to the legs 
of some bird, that chances to light on one tree and afterwards flies to 
another, and he even goes so far as to say that he believes this Bark- 
louse would soon cease to exist, if all the birds in the world were 
killed off (Rep. p. 41). My friend Walsh seems to have a special 
grudge against the birds, and it is hard to imagine how he could make 
such a statement, in face of the fact that where there is one bird, 
there are a hundred insects roaming constantly from tree to tree, that 
are just as capable of giving the young lice a lift. Moreover the 
specific gravity of the young louse is so slight that it almost floats in 
the air, and is undoubtedly aided in spreading by the winds; while on 
a tree very thickly covered with old scales, its traveling propensities 
are sufficiently developed to cause it to run down the trunk of the 
tree and even over the ground, and as it travels at the rate of two or 
three inches per minute, it could manage to measure several rods with 
its microscopic legs, in the course of its active state. 


Though essentially belonging to the apple tree, this Muscle- 
shaped bark-louse is not unfrequently found both upon the Currant, 
the Plum and the Pear. I have seen the scales fully developed and 
bearing healthy eggs on the fruit of the White Doyenne pear, of the 
Transcendent crab, and of the wild plum (Prunus Americana) which 
have been sent to me by Mr. T. D. Plumb, of the State Journal, Madi- 
son, Wisconsin; and, though on the hard bark of a tree, we cannot 
judge of the amount of sap they absorb, it is quite apparent on these 
soft fruits, for each scale causes a considerable depression from the 
general surface. I have also received twigs of the Persian lilac from 


16 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


F. Starr, of Alton, Illinois, covered with a species, which, if not the 
same, is exceedingly hike it. 

Naturat Remepies.—It was last year simultaneously discovered 
by Mr. Walsh and Mr. Shimer, that a species of mite (Acarus family) 
preyed unmercifully on the louse as well as on its eggs. This mite 
was described by Mr. Shimer as Acarus malus in the paper already 
referred to, and it appears that it greatly resembles the young bark- 
lice. Mites are not true insects, but belong to the same class ( Arach- 
nida) to which our spiders belong, and although the species are nu- 
merous—some causing galls on plants, some living externally on 
vegetable substances and seeds, either ina sound or rotten condition, 
others devouring animal substances, both dead and living, while 
others again are parasitic on certain animals—yet they all are readily: 
distinguished in the perfect state from true insects by having four 
pairs of legs, and by the head and thorax being soldered in one piece 
without any joint whatever. Some of them, in the larval state, have 
but six legs, thus still more closely mimicking the young bark-lice, 
but they all acquire eight in the full grown state. This mite, so insig- 
nificant that in the larval state it can only be noticed by careful 
watching with a pocket-lens, has, doubtless, done more to save the 
apple trees in the Northern States than any one thing else; and its 
existence explains the gradual decrease of the Bark-louse that is 
known to have occurred in many orchards, and also accounts for its 
entire extermination on certain trees. 

Fig. 4. The next most efficient aid we have is the Twice-stabbed 
lady-bird ( Chilocorus bivulnerus, Muls.) This good friend 
_{ is readily recognized by its polished black color, and the 

“~ blood-red spoton each wing-case. Itis represented magni- 
Ss fied at Figure 4, the hair line at the side showing the natural 
length. Its larva (Fig. 5) isa dark gray prickly affair, and is extreme- 

Fig. 5. ly active and voracious. In changing to pupa, the 

‘ams, larval skin splits open on the back, but the naked 
iS pupa, which is of the color of burnt-umber with lighter 
SQ " sides, remains within it asiffor protection. In this | latter 
state Nae lady-birds may often be found fastened in clusters of from 
six to twenty on apple trees affected with either kind of bark-louse, 
and they should invariably be protected. It is astonishing how enue 
ly they will cleanse a tree from its vermin, and there is no better way. 
of getting rid of bark-lice than by introducing a few of these little 
friends onto the lousy tree. 

ArtirictAL ReMEDIES.—These may be summed up in a very few 
words, and consist, for the most part, in prevention, and I again urge 
a strict examination of every young tree before it is planted. If an 
orchard is once attacked before its owner is aware of it, much could 
be done on young tress by scraping the scales off in winter, but on 
large trees where it is difficult to reach all the terminal twigs, this 
method becomes altogether impracticable, and it will avail but little 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 


to cleanse the trunk alone, as most of the scales containing living eggs 
will be found on the terminal branches. Alkaline washes, and all 
other washes, except those of an oily nature, such as petroleum or 
kerosene, are of no avail when applied to the scales, for the simple 
reason that they do not penetrate and reach the eggs which are so 
well protected by these scales; and it is very doubtful whether any 
solution can be used that is sufficiently oily to penetrate the scales 
and kill the eggs without injuring the tree, especially while the sap of 
the tree is inactive. Hence, this Bark-louse can only be successfully 
fought at the time the eggs are hatching, and the young lice are crawl- 
ing over the limbs. The time of year in which this occurs has already 
been indicated, and the trees should be closely watched during the 
last days of May and the first days of June, for, without close scrutiny, 
they will not be observed, appearing simply like very minute, white, 
moving specks. While the young larvee are thus crawling over the 
tree, they are so tender that they can be readily destroved by simply 
scrubbing the limbs with a stiff brush. Itit quite evident, however, 
that any remedy, to become practicable on a large scale, so as to 
rapidly and effectually reach every limb of the tree, both large and 
small, must be applied by a syringe or by means of fumigation, and 
that whatever be applied, it must kill the lice without injuring the 
foliage or fruit, as the young apples are generally as large as a good 
sized pea by the time the lice hatch. Fumigation has not yet been 
sufficiently tried to enable us tojudge of its merits. A correspondent 
of the Prairie Farmer, in recommending brimstone, gives the follow- 
ing as his plan of using it: “ My plan is to cover the entire tree with 
cloth, so that there are no holes to let out the smoke; take an iron 
dish—a frying pan with a handle,if you please—put in about one 
pound of roll brimstone (not sulphur), heat a chunk of iron red hot— 
say aclock weight; drop the iron upon the brimstone, and put it un- 
der the tent cloth, where it should remain long enough to fairly 
smudge the whole tree. More brimstone can be added, and the iron . 
repeated as often as desired, probably five minutes to a tree would be 
sufficient, more would do no harm. The cloth can.be easily taken off 
and put on by two operators, each with a light pole with a spike in 
the end. The one pound of brimstone will burn about an hour.” Hav- 
ing had no bark lice on which to try the above experiment, I wrote to 
the party recommending it, and as I received no answer, the experi- 
ment probably failed or was never tried. The brimstone would doubt- 
less injure the tree. 

Mr. A. R. Whitney, of Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois, whose 
apple trees have been troubled more or less with bark lice, found that 
an application of sheep manure around the trees, had a beneficial 
effect in checking the pests, and he attributes the result to the am- 
monia arising from the manure. With regard to washes, to be used 
with a syringe, the late Dr. Jno. A. Kennicott used 1 lb. of sal soda to 
one gallon of water with good effect; itis best used by heating 0? 

2RSE 


18 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


redness in an iron pot and then dissolving it in the water. Mr. E. G. 
Myegatt, of Richmond, McHenry county, Illinois, has experimented 
with this insect for over 20 years with the following result: Brine (2 
quarts salt to 8 of water) kills the lice, but also the foliage and fruit. 
Tobacco water (strong decoction) neither injures the foliage nor af- 
fects the lice. <A solution of cobalt kills the lice, but takes the fo- 
liage also. Weak lye kills the lice, but also somewhat affects the 
leaves. Lime water kills about half the lice, and affects the leaves a 
little. Finally, quassia, boiled in proportion of 1 pound to 3 gallons 
of water, though well known to be -effectual for the common plant- 
lice, has no effecton these coccids. In short, we have abundant proof 
that neither tobacco-water nor strong alkaline washes have any effect 
on these young lice, though a strong solution of soap w7// kill them, 
and my experience the past season, with cresylic acid soap in other 
directions, leads me to strongly recommend it for this purpose. It 
will sometimes be necessary to repeat the wash, as the lice do not all 
hatch out the same day, though the period of hatching seldom extends 
over three days. 

From the foregoing itis obvious that bark-lice can only be suc- 
cessfully fought during three or four days of the year: how absurd 
and ridiculous then, are all the patent nostrums and compounds which 
are continuously offered to the public as" perfect “ bark-lice extin- 
guishers,” and which never mention this most important fact. May 
this insight into the history of the Apple tree Bark lice, prevent 
many a man from being swindled out of his time and money by these 
impostors! 


THE PERIODICAL CICADA. 


(Homoptera Cicadide.) 
SEVENTEEN AND THIRTEEN YEAR BROODS. 

The year 1868 will long be remembered in the annals of insect 
life, as one of peculiar interest, from the fact that this singular Cicada 
( Cicada septemdecim, Linn.) popularly known as the “ 17-year locust,” 
made its appearance very generally over the United States. 

The metamorphoses of insects, their instructive industry, their 
quarrels and their instincts, afford abundant food for our love of the 
marvelous; but few of them can claim such a singular history as can 
our Periodical Cicada. We are moved to admiration in contemplat- 
ing the fact that an insect, after living for 17 long years in the bowels 
of the earth, should at last change its sluggish, creeping and worm- 
like form, and, endowed with the power of flight, ascend from its 
earthy retreat to become a denizen of the air and to enjoy the full 
glory of the Sun, But our wonder increases when we reflect that this 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19 


game insect has appeared in some part or other of the United States 
at regular intervals of 17 years, for centuries, aye! for ages in the past. 
Long ere Columbus trod on American soil this lowly insect must have 
appeared regularly at its appointed time. It must have filled the 
woods with its rattling song, when none but wild beasts and savages 
were present to hear it. To me there is something beautiful in the 
idea that through its periodicity we are enabled with tolerable cer- 
tainty te ge back in theught, for centuries in the past, to a particular 
month of a particular year, when the woods resounded with its song 
in the same manner as they did last summer; for so regularly do the 
different broods appear, that one is perfectly warranted in the assump- 
tion, that in the month of June, in the year 1738, for instance, 130 
years ago—they appeared in the southern part of Missouri, and that 
6 years previously they had appeared in the northwestern corner of 
the same State. 

Though so much had hitherto been written about this Cicada, yet 
some of the most interesting facts with regard toit were unknown till 
the past season. A very complete article on the subject was published 
in the December number of the AMERIcAN ENToMoLoeist, which I shall 
for the most part repeat, and render more complete by the addition 
of some facts as to their distribution, which were contained in some 
unpublished manuscript of the late Dr. Gideon B. Smith, of Balti- 
more, Md., and which were comunnicated to me through the kindness 
of Dr. J. G. Morris of the same city. 

It was my good fortune to discover that besides the 17-year broods, 
the appearance of one of which was recorded as long ago as 1633, 
there are also 13-year broods ;* and that, though both sometimes occur 
in the same States, yet, in general terms, the 17-year broods may be 
said to belong to the Northern, and the 13-year broods to the Southern 
States, the dividing line being about latitude 38°, though in some 
places the 17-year brood extends below this line, while in Illinois the 
13-year brood runs up considerably beyond it. It was also exceeding- 
iy gratifying to find, four months after I had published this fact, that 
the same discovery had been made years before by Dr. Smith, though 
it had never been given to the world. 

It so happened that one of the largest 17-year broods, together 
with one of the largest 15-year broods, appeared simultaneously in 
the summer of 1868. Such an event, so far as regards these two par- 
ticular broeds, has not taken place since the year 1647, nor willit take 
place again till the year 2089. 

There are absolutely no perceptible specific differences between 
the 17-year and the 13-year broods, other than in the time of maturing; 
but whether or not, scientifically speaking, they are to be considered 
as specifically distinct, the 13-year brood may, for convenience sake, 
be called Cicada tredccim, in contradistinction to Cicada septemdecim, 


* See Journal of Ayriculture, St. Louis, June 15, 1868, in which appeared the first account 
ever published of such a brood. 


20 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the 17 year brood. Mr. Walsh informs me that Charles Darwin, Prof. 
Asa Gray, and Dr. Hooker all agree in the belief that the 17-year and 
the 13-year forms ought not to be ranked as distinet species, unless. 
other differences besides the period of development could be discover- 
ed, the mere rarity of variability in such a point not being sufficient. 


TWO DISTINCT FORMS. 


It is not a little singular, also, that two distinct forms occur in 
both broods—a large one and a small one—-the former by far more 
numerous than the latter. This fact has been observed in past years, 
and was noticed the present year by independent observers in differ- 
ent parts of the country.f Indeed, it was observed by Dr. Hildreth, 
of Marietta, Ohio, as far back as 1830 (vide Silliman’s Journal XVIII, 
p. 47). The true Cicada septemdecim of Linnzus (Fig. 6 A, ventral 
view of male), as described by Harris and Fitch, occurs in the great- 
est numbers, both in the 17 and 13-year broods. It will measure, on an 
average, one and a half inches from the head to tip of the closed 
wings, and almost always expands over three inches. The whole 


under side of the abdomen is of a dull orange-brown color, and in 
[Fiz 6.] 


the male more especially, four or five of the segments are edged with 
the same color on the back. 

The other form (Fig. 6 4, ventral view of male) is not, on an aver- 
age, much more than two-thirds as large, and usually lacks entirely the 
dull orange abdominal marks, though there is sometimes a faint trace of 
them on the edges of the segments beneath. This small form was describ- 
ed.in 1851, by Dr. J.C. Fisher, in the Proceedings of the “ Philadelphia 
Academy of Natural Sciences,” Vol. V, pp. 272-3, as anew species of 


1. Mr. V. 'T. Chambers, in the August number of the ‘American Naturalist,” p. 332,, 
is said to point out some variation in color from those described by Dr. Fitch. 
2. Mr. S. 8S. Rathvon favored me with specimens of both species from Lancaster county, 
Pa., accompanied with the following: ‘(I am justified, I think, m concluding these are two dis- 
tinct species. ‘They are different in size and coloration, produce entirely different stridulation, 
do not cohabit indiscriminately,’ etc. 2 
3. The correspondent to the Department of Agriculture (July Rep.) from Hemat!te, Mo., 
says: ‘‘There are tio species, one (both male and female) sbout twice the size of the other, 


and differing greatly, also, in their cries and actions.’’ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 


Cicada, hitherto confounded with septemdecim, and was named Cicada 
cassinit. His description was followed by a note from Mr. John Cas- 
sin, in which he states that the two forms show no disposition to asso- 
ciate together, and produce very different cries. The fact of the very 
great difference in the song of the males has been fully confirmed by 
the observations of M. C. Hill, of Northeast Ohio, who likewise found 
that the small form is very much less numerous than the large one. 

The truest test of the specific distinction of these two forms lies 
in the comparative shape of the male genital hooks, and on submit- 
ting specimens of both forms to Dr. H. Hagen, of Cambridge, Mass., 
formerly of Kéenigsburg, Prussia, he very kindly furnished the draw- 
ings ¢, d, ¢, and /,in Figure 6, which show the male genital hooks of both. 
That of septemdecim is represented on the outside at ¢, on the inside at 
d; and that of cassinzi on the outside at e, and on the inside at /. 

By these figures, it will be seen that there are sufficient differ- 
ences to separate the two forms as distinct; but while the hooks of 
the large kind (septemdecim) are quite constant in their appearances 
these of the smaller kind (cassinii) are variable, and in some few 
specimens are undistinguishable from those of the large kind. This 
circumstance, coupled with the fact that the small kind regularly oc- 
curs with both the 17 and 13-year broods, would indicate it to be a 
dimorphous form of the larger, or true periodical species; especially 
when we consider that dimorphism and heteromorphism are not un- 
common among the true Bugs (Hemiprera). Mr. P. R. Uhler, of Bal- 
timore, Md., whe has given this order of insects particular attention, in- 
forms me that he is not fully satisfied of the specific distinctness of 
C. cassinit ; but Dr. Hagen thinks there is no possible doubt of its 
being distinct, for the simple reasons, as he states, that dimorphism 
occurs only in one sex, while here both sexes are involved; that 
cassinit appears later, makes a different noise, has different colors 
and was never seen to copulate with septemdecim. To use Dr. Ha- 
gen’s own words, “what mere is needed to make a distinct species, 
if one kind of Cicada requires 17 years to undergo its transformations, 
why nota second kind?” I find among a great number of specimeh, 
which I have examined, that not only do the hooks of cass¢nié vary, 
but the other characters that have been mentioned as belonging to 
it, are variable, there being perfectly intermediate grades between its 
extreme type and that of septemdecim. Again, on the supposition 
thatit is a distinct species, the chances are extremely small, of its is- 
suing together with septemdecim in the same year in the many differ- 
ent localities hereafter mentioned. Therefore, though it will be con- 
venient to use the two names, {think the two forms should not be 
ranked as distinct. But the discussion of the subject would involve 
the general problem of specific character. ‘ 

The large species has been observed to make its appearance from 
eight to ten days earlier than the small species (cassinzz), and there 
is not a single specimen of the latter, among a number of the 13-year 


22 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OP 


brood (tredecim) that I captured in May, though I took a few speci- 
mens afterwards. 


THE SEASON OF THEIR APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE 


differs somewhat with the latitude, though not so materially as one 
mightsuppose. According to the records, they appeared the past season 
earlier in the South than in the North; but the last half of May can be 
set down as the period during which they emerge from the ground, in 
any part of the country, while they generally leave by the 4th of July. 
In St. Louis county the past season they commenced issuing on the 22d of 
May, and by the 28th of the same month, the woods resounded with 
the rattling concourse of the perfect insect. As is the case with a 
great many other insects, the males make their appearance several 
days before the females, and also disappear sooner. Hence in the 
latter part of the Cicada season, though the woods are still full of fe- 
males, the song of but very few males will be heard. 


That circumstances favorable or otherwise may accelerate or re- 
tard their devolopment, was accidently proven, the past season, by 
Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, Wlinois; as by constructing underground 
flues, for the purpose of forcing vegetables, he also caused the Cica- 
das to issue as early asthe 20th of March, and at consecutive periods 
afterwards, till May, though strange to say these premature individ- 
uals did not sing. They frequently appearin small numbers, and more 
rarely in large numbers, the year before or the year after their proper 
period. This is more especially the case with the 13-year brood. Thus 
in Madison county in Illinois, and in Daviess and Clark counties in 
Missouri, there were in 1854 a few precursors to the true 1855 brood. 
They were also observed in Madison county, Illinois, in 1867; while 
“LL. W.” writing from Guntersville, Alabama, to the Country Gen- 
tlemen of Jure 25, 1868, says, “some call them 14-year locusts.” Other 
such cases will be noticed hereafter. 


< THEIR NATURAL HISTORY AND TRANSFORMATIONS 


have been sufficiently described in the standard works of both Harris 


and Fitch, and it is only necessary to mention a few facts not recorded 
by them. 


Mr. S. S. Rathvon, of Laneaster, Pa., who has himself witnessed 
four of their periodical visits, at intervals of 17 years, discovered the 
following very ingenious provision which the pupe (Fig. 7, @) made the 
past season, in localities that were low or flat, and in which the drain- 
age was imperfect. Hesays: “We hadaseries of heavy rains here 
about the time of their first appearance, and in such places and un- 
der such circumstances, the pupas would continue their galleries 
from four to six inches above ground (Fig. 8, a full view, 6 sectional 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 23 


view), leaving an orifice of egress even with the surface (Fig. 8, ¢).— 
In the upper end of these chambers the pupas would be found await- 
ing their approaching time of change (Fig. 8, ¢). They would then back 
[Fig. 8.] down to below the level of the 
ee earth, as at d, and issuing forth from 
the orifice, would attach themselves 
to the first object at hand and un- 
dergo their transformations in the 
usual manner.” Mr. Rathvon kindly 
furnished me with one of these 
elevated chambers, from which the 
above drawings were taken. Itmea- 
sured about four inches in length, 
with a diameter on the inside of five- 
eighths of an inch, and on the 
outside of about one and a quarter 
inches. It was slightly bent at the 
top and sufficiently hard fa carry through the mail without breaking. 
The inside was roughened with the imprints of the spines with which 
the fore legs of the builder are armed. In a field that was being 
ploughed near St. Louis, about the time of their ascent, I found 
that single, straight or bent chambers were the most common, though 
there were sometimes several branching near the surface from a main 
chamber below, each of the branches containing a pupa. The same 
observations have been made by other parties. These holes are cy- 
lindrical and are evidently made by oppressing the earth on all sides 
and throwing the refuse to the bottom, which must be quite a feat 
when they penetrate hard roads or come up between two rocks as 
they frequently do. 


24 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


The larvee are frequently found at a great depth, nothwithstand- 
ing its denial. Thus Mr. Henry Sadorus of Port Byron, Illinois, who 
built a house in 1853, found that they came up through the bottom of 
his cellar in 1854, the cellar being over five feet deep, and Mr. F. Guy 
of Sulphur Springs informed me that he had found them at a depth of 
ten feet below the surface. 

When ready to transform they invariably attach themselves to 
some object, and, after the fly has evolved, the pupa skin is left still 
adhering, as shown at Figure 7 6. The operation of emerging from 
the pupa most generally takes place between the hours of 6 and 9 P. 
M.; and ten minutes after the pupa skin bursts on the back the Cicada 
will have entirely freed itself from it. Immediately after leaving the 
pupa skin, the body is soft and white, with the exception of a black 
patch on the prothorax. The wings are developed in less than an 
hour, but the natural colors of the body are not acquired till several 
hours have elapsed. These recently developed Cicadas are somewhat 
dull for a day or so after transforming, but soon become more active, 
both in flight and song, as their muscles harden. For those who are 
not informed of the fact, I will state that the males alone are capa- 
ble of “singing,” and that they are true ventriloquists, their rattling 
noise being produced by a system of muscles in the lower part of the 
body, which work on the drums under the wings, shown in Figure 6, 
at gg,by alternately tightening and loosening them. The general noise, 
on approaching the infested woods, is a compromise between that of a 
distant threshing machine and a distant frog pond. That which they 
make when disturbed mimics a nest of young snakes or young birds 
under similar circumstances—a sort of scream. They can also pro- 
duce a chirp somewhat like that of a cricket’s, and a very loud shrill 
screech, prolonged for fifteen or twenty seconds, and gradually in- 
creasing in force and then decreasing. 

After pairing, the females deposit their eggs in the twigs of differ- 
ent trees; and though for this purpose they seem to prefer the oaks 
and the hickories, they oviposit in almost every kind of deciduous 
tree, and even in herbaceous plants, and inevergreens. We have seen 
their eggs in the Chestnut, Locust, Willow and Cottonwood, in peach 
twigs of not more than inch diameter, and also in the stems of the 
common Eupatorium, while R. H. Warder, of Cleves, Ohio, has found 
them in the following evergreens: Thuja occidentalis, Juniperus vir- 
giniana and Abies canadensis, but was unable to find any traces of 
their work in either of our common pines—Pinus Austriaca, P. strobus 
or P. sylvestris. 

Dr. Harris (Jnj. Zns. p. 212) has well described the mode of depos- 
iting, andit is only necessary to add that the female always saws with 
her head upwards, z. e. towards the terminal part of the branch, ex- 
cept when she comes in contact with a side shoot, when, instead of 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 


[Fig- 9.] shifting a little to one side, she reverses her position, eo 
and makes two punctures in an opposite direction to the {fi 
rest, and thus fills up the straight row close to the base f 


Aili 


\ 


7 white color, one-twelfth of an inch long, and taper to 
+ an obtuse point at each end. They are deposited in 
“| pairs, but separated by a strip of wood, which is wider 

| —and thus causes the eggs to be further apart—at the 
bottom of the grooves than at their commencement. 
| The punctured twigs bear the appearance of Figure 9, 
and frequently break off and die, though the great ma- 
jority remain green and recover from their wounds. In- 
deed, there is every reason to believe that the eggs sel- ik 
dom hatch in those twigs which break off and become /) 4 
dry, but that the life and moisture of the twig is es- 

\y sential to their life and development of the egg, for the eggs 
are noticeably larger just before hatching than when first depos- 
ited, showing that they are, to a certain extent, nourished by the liv- 
ing wood, as is the case with those of many Saw-flies. Mr. Rathvon 
has also recorded the fact that the Cicada eggs are always shriveled 
in twigs that are amputated by the Oak-pruner (Stenocorus villosus, 
Fabr.) In the healing of the punctured parts a knot usually forms 
over each puncture, and I represent, at Figure 10, a portion of an ap- 
ple twig, sent to me by Mr. John P. McCartney, of Cameron, in Clin- 
ton county, and which was punctured in the year 1862. Though the 
wounds had so well healed on the outside, the grooves inside were 
not filled up, but still contained the minute glistening egg-shells, from 
which the young larve had escaped six years before. 

The eggs hatch between the 20th of July and the Ist of August 
or in about six weeks after being deposit- [Fig. 11.] 
ed. The newly hatched larva (Fig. 11) _. ee 
differs considerably from the full grown ~” 3 
larva, but principally in having much .., 
longer and distinctly 8-jointed antennex.* ~ 
It is quite active, and moves its antennze 
as dexterously and as rapidly as does an ant. As soon as it has extri- 
cated itself from an exceedingly fine membrane, which still envelops 
it after it has left the egg,+ our little Cicada drops deliberately to the 
ground; its specific gravity being so insignificant, that it falls through 
the air as gently and as softly as does a feather. 
The cross veins near the tip end of the upper wings of the Peri- 


odical Cicada form a dusky zig-zag mark in the shape of a W. Some 
ignorant persons are silly enough to believe that this mark portends 


hak 


*There is frequently a ninth joint partly developed. 

{All young Grasshoppers and Katydids that I have ever hatched were invariably enveloped in 
@ like membrane after leaving the egg, and until this is thrown off the young insect is awkward in 
its motions. In the case of the young Cicada, these fine membranes are usually left attached to 
the roughened orifice of their nidus, and thus form, together, a white glistening bunch. 


96 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


war. It occurs alike, though not to such a marked degree, on all 
other Cicadas, and if people must have an omen let them rather take 
the two W’s for warm weat.:er, and it will not be likely to disappoint 
them. 


ENEMIES OF THE CICADA. 


Upon leaving the ground to transform, the pups are attacked 
by different quadrupeds, by birds, by cannibal insects, such as 
Ground-beetles, Dragon-flies, Soldier-bugs, ete. while hogs and 
poultry of all kinds greedily feast upon them. In the perfect fly 
state they are attacked by at least one insect parasite; for dip- 
terous maggots (the larvee, probably, of some Tachina fly) may oc- 
casionally be found in their bodies. In this state they are also often 
attacked by a peculiar fungus, which was first described by Dr. Leidy, 
in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences 
for 1851. Dr. W. D. Hartman, of Westchester, Pa., speaking of the 
occurrence of this fungus, in 1851, says: “The posterior part of the 
abdomen, in a large number of male locusts, was filled by a greenish 
fungus. * * * The abdomen of the infected males was unusually 
inflated, dry and brittle, and totally dead while the insect was yet 
Hying about. Upon breaking off the hind part of the abdomen, the 
dust-like spores would fly as from a smali puff-ball.” One male speci- 
men received the present year from Pennsylvania was affected by 
the same, or a similar fungus, the internal parts of the abdomen being 
converted into what appeared to be a brown mould. 


hh. H. Warder, of Cleves, Ohio, in speaking of this mould says: 
It seemed to be a drying up of the contents and membranes of the 
abdomen, generally of a brown color, and dry and brittle. I found 
that in many cases the male organs of generation remained so firmly 
attached to the female during copulation that the male could only 
disengage himself by breaking away, leaving one or two posterior 
joints attached to the female, and it is these mutilated males which I 
found affected by the peculiar fungus mentioned, and therefore con- 
cluded that the “dry rot” might be the result of the broken mem- 
branes. IJ never found one thus affectedin the very early part of their 
season, and I never found a perfect male thus affected. But this is not 
positive proof. 


THE STING OF THE PERIODICAL CICADA. 


It is astonishing what a wide-spread fear exists of the Cicada 
on account of its stinging powers. ‘There is scarcely a paper in 
the United States but published some account of a “locust” sting 
last summer, while unpublished accounts were equally numerous. 
One of the editors of the St. Louis Republican was kind enough to 
clip out for me all accounts of such stings, which he found in 
their numerous exchanges, and the number which had accumulated, 


THE STATE ENTCMOLOGIST. 27 


before the end of the “Locust” season, was truly surprising. Some 
people even denied themselves the pleasure of eating blackberries, 
raspberries and other fruits, because they feared these fruits had 
been poisoned by the eggs of Cicadas; while others believed that 
they poisoned water. I have endeavored to trace up a number of 
these reports, but have invariably found that they were either false 
or greatly exaggerated, and there is no doubt whatever that the 
great majority of such accounts owe their origin to the fertile imagin- 
ations of newspaper reporters, who are ever ready to create a sen- 
sation. Yet, to use acommon metaphor, it is strange there should 
be so much smoke and no fire, and I will brietly review the only three 
methods by which such stinging can possibly be produced. At the 
same time, I give it as my conviction that there is but little cause for 
fear, as [have handled hundreds of them, and know hundreds of per- 
sons, including children, who have done the same, and yet have never 
been able myself to witness a single case of bona fide stinging, 


By Hornets.—There is a very large Digger wasp (Stizus grandis, 
Say), represented of the natural size in the accompanying Figure 12, 


wy lle] sy whose peculiar habit it is 
. ‘Nena (i se to provision its nests with 
\ @=2 ie Cicadas. The burrows made 


: ) by this Digger wasp, or 
7 SS hornet, are about three feet 
long, with two or three gal- 
leries about one foot long, 
each terminating in a 
chamber considerably en- 
larged. The female catch- 
: es a Cicada which she stings 

g Ss and paralyzes, and drags 
into one of these chambers; and itis not very unlikely that she should 
occasionally alight on some human being with a Cicada in her grasp, 
and upon being brushed off, should retaliate by stinging the offender, 
and then fly off, leaving the Cicada behind, which, in absence of the 
hornet, would yery naturally be accused of the sting. An allied spe- 
cies of Digger wasp (the Sizzus spectosus of Say) has been actually 
observed, by Mr. Rathvon, to carry off a few belated individuals of 
the Periodical Cicada; but the usual prey of both these species is the 
larger annual Cicada (C. pruinosa, Say), and they both oecur too late 
in the season to be the cause of all the stinging we hear of. 


By Tue Ovieostror.—The ovipositor of the female (Fig. 13, 4) is 
certainly capable of inflicting a wound, but the Cicadais anything 
but pugnacious,and when not in the act of ovipositing, this instru- 
mentis securely enclosed in its sheath. That this is the stinging in- 
strument is rendered extremely doubtful, for the following reasons: 
Ist. All the stinging we hear of has een done suddenly, while the 


298 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


. 
insertion of the ovipositor would necessarily be a gradual opera- 

[Fig- 13-] tion, requiring at least one minute ; 2d. The real function 
of the ovipositor is to convey an egg into the wound 
which it makes, and I have been unable to trace a single 
case where eggs were found in the flesh. All such ac- 
counts have proved to be fabrications, and the straightfor- 
ward report which Mr. V. T. Chambers, of Covington, 
Ky., gave inthe August number of the American Nat- 
uralist, of a negro being stung on the foot by a Cicada, 
proved, after all, to be a mistake, for “ Mr. Winston did 
not see the insect with its instrument 7n stu ;” 3d the 
three following facts, which are reliable, prove that 
stinging in the usual sense of the term, by this instrument 
is almost impossible: First, Mr. Wm. Muir, associate editor of Col. 
man’s Rural World, carefully lifted a female from off a tree, while 
she was yet in the act of ovipositing, and as carefully placed her on 
his little finger, holding it as near as possible in the same direction 
and position as the branch grew from which she was taken. She 
instinctively endeavored to continue ovipositing, and, holding firmly 
to his finger, tried again and again to insert the ovipositor, but with- 
out the least success, for it could not make the least impression on 
the soft and yielding flesh, but continually slipped from one side to 
the other. Second, it is recorded that Mr. Peter A. Brown, of Philadel- 
phia, Pa., himself inflicted a puncture with the ovipositor, several 
times, upon his hand, without experiencing any more pain than that 
produced by a prick of a pin or any other pointed instrument, and 
that no swelling ensued; third, Dr. Hartman, of Pennsylvania, intro- 
duced some of the moisture from the ovipositor into an open wound 
and it caused no inflammation whatever. 


By tHe Beak, or Haustettum.—The beak (Fig. 18, a) is an organ 
which both sexes of the Cicada possess, and by which they take their 
nourishment. I have seen them insert it into and extricate it from 
the branches of different trees, and know that the operation is quite 
rapid, and that the instrument must be quite sharp and strong: 
All the more authentic cases of stinging, indicate this to be 
the instrument,* and it is quite likely that, just as the sting 
of a bee will affect some persons nigh unto death, and have no effect 
whatever on others, so the puncture of the beak of a Cicada will be 
more serious with some than with others. That there is no poison 


Mr. D. B. Wier, of Lacon, Ills., who well knows the difference between the male and female 
Cicada, recollects distinctly, that when they were there in 1854, he was stung in the finger by the 
male, the sting not causing very severe pain. 

Mr. R. I. Parker, of St. James, Phelps county, Me., an intelligent fruit grower, who has given 
gome time to the study of insects, informed me that he was stung on the neck by a male Cicada, 
evidently with the beak, and that the sting was not so painful as that of a bee. 

Dr. M. M. Kenzie, of Centerville, Reynolds county, Mo., has communicated the fact that 
Frank Smith, aged 14 years, living on Henpeck, in the lower part of Reynolds county, was stung 
by a Cicada on the back of the left hand, The wound healed by first intention, and the next 
morning there was only a black clot, about the size of a pin’s head, to mark its place, with scarcely 
any swelling. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 


gland attached to this beak, is no argument against its stinging power 
for several true Bugs are known to produce severe stings by their 
beaks, while the hairs and spines of some caterpillars have a similar 
power. 


THE INJURY WHICH CICADAS CAUSE TO FRUIT TREES.—REMEDIES. 


While living under ground they have been aceused of killing pear 
trees, and more especially by Miss Margaretta H. Morris, in accounts 


of them published in 1846. The late Dr. Smith, of Baltimore, how- 
ever, who made extensive operations, denied their being capable of 
such injury. He says: 

“The larva obtains its food from the small vegetable radicals that 
everywhere pervade the fertile earth. It takes its food from 
the surface of these roots, consisting of the moist exudation (like 
animal perspiration), for which purpose its rostrum or snout is pro- 
vided with three exceedingly delicate capillaries or hairs which pro- 
ject from the tube of the snout, and sweep over the surface, gathering 
up the minute drops of moisture. This is its only food. The mode of 
taking it can be seen by a good glass.,—J/n Prairie Farmer, Decem- 
ber, 1851. 

While they can,if they wish, insert their beaks into roots, and 
very likely do so in some cases, yet I incline to believe, that Dr. 
Smith’s views are correct, for though Dr. Hull, of Alton, Illinois, has 
often found them firmly attached to different roots by the legs, he has 
never found the beaks inserted. The fact that they will rise from 
land which has been cleared of timber, cultivated, and even built 
upon for over a dozen years, certainly contravenes Miss Morris’s 
statement, while their long subterranean existence precludes the 
necessity of rapid suction. Itis also quite certain that if they thus 
killed trees, we should oftener hear of it, and I have captured a 
gigantic but unnamed species of Cicada on the plains of Colorado, 
50 miles from any tree, other than a few scattering willows. 

In the perfect state, however, the female is capable of doing great 
injury to trees by hacking up their twigs, in the process of depositing, 
and although their injury in the forest is not generally felt, it isa very 
different thing in our orchards, and especially in the nursery. 

The following editorial from the old Valley Farmer of November, 
1855, will show how serious the injury may sometimes be: 


“ We planted an orchard of the best varieties of apple trees last 
spring. We had taken particular pains, not only in selecting the best 
varieties, but in planting the trees, and hoped in a few years to par- 
take of the fruit. But our hopes were destined to be blasted. The 
locusts during the summer destroyed nearly all of them; not one in 
six is living. To look at them one would think that some person had 
been drawing the teeth of a saw over the bark of every tree.” 

It also appears that in some instances they injure trees by the 


80 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


insertion of their beaks for nourishment, for Mr. Gustavus Pauls, of 
Eureka, had a young apricot tree which was so thoroughly punctured 
in this manner, that he took a gallon of coajulated sap from it, and he 
attributes the death of some of his trees to this cause. I am con- 
vinced, however, that the injury done in this manner is comparative- 
ly trifling. 

On the 15th of June I was sent for by four different parties in St. 
Louis county, who wished me to try and save their trees from the 
ruinous work of these cicadas, which had by this time began to de- 
posit their eggsin real earnest. I found that whenthe wind was high 
they could, by its aid, be driven to some extent, but that without its 
aid they could not be driven at all; as when started, they are just as 
likely to fly behind as before you. I tried lye, whitewash and sul- 
phur, air-slacked lime and finally carbolic acid, and found that none 
of these mixtures would affect them. Indeed, after experiments in- 
volving about $200, I am convinced that there is no available way of 
entirely preventing this ruinous work when they once commence to 
deposit. The nursery of Mr. Stephen Partridge, a few miles west of 
St. Louis, which is surrounded on all sides by timber, was more se- 
riously injured than any other which I saw, and he lost many hundred 
dollars’ worth of apple, peach and pear stock. They also punctured 
his grape vines very freely, preferring the Clinton and Taylor among 
varieties. By having all hands turn out early in the morning, and 
between six and seven o’clock in the evening, while they hung list- 
lessly to the branches, he succeeded in crushing thousands of them, 
and thus saved parts of his nursery from total ruin. But it becomes a 
hopeless task to try to stay their disastrous work when once they have 
acquired full power of flight; though, while i in their feeble and help- 
less condition, as they Tees the ground, they can not only be de- 
stroyed to far greater advantage by human agency, but hogs and 
poultry of all kinds, eagerly devour them. There were, it is true, 
many accounts afloat last summer of hogs being poisoned by them, 
and, though it is not impossible that one was occasionally killed by 
peo aluitine ,»* such cases were very rare indeed. From the foregoing, 
the fdas ance of knowing beforehand when to expect them becomes 
apparent, and the following chronological table, will not only prove 
of great scientific interest but of practical value. In the greater part 
of Missouri, the fruit grower may rest from all anxiety as to their ap- 
pearance for thirteen years to come, but in the month of May, 1881, 
let him leok out for them. 

THEIR CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY, WITH PREDICTIONS OF THE FUTURE APPEAR- 

ANCE OF ALL WELL ASCERTAINED BROODS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. 

As nothing had been published up to A. D. 1868, as to the re- 
gular appearance of any thirteen year broods of Cicadas, it is not at 


Mr. BR. Allen, of ‘Allenton, informs me that during years when the army worm (Leucania 
unipunctata, Haw.) occurred in such swarms, hogs and chickens feasted on them to such an extent 
that the former frequently died, while the latter laid eggs in which the parts naturally white would 
be entirely green when cooked. 

’ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 31 


all surprising that errors were committed by former writers on the 
subject. In the following chronology cf this insects periodical visits, 
everything heretofore published has been revised as far as possible. 
The mass of facts from which the generalizations are made would be 
tedious if given in detail, and are therefore for the most part omitted. 
This chronology could not, of course, be made complete from a single 
season’s researches, and it may even contain errors, but it will remain 
as a foundation for future work, and before another seventeen years 
shall have passed away, we may hope to have this part of the history 
of our curious Cicadas completed and perfected. 

While the discovery of the thirteen year broods, dispelled much 
of the fog in which this chronology had hitherto been wrapped, it at 
the same time, rendered a complete and lucid exposition of that 
chronology extremely difficult. The northern boundary line of the 
thirteen year broods is about latitude 37°, but in Illinois one of them 
ascends between two and three degrees above this line, while the 
seventeen year broods descend below it in several places, the two 
broods sometimes occupying the Carolina. Thus the two broods some- 
times occupy the same territory; while two broods of the same kind, 
appearing in different years may also overlap one another, as in the 
instance given in the account of brood XXII in Virginia, where the 
“locusts” appear every eighth and ninth year. In order to make the 
subject as clear as possible, and to facilitate references, [have num- 
bered the different broods of this insect in accordance with the date 
of their future appearance from and after the present year. 


BROOD I.—Septemdecim—1852, 1869. 


In the year 1869, and at intervals of seventeen years thereafter, 
they will, in all probability, appear in the valley of the Connecticut 
river. According to Dr. Asa Fitch (N. Y. Rep. I, p. 40), they appeared 
there in 1818 and 1835, and according to Dr. Smith they occurred in 


Franklin, Bristol and Hampshire counties, Massachusetts, in 1767, "84, 
1801, 718, 735 and 752. 


BROOD II.—Tredecim—1856, 1869. 


In the year 1869, being the same as the preceding, they will in all 
probability appear in Georgia, in Habersham, Rabun? Muscogee, 
Jasper, Greene, Washington and adjacent counties, having appeared 
there in 1843 and 1856, according to Dr. Smith. 


BROOD III.—Septemdecim—1853, 1870. 


In the year 1870, and at intervals of seventeen years thereafter, 
they will in all probability appear in what is known as the “Kreitz 
Creek Valley” in York county, Pa., and possibly in Vinton county, 
Ohio, and Jo. Daviess county, Ills. Mr. S. 8. Rathvon, of Lancaster, 
Pa., speaking of this brood, says: “Lancaster county is bounded on 
the southwest by the Susquehanna river, dividing it from the county 


32 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


of York, along the northeastern margin of which there is a mountain 
range, sloping down to theriver. Along that slope Cicadas were abun- 
dant the present season (1868—Brood XXII). But on the southwest 
side of the range, in what is known as the Kreitz Creek Valley, there 
were none. They appeared last in this valley in 1853, and previous to 
that year at intervals of seventeen years from time immemorial.” 
Dr. Smith records their appearance in 1853, both in Vinton county, 
Ohio, and Jo. Daviess county, Illinois. 


BROOD IV.—Tredecim—1857, 1870. 


In the year 1870, being the same as the preceding, they will in 
all probability appear in Jackson, Gadsden and Washington counties, 
Florida, having appeared there according to Dr. Smith in 184i and 57. 


BROOD V.—Septemdecim—1854, 1871. 


In the year 1871, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will 
in all probability appear around the head of Lake Michigan, extend- 
ing as far east as the middle of the State of Michigan, and west an 
unknown distanceintolowa. Alsoin Walworth county and other por- 
tions of Southern Wisconsin, and southward into Illinois. This brood 
is equal to Dr. Fitch’s 6th. It extends all over Northern Illinois, and 
as far south as Edgar county, and its appearance in 1837 and 1854 is 
well and thoroughly recorded. In Champaign county, Ills., it over- 
laps Brood XVIII, or the Southern Illinois tredecim brood, while it 
also interlocks with Brood XIII (septemdecim) in the same county. 

They will also appear in the same years in the southeast by eastern 
part of Lancaster county, Pa., in what is called the “ Pequea Valley,” 
having appeared there in vast numbers in 1854. 

The earliest known record we have of the appearance of period- 
cal Cicadas, is in Morton’s “ Memorial,” in which it is stated that they 
appeared at Plymouth, Plymouth county, Mass., in the year 1633,— 
Now, according to that date, one might be led to suppose that this re- 
corded brood of Morton’s belonged to this Brood II, as exactly 14 
periods of 17 years will have elapsed between 1633 and 1871; but, 
strange to say, we have no other records of his brood than that in the 
“« Memorial,” whereas there are abundant records of their appearing 
one year later in the same locality, ever since 1787. There is there- 
fore good reason to believe that the visit recorded by Morton was a 
premature one, and that it was properly due in 1634. I have there- 
fore placed it in Brood XIII, and have little doubt but that if records 
could be found, these would prove the Cicadas to have appeared in 
1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, and 1770, as they did in 1787, 
1804, 1821, 1838, and 1855. 

BROOD V1.—Tredecim—1858, 1871. 


In the year 1871, being the same year as the preceding, and at in- 
tervals of 13 years thereafter, they will in all probability appear in 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 33 


the extreme southwestern corner of Mississippi, and in the adjoining 
part of Louisiana. Dr. D. L. Phares of Newtonia (near Woodville), 
Miss., says that in 1858 they extended over most of Wilkinson and 
part of Amite counties, Mississippi, and East and West Feliciana, La. 
He has himself witnessed the appearance of this brood during the 
years 1832, 1845 and 1858, while it is distinctly remembered by aged 
people in his neighborhood as having also appeared there in the years 
1806 and 1819. Dr. Smith gives their range from the Mississippi river, 
east to a ridge 45 miles from the river that divides the State, north 
and south, and north and south to the boundaries of the State; re- 
cording them as occurring in 1806, 719, 82, 45 and 758. 


BROOD VII.—Tredecim—1859, 1872. 


In the year 1872, and at intervals of 18 years thereafter, they will 
in all probability appear in Jackson county and around Cobden and 
Jonesboro, in Union county, South Ulinois, in Kansas, Missouri, Geor- 
gia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi. 


According to Mr. Paul Frick of Jonesboro, they were in Union 
county, Ills., in 1858, and he also thinks it was a great year for them 
about 1832. Those of 1858 were probably premature stragglers of the 
1859 brood, while Mr. Frick is most likely mistaken as to the year 
1832, since the Rev. George W. Ferrell of Cobden, Union county, 
witnessed their appearance at that place in 1833, and also in 1846 and 
1859; and Cyrus Thomas has also recorded their appearance in 1859 
in the 5th Rep. of the Ills. State Agr. Soc., p. 458*, while a paragraph 
in the Baltimore (Md.) Sun of June 13, 1859 says “the locusts have 
made their appearance in ‘Egypt’ in Southern Illinois, and cover 
woods and orchards in swarms.” This brood not improbably extends. 
westward into Missouri, for several of the old settlers around Eureka, 
in St. Louis county, Mo., recollect it being “locust year” about the 
time of its last appearance, while Mr. L. D. Votaw of Eureka, and 
Wm. Muir of Fox Creek, Mo., both believe it was exactly 9 years ago,, 
or in the year 1859. Dr. Smith records it in DeKalb, Gwinnett and 
Newton counties, Georgia, in 1846 and 759; in the northern part of 
Tennessee also, in 1846 and 759; in the whole eastern portion of Miss- 
issippi from the ridge which is 45 miles from the river, on the west,, 
to the eastern boundary, in 1820, 733, 746, and 759; in Carrol Parish, 
Louisiana, in 1859; and in Philips county, Kansas, in the same year. 

By referring to Brood XV, it will be seen that in 1846, or during 
the first year of the Mexican war, this 13-year brood appeared simul- 
taneously with a 17-year brood in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. 


* Tf Mr. Paul Frick is correct, the brood he has witnessed may possibly be a detachment of 
the Mississippi and Louisiana Brood VI; in which case the Cicadas appear for two consecutive 
years in Union county, Ills., as they do (See Broods XIII and XIV))in Central Ohio, and: portions 
of Northwestern Missouri, 


SORSE 


34 FIRST ANNUAL REPURT OF 
BROOD VIII.—Septemdecim—1855, 1872. 


In the year 1872, being the same year as the preceding, and at in- 
tervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, in all probability, appear in 
the southeastern part of Massachusetts; across Long Island; along 
the Atlantic coast to Chesapeake Bay, and up the Susquehanna at 
least as far as to Carlisle in Pennsylvania; also, in Kentucky, at Kan- 
awha.in Virginia, and Gallipolis, Ohio, on the Ohio river. This is the 
brood referred to in Brood V, and which there is every reason to be- 
lieve is the .cne recorded by Morton in his “ Memorial,” as occurring 
in 1633, 

Dr. Fitch, in the account of his 3d brood (N. Y. Rep. I, p. 39), says: 
“The third brood appears to have the most extensive geographical 
range. From the southeastern part of Massachusetts, it extends 
across Long Island, and along the Atlantic coast to Chesapeake Bay, 
and up the Susquehanna at least as far as to Carlisle in Pennsylvania; 
and it probably reaches continuously west to the Ohio, for it occupies 
the valley of that river at Kanawha in Virginia, and onwards to its 
mouth, and down the valley of the Mississippi probably to its mouth, 
and up its tributaries, west, into the Indian Territory. This brood has 
appeared the present year, 1855, and I have received specimens from 
Long Island, from South Illinois, and the Creek Indian country west 
of Arkansas,” ete. 

There is every reason to believe that Dr. Fitch, in this account, 
has confounded this septemdecim Brood VIII, with the great tredecim 
Brood XVIII, for it so happened that they both occurred simulta- 
neously in 1855, but the exact dividing line of these two broods is not 
so easily ascertained. Certainly, after reaching the Ohio river, the 
septemdecim brood extends beyond Gallipolis, Ohio, for Prof. Potter, 
in his “ Notes on the Cicada decem septima,” records their appear- 
ance at that place in 1821; and Dr. Smith records their appearance at 
Frankfort, Lexington and Flemingsburg, Kentucky, in 1838, and 1855. 
But I strongly incline to believe that well nigh the rest of the terri- 
tory mentioned by Dr. Fitch was occupied by the tredecim brood, the 
reasons fer which belief will be found in the account of brood XVIII. 

Cicadas also appeared in Buncombe and McDowell counties, North 
Carolina, in 1855, but until they appear there again it will be impossi- 
ble to say, positively, whether they belong to this septemdecim Brood 
VIU, or to the. tredecim Brood XVUI. 

BROOD IX—Septemdecim—1857, 1874. 


In the year 1874, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will 
propably occur in southeast Nebraska. 

The occurrence of this brood was communicated to me by Mr. 
Clarke Irvine, of Oregon, Holt county. The brood is most likely con- 
fined to the eastern or timbered portion of the State, and I judge it 
to be septemdecim, from the fact that the latitude is rather more 
northerly than tredecim is known to occur. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. : 3D 


BROOD X—Tredecim—1862, 1875. 


In the year 1875, and at intervals of 13 years thereafter, they will 
most likely occur in different parts of Texas. According to Dr. Smith 
they appeared in vast numbers in some parts of Texas in 1849, though 
he was not able to get any particulars. 


BROOD XI—Septemdecim—1859, 1876. 


In the year 1876, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will 
in all probability appear in parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Mary-. 
land, Ilinois and Indiana. According to Dr. Smith they appeared 
from Raleigh, North Carolina, to near Petersburg, Virginia, in 1842 
and 1859; in Rowan, Davie, Cabarras and Iredell counties in the same 
State in 1825, 1842 and 1859; in the valley of Virginia as far as the 
Blue Ridge on the east, the Potomac river on the north, the Tennes- 
see and North Carolina lines on the south, and for several counties 
west, in 1808, 1842 and 1859; in the south part of St. Mary’s county, 
Maryland, dividing the county about midway east and west, in 1825, 
1842 and 1859; in Illinois about Alton in 1842 and 1859; and in Sulli- 
van and Knox counties, Indiana, in 1842 and 1859. 


BROOD XII—Septemdecim—1860, 1877. 


In the year 1877, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear in the vicinity of Schuylerville and Fort 
Miller, in New York. From thence along both sides of the Hudson to 
its mouth, where they extend, at least, to New Haven, in Connecticut, 
and west across the north part of New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. 
Also in Dearborn county, Indiana; Kalamazoo, Michigan; in Penn- 
sylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. 

This brood is recorded by Prof. Potter as having occurred at 
North Haven, Conn.,in 1724, 1741, 1758, 1792, 1809 and 1826. It was 
also recorded by the same writer as having occurred in 1826 in Mid- 
dlesex county, N. J.,and by Dr. Fitch as having occurred in 1843 
throughout the whole country mentioned above. In 1860, again, it 
was spoken of in the old series of the Prairie Farmer (Vol. 22, p. 
119) as having occurred that year in New Jersey, and Dr. Smith re- 
cords it throughout the whole State in 1775, 1792, 1809, 1826 and 1843. 
Mr. Jas. Angus, of West Farms, Westchester county, N. Y., has him- 
self witnessed its recurrence in the years 18438 and 1860. 

In Pennsylvania, Mr. Rathvon found a few individuals in 1860, and 
Dr. Smith says it extends from the Susquehanna to the Delaware riv- 
er, bounded by Peter’s mountain on the south. In Virginia it oc- 
curred from the south part of Loudon county to the Roanoke river, 
and from the Blue Ridge to the Potomac in 1826, 1843 and 1860. In 
Maryland from Ann Arundel county to the north part of St. Mary’s, 
and from the Potomac to Chesapeake Bay, in 1809, 1826, 1843 and 
1860, In Rockingham, Stokes, Guilford, Rowan, Surrey and adjacent 


- . FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


counties, North Carolina, in 1792,1809, 1826 and 1843. In Dearborn 
county, Indiana, in 1843 and in 1860, and in Kalamazoo, Michigan, dur- 
ing the same years. : 


BROOD XIIE.—Septemdecim—1861, 1878. 


In the year 1878, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear along the centre of the State of Illinois, all 
along the southern part of Iowa, and around St. Joseph, in Buchanan 
county, in North Missouri. 

The records are abundant, of their appearance, in 1844 and 1861, 
all along tke southern border of Iowa, and in Mason, Fulton, Mc Don- 
ough and Champaign counties in Central Illinois. In 1861 they also 
occurred in Champaign county, Central Ohio, and in Buchanan county, 
Northwest Missouri; and this brood not unlikely occupies, more or 
less, the whole strip of country between these two points. Their ap- 
pearance in 1861 was associated with the first year of the rebellion; 
and Dr. Smith records this brood both in Illinois and Iowa in 1844. 


BROOD XIV.—Septemdecim—1862, 1879. 


In the year 1879, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear in the whole of western Missouri, commenc- 
ing south about Johnson and Saline counties, and extending in a 
northwesterly direction to Lawrence and above, in Kansas, south to 
Arkansas, and west an unknown distance into Kansas; also, in Cen- 
tral Ohio. 

The occurrence of this brood in 1845 and 1862 is well remembered 
by several of my correspondents, and is recorded by Dr. Smith. At 
St. Joseph, in Buchanan county, Mo., Cicadas were not so thick in 
1862 as in 1861. Had it been the reverse, or, in other words, had they 
been more numerous in 1862 than in 1861, I should have been inclined 
to record the visit of 1861 as but a precursor to this Brood X; but as 
it is, I believe the two broods are distinct, and that they occur for two 
consecutive years, both in Central Ohio and in portions of Northwest 
Missouri. 

This brood has not been traced further east, in Missouri, than Sa- 
line county, and yet a detachment of it certainly occurs in Ohio, for 
Mr. Clarke Irvine, of Oregon, Holt county, Mo., well remembers their 
oecurrence in Central Ohio in 1845 and 1862. Though there is no 
knowledge of the appearance of this Brood XIV in Mlinois, yet the 
fact of its occurring both in Ohio and in North Missouri, and that, too, 
but one year after Brood XIII, would indicate that there may have 
been, in times past, at all events, if there is not at the present day, a 
geographical connection between these two broods. 

BROOD XV.—Septemdecim—1863, 1880. 


In the year 1880, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear from western Pennsylvania to Sciota river, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. ot 


east, and down the valley of the Ohio river as far as Lewis county, in 
Virginia. 

This brood is recorded in Ohio as far back as the year 1812, by 
“A.M. B.,” writing to the Chicago Zribune, under date of June 22, 
1868. Harris also records its appearance in Ohio in 1829, and they 
were quite numerous in Coles county, in the centre of the same State 
in 1846, or during the first year of the Mexican war, while Dr. Smith re- 
cords it in the eastern part of the State, extending over twelve coun- 
ties, west, to the Sciota river, and to Sandusky, on Lake Erie, in 1829, 
"46 and 63; and in Lewis county, Virginia, since 1795. As before 
stated this brood occurred in Ohio in 1846, simultaneously with the 
tredecim brood VIL in South Illinois. Dr. Fitch, in his account of his 
5th brood, also records its appearance, and states that it reached to 
Louisiana. But just as the septemdecim Brood VIII was confounded 
with the great tredecitm Brood XVIII in 1855, so this septemdecim 
Brood XV was doubtless also confounded with it in 1829, for they both 
occurred that year. Had the western country been as thickly settled in 
1829 as if was in 1855, the tredecitm Brood X VIII could undoubtedly 
have been traced in Southern Illinois and Missouri, ete., in the former 
as it was in the latter year. This belief is furthermore greatly 
strengthened from our having no other record of the appearance of 
this septemdecim brood. in Louisiana, than Prof. Potter’s statement 
that they appeared there in 1829, whereas they have occurred there 
since 1829 at intervals, not of 17, but of 13 years, and were there the 
present year, 1868, as will be seen on referring to Brood XVIII. The 
dividing line of these two broods (XV and XVIII) is probably the 
same as with broods VIII and XVUI. 

* 


BROOD XVI.— Tredecim—1867, 1880. 


In the year 1880, being the same as the preceding, they will, in 
all probability, appear in the north part of Cherokee county, Georgia, 
having appeared there according to Dr. Smith in 1828, 741, 54, and ac- 
cording to Dr. Morris, in 1867. This broed occurred in 1867 simultane- 
ously with the northern septcemdecim brood XXI. 


BROOD XVII.—Septemdecim—1864, 1881. 


In 1881, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, in all 
probability, appear in Marquette and Green Lake counties,in Wis- 
consin, and may also appear in the western part of North Carolina, 
and about Wheeling, Virginia; in Northeast Ohio, and a few in Lan- 
caster county, Pa., and Westchester county, New York. 

There is abundant evidence that they appeared in the counties 
named in Wisconsin in 1864, and fair evidence that they appeared that 
year in Summit county, Northeast Ohio, while straggling specimens 
were found in the same vear, by Mr. 8. S. Rathvon, in Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pa.,and by Mr. James Angus, in Westchester county, N. Y. Dr. 
Fitch also records their appearance in 1817, or 17 years previously, in 


38 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the western part of North Carolina, and Dr. Smith, in Wheeling, Vir- 
ginia, in 1830, 47 and 64. The distance between the localities given 
is very great, and it is doubtful whether all these records belong to 
one and the same brood. 


‘ 
BROOD XVIIT.—Tredeim—1868, 1881. 


In the year 1881, and at intervals of 13 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear in Southern Illinois, throughout Missouri, 
with the exception of the northwestern corner, in Louisiana, Arkan- 
sas, Indian Territory, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, 
Georgia, and North and South Carolinas. 

Though, as already stated, I published the first account ever given 
of the existence of a 13-year brood, yet, bésides the others mentioned 
in this chronology, this particular brood has been traced since, as 
having occurred in the years 1816, ’29, 742,55 and 768; and Mr. L. W. 
Lyon, at the July (1868) meeting of the Alton, (Ills.) Horticultural 
Society, even mentioned its appearance in 1805. 


In Missouri, it occurs more or less throughout the whole State 
with the exception of the northwest corner that is bounded on the 
east by Grand river, and on the south by the Missouri riyver.* The 
southeast part of the State, where Dr. Smith has recorded it since 
1829, is most thickly occupied. I enumerate those counties in which 
there is undoubted evidence of their appearance during the present 
year (1868) viz.: Audrain, Bollinger, Benton, Clarke, Chariton, Calla- 
way, Cooper, Cole, Franklin, Gasconade, Iron, Jefferson, Knox, 
Lewis, Marion, Macon, Morgan, Moniteau, Pike, Phelps, Pulaski, 
Polk, Pettis, Schuyler, St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Francois, St. Clair, 
Warren, and Washington. ° 

It not improbably overlaps some of the territory occupied by 
the septemdecim Brood XIV, but I do not think it extends into 
Kansas. 

In Illinois it occurs more or less throughout the whole southern 
half of the State, but more especially occupies the counties from the 
south part of Adams county along the Mississippi to the Ohio, up the 
Ohio and Wa)ash rivers to Edgar county, and then across the centre 
of the State, leaving some of the central counties in South Illinois 
unoccupied. ‘lo be more explicit, I enumerate all the counties in 
which it undoubtedly occurred during the present year (1868): 
Adams (south part, back of Quincy), Bond, Clinton (northwest corner, 
adjacent to Madison), Champaign, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Clay, 
Clark, Edwards, Edgart (especially in the eastern part), Franklin, 
Gallatin, Hardin, Hamilton, Johnson, Jasper, Jersey, Jefferson, Law- 
rence, McLean (east end), Macon, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, 


*As Mr. Wm. Raucher, of Oregon, Holt county, saw a few individuals in the northeast part 
of Buchanan county in 1855, it may occur in small numbers in districts even north of the Mis- 
sourl river. 

} Edgar county also has the septemdecim Brood II. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 


Pike, Perry, Piatt, Pope, Richland, Randolph, Sangamon, Saline, St. 
Clair, Union (northeast corner), Washington, Wayne, Wabash, Wil- 
liamson and White. There were none the present year, either at 
Decatur, in Macon county, or at Pana in Christian county; nor were 
there any at Bloomington or Normal, in McLean; nor in Dewitt 
county, which lies south of McLean; nor in Spring Creek, Iroquois 
county, which is northeast of Champaign. 

In Kentucky, according to Dr. Smith, it occurred in the northwest 
corner of the State, about Paducah and adjacent counties south, in 
1829, °42, and 755, and it occurred there in 1868. 

In Arkansas, it occupied all the northern counties in 1842, 755 
and 68. 

In Alabama, it occupied Russell and adjacent counties on the 
east side of Black Warrior river, in 1842, ’55 and ’68. 

In Tennessee, it occupied Davidson, Montgomery, Bedford, Wil- 
liamson, Rutherford and adjacent counties in 1842, 55* and 68. 

In North Carolina, it appeared in Mecklenburg county, in 1829, 
742,55 and ’68. 

In South Carolina, the Chester district and all the adjoining coun- 
try to the Georgia line, west, and to the North Carolina line, north, 
was occupied with it in 1816, ’29, ’42, ’55 and ’68. 

In Georgia, it has occurred in Cherokee county since the year 
1816. 

In Louisiana, it appeared in Morehouse, Caddo, Clairborne, Wash- 
ington and adjacent parishes, in 1855 and 68. 

It also doubtless occursin Mississippi and Indian Territory, though. 
I am unable to specify any localities. 


BROOD XIX.—Septemdecim—1865, 1882. 


In the year 1882, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will,. 
in all probability, appear in Monroe, Livingston, Madison and adjacent 
counties, and around Cayuga Lake, in New York. 

Mr. T. T. Southwick, of Manlius, Livingston county, records their 
appearance there in 1865, and, as will be seen by referring to the 
Prairie Farmer, vol. 16, p. 2, they appeared during the same year 
near Cayuga Lake, while Dr. Smith records their appearance in 1797, 
1814, ’31 and 48. 


BROOD XX.—Septemdecim—1866, 1883. 


In the year 1883, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear in western New York, western Pennsyl- 
vania and eastern Ohio. In the last mentioned State they occur more 
especially in Mahoning, Carroll, Trumbull, Columbiana and adjacent 
counties, overlapping, especially in Columbiana county, some of the 


: * Though they occurred in large numbers in Davidson county and other portions of Tennessee 
in 1855, and also the present year, yet in Lawrence county they appeared in 1856, instead of 1855— 
another instance of a belated brood. 


40 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


territory occupied by Brood XY. In Pennsylvania, they occupy 
nearly all the western counties, and their appearance is recorded in 
1832, 49 and ’66, by Dr. Fitch (his second brood), Dr. Smith, and sev- 
eral of my correspondents; the following counties being enumerated: 
Armstrong, Clarion, Jefferson, Chemung, Huntingdon, Cambria, Indi- 
ana, Butler, Mercer and Beaver. | 


BROOD XXI.—Septemdecim—1867, 1884. 


In the year 1884, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear in certain parts of North Carolina and Cen- 
tral Virginia. In 1850 and 1867 they appeared near Wilkesboro N. C., 
and were also in Central Virginia during the last mentioned year, 
while Dr. Smith mentions them as occurring in Monroe county, and 
the adjacent territory, in Virginia in 1833 and 1850. 

Dr. Harris (Inj. Insects, p. 210) records their appearance at Mar- 
tha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, in 1833, but as I cannot learn that they 
were there, either in 1850 or 1867, Linfer that Dr. Harris’s informant 
was mistaken, 


BROOD XXII.—Septemdecim—1868, 1885. 


In the year 1885, and at intervals of 17 years thereafter, they will, 
in all probability, appear on Long Island; at Brooklyn, in Kings 
county, and at Rochester in Monroe county, New York; at Fall River, 
and in the southeastern portion of Massachusetts; at Oakland (Rut- 
land?), Vermont; in Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, 
Delaware and Virginia; in northwestern Ohio, in southeastern Michi- 
gan, in Indiana and Kentucky. 

This brood has been well recorded in the East in 1715, 1732, 1749, 
1766, 1783, 1800, 1817, 1854, 1851 and 1868. It is spoken of in “ Haz- 
zard’s Register” for 1834, published in Philadelphia, while Mr. Rath- 
von has himself witnessed its occurrence during the four latter years 
in Lancaster county, Pa. 

It is the fourth brood of Dr. Fitch, who only says that it “reaches 
from Pennsylvania and Maryland to South Carolina and Georgia, and 
what appears to be a detached branch of it occurs in the southeastern 
part of Massachusetts.” He is evidently wrong as to its occurring in 
South Carolina and Georgia, and it is strange that he does not mention 
its appearance in New York, for Mr. F. W. Collins, of Rochester, in 
that State, has witnessed four returns of it there, namely: in 1817, 
34, 51 and ’68, while the Brooklyn papers record its appearance there 
the present season. As these two points in the State are about as far 
apart as they well can be, the intervening country is probably more 
or less occupied with this brood. Mr. H. Rutherford, of Oakland,* Ver- 
mont, records their appearance in that neighborhood in 1851 and 1868. 


*I can find no such post office as Oakland in Vermont, and incline to believe that the Tribune 
es made Oakland out of Rutland, and more especially as Rutland is on the New York 
order. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 41 


(N. Y.Semi-Weekly Z7ribune, June 27). He also witnessed them in 
the same place in 1855, and as will be seen by referring to Brood 
XVIII, they also occurred on Long Island and in southeastern Massa- 
chusetts in that same year, 1855. Exactly 13 years intervening be- 
tween 1855 and 1868, one might be led to suppose that they hada 
tredecim brood in the East. But did such a brood exist, it would cer- 
tainly have been discovered ere this, in such old settled parts of the 
country, and all the records go to show that they have nothing but 
septemdecim there. By referring to Brood VIII, the mystery is readily 
solved, for we find that in that part of the country there are two sep- 
temdecim broods—the one haying last appeared in 1855—the other 
the present year, 1863. 

In Ohio, this brood occurred more or less throughout the whole 
western portion of the State, for our correspondents record them as 
having appeared in 1868 in Lucas and Hamilton and several interven- 
ing counties. Mr. F. C. Hill, of Yellow Springs, in Green county, 
Southwest Ohio, has witnessed their appearance in 1834, 1851 and 1868, 
and they occurred in the northwestern part of the State during the 
three same years; while the correspondent to the Department of Ag- 
riculture, from Toledo, Northwest Ohio (July, 1868, Monthly Rep.), says 
it is their 9th recorded visit there. Dr. Smith records it as occurring 
around Cincinnati, in Franklin, Columbiana, Pike and Miami coun- 
ties. 

In Indiana, there is reliable evidence of their appearance, in 1868, 
in the southern part of the State, in Tippecanoe, Delaware, Vigo, 
Switzerland, Hendricks, Marion, Dearborn, Wayne, Floyd, Jefferson 
and Richmond counties. The evidence seems to show that, as in Ohio, 
throughout the State, they belong to this septemdecim Brood XXII, 
for Mr. F. Guy, of Sulphur Springs, Mo., has personally informed me 
that they were in Southern Indiana in 1851, and even in Tippecanoe 
county, on the Wabash river, where, from their proximity to Brood 
XVIII, one might have inferred them to be tredecim, they are recorded 
as appearing in 1834 and 7651. 

In Kentucky they appeared around Louisville. In Pennsylvania, 
Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, the territory occupied by this brood 
is thus described by Dr. Smith: “ Beginning at Germantown, Pa., to 
the middle of Delaware; west through the east shore of Maryland to 
the upper part of Ann Arundel county; thence through the District 
of Columbia to London, West Virginia, where it #£#~ laps over the 
South Virginia district (see Brood XII) from the Potomac to Loudon 
county, some 10 or 12 miles in width, and in this strip of territory Ci- 
cadas appear every 8th and 9th year. Thence the line extends 
through the north counties of Virginia and Maryland to the Savage 
mountains, and thence along the south tier of counties in Pennsyl- 
vania, to Germantown.” 

From the above synoptical view it results that there will, during 
the next 17 years, be broods of the Periodical Cicada somewhere or 


42 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


other in the United States in A. D. 1869, 70, "71, 7.2, 74, 75, °76, 77, 78, 
779, ’80, ’81, ’82, °83, ’84 and ’85—or every year but 1873. It further ap- 
pears that the number of distinct broods, appearing in distinct years, 
within the following geographical districts, are as follows: In south- 
ern New Engiand 4 broods, years 69, 72, 77 and 785; in New York 5 
broods, years 772, ’77, 782, 83 and 785; in New Jersey 2 broods, years 
"72 and 77; in Pennsylvania 7 broods, years 770, 771, °72, 77, ’50, 83 and 
85; in Ohio 7 broods, years 772, 78, ’79, ’80, 81, 83 and ’85; in Indiana 
4 broods, years 71, °76,’77 and ’85; in Illinois 6 broods, years 771, ’72*, 
76, “77, *78 and ’81*, and probably another in Jo Daviess county, 
year *(0; in Wisconsin 2 broods, years 771 and ’82; in Michigan 2 
broods, years 71 and ’85; in Iowa 2 broods, years 71 and °78; in Ne- 
braska 1 brood, year ’74; in Kansas 2 broods, years 7z* and 779; in 
Missouri 4 broods, years ’72*, 78,79 and ’81* ; in Louisiana and Mis- 
sissippi 3 broods, years 771*, 72* and §1*; in Tennessee 2 broods, 
years “72* and ’81*; in Arkansas, Indian Territory and Alabama, 1 
brood, year ’81*; in Kentucky 8 broods, years 72, ’81* and 85; in 
Georgia 4 broods, years ’69*, ’72*, ’s0* and ’81*; in South Carolina 1 
brood, year ’81*; in North Carolina 6 broods, years 7722, 76, 77, 7812, 
’81* and ’84; in Kast and West Virginia5d broods, years 772, 77, ’80, 
81 and 84; in Maryland 4 broods, years ’72, ’76, 77 and 85; in District 
of Columbia 1 brood, year ’85; in Delaware 2 broods, years ’72 and 
85; in Florida 1 brood, year 73* ; in Texas 1 brood, year 75*. 


* The broods marked (*) belong to the 13-year or tredecim race of the Periodical Cicada, 


APPLE-TREE BORERS. 


(Coleoptera, Cerambicide.) 


THE ROUND-HEADED APPLE-TREE BORER—Saperda bivittata, Say. 


It is a fact which has not been disputed by any one whom I have 
queried on the subject, that apple trees on our ridges are shorter 
lived than those grown on our lower lands. Hitherto no particular 
reason has been given for this occurrence, but I think it is mainly at- 
tributable to the workings of the borer now under consideration. I 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 43 


have invariably found it more plentiful in trees growing on high land 
than in those growing on low land, and it has also been my experi- 
ence that it is worse in ploughed orchards than in those which are 
seeded down to grass. Fifty years ago, large, thrifty, long-lived trees 
were exceedingly common, and were obtained with comparatively 
little effort on the part of our ancestors. They had not the vast army 
of insect enemies to contend with, which at the present day make 
successful fruit-growing ascientific pursuit. This Apple-tree borer was 
entirely unknown until Thomas Say described it in the year 18-4; and, 
according to Dr. Fitch, it was not till the year following that its de- 
structive character became known in the vicinity of Albany, N. Y., 
for the first time. Yet it is a native American insect, and has for ages 
inhabited our indigenous crabs, from which trees my friend, Mr. A. 
Bolter, took numerous specimens, in the vicinity of Chicago, ten years 
ago. It also attacks the quince, mountain ash, hawthorn, pear and 
the June-berry. Few persons are aware to what an alarming extent 
this insect is infesting the orchards in St. Louis, Jefferson and adjacent 
counties, and, for aught I know, throughout the State. <A tree be- 
comes unhealthy and eventually dwindles and dies, often without the 
owner having the least suspicion of the true cause—the gnawing 
worm within. Even in the orchard of the most worthy president of 
our State Horticultural Society, I found one or more large worms at 
the base of almost every tree that I examined, notwithstanding he had 
been of the opinion that there was not a borer of this kind on his 
place. 

At Figure 14, this borer is represented in its three stages of larva 
(a), pupa (0d), and perfect beetle (ce). The beetle may be known by 
the popular name of the Two-striped Saperda, while its larva is best 
known by the name of the Round-headed apple-tree borer, in contra- 
distinction to the Flat-headed species, which will be presently treat- 
ed of. 

The average length of the larva, when full-grown, is about one 
inch, and the width of the first segment is not quite 4 of an inch. 
Its color is light yellow, with a tawny yellow spot of a more horny 
consistency on the first segment, which, under a lens, is found to be 
formed of a mass of light brown spots. The head is chestnut-brown, 
polished and horny, and the jaws are deep black. The pupa is of 
rather lighter color than the larva, and has transverse rows of minute 
teeth on the back, and a few at the extremity of the body; and the 
perfect beetle has two longitudinal white stripes between three of a 
light cinnamon-brown color. The Two-striped Saperda makes its ap- 
pearance in the beetle state during the months of May and June, and 
is seldom seen by any but the entomologist who makes a point of 
hunting for it—from the fact that it remains quietly hidden by day 
and flies and moves only by night. The female deposits her eggs dur- 
ing the month of June, mostly at the foot of the tree, and the young 
worms hatch and commence boring into the bark within a fortnight 


44 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


afterwards. These young worms differ in no essential from the full 
2zrown specimens, except in their very minute size; and they invari- 
ably live, for the first year of their lives, on the sap-wood and inner 
bark, excavating shallow, flat cavities which are found stuffed full of 
their sawdust-like castings. The hole by which the newly hatched 
worm penetrated is so very minute that it frequently fills up, though 
not till a few grains of castings have fallen from it; but the presence 
of the worms may be generally detected, especially in young trees, 
from the bark, under which they le, becoming darkened, and suffi- 
ciently dry and dead to contract and form cracks. Through these 
cracks, some of the castings of the worm generally protrude, and fall 
tothe ground in a little heap, and this occurs more especially in 
the spring of the year, when, with the rising sap and frequent rains, 
such castings become swollen and augment in bulk. Some authors 
have supposed that the worm makes these holes to push out its own 
excrement, and that it is forced to do this to make room for itself; but, 
though it may sometimes gnaw a hole for this purpose, such an in- 
stance has never come to my knowledge, and that it is necessary to 
the life of the worm is simply a delusion, for there are hundreds of 
boring insects which never have recourse to such a procedure, and 
this one is frequently found below the ground, where it cannot possi- 
bly thus get rid of its castings. It is currently supposed that this 
borer penetrates into the heart wood of the tree after the first year of 
its existence, whereas the Flat-headed species is supposed to remain 
for the most part immediately under the bark; butI find that on these 
points no rules can be given, for the Flat-headed species also frequent- 
ly penetrates into the solid heart wood, while the species under con- 
sideration is frequently found in a full grown state just under the in- 
ner bark, or in the sap-wood. The usual course of its life, however, 
runs as follows: 

As winter approaches, the young borer descends as near the 
ground as its burrow will allow, and doubtless remain inactive till 
the following spring. On approach of the second winter it is 
about one-half grown and still living on the sap-wood; and it is at 
this time that these borers do the most damage, for where there are 
4 or 5 in asingle tree, they almost completely girdle it. In the course 
of the next summer when it has become about three-fourths grown, 
it generally commences to cut a cylindrical passage upward into the 
solid wood, and before having finished its larval growth, it invariably 
extends this passage right to the bark, sometimes cutting entirely 
through a tree to the opposite side from which it commenced; some- 
time turning back at different angles. It then stuffs the upper end of 
the passage with sawdust-like powder, and the lower part with curly 
fibres of wood, after which it rests from its labors. It thus finishes its 
gnawing work during the commencement of the 3d winter, but re- 
mains motionless in the larval state till the following spring when it 
casts off its skin once more and becomes a pupa. Afterresting three 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 


weeks in the pupa state it becomes a beetle, with all it members and 
parts at first soft and weak. These gradually harden and in a fort- 
night more it cuts its way through its sawdust-like castings, and issues 
from the tree through a perfectly smooth and round hole. Thus it is 
in the tree a few days less than three years, and not merely two years 
as Dr. Fitch suggests. I have come to this conclusion from having 
frequently found, during the past summer, worms of three distinct 
sizes inthe same orchard, and Mr. D. B. Wier of Lacon, Ills., had pre- 
viously published the fact*,while a correspondent to the Country Gen- 
tleman ot Albany, N. Y.+ who says he has large experience with this 
borer, sent to the editors specimens of all three sizes, which he calls 
“this years, two and three year old worms.” The individual from 
which I drew my figures, and which was taken from a crab apple tree, 
went into the pupa state on the 14th day of March and became a bee- 
tle on the 15th of April; but was doubtless forced into rapid develop- 
ment by being kept throughout the winter in a warm room. 
Remepres.—F rom this brief sketch of our Round-headed borer, it 
becomes apparent that plugging the hole to keep him in, is on a par 
with locking the stable door to keep the horse in, after he is stolen; 
even supposing there were any philosophy in the plugging system, 
which there is not. The round smooth holes are an infalliable indica- 
tion that the borer has left, while the plugging up of any other holes 
or cracks where the castings are seen, will not affect the intruder. 
This insect probably has some natural enemies belonging to its own 
great class, and some of our wood-peckers doubtless seek it out from 
its retreat and devour it; butits enemies are certainly not sufficiently 
under our control, and to grow healthy apple trees, we have to fight it 
artificially. Here again prevention will be found better than cure, 
and a stitch in time will not only save nine, but fully ninety-nine. 
Experiments have amply proved that alkaline washes are repul- 
sive to this insect, and the female beetle will not lay her eggs on trees 
protected by such washes. Keep the base of every tree in the or- 
chard free from weeds and trash, and apply soap to them during the 
month of May, and they will not likely be troubled with borers. For 
this purpose soft soap or common bar soap can be used. The last is 
perhaps the most convenient and the newer and softer it is, the bet- 
ter. This borer confines himself almost entirely to the butt of the 
tree, though very rarely it is found in the crotch. It is therefore only 
necessary in soaping, to rub over the lower part of the trunk and the 
crotch, but it is a very good plan to lay a chunk of the soap in the 
principal crotch, so that it may be washed down by the rains. In case 
these precautions have been unheeded, and the borer is already at 
work, many of them may be killed by cutting through the bark at the 
upper end of their burrows, and gradually pouring hot water into the 
cuts so that it will soak through the castings and penetrate to the in- 


*Prairie Farmer, Chicago, April 20, 1867. 
TCountry Gentleman, Sept. 12, 1867. 


46 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


sect. Buteven where the soap preventive is used in the month of 
May, it is always advisable to examine the trees in the fall, at which 
time the young worms that hatched through the summer may be gen- 
erally detected and easily cut out without injury to the tree. Par- 
ticular attention should also be paid to any tree that has been injured 
or sun-scalded, as such trees are most liable to be attacked. Mr. Wier 
who has had considerable experience with this insect, thus describes 
his method of doing this work, in the article already alluded to: 

“T will suppose that I havea young orchard of any number of trees, 
say a thousand, the second season after planting, about the last of 
July, or during the first halt of August, with a common hoe, I take all 
the weeds and other trash, and about an inch of soil, from the crown 
of the trees; then, any time trom the first to the middle of September, 
with a pocket-knife, examine carefully the stem of each tree; the 
borer can readily be found by the refuse thrown out of the hole made 
en entering; this refuse of a borer, of the same season’s growth, will 
be about the size of a pea, and, being of a glutinous nature, sticks 
around the mouth of the hole, and can rapidly be seen; older ones 
throw out coarser chips that fall to the ground. | As already shown 
these chips are not thrown out by the borer, but are forced out by 
swelling.] When one is found, take the knife and cut him out. If an 
orchard is carefully examined in this way each year, there need be 
but few, if any borers missed, and as they are more easily found the 
second fall of their growth, and can have done but little damage at 
that time, we would never receive any serious injury from them. 
Now, it is no great task to do this; a man will clear the litter and soil 
from around a theusand trees, in a day, and can take the borers out 
in another day. J will agree to do both jobs carefully in one day’s 
time. A great undertaking is it not 2” 

He also has observed that some varieties of the apple-tree haye a 
greater immunity from the attacks of this borer, than have others; on 
account of the young larva, when it is first hatched, being drowned 
out by the sap, but he does not mention any particular varieties other 
than those that are the ‘more vigorous and late growing.” 


THE FLAT-HEADED APPLE-TREE BORER—Chrysobothr femorata, Fabr. 


Coleone Euprestices 
[Fig. 15.] Nae rie ws oe [ Fig. 16. ] 


This borer which is represented in the larva 

state at Figure 15, may at once be recognized by ~ 
y+ XV its anterior end being enormously enlarged and 
ae { flattened. It is paler than the preceding, and 
2 ¢ makes an entirely different burrow. In conse- 
- quence of its immensely broad and flattened 
head, it beres a hole of an oval shape and twice 
as wide as high. It never acquires much more than half the size of the 
other species, and is alm>st always found with its tail curled com- 
pletely round towards the head. It lives but one year in the tree and 


TEE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 


produces the beetle, represented at Figure 16, which is of a greenish 
black color with brassy lines and spots above, the underside appear- 
ing like burnished copper. This beetle flies by day instead of by 
night, and may often be found on different trees basking in the sun- 
shine. It attacks not only the apple, but the soft maple, oak, peach, 
and is said to attack a variety of other forest trees; though, since the 
larvee of the family (Buprestip®) to which it belongs all beara strik- 
ing resemblance to each other, it is possible that this particular 
species has been accused of more than it deserves. 

It is, however, but far too common in the Valley of the Missis- 
sippi, and along the Iron Mountain and Pacific railroads, it is even 
more common than the preceding species. Mr. G. Pauls, of Kureka. 
informs me that it has killed fifty apple trees for him, and Mr. Votaw, 
and many others in that neighborhood have suffered from it in like 
manner. It is also seriously affecting our soft maples by riddling 
them through and through, though it confines itself far the most part 
to the inner bark, causing peculiar black scars and holes in the trunk. 
Unless its destructive work is soon checked, it bids fair to impair the 
value of this tree for shade and ornamental parposes, as effectually 
as the Locust borers have done with the locust trees. 

Remepres.—Dr. Fitch found that this borer was attacked by the 
larvee of some parasitic fly, belonging probably to the Chalcis family, 
but it is greatly to be feared that this parasite is as yet unknown in 
the west. At all events this flat-headed fellow is far more common 
with us than with our eastern brethren. As this beetle makes its 
appearance during the months of May and June, and as the eggs are 
deposited on the trunk of the tree, as with the preceding species, the 
same method of cutting them out or scalding them can be applied in 
the one case as in the other; while the soap preventive is found to be 
equally effectual with this species as with the other. It must, how- 
ever, be applied more generally over the tree,as they attack all 
parts of the trunk, and even the larger limbs. 


THE PEACH BORER— 4geria ewxitiosa, Say. 
(Lepidoptera, Algeride.) 

This pernicious borer I find to be quite common throughout the 
State. Itis withal an insect so familiar to the peach-grower, and its 
history has been so often givenin current entomological works that I 
should let it go unnoticed, were it not for the numerous letters of in- 
quiry about it that have been sent to me during the year. For acom- 
plete and lengthened history of it, I refer the reader to the first of Dr. 
Fitch’s most excellent reports. 

From the Round-headed Apple-tree borer, to which it bears some 
resemblance both in its mode of work and general appearance, it is 


48 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


at once distinguished by having six scaly and ten fleshy legs. It 
works also more generally under the surface of the ground, and goes 
through its transformations within a year, though worms of two or 
three sizes may be found at almost any season. When full grown 
the worm spins for itself a follicle of silk, mixed with gum and excre- 
ment, and in due time issues asa moth. Asitis not so well knownin 
[Fig. 17.] this last state, I annex (Fig. 17) 
. figures of both male (2) and female 
(1) moths. As will be seen from 
<A these figures, the two sexes differ 
=~ very materially from each other, the 
general color in both being glossy 
steel-blue. Some specimens which 
were received from Mr. W. 8. Jewett, of Pevely, Jefferson county, 
commenced issuing as moths on the 20th of July, but I found empty 
follicles the latter part of May in trees which had been thoroughly 
wormed the year before, and from which the moths has consequently 
left at that early date. This borer likewise attacks the plum-tree, 
though singularly enough it causes no exudation of gum in this as it 
does in the peach tree. 

Remepies.—I have had ample occasion to witness the effects of the 
mounding system during the summer, in several different orchards, 
andam fully convinced that it is the best practical method of pre- 
venting the attacks of this insect, and that it matters little whether 
ashes or simple earth be used for the mound. True, there are parties 
who claim (and among them Dr. Hull, of Alton, Ills.,) that the almost 
complete exemption from borers in mounded peach-orchards is due, 
not to any special effect produced by the mound, but to the general 
rarity of the insect. But I have found no general rarity of the insect, 
wherever I have beenin our own State; but on the contrary, have 
with difficulty found a single tree in any orchard that was in anywise 
neglected, that did not contain borers; while I have found mounded 
trees entirelyexempt. The following paragraph communicated to the 
Western Rural by Mr. B. Pullen, of Centralia, Illinois, touches on this 
point, and 1 can bear witness to the thrift and vigor of Mr. P.’s trees: 

“As spring will soon be upon us I wish toadd my testimony in favor 
of the “banking system,” as a preventive against the attacks of the 
peach-borer. As to its efficacy there can be no doubt. I have prac- 
ticed it four years with complete success. I would not advise its 
adoption until after the trees are four years old. During most of this 
period the bark is tender, and trees are liable to be entirely girdled 
by even asingle worm. Safety lies only in personal examination and 
removal with the knife, in fall and spring (September and April). In 
April of the fourth year bank up to the hight of from ten to twelve 
inches, pressing the dirt firmly around the tree. A little dirt should 
be added each successive spring. It is not only a preventive but a 
great saving of labor.” 


” 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 


As further testimony, and with a view to giving the method by 
which the trees may be mounded, I also insert the following commu- 
nication from EK. A. Thompson, of Hillside (near Cincinnati), Ohio, 
which appeared in the Journal of Agriculture, of Nov. 14, 1868: 


“The mounding system was first practiced, so tar as I know, by 
Isaac Bolmar, of Warren county, Ohio. I visited his orchards some 
years ago—acquainted myself with his system—and concluded to try 
it upon my orchard of 4,000 trees—then one year planted. I plantmy 
trees in the fall, and in the spring following cut them back to six 
inches above the bud. ‘Lhe tree then instead of having one body has 
several—from three to six. The second summer I plow both ways 
turning the furrows toward the trees. The men follow with shovels, 
throwing the loose soil around the tree to the heighth of about 
one foot. In the fall I cut the trees back, taking off about one-third of 
the year’s growth. The next spring or summer I pursue the same 
method, raising the mound about one foot higher; cut back in the 
fall, and the third summer repeat the process, raising the mound 
another foot, which finishes the job. The mound will then be about 
three feet high at its apex and six feet in diameter at its base. The 
mounding need not be done in the summer, or at any particular sea- 
son; itis just as well done in the fall when the hurry is over. The 
dirt is never taken away from the trees—in fact it cannot be removed 
without injury to the tree—for the young rootlets each year keep 
climbing up through this moand. I had occasion to remove one of 
these mounds a few days since and found it a mass of healthy roots. 


Now for the benefits. First you have no trouble with grub or 
borer; he must have light and air, and the mound is too much for 
him; he comes out and that is the last of him. I have never wormed 
my trees, or hunted for the borer, and an orchard of healthier or thrif- 
tier trees cannot be found. It has been asserted that the borer will 
re-appear again near the top of the mound—but I am satisfied this is 
not the case; I have never thus far been able to find one. Second, 
the system imparts longevity to the tree. I sawa tree in Warren 
county treated in this manner ¢hzrty (30) years old, still healthy and 
bearing annual crops. Third, trees thus treated are not subject to 
disease. I have never had a case of yellows in my orchard. Fourth, 
the expense is trifllmg—one man can mound fifty trees per day. The 
system can be applied to old as well as young orchards; but if old 
trees are thus treated they should be first severely cut back, when 
they will make a growth of young wood.” 


The application of soap does not appear to prevent the moth from 
depositing her eggs, as in the case of apple tree borers. Hot water is 
very efficient in killing the young borers, after the earth has been re- 
moved, and it should be applied copiously, and hot nigh unto the 
boiling point, for there is no danger of its injuring the tree. Those 

ARSE 


50 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


who grow tobacco will also find it profitable to throw the stems around 
the butts of their trees, as there is good evidence of its being obnox- 
ious to the moth. 


THE PLUM CURCULIO—Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst. 
(Coleoptera, Curculionide). 


[Fig. 18.] 


IT regret to have to state that Missouri is none the less exempt 
from the ruinous work of this persistent “Little Turk,” than are her 
sister States, though I have not heard of a single instance where they 
have been so numerous as they were last summer in Southern 
Ulinois; for Parker Earle, of South Pass, captured 6,500 from 100 peach 
trees, during the first six days of May. In every locality which lhave 
visited, this beetle is considered the enemy to stone fruit, and though 
so much has been written about it, I find it necessary to devote a few 
pages to its consideration, since some of the points in its natural his- 
tory are not entirely and satisfactorily settled, even yet. There isin 
fact conflicting evidence from different authors, as to whether it is 
single or double brooded each year, and as to whether it hybernates 
principally in the perfect beetle state, above ground, or in the pre- 
paratory states, below ground; the very earliest accounts that we 
have of the Plum Curculio, in this country, differing on these points. 
Thus, it was believed by Dr. James Tilton, of Wilmington, Deleware, 
who wrote at the very beginning of the present century, and by Dr. 
Joel Burnett, of Southborough, and M. H. Simpson, of Saxonville, 
Massachusetts, who both wrote interesting articles on the subject, 
about fifty years afterwards; that it passed the winter in the larval or 
grub state, under ground, and Harris seems to have held the same 
opinion. But Dr. E. Sanborn, of Andover, Massachusetts, in some in- 
teresting articles published in 1849 and 1850, gave as his conviction 
that it hybernates in the beetle state above ground. Dr. Fitch, of 
New York, came to the conclusion that it is two-brooded, the second 
brood wintering in the larva state in the twigs of pear trees; while 
Dr. Trimble, of New Jersey, who devoted the greater part of a large 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 


and expensive work to its consideration, decided that it is single- 
brooded, and that it hybernates in the beetle form above ground. 
Since the writings of Harris and Fitch, and since the publication of 
Dr. Trimble’s work there have been other papers published on the 
subject. ‘The first of these was a tolerably exhaustive article, by Mr. 
- Walsh, which appeared in the Practical Hntomotogist ( Vol. II, No.7), 
in which he takes the grounds that the Curculio is single-brooded; 
though subsequently he came to the very different conclusion that it 
was doubile-brooded, (First Annual Rep., p. 67). In the summer of 
1867 I spent between two and three weeks in Southern Illinois, during 
the height of the Curculio season, and closely watched its manceuver- 
ings. From the fact that there was a short period about the middle 
of July, when scarcely any could be caught from the trees, and’ that 
after a warm shower they were quite numerous, having evidently just 
come out of the ground,* I concluded that it was double-brooded and 
communicated to the Prairie Farmer of July 27th, 1°67, the passage to 
that effect, under the signature of “V,” which is quoted by Mr. Walsh 
{ Rep., p. 67), as corroberative of its two-brooded character. Subsequent 
calculation induced me to change my mind, and I afterwards gave it as 
my Opinien that there was but one main brood during the year, and 
that where a second generation was produced it was the exception, 
(Trans. flls. State Hort. Soc., 1867, p. 113). Finally Dr. H. S. Hull, of 
Alton, Illinois, who has had vast personal experience with this insect, 
read a most vaiuable essay on the subject, before the meeting of the 
Alton (Ills.), Horticultural Society of March, 1868, in which he evi- 
dently concludes they are single-brooded, and that they pass the win- 
ter, for the most part, in the preparatory states, underground. 
Now, why is it that persons who, it must be admitted, were all 
capable of correct observatien, have differed so much on these most 
interesting points in the economy of our Plum Curculio? Is there any 
explanation of these contradictory statements? I think there is, and 
that the great difficulty in the stedy of this as well as of many other 
insects, lies in the fact that we are all too apt to generalize. We are 
too apt to draw distinct lines, and to create rules which never existed 
in nature—to suppose that if a few insects which we chance to watch 
are not single-breoded, therefore the species must of necessity be 
double-brooded. We forget that Curculios are not all hatched in one 
day, and from analogy, are very apt to underrate the duration of the 
life of the Curculio in the perfect beetle state. Besides, what was the 
exception one year may become the rule the year following. In 
breeding butterflies and moths, individuals hatched from one and the 
same batch of eggs on the same day, will frequently, some of them, 
perfect themselves and issue in the fall, while others will pass the 
winter in the imperfect state, and not issue till spring; and in the case 


*T have often noticed, and the fact has been remarked by others, that insects which have been 
comparatively inactive for many days, in dry weather, fly freely after a warm shower, and it is 
possible that the increase of the Curculio after such rains is partly due to their flying in more vigor-~ 
ously from the surrounding woods. 


52 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


of a green worm thatis found on raspberry leaves, and which passes 
the winter under-ground, and develops into a four-winged fly (WSe- 
landria rubi of my manuseript) in the spring; Ihave known a dif- 
ference of three months to occur between the issuing of the first and 
last individuals of the same brood, all the larve of which had entered 
the ground within three days. It is alsoa well recorded tact, both in - 
this country and in Europe, that in 1868, owing, probably, to the un- 
usual heat and drouth of the summer, very many insects which are 
well known to usually pass the winter in the imperfect state, per- 
fected themselves in the fall, and in some instances produced a second 
brood of larvee. Far be it from me to pronounce that there is no such 
thing as rule in nature, and that we cannot, therefore, generalize; I 
simply assert that we frequently draw our lines too rigidly, and en- 
deayor to make the facts come witnin them, instead of loosening and 
allowing them to encompass the facts. It was thus that the Joint- 
worm fly was for so long a time suspected to be a parasite instead of 
the true culprit, because all the other species in the genus ( £ury- 
toma ?), to which it was supposed to belong, were known to be para- 
sitic. For those who are not acquainted with the appearance of the 
Plum Curculio, in its different stages, ] have prepared, at Vigure 18, 
correct and magnified portraits of the full-grown larva (a); of the 
pupa (6) into which the larva is transformed within a little cavity 
underground, and of the perfect curculio (e¢). 

With this prelude [I will now give what I believe to be facts in its 
natural history, founded on my own observations of the past year, 
and on the observations of others. I firmly believe: 

1—That Plum Curculios are a most unmitigated nuisance, and, 
though most beautiful objects under the microscope, the fruit-growers 
of the United States, if they had their own way about the matter, 
would wish them swept from off the face of the Earth, at the risk 
even of interfering with the “ Harmony of Nature.” 

2—That they are more numerous in timbered regions than on the 
prairie. 
8—That they can fly and do fly during the heat of the day, and 
that cotton bandages around the trunk, and all like contrivances to 
prevent their ascending the trees, are worse than useless, and a result 
only of ignorance of their economy. 

4—That by its punctures it causes the dreaded peach-rot to spread, 
whenever that disease is prevalent, though it cannot possibly be the 
first cause of the disease. The peach-rot is now pretty generally 
acknowledged to be a contagious disease of a fungoid nature, and I 
believe that the spores of this fungus, “a million of which might be 
put upon the point of a stick whittled down to nothing,” attach them- 
selves more readily to fruit which has the skin abraded, and from 
which the gum issues, than to whole or unpunctured fruit. With this 
belief I made some effort to procure, for the benefit of my readers, a 
synopsis of the growth of this fungus; but, alas! I find that nothing 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 53 


but confusion exists with regard to it. Upon applying to my friend, 
Dr. T. C. Hilgard, of St. Louis—a recognized authority on such sub- 
jects—he furaished me with the article which may be found in the 
Journal of Agriculture of January 16th, 1869. I most respectfully de- 
clined publishing it in these pages, knowing that the reader would 
not be likely to understand what was either too profound or too be- 
fogged for my own comprehension, and those who require a synopsis 
of this fungus, are referred to that article. Verily, we must conclude 
that Peach-rot is not yet much understoed, if a mere clear exposition 
of it cannot be given! 

5—That they prefer smooth-skinned to rough skinned fruit. 

6—That up to the present time the Miner and other varieties of 
the Chickasaw plum have been almost entirely exempt from their 
attacks, and that in the Columbia plum the young larvz are usually 
“drewned out” befere maturing. 

7—That they deposit and mature alike in nectarines, plums, apri- 
cots, cherries and peaches; in black knot on plum trees, and in some 
kinds of apples, pears and quinces; and, according to Dr. Hull, they 
also deposit but do not mature in strawberries, gooseberries, grapes, 
and in the vigorous shoots of the peach tree. 

&8—That itis their normal habit to transform underground, though 
some few undergo their transformations in the fruit. 

9—That the cherry, when infested, remains on the tree, with the 
exception of the English Morello, which matures and then separates 
from the stem; but that all other fruits, when containing larve, usually 
fall to the ground. In the larger fruits four or five larvae may some- 
times be found in a single specimen, and I have taken five full grown 
larvee from a peach that had evidently fallen and laid en the ground 
for over a week. 


10—That the greater portion of them pass the winter in the per- 
fect beetle state, under the old bark of both forest and fruit trees, 
under shingles, ies. and in rubbish of all kinds, and especially in the 
underbrush of the woods. 

11—That they are always most numerous in the early part of the 
season on the outside of those orchards that are surrounded with tim- 
ber, and that they frequently shelter in apple-trees and other trees 
before the stone fruit forms. 

12—That a certain portion of them also pass the winter under- 
ground, both in the larva and pupa states, at a depth, frequently of 
from 2 te 3 feet. 

18—That those which hybernate as beetles, begin to leave their 
winter quarters and to enter our orchards, throughout central Mis- 
souri, during the first days of May, and commence to puncture the 
fruii about the middle of the same month—a little earlier or later 
aceording to the season—the fruit of the peach being at the time 
about the size of a small marble. 


54 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


14—That those which hybernate underground continue to develop 
and to issue from the earth during the whole month of May. 

15—That both males and females puncture the fruit for food, by 
gouging hemispherical holes, but that the female alone makes the 
well-known crescent-shaped mark (see Fig, 18, d.}, as a nidus for her 
egg. 

16—That the egg is deposited in the following manner, the whole 
process requiring about five minutes: Having taken a strong hold on 
the fruit (see Fig. 18, d), the female makes a minute cut with the jaws, 
which are at the end of her snout, just through the skin of the fruit, 
and then runs the snout under the skin to the depth of 1-16th of an 
inch, and moves it back and forth until the cavity is large enough to 
receive the egg itis to retain. She next changes her position, and 
drops an egg into the mouth of the cut; then, veering round again, 
she pushes it by means of her snout to the end of the passage, and 
afterwards cuts the erescent in front of the hole so as to undermine 
the egg and leave it in a sort of flap; her object apparently being to 
deaden this flap so as to prevent the growing fruit from crushing the 
egg, though Dr. Hull informs me that he has repeatedly removed the 
insect as soon as the egg was deposited and before the flap was made, 
and the egg hatched and the young penetrated the fruit in every 
instance. / 

17—That the egg is oval, of a pearl-white color, large enough to 
be seen with the naked eye, requires a temperature of at least 70° 
Fahr. to hatch it, and may be crushed with the finger-nail without in- 
juring the fruit. 

18—That the stock of eggs of the female consists of from 50 to 100; 
that she deposits from 5 to 10a day, her activity varying with the 
temperature. 

19—That the last of those curculios which hybernated in the im- 
perfect state under-graund have not finished depositing till the end 
of June and beginning of July, or about the time that the new brood 
developed from the first laid eggs of the season, are beginning to is- 
sue from the ground; and that we thus have them in the month of 
June in every conceivable state of existence, from the egg to the 
perfect insect. 

20—That the period of egg depositing thus extends over more 
than two months. 

21—That all eggs deposited before the first of July generally 
develop and produce Curculios the same season, which issue from the 
ground during July, August and September and hybernate in the 
perfect state. 

22—-That most of those which hateh after the first of July, either 
fail to hatch, or the young larve die soon after hatching, owing per- 
haps to the more ripe and juicy state of the fruit, being less congenial 
to them; and that what few do mature, which hatch after this date, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 55 


undergo their transformations more slowly than the rest and pass the 
winter in the ground. . 

23—That the perfect Curculio while in the ground is soft and of a 
uniform red color, and that it remains in this state an indefinite period, 
dependent on the weather, usually preferring to issue aftera warm 
rain. 


24—That in a stiff clay soil a severe drought will kill many of 
them while in this last named condition, and that larvee contained in 
stone fruits that fall upon naked ploughed ground where the sun can 
strike them, generally die. 


This catalogue might be lengthened, but already embraces all 
the more important facts, and I think they sufficiently prove that the 
Curculio is single-brooded. There is, it is true, no particular reason 
why the earliest developed Curculios, or those which issue from the 
ground during the fere part of July, should not pair and deposit eggs 
again; other than it does not appear to be their nature to do so. Such 
an occurrence is by no means an isolated one in insect life, and aside 
from the fact that late fruit is almost entirely exempt from them, we 
have the experiments of Dr. Trimble which indicate that they have 
to pass through the winter before being able to reproduce their kind. 
The only other experiments that were ever made to prove the con- 
trary hypothesis, are those detailed by Mr. Walsh, in his First Annual 
Report (p. 68), and, as may be seen from their perusal they prove 
nothing at all. To give them in his own words, I here quote them 
in full: 

‘* EXPERIMENT Ist.—On dune 24th, I placed in a large glass vase, with moist sand at the bot- 
tom of it, a quantity of wild plums, every one of which I had previously ascertained to bear the 
crescent symbol of the ‘little Turk.’ During the three following weeks I added from day to day a 
number of plums, all of them bearing the same symbol, that had fallen from a tame plum-tree in my 
garden. ‘The whole number of plums, as I subsequently ascertained, was 183, and the tame fruit 
probably formed about a fourth part of the whole. The first Curculio came out July 19th, and with 
the exception of July 21st and August Ist, there were more or less came out every day till August 
4th, inclusive; after which day no more came out. The numbers coming out on each successive 
day were as follows, the very large number on July 25th having beeu probably caused by my wet- 
ting the sand on that morning rather copiously: 1, 18, 0, 3,4, 2, 55, 8,4, 3, 1,2, 1, 0,5, 4, 2. 
Total, 113. On examining the contents of the vase, November 29th, I found five dead and dried up 
Curculios among the plums, and among the sand sixteen dead and immature specimens, which 
had obviously failed to make their way up to the light of day, besides the remains of a good many 
individuals which had perished in the sand in the larva or pupa state, and were not counted. The 
Grand Total from 183 infested plums was, therefore, 134 Curculios in the beetle state, and an un- 
known number of larvee and pupe.’’. 

“EXPERIMENT 2d.—On July 27th, or eight days before the Curculios in the preceding experi- 
ment had ceased coming out, I placed in a vase, similar to the above, 243 plums, gathered pro- 
miscuously off some badly-infested wild plum-trees. From this lot no Curculios whatever came 
out till August 23d, and from that day, until September 14th, more or less came out 
daily, with the exception of five out of the 23 days, the numbers on the respective days being 
as follows: 3, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2,5, 3,1, 0, 5, 6, 3, 2, 0, 0,0, 1, 0, 1,1. Snbsequently, on Septem- 
ber 18th, there came ont 3, on September 24th, 1, and on September 28th, 1; after which no more 
made their appearance. Total, 50 Curculios from 243 plums, some stung andsome not. On exam- 
iuing the contents of this vase on November 29th, I founda single dead Curculio among the plums, 
making a Grand Total of 51 Curculios bred from these plums. ‘There were no specimens, either in 


56 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


larva, pupa or beetle state, to be found among the sand in the vase on November 29th; which was, 
perhaps, due to the contents having kept much moister than those of the first vase, though on July 
25th I had, as I thought, moistened the sand in the first vase quite sufficiently.’’ 

Now because there was an intermission of 19 days when no Cur- 
culios came out, Mr. Walsh arrives at once to the conclusion that 
there are two distinct broods, the second of which is, “ of course” gen- 
erated by the first. If the infected plums had been collected and 
placed in vases day by day, or if the curculios bred in the first exper- 
iment had been furnished with fresh plums and had actually paired 
and deposited again, the experiments would have been satisfactory; 
but as they stand, they seem to me, on the very face, to forbid the 
conclusions to which the experimenter arrived. In both these ex- 
periments the very result was obtained that might have been ex- 
pected, for I have myself proved, that with favorable conditions the 
Curculio remains under ground about 3 weeks, and as there would 
naturally be none advanced beyond the full grown larva state, when 
first put into the vase, perfect Curculios could not possibly appear 
till they had had time to transform, or in other words, till about three 
weeks after the plums were placed in the vase. Thus from the plums 
placed in the vase on the 24th of June the first Curculios appeared on 
the 19th of July—25 days afterwards; while from those placed in the 
second vase on July 27th, the first Curculios appeared on the 23d of 
August—27 days afterwards. The interval also, of 19 days which 
elapsed between the issuing of the last Curculios in the first experi- 
ment and the first curculios in the last experiment, was exactly what 
should have been expected, since the plums were placed in the sec- 
ond vase eight days before the last curculios in the first vase had 
issued. Had the plums been placed in the second vase 10 days earlier 
or 10 days later, there would have been an intermission of 9 or 29 
days accordingly, in their coming out, etc., etc. Moreover, a period 
of at least 50 days elapses between the deposition of an egg and the 
time required for that egg to develop into a Curculio and even on the 
supposition that the female commenced depositing the moment she 
left the ground, which is certainly not the case, the Curculios bred in 
the second vase could not possibly have been the progeny of any that 
appeared contemporaneously with those bred from the first vase. 


Natura Remepres.—There is no very good evidence that any true 
parasites infest the Curculio, and though it was well known that ants 
attacked and killed the larve as they left the fruit to enter the 
ground, yet until the present year no other cannibals were known to 
attack it; but Mr. Walsh in his interesting account of a trip through 
Southern Illinois has shown that there are several cannibal insects 
which habitually prey upon it. From this account which was pub- 
lished in the American EnromoLocist—pp. 33-35—I condense the fol- 
lowing facts. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 


en 
> LAX 


WT 
ANN x 
CRESS 


Tue PENNSYLVANIA SOLDIER-BEETLE (Chauliognathus pennsylvant- 
ews, DeGeer).—This beetle which isrepresented at Figure 19, 7 is of a 
yellow color, marked with black. 
It isa common species and I have 
(fs a found it quite abundant in our own 
ad ( (0 State on the flowers of the Golden- 
mig rod during the months of September 
Se S and October. Its larva (Fig. 7, a) is 
- one of the most effectual destroyers 
of the Curculio while the latter is above ground in the larvastate. It 
attacks the Curculio grub within the fruit while it yet hangs on the 
tree, and also enters the fruit which falls to the ground, for the same 
purpose. In the summer of 1867 I found this same larva on an apple 
tree of the Karly Harvest variety, the fruit of which contained Cur- 
culio larvze from which I subsequently bred perfect Curculios. It is 
quite active in its movements, and the general color is smoky brown, 
with a velvety appearance, and for the benefit of those interested I 
subjoin the technical desription of it: 

CHAULIOGNATHUS PENNSYLVANICUS, DeGeer—Larva—Head shining rufous, with two black 
patches behind, transversely arranged; labrum retractile, dark colored, horny and deeply emargi- 
nate with a central tooth; maxillary palpi 4-jointed; labial palpi 2-jointed ; antenna 3-jointed, the 
last joint very small; body rather flattened, of an opaque velvety-brown color above, with a some- 
what darker subdorsal line, which is widened on the three thoracic segments; avery distinct lateral 
spiracle to every segment of the body except the anal one, making altogether eleven pairs of spir- 
acles, all of them exactly alike, and in range with each other. Body beneath suddenly very pale 
brown, the dividing line between the darker and the paler shades of brown upon each segment be- 
ing a semicircular curve, with its concavity upward; legs six; a moderate anal proleg ; length 
0.65 inch. 

Lacewineé LARVA.—The larve of our lacewing flies (Chrysopa) seem 

[Fig. 20.] to have the same habit of at- 
tacking Curculio grubs above 
ground, and great numbers 
of them were found in the act 
last summer by Mr. E. Lem- 
ing, of Cobden, Illinois. The 

c d particular species which those 
belonged to that were occupied in this good manner, has not yet been 
ascertained, but as they are all known to be cannibals it is possible 
that more than one species have this praiseworthy habit, though their 
general food consists of plant-lice. The lacewing flies are common 
allover the country, and may at once be recognized by their delicate 
green bodies, lace-like wings and by their brilliant golden eyes; but 
more especially by a peculiarly disagreeable odor which they are ca- 
pable of emitting when handled. Our American lacewings, like those 
of Europe, are capable of emitting this odor, and those who have 
once experienced it require no description to recall it. One of these 


*Explanation of Figure 19—h the left upper jaw (mandible), f the left lower jaw (mazil), ¢ 
the under lip (Jabium), d the upper lip (labrum), g the antenna, e one of the legs, a the larva nat- 
ural size, b head and first segment of same enlarged. 


58 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


flies, with the left wings cutoff to save space, is represented at Figure 
20 d, and a typical larva is represented in outline in the same figure 
at 6. The female deposits her eggs upon different plants, attaching 
them at the extremity of a long and very slender foot-stalk (see Fig. 
20, a). This filament is composed of a viscid matter which she dis- 
charges and which quickly hardens on exposure to the atmosphere- 
We see here, as everywhere else in Nature, an Allwise creative fore- 
thought, and a wonderful adaptation to a particular end, in the in- 
stinct which prompts, and the power which enables the female lace- 
wing to thus deposit her eggs; for the newly hatched larvee are so 
exceedingly voracious that the first hatched would devour the eggs 
which yet remained unhatched, if they could but reach them. 


The larvee when full-grown spin perfectly round white cocoons 
(Fig. 20, ¢), by means of a spinneret with which they are furnished at 
the extremity of the body, and they attach them with threads of 
loose silk to the underside of fences and in other sheltered situations. 
These cocoons are of an extraordinary small size compared with the 
larva which spins them, or with the perfect insect which escapes trom 
them, as may be readily seen by referring to the above figures which 
bear the relative proportions. After completing the cocoon, I think 
the larva partly cuts a circle at one side severing the fibers suflicient- 
ly to enable their ready separation; for in issuing, the pupa pushes 
open a small lid, which is cut perfectly smooth, and just spirally 
enough to allow it to hang at one end as on a hinge. I have also 
noticed another fact, which, so far as Iam aware, has not been re- 
corded by any previous writer, which is, that the insect issues from 
this cocoon in an active sub-imago state, from which after a few hours 
the winged fly emerges, leaving behind it a fine silvery-white 
transparent skin. 


THE SuBANGULAR GrounD Brrtne—( Aspidiglossa subangulata, 
Hig. 21]. COhaud.)—This small polished black beetle which is rep- 
resented enlarged at Figure 21, the hair line at the side 
showing the natural size, also, in all probability serves 
us a good turn in helping to diminish the numbers of the 
_ Cureulio, for Mr. Walsh found him in a peach that had 
[Moaeens Curculio yrubs, and as the great family of 

beetles (Carabus) to which he belongs are all cannibals 
so far as is known, and as he was therefore evidently 
not inside the peach for the fruit itself, he is to be 
strongly suspected of being a Curculio hunter. To adopt Shake- 
speare’s mode of reasoning : 


‘Who finds the heifer dead, and bleeding fresh, 
And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, 
But will suspect ’twas he that made the slaughter ?’’ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 


The Curculiois not even safe from the attacks of cannibals when 

[Fig. 22.*] underground, for the larva 

which is represented of the 

natural size at Figure 22, A, 

‘seeks it in its hiding place 

and mercilessly devours it. 

This larva is of a shining 

brown-black color above, and dull whitish beneath, and I subjoin here- 
with the technical description: 


Shining brown-black and horny above; thorax immaculate above; sutures and sides of the 
abdominal dorsum, and all beneath, except the head, pale dull greenish white ; anarrow, horny, 
elongate, abbreviated lateral dark stripe on the dorsum of each of the abdominal joints (4—12); 
joints 4—10 beneath, each with seven pale-brown horny spots, namely, a large subquadrate spot fol- 
lowed by two small dots in the middle, an elongate spot on each side, and between that and the two 
medial small dots a second elongate spot, only half the length and breadth of the lateral one (Bigs 
22, j); joint 11 beneath has only the medial subquadrate spot and the lateral elongate one (Fig. 
22, i); and joint 12 beneath has nothing but the subquadrate spot (Fig. 22, h); legs six, of a pale 
rufous color; the usual elongate carabidous proleg on joint 12, and on each side of its tip an elongate 
exarticulate cercus, garnished with a few hairs; antenne four-jointed; labial palpi two-jointed ; 
maxillary palpi four-jointed. Length 1.25 inch. 


This larva has not yet been bred to the perfect state, but belongs 
undoubtedly to some one of the Ground-beetles, and not improbably 
[Fig. 23.] to the Pennsylvania Ground-beetle, (//arpalus penn- 
. sylvanicus, DeGeer), a dull black species represented 
at Figure 23. All these Ground-beetles are our 
friends however, and should always be cherished and 
not crushed, as they are very apt to be from their 
habit of crawling and living on the ground. It is 
safe to infer, that all beetles approaching the annexed 
form, with active movements, and generally dull 
colors, which are observed running over the grounds 
are friends, and should therefore be saved. 

Ho«s.—Before leaving the subject of natural remedies, I feel in 
duty bound to say a few words in favor of hogs as Curculio destroyers. 
Abundant proof might be adduced of their utility in an orchard, es- 
pecially during the fruit season, but I will mention only the case of 
Messrs. Winters Bros., of Du Quoin, Ills. These gentlemen, for the 
past five years, have kept a large drove of hogs in their extensive 
peach orchard, and have been remarkably exempt from the attacks of 
the Little Turk. While at their place last fall, I noticed that all the 
trees were banked up with’ earth to the height of over a foot, which 
prevented the hogs from injuring the trunks. They have never had 
occasion to shake their trees, and consider one hog to the acre sufli- 
cient to devour all the fallen fruit, the hogs being fed only during the 
winter. The efficacy of this hog remedy depends a great deal on how 
much one’s orchard is isolated from those of others, for it is very evi- 


* EXPLANATION oF Figure 22.—B represents the under side of the head, showing at c the upper 
jaw (mandible), at g the lower jaw (mazil), with its fonr-jointed feelers (palpi), at f the lower lin 
(labium), with its two-jointed feelers (palpt), and at e the antenna. 


60 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


dent that it will avail but little for one person to destroy all his Cur- 
culio while his neighbors are breeding them by thousands, so that 
they can fly in upon him another year. They would also be of but 
little service in the case of the cherry, as it remains on the tree when 
stung. Poultry will be found valuable in an orchard as they also de- 
vour the grubs which fall with the fruit. 

ARTIFICIAL Remepies—Of the hundreds of patent nostrums, and 
of the dozens of washes and solutions that have been recommended 
as Curculio preventives or destroyers, there is scarcely one which is 
worth the time required to speak of it. Air-slacked lime thrown on 
the trees after the fruit is formed, is effectual in a certain measure, for 
though it does not deter the female from depositing her eggs, yet so 
long as the weather is wet, its caustic properties seem to be imparted 
to the water and enter the cavity and destroy the egg. But it has no 
good effect in dry weather. An article went the rounds of the papers 
last Summer, to the effect that Mr. P. E. Rust, of Covington, Ky., had 
tried burning tobacco stems with perfect success! But a letter of in- 
quiry which I addressed to that gentleman was never answered, al- 
though it contained the requisite 3-cent postage stamp, and the tobac- 
co remedy may be placed by the side of the Gas-tar and Coal-tar 
remedies, which have proved utterly useless. After all, as Dr. Hull, 
suggests, the successes, so reported, of these remedies, take their ori- 
gin from insufficient experiment, by persons who are little aware of 
the casualties to which the Curculio is subject, and who, if they hap- 
pen to get fruit after applying some particular mixture, immediately 
jump to the conclusion that it was on account of such mixture. 

It may therefore be laid down as a maxim, that the only effectual 
and scientific mode of fighting the Curculio, aside from that of picking 
up the fallen fruit, is by taking advantage of its peculiar instinct 
which on approach of danger prompts it to fall; or in other words to 
catch it by jarring the tree. The most effectual method of doing this 
on a large scale is by means of Dr. Hull’s “Curculio catcher,” and I 
give a description of it in the Doctor’s own words: 

“To make a curculio catcher we first obtain a light wheel, not to 
exceed three feet in diameter, the axletree of which should be about 
ten inches long. We next construct a pair of handles, similar to those | 
of a wheelbarrow, but much more depressed at the point designed to 
receive the bearings of the axletree, and extending forward of the 
wheel just far enough to admit a crossbeam to connect the handles at 
this point; one-and-a-half inches in the rear of the wheel asecond cross 
beam is framed into the handles, and eighteen to twenty-four inches 
further back, a third. The two last named cross-beams have framed to 
their under-sides a fourth piece, centrally, between the handles, and 
pointing in the direction of the wheel. To the handles and to the 
three last named pieces, the arms or ribs to support the canvass are to 
be fastened. To the front part of the beam connecting the handles in 
front of the wheel, the ram is attached, this should be covered with 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST.  6L 


leather stuffed with furniture moss, a dozen or more thicknesses of 
old hat, leather or other substance, being careful to use no more than 
necessary to protect the tree from bruising. Ascertain the elevation 
the handles should have in driving, and support them in that position. 
We now put in place the stretchers or arms, six for each side, which 
are to receive and support the canvas. We put the front arms in po- 
sition. These extend back to near the centre of the wheel on each 
side, and in front of the wheel (for large machines) say six feet, and 
are far enough apart to receive the largest tree between them on 
which it is intended to operate. The remaining arms are supported 
on the handles, and fastened to them and to the two cross and parallel 
pieces in the rear of the wheel. These are so placed as to divide the 
space at their outer ends equally between them and the first mention- 
ed stretchers and fastened to the ends of the handles. Next we have 
ready a strip of half-inch board two an a half wide. One end of this 
is secured to the forward end of one of the front arms, and in like 
manner to all the others on one side of the machine, and fastened to 
the handles. Both sides are made alike. The office er these strips is 
to hold the outside ends of the arms in position; they also hold the 
front arms from closing. These outside strips also receive the outside 
edge of the canvas, which is fastened to them as well as the several 
arm supports. 

“Tt will be seen that the wheel is nearly in the center of the ma. 
chine. ‘To cover the opening at this point, a frame is raised over it, 
which is also covered with canvas. The arms, or stretchers, are so 
curved that the motion of the machine, in moving from one tree to 
another, should bring everything falls on the canvas to depressed 
points, one on each side of the wheel, where openings are made into 
funnels emptying into pockets or bags, for the reception of insects 
and fallen fruit. The whole machine should not exceed ten or eleven 
feet in breadth, by twelve or thirteen in length. These are for large 
orchard trees; smaller ones could be protected with a much smalier 
machine. Ifthe frame work has been properly balanced, the machine 
will require but little lifting, and will be nearly propelled by its own 
weight. 

“This curculio catcher, or machine, is run against the tree three or 
four times, with sufficient force to impart a decided jarring motion to 
allits parts. The operator then backs far enough to bring the machine 
to the center of the space between the rows, turns round and in like 
manner butts the tree in the opposite row. In this way a man may 
operate on three hundred trees per hour.” 

To run this machine successfully three things are necessary: Ist, 
that the land be decently clean, and not overgrown with rank weeds: : 
2d, that the orchard be pafitcigndly large to pay the interest on fhe 
aie cost of the machine—about $30; 3d, that the trees have a clean 
trunk of some three or four feet. I find various modifications of this 
machine, both in our own State and in Southern Illinois, and in some 


§2 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


instances they have been abandoned entirely on account of the injury 
eaused to the trees from the repeated blows given to the trunk. In 
small orchards it will be found most profitable to drive a spike into 
the trunk of each tree and to use two sheets stretched on frames, 
which can both be dragged or carried and placed in position by one 
man, while a second person gently taps the iron spike with a mallet. 
To bring the Curculio down, it requires a light, sxdden tap which jars, 
rather than a blow whick shakes, aud if the frames are each made so 
as to fold in the middle, it will facilitate disposing of those which fall 
upon it. 

In conclusion, the intelligent fruit-grower can draw many a lesson 
from this account of the Curculio—already somewhat lengthy. Thus 
in planting a new orchard with timber surrounding, the less valuable 
varieties should be planted on the outside, and as the little rascals 
congregate on them from the neighboring ce in the early part of 
the season, they should be fought persistently. It will also pay to 
thin out all fruit that is known to contain grubs, and that is within 
easy reach; while wherever it is practicable all rubbish and under- 
brush should be burnt during the winter, whereby many, yes very 
many of them will be destroyed in their winter quarters. As a proof 
of the value of this measure when it is feasible, I will state that while 
the peach crop of Southern Llinois was almost an entire failure in 
1868, Messrs. Knowles & Co., who have 70 acres of peach orchard 1} 
miles N. W. of Makanda, shipped over 9000 boxes. Though they hada 
few hogs in the orchard, there were not enough to do any material 
good, and they think they owe their crop to the fact of having cleared 
and burnt 100 acres surrounding the orchard, in the early spring of 
that year; for in 1867 the Curculios had been very bad with them. 
Judge Kimble, who lives 4 miles N. E. of Cobden, also had a good 
crop free from their marks, which he attributes to having burnt around 
the orchard in the spring of the year. 


THE CODLING MOTH OR APPLE-WORM—Carpocapsa lege gnae 


la, Linn. 
(Lepidoptera, Tortricide.) 

The Apple-worm, I find to be quite common all over the State, as it 
is in almost all parts of the civilized world where apples are grown. 
Dr. Trimble has devoted page after page to the consideration of this 
little pest, and yet its whole history and the means of preventing its in- 
sidious work may be given in a very few lines. It was originally a den- 
izen of the Old World, but was introduced into this country about the 
beginning of the present century. The following figure represents it 
in all its states, and gives at a glance itsnatural history: @ represents 
a section of an apple which has been attacked by the worm, showing 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 


‘the burrowings and channel of exit to the left; 5, the point at which 


grown worm; A, its head and firstsegment magnified; 2, the cocoon 
which it spins; d, the chrysalis to which it changes; 4 the moth which 
escapes from the chrysalis, as it appears when at rest; g, the same 
with wings expanded. The worm when youngis whitish, with usually 
an entirely black head and a black shield on the top of the first seg- 
ment. When full grown it acquires a flesh-colored or pinkish tint, 
especially on the back, and the head and top of first segment become 
more brown, being usually marked as at Figure 24 A. Itis sparsely 
covered with very minute hairs which take their rise from minute ele- 
vated points, of which there are eight on each segment. The cocoon 
is invariably of a pure white color on the inside, but is disguised on 
the outside by being covered with minute fragments of whatever 
substance the worm happens to spin to. The chrysalis is yellowish 
brown, with rows of minute teeth onits back, by the aid of which it 
is enabled to partly push itself out of its cocoon, when its time to 
issue as a moth arrives. The moth is a most beautiful object; yet, as 
has been well remarked by an anonymous writer,* from its habits not 
being known it is seldom seen in this state, and the apple-grower as 
a rule, “knows no more than the man in the moon to what cause he 
is indebted for the basketfuls of worm-eaten windfalls in the stillest 
weather.” Its fore wings are marked with alternate, irregular trans- 
verse wavy streaks of ash-gray and brown, and have on the inner hind 
angle a large tawny brown spot, with streaks of bright bronze color or 
gold. 

The apple is, so to speak, our democratic fruit, and while stone 
fruit is grown but in certain regions, this is cultivated all over the 
country. The Codling moth is then even more injurious than the Cur- 
culio. Unlike the Curculio, it is mostly two-brooded, the second 
brood of worms hybernating in the larval state, inclosed in their snug 


* Entomological Magazine, London, Vol. I, p. 144. 


64 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


little silken houses, and ensconced under some fragment of bark or 
other shelter. The same temperature which causes our apple trees to 
burst their beauteous blossoms, releases the Codling moth from its 
pupal tomb, and though its wings are at first damp with the imprint of 
the great Stereotyping Kstablishment of the Almighty, they soon dry 
and expand under the genial spring-day sun, and enable each to seek 
its companion. The moths soon pair, and the female flits from blossom 
to blossom, deftly depositing in the calyx of each a tiny yellow egg. 
As the fruit matures, the worm develops. In thirty-three days, under 
favorable circumstances, it has become tull-fed; when, leaving the 
apple, it spins up in some crevice, changes to chrysalis in three days, 
and issues two weeks afterwards as moth, ready to deposit again, 
though notalways in the favorite calyx this time, as I have found the 
young worm frequently entering from the side. Thus the young brood 
of Codling moths appear at the same time as the young Curculios, the 
difference being that instead of living on through fall and winter, as 
do the latter, they deposit their eggs and die, it being the progeny 
from these eggs which continues the race the ensuing year. Though 
two apples side by side may, the one be maturing a Curculio, the 
other a Codling moth, the larva of the latter can always be distin- 
guished from the former by having six horny legs near the head, eight 
fleshy legs in the middle of the body, »nd two at the caudal extremity, 
while the Curculio larva hasn’t the first trace of either. 

In latitude 38° the moths make their appearance about the first of 
May, and the first worms begin to leave the apples from the 5th to the 
10th of June and become moths again by the fcre part of July. While 
some of the first worms are leaving the apples, others are but just 
hatched from later deposited eggs, and thus the two broods run into 
each other; but the second brood of worms (the progeny of the 
moths which hatch out after the first of July), invariably passes the 
winter in the worm or larval state, either within the apple after it is 
plucked, or within the cocoon. Ihave had them spin up as early as 
the latter part of August, and at different dates subsequently till the 
middle of November, and in every instance, whether they spun up 
early or late in the year, they remained in the larval state till the 
middle of April, when they all changed to chrysalids within a few 
days of each other. Furthermore, they not only remain in the larval 
state, but in many instances where I have had them in a warm room, 
they have been active throughout the winter, and would always fasten 
up the cuts made in their cocoons, even where the operation was per- 
formed five and six times on the same individual. These active worms 
perfected themselves in the spring as well as those which had not 
been disturbed, and this fact would indicate that the torpid or dor- 
mant state, so called, is not essential to the well being or the prolon- 
gation of life of some insects. 

Though the Codling moth prefers the apple to the pear, it never- 
theless breeds freely in the latter fruit, for [have myself raised the 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 


moth from pear-boring larvee, and the fact was recorded many years, 
ago by the German entomologist, Kollar. It also inhabits the fruit of 
the crab-apple and quince, and is not even confined to pip-fruit, for 
Dr. T. C. Hilgard, of St. Louis, bred a specimen, now in my cabinet, 
from the sweetish pulp of a species of screw-bean (Strombocarpa 
monoica) Which grows in pods, and which was obtained from the 
Rocky Mountains, while Mr. Wm. Saunders, of London, Ontario, Can- 
ada, has also found it attacking the plum in his vicinity.* This is 
entirely a new trait in the history of our Codling moth, and is another 
evidence of the manner in which certain individuals of a species may 
branch off from the old beaten track of their ancestors. This change 
of food sometimes produces a change in the insects themselves, and it 
would not be at all surprising, if this plum-feeding sect of the Cod- 
ling moth, should in time show variations from the normal pip-fruit 
feeding type. As Mr. Saunders is a well known entomologist, it is 
not likely that he has been mistaken in the identification of the spe- 
cies, for the only other worm of this character which is known to 
attack the plum in America, is the larva of Mr. Walsh’s Plum moth 
(Semasia prunivora) which is a very much smaller insect than the 
Codling moth. Mr. Saunders says that his plum crop suffered con- 
siderably from this cause and that the operation appeared to be per- 
formed by the second brood, the plums falling much later than those 
stung by the Curculio—remaining in fact on the tree till nearly ripe. 
Ido not think that this insect has yet acquired an appetite for the 
plum in the States. Asa general rule, there is but a single worm in 
each apple, but two are sometimes found in one and the same fruit. 


Remepres.—Though with some varieties of the apple, the fruit re- 
mains on the tree till after the worm has left it, yet by far the greater 
portion of the infested fruit falls, prematurely with the worm, to the 
ground; hence much can be done toward diminishing the numbers of 
this little pest by picking up and destroying the fallen fruit as soon as 
it touches the ground. For this purpose, hogs will again be found 
quite valuable, when circumstances allow of their being turned into. 
the orchard. Abundant testimony might be given to prove this, but 
I make room only for the following from Mr. Suel Foster, of Musca- 
tine, lowa, whom I know to be abundantly capable of forming a pro- 
per judgment: 


“T have twenty-four acres of my orchards seeded to clover, and 
last year I turned the hogs in. I now observe that where the hogs 
ran last year, the apples have not one-fourth the worms that they 
have on other trees. I this year turned the hogs into my oldest 
(home) orchard.t” 


* Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts, of the Province of Ontario, for the 
year 1868, page 200. 


{ Transactions Dlinois State Horticultural Society, 1867, page 213. 
5 RSE 


66 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Mr. Huron Burt, of Williamsburg, Mr. F. R. Allen, of Allenton 
and Mr. Varnum, of Sulphur Springs, have also, each of them, testified 
to me as to the good effects obtained from allowing hogs the run of 
their orchards. 

There is, however, a more infallible remedy, and one which is al- 
ways practicable, It is that of entrapping the worms. This can be 
done by hanging an old cloth in the crotches of the tree, or by what 
is known as Dr. Trimble’s hay-band system, which consists of twisting 
a hay-band twice or thrice around the trunk of the tree. To make 
this system perfectly effectual, I lay down the following as rules: 
Ist, the hay-band should be placed around the tree by the tirst or June, 
and kept on till every apple is off the tree ; 2d, it should be pushed up 
or down, and the worms and chrysalids crushed that were under it, 
every week, or at the very latest, every two weeks ; 3d, the trunk of the 
tree should be kept tree from.old rough bark, so as to give the worms 
no other place of shelter, and, 4th, the ground itself should be kept 
clean from weeds and rubbish. But, as already stated on a previous 
page, many of the worms of the second brood yet remain in the apples 
even after they are gathered for the market. These wormy apples 
are barrelled up with the sound ones, and stored away in the cellar 
orin the barn. From them the worms continue to issue, and they 
generally find plenty of convenient corners about the barrels in which 
to form their cocoons. Hundreds of these cocoons may sometimes 
be found around a single barrel, and it therefore becomes obvious 
that, no matter how thoroughly the hay-band system had been carried 
out during the summer, there would yet remain a sufficiency in such 
situations to abundantly continue the species another year. And 
when we consider that every female moth which escapes in the spring, 
lays from two to three hundred eggs, and thus spoils so many apples, 
the practical importance of thoroughly examining, in the spring of 
the year, all barrels or other vessels in which apples have been stored 
becomes at once apparent. It should, therefore, also be made a rule 
to destroy all the cocoons which are found on such barrels or vessels 
either by burning them up or by immersing them in scalding hot 
water. 

Now, there is nothing in these rules but can be performed at little 
trouble and expense. Their execution must henceforth be considered 
apart of apple-growing. Let every apple-grower in Missouri carry 
them out strictly, and see that his neighbors do likewise, and fine, 
smooth, unblemished fruit will be your reward! 

The philosophy of the hay-band system is simply that the worms, 
in quitting the fruit, whether while it is on the tree or on the ground, 
in their search for a cozy nook, in which to spin up, find the shelter 
given by the hay-band just the thing, and in ninety-nine cases out of 
a hundred, they will accept of the lure, if no other more enticing be 
in their way. I have thoroughly tested this remedy the past summer, 
and have found it far more effectual than I had anticipated, wherever 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 


the above rules were recognized. Under two hay-bands which were 
kept around a single old isolated tree, through the months of June, 
July and August, I found every week of the last two months an aver- 
age of fifty cocoons. 

I have often smiled in my journeyings eneorteh the State, to see 
the grin of incredulity spread over the face of some insephiggieaeee 
farmer as [recounted the natural history of this Codling moth, and 
urged the application of the hay-band. Magic spell or fairy tale could 
not more thoroughly have astounded some of them than the unmask- 
ing of this tiny enemy and the revealing of the proper preventive. 

The burning of fires has been recommended, under the supposi- 
tion that the moths will fly into them and get destroyed. Ihave no 
faith whatever in the process, so far as regards this particular species, 
for though it is true that the moths fly and deposit their eggs in the 
evening, I do not believe they are attracted to the light, as are some 
others, for I have never been able to thus attract any myself. 


CUT-WORMS. 


(Lepidoptera Noctuidz.) 
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF TWELVE DISTINCT SPECIES. 


There are several different kinds of insects that are known by the 
popular name of cut-worm. Thus, the White grub, or larva of the 
common May beetle ( Lachnosterna quercina, Knoch), and the differ- 
ent species of wire-worms, the larvee of our Click beetles ( Hlater 
family) are all called cut-worms in some part or other of the United 
States. But I shall confine the term to those caterpillars, which, for 
the most part, have the habit of hiding just under the surface of the 
earth during the day, and feeding either on the roots, stems or leaves 
of plants during the night. 


Most of these caterpillars have the very destructive habit of cut- 
ting, or entirely severing the plant on which they feed. just above or 
below the ground. On this account they have received the name of 
Cut-worms, and not because when cut in two, each end will reproduce 
itself as some people have supposed; for although some polyps 
and other animals belonging to the great class RADIATA in the animal 
kingdom, have this curious power of multiplying by division, it is not 
possessed by any insect, and after having mutilated one of these cut- 
worms, the farmer need never fear that he has thereby increased, in- 
stead of having decreased their number. From this habit of cutting, 
they prove a far greater nuisance than if they were to satisfy pbeae 
appetites in an honest manner. In the latter case we might feel like 
letting them go their way in peace, but as with the Baltimore oriole, 
which abrades and ruinsahundred grapes where it would require one 
for food, we feel vexed at such wanton destruction of our products, 
and would gladly rid ourselves of such nuisances. 


68 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


These caterpillars are called surface caterpillars in England, in 
which country, as well as on the continent of Europe, they have long 
been known to do great damage to vegetables, and especially to the 
cabbage, mangel-wurzel and turnip. There are many different species 
and they vary in size and detail of markings; but all of them are 
smooth, naked and greasy-looking worms of some shade of green, 
gray, brown or black, with a polished, sealy head, and a shield of the 
same color on the top of the first and last segments; while most of 
them have several minute shiny spots on the other segments, each 
spot giving rise to a minute stiff hair. They also have the habit of 
curling up in a ball when disturbed, as shown at Figure 2, in Plate 1. 
They produce moths of sombre colors which are known as Owlet or 
Rustic moths, and the species that have so far been bred in this coun- 
try, belong to one or other of the four genera, Agrotis, Hadena, 
Mamestra or Celena. These moths fly, for the most part by night, 
though some few of them may be seen flying by day, especially in 
cloudy weather. They frequently, even in large cities, rush into a 
room, attracted by the light of gas or candle, into which they heed- 
lessly plunge and singe themselves. They rest with the wings closed 
more or less flatly over the body, the upper ones entirely covering 
the lower ones, and these upper wings always have two, more or less 
distinctly marked spots, the one round, the other kidney-shaped. 

The natural history of most of these cut-worms may be thus 
briefly given. The parent moth attaches her eggs to some substance 
near the ground, or deposits them on plants, mostly during the latter 
part of summer, though occasionally in the spring of the year. 
Those which are deposited during late summer, hatch early in the 
fall, and the young worms, crawling into the ground feed upon the 
tender roots and shoots of herbaceous plants. At this time of the 
year, the worms being small and their food plentiful, the damage they 
dois seldom noticed. On the approach of winter they are usually 
about two-thirds grown, when they descend deeper into the ground, 
and, curling themselves up, remain in a torpid state till the following 
spring. When spring returns, they are quite ravenous, and their cut- 
ing propensities having fully developed, they ascend to the surface 
and attack the first green succulent vegetation that comes in their way. 
When once full grown they descend deeper into the earth, and form for 

BEES 25]. - themselves oval chambers, in which they 

===, change to chrysalids, as shown in the annexed 

24 cut (Fig. 25). In this state they remain from 

=4two to four weeks, and finally come forth as 
=> moths, during the months of June, July and 


Seige, the chrysalis skin, being in most cases so thin, that itis im- 
possible to preserve it. ‘These moths in time lay eggs, ad their pro- 
geny goes through the same cycle of changes. Some species, how- 
ever, as I shall presently show, are most likely two-brooded, while 
others pass through the winter in the chrysalis state. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 69 


Dr. Fitch states that he had great difficulty in breeding these cut- 
worms to the perfect moths, “as the worms on finding themselves im- 
prisoned, hurriedly crawl around and around the inner side of their 
prison, night after night, until they literally travel themselves to 
death.” Consequently the natural history of but one or two of them 
has hitherto been known. I have found, however, that by giving 
them the proper conditions they are not so very difficult to breed, 
and after giving some account of a certain class of cut-worms 
which have the habit of climbing up trees, I will briefly describe 
those species which I have traced through their transformations, 
so that they may be readily recognized, and afterwards suggest 
the proper remedies, 


CLIMBING CUT-WORMS. } 

Orchardists in spring frequently find the hearts of their fruit buds 
—on young trees especially—entirely eaten out and destroyed, and 
this circumstance is attributed to various causes, winged insects, 
beetles, slugs for instance; or even to late frosts, unsuitable climate, 
etc. Never have cut-worms received the blame, all of which should 
be ascribed to them, for the game hold of many species ona sandy 
soil in early spring, is the fruit tree. This is a very important fact to 
fruit raisers, and let those who have essayed to grow the dwarf apple 
and pear,on a sandy soil,and have become discouraged, as many 
have, from finding their trees affected each year in this way, take 
hope; for knowing the cause, they may now easily prevent it. 

These climbing cut-worms will crawl up a tree eight or ten feet 
high, and seem to like equally well the leaves of the pear, apple and 
grape. 

They work during the night, always descending just under the 
surface of the earth again at early dawn, which accounts for their 
never having been noticed in this their work of destruction in former 
years. They seldom descend the tree as they ascend it, by crawling, 
but drop from the bud or leaf on which they have been feeding; and 
it is quite interesting to watch one at early morn when it has become 
full fed and the tender skin seems ready to burst from repletion, and 
see il prepare by acertain twist of the body for the fall. This fact 
also accounts for trees on hard, tenacious soil, being comparatively 
exempt from them, as their instinct doubtless serves them a good turn 
either in preventing them from ascending or by leading the parent 
moth to deposit her eggs by preference ona light soil. 

These facts were published in the Prairie Farmer of June 2, 1866, 
accompanied with descriptions by myself of three of the worms that 
were found to have this habit; and the observations were made on 
Mr. J. W. Cochran’s farm at Calumet, Illinois. In speaking of these 
same climbing cut-worms, in the same article Mr. Cochran says: 

“They destroy low branched fruit trees of all kinds, except the 
peach, feeding on the fruit buds first, the wood buds as a second 


70 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


choice, and preferring them to all other things, tender grape buds and 
shoots (to which they are also partial) not excepted—the miller al- 
ways preferring to lay her eggs near the hill or mound over the roots 
of the trees in the orchard; and if, as is many times the case, the 
trees have a spring dressing of lime or ashes with the view of prevent- 
ing the May beetles’ operations, this will be selected with unerring 
instinct by the miller, thus giving her larve a fine warm bed to cover 
themselves up in during the day from the observations of their ene- 
mies. They will leave potatoes, peas and all other young green things 
for the buds of the apple and the pear. The long, naked young trees 
of the orchard are alinost exempt from their voracious attacks, but I 
have found them about midnight, of adark and damp night well up in 
the limbs of these. The habit of the dwarf apple and pear tree however 
just suits their nature, and much of the complaint of those people 
who can not make these trees thrive on a sandy soil, has its source 
and foundation here, though apparently utterly unknown to the or- 
chardist. There isno known remedy; salt has no properties repulsive 
to them, they burrow in it equally as quick as in lime or ashes. To- 
bacco, soap and other diluted washes do not even provoke them; but 
a tin tube 6 inches in length, opened on one side and closed around 
the base of the tree, fitting close and entering at the lower end an 
inch into the earth, is what the lawyers would term an effectual es- 
stopper to further proceedings. 


“Tf the dwarf tree branches so low from the ground as not to leave 
6 inches clear of trunk between the limbs and ground, the limbs must 
be sacrificed to save the tree—as in two nights four or five of these 
pests will fully and effectually strip a four or five year old dwart of 
every fruit and wood bud, and often when the tree is green, utterly 
denude it of its foliage. I look upon them asan enemy to the orchard 
more fatal than the canker worm when left to themselves, but fortu- 
nately for mankind more surely headed off.” 


Harris gives usthe earliest intimation of this climbing character 
in these worms, on page 450 of his work, where he says, that “in the 
summer of 1851, an agricultural newspaper contained an account of 
certain naked caterpillars, that came out of the ground in the night, 
and crawling up the trunks of fruit-trees, devoured the leaves, and re- 
turned to conceal themselves in the ground before morning.” But 
until the above article, from which I] have quoted, was published, the 
fact was not generally known and none of the species had been iden- 
tified. 

They seem to prefer the apple, pear and grape-vine, though they 
also attack the blackberry, raspberry, currant, and even rose-bushes 
and ornamental trees. Nor do they confine themselves to dwarf trees, 
as the following extract from a letter by John Townley, of Marquette 
Co., Wis., to the Practical Entomologist for March, 1867, abundantly 
proves. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. vel 


“ During the last two years at least, young appie-trees in this lo- 
cality have been much injured by having their buds destroyed. My 
observations last spring led me to conclude, that a worm very like the 
cut-worm, and having the same habit of hiding just beneath the sur- 
face of the soil during the day and feeding by night, was the cause of 
the mischief. * : ‘ a rs * 

“ Soon after snow had gone in 1865, I pruned a lot of apple-trees 
then four years planted. The wood at the time seemed alive and 
sound. When older trees were coming into leaf, these remained al- 
most destitute of foliage; and on examining them, it was found, that 
most of the buds, especially those on shoots formed the preced- 
ing year, were gone—removed as clean as if they had been picked 
out with a point of a knife. The bark in small patches near the ends 
of some of the shoots had also been eaten or chipped off. As many 
small birds had been seen about the trees, the conclusion was arrived 
at that they had probably eaten the buds. In the fall, mounds of 
earth were thrown up around the stems of these trees, and of another 
lot two years planted. These mounds were being leveled on the 6th 
of May last; and soon after commencing the work, several large cut- 
worms like grubs were noticed. This, coupled with the fact, that in 
the preceding spring, I had caught a worm like these in the very act 
of eating out a bud high up the stem of a young Catalpa, around 
which I bad thrown a blanket the evening before, to shield it from 
frost, induced me to suspect that they and not the birds destroyed the 
buds. This led to an examination of the untouched mounds; and in 
the soil immediately surrounding the stem of each tree, I found from 
about five to ten of these worms. Twenty-three were taken from the 
soil around a plant of the Rome Beauty apple. * ~ ie On 
a warm dewy night about the middle of the month, I took a lamp and 
suddenly jarred several of the trees; when some of these worms 
came tumbling to the ground. The evidence against them would 
have been more conclusive, if I had searched the branches and found 
them there and at work. That however, I omitted to do. I have had 
fruit trees planted here sixteen years, but never had the buds de- 
stroyed so as to attract my attention before the last two years ; nor have 
I had any complaints from my neighbors on this point, except during 
that time. Orchards are not very common here, but in three others 
in this town, I know young trees have been injured as in my own 
during the last two years. a ie = I grow no dwarf 
apples; mine are all standard trees worked on the ordinary apple 
stock.” 

Mr. Cochran also found them last spring, up among the highest 
branches of his standard as well as his dwarf trees. 

The subject is all important to the orchardist, and to those espec- 
ially who have young and newly planted trees on a light soil; for 
there are many who have had their trees injured by the buds being. 
devoured in this manner, who never dreamed of preventing such, an, 


72 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


occurrence, for the reason that the mischief was attributed to birds. 
Thus our Quail, Purple-finch, and many other birds, have too often 
unjustly received the execrations of the culturist, which that evil ge- 
nius the cut-worm, alone deserved. ‘To understand an enemy’s foible 
is to have conquered, and when we learn the source of an evil itneed 
exist no longer. The range of these climbing worms seems to be 
wide, for we have undoubted evidence of their attacking the grape- 
vine, even in California, and I have found two species in Missouri, 
which have thesame habit. Climbing cut-worms frequently have the 
same habit of severing plants, as those which have never been known 
to climb, and I very much incline to believe that this habit is only 
acquired in the spring time, and most cut-worms will mount trees if 
they are forced to do so, by the absence of herbaceous plants. 
THE VARIEGATED CUT-WORM.—PI1. 1, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. 
(Larva of the Unarmed Rustic, Agrotis inermis, Harris.) 

During the latter part of May, Mr. Isidor Bush, of Bushburg, Mo., 
brought me several greasy-looking worms, which had been feeding 
on, and doing considerable damage to a lot of young Creveling grape- 
vines, which he had in cold frames. As I ascertained afterwards, up- 
on visiting Mr. Bush’s place, they lay concealed during the day, just 
under the surface of the rich earth, contained in the frames, and 
mounted the vines to feed, during the night time. The weather be- 
ing warm, Mr. B. at my suggestion, threw open the frames during the 
day and allowed the chickens to get in them, and two days after do- 
ing this, there was not a worm to befound. By the 380th of May, these 
worms had grown to be of great size, measuring nigh two inches in 
length. When full grown they are mottled with dull flesh-color, 
brown and black, with elongated, velvety-black marks each side, as 
shown at Plate 1, Figure 2. The head is light gray and mottled, and 
marked as shown in Figure 3, and each segment on the back appears 
as in Figure 4 of the same plate. 

About the time these worms were completing their growth, they 
having most likely developed earlier than usual, in the unnatural heat 
of the frames, I received from J. M. Shaffer, Secretary of the Iowa 
State Agricultural Society, some eggs which he found on a cherry 
twig. These eggs were quite small, of a pink color, with ribs radiat- 
ing from a common centre, and were deposited in a batch. LHxactly 
similar eggs, found en an apple twig, were presented to the Alton 
Horticultural Society, at its June meeting, by Mr. L. W. Lyon, of Be- 
thalto, Ills.; while I subsequently found a batch of the very same eggs 
on a White mulberry LEAF, taken from a tree growing near St. Louis. 
Between the 24th and 30th of May, the young hatched from these 
eggs, in the shape of minute, thread-like worms of a dirty yellow col- 
or,and covered with the spots, already spoken of as occurring on all cut- 
worms, which are at this time in this species quite dark and conspic- 
uous. In this early-stage of their growth, they did not hide themselves 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 73 


in the ground, and had, furthermore, the peculiarity of looping up the 
back when in motion, in the same manner as does the Canker-worm, 
and as do all other geometers or span worms. After the first moult, 
which took place six days after hatching, the dark spots became al- 
most obliterated, the characteristic markings of this same Variegated 
cut-worm which I had received from Mr. Bush, began to appear, and 
they lost their looping habit. At this time they grew at an incredible 
rate, becoming thicker in proportion to their length as they grew older, 
and by the 15th of June, those which hatched on the 24th of May, had 
shed their skins four times, and gone into the ground, where they 
formed oval cocoons of earth, and in two days more were changed 
into chrysalids. By the 20th of June the moths began issuing, thus 
requiring but 35 days to go through all their transformations. 

These worms were very voracious, and after the first moult, showed 
the true cut-worm characteristic of concealing themselves during the 
day, and feeding at night. Moreover, they proved to be quite univer- 
sal feeders, for while I fed them, when young, on cabbage and grape- 
vine leaves, they flourished exceedingly, the latter part of their lives, 
on the leaves of the White mulberry; and on the 16th of June, I dug 
up from my garden, two full grown specimens of this same kind of 
worm, which produced the same species of moth, each of them having 
severed a young lettuce plant. From the foregoing, it is manifest that 
all cut-worm moths do not deposit their eggs on the ground, and from 
the fact that these eggs were found, in one instance, on a leaf, so early 
in the season, they were undoubtedly deposited in the spring by a 
moth which must have passed the winter either in the chrysalis or 
moth state; and as the insect goes through its transformations so rap- 
idly, there are most likely two broods during the year. From the fore- 
going experience, and from the fact that most other moths attach their 
eggs to different substances, I think it not unlikely that our cut-worm 
moths do the same, as a general rule, instead of depositing them in, or 
on the ground, as has heretofore been supposed; and Mr. Cochran 
has related to me a curious incident which bears me out in this belief. 
He is in the habit of gathering, during the winter, all crumpled 
leaves and egg-masses which he finds in his orchard, and of placing 
them in a drawer in his secretary. Last spring he was astonished to 
find several half-grown cut-worms in this drawer, they having evi- 
dently hatched from some of the eggs, and fed entirely on some apples 
which chanced at that time to be in the drawer. 

The moth produced from this cut-worm is represented at Plate 1, 
Figure 1. Its general color is a dark brownish-gray, some specimens 
being almost black along the front edge of the upper wings, while 
others have this edge of a dull golden-buff color. The Nocrum®, to 
which our cut-worm moths belong, have not yet been worked up by 
any one in this country, and as they are all of sombre colors, and as 
the species, in many instances, very closely resemble each other, it is 
not an easy matter to properly determine them. The species under 


74 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


consideration, is apparently quite common here, and yet Mr. A. Grote 
of New York, who made a trip to Europe last year, for the purpose of 
comparing our American moths with those in the British museum, and 
in other Kuropean collections, took a specimen with him and brought 
it back unnamed. In the collection of Mr. A. Bolter, of Chicago, it is 
marked Agrotis saucia, Treitschke, while Mr. Cresson informs me that 
in the collection of the American Entomological Society, at Philadel- 
phia, it is named wqua, but without authority. Harris’s description of 
znermis (Inj. Insects, p. 444), brief and insufficient as it is, agrees with 
some of the individuals, and, as it is said to be the counterpart of equa 
which is an European species, I have concluded, rather than to create 
more synonyms, to redescribe it below, under thisname. Individuals 
among the numerous specimens which I bred from the same batch of 
eggs, differ greatly from one another, and I find this to be the case 
with all owlet moths. Indeed, with the present species, a description 
taken from any single specimen would scarcely suffice for any of the 
others, and it is not at all unlikely that this species has received diff- 


erent names from different authors. 

AcroTis INERMIS, Harris—Larva—Length, when full grown, 2 inches. Finely mottled with 
dull, carneous-brown and black, and having dark velvety longitudinal marks along subdorsal and 
stigmatal region (see Pl. 1, Fig. 2); segment 11 somewhat ridged and abruptly divided trans- 
versely by velvety black and carneous. Lighter laterally than above. A carneous stripe below stig- 
mata. Venter and legs speckled glaucous. Dorsum of segments marked gs in Plate 1, Figure 4; 
Head light gray, and marked as in Plate 1, Figure 3. Cervical shield obselete. 

Chrysalis. —Of normal form, deep mahogony brown, with a single point at extremity. 

Perfect insect.—Average length 0.80; alar expanse 1.80. Ground color of fore wings gray- 
brown, marked as in Plate 1, Figure 1. A most variable species, sometimes washed with dull car- 
neous, at others with light buff, but always marked with more or less smoky black. Costal region, 
head and thorax, sometimes very black, at others bright golden-buff. Spots usually lighter than 
wing, though sometimes concolorous. Basal half and transverse lines more or less distinct, espe- 
cially at costa, geminate, their middle space, usually lighter than the ground color. Hind wings 
pearly white, with a very slight pink tint in the middle, shaded behind and veined with smoky 
brown. 

Under surface of the wings, the least variable and most characteristic feature, that of fore- 
wings being mouse-gray with a distinct ferruginous spot in the middle at base, anda lighter strip 
running from this spot to the posterior angle; the arcuated band very distinct and geminate at 
costa, and the whole surface pearly and especially the light strip at interior margin which in cer- 
tain lights reflects all the prismatic colors. That of hind wings pearly white in the middle, darker 
near the margins, distinctly freckled along anterior margin, where the arcuated band is very dis- 
tinct, while in the middle of the wing it is represented by distinct black strokes on the veins. 

Described from 25 bred specimens. 


THE DARK-SIDED CUT-WORM. 
(Larva of the Cochran Rustic, Agrotis Cochranii, Riley.) 


This worm is one of the most common of those which have the 
climbing habit. It is represented in the annexed Figure 26, at a. 
[ Fig. 26, ] The general color is dingy ash- 

gray, but it is characterized more 
e=\ especially by the sides being dark- 
‘er than the rest of the body. When 
young, itis much darker, and the 
white, which is below the dark 
lateral band, is then cream-color- 
a b ed, and very distinct. It produces 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 75 


a moth which may be known as the Cochran Rustic, and was first 
described in the Prairie Farmer of June 22, 1867. Speaking of the 
depredations of this worm, Mr Cochran says: 

“Tn the beginning of the evening its activity is wonderful; moving 
along from limb to limb swiftly, and selecting at first only the blossom 
buds, to one of which having fastened, it does not let go its hold until 
the entire head is eaten out, and from this point, so thorough is its 
work, no latent or adventitious bud will everagain push. From a six- 
year old fruit tree, I have, on a single night, taken seventy-five of 
these worms, and, on the ensuing evening, found them well nigh as 
plenty on the same tree. When all the blossom buds of a tree are 
taken, it attacks with equal avidity the leaf buds. It is no unusual 
thing to find small trees with every bud that had pushed, from first 
intentions utterly destroyed, and frequently young orchards the first 
season planted on sandy grounds, lose from 50 to 75 per cent. of their 
trees; sometimes those remaining will be so badly injured as to linger 
along for a few years, fruiting prematurely each season, and then die, 
utterly drained of their vital principle by this dreadful enemy. The 
instinct of the perfect insect, like that of all insects injurious to vege- 
tation, leads it unerringly to deposit its eggs where they will hatch 
out from the warmth of the sun, and where the larve is nearest to 
that food which is necessary to its existence: hence I never yet have 
found the eggs upon clay, or heavy cold grounds of any description, 
and on my carefully placing them in such situations they failed to 
hatch out. Can there be a stronger argument used for the appoint- 
ment of a State Entomologist than the fact, that the habits of this 
enemy of horticulture, that has ruined millions of dollars worth of 
fruit trees in our country, has until recently been entirely unknown ? 
I doubt whether one fruit grower in five hundred is even now aware 
of the presence of this curse on his grounds. There is not an orchard 
upon the sands of Michigan, or the light timber openings of Indiana, 
or the sandy ridges of our own State, but that has suffered greatly, 
many of them entirely ruined by its depredations. It is far more de- 
structive to fruit trees than any other insect, infinitely more so than 
the canker worm, but unlike the other depredators of our orchard 
trees, itis easily kept in check, and at small expense permanently 
eradicated.” 

This species remains longer underground in the chrysalis state, 
than the preceding, and there is but one brood each year, the moths 
appearing through the months of July and August. The moth which 
isrepresented at Figure 26,, is of a light warm gray color, and shaded 
with brown and umber. 


Agrotis Cocuranit, Riley—Imago.—Fore wings of a light warm cinereous, shaded with van-~ 
dyke brown and umber, the terminal space, except at apex, being darker and smoky. Basal, 
middle and limbal areas of almost equal width, the middle exceeding somewhat the others. A 
geminate dark basal half-line, usually quite distinct. Transverse anterior geminate, dark, some- 
what irregularly undulate, and slightly obliquing outwards from costa to interior margin. Trans - 
verse posterior geminate, the inner line being dark, distinct and regularly undulate between the 


76 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


nerves, while the outer line is plain and much paler; itis arcuated superiorly and inversely ob- 
liques for two-thirds its width. Orbicular and reniform spots of normal shape, having a fine, dark 
annulation, which is however obsolete in both, anteriorly; the orbicular is concolorous with the 
wing, whilst the reniform has a dark inner shade with a central light one, and forms with the trans- 
verse posterior a somewhat oval spot which is also dark. Median shade dark and distinct inte- 
riorly, shading off and becoming indistinct in center of wing, and quite dark between the two spots, 
giving them a fair relief. Subterminat line single, light, acutely and irregularly dentate, with an 
inner dark shade, but warmer than that of terminal space. Terminal line very fine, almost black, 
slightly undulate. Fringes of same color as wing, with a Jight central line, having an outer dark 
coincident shade. A dark costal spot in basal area; at termini of the usual lines, and two light 
ones in subterminal space. In some specimens one or two fine dark sagittate marks are discernable, 
and also a fine black claviform mark. Hind wings: whitish, witha darker shade along posterior 
margin. Under surface of fore wings somewhat lighter than the upper surface and pearlaceous 
interiorly, with a smoky arcuated band—more definite near the costa than elsewhere—and a toler- 
ably distinct lunule. Under surface of hind wings concolorous; slightly irrorate with brown ante- 
riorly and posteriorly, and with an indistinct lunule and band. Antennx, prothorax, thorax, 
tegule and body of same color as primaries, the prothorax having a darker central line, and in 
common with the tegule acarneous margin. Under surface lighter ; legs with the tarsi spotted. 

This moth, in its general appearance, bears a great resemblance to Hadena chenopodii, but 
the two are found to differ essentially when compared. From specimens of H. chenopodii, kindly 
furnished me by Mr. Walsh, and named by Grote, I am enabled to give the essential differences, 
which are: Ist. In A. Cochranii, as already stated, the middle area exceeds somewhat in width 
either of the other two, while in H. chenopodii it is but half as wide as either. 2d. In the Agrofis 
the space between the spots and between the reniform and transverse posterior is dark, relieving the 
spots and giving them a light appearance, whilst in the Hadena this space is of the same color as 
the wing, and the reniform spot is dark. The clavyiform spot in the Hadenais also quite prominent, 
and one of its distinctive features, while in the Agrofis it is just about obsolete. 

There are specimens that seem to be intermediate between these two, but all those bred by 
me, both male and female, were quite constant in their markings, and their intermediates will 
doubtless prove tobe distinct species or mere varieties. 

Larva—Length 1.07 inches. Slightly shagreened. General color, dingy ash-gray, with 
lighter or darker shadings. Dorsum light, inclining to flesh color, with a darker dingy line along 
its middle. The sides, particularly along the sub-dorsal line are of a darker shade. On each seg- 
ment there are eight small, black, shiny, slightly elevated points, having the appearance of black 
sealing-wax, from each of which originates a small black bristle. The stigmata are of the same 
black color, and one of the black spots is placed quite close to them anteriorily. Head shiny and 
of the same dingy color as the body, with two darker marks, thick and almost joining at the uppet 
surface, becoming thinner below and diverging toward the palpi. The upper surface of first seg- 
ment is also shiny like the head. Ventral region of the same dingy color, but lighter, having a 
greenish tinge anteriorly and inclining to yellow under the anal segment. Legs of same color. It 
has a few short bristles on the anterior and posterior segments. 

Chrysalis.—Length 0.70 of an inch. Light yellowish brown with adusky line along top of ab- 
domen. Joints, especially of the three segments immediately behind the wing-sheaths, dark brown. 
The brown part of these three segments, minutely punctured onthe back. Hyes dark brown, and 
jast above them, a smaller brownish spot. Two quite minute bristles at extremity. 

Described from numerous bred specimens. r 


THE CLIMBING CUT-WORM—P1. 1, Figs. 5, 6 and 7. 
(Larva of the Climbing Rustic, Agrotis scandens, N. Sp.) 

This is another of the most common species having the climbing 
habit. It occurs in at least five different States, for Mr. Walsh informs 
me that it is the species referred to by Mr. Townley, of Marqnette 
county, Wisconsin, and I have found it with the same pernicious habit 
on Mr. Jordan’s nursery at St. Louis, in our own State; while it was 
even more numerous, last spring, in North Illinois, North Indiana and 
West Michigan, than the preceding species, as I am informed by Mr. 

*Cochran, and by Mr. H. D. Emery, of Chicago, who bothsent me great 
numbers of specimens during the last week of April. The following 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. V7 


interesting letter accompanied those which were received from the 
last named gentleman: 

“JT made a nocturnal visit to Mr. Cochran’s place, Monday 
night, for the purpose of observing the workings of this pest, and 
spent about 34 hours, until 1 o’clock in the morning, at the job. I 
found on some single dwarf trees over 50 at a time, and from that 
down, and they were on both apple, pear, peach and cherry. They 
commence ascending the trees soon after dark, and are found the 
most plenty from 11 to 12, some remaining on t he trees until daylight, 
as Ifound several at 4 o’clock in the morning. Their first drive seems 
to be the terminal bud,and when these are all gone, they take side buds 
or even the bark of the tree in many cases, as you will see by the 
small twigs sent herein. You will see they are of different sizes. 
Some trees were entirely despoiled of the terminal buds. After they 
have eaten their fill, they seem to let themselves off the limb by a 
short web, and drop to the ground. We have found alarge number of 
the worms attacked by the bug found in the tin box*. They would 
pierce the worm and suck him dry, and frequently two of them were 
hold of one worm. There were also numbers of spiders about the 
trees, of various sizes and kinds, all alive and alert, and apparently 
annoying if not preying upon the worms. Also a beetle, of which I 
send two specimens, was very active on the ground under the trees, 
apparently after prey +. The worms were the most abundant on the 
light sandy soils, and less frequent as the ground grew hard o1 clayey, 
and where it was pretty much all clay,scarcely one could be found. 
The tin tubes placed around the trunks of the trees, when properly 
adjusted, were a perfect protection. The injury they have already 
done is very great.” 

Mr. Cochran, speaking of the same worm, says: “Some trees were 
literally covered with them. Scarcely abnd but that hadits worm, 
and, returning towards 10 o’clock, to those trees which we had in the 
early part of the night examined, we found others had come as abun- 
dantly as before. I have observed that they are actually ruining the 
young orchards along the Lake shore, and, stran ge as it may appear, 
their owners do not know what is doing the mischief. At Hyde park, 
where there are many handsome country residences with grounds of 
great beauty, this worm has been especially injurious to their young 
shrubbery.” 

This worm is represented at Plate 1, Figure 7. Its general color 
is a very light yellowish-gray, variegated with dirty bluish-green, and 
when filled with food it wears a much greener appearance than oth- 
erwise. In depth of shading it is variable however, and the young 
worm is of a more uniform dirty whitish-yellow, with the lines along 
the body less distinct but the shiny spots more so than in the full 


* The bug was the Spined Soldier bug. (Arma spinosa, Dallas). See Figure 54. 


+ The Incrassated Geopinus (Geopinus incrassatus, Dej.) a beetle about 4 inch longand of the 
‘eolor and polished appearance of thin glue. 


q8 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


grown ones. Mr. Cochran informs me that on the apple tree, 
when this worm has fed out its bud, the work is so effectually done, 
that no adventitious or accessory bud ever starts again from the same 
place; the worm, as it were, boring into the very heart of the wood 
and effectually destroying the ability of the tree to react, at such a 
point, in the formation of a new bud, and that consequently a tree 
that is once stripped generally dies, and that this occurs more fre- 
quently on small or dwarf trees, where the buds are few, and 3 or 4 
worms in a single night can eat out every one. But I have noticed 
that with the grape-vine this is not generally the case, as anew bud 
almost always appears where one has been eaten off. 

Great numbers of these worms which I reared to the moth state, 
were fed promiscuously on apple and grape-vine leaves. They began 
entering the earth on the 20th of May, and generally issued as moths 
nine days after thus disappearing; the last moth having issued on the 
29th of June. 

The moth produced from this worm is easily distinguished from 
most other owlet moths by its peculiar color. It seems allied to 
Agrotis cursoria of Europe, and also greatly resembles one that was 
described as A. muraenula, by Mr. Grote, and figured in Volume 1, 
Number 4, of the American Entomological Transactions. Upon sub- 
mitting specimens to Mr. Grote, however, he informed me that it is 
distinct and undescribed, and I have therefore named it the Climbing 
rustic (Agrotis scandens). It is. well represented with extended 
wings at Plate 1, Figure 5, and with closed wings at Figure 6. The 
general color of the upper wings is a pearly bluish-gray, while the 
under wings are pearly white; but as with the other species, it varies 
greatly in color and appearance, and as I could pick out, from 30 in- 
dividuals, at least 4 which, if taken singly would doubtless be de- 
scribed as distinct species, itis not unlikely that Mr. Grote’s mura- 
nuia, may prove identical with it after all. 


AGROTIS SCANDENS, N, Sp.—Lorva. —Average length when full grown 1.40. Ground-color very 
light yellowish gray, variegated with glancous in the shape of different sized patches, which are 
distinctly seen under the lens, to be separated by fine lines of the light ground color. A well de- 
fined dorsal and less distinct subdorsal and stigmatal line, caused by these patches becoming larger 
and darker; another and still less distinct line of the same kind under stigmata. The dorsal line 
frequently with a very fine white line alongits middle, especially atsutures of segments. Piliferous 
spots in the normal position; those above black, those at the sides lighter. Stigmata black. 
Head and cervical shield tawny, the latter with a small black spot each side, the former with two in 
front, and two eye-spots each side. Caudal plate tawny, speckled with black. Venter and legs 
glancous. Bristles fine and small. Filled with food it wears a much greener appearance than oth- 
erwise, while when young it is of a more uniform dirty whitish-yellow, the lines less distinct but 
the piliferous spots proportionately larger. Head quite variable in depth of shade. 


Perfect Insect.—Average length 0.70; alar expanse1.50. General color of fore wings very 
light pearly bluish-gray, witha perceptible deepening posteriorly. Quite variable, sometimes of a 
more decided blue, at others inclining to buff as in Lewcania unipunctata, Haw. Markings, when 
distinct, as in Plate 1, Figures 5 and 6. With the exception of the reniform spot and subterminal 
line, however, they are usually distinct only on costa, being either indistinct or entirely obsolete 
on the rest of the wing. The subterminal line is light, with a more or less dark diffuse shade each 
side, which, in some instances, forms into sagittate spots. A black stain at the lower part of reni- 
form spot forms a most distinctive character. Hind wings very pale and lacking the bluish cast of 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79 


fore wings ; lunule distinct, and a dark shade, enclosing a lighter mark, as in Heliothis, along poster- 
jormargin. Hyes dark; head and thorax same as fore wings ; abdomen same as hind wings. The 
whole under surface ae same as hind wings above, the lunules and arcuated bands faintly traced, 
the fore wings having a darker shade in the middle. 

Described from 30 bred specimens. 


THE W-MARKED CUT-WORM.—PI1. 1, Fig. 13. 
(Larva of the Clandestine Owlet moth, Noctua clandestina, Harris. ) 


Another cut-worm which has this same habit of climbing trees, I 
have named the W-marked cut- worm, on account of the char peteniene 


markings resembling this letter, ee it has on its back. Its general 
[Fig. 27.] 


color is ash-gray, inclining on the back and upper 
sides to dirty yellow, and the annexed Figure 27 
gives a correct view of it. This species, so far as I 
have observed, though it has been caught in the act 
22 of eating apple buds, is but seldom found very high 
up on trees, but seems to prefer to attack low bushes, 
such as currants,on which I have often foundit. It occurs abundantly 
on a species of wild endive (probably Cichorium sativa), under the 
broad leaves of which it frequently nestles during the day, without 
entering into the ground. Harris quotes a communication from Dr, 
F. E. Melsheimer, of Dover, Pa. in which this same worm is said to 
attack young corn, and to feed indiscriminately on all succulent 
plants, such as early sown buckwheat, young pumpkin-plants, young 
beans, cabbage plants, and many other field and garden vegetables. 
Mr. Glover, cf the Department of Agriculture, has also found it to at- 
tack wheat, and I have found it quite injurious to young cabbages. In 
feeding, it frequently drags its food under stones and other places of 
concealment. The young worms are of a more decided gray than the 
older ones, with the black W-shaped marks less distinct, and subsist, 
for the most part, on grasses. 

The moth produced from this worm is illustrated at Plate 1, Figure 
13. It appears during the latter part of June, and is, consequently, 
one of our earliest. It is of a dark ash-gray color, with the wavy 
bands but faintly traced. The two ordinary spots are small, narrow, 
and usually connected by a fine black line. The hind wings are dirty 
brownish-white, somewhat darker behind. Itmay be popularly known 
as the Clandestine Owlet moth, and was named Noctua clandestina, 
by Harris, though it might be placed with more propriety in the genus 
Graphiphora. 

Noorva chayprstina, Harris.—Larva—Length, when full grown, 1.15 of an inch. General color 
ash-gray, inclining on the back and upper sides to dirty yellow. Finely speckled all over with black 
and brown spots. Along the dorsum there isa fine line of a lighter color, shaded on each side, at 
the ring joints with a darker color. Sub-dorsal line light sulphur-yellow, with a band of dirty 
brownish-yellow underneath. Along the stigmatal region is a wavy line of a dark shade, with flesh- 
colored markings underneath it; but the distinguishing feature is a row of black velvety marks 
along each gide of the back, on all but the thoracic segments, and bearing a general resemblance, 
looking from anus to head, to the letter W. Ventral region greenish-gray ; prolegs of same color; 
thoracic legs brown-black. Head black, witha white line in front resembling an inverted Y, and 


white at sides. The thoracic segments frequently have a greenish hue. 
Chrysalis.—Of the normal form and color, with but one rather long thorn at extremity. 


80 FIRST ANNUAL BEPORT OF 


THE GREASY CUT-WORM.—PI. 1, Figs. 8, 9 and 10. 
(Larva of the Lance Rustic, Agrotis telifera, Harris.) 


In the Prairie Farmer for June 22, 1867,I described 2 large cut- 
worm under the name of the “Black cut-worm.” I have since ascer- 
tained that it is quite variable in its coloration, some specimens being 
lighter, and the markings much more distinct than in cthers, and have 
therefore concluded to give it the above appellation. This worm is 
usually of a deep leaden-brown inclining to black, though some speci- 
mens are of a greasy glancous color, with a dark flesh-colored back. 
It is always more or less distinctly marked as in Figure 9, of Plate 1, 
while the head, when retracted within the first segment, presents the 
appearance of Figure 10 on the same plate, this figure being enlarged 
beyond the natural size. Itis probably the most common cut-worm 
in the country, for the moth is frequently caught in our rooms in all 
parts of the United States. Though it has not, so faras I am aware 
the climbing habit of the preceding species, it has a most emphatic 
and pernicious cutting habit. 

Mr. Jordan, of the St. Louis nursery, had transplanted a great num- 
ber of tomato plants last spring, but lost well-nigh every one of them 
by this pernicious worm. It cut off large plants that were over six 
inches in height, generally at about an inch above ground, and thus 
effectually destroyed them. After severing one plant, the same worm 
would travel to others, and thus in a single night, from three to four 
plants would be ruined by a single individual. Along the Clayton 
road, to the west of St. Louis, most of the corn had to be replanted on 
account of its attacks. On the 22d of May I examined several fields, 
and was surprised to find these worms present at almost every hill, 
most of them being two-thirds grown. The land is clayey, and was 
at that time quite hard, and each worm had a smooth burrow in which 
it lay hidden, and to the bottom of which it could generally be traced. 
I subsequently learned that a large tobacco field belonging to Mr. F, 
R. Allen, of Allenton, had been entirely ruined soon after it was 
planted, by this same worm, and I found it in my own garden cutting 
off cypress vines. Indeed, nothing seems to come amiss to its vora- 
cious appetite, for in confinement it devoured with equal relish, apple 
and grape leaves. 

This species comes to its growth in this latitude by the end of May, 
though the moth does not make its appearance till the month of July. 

The moth is known as the Lance Rustic (Agrotis telifera, Harris), 

Pag. 28.) and is represented in the annexed Figure 28, 
and still more correctly at Plate 1, Figure 
8. The upper wings are light-brown shaded 
with dark-brown, and the under wings are 
pearly white, with a gray shade around the 
edges; but the characteristic feature, from 
which it takes its name, is a dark-brown 
lance-shaped mark running outwardly from 
the kidney-spot. 


Ps «2 
se a, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. &] 


_ Aeroris TeELIFERA, Harris—Larva—(Pl. 1, Fig. 9)—Length 1.50@1.60 inches when crawling. 
General color above, dull dark leaden-brown. A faint trace of a dirty yellow-white line along dor- 
sum. Subdorsal line more distinct, and between it and stigmata two other indistinct pale lines. 
Hight black shiny piliferous spots on each segment; two near subdorsal line, the smaller a little 
above anteriorly ; the larger just below it, a little back of the middle of the segment, with the line 
appearing especially light above it. The other two are placed each side of stigmata, the one an- 
terlorly a little above, the other just behind, in the same line with them, and having a white shade 
above it. Head light brown, with a dark brown spot each side and dark brown above, leaving the 
inverted Y mark in the middle, light brown, and having much the appearance of a goblet, as one 
looks from tail to head. Cervical shield dark brown, except a stripe above and each side. Sparse: 
short white bristles laterally and posteriorly. Venter and pro-legs of a glaucous glassy color.. 
Thoracic legs ight brown. 

Tt varies considerably in depth of shading, and some of the lighter specimens have the lateral 
stripes quite distinct, and the dorsum is frequently of a dull carneous with a darker shade, divided 
by a fine line of a lighter color, along the middle. There is frequently a third piliferous spot near 
the stigmata. 

Chrysalis.—Average length 0.54 of an inch, very pale shiny yellowish-brown, with two large 
dark brown eye-spots. Stigmata and anterior edge of four largest abdominal segments on the 
back, also dark brown and shagreened. ‘Two minute thorns at extremity. 

Imago.—As Harris’s description, as given in his ‘‘Injurious Insects,’’ is not very complete, I 
subjoin a more detailed one: Average expanse 1.60 inches. Color of fore-wings brownish-gray, 
verging into a very dark brown, with a bluish tint at the costa, for nearly one-third the width of 
the wing. Middle area somewhat darker than basal and limbal,the latter being especially 
light at the apex, and between transverse posterior and subterminal lines; having distinct spots 
on the nerves, and two distinct sagittate marks. Ordinary spots dark, with a very fine dark brown 
annulation, especially distinct around the dentiform. Reniform spot of normal shape. Orbicular 
nearly oval, and generally elongated into a point posteriorly. Distinguishing feature a dark brown 
lance-shaped mark, running from posterior portion of reniform spot. Transverse anterior gemi- 
nate, dark. T. posterior geminate, dark, projected and arcuated above. Subterminal line light, 
irregular and festooned. Median band distinct. Subterminal space dark, especially where broad- 
est, at nerves 5, 6 and 7. Margins dark brown, with a lighter inward, angular rim between each 
nerve. Costa with usualspots. Fringes light, with a central line, the inner half having dark square 
spots on the nerves. Hind wings pearly white, semi-transparent, margined behind and veined with 
dusky gray. Fringes even whiter, witha faint darker line. Under side of fore wings pearly-gray ; 
hind wings concolorous, but with a broad band of speckled gray on the anterior margin. Legs 
dark, with light spots at joints. Head often rust-brown. Antenne brownish. Prothorax very 
clearly defined, and of a rich dark brown at margins. Thorax and body light lilaceous-gray, the 
€ gulx being rimmed with flesh color. 


THE WESTERN STRIPED CUT-WORM. 
(Larva of the Gothic Dart, Agrotis subgothica, Haworth). 


Dr. Fitch, in his Second Report, on noxious insects of the State of 
New York, describes a cut-worm by the name of the “Striped cut- 
worm,” (p. 318), In his 9th Report, (pp. 245-S), this worm was very 
fully re-described, together with the moth which it produces. This 
worm seems to have done great injury to the corn crop in the East, 
and the moth is a variety of the Corn Rustic (Agrotis nigricans, Linn,) 
which Dr. Fitch named mazzz. It will be referred to on page 87. 
From worms, found in an orchard, and answering entirely to that de- 
scription. I have bred numerous specimens of one of our most com- 
mon owlet moths, namely, the Gothic Dart (Agrotis subgothica, Ha- 
worth.) As the worms are so similar in appearance, I have called 
the one under consideration, the “ Western Striped Cut-worm,” as no 
other name would better characterize it, though it is evidently as 
common in the Kast as it isin the West. Its general appearance is not 


G&RSE 


82 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


greatly unlike that of the “Greasy Cut-worm” already described 
but its average size is but 1} inches. The ground color is dirty white 
or ash-gray and it has three broad dark lines, and two light ‘narrow 
ones along the sides, and a light one, edged on each side with a dark 
one, along the middle of the back. This species remains longer in 
the ground than any of the others, and the moth does not appen till 
August and September. The moth is represented at Figure 29, a 
[Pig. 29.] with the wings expanded, and a 

6 with the wings closed. Its 
markings are so conspicuous and 
characteristic that it suffices to 
say that the light parts are of 
grayish flesh-color, and the dark 
{parts of a deep brown. It was 
4 first described in the year 1810 by 
7 Mr. Haworth, and is supposed to 
2 b be an English insect; but as it is 

quite rare in England, and very common in this country, Dr. Fitch 
concludes, and I think rightly, that it is an American insect, the eggs 


or larve of which have accidentally been carried to England. 

AGROTIS suBGoTHICA, HAw.—Lorva.—Length 1.25 inches. Ground color dirty white or ash- 
gray, inclining in some instances to yellowish. A whitish dorsal line edged on each side witha dark 
one. Three lateral dark broader stripes—the lower one broadest of all—separated by two pale 
ones. Quite often an indistinct glaucous white stripe under the lower broad dark one. Piliferous 
spots of good size. Head shiny black, or in some individuals finely speckled with white, especial- 
ly at the sides; with the usual forked white line like an inverted Y. Cervical shield, or upper por- 
tion of the first seryment, of the same shiny color as the head, with a white stripe in the middle, 
contiguous to that on the head, and another each side. Venter dull white. Legs the same, varied 


with smoky brown. 


THE DINGY CUT-WORM—P1. 1, Fig. 11. 
(Larva of the Dart-bearing Rustic, Agrotis jaculifera.) 

We have, in the West, another cut-worm, resembling the preced- 
ing species in almost every particular, the following being the only 
permanent differences: Ist, It never attains quite so large a size, 
2d, it is generally darker and more dingy, and the longitudinal lines 
are consequently less distinct; 3d, it is generally of a more decided 
dull pale buff color on the back. 

On the 27th of last June, I received several of these cut-worms 
from Mr. Horace Starkey, of Rockford, Iinois, with a statement that 
they were proving quite destructive in the gardens of that vicinity, 
but without specifying what particular plants they attacked. They en- 
tered the ground soon after being received, and by the 7th of July, had 
all changed to chrysalids. The chrysalis differs from most of the oth- 
ers, in being of a very light honey-yellow, shaded with brown, with 
the eyes dark brown, and two sub-quadrate spots of the same color on 
the wing-sheaths, just above the antenna. It measures 0.65 of an 
inch in length. The moths began to issue on the 2d of September, 
and proved to be a species very closely allied to the preceding. In- 
deed the markings on the wings are almost exactly the same; but it 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83 


3s a smaller species, seldom expanding more than 1.25 inches and 
differs materially upon a strict comparison, and especially in the 
ground color being lighter and more silvery. It is faithfully repre- 
‘sented at Plate 1, Figure il. This species, as Iam kindly informed 
by Mr. Cresson, is marked Agrotis jaculifera in the collection of the 
American Entomological Society, but without authorship; and as the 
mame seems appropriate I have retained it. 

Thus we have in this country, at ieast three species of cut-worms, 
which differ no more from one another in general appearance, than 
do individuals of the same species; and yet they all produce distinct 
moths, though it is worthy of remark that the moths produced from 
worms so resembling each other, viz: <Agrotis nigricans, var 
maizi, A. subgothica and A jaculifera; have, all three of them, 
the space between and behind the two ordinary spots on the front 
wings of a dark brown color. It is possible that each of these species 
may have a different habit, but time, and further investigation will 
alone determine the point. 

AGROTIS JACULIFERA—ZLarva—Length one inch. Similarly marked to that of Agrotis subgo- 
thica, with the colors darker and more dingy, the longitudinal lines less conspicuous, and the dor- 
sum of a more decided pale buff color. 

Chrysalis—Length 0.65-0.70. Color honey-yellow with dull brown shadings, and dark-brown 
eyes, but characterized especiaily by two subquadrate dark spots on the wing-sheaths just above 
santenn. 

Perfect insect—Much resembling A, subgothica, Haw., being marked asat Plate 1, Figure 11. It 
‘differs from that species.in the following respects: The average expanse is but 1.30. The whole 
ground-color is colder (to use the language of the artist), i. e., of a whiter gray, with less of the 
buff coler. The costa is darker, and the light costal band narrower; the posterior median nerve is 
almost white and very distinct te the lower part of the reniform spot; nerves 3, 4and 5 are well re- 
lieved by light margins; the streak running between nerves 2 and 3 is very distinct andless diffuse; 
‘the terminal space is darker, and the inner margin only broken by nerves 4and5; there are no 


sagittate spots, while the posterior margin is very clearly defined by a blackline bounded outwardly 
by a light one. 
Described from three bred specimens. 


THE GLASSY CUT-WORM. 
{Larva of the Devastating Dart, Agrotis devastator, Brace.} 

In the year 1819, in a short urticle upon the cut-worm, published 
an the first volume of Silliman’s Journal, p. 157, Mr. Brace, of Litch- 
field, Connecticut, gave an acceunt of this moth, which he bred from 
pup that were found a few inches under the ground, in a cabbage 
patch. He did not describe the worm which produced the pups, as 
he evidently supposed there was but one kind of cut-worm in exist- 
ence. Consequently, up te the present day the larva of this common 
Devastating Dart moth has been unknown. It was my good fortune 
to breed this meth from the larva state. The cut-werm from which it 
ee 30.] was produced, was found on the 12th of May 
i Voy we. under a wild endive plant, upon the leaves 

feist “a of which it had evidently been feeding. It 

was but half grown, and, being placedina 
jar half filled with earth, that contained 
growing grass, it burrowed into the earth 
and after once casting its skin, fed entirely 


Su 


84 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


on the roots of the grass, though other food was thrown into the jar. 
On the 7th of June it measured 1.80 inches when crawling,and on the 
19th of the same month had changed toa chrysalis from which the 
moth emerged on the 7th of July. The worm is represented at Figure 
80, and may at once be distinguished from all others of its tribe, 
that are known, by its translucent glassy green body, in contrast 
with a very distinct hard, polished, dark-brown shield on the first seg- 
ment, and a bright venetian-red head. The usual spots on the body 
are quite distinct, and placed in the positions given at the lower out- 
line of Figure 30, which represents the side of one of the middle seg- 
ments, 

The moth bears a close general resemblance to the Cochran Rus- 
tic already described, the ground color being the same. It differs in 
its larger size; in the wavy transverse lines being more equidistant; 
in the spots in the shape of arrow heads, which emanate from the 
inside of the last or outer line, being darker and more distinct; and 
in the outer edge of the large kidney-shaped spot being almost al- 
ways quite white. Entomologically, it differs still more essentially, 
for though named Agrotis devastator, it seems to belong to the genus 
Mamestra. Here we have the converse of the facts given, in speak- 
ing of the Dingy cut-worm, for, closely as the Cochran Rustic and 
this Devastating Dart moth resembles each other, their larvae are very 
dissimilar. j 

Acrotis (MAMESTRA) DEVASTATOR, Brace—Laerva.—Lengih 1.86. Color translucent glassy 
green, with a tinge of blue. Usually, a very deep bluish dorsal line. Four distinct piliferous spots 
on each segment, each with @ slight annulation. Two other minute simple spots, without hairs om 
the anterior edge of the segment (see Fig. 30, ). Head, bright Venetian-red, with black jaws, and 
a small black spot each side. Cervical shield, very distinct, hard, polished and of a dark brown. 
Candal plate, less defined and more dusky. The body is lizhter posteriorly than anteriorly and the 
dorsal line is most distinct along the middle segments. 


Chrysalis—Quite dark mahogany brown, with the body somewhat more attenuated than is 
usual, and with two distinct slightly curved thorns at extremity with several other stiff bristles 


around them. 
THE SPECKLED CUT-WORM-—PI. 1, Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17. 
(Larva of the Subjomed Hadena, Hadena subjuncta, Gr. & Rob.) 

At two different times, I have found in a truck garden hiding in 
the ground, under cabbage plants, near St. Louis, a cut-worm which 
may be known by the abovename. On one occasion, £ also received 
the same worm from my friend, Mr. A. Bolter, of Chicago, who found 
itin Wisconsin. Itis at once distinguished from all others that are 
known by several characteristics, but more especially by being 
speckled as with pepper and salt, when viewed with a pocket lens, 
the ground color being flesh-gray, with a tinge of rust color in the 
middle of each segment. The head is marked as in Figure 15, each 
segment on the back as in Figure 16, and the extremity asin Figure 
17 of Plate 1—these figures being enlarged the better to show the 
markings. 

Those which I bred, fed voraciously on cabbage leaves during the 
night and lay concealed and motionless during the day. Before 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 85 


changing to chrysalids, they became of a uniform pale dirty yellow, 
with the markings almost entirely obliterated. The chrysalis is of the 
usual form and the moths appeared between the 2d and 8th of August. 
The kind of moth that was produced from these worms is faithfully 
represented at Plate 1, Figure 14, the front wings being marked as in 
the figure, with grayish-brown and black, and having a dull flesh- 
colored shade. It differs essentially from all those that I have hither- 
to described, and belongs to a different genus ( Hadena). Itwasnamed 
Hadena subjuncta by Guénée, in his MS. and this name has been re- 
tained by Messrs. Grote & Robinson, in their description of it pub- 
lished in the Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 
Volume II, pp. 198-9, which will be found below. 


Hapewa supsuneta, Gr. & Rob.—Larva.—Average length 1.60 inches. Color carneous-gray, 
inclining to ferruginous in the middle of each segment. Minutely speckled as with pepper and 
salt. A lateral stigmatal stripe, somewhat lighter than the rest of the body. An interrupted 
dorsal and subdorsal white line, these lines being quite distinct on the posterior half and indistinet 
on the anterior half of eack segment. Two distinct spots anteriorly on the dorsum of each seg- 
ment; the other spofs obsolete, Head light shiny brown, with two outwardly diverging darker 
marks. Segment 1, with the three longitudinal white lines and a white anterior edge, shaded on the 
inside with dark brown. Anal segment with a white transverse line, somewhat in the shape of a 
drawn-out W, and with a deep shade above it. Venter glaucous. Legs of the same color. 

Chrysalis. —Of a deep brewn color, rather short and thick, and with two bristles at extremity. 

Imago—(Pl. 1, fig. 14). Length 0.65; expanse 1.50. @ Q.—Antenne simple, finely and 
shortly ciliate beneath. Carneous brown. Head with a dark frontal line. Prothoracic pieces with 
a very distinct and deep brown line. Abdomen crested above at base, with a spreading anal tuft 
in the male. Fere wings, above, blackish brown shaded with carneous. A longitudinal deep 
brown basal ray, shaded inferiorly, extending outwardly and narrowly to the transverse anterior 
Mine. Above this ray, the base is tinged with carneous, and the basal live is indicated by a dark 
gzeminate costal streak. Transverse anterior line geminate, the outer line the darker, roundedly 
and evenly interspaceally waved, nearly prependicular. Ordinary spots very large, distinctly lim- 
ited. The median space is wide superiorly, but is constricted below the median nervure; a longi- 
tudinal deep brown streak runs along the submedian fold and connects the two median lines at their 
point of greatest contiguity. This streak becomes the lower margin of the claviform spot which 
abutts from the transverse anterior line, and whose upper margin is seen in a very distinct deep 
brown line running outwardly and downwardly obliquely from the median nervure. Above the 
elaviform is the large obicular, pale, with a distinct annulus. The reniform is wide, of the ordi- 
mary shape, with an indistinct central shade and the distinct annvlus is often obsolete outwardly. 
Beyond the resiform, the wing is shaded with carneous to the subterminal line, this shade spread- 
ing inferiorly. A diffuse and faint blackish median shade runs from the costa downward between 
the ordinary spots and is discontinued below median nervure. The transverse posterior line is in- 
cepted above the reniform, runs outwardly straigktly along the costal region, thence? downwardly 
ever the nervules, bending inwardly beneath the reniform spot. It is geminate, faint, the lnesen- 
closing a paler space and interspaceally lunulate. Subterminal line pale, preceded by a dark shade, 
forming the usual M-shaped mark at the middle, the points of the M attaining the external mar- 
gin. The dark shading is sometimes tinged with olivaceous before the internal angle as is the im- 
ferior shading of the longitudinal streak connecting the median lines. The terminal space is blackish 
‘brown and black interspaceal marks precede the terminal line. The fringes are uneven; the exter- 
mal margin of the wing retires inwardly before internal angle. 

Hind wings smoky blackish, paler tewards the base, without discernable discal mark or lines. 
Under surface pale. The wings terminally and along costal edges are covered with powdery squa- 
mation with intermixed dark scales bringing the nervules into relief. The fore wings show three 
ante-apical white dots and the white subterminal shade line emanates from a fourth and larger dot 
just before the apex, these latter at times hardly discernable. Faint discal dots; sometimes traces 
ef dark median lines can be seen on both wings. 


86 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE SMALL WHITE BRISTLY CUT-WORM. 
(Larva of the Figure 8 Minor, Celena renigera, Stephens). 
During the month of August in North Illinois, a small dirty-white 


cut-worm may frequently be found in flower gardens, where it doubt- 
(Fig. 31.] 


less feeds for the most part on the 
roots of various flowers. This worm 
is represented at Figure 31 6 It 
= never gets to be more than # of an 
) inch in length, and is covered with 
distinet, stiff yellow bristles, and may 

e b be popularly known by the above 

name. During the fore part of August it descends deeper into the 
ground, and soon changes to a very bright shiny, mahogany brown 


chrysalis, from which in about three weeks afterwards, the moth 
emerges. 


This moth is represented (as well as a wood cut can represent it} 
at Figure 31 a. It is quite prettily marked, the fore-wings being 
brown, variegated with lilae-gray and moss-green, with a deep brown 
spot about the middle and a silvery annulation around the kidney- 
shaped spot. Itis the Celwna renigera of Stephens of which C, her- 
bimacula, Guénée isa synonym, and asit should have a popularname, 
it may be called the “ Figure 5 Minor,” in allusion to the silvery edge 
of the kidney-spot which almost always reminds one of the figure 8. 
In the genus (elena the wings are entire, broad and rounded, and 
there is a conspicuous tuft on the crown of the head. The species. 
may at once be distinguished from those of Agrolis and Hadena by 


their smaller size and more rounded appearance. 

CELHNA RENIGERA, Stephens.—Larve.—Length 0.75 of an inch.—Cofor dusky salmon-yellow,. 
the dusky dirty appearance, caused hy innamerable dark specks all over it. Largest at the four 
middle segments and tapering thence each way. A dark lateral stripe, distinct on the middle seg~ 
ments, indistinct at both ends. Distinenishing feature, very visible stiff yellowish bristles, pro- 
ceeding from the usual spots which are small. A dorsal line is indicated under the glass by two 
indistinct thin lines at the joints of the segments. 

Chrysalis.—Length 0.56 of an inch; concise; of a bright pofished mahogany brown, with 
dark eyes and very slightly punctured on the anterior portion ot the abdominal segments. 

Imago.—fixpanse 1.10 inches. Fore wings brownish-gray, with amore or fess determined carne 
ous or lilaceous hue. Orbicular spot sub-obsolete ; sometimes entirely obsolete. Reniform spot 
of normal shape,moss-green, with asnow-white amnulation, indistinct above; broad and distinct below. 
Ordinary lines lighter. Basal half-line distinct only on costa, and below posterior median nerve. 
Transverse anterior single, ob!iquing but slightly, and bordered posteriorly with a very thin broken. 
darker line; it is moss-green in the middle, and there is a green shade rurming from it to the basal 
half-line, dividing the sub-basal space. Opposite this greea in the median space, is a dark sub- 
quadrate almost black spot, and hetween the stigma the wings are also quite dark. Transverse 
posterior single, posteriorly oblique a little more than £ of breadth of wing, then parallel with 
posterior margin, forming at the second nerve a roundish spot which extends to the analangle, and 
is dark below and moss-green above. Subterminal line usualiy very indistinct—merely indicated 
by a few dots. A median arcuated band is perceptible, being broader and darker between the stig- 
ma and interrupted in the middle by lower portion of reniform spot. A minute light spot on each 
vein at posterior margin. Costa with a light spot at terminus of sab-basal line, of transverse an- 
terior, and above reniform spots—cark each side of these and at terminus of median band ; con- 
colorous with wing at subterminal space, having four very minutelight spots, oneat ends of subter- 
minal and transverse posterior lines, and two hetween them, Fringes concolorous with the Wing», 
having a very fine darker edge. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 87 


Hind wings carneous-gray at base and interiorly—darker anteriorly and posteriorly and es- 
pecially at posterior margin. Nerves and lunule rather dark. Fringes same color as interior of 
wing, with a darker central line. 


Under surface of fore wing's brownish-gray, the fringes and transverse posterior darker and 
the spots faintly marked at costa. Under surface of hind wings of same color above, lighter he- 
low, with the lunule dark and the arcuated band distinct. 


Legs dark-gray with light spots at joints; palpi same color. Head, prothorax and thorax not 
quite so purplish as wings. Prothorax with a light margin at junction of wings—the tegule also 
with a lightspot. Body same color as hind wings above, darker below. *Feelers same. 


OTHER CUT-WORMS. 


Besides the ten distinct cut-worms, whose transformations I have 
just recorded, there are two others, which Dr. Fitch has described in 
all their stages. The one is the “srrrPED” or “coRN CUT WORM” as he 
calls it, which proves very injurious to corn, by cutting it off about 
an inch above ground. This worm produces a dusky-gray moth (Agrotis 
nigricans, Linn.—var. maizz), which is distinguished principally by 
two coal black spots, one nearly square, placed outside of the centre 
of the fore wing, and the other nearly triangular, a little forward of it, 
aroundish nearly white spot separating them. The other which Dr. 
Fitch has called the “yYELLOW-HEADED cUT-worRM,” is of a shining livid 
color, with a yellowish or chestnut-colored head and a horny spot of 
the same color on the top of the first and last rings. It is a large 
species and produces the Amputating Brocade moth ( Hadena ampu- 
tatrix, Fitch), which is figured on page 450, of Harris’ work. This 
moth is distinguished by its Spanish-brown upper wings, marked with 
a large pale kidney-shaped spot, and a broad wavy blue-gray band 
near the end. The worm was found by Dr. Fitch to be even more in- 
jurious to corn than the striped species, since it severs the plant below 
ground; while it also combines the habit of climbing trees during 
the night, according to Harris. 

Thus, we are now acquainted with the natural history of just one 
dozen of these cut-worms, while there is fully another dozen whose 
habits and history yet remain to be studied. Of one of these, especial- 

soon to give the complete history. Meanwhile, I will give 
a brief account of the worm itself, which may be known as 


THE WHEAT CUT-WORM. 


On the 10th of October, 1868, I received from Mr. F. R. Allen, of 
Allenton, Missouri, the following communication: 

“ Enclosed I send you some specimens of a worm that seems to 
be preying upon the recently sown wheat. My neighbor, Mr. George 
W. Moore, informed me a day or two ago, that a worm was eating all 
his wheat that he had lately sown in oats ground. I went to see what 
it was yesterday, and as I am not entomologist enough to tell, I refer 
them to you. Mr. Moore has learned within a day or two, that this 
same insect is now generally preying on the wheatin Franklin county, 
that is sown on oats stubble. What is remarkable they do not yet 
trouble the wheat in the same field sown on. wheat stubble. Nor do 


88 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


they seem to feed on the volunteer oatsin the same field, but entirely 
destroy the young wheat.” 
Subsequently, upon visiting Allenton, Eureka, and other places 
St. Louis county, I ascertained from L. D. Votaw and others, that 
this ‘worm had been known to attack wheat in the fall for many 
years back. They come to their growth the latter part of October, 
descend into the earth and pass the winterin the chrysalis state. The 
only manner in which I can account for their appearing only on that 
wheat which was sown on oats stubble, is by supposing that the scat- 
tering oats that were left after harvest had sprouted before the wheat, 
and had thus attracted the parent moths. On this supposition the 
worms had hatched and fed awhile, before the ground was ploughed, 
and planted to fall wheat, and this seems the more likely, since the 
worms were full-grown, almost as soon as the wheat appeared above 
ground. If this supposition be correct, the attacks of this worm can 
be effectually prevented by ploughing the land early and keeping the 
ground clear of all vegetation until the wheat is planted. No other 
rational explanation can be given, for] found by experiment that they 
would devour with equal relish the young plants of both oats, wheat, 
and a variety of grasses. | 
In the Canoda Farmer for April 15, 1867, an account was given 
of the ravages of “cut-worms” on Spring wheat, in the county of Hu- 
ron. Judging from the account however, the worm: referred to, was 
the common “ White grub ;” but if it be the same as that spoken of 
above, the fact can be ascertained by the description which I subjoin 
herewith. | 


THe WHEAT Cut-worm.—A dark pitchy black cut-worm, the characteristic mark being, a 
very distinct pale buff or flesh-colored stigmatal band. Dorsum generally of a brownish shade, the 
dorsal line of the same color, with a more or less distinct dingy shade each side of it. The subdor- 
sal region is always the darkest part of the worm, being of a pitchy brown; but edged above, at 
junction of dorsum, with a fine light buff-colored line, and generally variegated in the middle, with 
very minute light colored irrorations. Eight sealing-wax-like black elevated piliferous spots on 
each segment, those on dorsum usually having a white base outwardly. Greatest width at seg- 
ments 10 and 11, the spots upon them being also the largest. Head, deep polished brown, with the 
usual inverted Y-shaped white mark, and some white spots at sides; also with white lips, and per- 
fectly white palpi. Cervical shield, of same color as dorsum, but polished, and with the dorsal and 
sub-dorsal white lines quite distinct upon it. Caudal plate with a bright cream-colored longi- 
tudinal dash (generally constricted in the middle) between two black spots. Venter and legs glassy 
glaucous. The young worm is almost uniformly pitchy black, with the light stigmatal band al- 
ways visible however. Indeed this band is always constant no matter how much the worms vary in 
depth of ground-color. 


There are various other naked caterpillars which are frequently 
found upon the ground near vegetation of various kinds. Thus du- 
ring the months of July and August, a species with the back of each 
segment very characteristically marked as represented at Plate 1, 
Figure 12, may often be found. It seemstofeed on a variety of herbs, 
and produces a prettily variegated moth known as Prodenia comme- 
line, Guénée; but though this and other species may have the cutting 
habit, they have never attracted notice so far, and I shall pass them 
over and proceed at once to suggest the proper preventives and 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 89 


REMEDIES AGAINST CUT WORMS. 


Natural Remepres.—These cut-worms, like all other vegetable- 
feeding insects, have numerous insect enemies which are continually 
on the alert for them, and materially assist us in keeping them in due 

[Fig- 32.] bounds. Of those that are parasitic internally may be men- 
avrg tioned the minute four-winged flies belonging to the genus 

Yet Mier ogaster. One of these which is parasitic on the Army- 
FF : = worm (the If, militaris of Walsh) is represented at Fig- 
x sf ny ure 32, and it bears astrong resemblance to an undescribed 

species which I have often bred from acut-worm, described 
in the Prairie Farmer as the “Pale cut-worm.” The female fly punc- 
tures the tender skin of the worm and deposits great numbers of eggs 
in the body. These eggs produce maggots which live upon the fatty 
parts of the worm, and slowly but surely produce the death of their 
victim. When full grown they pierce the skin of the worm and spin 
their white silken cocoons, in company, on his body, and in due time 
issue forth as flies. 

There is also a large yellowish-brown four-winged Ichneumon fly 
(the Paniscus geminatus of Say), which I have bred from cut-worms. 
The parent fly deposits a single egg within the body of a worm, but 
the maggot hatching from this egg does not cause the worm to die, 
till after the latter has entered the earth to become a chrysalis. At 
this point the worm suddenly succumbs and the maggot spins a tough, 
black, smooth cocoon, and where we expected to see a moth rise ie 
day-light, we behold in time this Ichneumon fly. 

Among the cannibals, that bodily devour these worms, may be 
mentioned the Spined Soldier-bug, already referred to on page 77, note, 

[Fig. 33.] and whose likeness I produce at Figure 33. This fellow 
is such a thorough cannibal, and so serviceable to 
_ man, that his portrait cannot be too well graven on 

>the mind. It is not unlikely, also, that most of the | 

ground beetles that are figured in a future chapter on 
a b the 10-lined Potato beetle, prey upon cut-worms; and 

the Homely Geopinus referred to in the note on page 77 has been 
found to do so, but by far the most efficient insect in slaying these 
[Fig. 34.] worms is the larva of the Fiery Ground 

F beetle (Calosoma calidum, Fabr.), which I 

represent at Figure 34 a, by the side of its pa- 
rent Figure 34 6. This larva has very appro- 
priately been called the Out-worm lion, by 
_ Dr. Shimer of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, who gives 
the following account of its mode of trans- 
formation to the perfect beetle: “The fat, 
full grown larva of Calosoma calidum chooses 
a hard piece of ground, as a wagon road in 
B the field, where it bores into to pass the pupa 

state. I have seen them many hours in boring a few inches. These 


90 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


fierce insects often wage terrible battles when they encounter each 
other, and they will eat each other as readily as cut-worms, as I found | 
whenever I put more than one of them into my collecting box. He 
that would breed these insects to the perfect state, must pack the dirt 
in his breeding box as hard as a wagon road, or be will fail, as I always 
did before I saw their operations in the field. In using moderately 
compact earth, the larva digs it over and over, endeavoring to find a 
suitably dense place, works up the dirt into balls, until its feet are 
clogged up with earth and juices from its mouth, and it sinks ex- 
hausted and dies. In a few days after it enters the ground, the beau- 
tiful spotted, perfect beetle appears, and, strangely, the smell of the 
beetle is peculiar and entirely different from the larva.” 

This Cut-worm lion has quite a formidable appearance, and is ex- 
ceedingly agile. It is flattened, of a black color, with six legs upon 
the breast, and a pair of sharp hook-like jaws projecting in front of its 
head. It pursues the worms in their retreats under the ground, and 
seizes them wherever it comes in contact with them. Sometimes a 
young Cut-worm lion will seize a worm twice as large as itself, and 
will cling with bull dog tenacity to its prey, through all its throes, its 
writhings and twistings, till at last the worm succumbs, exhausted, 
and the victor bites two or three holes through its skin and proceeds 
to suck out its juices. 

Some kinds of spiders are also known to prey on cut-worms, and 
these unwisely unpopular little animals should always be cherished 
and protected. Poultry is also quite efficient in destroying them, and 
chickens are better than any other kind. I,cannot too strongly urge 
their claims as cut-worm destroyers, than by giving the statement of 
Mr. Cochran, to-wit: that he believed he could not possibly have 
coped with the worms without the aid of a large brood of chickens 
which he procured for that purpose. 


ARTIFICIAL RemEDIEs.—The climbing cut-worms are easily headed 
off by a little vigilance. From the orchard planted upon light, warm 
soils they can be driven away entirely by claying the ground about 
the trees; a wheelbarrow full is well nigh enough for each tree when 
spread around its base and as far as the limbs extend. This is the 
most thorough and lasting. A small strip of tin, three inches wide, 
carefully secured around the body of the tree, will effectually prevent 
their ascension; if the tin is old and rusty it will require to be a little 
wider. Each night, after the swelling of the bad, an hour or two after 
midnight a slight jar of the tree will bring every one on it down, when 
they can be caught in aspread sheet and destroyed. This will have 
to be followed up till the bud has unfolded into the leaf, after which 
there is no longer anything to be apprehended from the worm. The 
reasons why the clay is so efficient, are two-fold: 1Ist—The worms 
seem to have an instinctive dislike to crawling over it. 2nd—TIn drop- 
ping from the tree on to the hard surface they are frequently disabled, 
and whether disabled or not, they cannot immediately burrow into it 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. Ot 


as in sand, and they are all the more exposed to their numerous mid- 
night enemies which are ever watching for them. 

For the common field cut-worms, I am convinced that there is no 
better remedy, as arule, than hunting and killing them. It is gen- 
erally believed that ashes and lime used about plants will keep off 
cut-worms, and I might fill pages with recorded experiments, going to 
prove the good effects of these substances. The experimenters gen- 
erally forget, however, that there isa period in the life of these worms 
when they of themselves go down in the earth and disappear, and 
anything applied just before this happens is sure to be heralded forth 
as a perfect remedy. Experiments show, however, that when placed 
in a box with separate quantities of ashes, lime, salt and mold, they 
will burrow and hide in all of them, but especially in the ashes and 
mold. Soot seems to be more obnoxious to them, and, although f have 
not yet had an opportunity to give it a thorough test, I do not wish to 
discourage its trial. Fall plowing, to be efficacious, must be done very 
late in the fall, when the worms are numbed with cold, and then I 
think it is of doubtful utility further than it exposes them to the at- 
tacks of enemies, including birds. 

In a case like that, communicated by Mr. Allen, it would pay to 
dig a narrow ditch around the part of the field infested, the outward 
side to be made smooth and slanting under; for these worms cannot 
crawl up a perpendicular bank of earth. On the same principle, many 
an one may be entrapped by making smooth holes witha stick around 
hills of corn or other plants, and on going over the same ground the 
next day, those that are thus entrapped can be crushed by the end of 
the same stick. In corn fields that have been subject to the attacks of 
cut-worms, it is well to plant so much seed as will enable them to 
glut their appetites without taking all the stalks in the hill, and in 
this light the following lines contain a deal of wisdom: 


‘One for the black-bird and one for the crow, 
Two for the cut-worm and three te grow.’’ 


INSECTS INFESTING THE POTATO. 


As the potato forms one of our leading articles of diet, and is 
universally cultivated, an accurate knowledge of the insects which 
attack it, is of the utmost importance. A very full account of them 
was givenin the October and November numbers of the AMERICAN 
EnToMmoLocist, and since the editions of those two numbers are en- 
tirely exhausted, I cannot do better than to transfer it, for the most 
part, to the pages of this report, with such additions and alterations 
as I have since found necessary. 

We often see paragraphs in the papers, stating that “THE Potato 
Bug” has been very abundant and destructive in such a monthand at 


92 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


such and such a place. Accompanying these statements,remarks are 
frequently added, that “THE Potato Bug” is preyed upon by such and 
such insects, so that we may soon expect to see it swept from off the 
face of the earth; and that, even if this desirable event should not 
take place, “THE Potato Bug” may be checked and controlled by 
such and such remedies. 


Do the worthy men, who indite these notable paragraphs, ever 
consider for one moment, that there are no less than eleven distinct, 
species of bugs, preying upon the potato plant within the limits of 
the United States? That many of these eleven species are confined 
within certain geographical limits? That the habits and history of 
several of them differ as widely as those of a hog and a horse? That 
some attack the potato both in the larva state and in the perfect or 
winged state; others in the perfect or winged state alone; and others 
again in the larvastate alone? That in the case of eight of these in- 
sects there is but one single brood every year, while of the remaining 
three there are every year from two to three broods, each of them 
generated by females belonging to the preceding brood? That nine of 
the eleven feed externally upon the leaves and tenderer stems of the 
potato, while two of them burrow, like a borer, exclusively in the 
larger stalks? Finally, that almost every one of these eleven species 
has its peculiar insect enemies; and that amode of attack, which will 
prove very successful against one, two or three of them, will often 
turn out to be utterly worthless, when employed against the remain- 
der ? 

THE STALK-BORER—Gortyna nitela, Guénée. 


(Lepidoptera, Noctuidae.) 


[Fig. 35.] 


This larva (Fig. 35 2,) is of a 
livid hue when young, with 
light stripes along the body, as 
shown in the figure. When full 
— grown it generally becomes 

eo liehter, with the longitudinal 

2 lines broader, and at this time 

it more frequently resembles Figure 36. It commonly burrows in 
[Fig. 36.] large stalks of the potato; but is not peculiar 

to that plant, as it occurs also in the stalks 
of the tomato, and in those of the dahlia and 
aster and other garden flowers. I have like- 
wise found it boring through the cob of grow- 
ing Indian corn, and strangely confining itself to that portion of the 
ear: though it is likewise found occasionally in the stem of that plant. 
By way of compensation, it is particularly partial to the stem of the 
common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium); and if it would only 
confine itself to such noxious weeds as this, it might be considered as 
a friend instead of an enemy. Jn i868 it was more numerous than 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 93 


usual, and was particularly abundant along the Iron Mountain and 
Pacific roads. 

Never having found this worm earlier than June and July, nor 
obtained the moth from the very earhest matured ones, till the latter 
part of August and fore part of September, this insect must necessa- 
rily be single brooded, the egg requiring longer to hatch, and the lar- 
va longer to develop than of many other moths. Leaving the stalk 
in which they have burrowed the latter part of July, they descend a 
litte below the surface of the ground and in three days become chrys- 
alids. These are of the normal form, with two fine bristles at the ex- 
tremity of the body, usually closed so as to. form a point, but readi- 
ly opened V-shaped at the will of the insect, as with hundreds of 
others of the same class. I have had the moths issue as early as the 
380th of August and as late as the 26th of September, and in one in- 
stance it emerged during a freezing night, being quite dull and numb 
at the time, thus showing beyond a doubt that the moths hybernate 
in a state of torpor, and then deposit their eggs, singly, on the plant 
destined for the worm, during the months of Woril and May. This 
moth (Fig, 35, 2) is of a mouse gray color with the fore wings finely 
sprinkled with. Naples-yellow and having a very faint lilac-colored 
hue; but distinguished mainly by an arcuated pale line running 
across their outer third. 

Remepy—Prevention.—the careful florist, by an occasional close 
inspection of his plants about the beginning of July, may detect the 
point at which the borer entered, which is generally quite a distance 
from the ground, and can then cut him out without injury to the 
plant. As this is not feasible in a large potato field, care should be 
taken to prevent hisattacks another year as far as it is possible to do 
so, by hunting for him wherever a vine is seen to suddenly wilt. 


THE POTATO STALK-WEEVIL—Baridius trinotatus, Say. 
(Coleoptera, Curculionide.) 


This insect is more particularly 

a Southern species, occurring abun- 
dantly in the Middle States, but, ac- 
cording to Dr. Harris, being totally 
unknown in New England. I found 
it in our own State last summer, 
iM equally as abundant as the preced- 

ing species. eed. some patches were utterly ruined by it, the vines 
appearing asif scalded. The beetle (Fig 37 ¢) is ofa binge or ash- 
gray color, distinguished, as its name implies, by having three shiny 
black impressed spots at the lower edge of the thorax. The female 
deposits a single egg in an oblong slit about one-eighth inch long, 
which she has previously formed with her beak in the stalk of the 
potato. The larva subsequently hatches out, and bores into the heart 
of the stalk, always, proceeding downwards towards the root. When 


FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


94 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 95 


full grown, it is a little over one-fourth inch long (Fig. 37, a), and is 
a soft whitish, legless grub, with a scaly head. Hence it can 
always be readily distinguished from the larva of the Stalk-borer, 
which has invariably sixteen legs, no matter how small it may be. 
Unlike this last insect, it becomes a pupa (Fig. 37, 6) within the po- 
tato stalk which it inhabits; and it comes out in the beetle state about 
the last of August or the beginning of September. The stalk inhab- 
ited by the larva almost always wilts and dies, and this wilting is first 
noticed in the latitude of St Louis, about the first of July, So far as 
is at present known it attacks no other plant but the potato, and the 
perfect beetle, like many other snout-beetles, must of course live 
through the winter to reproduce its species in the following spring. 

Rrmepy.—Same as with the foregoing species. Burn all the vines 
which wilt from its attacks—roots and all, for it almost always works 
below ground. The Stalk-borer must be searched for, if one will be 
sure of killing him as he leaves the stalk to transform; but as this 
Stalk-weevil transforms within the vine, one may be pretty sure of 
destroying it by burning the vines when they first wilt. 


THE POTATO OR TOMATO-WORM—Sphinz 5-maculata, Haw. 
(Lepidoptera, Sphingide.) 

This well known insect, the larva of which is illustrated on the 
opposite page (Fig. 38, A), is usually called the Potato-worm, but it is 
far commoner on the closely allied tomato, the foliage of which it 
often clears off very completely in particular spots in a single night. 
Many persons are afraid to handle this worm, from an absurd idea that 
it has the power of stinging with the horn on its tail. But this isa 
vulgar error and the worm is totally incapable of dolng any direct 
harm to man, either with the conspicuous horn on its tail, or with any 
hidden weapon that it may have concealed about its person. In fact, 
this dreadful looking horn is not peculiar to the Potato-worm, but is 
met with in almost all the larvee of the large and beautiful group to 
which it belongs (Sphinx family.) It seems to have no special use, 
but, like the bunch of hair on the breast of the turkey cock, to bea 
mere ornamental appendage. 


When full-fed, which is usually about the last of August, the Po- 
tato worm burrows under ground and shortly aiterwards transforms 
into the pupa state (Fig. 38,B). The pupa is often dug up ia the spring 
from ground where tomatoes or potatoes were grown in the preced- 
ing season; and most persons that meet with it suppose that the sin- 
gular, jug-handled appendage at one end of it isits ¢az/. In reality, 
however, it is the tungwe-case, and contains the long pliable tongue 
which the future moth will employ in lapping up the nectar of the 
flowers, before which, in the dusky gloom of some warm, balmy sum- 
mer’s evening, it hangs for a few moments. suspended in the air, like 
the glorified ghost of some departed botanist. 

The mothitself (Fig. 38,C ) was formerly confounded with the To- 


96 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


bacco-worm moth (Sphinx Carolina, Linnezeus), which indeed it very 
closely resembles, having the same series of orange colored spots on 
each side of the abdomen. The gray and black markings, however, of 
the wings differ perceptibly in the two species; and in the Tobacco- 
worm moth there is always amore or less faint white spot or dot near 
the centre of the front wing,which is never met within the other spe- 
cies. In Connecticut and other northern States where tobacco is grown, 
the Potato-worm often feeds upon the leaves of the tobacco plant, the 
true Tobacco-worm being unknown in those latitudes. In the more 
southerly States, on the other hand, and in Mexico and in the West 
Indies, the true Potato-worm is unknown, and it is the Tobacco-worm 
that the tobacco growers have to fight. While in the intermediate 
country both species may frequently be captured on the wing in the 
same garden and upon the same evening. In other words, the Potato- 
worm is anorthern species, the Tobacco-worm a southern species; 
but on the confines of the two districts exclusively inhabited by each, 
they intermingle in varying proportions, according to the latitude. 


Remepres.—This insect is so large and conspicuous that the most 
effectual mode of destroying it is by hand-picking. In destroying the 
worms in this manner care should be taken to leave alone all those 
specimens which one finds covered with little white oval cocoons, as 
these are the cocoons of little parasites* which materially assist usin 
its subjugation. 


THE STRIPED BLISTER-BEETLE—Lytta vittata, Faby. 


(Coleoptera Meloidae.) 


The three insects figured and described above infest the potato 
plant in the larva state only, the two first of them burrowing inter- 
nally in the stalk or stem, the third feeding upon its leaves externally. 
Of these three the first and third are moths or scaly-winged insects 
(order Lepidoptera), so called because the wings of all the insects 
belonging to this large group are covered with*minute variously-col- 
ored scales, which, on the slightest touch, rub off and rob the wing of 
allits brilliant coloring. Thesecond of the three, as well as the next 
four foes of the potato, which I shall notice, are all of them beetles 
or shelly-winged insects (order Coleoptera), so called because what 
would normally be the front wing is transformed here into a more or 
less hard and shelly wing-case, which, instead of being used as an or- 
gan of flight, is employed merely to protect and cover the hind wings 
in repose. To look at any beetle, indeed, almost any inexperienced 
person would suppose that it has got no wings at all; but in reality 
nearly all beetles have full sized wings snugly folded up under their 
win g-cases, and, whenever they choose it, can fly with the greatest 


fe There are two distinct parasites which attack this worm, both species being very much of & 
size. One issues from the worm and spins a smooth white silken cocoon which it fastens | by one end 
to the skin of the worm, and in due time produces a fly which Mr. Norton informs mo is an unde- 
scribed species of Blacus, West. (Braconides polymo phi). The other species forms an iimmeuse mass 
of loose woolly cocoons and produces an apparently undescribed species of Microgasier. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 97 


ease. This is the case with the four following beetles which infest the 
potato. As these four species all agree with one another in living 
under ground and feeding upon various roots, during the larva state, 
and in emerging to attack the foliage of the potato, only when in the 
course of the summer they have passed into the perfect or beetle 
state ; it will be quite unnecessary to repeat this statement under the 
head of each of the four. In fact, the four are so closely allied, that 
they all belong to the same family of beetles, the blister-beetles 
(Lytta family)—to which also the common imported Spanish-fly or 
blister-beetle of the druggist appertains—and all of them will raise 
just as gooda blister as that does, and are equally poisonous when 
taken internally in large doses. In Missouri, these blister-beetles 
were more numerous and more injurious in 1868 than the dreaded 
Colorado Potato-beetle. 
The Striped Blister-beetle (Fig. 39) is almost exclusively a south- 
(Fig. 39-]_ ern species, occurring in particular years very abundantly 
Ne on the potato vine in Central and Southern Illinois, and in 
ie J our own State, though according to Dr. Harris, it is also 
occasionally found even in New England. In some speci- 
. mens, the broad outer black stripe on the’ wing-cases is 
* divided lengthways bya slender yellow line,so that instead 
y , of two there are three black stripes on each wing-case; and 
in the same field all the intermediate grades between the two varie- 
ties may be met with; thus proving that the four-striped individuals 
do not form a distinct species, as was formerly supposed by the Euro- 
pean entomologist, Fabricius, but are mere varieties-of the same 
species to which the six-striped individuals appertain. 

The late Samuel P. Boardman, of Lincoln, Illinois, discovered 
that this Striped Blister-beetle, like the Colorado beetle, eats all other 
potate tops in preference to Peach-blows. (See V. Y. Sem. Tribune, 
July 13, 1868.) This is certainly a new fact, so far as regards the for- 
mer species, though it has long been ascertained to be true of the 
latter, but as Ishall presently show, the Margined Blister-beetle has 
the same tastes. 


: . 
THE ASH-GRAY BLISTER-BEETLE*—Lytta cinerea, Fabr. 


This species (Fig. 40 a, male) is the one commonly found in the 
more northerly parts of the Northern States, where it usually takes 
the place of the Striped Blister-beetle figured above. It is of a uni- 
form ash-gray color; but this color is given it by the presence upon 


* In the male of this species, but not in the female, the first two joints of the antenne are 
greatly elongated and dilated; which is also the case with the species next to be referred to. (Fig. 
40 d, represents the male antennx, above ; that of female below.) Hence, in splitting up the exten- 
sive and unwieldy old genus (Lytta), these and certain allied species have been very properly placed 
in a genus by themselves (Macrobasis); while the Striped Blister-beetle and the Margined Blister- 
beetle, not possessing this peculiarity, are grouped together under a distinct genus (Epicauta). 
Practical men, however, who do not desire to trouble their heads with these niceties, will find it most 
cae Caan to class them all together under the old genus (Lytta); and this we have accordingly 
done. 


TREE 


98 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


[Fig. 40.] 


its body of minute ash-gray 
scales or short hairs, and 
whenever these are rubbed 
off, which happens almost as 
readily as on the wings of a 
butterfly, the original black 
color of its hide appears. It 
attacks not only potato vines, 
but also honey-locusts, and 
expecially the English or Windsor Bean, and I found it quite aaa: 
dant on the Early Snap bean at Hatina nt last summer. It also at- 
tacks the foliage of the apple-tree, and likewise gnaws into the young 
fruit. 


THE BLACK-RAT BLISTER-BEETLE—Lytta murina, Le Conte. 


This species (Fig. 40 6, male) is sometimes found upon the potato 
in the month of July, and early in August. In 1867 it was found by 
Mr. D. W. Kauffman, to swarm on the potato vines near Des Moines, 
Iowa; but I have not yet met with it in Missouri. 


THE BLACK BLISTER-BEETLE—Lytta atrata, Fabr. 


This speciesis very similar in appearance to the Black-rat Blister- 
beetle; the latter being distinguishable from it only by having four 
raised lines placed lengthwise upon each wing-case and by the two 
first joints of the antennez being greatly dilated and lengthened in 
the males as shown at Figure ec. The Black Blister-beetle appears in 
August and September, and is very common on the flowers of the 
Golden-rod. I learned from several parties, while attending the Oc- 
tober meeting of the Meramac Horticultural Society, at Eureka, that 
it had been quite numerous on the potatoes in that vicinity, and that 
they did much damage in some patches. The severe drouth of the 
summer had retarded the development of the tubers, so that this 
beetle attacked the vines before the latter were formed; but asa gen- 
eral rule, it makes its appearance too late in the season to do great 
damage. 


THE MARGINED BLISTER-BEETLE*—Lytta marginata, Fabr. 


[Fig- 41.] This species (Fig. 41) may be at once recognized by its 
general black color, and the narrow ash-gray edging to its 
wing-cases. It usually feeds on certain wild plants; but I 
found it quite abundant on potatoes last summer, both in our 
own State and in Illinois. It appears not to attack the Peach 
Blow variety, for Mr. Wm. Brown, of Eureka. informs me that 
he had a patch of Quaker Russetts by the side of another 
patch of Peach Blows, and while the former were entirely 

eaten up by it, the latter were aatonchod: 


%* This 1s the name formerly given by almost all entomologists to this species ; and a most ap- 
propriate one it is, in view of the remarkable ash-gray margin of its black wing-cases (elytra). But 
of late years it has been discovered, that, as long ago as the middle of the last century, and several 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 


Remeptes.—The same remedies will apply equally to all five of 
the Blister-beetles that have just been described. Let it be remem- 
bered that during the heat of the day, these beetles are ready with 
their wings and may be driven from the vines. - Thus the most prac- 
tical and efficient mode of destroying them, is to drive them into a 
windrow of hay or straw, and kill them by setting fire to it. As they 
all appear rather late in the season, I should recommend the planting 
of early varieties, which will be more likely to escape their attacks; 
and especially of the Peach Blow variety, the leaves of which seem 
to be more distasteful to them than those of any other variety. 


THE THREE-LINED LEAF-BEETLE—Lema tiilineata, Olivier.—(Coleoptera, Chrysomelidz.) 


The three first insects, described and figured above as infesting 
]Fig. 42.) 


the potato-plant, attack it only in the 

_ larva state. The five next, namely the 
{J five Blister-beetles, attack it exclu- 
\e) sively in the perfect state. The three 
hs that remain to be considered attack it 
both in the larva and in the perfect 
| state, but go underground to pass into 
the pupa state, in which state—lke 
oS all other Beetles, without exception— 

they are quiescent, and eat nothing at all. 


The larva of the Three-lined Leaf-beetle may be distinguished from 
all other insects that prey upon the potato by its habit of covering 
itself with its own excrement. In Figure 42 a, this larva is shown in 
profile, both full and half grown, covered with the soft, greenish ex- 
crementitious matter which from time to time it discharges. Figure 
42 c, gives a somewhat magnified view of the pupa; and Figure 42 8, 
shows the last few joints of the abdomen of the larva, magnified, and 
viewed, not in profile, but from above. The vent of the larva, as will. 
be seen from this last figure, is situated on the upper surface of the 
last joint, so that its excrement naturally falls upon its back, and by 
successive discharges is pushed forward towards its head, till the whole 


years before Fabricius named and described this insect as the ‘‘Margined Blister-Beetle”’ (Lytta 
marginata), it was named and described as the ‘‘ Ash-gray Blister-beetle’”’ (Lytta cinerea), by Foer- 
ster. Hence, in accordance with the inexorable ‘‘law of priority,’’ the obedient scientific world 
has been cailed upon to adopt Foerster’s name for this species; and as two species belonging to the 
same genus can not, of course, have the same specific name, the true Ash-gray Blister-beetle of 
ici Lytta cinerea), which is really ash-gray all over, has been re-christened by the name of 
<‘Fabricius’ Blister-beetle’’ (Lytta Fabricii.) Positively, this continual chopping and changing in 
scientific nomenclature is getting to be an unbearable nuisance, and must be put a stop to. Uther- 
wise one-half of the time of every entomologist, which might be much better occupied in studying 
out scientific facts, will he frittered away in studying out scientific phreses. 

Many writers, in giving the scientific Jesignation of an insect, neglect to add the name of the 
author who first described it. This practice often leads to error, uncertainty, and confusion, as the 
preceding example will at onceshow. If, for instance, we write simply ‘‘ Lytta cinerea,”’ bow can 
the reader tell whether we mean the species described under that name by Foerster, or the very dis- 
tinct species described under the very same name ‘‘cinerea’’ by Fabricius? Whereas, if we add the 
author’s name, all doubts upon the subject are at once removed; and we can snap our fingers at 
those wearisome and interminable disputes about the priority of names and the law of priority, 
which take up so much space in scientific papers, while they add absolutely nothing to our knowl- 
edge of the facts recorded by the finger of God in the great book of Nature. 


100 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


upper surface of the insect is covered with it. In other insects, which 
do not indulge in this simgular practice, the vent is situated either at 
the extreme tip of the abdomen or on its lower surface. 


There are several other laryze, feeding upon other plants, which 
commonly wear cloaks of this strange material, among which may 
be mentioned one which is very common upon the Sumach, and which 
produees a jumping, oval Leaf-beetle (Blepharida rhots, Foerster), 
about a quarter of an inch long, and of a yellow color, speckled with 
brick-red. The larvze of certain Tortoise-beetles ( Cassida), some of 
which feed on the Morning Glory and the Sweet Potato vines, adopt 
the same practice, but in their case there is a forked process at the 
tail which curves over their backs and receives the requisite supply 
of excrement. 


Many authors have supposed that the object of the larva, in all 
these cases, is to protect its soft and tender body from the heat of the 
sun. This can searcely be the correct explanation, because then they 
would throw away their parasols in cold cloudy weather, which they 
do not do. In all probability, the real aim of Nature, in the case of 
all these larvee, is to defend them from the attacks of birds and of can- 
nibal and parasitic insects. 


There are two broods of this species every year. The first brood 
of larvae may be found on the potato vine toward the latter end of 
June, and the second in August. The first brood stays underground 
about a fortnight before it emerges in the perfect beetle state; and 
the second brood stays there all winter, and only emerges at the be- 
[Fig- 43.] ginning of the following June. The perfect beetle [Fis- 44-} 
#f (Fig. 43) is of a pale yellow color, with three black 
stripes on its baek, and bears a general resem- yet 
Ai a\ | blance to the common Cucumber-beetle(Diabrotica AD 
vittata, Fabr., Fig 44). From this last species, how- : 
if ) ever,it may be readily distinguished by the remarkable 
pinching in of the sides of its thorax, so as to make quite a lady-like 
waist there, or what naturalists call a “constriction.” Itis also on the 
average a somewhat larger insect, and differs in other less obvious 
respects. As in the case of the Colorado Potato-beetle, the female, 
after coupling in the usual manner, lays her yellow eggs (Fig. 42 d) 
on the under surface of the leaves of the potato plant. The larve 
hatching from these require about the same time to develop, and when 
full grown descend in the same manner into the ground, where they 
transform to pup (Fig. 42 ¢) within a small oval chamber, from which 
in time the perfect beetle comes forth. 


The Three-lined Leaf-beetle, in certain seasons, is a great pest in 
the Eastern States; but, it has never yet occurred in the Valley of the 
Mississippi in such numbers as to be materially injurious. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 


THE CUCUMBER FLEA-BEETLE—Haltica cucumeris.*—Harris. 
(Coleoptera, Chrysemelide.) 


This minute Beetle (Fig. 45) belongs to the Flea-beetles (Haltica 
(Fig. 45.] family), the same sub-group of the Leaf-beetles (Phytophaga) 
g/ to which also appertains the notorious Steel-blue Flea-beetle 
\( Haltica chalybea, Uliger), that is such a pest to the vineyard- 
w ist. Like all the rest of the Flea-beetles, it has its hind thighs 
ey enlarged, which enables it to jump with much agility. It is 
not peculiar to the potato, but infests a great variety of plants, includ. 
ing the cucumber, from which it derives its name. It operates by 
eating minute round holes into the substance of the leaf which it at- 
tacks, but often not so as te penetrate entirely through it. In South 
Ulinois whole fields of potatees may often be ebserved locking seared 
and yellow, and with their leaves riddled with the reund holes made 
by this insect. The larva feeds internally upon the substance of the 
leaf, like that of the clesely-allied Hurepean Flea-beetle of the turnip 
{ Haltica nemorum, Linn.}; and, from its near relationship toe that in- 
sect, we may infer that it goes underground te assume the pupa state, 
that it passes through all its stages in about a month, and that there 
are twe or three broods of them in the course of the same season. 


TEE COLORADG POTATO-BEETLE—Doryphora 10-lineata, Say. 
(Coleoptera, Chrysemelidz.) 
IIS PAST HISTORY AND FUTURE PROGRESS. 
[Fig. 46.] 


Up to the autumn of 1865, it was generally supposed by economic 
entomologists, that this destructive insect had existed from time imme- 
morial in the Northwestern States, feeding upon some worthless weed 
or other; and that of late years, from some unexplained cause, it had 
all of a sudden taken to attacking the potato-plant. In October, 1865, 


% Erroneoucly considered by some authors as identical with the Haltica pubescens of Illiger. 
fn this last species, according to Dr. J. L. LeConte, the thorax, instead ef being shining, as in our 
imsect, is opaque, with large, dease punctures. 


102 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Mr. Walsh showed that originally its exclusive home wasin the Rocky 
Mountains, where it had been known to exist for at least forty-five 
years feeding upon a wild species of potato peculiar ta that region 
(Solanum rostratum, Dunal); that when civilization marched up to 
the Rocky Mountains, and potatoes began to be grown in that region, 
it gradually acquired the habit of feeding upon the cultivated potato; 
that in 1859, spreading eastward from potato patch to potato patch, it 
had reached a point one hundred miles to the west of Omaha city, in 
Nebraska; that in 1861, it invaded Iowa, gradually, in the next three 
or four years, spreading eastward over that State; that In 1864 and 
1865, it crossed the Mississippi, invading Illinois on the western bor- 
ders of that State, from the eastern borders of North Missouri and 
Towa, upan at Teast five different points on a line of two hundred 
miles; and that in all prubability it would in future years “ travel on- 
wards to the Atlantic, establishing a permanent colony wherever it 
goes, and pushing eastward at the rate of about fifty miles a year.” 
(Practical Entomologist, Vol. 1, No.1.) A remarkable pecufiarity in 
the eastern progress of tnis insect was subsequently pointed out by 
the same writer, in 1866, namely, that “in marching through Illinois 
in many separate columns, just as Sherman marched to the sea, the 
southern columns of the grand army lagged far behind the northern 
eolumns.” (J/d2d, II, p. 14.) 


Now, let us see how far the predictions above, have been verified 
By the autamn of 1866, the Colorado Potato-beetle, which appears to 
have invaded the south-west corner of Wisconsin at as early a date as 
1862 (/bid, HU, p. 104), had already occupied and possessed a large part 
of the cultivated orsouthern parts of that State; and in Ilinoisif we draw 
a straight line to connect Chicago with St. Louis, nearly all the region 
that lies to the north-west of that ine was cverrun by it. It subse- 
quently invaded parts of South Ihnois, occurring in Union, Marion, 
and Effingham counties, in 1868; and already in 1867 it had passed 
through the eastern borders of North and Central fllinois into West- 
ern Indiana, and the south-west corner of Michigan; and finally, in 
£868 it made its appearance in many Gifferent places in Indiana, and 
as the following communication from a Cincinnati correspondent of 
the Ohio Farmer, under date of July, 1868, will show, it has even 
spread into Ohio. 


“ About three years ago when in your office at Cleveland, you 
presented me with samples of this devastating insect, the first I had 
seen; they have been preserved in the collection of one of the best 
entomologists of Ohio. You had received the beetles trom some cor- 
respondent in lowa, where it was then ravaging the crops and where 
it continues to be very destructive. We soon learned that the insects 
were progressing eastward at the computed rate of about thirty miles 
a vear, and we began ta caleulate the time when we might expectits 
appearance in Ohio—whick we did net anticipate for some years. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 


“ Having crossed the Mississippi at Rock Island the insects soon 
traversed the State of Illinois and reached the shores of Lake Michi- 
gan, where it might have met a watery grave, but, unfortunately its 
course was only deflected southward, and there were other cohosts of 
the invaders, traversing lower parallels, so that by convergence, the 
force was multiplied and great fears were anticipated by the potato- 
growers of Northern Indiana and Ohio, and it was supposed that 
Northern Ohio would be invaded before the Southern portion of this 
State. 

“ At the last annual meeting of the Indiana Horticultural Society, 
in January 1868, the existence of this insect was reported in several 
counties in the north-western part of that State during 1867, leading 
us to apprehend that the day of their approach to us was not so dis- 
tant as we had fondly hoped. Cerrespondents now inform us that 
this beetle has reached Lafayette, Indianapolis, Danville, and other 
points of central Indiana, so that its progress eastward continues with 
increasing speed. 

“We have now to record the actual presence of the Ten-lined 
Spearman, (Doryphora 10-lineata,) in the south-western corner of 
Ohio, a very few specimens of this pest having been taken within the 
past week in Hamilton county.” 


Thus it appears that its average annual progress towards the east 
has been upwards of seventy miles. At the same rate of progression it 
will touch the Atiantic ocean in about ten years from now, or A. D. 
1878. 

* But,” it will be asked, “how could any entomologists make the 
mistake of supposing that the Colorado Potato-beetle had always ex- 
isted in the Northwestern States?” The answer is, that, as was proved 
three years ago in the article already referred to they inadvertently 
confounded together two entirely distinct, but very closely allied spe- 
cies, the bogus Colorado Potato-beetle (Doryphora juncta, Germar), 
and the true Colorado Potato-beetle (Doryphora 10-lineata, Say). 
The former of these has existed in the South-west from time imme- 
morial, and has long since been known to feed in the larvastate upon 
the horse-nettle (Solanum carolinense, Linn,) a wild plant which is 
exceedingly adundant in our own State. In 1863 Mr. Glover stated 
that he “had found an insect similar to the Ten-striped Spearman [or 
true Colorado Potato-beetle] on the common horse-neetle in Georgia.” 
(Agr. Department Rep.,p. 579). In 1867 he assured me that this 
insect, found by him on the horse-nettle in Georgia four years before, 
was the bogus Colorado Potato-beetle (D. juncta,) and that “a Mr. 
Walter had also found it feeding upon the Egg-plant in Montgomery, 
Alabama.” I discovered this same species in Kentucky in 1864, feed- 
ing in conjunction with its larvae upon a plant, which could have 
been nothing else but the horse-nettle; and Jast fall I met with it in 
great numbers, in St. Louis and Jefferson counties in this State, feed- 
ing upon the same plant, in company with its larve; and in one in: 


104 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


stance the larve of both the true and the bogus species occurred in 
company. Thus it appears to inhabit at least five southerly regions, 
namely South Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama. 


The true Colorado Potato-beetle as has been already stated, only 
immigrated into Illinois in 1864, and in its native home, the Rocky 
Mountains, feeds naturally upon another wild species of potato, which 
is quite distinct from the horse-nettle, and is peculiar to the Rocky 
Mountain region. Again, the former species has never yet been 
known to attack the cultivated potato, and in all likelihood never will 
do so; for, as it has existed in all likelihood never will do so; for, as 
it has existed in Illinois, for at least 14 years, and in Georgia for at 
least 44 years, without ever having been known to attack this plant, 
which has been growing all that time in these two States, it is not at 
all probable that it will do so at any future time. The latter species, 
on the other hand, acquired this habit, as was shown before, in the 
region of the Rocky Mountains, when for the first time the potato was 
introduced there, some twenty years ago; and from that region the 
potato-feeding race of this insect has since been spreading further 
and further every year towards the east. Finally the bogus Colorado 
Potato-beetle is more peculiarly a southern species, occurring in the 
more southerly portion of Illinois, and in Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, 
and probably Alabama,while the true ColoradoPotato-beetle is original- 
ly an Alpine species, its native home being the canons (kanyons) of the 
Rocky Mountains, and it therefore thrives best and spreads fastest in 
the more northerly regions, such as Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wis- 
consin and North Illinois; while in South Illinois, Missouri, and Kan- 
sas, it neither thrives so well nor spreads so rapidly. 

The question whether the true Colorado Potato-beetle has existed 
for an indefinitely long time in the country that lies to the east of the 
Mississippi river, or whether it is not the bogus Colorado Potato- 
beetle that has there been mistaken for it, while the true Colorado 
Potato-beetle has in reality immigrated into that country from the 
Rocky Mountain region within the last four or five years, may seem to 
some of merely theoretical interest. It is, however, of great practi- 
-calimportance. On the first supposition itis not probable that this 
bitter enemy of the potato will travel onwards and onwards towards 
the Atlantic; on the second supposition it will most likely traverse 
Ohio within a year or two, spread like a devouring flame through the 
great potato-growing State of Michigan, and finally pass eastwards 
into Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. I shall, therefore, 
briefly point out the minute but invariable characters which distin- 
:guish them both in the larva and perfect beetle states. 

I had an excellent opportunity of comparing the larvee of juncta 
with those of 10-/ineata, from alcoholic specimens which were kindly 
sent to Mr. Walsh by Mrs. H. C. Freeman, of Cobden, Lllinois, and 
ifrom numerous living specimens which I found around St. Louis. 

At Figure 46, the true Colorado Potato-beetle is represented in all 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 


its varied stages; 6,6, representing the larve of three different 

[Fig. 47]. growths and sizes. In the an- 
nexed Figure 47, b, b, represents 
the full grown larvee of the bo- 
gus Colorado Potato-beetle. It 
will be seen at once that the 
head of the former is black, that 
the first joint behind the head is 
pale and edged with black be- 
hind only, that there is a double 
row of black spots along the side of the body, and that the legs are 
black, the ground-color of the body being of a Venetian-red. In the 
other larva (Fig. 47 4), on the contrary, the head is of a pale color, 
the first joint behind the head reddish-brown and edged all round 
with black; there is but a single row of black spots along the side of 
the body and the legs are pale, while the ground color of the body is 
of a pale cream, tinged with pink or flesh color. Such are the distin- 
guishing characteristics of the two larve; but itis an interesting fact 
that these characters are not always constant. Thus the individuals 
of the second (last summer’s) brood of 10-lineata larvee which fed 
on the horse-nettle in my garden were all of them much paler than 
were those of the first, potato feeding brood, from which they had de- 
scended; and furthermore the lower row of spots was very indistinct 
and in many entirely obsolete, while the head, instead of being black 
was entirely brown. Whether this variation from the normal type 
was due to the food-plant or not, I shall not at present offer an opin- 
ion, but I should have been doubtful about the species had I not bred 
the perfect beetle (10-2éneata) from them. Again as I shall immedi- 
ately show the young larva of juncta similates in its markings the ma- 
ture larva of 10-dineata. 


The eggs of 10-Jineata (Fig. 46, a, a) are of a translucent orange- 
red color, while those of juncta (Fig. 47, a, w) are whitish, with a faint 
tinge of flesh-color, and still more translucent. The newly hatched 
larvee of the former are of a dark Venetian-red, and they become 
lighter as they grow older, while the newly hatched larvee of the lat- 
ter have the body as light as the full grown individuals. Singularly 
enough, however, the newly hatched larve of juncta instead of having 
the light yellow head and the single row of spots of the mature in- 
dividuals, have a brown head and ¢wo rows of spots, the lower being 
less distinct than the upper row, and placed exactly in the same posi- 
tion as the lower row on the mature larvee of 10-lineata (see Fig. 46 4, 
lower figure). 

I subjoin a more full description of Doryphora juncta. That of the larva of Doryphora 10- 
lineata will be found in Dr. Fitch’s N. ¥. Reports, Vol. III, pp. 231-2. According to Dr. Fitch, 
the ground color of this last larva is ‘“‘pale-yellow”’ in the mature state ; according to Dr. Shimer, 


- in his excellent article on the preparatory stages of this insect, it is ‘‘orange.’’ In the immature 
-larve it is almost always of a dull Venetian-red, though in the mature larve the color becomes 


105 FIRST ANNUAL REFORT OF 


lighter. Indeed in some instances it becomes almost as pale as that of D. juncta. I saw a num- 
ber of such pale individuals among the late broods of last summer, though I had never seen them 
so pale before, notwithstanding I have witnessed great numbers of them every year, since 1863. 
DorypHoRA JUNCTA, Germar.— Mature larva.—General color apale yellowish flesh-color. Head 
bright gamboge-yellow, with the antenne placed behind the base of the mandibles, short and yery 
robustly conical, three-jointed, joints 2 and3 black. Precisely as in 10-lineata, there are six small 
simple black eyes upon each side, one pair longitudinally arranged and placed below the antenna» 
the other two pairs arranged in a square and placed a little above and behind the antenra; tip of 
the mandibles black. Body, with the dorsum of joint 1 composed of a separate transverse horny 
plate, rounded at the sides, of a rich shiny vandyke-brown, with the edges somewhat raised, and 
jet black and with a fine line of a lighter color running through the middle from the posterior to 
the anterior edge. Joints 1—3 each, with a lateral horny black tubercle, that of joint 1 placed 
below and behind the horny prothoracic plate, and enclosing a spiracle. Joints 4—11 each with a 
similar lateral tubercle enclosing a spiracle; but the row composed of these eight tubercles is 
placed a little above the row of three tubercles on joints 1—3, and the last four of the eight are 
gradually smaller and smaller, until that on joint 8 isreduced to a simple black spiracle. Legs pale 
yellow; coxe exteriorly dark brown, the two hinder pairs each more and more so, with a geminate 
horny plate above each, which becomes more and more brown in each successive pair. An exterior 


dusky dot, or small spot, on the tip of the femur and of the tibia. Tarsus small, one-jointed, 
brown, and with a black claw. 


The body has a distinct translucent dorsal heart-line, and has usually a shade of the same color 
both above and below the lateralrow of black tubercles; while there are two transverse dark- 
brown bands across the extreme tip of the body, which is usedas an analproleg. This larva, when 
well fed, is very smooth and swollen, though it soon becomes wrinkled after fasting. The pink 
tint of the body is more intense on the neck and between the legs. 


Now let us see what are the differences in the perfect beetle state 
of these two insects, in which state even a practised entomologist 
would, at first sight, be apt to confound them together. Indeed, so 
minute are the differences, that in a drawing of the natural size, it is 
scarcely possible to exhibit them, but with the greatly enlarged leg 
and wing-case of each species, which are given in the foregoing figures, 
we shall readily be enabled to do so. Figure 46, d, d, exhibits the true 
Colorado Potato-beetle; Figure 47, c, the bogus Colorado Potato-beetle, 
each of itsnatural size. Figure 46, e,shows the /e/t wing-case enlarged, 
and Figure 46, 4, an enlarged leg of the former; Figure 47, a, the left 
wing-case enlarged, and Figure 47, e,an enlarged leg of the latter. 
On a close inspection it will be perceived that in the former (Tig. 46, 
é) the boundary of each dark stripe on the wing-cases, especially to- 
wards the middle, is studded with confused and irregular punctures, 
partly inside and partly outside the edge of the dark stripe; thatitis 
the third and fourth dark stripes, counting from the outside, that are 
united behind; and that inthe leg both the knees and the teet are 
black. In the latter (Fig. 47, d), on the contrary, the dark stripes are 
accurately edged by asingle regular row of punctures placed ina 
groove (stria); itis the second and third stripes—not the third and 
fourth—counting from the outside, that are united behind, the space 
between them being almost always brown; and the leg is entirely 
pale, except a black spot on the middle of the front of the thigh, 

The spots on the thorax, in either of the above two species, are 
normally eighteen in number, arranged in the same very peculiar 
pattern which may be seen both in Figure 46, d,d, and in Figure 47, ¢; 
and precisely the same variations in this complicated pattern occur in 
either species. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 107 


Thus, these two beetles differ essentially from one another upon a 
strict comparison; but the general resemblance is so great that it is 
not to be wondered at that the two have been confounded together 
by several otherwise well qualified observers. 


Hapits of tHE CoLorApo PorTatTo-REETLE.— This insect can fly, 
though it does so very reluctantly aud only during the heat of the 
day. Its wings, like those of several allied species, are of a bright 
rose-color, and with its cream-colored body, and the five black stripes 
upon each wing-case, it presents a beautiful appearance as it flies 
abroad in the clear light of the sun. Its transformations were first 
made known by myself in the Prairie Farmer for August 8, 1863- 
Subsequently, in 1866, Dr. Shimer, of Mt. Carroll, detailed some addi- 
tional particulars bearing on its habits, in a paper which he published 
in the Practical Entomologist (vol. 1, pp. 84-85). In the latitude of 
St. Louis there are three broods during the year, the last brood win- 
tering over in the beetle state underground. They are usually dug 
up in the spring of the year in land that had been planted to potatoes 
the year before. The beetles issue of their own accord from the 
ground about the first of May, and the last brood of beetles enters the 
ground to hybernate during the month of October. Though, in gen- 
eral terms, this beetle may be said to be three-brooded, yet it may be 
found at almost any time of the year in all its different stages- 
This is owing to the fact that the female continues to deposit her eggs 
in patches from time to time—covering a period of about forty days; 
and also from the fact that among those larve which all hatch outin one 
day, some will develop and become beetles a week and even ten days 
earlier than others. Thus it may be that some of the late individuals 
of the third brood pass the winter in the pupa state, though the nor- 
mal habit is to first transform to beetles. Each female is capable of 
depositing upwards of a thousand eggs before she becomes barren, 
and in from thirty to forty days from the time they were deposited, 
they will have produced perfect beetles. These beetles are again 
capable of depositing eggs in about two weeks after issuing from the 
ground, and thus, in about fifty days after the egg is laid, the offspring 
begins to propagate. The pupa of the Colorado Potato beetle is re- 
presented at Figure 46, ¢. It is formed ina little cavity which the 
larva had made perfectly smooth and hard, and it is of the same color 
as the larva. The beetle, on first emerging from it, is quite pale and 
soft, without any markings whatever. 

Unlike many other noxious insects, this larva is not a general 
feeder, but is confined to plants belonging to the potato family ( Soda- 
nacew), and especially to the genus to which the potato. belongs 
(Solanum). Occasionally it feeds an the tomato, on the ground-cher- 
ry (PAysalis), and on the imported Jamestown-weed, or gympson- 
weed (Datura). Itprefers the horse-nettle (Solanum carolinense) to 
some varieties of the potato, and were it not that the nettle is con- 
sidered a nuisance, on account of the difficulty of eradicating it when 


108 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


once introduced, it would bea good plan to encircle a potato field 
with a row of nettles, so as to concentrate the insects, and thus more 
readily destroy them. Itis also even more destructive to the egg- 
plant than to the potato. Now, the egg-plant, the horse-nettle, and 
the potato, all three of them belong to the same genus (Solanum), 
as the wild plant upon which the larva originally fed in the Rocky 
Mountain region; but the egg-plant and the horse-nettle are botani- 
cally more closely related to the last than is the potato; being, like 
the Rocky Mountain potato, covered with thorny prickles, while the 
cultivated potato is perfectly smooth. Onthe other hand, the culti- 
vated potato is much more nearly related to the Rocky Mountain 
species than is the tomato; which last has, by modern botanists, been 
removed from the genus to which the other two appertain, and placed 
ina genus by itself. It would seem, therefore, that the closer a plant 
comes to the natural tood-plant of the insect, the better the insect 
likes it. 

The beetles have been sent to me, as taken from other plants, and 
even from the raspberry, but I could never succeed in making them 
feed on any plant that did not belong to the potato family, though I 
am informed by my friend, Edgar Sanders, of Chicago, that they 
greedily attack the tubers after they are dug, and he has foand as 
many as six in asingle potato. 

It is undoubtedly a most singular and noteworthy fact that, out of 
two such very closely allied species as the bogus and the true Colo- 
rado Potato-beetles, feeding respectively in the first instance upon 
very closely allied species of wild potato (Solanum rostratum and 
S. carolinense), the former should have pertinaciously refused, 
for about half a century, to acquire a taste for the cultivated 
potato, with which it was all the time in the closest and most im- 
mediate contact, while the latter acquired that taste as soon as ever 
it was brought into contact with that plant. But, after all, thisis not 
so anomalous and inexplicable as the fact that the ele rane Fly 
( Trypeta pomonelia, Walsh), which exists both in Illinois, New York, 
and New England, and the larva of which feeds in Illinois upon the 
native haws, and has never once been noticed to attack the imported 
apple there, should, within the last few years, have suddency fallen 
upon the apple, bothin New York and New England, and in many lo- 
calities there, have become a more grievous foe to that fruit than 
even the imported Apple-worm ( Carpocapsa pomonella, Linn. )* 

Thinking that the bogus Colorado Potato-beetle might be com- 
pelled to feed on the potato in a state of confinement, I gave it every 
opportunity; but though the larvee, when transferred from the horse 
nettle, fed more or less on potato leaves, they invariably became sickly 
and eventually died. But even if they had actually fed upon potato 
leaves quite freely in a state of confinement and developed into bee- 


* See on this subject the First Annual Report on the Noxious Insects of Illinois, by Benj. D. 
Walsh, pp. 29-30, in the Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society for 1867. 


SHE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 


tles it by no means follows that the mother beetle would deposit her 
eggs upon the potato in a state of nature, and thereby compel her fu- 
ture progeny to feed upon that plant. That she will do so upon her 
natural food-plant, the horse-nettle, we know; and, according to Mr. 
Walter of Alabama, she will do so upon the egg-plant, which is thorny 
like the horse-nettle. But apparently she is indisposed to go one step 
further, and lay her eggs upon a smooth species of the same botanical 
genus, namely the potato. 

NaturaL Remeptes.—Persons not familiar with the economy of 
insects are continually broaching the idea that, because the Colorado 
Potato-beetle isin certain seasons comparatively quite scarce,therefore 
it is about to disappear and trouble them no more. This is a very fal- 
lacious mode of reasoning. There are many insects—for instance, the 
notorious Army-worm of the north (Leucanta unipuncta, Haworth) 
—which only appear in noticeable numbers in particular years, 
though there are enough of them left over from the crop of every 
year to keep up the breed forthe succeeding year. There are other 
insects—for instance the Canker-worm ( Anisopteryx vernata, Peck )— 
which ordinarily occur in about the same numbers fora series of 
years, and then, in a particular season and in a particular locality, 
seem to be all at once swept from offi the face of the earth. These 
phenomena are due to several different causes, but principally to the 
variation and irregularity in the action of cannibal and parasitic in- 
sects. Weare apt to forget that the system of Nature is a very com- 
plicated one—parasite preying upon parasite, cannibal upon cannibal, 
parasite upon cannibal, and cannibal upon parasite—till there are 
often so many links in the chain that an occasional irregularity be- 
comes almost inevitable. Every collector of insects knows, that 
scarcely a single season elapses in which several insects, that are or- 
dinarily quite rare, are not met with in prodigious abundance; and 
this remark applies, not only to the plant-feeding species, but also to 
the cannibals and the parasites. Now, it must be quite evident that 
if, in a particular season, the enemies of a particular plant-feeder are 
unusually abundant the plant-feeder will be greatly diminished in 
numbers, and will not be able to expand to its ordinary proportions 
until the check that has hitherto controlled it is weakened in force. 
The same rule will hold with the enemies that prey upon the plant- 
feeders, and also with the ememies.that prey upon those enemies, 
and so on ad infinitum. The real wonder is, not that there 
should be occasional irregularities in the numbers of particular spe- 
cies of insects from year to year, but that upon the whole the scheme 
of creation should be so admirably dove-tailed and fitted togetyer, 
that tens of thousands of distinct species of animals and plants are 
able permanently to hold their ground, year after year, upon a tract 
of land no larger than an ordinary State. 

To illustrate the decrease in its numbers which took place in the 
State of Iowa from 1867-8, I will state that Mr. Henry Tilden, of Da- 


110 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


venport, who had previously made tomato and potato growing a spec- 
laltv, was forced to go toraising small grains on its account, in 1867, 
having lost 30 acres of potatoes by its ravages in 1866; while in 1867 
Mr Suel Foster, of Muscatine, Iowa, offered a large premium to any 
one who would insure his crop ef potatees. NowI have received 
numbers of letters which go to show that the damage done to pota- 
toes in Iowa in 1868 was comp aratively very slight, and the following 
article which Mr. Foster published in the Prairte Farmer of May 
16th. 1868, sufficiently demonstrates that Mr. F. would have been the 
loser, had any insurance company seen fit to insure his crop on his 
own terms: 

“ For three years past Ihave given the mest discouraging accounts 
of the ruinous destruction of our almost indispensable potato crop, 
I now have a word of encouragement. Last year J planted very spar- 
ingly of potatoes; the year before, by great perseverance, I succeed- 
ed in raising a few Early Goodrich and Harrison, by continual pick- 
ing and killing the bugs, and last year planted the product on anew 
piece of land where ro potatoes had been raised; but the bugs found 
them as soon as they were up; IJ picked the bugs awhile, then gave 
them up to their destruction, and the potatoes were nearly destroyed. 
About the first to the tenth of June the bugs began to diminish. We 
found the little red and black spotted lady bug quite numerous and 
active, eating the eggs of the petato bug. Ididn’t believe those little 
lady bugs could possibly destroy enough of the eggs of the potato 
bugs to materially check their increase; but there were but very few 
of the second brood that hatched in this part of the country, and our 
late and strong growing potatoes were a full crop. 

“What became of the bugs that were so numerousin May and the 
first of June? The lady bug, with a little assistance from a few other 
insects, destroyed their eggs. Last May the weather was very wet 
and cold, yet the bugs increased, and although more stiff and clumsy 
than in dry, warm weather, they were hearty at their food. Had 
June been cold and wet, I should have thought their disappearance 
was caused by that; but June was a very favorable time for their in- 
crease and spread on the wing by night. The Colorado potato bugs 
nearly all disappeared here in June, and not a bug have we seen in 
plowing and digging in the ground this spring, while in former sea- 
sons we used to find them plentifully. I believesome will make their 
appearance this year, but I fully believe that the same cause which 
destroyed them so early last year—the lady bug and others, some of 
which preyed upon the young potato bugs—will prevent their increase 
this year. If the above are not the facts in this case, can any one tell 
us facts and theories that are more reliable? Itis true, ] am not as 
positive about this as if I had met a regiment of rebels, and had 
counted the dead and prisoners, to tell what had become of thein, 
But we, in this region, do not expect the bug this year, and are plant- 
ing potatoes with very little hesitation. Your readers may rely upon 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 111 


this as the fate of the potato bug for the present, and I will write you 
again in a month, or as soon as I get additional news from him. 

‘ The Illinois correspondent of the Country Gentleman, writing 
from Champaign county, says: 

“Those plowing old potato ground where these creatures operated 
extensively last year, find the ground full of the dormant wretches, 
We, at Muscatine, Iowa, will lend them our Benson’s Horse Power 
Potato Bug Killer, but we can’t spare our lady bugs.” 

The following enemies of the Colorado Potato-beetle, are among 
the most prominent which have been instrumental in checking its 
ravages during the past summer. 


THE COLORADO POTATO-BEETLE PARASITE—Lydella doryphora, N. Sp. 
(Diptera Tachinide.) 


This fly (Fig. 48) has probably been more efficient in checking it 
[Fig. 48.] 


than any one other insect, at least in our 
own State. Until last year no parasitic in- 
sect whatever was known to prey inter- 
.. nally upon it, but this fly destroyed fully 
7, ten per cent. of the second brood and fifty 
per cent. of the third brood of potato- 
beetles that were in my garden. It bears 
avery close resemblance, both in color 
and size, to the common house fly, butis 
readily distinguished from the latter by 
its extremely brilliant silver-white face. 
It may be seen throughout the summer months flying swiftly from 
place to place, and deftly alighting on fence or wall, where, basking 
in the sun, its silvery face shows to good advantage. As with the rest 
of the family to which it belongs, the habit of the female is to attach 
a single egg externally to the body of the Potato-beetle Jarva. This 
egg subsequently hatches into a little footless maggot, which burrows 
into the body of its living victim, and eventually destroys it, but not 
until it has gone underground in the usual manner. The victimized 
larva instead of becoming a pupa, and eventually a beetle, as it would 
have done had it not been attacked, begins to shrink as soon as it en- 
ters the ground, and gradually dies; while inside its shriveled skin 
the parasitic maggot contracts into a hard brown pupa, and in due 
time issues forth in the shape of the fly which I have figured. I am 
indebted to Mr. Wm. LeBaron, of Geneva, Illinois, for the generic de- 
termination of this fly. It belongs to the genus (orsub-genus; Lydella 
Macquart, and is very closely allied to Zachina proper, with which it 
could properly be united, did not the great number of species require 
a division as a matter of necessity. Isubjoin a more detailed des- 
cription of the fly: 

LYpDELLA DORYPHORH, New Species.—Length 0.25. Alar expanse 0.48. Antennzx black. 


Palpi fulvous. Face silvery white. Front si.very, tinted with pale golden-brown, with a broad 
middle stripe black. Thorax cinereous with imperfect black stripes. Abdomen black and silvery-~ 


112 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


ash, changing into each other when viewed from different angles. When viewed from above: first 
segment deep black with a posterior border of silver-ash very narrow in the middle, much widened 
laterally, but abreviated at the sides of the abdomen. The other segments with the basal half sil- 
very-ash, terminal half black. Legs black. Fourth longitudinal vein of the wings straight after 
the angle. Posterior transverse vein arcuate. 

Described from numerous bred specimens. 


Lapysirps.—In the egg state the Colorado Potato- beetleis preyed 
upon by no less than four distinct species of Ladybirds. Foremost 
(Big. 49.] (Fig. 50.]_ [Fig- 51.] among them is the Spotted ladybird 
: (Tippodamiamaculata,DeGeer) which 
is one of our most common species and 
is of a pink color, marked with large 
¢ ‘ae : a black spots asin Figure 49. Next comes 
the Nine- potted lady bind ( Coccinella 9-notata, Herbst) which is of 
a brick-red color and marked with 9 small black spots as in Figure 
50. Next, the Thirteen-spotted ladybird (/iippodamia 13-punctata, 
Linn.) which is also of a brick-red color but marked with 13 black 
spots asin Figure 51. And last but not least, the little species fig- 
ured at 52, a, which may be known as the Convergent ladybird ( /Tip- 
[Fig. 52.] podamia convergens, Guer.) and which is of an 
orange-red color marked with black and white as in 
the figure. This last species alone has been of im- 
mense benefit in checking the ravages of the Pota- 
to-beetle. Its larva is represented of the natural 
size at Figure 52, a its colors being blue, orange and 
black ; when full grown it hangs by the tail to the andorane of a stalk 
or leaf and transforms into the pupa represented at Figure 52,6. In 
this state it is of the exact color of the Colorado beetle larva and is 
doubtless quite often mistaken forthat larva andruthlessly destroyed. 
It may readily be distinguished however by its quiescence, and let 
every potato grower learn well to recognize it and spare its life! The 
larve of all these.ladybirds are more bloodthirsty in their habits 
than the perfect beetles, and the larva of the little Convergent lady- 
bird is so essentially a cannibal that whenever other food fails, it will 
turn to and devour the helpless pup of its own kind. It is a rather 
cruel and withal a somewhat cowardly act to thus take advantage of 
a helpless brother; but in consideration of its good services, we must 
overlook these unpleasant traits in our little hero’s character! All 
these larvee bear a strong general resemblance, and with the aid of 
Figure 52 a and the annexed Figure 53, a good ideamay be obtained 
[Fig 53-] of them. They run with considerable speed, and may be 
found in great numbers upon almost all kinds of herbage. 
The larve of certain species that prey upon the Hop Plant- 
louse in the East are well known to the hop-pickers as 
“black niggers” or “ serpents,” and are carefully preserved 
by them as some of their most efficient friends. 
The eggs of ladybirds greatly resemble those of the 
Colorado Potato-beetle, and are scarcely distinguishable except by 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 113 


their smaller size and by a much smaller number being usually col- 
lected together in a single group. As these eggs are often laidin the 
same situation as those of the potato-feeding insect, care must be ta- 
ken by persons who undertake to destroy the latter, not to confound 
those of their best friends with those of their bitterest enemies. 
Tue Sprnep Sotpier-BuG.—In the larva state the Colorado Potato- 
beetle is extensively depredated on, both in Illinois, Missouri and 
[Fig. 54.] Iowa, by the Spined Soldier-bug [Fig. 55.] 
(Arma spinosa, Dallas), which is of 
an ochre-yellow color and is repre- 
sented with one pair of wings 
closed and the other pair extend- 
ed, in the annexed Figure 54.— 
€ Thrusting forwards his long and 
stout beak, he sticks it into his victim, and in a short time pumps veut 
all the juices of its body and throws away the empty skin. He be- 
longs to a rather extensive group (Scutellera family) of the true bugs 
(Heteroptera), distinguishable from all others by the very large scutel, 
which in this genus is triangular, and covers nearly half his back. 
Most of the genera belonging to this group are plant-feeders, but 
there is a sub-group (Sp7ssirostres) to which our cannibal triend be- 
longs, characterized by the robustness of their beaks, and all of these, 
seem to be cannibals. To illustrate to the eve the difference between 
the beaks of the cannibal sub-group and the plant feeding sub-groups. 
of this family, Figure 54 @ gives a magnified view of the beak of our: 
insect seen from below, and Figure 54 ¢ a similarly magnified view of 
that of a plant-feeder belonging to the same tamily ( Huschistus 
punctipes, Say), which is so nearly of the same size, shape and color 
as our cannibal friend, that at first sight many persons would mistake. 
one for the other. The Spined Soldier-hug, however, may be at once: 
distinguished from all allied bugs, whether plant-feeders or cannibals, 
by the opaque brown streak at the transparent and glassy tip of its 
wing cases. 


a 


It has sometimes been reported that the common Squash-bug 
(Coreus tristis, DeGeer) preyed upon the Colorado Potato-beetle; but 
there can be little doubt but that the Spined Soidier-bug has in these 
instances been mistaken for it. The colors of the two are somewhat 
similar but in the eyes of an entomologist the Squash-bug looks as 
different from the Spined Soldier bug as a cow does from a horse! 
The figure (55, a) of the former which is given above, opposite to 
that of the latter, will enable any one to recognize the difference, 
while its iaemiied beak (Fig. 55, 6 ) indicates by its slenderness that 
it is a vlant-feeder. 


The Spined Soldier-bug by no means confines himself to Potato- 
beetle larve, but attacks a great number of other insects. 


SRSE 


114 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


[Fig. \56.] Tue Borprrep Soiprer-Bue.—This is another insect 
? which attacks the Colorado Potato-beetle. It belongs 
to the same sub-group, and has the same kind of short 
P, robust beak as the preceding, but unlike that species, it 
‘is so conspicuously and prettily marked that it cannot 
easily be confounded with any other. Its colors are dark 
' 3 olive-green and cream-color, marked as in Figure 56. 

It is not so common as the preceding species. 


Tue Many-BANDED Rosper.—Another true bug, still more elegantly 
marked than the preceding, (Harpactor cinctus, Fabr.,) was observed 
[Fig. 57.] by Dr. Shimer, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, to attack 
the Colorado larva, and I found it attacking 
the same larva in our own State the present 
year. Like the Spined Soldier-bug, this species 
| “Vis common, and inhabits trees more commonly 
|than herbaceous plants. But it belongs to an 
Y entirely different group of the true Bugs (Redu- 
vius family), all of which, without exception, 
6 are cannibals, and are characterized by ashort, 
robust, curved beak (Fig. 57, }, profile view, magnified). Figure 57, 
a, gives a magnified view of this bug, the colors being yellow, white 
and black, and it may be known by the name of the Many-banded 
Robber. 


Tue Rapacrous SoLprER-BuG.—Still another bug belonging to the 
very same group as the preceding (Reduvius raptatorius, Say), I 

[Fig. 58]. have found sucking out the juices of the Colorado lar- 
va, and specimens were sent to me by S. H. Kriedel- 
baugh, of Clarinda, lowa, who found it with the same 
commendable habit in that State. This bug is repre- 
sented at Figure 58. It is of a light brown color, and 
may be known by the name of the Rapacious Soldier- 
bug. 


The above four insects are all of them true bugs, and attack the 
larve of the Colorado Potato-beetle with the only offensive weapon 
that they have—their beak. The four following (Figs. 59 to 62) are all 
beetles, and are consequently provided with jaws, so that they are able 
to eat up their victims bodily ; and all of them, except the first, which is 
confined to southerly !.titudes, are common throughout the Western 
States. Most, if not all, of them prey indifferently upon the Colorado 
larva and the perfect insect produced from it. 


QHE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 115 


Fig. 59.4 THE VirRGINIAN TIGHR-BEETLE.~~ 

yet This beetle ( Fetracha Virginiea 
* Hope) is ef a dark metallic green 
color, with brown legs, and the an- 
nexed cut (Fig. 59) will enable its 
~~ recognition without much difiiculty. 

Tar Fiery GRoUND~ BEETLE. 
This beetle (Calosoma calidum, 
Fabr.) has already been treated of 

on page 89 where its larva is iilus- ‘ 
trated and termed the “Cut-worm lion.” The beetle is of a biac 
eoler, with coppery ‘dots, as shown in Figure 6@, and has also been - 
found to prey on the Colorado larva. 

[Fig. €1.] Tur ExonGaté GROUND-BEETLE:— 

This pretty and conspicuous insect 
(Pasimac..us elongatus, Lec.) is an- 
‘other enemy of the.Celorado Pota- 
to-beetle. itis ofa pclished black , 
color edged with deep blue, and is 
of a rather elegaat form, being re- 
presented at figure 61. 

THE Murky GrovUND-BEETLE.—~ 
Finaily this beetle ( Harpalus cali 
syinosus, Say) which is of a dull black color, and which is represented 
life-size at Figure 62, has the same cemmendable habit as the other 
three. There are ten or twelve other beetles mostly of small size, 
~which have the same habits as the above; but they would not be 
veadily identified from an uncolored drawing. 

Buster Bexties.Strange as it may seem, the Striped Blister- 
beetle (Fig. 39, p. 97, and the Ash gray Blister-beetle (Fig. 40, a, p. 98), 
which have already been described as very injurious to the potato, 
‘seem to have the redeeming trait of also preying occasionally on the 
larva of the Celorado Potato-beetle. 1t was at first difficult to believe 
or reconcile the statements to this effect which were reported during 
the summer, but there have been so many of them that the fact may 
now be considered as indisputable, and these two Blister beetles may 
therefore, with propriety, be placed ia the list of the enemies of the 
Colorado beetle. I by no means advise their protection, however, on 
this account; tor I believe that what little good they accomplish is 
much more than outweighed by the injury they do us. As authorities 
tor these statements may be quoted, among many others, Abel Proc- 
tor, of Jo Daviess county, Hl., and T. D. Plumb, of Madison, Wis., 

“When dog eats dog, then cores the tug of war;” 
when regues fall out, honest men come by their own. And now that 
certain potato-beetles have taken to feeding upon other potato-beetles, 
the American farmer may justly lift up his voice and shout for Joy. 

Neither ducks, geese, turkeys nor barn-door fowls will touch the 
larva of the Colorado-beetle when it is offered to them; and there are 


116 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


numerous authentie cases on record, where persons who have scalded 
to death quantities of these larvew, and inhaled the fumes from their 
bodies have been taken seriously ill, and even been confined to their 
beds for many days in consequence. 

ARTIFICIAL ReEmMEDIEs.—It only remains to say something on the 
most approved method of fighting the Colorado Potato-beetle. A 
great deal may be effected by raising your potatoes at a point as re- 
mote as possible trom any ground where potatoes were raised in the 
preceding year. A great deal may also be accomplished, where there 
are no other potato patches in the immediate neighborhood, by killing 
every beetle found upon the vines in the spring, as fast as they emerge 
from the ground. By this means the evil is nipped in the bud, anda 
pretty effectual stop is put to the further propagation of the insect. 
But if there are potato patches near by, where no attention is paid to 
destroying the beetles, they will keep perpetually flying in upon you 
in spite of all you can do. 

I have already stated that, this insect cannot be driven as ean the 
blister beetles,and we have to rely on other measures. I might oc- 
cupy page after page in detailing the experiments that have been 
tried by myself and by others. But of all the mixtures recommended 
I can seriously recommend none. They are impracticable on a large 
scale, and require too frequent repetition to be efficient, as the beetles © 
issue from the ground day after day. White hellebore, paris green, 
slaked lime, etc., etc., [have proved by experiment to be valueless, 
though the two first will kill, if thoroughly applied, a certain propor- 
tion of the larva, but will not affect the beetles; and even cresylic 
acid soap, which is the best wash of the kind, does not kill them all. 
Hot water affects the pests as fatally as any of these applications, 
and when I state that I have known the beetles to bore through three 
inches of hard unleached ashes, the folly of thezr application to the 
yines becomes at once apparent. 

I, therefore, again impress upon my readers the importance of pre- 

[Fig. 63.] vention by killing every beetle which first 
appears in the spring. There is no- better 
way of doing this than by crushing them on 
the spot, and for this purpose a very simple 
pair of pincers may be constructed. At 
Figure 63 | represent a pair that were used 
last summer by 8. H. Ford, of Rolling Prairie, 
Wisconsin, and which were kindly sent to 
me by L. L. Fairchild of the same place. 
Their construction is so simple that it needs 
no explanation, two pieces of wood, a screw, 
and two small strips of leather being the only 
things needed. 

\ In parts of Iowa, the ravages of this in- 
§ sect were so serious in 1866, that a horse- 
" machine was inyented for their destruction 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 117 


by Mr. Benson, of Muscatine in that State. As this machine, or some 
improvement on it, may prove advantageous where potato-growing is 
garried on extensively, I subjoin an account of if. 


“The cost ef the machine was about thirty dollars. It consists of 
a frame-work, which moves astride the row of potatoes, on which is 
mounted longitudinally a reel somewhat like the one on MeCormicke’ 
old Reaper, which knocks the bugs off the plants into a box on one 
side. This box is of course open on the side next the row nearly down 
to the ground, but is some two feet high on the outside and at the 
ends. The ree! works over the inner edge of the box, and the bugs 
are whipped off the vines pretty clean; and the most of them are 
thrown against the higher side of the box, which converges likea 
hopper over two four-inch longitudinal rollers at the bottom, between 
which the bugs are passed and crushed. These rollers are some three 
or four feet long. 


“Those insects which are perched low down on the plants are fre- 
quently knocked on to the ground; but I think they would soon 
crawl up again; and repeating the eperation at intervals would very 
greatly reduce their numbers, and lessen very much the labor of hand- 
picking, which I think would be advisable in conjunction with the use 
ef the machine, in order to destroy the eggs and diminish the young 
brood, which is most destructive to the foliage of the plant.” 

Much may be done by a proper choice ef varieties, the Peach- 
blow having the same immunity from the attacks of this Colorado 
Potato-beetle, as from these of the Blister-beetles. I have known 
several instances where Neshannocks, raised side by side with Peach- 
blows, have been entirely destroyed, while the latter were untouched; 
and IJ therefore strongly recommend the planting of Peach-blows in 
those sections that have been visited by the beetle. 


In esnelusion let me give another word of caution. Our friends 
of the Eastern States will, doubtless, in the course of events, become. 
sufficiently acquainted with this beetle. As already stated, it is now 
in Ohio, and will continue from year te year te spread eastward. Let 
as, of the West then, not hasten its intreduction by our carelessness. 
Warmers are in the habit of sending insects through the mail to the 
editors of Eastern papers for identification. Wherever insects are thus 
sent, they should be thoroughly secured so as to prevent any possible 
escape. Specimens of this beetle were last year sent to the office of 
the American Agriculturist,in New York, packed in a very insecure 
manner. Had but a single impregnated female contrived to escape 
from the package,it might have been the means of prematurely intro- 
ducing this mischievous pest into thal State. A word to the wise is 
snficient 


118 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE APPLE-ROOT PLANT-LOUSE—Z7iosoma [ Ebene T pure, 
Fitch. 


(Homoptera, Aphids.) 
[Fig. 64.] 


The roots of the apple tree are very often found to rot, and thas 
eause the death of the tree. Of these rots there appear to be three 
distinct kinds. One kind is that popularly known as “rotten root” im 
Southern Illinois, and seeras to be a simple decomposition of the 
vegetable tissue, analagous to the rotting of the root of a cabbage 
for instance. Its cause is not ciearly understood, though it seems to 
be a consequence of certain conditions of the soil. The other rot was 
discovered the past summer by Dr. Hull, of Alton, Hlinois, and is a 
fangoid growth, which, after covering the root with a thin layer of 
white fibrous substance, causes a sortof dryrot of the root, and which 
is common to both the pear and the apple. Someof the symptoms of 
this rot are: a rather earlier devolopment or maturity of thre branches 3, 
an excess of truit buds, and a shortening or thickenimg of some twigs. 
Specimens of the affected roots were brought to Dr. 7 H. Hilgard, of 
St. Louis, for experiment, but all that he was able to ascertain was, 
that it enters the heaithy wood in the shape of a brown stringy rot 
through the canals made by missing fibres. 

In a paper read by Dr. Hull, before the Dincis State Horticultu- 
ral Society, at its 13th annual eeubte g,a communication was quoted 
from Judge A. M. pes of Villa Ridge,in which the latter gave it 
as his firm belief that rotten apple tree roots were never caused by 
root-lice, but by this particular fungus. With due deference to Judge. 
Brown’s opinion, f have to differ with him most emphatically, for lam 
convinced that this Root louse dees cause the roots to vot. Lexam- 
ined on the 15th of May last, hundreds of young apple trees on the 
nursery of Mr. J. M. Jordan, of St. Louis. Mr. J. had been greatly 
troubled with reot-lice on his young apple stock during the year 1857, 
and had dug up and thrown thousands of young trees into a heap, by 
which means he expected to kill the lice and prevent their spreading 
onto new stock. He covered this heap with earth a foot deep, and 
had the gratification of finding that nearly all the lice had died by 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 119 


the next spring. Many rows of trees—mostly one year grafted—had 
been left in the ground, however, and on examining these, I found 
that wherever the previous year the lice had been numerous enough 
to cover and deform the whole root, there that root had invariably 
rotted. In many instances all trace of the knots and deformities 
which the lice cause, had disappeared, while, in some few instances 
they were yet traceable. In every case where rot had ensued the 
lice had entirely left,so that not a trace of them could be found. 
From these, and subsequent observations made during the summer, I 
conclude that the rot does not ensue till the roots have been com- 
pletely deformed by the lice, and while on a young tree a colony of 
lice will multiply sufficiently to entirely cover it in a single season, 
and thas cause it to rot the next year; on larger trees they may be at 
work for years before this result is accomplished. This rot from root- 
lice may, I think, be distinguished from both the other kinds by its 
being more porous and soft, approximating the brown mould of a rot- 
ting log. The unusual swellings and knots caused by the lice, though 
hard originally, seem to loose their substance, and very frequently 


the finer roots, and almost always the fibrous roots waste entirely 
away. 


The diagnosis of either of the first two kinds of rot must remain 
hidden, until our knowledge of these impalpable funguses shall have 
become more thorough, and until then no remedy can be suggested ; 
but with the last kind, having traced it to its true cause, the means of 
prevention are at hand, and I will now give the history and descrip- 
tion of the Apple-root Plant-louse for the most part as it appeared in 
the American Enromoxoaist for January, 1869: 

For the last twenty years a Wooly Plant-louse has been known 
to infest the roots of the apple-tree, causing thereon swellings and 
deformations of almost every possible shape, and, when very numer- 
ous, killing the tree. In the more northerly parts of the Northern 
States this insect is comparatively rare, but in southerly latitudes it is 
exceedingly destructive in apple orchards. According to Dr. Hull, “it 
is one of the worst enemies against which our apple-trees have to 
contend, and is much more common in our region than is generally 
supposed.” (Agr. Rep, Mo., Append., p. 451.) As long ago as 1848, 
Mr. Fulton, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, found this root-louse and 
the knotty swellings produced by it to be so abundant on nursery- 
trees in his neighborhood, that thousands of young trees had to be 
thrown away, and it became difficult to supply the market.) Down- 
ing’s Horticulturist, II, p. 394.) And in August, 1858, M. L. Dunlap 
(Rural) stated in the Chicago Tribune, that in an orchard near Alton 
“the Wooly Aphis infests the roots in immense numbers, and by suck- 
ing up the sap destroys the trees, which in its effect has much the ap- 
pearance of dry rot.” 

Although this insect usually confines itself to the roots of the tree, 
yet a few may occasionally be found on the suckers that spring up 


120 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


round the butt of the trunk, and even on the trunk and limbs, espe- 
cially in places where a branch has been formerly amputated, and 
nature is closing up the old wound by a circle of new bark. Where it 
works upon the naked trunk, it often causes a mass of little granula- 
tions to sprout out, about the size of cabbage-seeds, thus producing 
on a small scale, the same effects that it does upon the roots. Wher- 
ever the insect works, small as it is, it may be easily recognized by 
the peculiar bluish-white cottony matter which it secretes from its 
body, and which is never met with in the case of the common Apple- 
tree Plant-louse that inhabits the leaves and the tips of the twigs. 
Figure 64 at the head of this article, fully illustrates the Apple- 
root Plant-louse. A portion of a knotty root as it appears after the 
punctures of the lice is represented at a, the larva state at 6, and the 
winged state at c; while d represents the leg, e the proboscis, * the 
antenna of the winged individual, and g that of the larva, all highly 
magnified. The young louse is of a deep flesh or pink color, and the 
proboscis extends the whole length of the body, while the older spe- 
cimens have a deeper, purplish hue. Of the winged louse, I subjoin 


amore complete description. 

Ertosoma pyri, Fitch—Color black. Antenne 2-5ths as long as the body, joints 1 and 2 al- 
most confluent, short androbust; joint 3 fully } the entire length of the antenne ; joints 4—6 sub- 
equal, 5 a little the longest, 6 a little the shortest. Meso-thorax polished. Abdomen opaque with 
more or less pruinescence. Legs opaque black, immaculate. Wings hyaline; costal and subcostal 
veins robust and black; stigma pale brown, 23 to 3 times as long as wide, pointed at both ends, but 
more acutely so on the basal end, the vein bounding it behind robust and black. Discoidal veins 
and stigmal vein slender and black, the 3d or forked discoidal hyaline and subobsolete onits basal 4. 
Length to tip of closed wings 0.13—0.14 inch. 


On comparing Figure 64 e with Figure 65, which represents a 

[Fig. 65.] Plant-louse that inhabits a large gall 
= on the Cottonwood, it will be observed 
= at once that the veining of the front 
wing is very different. In Figure 64, ¢, 
the third branch-vein is very distinctly 
forked; in Figure 65 it is simple. Nor 
is this a mere accidental variation, but a peculiarity of the genus to 
which either insect belongs. (Fig. 64, c, genus Hriosoma; Fig. 65, 
genus Pemphigus). Now Dr. Fitch describes and names the Apple- 
root Plant-louse as belonging to the latter genus (Pemphigus); where- 
as winged specimens which both Mr. Walsh and myself obtained last 
October, at Duquoin, from apple roots and suckers swarming with 
larve; some which I received trom St. Louis county, and others which 
Mr. Walsh bred from larve; all, without exception, .belong to the 
former genus (#riosoma). And moreover, Dr. Fitch’s insect is de- 
scribed as being nearly twice as large as ours. How does this come 
about? We can only account for it in the following way: Dr. Fitch’s 
winged specimens were but two in number, and they were found by 
him, the one living, the other dead, upon the roots of an infested 
young apple-tree, which had been brought him from an adjoining 
county. Hence he very naturally, but as we think erroneously, infer- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. L31 


red that these two winged plant-lice belonged to the same species as 
the minute wingless larve with which the infested roots were 
swarming. The truth of the matter probably was, that the two wing- 
ed plant-lice got upon the infested apple-root by accident, on their 
road from the nursery to Dr. Fitch’s orchard. Indeed we can almost 
say with certainty to what species they belonged; for on comparing 
Dr. Fitch’s very minute and elaborate description with the Beech- 
twig Plant-louse (Pemphigus imbricator, Fitch), which comes out in 
the winged state in the very same time of the year as he met with his 
two specimens, it agrees sufficiently well to apply to that species. If, 
on the other hand, we compare his description with our specimens, it 
not only disagrees generically, as already explained, but neither the 
size nor the markings will correspond at all. 

We consider it, therefore, to be sufficiently certain that the Apple- 
root Plant-louse does not belong to the genus (Pemphigus), to which 
all subsequent authors, in deference to Dr. Fitch’s authority, have 
hitherto referred it, but to the very distinct genus (Zrz0soma) to 
which the notorious Wooly Plant-louse of Europe belongs (Hriosoma 
lanigera, Hausm.) 

Narurat Remepres.—F rom the enormous rate at which all Plant-lice 
multiply, it is plain that, if there were no check upon the increase of 
the Apple-root Plant-louse, it would in a few years’ time sweep away 
whole orchards, especially in southern latitudes. Luckily for the 
fruit-growers and fruit-lovers, there exist two at all events, and pro- 
bably three such checks. The first is a very minute parasitic fly, 
which Prof. Haldeman figured and described in 1851 as infesting in 
the larva state his supposed Wooly Plant-louse.* The second is a 

[Fig. 66.] footless maggot (Fig. 66 a@) about 
one-half an inch long, and of a 
y, dirty yellow color. It is gene- 
rally found more or less covered 
with mud, and with the woolly 
matter secreted by the lice, and 
is not by any means easily dis- 
cerned. It changes in the fall to 
the pupa state (Fig. 66,)) from 
which, in the following spring, there emerges the perfect fly (Fig. 
66, c) which‘may be known as the Root-louse Syrphus-fly. The fol- 
lowing is the description of this fly, in its different stages, which ap- 


peared in the American ENTomMoLoGIsT. 

Tue Roor-Louse Syrpuus-Fiy. (Pipiza radicum, n. sp.) Q Shining brown black. Head 
clothed with short, rather sparse, white hairs, especially the lower part of the anterior orbits and 
the entire space below the antenne. Mouth dark rufous. Antenna compressed, with the joints 
proportioned as 2, 2, 5; joint 2 twice as wide as 1, and 3 twice as wide as 2; of adull rufouscolor, 
edged above, narrowly on the inside, widely on the outside, with brown black. Thoraz very finely 
Tugoso-punctate, with some short sparse white hairs, especially laterally. Abdomen finely punctate, 


é * This fly belongs to the Chalcis family in the Order Hymenoptera, and was named Eriophilus 
oe by ee Haldeman. The figure and description will be found in the Farm Journal for 
» Pp- ao 


122 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


with longer white hairs, rufo-piceous above on the middle } of joint 1; venter with joint 1 piceous. 
Legs with all the 6 knees, and in the 4 front Jegs the entire tibia except a spot on the exterior 
middle, and also all the 6 tarsi except their extreme tips, and except in the hind legs the bassal $ of 
the first tarsal joint, all dull pale rufous. Wings hyaline; veins black. Length © 0.25 inch; alar 
expanse 0.48 inch. 

One 2; Giunknown. Bred May 23 froma single puparium found in the November prece- 
ding. On May 2 this puparium, which in the preceding autumn had been lightly covered with moist 
sand and deposited in a cellar, had crawled up out of the sand a distance of two inches, and 
attached itself to the stopper of the bottle in which it was inclosed, Upon being replaced under the 
moist sand, it was found two days afterwards to have again crawled about an inch up the side of 
the bottle. We have observed the same locomotive powers in the puparia of several other Syrphi- 
dous insects, though, so far as we are aware, this very anomalous faculty has not hitherto been 
commented on by authors. 


We are indebted to Dr. LeBaron, of Geneva, Ills., who has paid special attention to the 
Order (Diptera) to which this insect belongs, for determining the genus to which it is properly re- 
ferable. According to him, “the genus Pipiza differs from Syrphus in the absence of the promi- 
nence in the middle of the face, in the comparatively greater development of the posterior legs, 
and in the want of the little spurious longitudinal vein in the middle of the wing.’’ ‘Lhe only 
species discovered by Macquart,’’ he adds, ‘‘is from Carolina, and very different from yours.”’ 


Larva.—Dull pale flesh-color, tinged with yellow. Attenuated and somewhat depressed 
anteriorly ; more blunt posteriorly, the anal segment being furnished with an elevated tube, which 
is of a light polished brown at extremity. Wrinkled transversely, with a prominent fold at ante- 
rior and posterior edge of each segment. The larger segments well defined ; the smaller ones less 
so. First segment thoroughly retractile, and sufficiently translucent when extended, to show the 
dark triple-jointed mouth. A few soft, fleshy spines, of the same color as the body, and especially 
distinct on anal segments. Generally covered and disguised by the soil which it inhabits. Length 
when not extended, 0.23 of an inch. Described from two specimens taken in 1866 and three 
in 1868. 


Pxpa.—Dull dirty yellow. Gradually formed by the contraction of the larva, during which 
time the wrinkles are obliterated, and it at last becomes quite smooth. Length 0.18. 


I first found this larva in December, 1866, at Cobden, Ils., and 
have found it at several different times since, and though I failed to 
breed any to the perfect state, Mr. Walsh was more fortunate. Won- 
derful indeed must be that instinct, which enables the mother-fly to 
perceive which particular trees in an orchard have their roots swarm- 
ing with lice, so as to know exactly where to deposit her eggs! 

The third insect which preys upon these Root plant-lice, at least 
in Missouri,is a small species of ladybird, belonging to the genus 
Scymnus. The larva of this beetle is still more difficult to recognize 
among the lice, as it is covered on the back with little tufts of wooly 
matter, secreted from its own body. Itis, when full grown, somewhat 
larger than the lice, and altogether more active, and is distinguished 
furthermore, by the wooly matter being of an even length and dis- 
tributed over the back in transverse rows. Mr. J. F. Waters, of 
Springfield, Missouri, sent to me a number of the apple root-lice, with 
some of these little ladybird larve among them, which he erroneous- 
ly supposed to be the old lice. In due time I bred the perfect beetle 
from them, and it proved to be a species which the French entomolo- 
gist Mulsant, had described as Scymnus cervicalis. It is a very in- 
conspicuous little beetle, about 0.05 of an inch long, and of a deep 
brown color, the thorax being of a lighter brown. From subsequent 
correspondence with Mr. Waters I learned that the lice upon which 
these little friends of ours were preying, were taken right from the 


TUE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123. 


surface of the ground, so that it is possible that this ladybird only 
attacks them when it can get at them above ground; though, judging 
from analogy, I strongly suspect it alsoseeks them out in their finder- 
ground quarters. 


ArtiFicrAL Remeptes.— The best mode to get rid of the Apple root 
Plant-louse is to drench the roots of the infested tree with hot water. 
But to render this process effectual, the water must be applied in 
quantities large enough to penetrate to every part of the infested 
roots. There need be no fear of any injurious result from such an ap- 
plication of hot water; for it is a very general rule that vegetable or- 
ganisms can, for a short time, stand a much higher temperature than 
animal organisms, without any injury to their tissues. In laying bare 
the roots for the better application of the water, a sharp eye should 
be kept for the friends above described, and when espied they should 
be tenderly laid aside till after the slaughter of the enemy. Mulching 
around the infested trees has been found, by Mr. E. A. Riehl and 
others, of Alton, Illinois, to have the effect of bringing the lice to the 
surface of the ground, where they can be more easily reached by the 
hot water. 


THE WOOLY ELM-TREE LOUSE—Eriosoma ulmi, N. Sp. 


(Homoptera Aphidz.) 


The White elm is subject to the attacks of a woolly plant-louse 
belonging to the very same genus as the preceding. This insect ap- 
pears to be quite common in our State as well as in Illinois, for I have 
known several elm-trees on Van Buren street in the city of Chicago, 
to be killed by it, and every tree of this description, around the court 
house in St. Louis was more or Jess affected with it last summer. 
The lice congregate in clusters on the limbs and the trunks, and cause 
a knotty unnatural growth of the wood, somewhat similar to the 
knots produced on the roots of the apple-tree by the other species. 
They are mostly found sunk in between the crevices formed by these 
knots, and the punctures of their little beaks cause the sap to exude 
in the shape of little silvery globules, which may generally be found 
dispersed among the knots. The down or wooly matter is secreted 
by them from all parts of the body, but especially from the posterior 
part of the back. It is of an intense white color, and is secreted in. 
such profusion that it usually covers and hides the lice, and when they 
are numerous, gives the limbs from a distance the appearance of 
being covered withsnow. They make their appearance during the lat- 
ter part of May, and by the latter part of June the winged individu- 
als may be found mixed up with the larves and pup. I have experi- 
mentally found that a washing with a weak solution of cresylic acid 
soap will kill them all instantly, and they are thus easily exterminated. 
They are also preyed upon unmercifully by the larve of an unde- 
scribed species of Lacewing fly (Ohrysopa ertosoma of my MS.). 


124 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Errosoma vLMI, N. Sp.—Uolor dark blue. Length to tip of closed wings, exclusive of anten- 
me, 0.12. Wings hyaline, three times as long as wide, and more pointed at the ends than in E. pyri. 
Costal ang subcostal veins, and that bounding the stigma behind, robust and black. Discoidal 
veins together with the 3d forked and stigmal veins, all slender and black, the forked vein being as 
distinct to its base as are the others, with the fork but } as long as the vein itself and curved in an 
opposite direction to the stigmal vein. Antenne 6-jointed and of the same color as the body; 
joints 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of about equal length, joint 3 thrice as long as either. Legs of the same 
color as body. 

The young lice are narrower and usually lighter colored than the mature individuals, varying 
irom flesh or pink to various shades of blwe and purpie. 


INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE-VINE. 


The culture of the grape forms an imvortant branch of Missouri 
horticulture. There is scarcely another State in the Union that has 
such natural advantages for the growing of this delicious fruit. While 
traveling up the Missouri river, 1 have been struck with the great 
similarity in the general character of the country to the celebrated 
Grape-growing districts of the Rhine,in Prussia. The Germans have 
also so thoroughly settled the country along the Missouri that the re- 
semblance is made still more striking. As another evidence of the 
importance of this branch of horticulture in our State, the American 
Grape Culturist, the only periodical published in this country that 
is solely devoted to Grape-growing and wine-making, has just been 
started in St. Louis, by Mr.George Husmann. It becomes us then to 
know something of the insects injurious to the vine. 


THE NEW GRAPEH-ROOT sor aad ema cylindricum, (2) 
abr. 


(Coleoptera, Prionidze.) 
[Fig. 67.] 


The ad interim committees of the Illinois and Missouri State 
Horticultural Societies, while visiting the orchards and vineyards 
along the line of the Iron Mountain Railroad, discovered that sundry 
grape vines on Dr. C. W. Spaulding’s place were dying; and on digging 
up such vines, the roots were found to be entirely hollowed out, and 
in many instances severed, by a worm which is faithfully represented 
at the head of this article—Figure 67. At about the same time, Mr. 
Walsk, of Rock Island, received an immense specimen from W. D. F. 
Lummis, of Makanda, Illinois, with the same account of its habits, 
and the following letters which I haye since received relate to the 
same worm: 


“PTE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 125 


Mr. Rizv—Dear Sir: Herewith please find a worm or grub, 
which has bothered my grape vines, it cuts the vine off about 3 or 4 
inches under ground and takes out about an inch. Set vines last 
spring. Put stakes of oak, green. 

Respectfully, &c., 


Vira Crry, Mo., August 21, 1868. 


ALFRED BARTER. 


Prov. Ritey, State Entomologist: I leave here for youa specimen 
of a worm which has proved very destructive in my vineyard this season 
having killed 24 vines, usually commencing at the bottom eye and 
eating the entire stem almost to the surface of the ground. I have 
dug up all the vines and in each case have found but one worm some- 
times as deep as 18 inches below the surface. My vineyard was planted 
this spring on ground previously cultivated; has been thoroughly sub- 
soiled and is well drained; the vines are Hartford Prolifics aud Con- 
cords. Please send any information ot value you may have relating 
to the above to Col. John H. Hogan, Pevely Station, I. M. R. R. 

Very respectfully, 


September 3, 1868. 


JOHN H. HOGAN. 


Mr. Rinry Dear Sir: The Grape-vine borer has been quite de- 
structive in our vineyard this season, having killed 15 vines. Except 
in two cases we found and dispatched him without mercy. We first 
noticed the effects of the borer about the latter part of July and fie- 
quently found them until the latter part of August. In some instances 
we found the root severed within 4 half an inch of the surface, while 
the borer was found at the bottom of the root. In others the root 
was eaten off from 5 to 8 inches below the surface. Only Concord 
vines have been affected, and only those that we obtained froma 
neighboring vineyard for planting last spring. Not one of our original 
vines have been destroyed, though we have 4acres equally exposed 
to the attacks of this new destroyer. Any information that you may 
be able to give us upon this subject will be thankfully received. 


Very respectful! 
ian Ys SIMMONS & TILLSON. 


SuLtruur Springs, September 19, 1868. 


Mr. D.C. Peebles, D. D.S., of St. Louis, also brought me a large 
Concord vine that had been entirely severed from the roots and killed 
by this worm, and I also received specimens about } grown from T. 
W. Guy, of Glenwood. 


The above letters convey avery good idea of the manner in which 
this borer works. It seems to have occurred in the Concord vines 
more generally than in those of any other variety, but I think that 
this may be attributed to the fact that more Concords are planted 
than any other kind, for as the following facts will show the borer is 
evidently a very general feeder. Inthe early part of June, 1867, Mr 


we 


¥36 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


©. B. Galusha, who was then with the ad intertm committee visiting 
Southern Illinois, sent me a worm in all respects similar which was 
found boring inte the reot of an apple tree. I have also received 
Osage orange roots from Kansas which were being bored by the same 
fellow, and he is evidently partial to rotten eak stumps for not only 
have several persons who are well able to judge, assured me that they 
have found him in such stumps, but Mr. A. Bolter, of Chicago, also found 
it in such stumps in Kentucky, and sent me the specimens fer identi- 
fication. At the meeting of our State Seciety, at Columbia, Mr. I. N. 
Stuart even avewed that he had found it partly grown, not only in seed- 
ling apples bet in the roots of corn stalks, while Chas. Connon, of 
Webster, assures me that he has feund it in the heart of felled hick- 
ory, and J ascertained that he was perfectly capable of distinguishing 
it from the conamon borer (Cerasphorus cinctus, Drury), which infests 
hickory when felled, and which causes what is known as “ powder 
post,” he being quite familiar with this last named insect. There are 
several large beetlesin the West which must have larve very similar 
in appearance to this, and it is not. at all unlikely that different insects 
have here been confounded, but the figure at the head of this article, 
with the following description of this Grape-Root borer, will enable 
any one to recegnize it in the future, 


Larva eF ORrTHOSOMA cYLINDRICUM, (?) Fabr.—Average length when full grown, 3 inches. 
Color pale yellewish white, partly translucent, with glaucous and bluish shadings, and a distinct 
dorsal line of the last color. Segment J rather horny, rather longer than 2, 3 and 4 together, 
broadening posteriorly, slightly shargreened and whiter than the rest of the body, with a rust- 
colored mark anteriorly. Segments 2 and 3 shortest and broadest, the body tapering thence grad- 
ually to extremity, though tkere is nsually a lateral ridge on segment 12 which dilates it rather 
more than the segments immediately preceding it. This segment 12 is also the longest, the terminal 
‘one being quite small and divided into three nearly equal lobes. A swelled hump crossed with two 
[Fie. 68,] impressed trnasverse lines, on segments 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9 and 10. Stigmata 
| rust-colered, 9 in number, the first and largest being placed en a fold in 
the suture between segments | and 2. Head brown, verging to black on 
anterior edge. Mandibles large, strong, black, with one blunt rounded 
tooth, giving them a somewhat triangular appearance; anntenz 3-jointed 
and brown, especially at tip; labrum fulvous, fuzzy and with a brown 
base; maxillary palpi 4-jointed, the basal joint much swollen, the tere 
minal joint brown, and aring of the same color at sutures of the other 
joints; labial palpi 3-jointed, the basal joint also swollen, and the ter- 
minal joint and sutures of the others brown. Six rudimentary 2-jointed 
fuscous feet as shown at Figure 68. Venter tubercled as on the back, these tubercles being especi= 
ally prominent on segments 6, 7, 8 and 9, where they recall prolegs. The young larva differs only 
im lacking the rust-colored mark on segment i. 


Now, to what insect does this borer belong? It is manifestly the 
larvaof some long-horned beetle of the family Prionipm, but of what 
particular species cannot be positively stated till the beetle is reared 
from grape-root-boring larve. Before another year shall have passed 
away, hope to definitely determine this point, but meanwhile, I have 
every confidence that it will produce the Cylindrical Orthosoma ( @r- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 197 


[Fig.69.]  _ thosoma cylindricum, Fabr.), a large flattened, 
 long-horned light bay-colored beetle which is 
y common throughout the country and especially in 
— the Mississippi valley,and which is represented of 
the natural size at Figure 69. True, according to 
Westwood, the larvee of the Prronipm have the 
second segment enlarged and broadened, while 
the closely allied family CeramsBycip”, has the first 
segment thus enlarged as in our insect; but from 
a larva resembling ours in every respect so far as 
his description goes, and which he found in Sep- 
tember, 1867,in decaying pine wood, Mr. Walsh 
actually bred, about the last of June, 1868, the Cy- 
lindrical Orthosoma. Theonly accounts on record 
which pretend to give the natural history of this beetle, are by Dr. 
Fitch andS. S. Rathvon, that of the former in his 4th Report, § 239, 
and that of the latter in the Agricultural Reportfor 1861, pp. 611-612. 
Dr. Fitch describes the larva, which he supposed belonged to this 
beetle, but which he did not breed, as occurring in pine trees, and as 
having the first ring longest and the second broadest; while Mr. 
Rathvon figures it with the first ring infinitely shorter than the sec- 
ond, but confesses that the drawing was made from memory, and he 
doubtless trusted to the authority of Westwood. Furthermore Mon- 
sieur EK. Perris has figured at Plate 6, Figure 362, of the “Annales de la 
Société Entomologique de France,” for 1856, the larva of Prionus ob- 
scuvus, Oliv. which bores into the pine and which very closely re- 
sembles our larva, the first and not the second segment being en- 
larged. 


Until the past summer nothing had been published about the 
attacks of this insect on Grape roots, and yet upon inquiry I find that 
it has been known for several years. Mr. Spaulding informs me that 
the first that was seen of it in his neighborhood was in 1866, when his 
man found an enormous one in a wild vine which he was about to 
graft; but Mr. Geo. Husmann, of Hermann, has been acquainted with 
it since 1850, and has known it to occur around Hermann since 1854. 
Indeed Mr. Husmann informs me that he has never observed the old 
Grape-vine Borer which has 16 legs and which produces a moth (4- 
geria polistitormis, Harris) but that in speaking of the Grape-root 
Borer he has always referred to this species. Mr.J. H.Tice found itin 
apple roots in 1860 on the place of James Sappington of St. Louis, 
while the following item by A.J. H., of Vineland, N. J., which appeared 
in the January (1869) number of the Gardener’s Monthly, would in- 
dicate that it has the same habit all over the country: 


“On page 354 October number of Agriculturist, reference is made 
to a “vine borer” in Missouri that cuts off vines below the surface. 
It is also mentioned and partially described in the last Gardener’s 


128 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Monthly. This “ borer” is an old friend (?) of mine. It is found prin- 
cipally in old rotten oak stumps; I hardly ever dig one out without 
finding severalof these worms. They are about two inches long, ta- 
pering from head to tail, white bodies and black heads. I lose on an 
average about 50 vines and dwarf pears annually by these little vil- 
Jains; probably twice as many pears as vines. I have had several 
apple trees cut off by them, and one standard pear. The tree roots 
seem often to be eaten entirely up, but the vine roots are only cut 
through as if they had obstructed the line of travel. 

This is no new insect, but will I think probably be found trouble- 
some whenever dwarf pears and vines are planted among decayed 
oak stumps.” 

RremeprEs.—Little can be done in the way of extirpating these un- 
derground borers, when, as in the present instance, their presence is 
only indicated by the approaching death of the vine.” Still, every 
vineyardist should make it a rule to search for them wherever they 
find vines suddenly dying from any cause unknown to them, and upon 
finding such a borer should at once put an end to his existence. The 
beetle which may frequently be found during the summer months, 
should also be ruthlessly sacrifleed wherever met with. I should also 
advise not to plant a vineyard on land covered with old oak stumps, 
and not to use oak stakes where those made of cedar can be had’ as 
conveniently. 


THE GRAPE CURCULIO—Celiodes inequalis, Say. 
(Celeoptera, Curculionide.) 

The larva of this Curculio infests the grapes during the months of 
June and July, causing a little black hole in the skin, and usually a 
(Fig. 70.] disfigurement and discoloration of the berry, 
\ immediately around it asin Figure 70,4. The 
larva (Fig. 70, >) is whitish as long as the berry 
is green, but generally partakes of the color of 
the berry as it matures. It is footless and like 
the larvee of all snout-beetles is incapable of 
= Zspinning a web. In 1867 I found this insect 
quite common in Southern Illinois, and as will 
be seen from the excellent account of it given by Mr. Walsh in his 
first report, it was very common in the States of Illinois, Ohio and 
Kentucky, and it also occurred in our own State, as I am informed by 
Mr. Peabody. From the middle to the last of July, this larva leaves 
the berry and buries itself a few inches in the ground. Here it 
changes to a pupa within a small, smooth earthen cavity, and by the 
beginning of September the above named beetle issues from the 
ground, and doubtless passes the winter in the beetle state, ready to 
puncture the grapes again the following May or June. This beetle ig 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 


(Fig. 71.] small and inconspicuqus, being of a black color with a 
y grayish tint. It is represented enlarged at Figure 71, the 
hair line underneath showing the natural size. It is dis- 
» tinguished from all other curculios that are known to at- 
tack our fruits by having a rectangular thorn or tooth on 
> the upper and outer edge of the four front shanks (¢7bz7@) as 
J shown at Figure 72; this character being peculiar to the 
(Fig. 72] genus (Cewliodes) to which it belongs. 
~ Strange as it may seem, in 1868 there seems to have been 
an almost entire immunity from this Grape curculio, for I have 
neither met with it in a single instance, nor heard of its oc- 
eurrence. No doubt this immunity has been caused principally by 
parasites, for I failed entirely to breed the perfect Curculio in 1867, 
on account of some small Ichneumon which killed the larva as soon 
as the latter had entered the earth, and spun for itself a tough silken 
cocoon in the place where the Curculio larva, if unmolested, would 
have undergone its transformations. It is thus that Nature works ; 
“eat and be eaten, kill and be killed,” is one of her universal laws, 
and we can never say with surety that because a particular insect is 
numerous one year, therefore it will be so the next! 


THE GRAPE-SEED CURCULIO. 
(Coleoptera, Curculionidz.) 

A minute maggot was discovered last August infesting the seeds 
of the Grape in certain parts of Canada, by Mr. Wm. Saunders, of 
London. It causes the berries to shrivel up and utterly ruins them. 
Specimens which had been received from Canada, were sent to me by 
my friend A. S. Fuller, of New Jersey, and the annexed Figure 73 

[Fig. 73.] shows a highly magnified view of the maggot, its 
natural size being represented underneath. The 
head is of the same translucent, milk-white color 
as the body, but the jaws, which are finely pointed, 
are light brown, and there is a patch of brown at 
their base. It has exactly thirteen segments exclusive of the head, 
and every segment has a few white, fleshy hairs, these hairs being 
thickest near the head and longest on the under part of the first three 
segments, thus imitating feet, as is often the case with footless larvee 
of this character. 

It is evidently the larva of some curculio, and though it is not 
yet known to occur in the States, I append the following account of 
it from Mr. Saunders himself, for the benefit of our Grape-growers :* 


* This account is taken from a paper published by Mr. Saunders in the “ Report of the Commis- 
sioner of Agriculture and Arts of the Province of Ontario,” for 1868—pp. 203-5. 


Q9RSBE 


130 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


“On the 20th of August last we observed that many of the berries 
in the bunches of a Clinton vine under our care were shriveling up. 
On opening the grapes, we observed that most of the smaller berries 
—that is those which had shriveled earliest—contained only oneseed, 
and that of an unusually large size. Some of the larger shriveled 
grapes contained two seeds, much swollen, each having a dark spot 
somewhere on their surface. On cutting the seeds carefully open, the 
kernel was found almost entirely consumed, and the cavity occupied 
by a small milk-white footless grub with a pair of brown hooked man- 
dibles, a smooth and glossy skin with a few very fine short white 
hairs. When at rest it is nearly oval in form, but when in motion its 
body is elongated, varying in length from one-fifteenth to one-twelfth 
of an inch. = is 

* The Clinton vine on which this pest was first discovered suffered 
considerably, fully ten per cent. of the crop was lost from the shrivel- 
ing of affected berries. At first we supposed that the work of the 
insect was confined to berries of this appearance, and that by destroy- 
ing these the destruction of the crop of insects for the season would 
be complete, but further examination showed that many of the ripe 
berries contained affected seeds. The proportion thus affected on 
the vine referred to was about ten oreleven per cent. Within a few 
teet of this vine an Isabella was fruiting; on this there were no shriy- 
eled berries, but about three per cent. of those which had ripened 
were injured. About the same distance in another direction was a 
Hartford Prolific, and about ten feet further off a Concord, both of 
which fruited well. On neither af these were there any shriveled 
berries, nor could we find any affected seeds among those which had 
ripened. The fruit of a Delaware, about fifty feet distant from the 
Clinton, was also examined without discovering any traces of the in- 
sect. 

“About the middle of September we visited the grounds of Mr. 
Charles Arnold, of Paris, and there we found that this insect had pre- 
vailed to a greater extent than it had with ourselves, affecting the 
Clinton, Delaware, one of Rogers’ Hybrids, and also Mr. Arnold’s new 
seedlings. In Hamilton,in the garden of Mr. W. H. Mills, we found 
an affected seed in a berry of Rogers’ No. 4. On the 24th of Septem- 
ber we visited the vineyard of the Vine Growers’ Association at 
Cooksville, but could not find any traces of the insect there. Thus 
tar its depredations are most apparent about London and Paris, but 
probably further examination will show that it is widely distributed. 


“Where any shriveled berries are found their seeds should be 
carefully opened and examined, asitis important to know how far the 
insect prevails. The affected berries are usually swollen, somewhat 
soft, and have a dark spot somewhere on their surface; any of this 
character observed among the ripe berries should also be examined. 


“In the case of the shriveled berries, where one seed only is af- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. ToL 


fected, the others are dwarfed and imperfect; and where two large 
seeds are found they are both occupied. Where one seed only is af- 
fected and the other remains healthy, the one normal seed carries the 
berry through in an apparently healthy state to ripeness. As far as 
our experience goes the Clinton and its allies with thin skins are more 
liable to attack than berries with thicker skins, such as Hartford Pro- 
lifie and Concord. 


THE GRAPE-CANE GALL-CURCULIO, Madarus vitis, New Species 
(Coleoptera, Curculionidz.) 


The canes of the Concord vine are frequently found to have galls 
on the last year’s growth, in the shape of an elongated knot or swell- 
ing which is generally situated immediately above or below a joint. 
This gall was formed the previous fall while the tender cane was grow- 
ing, and has almost invariably a longitudinal slit or depression on one 
side, dividing that side into two cheeks, which generally have a rosy 
tint. The gallis caused by a little footless, white cylindrical larva 
which measures 0.28 of an inch, and has a yellowish head, and some- 
what darker tawny jaws. Itis minutely wrinkled transversely, and 
sparsely covered with minute white bristles; the three segments next 
to the head being prominently swollen underneath and the bristles 
attached to them look very much like legs, and doubtless to some ex- 
tent perform the functions of legs. This larva indeed bears a very 
close general resemblance to that of the Potato Stalk-weevil, illus- 
trated at page 93, Figure 37 a, and when taken out of its gall immedi- 
ately curls up as in that figare. During the latter part of June this 
larva transforms within the cane to a pupa, also greatly resembling 
that figured at 6, on page 93, with the exception that it is much 
smaller, and that the wings and legs reach down three-fourths the 
length of the body instead of but one-half asin that species. Two 
weeks after it has thus transformed it becomes a beetle belonging to 

[Fig 74.1 the great Curculio family. Before this insect had ever 

aS , been bred to the perfect state I predicted that it would 
produce a Curculio, as may be seen by referring to page 
117 of the Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural 
Society for 1867. Tnis beetle isrepresented enlarged at Fig- 
ure 74, its natural length being 0.10. It is of a uniform 
light yellowish-brown without any markings whatever. It 
is closcly allied to the Potato Stalk-weevil, but belongs to the genus 
Madarus which differs from Baridius in the peculiar undulating ap- 
pearance of the wing-cases, and more especially in their being highly 
polished, the word Madarus meaning glossy or polished. This little 


132 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Curculio was considered a new species by Dr. Le Conte, in 1861, and as 
it has not, so far as | am aware, been described since that time, I sub- 
join a more complete description of it: 


Mavarus vitis, N. Sp.—Length, exclusive of rostrum 0.10. Color uniformly rufous, without 
maculations, the eyes alone being darker. Highly polished; rostrum arcuated, stout and about as 
long as thorax; thorax and body with extremely minute and distant punctures, anterior margin 
of thorax abruptly narrowed, especially laterally, into a collar; elytra slightly undulate, with 4 
distinct elevations, one on the extreme outer margin close to the thorax, and one on the middle of 
each, near the extremity. 


As an illustration of the great similarity in the habits of insects 
belonging to the same genus, I will state that there is a small black 
Curculio, belonging to the genus J/adarus and) differing from this 
Grape-cane Gall-curculio in no other respect but in color, whose larva 
lives in a somewhat similar gall found on the common creeper (Am- 
pelopsis quinguefolia) which is very closely related to the vine. This 
black species is also undescribed and is marked J/adarus ampelopsis 
in Mr. Walsh’s collection. 

I think it highly probable that the gall of the Grape-cane Curculio 
is caused more by the punctures which the female beetle makes in de- 
positing her egg, than by the irritations of the larva; for] have found 
the larva where it had burrowed two and three inches up the cane, 
away from the gall, without its having caused a corresponding swell- 
ing; though this has always been in the one-year-old cane. 

Remepy.—If these gall-bearing canes are cut off and burned du- 
ring the winter there need be little fear of this insect’s work, the 
more especially as it is not secure from parasites, even in its snug re- 
treat, for I have bred aspecies of Chalcis fly from the galls, which 
had evidently destroyed the true gall-maker. 


' THE GRAPE-VINE FIDIA—fidia viticida, Walsh. 


(Coleoptera, Chrysomelide.) 


One of the worst foes to the grape-vine that we have in Missouri 
[Fig 75.]__ is the Grape-vine Fidia which is represented in the an- 
Va nexed Figure 75. It is of a chestnut-brown color, and is 

* ~ densly covered with short and dense whitish hairs which 

: | give it a hoary appearance. I have found it very thick 

*l in most of the vineyards which I visited, and it is almost 

\ universally miscalled the “Rose-bug,” which is, however, 

a very different insect. The Grape-vine Fidia was first described by 
Mr. Walsh in the May, 1867, number of the Practical Entomologist. It 
is found in the woods on the wild grape-vine and also on the leaves of 
the Cercis Canadensis; but of the tame vines it seems to prefer the 
Norton’s Virginia and Concord. It makes its appearance during the 
month of June, and by the end of July has generally disappeared, from 
which fact we may infer that there is but one brood each year. The 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. les 


manner in which it injures the vine is by cutting straight elongated 
holes of about 4 inch in diameter in the leaves, and when numerous 
it so riddles the leaves as to reduce them to mere shreds. The pre- 
paratory stages of this beetle are not yet known. 


Remeprss.—Luckily this beetle has the same precautionary habit 
of dropping to the ground, upon the slightest disturbance, as has the 
Plum curculio, and this habit enables us readily to keep it in check. 
The most efficient way of doing this is by the aid of chickens. Mr. 
Peschell, of Hermann, on whose vines this beetle had been exceed- 
ingly pumerous, raised a large brood of chickens in 1867, and had them 
so well trained that all he had to do was to start them in the vine- 
yard with a boy in front to shake the vines, and he himself behind the 
chicks. They picked up every beetle which fell to the ground, and in 
this manner he kept his vines so clean that he could scarcely find a 
single beetle in 1868. 


THE GRAPE CODLING, Penthina vitivorana, Packard.—Plate 2, 
Figs, 29 and 30. 


(Lepidoptera, Tortricide.) 


Although the preceding insect has been so scarce in 1868, yet the 
Grape has been worked upon in a somewhat similar manner, and even 
to a greater extent, by the insect now under consideration. Indeed 
there is very little doubt that Mr. Walsh, net being acquainted with 
this insect, confounded its work with that of the Grape-curculio, in 
some of the instances, of the damage done by this last, which are 
quoted by him in his report, and this is especially the case in the in- 
stance of Mr. M. C. Read of Hudson, Ohio. 

I first received this insect, with an account of its workings, from 
Huron Burt, of Williamsburg, and subsequently during the month of 
July, found it universal in the vineyards along the lines of the Pacifie 
and Iron Mountain Railroads. It was found equally common around 
Alton in Ulinois, while Dr. Hull informs me that it ruined 50 per cent. 
of the grapes around Cleveland, Ohio, the Concord and Ives Seedling 
being the only varieties which appeared to resist its attacks. It also 
occurs in Pennsylvania, judging from articles which appeared in the 
November and December numbers of the Practical Farmer. In 
these numbers my esteemed correspondent, Mr. S.S. Rathven, of Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania, gives an account, with description, of some 
worms which were sent to him by the editors, answering in every re- 
spect to this Grape codling. Concluding, from its similarity to the 
common Apple-worm, that the insect belonged to the genus Carpo- 
capsa, he proposed for it the name of Oarpocapsa vitisella, without 
having bred the parent moth. In the June number of the American 


154 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Naturalist (p. 220) is quoted an account of it by Mr. M. C. Read, of 
Hudson, Ohio, who says that it is “already so abundant there that it is 
necessary to examine every bunch of ripe grapes, and clip out the in- 
fested berries before sending them to the table.” 

The larva of this Grape-codling may at once be distinguished 
from that of the Grape cureulio, by its having 6 scaly legs near the 
head, 8 fleshy legs in the middle, and 2 at the extremity of the body, 
and by spinning a fine web, by which it lets itself drop whenever 
handled. It is also larger, of a darker color, and bears a very close 
resemblance to that of the Strawberry leaf-roller, to be hereafter fig- 
ured and described. 


its presence is soon indicated by a reddish-brown color on that 
side of the yet green grape which it enters. On opening the grape, a 
winding channel is seen in the pulp, and a minute white worm with a 
dark head is seen at the end of the channel. [t continues to feed 
upon the pulp of the fruit, and when it reaches the seeds, eats out 
their interior. As it matures it becomes darker, being either of an 
olive-green or dark brown color, with a honey-yellow head, and if one 
grape is not sufficient it fastens the already ruined grape to an adjoin- 
ing one by means of silken threads, and proceeds to burrow in it as it 
did in the first. When full grown it leaves the grape and forms its co- 
[Fis.76.] "coon on the leaves of the vine. This operation is per- 
wii) ormed in a manner essentially characteristic: the 

}4d vorm cuts out a clean oval flap, leaving it hinged on 
i) "ne side, and, rolling this flap over, fastens it to the 
ij) caf, and thus forms for itself a cozy little house which 
i ~ it lines on the inside with silk. One of these cocoons 
is represented at Figure 76, 6, and though the cut is sometimes less 
regular than shown in the figure, and I have had them spin up in asilk 
handkerchief without making any cut at all, it is undoubtedly the 
normal habit of the insect to make just such a cocoon as represented. 
In this cocoon, within two days, it changes to a chrysalis, such as is 
represented at Figure 76, a, of a honey-yellow color with a green 
shade on the abdomen; and in about ten days more the moth makes 
its escape, the chrysalis having first pushed itself almost entirely out 
of the cocoon. The moth is of a slaty-brown color with corky-yellow 
markings, and is represented enlarged at Plate 2, Figure 29, and of 


o 


the natural size at Figure 30. 


Specimens of this moth were sent by Mr. Walsh to the English 
Lepidopterist, H. T. Stainton, who could not refer it to any known ge- 
nus;. but Dr. Packard, of Salem, Massachusetts, refers it to Penthina 
a genus very closely allied to Carpocapsa, to which our Applé Cod- 
ling moth belongs. He has also kindly furnished me with advanced 
sheets of Part V of the “Guide to the Study of Insects,” in which (p. 
336) he describes and figures it under the name of Penthina vitivor- 
ana. The description is quite brief, however, and the figure not good, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135 


and I therefore subjoin a more detailed description of it in its differ- 
ent stages: 


Prentuina* Vittvornana, Packard—Loarva.—Average length 0.55. Largest on segments 10 and 
11, tapering thence gradually to the head and suddenly to anus. Color either dark shiny olive- 
green, glaucous, or brownish. Head and cervical shield honey-yellow, the latter with a darker pos- 
terior margin. Piliferous spots scarcely distinguishable. Described from 10 specimens. 

Crysalis—0.18—0.20 long. Of normal form. Quite variable in color. Usually of alight honey- 
yellow, with a green shade on the abdomen, and black eyes, but sometimes entirely dark-green, 
with light eyes. The chrysalis skin, after the moth has left, is always deep honey-yellow, with 
the green abdominal mark distinct. 

Perfect insect—Average length 0.17; alar expanse 0.37. Head, thorax, palpi and basal half of 
antenne fulvous ‘Terminal half of antenne darker. Legs fulvous, becoming darker on tarsi. 
Ground-color of fore wings pale slate-blue, with a slight metallic lustre, which becomes lighter and 
somewhat silvery interiorly and posteriorly. A dark rich-brown band, with a light, somewhat 
silvery annulation proceeds from the middle of the costa towards the inner margin, becoming 
paler interiorly ; its basal margin being indistinct, but running almost straight across the wing, 
its outer margin well defined, curving to a rounded point which reaches to the middle of the outer 
third of the wing and thence running obliquely inwards, nearly to the middle of the inner margin. 
Beyond this middle band 1s a large, deep brown, somewhat vval spot, also lighter below than above, 
and with a pale annulation, which is broken on the outer side above, allowing the spot to extend 
to the margin of the wing. Above this large spot, at the apex, is a small perfectly round dark 
spot, with a bright annulation inclining to orange color. The space enclosed by the middle band, 
and these two spots just described, is brown above, with usually four lighter fulvous costal marks quite 
distinct, each mark divided at costa by a slight touch of brown. Another somewhat triangular 
brown spot, with a light annulation above, runs from the posterior angle up between the middle 
band and large oval spot. The blue space from the middle band to the base of wing is generally 
brownish near the base, with a brown line across the middle from costa to inner margin, and with 
two other costal brown marks. The fringes partake of the ground-color. Hind wings slate- 
brown, darkest near the margins; fringes same color. Body brownish with frequently a clear 
green tint. The male differs principally in its somewhat smaller size, and especially in the smaller 
size of the abdomen. Individuals vary greatly. 

Described from 5 Q and 2 4 specimens, all well preserved and fresh. 


Remepres.—This insect threatens to become a grievous pest unless 
checked by some unforseen means, as was the case with the Grape 
curculio. Luckily, there is at least one parasite which attacks it, in 
the shape of a yellowish, footless maggot, with a green tint and 14 
segments. I obtained such maggots from two of the caterpillars, one 
having crawled out of its host before, and the other atter he had spun 
up. Absence from home prevented my breeding this parasite, but it 
would doubtless have produced some 4-winged fly belonging to the 
Chalets family (see Pl. 2, Figs. 6 and 9). According to Mr. Read, the 
first brood of caterpillars feed on the leaves, appearing in May (in Ohio) 
or as soon as the leaves are grown. The worms which appear in our 
grapes in July are, therefore, the second brood, and there is doubtless 
a third brood, for Mr. Rathvon received them in October, and I have 
taken the worm out of a grape as late as the 22d of September. The 
broods, in all probability, run into one another and the last passes the 
winter within the cocoon, either in the larva or pupa state. They: 
should, therefore, be searched for early in the season on the leaves. 
The second brood of worms, or those which infest grapes, can easily: 
be espied and destroyed in a healthy vineyard; but where a vineyard 


*Heinemann and Lederer unite the genus Penthina wrth Grapholitha, under the latter name, 
and I belieye Mr. C, T, Robinson, of New York, follows them in this respect. 


136 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


is affected with what Prof. Turner, of Jacksonville, Hlinois, designates 
as the ‘American Grape rot,” ie grape attacked ie the Gouna are 
not so easily distinguished, as they bear a close resemblance to the 
rotting ones. Care should be taken in gathering the infested grapes 
for the worm being very active wriggles away and easily escapes. 


THE EIGHT-SPOTTED FORESTER, Alypia octomaculata, Fabr. 
Pl. 1, Figs. 18 and 19. 


(Lepidoptera, Zyg enidee.) 


At Plate 1, Figure 19, is represented a caterpillar which has been 
sent to me by seeeral correspondents with the statement that it was 
found on their grape vines, and during the month of May, I found the 
same caterpillar on the vines of Mr. T. R. Skinner, of Cheltenham, 
and of Mr. Peabody, of Sulphur Springs. It grows to the length of 

+ inches, and is transversely striped with bluish-white and black, 
about4 white and 4black lines on each segment, with two small black 
spots in the middle light band on the back. The head and a shield 
on the first segment are shiny gamboge-yellow, with black dots, and 
on the 11th segment there is an orange elevation, not shiny and with 
two black spotsin it. From similar caterpillars, hich were taken from 
grape vines in 1865 I bred in the spring of 1866 the moth figured at 
Plate 1, Figure 18, known as the Eight Spotted Forester ( Alypia 
octomaculata, Fabr.) It is recognized at once by its conspicuous 
markings, being of a black color with orange shanks, each of the fore 
wings with two large light yellow spots and each of the hind wings 
with two white spots. The caterpillars leave the vines during the 
month of June, and descend into the earth where they form for them- 
selves slight eocoons of earth in which they remain through the 
winter and from which the moth escapes the following April. 


It is not probable that this caterpillar which may be called the 
Blne Caterpillar of the vine, will ever become exceedingly numerous, 
for it has not been known to become so in the past, and this hasty 
sketch of its history is given principally for the gratification of the 
intelligent grape-crower who takes pleasure in thoroughly understand- 
ing and knowing, in all their different guises, the creatures he has to 
deal with. 


There are two other caterpillars very muchresembling this, which 
also feed on the vine; but they produce very different looking moths, 
the one known as Pease grata, Fabr.,and the otheras Ludryas 
unio, Hiibner. Dr. Fitch in his 3d Report §123 states that the larva 
of /. grata differs only from that of A. octomaculata in lacking a 
white spot on each side of every segment, and in being slightly 
humped at its hind end. The specimen from which my figure was 


i THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1387 


made may prove to be & grata, for it had no such white spots and 
was humped; but it differs essentially from the most excellent de- 
scription of this last larva which A.S. Packard, Jr., has given in his 
“notes on the family Zyganidax, pp. 27-29, and sufficiently resembles 
those from which I actually bred the 8-spotted Forester. 


THE GRAPE-VINE PLUME, Pterophorus periscelidactylus, Fitch. 
Plate 2, Figs. 15 and 16. 


(Lepidgptera, Alucitidz.) 

, During the latter part of May and beginning of June, the leaves 
of the grape-vine may often be seen drawn together by silken threads 
and in the retreat thus made will be found asmall hairy caterpillar 
which feeds on the tender leaves of the vine. This caterpillar grows 
to the length of about half an inch; the color of the body is very 
pale green and has four elevated white spots and two still smaller 
dots on every segment, from which spring stiff white hairs in all 
directions. 

This caterpillar was quite common last summer in many sections 
of the State. It was first named by Dr. Fitch, who found it on the 
vine in the State of New York. A number which [ brought home 
changed to chrysalids during the first days of June, and the moths 
were produced from them in about 8 days afterwards. The worm first 
spins a few threads of silk to the underside of a leaf, or other object, 
and the chrysalis attaches the lower part of the terminal segments 
to them, and hangs with the tail somewhat curved, at a slant of 40° 
from the object,as represented at Plate 2, Figure 16. This chrysalis 
measures 0.35—0.40 in length, is of a light-green color and of peculiar 
form. It is ridged, with remnants of the tubercles of the caterpillar. 
lt is angular and cut off slantingly and bluntly at the head, but is 
characterised principally by two sharp and angulated projections 
from the middle of the back, and which are enlarged under the figure 
16, in Plate 2.* 

The moth (Pl. 2, Fig. 15) is of a tawny yellow color, the wings 
marked with white and with a darker shade. The caterpillars disap- 
pear very suddenly, for the chrysalis is so small and so nearly the 
color of the leaf, that it would be seldom noticed, even it were not so 
well hidden. There are probably two broods in the year, though I 
failed to find any trace of them after the first had disappeared. 

All the moths of the family (ALucttripm) to which this belongs 
have very appopriately received the name of Plumes. In the genus 
Pterophorus the fore wings are divided into two and the hind 


*Dr. Fitch has given a most excellent and full description of this chrysalis in his 1st Report 
pp. 140-141. 


138 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


wings into three lobes, and to show how very different insects may 
be in the larva state, both in habit and appearance, even when 
they belong to the same genus and greatly resemble each other in 
the perfect state, I have represented at Plate 2, Figure 13, another 
Plume, which I shall presently describe as the Thistle Plume. 

Remeprrs—Whenever they become numerous, as they did last 
summer, the only remedy is hand-picking. 


THE TREE-CRICKET— @eanthus niveus, Harris. 


(Orthoptera, Achetide.) 


This insect is represented in the annexed cuts, Figure 77 showing 


the male, and Figure 78 the female. The general color is a delicate 
[Fig. 77-] 


greenish, semi-transparent white, though some speci- 
mens have a blackish shade. From the fact that it is 
known to devour plant-lice and likewise the eggs of 
some moths, I was formerly in doubts whether it 
: should be considered [Fig. 78.] 

friend or foe, but the ex- 
perience of the past year 
settles the matter defi- 
nitely, for it has proved 
very destructive tothe vine. The female deposits her eggs in grape 
canes, raspberry and blackberry canes, in the twigs of the peach, 
White willow, and a variety of other trees. In depositing, she makes 
a straight, longitucinal, contiguous row of punctures, each puncture 
about the size of that which would be made by an ordinary pin. 
From each of these holes, a narrow, yellowish, elongate egg, runs 
slantingly across the pith. The twigs or canes thus punctured almost 
invariably die above the punctured part, and the injury thus caused 
to vines is sometimes considerable. 

But by far the worst habit of the Tree-cricket is that of severing 
grapes from the bunches just as they are beginning to ripen, and it 
sometimes cats off an entire bunch, or so thoroughly excoriates the 
stem that it fails to ripen its berries. I have seen the ground under 
geome vines covered with grapes which had been thus severed, but 
should never have accused the Tree-cricket, had I not found it in the 
very act, and received specimens with accounts of this same habit, 
both from Mr. B. L. Kingsbury, of Alton, Illinois, and from J. H. Tice, 
of St. Louis, This cricket is aided inthis destructive work by another 
epecies which has the same habit, namely the Jumping Tree-cricket 
( Orocharis saltator, Uhler.) This last insect is more robustly built 
than the former, and is at ence distinguished by its uniform light- 


S 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 


brown color, and I have good reason to believe that it deposits its 
eggs in the grape-vine in arow of punctures, each of which is about 
one-third of an inch apart, and each of which leads to from ten to 
twelve narrow eggs, about a tenth of an inch long, and deposited on 
either side of the puncture, length-wise in the pith. 

Remepy.—The crickets themselves should be crushed whenever 
met with, while the vineyardist should make a business of searching 
in the winter time for all puncturéd twigs, and by burning them, 
prevent their increase in future. 


THE RASPBERRY GEOMETER, Aplodes rubivora, N. Sp.—PI. 2, 
Figure 25. 
(Lepidoptera Geometride.) 

The lovers of those most exquisite fruits, the Raspberry and the 
Blackberry are often greatly disgusted by the discovery of the fact 
that instead of the delicious berry which they expected to enjoy, they 
are munching the small caterpillar now under consideration. This 
caterpillar was quite numerous last summer on both the above named 
fruits at South Pass, Illinois. It has the peculiar faculty of thorough- 
ly disguising itself with pieces of dried berry, seed, pollen, and other 
debris of the fruit, which it sticks to a series of prickles with which it 
is furnished. Add to this disguise the habit which it has of looping 
itself into a small ball, and it almost defies detection. Itis most nu- 
merous during the months of June and July. Through the kindness 
of Mr. T. A. E. Holcomb, of South Pass, I was enabled to breed this 
insect to the perfect state. From two specimens of the larvee which 
he sent me, | bred from one, July 9th, the little moth which is illus- 
trated at Plate 2, Figure 25, the other being infested with a parasite 
which formed a tough cocoon, very much like that of a parasitic fly 
(Campoplex fugitivus, Say), which I have bred from milkweed feeding 
larvee of Huchetus egle, Harris. This little moth is of a delicate light 
grass-green color, with two paler lines running across both wings as 
in the figure. It belongs to the genus Ap/odes, and as I am informed 
by Dr. Packard, comes very near to glaucaria Guénée, and has not 
hitherto been described. In the proceedings of the Boston Society of 
Natural History (Vol, LX, pp. 800-2.) Mr. Walsh has described an oak- 
feeding Geometer which closely resembles this, both in the larva and 
perfect states. He erected the new genus Wipparchiscus, for it and 
gaye it the specific name venustus. It is a much larger insect, and 
differs in sundry respects from the species under consideration, though 


the moth is of the same color and somewhat similarly marked. 

APLODES RuBIVORA, N. Sp. —Larva—Average lenzth 0.80. Color light yellowish-gray, darker 
just behind each joint, and very minutely shagreened all over. On each segment a prominent 
pointed straight projection each side of dorsum, and several minor warts and prickles below. Two 
ve slightly raised, longitudinal lighter lines along dorsum, botween the prominent prickles. Ten 

ees. 


140 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Perfect insect—Alar expanse 0.50; length of body 0.25. Color verdigris-green, the scales be= 
ing sparse so that the wings appear sub-hyaline, Fore-wings with two transverse lighter lines di- 
viding the wing into three parts, proportionate in width as 3, 4, 2 counting from base, and parallel 
with posterior margin ; also a faint line between these two, running to about } of wing from costa. 
Hind wings with two similar transverse lines, dividing the wing in like proportion, the outer line 
not parallel with margin, but wavy and produced posteriorly near its middle. Costa pale; fringes 
obsolete. Head, thorax and abdomen green above, but, together with antennez and palpi, white 
beneath. 

Described from one 9 specimen. 


THE GOOSEBERRY FRUIT-WORM, Pempelia grossularie, Pack- 
ard.—P1. 2, Fig. 17. 
(Lepidoptera, Phycidz). 


On June 8th, I received from Mr. Geo. H. Cherry of Hematite, a 

number of diseased gooseberries, with an account of their prema- 

[Fig. 79.] turely turning red and rotting. Thecause was a 
smooth thick glass-green worm which is more 
fully described below. Subsequently on the 12th 
of the same month, I received the same species 
of worm witha eles account of its work, from 
Mr. Sie ahin) Blanchard, of Oregon; on the 16th from Jos. F. Bryant, 
of Bethany, with the heen that it was “ feeding on and hollowing 
out” his currants, and on the 17th from Dr. W. A. Monroe of Bloom- 
ington with the statement that it was destroying his native gooseher- 
ries and Green gage plums. Mr. A. Fendler and F. R. Allen, both of 
Allenton, likewise informed me that it entirely ruined their currant 
crop, and I afterwards found the same insect on the currants and 
gooseberries wherever I went, and it doubtless occurs over the whole 
country, for as we shall presently see, it attacks the gooseberry both 
in the State of New York, Massachusetts, and in Canada, 

Dr. Fitch, in his 3d Report, §149, makes brief mention of it though 
he was not acquainted with the parent moth. He concludes his ac- 
count in the following words: “Ihave sometimes seen bushes of the 
wild gooseberry with every berry withered and reduced to a mere 
dry hollow shell, with a cob-web-like tube protuding from the orifice 
in one side. And the present summer a letter to the County Gentle- 
man, from E. Graves Jr. of Ashfield, Mass., states that for three years 
past, his ‘ Houghton’s seedling’ gooseberries have been a total fail- 
ure from this same worm, as I am assured by the account which he 
gives of it and'the specimens accompanying his letter.” 


As soon as gooseberries and currants are well formed, this worm 
begins to make its presence known by causing the berries which it 
infests to prematurely turn red or dull whitish. After eating the in- 
side of one berry, leaving a hole for the passage of the excrement, it 
enters another berry, making a passage way of silk, until it draws to- 
gether a bunch of currants, or two or three gooseberries as the case 
may b2. The berries thus attacked sometimes drop, but more gener- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 141 


ally the hollow shell mixed with cob-web-like silk shrivels up and 
hangs on tothe bushes. During the latter part of June the worms 
descend from the shrub and spin for themselves brown cocoons (Fig. 
79, a) in the leaves and rubbish on the ground. Here they change to 
brown chrysalids and remain in this state through the winter and 
come forth in the spring asmoths. Thus thereis but one brood of this 
insect each year,and yet by the middle of July there is never a worm 
to be found, and the chrysalis consequently remains quiescent alike 
through the hottest summer and the coldest winter weather. As the 
worms which I procured are still in the chrysalis state, ] should have 
been unable to present the complete history of this pest, in this my 
first report, had it not been for the kindness of Mr. William Saunders 
of London, Canada, whom I met in Chicago, at the meeting of the 
“ American Association for the Advancement of Science,” and who 
very fortunately had with him specimens of the moth which he had 
bred from gooseberry-feeding worms, found in Canada, the deserip- 
tion of which answered exactly to those of mine. But to make doubly 
sure that the inseet which Mr. Saunders bred, is the same species as 
ours, I purposely forced one of my chrysalids. On the 25th of Jan- 
uary, 1869, the markings of the wings showed through the chysalis 
skin, which was loose and brittle. These signs indicated that the 
forthcoming moth was in an advanced state of development, and on 
carefully taking away the chrysalis skin, it lay before me with noth- 
ing lacking to bring it to perfection but the inflating of the wings. 
Their markings were however perfect and distinct and agreed entirely 
with the Canadian -specimen. 


This moth is represented at Figure 79, 6 and still more faithfully 
at Plate 2, Figure 17, its general color being pale gray. it belongs to 
the genus Pempelia, and from advance sheets of Dr. Packard’s 
“ Guide” I learn that he has named it P. grossulari@, and it may be 
known in English as the Gooseberry Pempelia. 


Remepies.—Care should be taken to gather and destroy the worms 
while they are yet in the fruit, as they are afterwards found in the 
chrysalis state with great difficulty. If chickens are allowed to run 
amongst the bushes after the fruit has gone, they will materially as- 
sist in checking it by devouring such chrysalids as are within their 
reach. 


PEMPELIA GROSSULARLE, Packard—Larva—Average length 0.65; thickest in the middle, of 
body, tapering thence slightly each way. Color glass-green, partly translucent, shiny, and with 
a roseate hue on the upper surface. Head of alight gamboge-yellow, with tawny lips. Cervical 
shield not very prominent and of the same color. No other markings whatever. A few very fine 
white hairs, especially near the head and tail. 16 Iegs, the thoracic ones the same color as head, 
the others green. 

Described from 10 specimens. 

Chrysalis—Length 0.38. Of thenormal form, and dull mahogany-brown color. The spiracles 
appearing like small tubercles and the extremity furnished with several stiff rufous curled bristles. 


Perfect insect,—Length, including palpi, 0.40; alar expanse, 0.80. Color pale-gray. Front 
wings with a dark transverse diffuse band on the inner third, enclosing a zig-zag white line not 
reaching the costa. A dark discal spot, constricted in the middle, the upper and lower edges con- 


142 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


tinued basally in the shape of two faint lines to the transverse band already mentioned, where they 
almost converge, the space enclosed by them being whiter than the rest of the wing, with a darker 
line along the middle. Beyond this discal spot, at about the outer fourth of the wing is another 
dark but less distinct diffuse transverse band, nearly parallel with posterior margin and with a white 
zig-zag line produced into an acute angle, basally, on the internal margin, the space between this 
band and the discal spot being also quite light. A row of marginal black dots, with the apex light. 
Fringes concolorous. Hind wings somewhat more dusky with darker margins and veins and lighter 
fringes. Head, thorax, abdomen, antenne, palpi and legs all pale gray, being more silvery on the 
under than on the upper side. 
Cne specimen from Wm. Saunders. 


THE STRAWBERRY LEAF-ROLLER, Anchylopera fragaria, 
Walsh and Riley—PIl. 2, Figs. 26 and 27. 


(Fig. 80.] 


The above figure represents an insect which devours the leaves 
of our strawberries. A more perfect picture of the moth is given 
enlarged at Plate 2, Figure 26, and of the natural size at Figure 27. 
It was first described in the January number of the American Ento- 
mologist, from which I take the following account of it. 

For nearly two years, we have been acquainted with a little green- 
ish leaf-roller, measuring about one-third of an inch, (Fig. 80, a@), which 
in certain parts of North Illinois and Indiana, has been ruining the 
strawberry fields in a most wholesale manner; and which also occurs 
in Canada, judging from an account inthe Canada Farmer of Au- 
gust 1, 1867. It crumples and folds the leaves, feeding on their pulpy 
substance, and causing them to appear dry and seared, and most usu- 
ally lines the inside of the fold with silk. There are two broods of 
this leaf-roller during the year, and the worms of the first brood, 
which appear during the month of June, change to the pupa state 
within the rolled-up leaf, and become minute reddish-brown moths 
(Fig. 80 c) during the fore part of July. After pairing in the usual 
manner, the females deposit their eggs onthe plants, from which eggs 
in due time, hatches a second brood of worms. These last come to 
their growth towards the end of September, and changing to pupe, 
pass the winter in that state. 

We first heard of this leaf-roller in the summer of 1866, when it 
did considerable damage at Valparaiso, Indiana, and we were in- 
formed by Mr. N. R. Strong, of that place, that in 1867 they continued 
their depredations with him, and destroyed 10 acres so completely as 
not to leave plants enough to set half an acre, and that in consequence 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 143 


of this little pest in conjunction with the White-grub, he has had to 
abandon strawberry eulture. 

When we met the ad interim committee of the Illinois State 
Horticultural Society at Lacon, in the beginning of July, 1868, we 
received from these gentlemen a quantity of infested strawberry 
leaves, from which in the course of the next two or three weeks we 
bred many of the moths. These specimens had heen collected at Mr. 
Bubaugh’s place, near Princeton, Illinois, where they were said to be 
very abundant, and to have completely destroyed one strawberry 
patch containing several acres. 

Subsequently we received another lot of specimens from Mr. W, 
E. Lukens, of Sterling, Whiteside, county, Illinois, with the following 
remarks upon this very important subject: 

“Where these insects are thick I would never think of raising 
strawberries. It is strange that I have not noticed any of their work 
upon this side the river; while on the south side fora mile up and 
down they are ruining the crops of berries. Removing the plants 
does not take with them the moth nor the eggs, so far as has been ob- 
served. A gentleman by the name of Kimball,at Prophetstown, had 
his crop a few years ago entirely destroyed by this insect, though it 
amounted in all to two or three acres. I hear of agreatmany men in 
other places having their crops burnt up with the sun, and have no 
doubt that. it was this leaf-roller, and not the sun, that was the real 
author of the damage. As for myself, I have on this account entirely 
quit the business of growing strawberries.” 

The only modes of fighting this new and very destructive foe of 
the strawberry—which, however, seems to be confined to northerly 
regions—are, first, to plough up either in the spring or in the fall, such 
patches as are badly infested by it, by which means the pupe will 
probably be buried and destroyed; and second, not to procure any 
plants from an infested region, so as to run the risk of introducing the 


plague upon your own farm. 

We annex brief descriptions of this insect, both in the perfect and larval states. We are in- 
debted to the distinguished English Microlepidopterist, H. T. Stainton, for the generic determina- 
tion of the species, and for the further remark that ‘‘it is closely allied to the European Anchylope- 
ra comptana (Manual Vol. II, p. 225), which feeds on various Rosacew, such as Poterium sangui- 
sorba, Potentilla verna, and Dryas octopetala.’’ 

ANCHYLOPERA FRAGARLE, New species—Head and thorax reddish-brown. Palpi and legs paler. 
Antenne dusky. Tarsal joints tipped with dusky. Front wings reddish-brown, streaked and spot- 
ted with black and white as in the figure. Hind wings and abdomen dusky. Alar expanse 0.40= 
0.45 inch. Described from nine specimens. 

The Larva measures, when full grown, 0.35 of an inch. Largest on the first segment taper- 
ing thence very slightly to the last. Color varying from very light yellowish-brown to dark olive- 
green or brown. Body soft, somewhat translucent, without polish; the piliferous spots quite 
large, shining, always light in color, contrasting strongly in the dark specimens with the ground 
color. Hairs, especially lateral ones, quite stout and stiff. Spots arranged in the normal form, 
segments 2 and 3 having none, however, on their posterior half as have the rest (See Fig. 80, b) 
Head horizontal, of a shining fulyous color, with a more or less distinct dark eye-spot and tawny 
upper lip. Cervical shield of the same shiny appearance. Anal segment with two black spots 
(See Fig. 80, d) at posterior edee, being confluent and forming an entire black edge in some specie 
mens. Legs, prolegs, and venter of the same color as the body above. 


144 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH—Orgyia leucostigma, 
Sm. & Abbott. 


(Lepidoptera, Arctiide.) 
[Fig. 81.] 


During the winter little bunches of dead leaves are sometimes 
found to be quite numerous on our apple trees, They are generally 
fastened to the twigs, and upon examination are found to contain gray 
cocoons. The greater portion of these cocoons have an egg-mass 
glued to them, which is composed of numerous perfectly round, cream- 
colored eggs, of about 0.03 diameter, and partly covered with glisten- 
ing white froth-like matter; while the other proportion of these cocoons 
have no such egg-mass. 

About the middle of the month of May these eggs begin to hatch, 
and continue thus to hatch in different parts of the orchard for over a 
month. The young caterpillar which hatches from these eggs is rep- 
resented at Figure 81, 6. It at first measures 0.10 in length, and is of 
a dull, whitish-gray color with the underside paler or ota dirty white, 
and with the tufts on the back of a dark brown. In two days after 
hatching, orange spots commence to appear along the back, and espe- 
cially on segments 2, 8,8 and 9. On the seventh day after having re- 
mained stationary for about two days, fastened to some part of the 
tree with silk, it casts its skin for the first time, after which operation 
the hairs are more numerous, the dark portions more intensely black- 
the orange parts of a brighter orange and the two tufts near the head 
longer. As it approaches the time of the second moult, the underside 
becomes more glaucous, a yeliow line begins to appear at the sides, 
and in some cases the orange marks become yellow, with the excep- 
tion of asmall, perfectly round spot on segments 9 and 10 which al- 
ways remains orange; the neck or first segment, where it joins the 
head, also becomes orange or yellow. Six days from the time of the 
first moult the second moult takes place, the worm having become 
lighter colored each day. Immediately after the shedding of the sec- 
ond skin it measures 0.30; the collar is more intensely orange as well 
as the head, while four cream-colored tufts appear on the back of seg- 
ments 4, 5, 6 and 7, and the two round spots on segments 9 and 10 are 
of avery bright scarlet-orange. As it grows and approaches the third 
moult, the orange collar becomes more conspicuous, the back be- 
comes of a perfect velvety black; the cream-colored tufts become 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 
4 


smaller, whiter, and the fourth frequently obsolete; a transverse row 
of four yellow warts becomes conspicuous on segments 2 and 3; a 
» subdorsal yellowish line appears, starting from segment 8 and running 
and diminishing posteriorly; the upper sides become of a dark bluish- 
gray, while the yellow line along the lower sides becomes more dis- 
tinct. Six days after the second moult the third moult takes place: 
with but little change in the appearance of the caterpillar, further 
than that the different colors become still more bright and distinct 
and the different tufts still larger. 


Up to this time all the individuals of a brood have been alike, and 
of a size, so that it was impossible to distinguish the sexes. Six days. 
- from the third moult, however, the males measure not quite 3 of an 
inch, and begin to spin their cocoons; while the females undergo 
a fourth moult about this time, and in about six days more they also 
spin up, having acquired twice the size of the male when he spun up.. 

Ug, £2] , The annexed Figure 82 rep- 

: - resents the full grown female 

caterpillar, it differing from the 

full grown male only in its 

larger size. At this stage of its 

existence the caterpillar is a 

4 most beautiful object, with its 

a vermillion-red head and collar, 
its cream-colored brushes and its long black plumes. 

When young these caterpillars make free use of a fine web which 
they spin, and by which they let themselves down when disturbed, 
and it is quite amusing to watch them ascend again whenever they 
have become sufficiently assured that there is no danger. They per- 
form this feat with the thoracic legs, using those of each side alter- 
nately, the body and head being thrown from side to side in HERES, 
very much as a sailor climbs a rope “ hand over hand.” 


It may puzzle some persons to divine how such a hairy and tufted 
caterpillar can possibly cast off its skin and yet retain these pretty 
appendages. After having remained stationary without food for about 
two days, the old skin becomes dry and somewhat loose. If at this 
time this old skin be carefully removed. it will be found that an en- 
tirely new set of these appendages has been forming underneath it; 
the two long plumes curled over the head, down by the feet and up 
again to near the scaly collar; the four white brushes folded close 
together inwardly crossing each other; the anal plume folded below 
the anus, and all the other hairs laid in thread-like. bunches close to 
the body in a posterior direction. In due time the old skin splits on 
the back, near the head, and the caterpillar gradually works it off pos- 
teriorly. The moment they are exposed the appendages which had 
been compressed, as described, to the body, commence to straighten 

1ORSE 


146 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


out, and in a few minutes the new dress is displayed in all its beauty 
and freshness. The long plumes at the head do not straighten out of 
their own accord, however, for the caterpillar by a curious curling of 
the body, while resting on a few of its abdominal prolegs, cunningly 
brushes them with its tail end, first on one side, then on the other. It 
furthermore presses them, for the same end, one after the other 
against any surface on which itis at the time walking, and having once 
thoroughly straightened out its toilet it rests a few minutes from its ef- 
forts and then commences to feed with surprising vigor, apparently 
determined to make up for its two day’s fast. 


The male cocoon is white or yellowish, and sufficiently thin to 
show the insect within it. It is formed of two layers, the outer one 
having the tufts and plumes which adorned the maker, scattered 


through it. The female cocoon is twice aslarge and more solid and 
dense. 


Soon after completing his cocoon the male changes to a chrysalis, 
which is represented of the natural size at Figure 81, d. The female, 
in due time, changes to a very different chrysalis, which is also repre- 
sented life-size at Figure 81, ¢. In about two weeks after spinning 
up, the moths begin to issue. In this state the sexes are still more 
dissimilar. The male produces a winged moth, which is represented 

Fig. 83. at Figure 83, while the female is furnished with but 

; the merest rudiments of wings, and is destined to 
|, simply crawl to the outside of her cocoon, where, after 


described, which, at this time, has every appearance 
of spittle. She is faithfully represented at Figure 
Ist, a, and after depositing her eggs, the body greatly 
contracts and she soon dies, 


Such is an outline of the natural history of this pretty, but de- 
structive caterpillar. In our State there are two broods each year, 
the moths of the first brood appearing during the latter part of May 
and fore part of June, and those of the second brood in September 
and October. The periods given for the transformations are average 
periods, and in further illustration of the difficulty in drawing rigid 
lines of time, in the development of insects, I will state that from a 
hundred larvee which hatch out in a single day, some will have pro- 
duced moths while others are yet feeding in the caterpillar state. 


This insect seems to occur more or less over the whole country, 
and I have repeatedly received its egg-masses during the past two 
winters. It is, however, as we might expect from its nature, often 
confined like the Canker-worm, to particular orchards in a particular 
neighborhood. It feeds upon different kinds of trees, such as the 
elm, maple, horse-chestnut and oak, but it seems to prefer the apple, 
the plum, the rose and the pear. 


ag 
; | 
I" ay 


i sa LL 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. . 147 


RemediEs.—Dr. Fitch has described two parasites, which attack 
this caterpillar, and I am acquainted with seven others, making in all 
nine distinct parasites, which prey upon this species. It was my in- 
tention te have described and figured some of these parasites, but the 
time in which this Report must be ready for the Public Printer for- 
bids my doing so, the present year, and it suffices te say that in col- 
jlecting the cocoons in the winter in order to destrey them, none but 
these which have the egg-masses on them should be taken, as all the 
others, either contain the empty male chrysalis or else some friendly 
perasite! From the fact that the female never travels beyond her 
cocoon, it becomes obvious that, since the insect can only travel in 
the caterpillar state, it would require over a century for it to spread 
even a hundred miles. Hence we may rightly cenclude that it has 
been introduced te different parts of the courtry in the egy-state en 
young imported trees. How essential it-is then to examine every 
tree in planting out a young orchard, and how easy it is with the 
proper precautions to ferever keep an orchard free from its destruc- 
tive work. As already stated, the young worms let themselves down 
upon slightly jarring the tree, and though after the third mouit they 
lose this habit to a great extent, yet they may always be brought 
down by a good therough shake, and where they have once invaded 
an orchard, this will be found the most feasible mode of killing them ; 
though prevention by destroying the egg-masses in the winter when 
they are easily discerned, is infinitely the best and surest remedy 
against its attacks. 


Cae eee 


THE BAG-WORM, alias BASKET-WORM, alias DROP-WORM— 
Thyridopteryx ephemereformis, Wawerth. 
(Lepidoptera, Psychide. 


{Fig. 84] 


‘Cc i 
‘Our shade and ornamental trees are often defoliated by various 
Yasects, and I will give brief acceunits of three which have attracted 


148 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


my attention during the past summer. Of these, the insect whose 
transformations are illustrated above, is by far the most common and 
injurious. It apparently flourishes better south of latitude 39° than 
north of that line. It occurs on Long Island, andin different localities 
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, District of Columbia, the Carolinas, 
Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, South [linois and in the southern half of 
our own State, and doubtless in some of the other States, though I 
have no records to judge by. In St. Louis county it is very plentiful. 
Year after year shade trees are planted along the streets and avenues 
of this city, and year after vear a great proportion of them dwindle 
and die, until at last the opinion very generally prevails among land- 
owners that it is of little use to try and grow them. Consequently 
they are not as generally planted as they should be, and St. Louis, 
with all her natural advantages, lacks to a great extent, those beau- 
tiful vistas and leng rows of trees which so characterize and adorn 
some of our more Eastern cities. 

Why is it that so many of. these trees dwindle? No one seems 
to know! Can it be owing to the character of the soil, or of the cli- 
mate? Most emphatically, no!—in these respects there is no more 
favored city on the continent, and for the proof we need only to visit 
Mr. Shaw’s beautiful gardens, or Lafayette Park, or any of the nur- 
series around the city. What then,is thecanse? Why, thevery Bag- 
worm which forms the subject of this article. It swarms all over the 
city proper, but decreases in numbers, as a general rule, as one ap- 
proaches or gets beyond the limits, and is comparatively rare in the 
above mentioned places. The reason for this is obvious when we 
understand its history, forit can spread but gradually, and has natur- 
ally multiplied most in those piaces where it has longest existed— 
namely, in the older parts of the town. 

The natural history of the insect is interesting, and may be thus 
briefly given: 

Thoughout the winter the weather-beaten bags may be seen hang- 
ing from almost every kind of tree. Upon plucking them many il 
be found empty, but the greater proportion of them will, on being 
cut open, present the appearance given at Figure 84,'e¢; they are in 
fact full of soft yellow eggs. Those which do not contain eggs are 
the male bags and his empty ehrysalis skin is generally found protrud- 
ing from the lower end. About the middle of next May these eggs 
will hatch into active little worms, which, fro:a the first moment of 
their lives, commence to form for themselves little bags. They crawl 
on to a tender leaf, and, attached to their anterior feet with their tails 
hoisted in the air, they each spin around themselves a ring of silk, 
which they soon fasten bits of leaf. They continue adding to the lower 
edge of the ring, pushing it up as it increases in width, till it reaches 
the tail and forms a sort of cone, as represented at Figure 84g. As 
the worms grow, they continue to increase their bags from the bot- 
tom, until the latter become so large and heavy that the worms let 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 149 


them hang instead of holding them upright, as they did while they were 
young. By the end of July they have become full grown, when they 
present the appearance of Figure 84, The worm on eine pulled 
out, appearing as at Figure 34, @. This fall grown condition is not 
attained, however, without critical periods. At four different times 
during their growth these worms close up the mouths of their bags 

and retire for two days to east their skins or moult, as is the nature of 
their kind, and they push their old skins through a passage which is 
always left epen at the extremity of the bag, and which also allows 
the passage of the excrement. 

During their growth they are very slow travelers and seldom 
leave the tree on which they were born, but when full grown they 
become. quite restless, and it is at this time that they do all their trav- 
eling, dropping on to persons by their silken threads and crossing the 
sidewalks in all directions. A wise instinct urges them to do this, for 
did they remain on one tree, they would soon multiply beyond the 
power ef that tree te sustain them, »nd would in consequence become 
extinct. When they have lost their migratory desires, they fasten 
their bags very securely by a streng band of silk to the twigs of the 
tree on which they happen te be. A strange instinct leads them to 
thus fasten their cocoons to the twigs only of the trees they inhabit, 
so that these cocoons will remain secure through the winter, and not 
to the leaf-stalk where they would be blown down with theleaf.* Af- 
ter thus fastening their bags, they line them with a good thickness of 
the same material, and resting awhile from their labors, at last cast 
their skins and become chrysalids. Hitherto the worms had all been 
alike, but now the sexes are distinguishable, the male chrysalis (Fig. 
84, 4} being but half the size of the female chryalis (shown inside of 
the bag atc). Three weeks afterwards a still greater change takes 
plare, the sexes differentiating still more. The male chysalis works him- 
self down to the end of his bag and, hanging half-way out,the skin bursts 
and the moth (Fig. 84, d) with a black body and glassy wings escapes. 
and when his wings are dry, soars through the air to seek his mate.— 
She never leaves her case, but issues from her chrysalis in the 
shape of an abortive, footless and wingless affair (Fig. 84, ¢) and 
after copulating, works herself back into the chrysalis skin, fills its 
upper but posterior end with eggs and steps up the other end with 
what little there is left of her body when she gets through. These 
eggs which are quite soft and yellowish, pass the winter protected in 
the bags, and produce young worms again the following spring, 
which go threugh the same cycle of transformations thus hurriedly 
described. 

This insect is essentially polyphagous, for it occurs alike on ever- 


*I have notieed that the Ailanthus tree is almost entirely exempt from the attacks of this 
worm, but canzot yet tell whether this is because the leaves are repulsive to it, or whether, the 
leaves being compound, the worm’s instinct fails it, in that it fastens its case to the mid-stalk, 
which falls and carries the case with it to the ground. I incline to the latter belief however, from 
the fact that the insect is such a general feeder, and that a few isolated cases are sometimes seen at- 
¢ached even to Ailanthns tyigs, showing that they can feed and mature on this tree, 


150 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


green and deciduous trees. I have found it on the elms, the common 
and the honey locusts, Lombardy poplar, catalpa, Norway spruce, 
arbor-vitz, Osage orange, soft and silver maples, sycamore, apple, 
plum, cherry, quince, pear, linden, and above all on the red cedar, 
while Mr. Glover has also found it on the cotton plantin Georgia. It 
is also exceedingly hardy and ruddy, and the young worms will make 
their bags of almost any substance upon which they happen to rest 
when newly hatched. Thus they will construct them of leather, pa- 
per, straw, ete., etc., and it is quite amusing to watch their opera- 
tions. 


NatursL Remepirs.—The only parasite which has been hitherto 
known to attack this Bag-worm is one known as Cryptus tnguisitor, 
Say, which Mr. Glover figures on Plate 11, Figure 5, of his yet unpub- 
lished plates of four-winged flies. Last September, through the kind- 
ness of Miss M. E. Murtfeldt of St. Louis, I discovered another parasite 
which lives in the body of the worm to the number of five or six at a 
time, and which after destroying their victim, spin for themselves tough 
white silken cocoons within the bag, as represented at Plate 2, Figure 
10. The Ichneumon fly which issues from these cocoons has never 
been described, and as the sexes differ remarkably, I subjoin a full 
description of each. The female is represented at Plate 2, Figure af 
and the male at Figure 12, and it will be seen at once that while the 
wings of the former are clouded, those of the latter are perfectly 
clear. This fly belongs evidently to the genus Hemiteles thowgh it 
differs from most species in having the areolet wanting. 


HeMITELES (?) THYRIDOPTERYX, N. Sp.—Q Length, 0.36; expanse0.50. Ferruginous, opaque. 
Head transverse, rather broader than thorax, the front much depressed; face prominent centrally 
beneath antennex, closely punctured, thinty clothed with pale pubescence; clypeus and cheeks 
shining; tips of mandibles black; autennz, long, slender, filiform, ferruginous, blackish at tipss 
thorax rugose; scutellum prominent, with sharp lateral margins ; metathorax prominent, quadrate, 
abrupt laterally and posteriorly, finely reticulated and pubescent, the upper posterior angles pro- 
duced on each side into along, divergent, fiattened, subaeute spine; disk with two longitudinat 
carinx, from which diverges a ceatral transverse carma; tegule piceous: wings hyaline, subiri 
descent ; # narrow, dark fuliginous band crosses the anterior pair a little before the middle, and @ 
broad band of same color between middle and apex, this band having a median transverse hyaline 
streak ; areolet wanting, second recurrent nervure straight, slightly oblique; apex of posterior 
wing fuscous; legs long and sfender, ferruginuous, more or less varied with fuscous; posterio® 
coxae, tips of their femora, and their tibia and tarsi, fuscous; base-of four posterior tibie more 
or less whitish, forming a rather broad annulus on posterior pair; abdomen. petiolated, subconvex, 
densely and finely sculptured, blackish, basal segment tinged with reddish, the second and third 
segments distinctly margined at tip with whitish ; apical segments smooth and shining, thinly pu- 
bescent; ovipositor half as long as abdomea, sheaths blackish. 

3'.—Not at alllike the 9. Length 0.33, expanse 0.44. Long, slender, black, polished” 
without distinct panctures, thinly clothed with white pubescence; palpi white; antenne long? 
slender ; scape reddish ; mesothorax gibbous, with two deeply impressed longitudinal lines ; meta- 
thorax with well-defined elevated lines, forming several irregular areas ; sides rugulose, apex with” 
out spines or tubercles; tegule white; wings whitish-hyaliae, subiridescent, the nervures ang 
stigma white, subhyaline, neuration as in Q ; legs Jong, slender, pale honey-yellow ; cox, poste 
rior trochanters, apex of their femora, and their tibiz and tarsi, blackish; base of posterior tibia 
with a white annulus; abdomen long, slender, flattened, petiolated, smooth and polished, the apical 
margin of second segment being narrowly whitish. 


Described from four Q and one ¢ specimens bred from the same cacoon. 


+ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 151 


ArtiriciAL RemMeEprES.— From the natural history of this Bag-worm 
it becomes obvious, that by plucking the cases in the winter time, 
and burning them, you can effectually rid your trees of them, and I 
advise all who desire healthy trees to do this before the buds begin to 
burst in the spring. Where this is not done the worms will continue 
to increase, and partly defoliating the tree each year, slowly, but 
surely, sap its life. 


In conversation some time since with Mr. Edward Cook, who is 
superintending the improvements in Washington Park, St. Louis, I 
showed him that every one of the young trees that had been lately 
planted there had from six to a dozen of these Bag-worms hanging 
from their twigs. Iexplained to him that the trees would never thrive 
with these parasites, and that, prevention being easier than cure, he 
had better have them plucked off at once, while they were within 
reach. He informed me afterwards that he had gathered two barrels 
full from these trees, but there are many yet left, which should be 
removed before spring. 


THE AILANTHUS WORM—Larva of (ita compta, Clem., Plate 2, 
Figs. 22 and 23. 


(Lepidoptera, Tineide.) 


The Ailanthus is highly prized in most of our cities as a shade tree, 
and though there certainly are other trees as quick growing, and as 
hardy, which might advantageously take its place, yet as it has an al- 
most perfect immunity from the attacks of the Bag-worm and continues 
to be grown, it will be of interest to know what insect enemies it has. 
Fortunately it has very few, but every St. Louisan must have noticed 
last fall that nearly all the young Ailanthus trees around the city, and 
in the parks, looked black and seared as though they had been 
scorched by fire. Few probably divined the cause of this phenomen- 
on, but it was the work of the worm which is the subject of this 
chapter. 


This worm is slender and of a very dark olive-brown color, with 
white longitudinal lines. During the months of August and Septem- 
ber it may be found of all sizes, living in communities of from five to 
thirty individuals within a slight silken web. Did they but feed on 
the leaves their injury to the tree would be slight, but they have the 
miserable habit of gnawing the leaf stalk in two, and of severing 
the leaf, and causing it to turn black; thus marring the looks of large 
trees and killing many seedlings outright. When the worm is full 
grown it suspends itself in the middle of the loose web and changes 
to a chrysalis about }inch long and of a dull smoky-brown color. 
The chrysalis skin is so very fine, that as the future moth develops 


152 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


within, the colors of its wings show distinctly throughit. The chrysalis 
state lasts on an average about two weeks, at the end of which time 
the moth bursts forth. In this state it is one of the neatest and most 
beautiful little moths that can well be imagined. At Plate 2, Figure 22, 
itis represented of the natural size, expanded, and at Figure 23 with the 
wings closed. The fore wings are of a bright metallic golden-orange, 
crossed transversely with bands of very pale chrome-yellow, marbled 
with black; while the underwings are smoky black, and almost trans- 
parent in the middle. The first moths begin to appear during the 
first days of September, and continue issuing from the crysalids till 
the last of October. From the fact that I could get none of them to 
deposit eggs, I infer that they pass the winter in the moth state—the 
more readily since I have had them escape from the crysalis even in 
November. They are very fond of flitting over and clinging to the 
flowers of the Golden rod and of the Lupatorium serotinum. — 


This insect probably occurs throughout the Southern States, for 
Mr. Glover has foundit in Georgia. It is doubtless confined to the Ail- 
anthus tree, though when pushed for food I found that the worms were 
not at all fastidious about devouring their brethren that were in the 
helpless chrysalis state. It was named Pweiloptera compta by the 
late Dr. Breckenridge Clemens, but as the genus Pweiloptera was 
pre-occupied in insects, Mr. A. Grote, of New York, proposed the 
generic term (a, and we thus have ascientific name for our little 
moth— Zia compia—which the most prejudiced against the so-called 
“Crack-jaw-Latin” can hardly find objection to. 


The easiest way of getting rid of the worms is to cut off the 
branch containing the nest and burn it. 


ra compra, Clemens.—Larva.—Average length when full grown 0.95. Slender, the diame- 
ter being 0.09. General color very dark olive-brown An extremely fine pearly-white dorsal and 
subdorsal line, and a somewhat more distinct stigmatal line of the same color; all three of them 
formed by minute white specks and lines. Dorsum, dull olive-green. A longitudinal line some- 
what darker and in many cases quite black, below the subdorsal line. Between this last and stig- 
matal line is a stripe of the same color as dorsum, but speckled with white. Immediately below 
atigmatal line, it is rusty-yellow, especially on the middle segments. Venter sometimes olive- 
green, sometimes lead-color, finely speckled with white, and with a translucent line visible along 
the middle. This larva is mainly characterized, however, by a number of minute white piliferous 
spots, in strong contrast with the dark body, each giving forth a stiff white hair at right angles 
from said body. These spots are thus arranged on each side of every segment: 2 about the middle 
on subdorsal line; 1 under the anterior of these, just below the longitudinal dark line; 2 on the 
stigmatal line, with the stigmata which is of the same color between them; 1 in the orange part 
posteriorly ; 2 small ones just below the orange part, and 2 in the middle of venter on the legless 
segments. Head of a beautiful brown, perpendicular, marked with black and speckled with white, 
two large spots being especially noticeable on the upper front. Cervical shield velvety-black, ir- 
regularly speckled with white. Thoracic legs black; abdominals extremely small and of the same 
color as venter ; anals somewhat larger and brown. 

Described from numerous specimens. The white spots are usually larger near the head while 
the hairs springing from them lean towards the head. The head itself is sometimes entirely black, 
while the white longitudinal lines are occasionally almost obsolete. 


The young wormis pale andvoid of markings. 


Chrysalis.— Average length 0.53. Not polished, but with the markings of the larva still appa- 
rent through the thin skin. General color dull smoky-brown, with a distinct broad dorsal handof a 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 


light rust-brown color along the abdomen, and a perfectly round spot of the same color on the top 
of the thorax, this spot generally giving forth a narrow orange line posteriorly. 

Perfect Insect.—Average length 0.55; alar expanse 1.08. Fore wings bright lustrous golden- 
orange, crossed transversely with irregular bands of sulphur-yellow spots on a black ground as in 
the figure; fringes dense, narrow and brown. Hind wings smoky black, sub-hyaline except near 
apex and along margins; veins dusky, fringes also. Under surface of front wings dusky brown 
with the colors of the upper surface partly visible; under surface of lower wings concolorous. 
Head black with sulphur-yellow tufts; eyes black; palpi alternately black and sulphur-yellow ; 
antennx filiform, slightly serrate, black with a white shade along the upper terminal third. Tho- 
rax black with a wavy sulphur-yellow collar, golden-orange shoulder-covers with a spot of the 
same color between them, and two sulphur-yellow spots below this last. Abdomen steel-blue 
above, with a large brimstone-yellow patch on each segment below. Under surface of thorax black 
with brimstone-yellow patches ; legs black, the front pair with yellow cove and orange thighs, the 
other four with more or less yellow, especially on the thighs. 

Described from numerous specimens. No particular sexual difference, except in the form of 
the body. : 


THE WALNUT TORTRIX, Jortric Rileyana, Grote—Pl. 2, Figs. 3 
and 4. 


(Lepidoptera, Tortricide.) 


During the month of May large bunches of the leaves of the 
Black Walnut and of the Hickory may be found drawn together by a 
silky web, and living within these bunches, a nest of caterpillars of a 

[Fig. 85.] yéllow color and marked as at Figure 85, a; 6 showing 
a side view of one of the segments. During the latter 
\part of the month they change to little honey-yellow 
chrysalids, within the nest, and by the middle of June 


af /these last work their way through the leaves to the 
ey outside, by means of rows of minute teeth which they 
eum have on the back. Here they hang in great numbers 


by the tips of their abdomens, and in a short time the moths escape. 

This moth is represented at Plate 2, Figure 3, with the wings ex- 
panded, and at Figure 4 with wings closed. It is prettily marked, the 
fore wings being of an ochreous color with a golden tint, and darker 
spots, and the hind wings of.a deep golden color. It was first de- 
scribed by Mr. Grote, of New York, in the Transactions of the Amer- 
ican Entomological Society, Vol. Il, p.121. It was quite common in 
1868 along the Iron Mountain road, and seems to be peculiar to Mis- 
souri. It also seems to prefer the young Hickories and Walnuts to 
the older or larger trees, as I found few nests that were out of reach, 

On the Snowberry * (Symphoricarpus vulgaris), similar nests 
may be found at the same time of year, containing caterpillars agree- 
ing in description with those feeding on the Wa!nut and Hickory, ex- 
cept in being smaller. They go through their transformations in the 
same manner and produce moths similarly marked but uniformly 


* They also occur on the Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata), though I have not bred the moth 
from worms feeding on this plant. 


154 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


paler in color. of smaller size and with less contrast between the up- 
per and lower wings. We have here an excellent illustration of what 
Mr. Walsh has called Phytophagic variation,+ for the Snowberry 
and Hickory feeding worms were evidently of but one species, and 
the difference in the moths was caused in my estimation by the differ- 
encé in food. Mr. Grote, it is true, describes the small form as the 
male and the large form as the female, but the difference is not sex- 
ual, as the two sexes occur alike in both forms. 

Tortrix Riweyana, Grote—Larva—Length, Hickory feeding, 0.60-0.80; Snowberry feeding, 
0.40-0.50. Largest on segment 2, tapering thence gradually to anus. Ground color dull yellow. 
Covered with large, distinct, black, sealing-wax-like, slightly elevated spots, each giving rise to 
several fine bristles. These spots are thus arranged on each sagment: 2 each side of dorsum the pos- 
terior ones widest apart; 1 at sides in the middle of the segment, containing the stigmata in its lower 
hind margin ; 1 smaller and narrower just below this, on a somewhat elevated longitudinal ridge, and 
lround one below this ridge on the posterior part of the segment. Segments 2 and 3 have but 
one spot each side of dorsum. Two distinct wrinkles on all the segments, more on2 and3. Head, 
cervical shield and caudal plate black. Venter dirty yellow with black marks; legs ditto. 

Chrysalis—Honey-yellow, robust in the middle, and with two transverse rows of minute teeth 
across the back of each segment. 

Perfect Insect—From Hickory—Average expanse | inch, length of body, 0.35. Deep ochreous. 
Fore wings evenly washed with purplish, leaving the fringes and costal edge dark ochreous. The 
markings take the shape of dark velvety brown rounded maculations, generally of small size and 
faintly shaded with ochreous on the edges. Three of these subterminally at the base of the wing, 
subequal, situated interspaceally between the nervures. Ata little within the middle of the costa 
are two fused maculations, the mostprominent. Before and beyond these, some faint costal marks. 
At the extremity of the discal cell, above median nervure, is the first of a series of maculations, 
normally four in number but not constant, usually uneven in size. A subterminal series of spots 
is inaugurated on costa by a large,compound shaded maculation. Below this, over the median 
nervyules, sweeps an outwardly rounded series of small approximate dots. Two dots on costa, within 
and at the apex, and a faint terminal series of minute streaks is shortly discontinued. Hind wings 
of a lustrous bright deep ochreous; pale along the costal margin and darker shaded along internal 
margin. Beneath, as are the hind wings above; both wings immaculate, fore wings the darker. 
Body and appendages concolorous, bright deep ochreous. Antenne simple. Numerous bred 
specimens. 

From Snowberry—var. symphoricarpi—Much paler, the fore wings not being as dark as the 
hind wings of the above. The upper surface of fore wings not washed with purplish but merely 
of a darker ochreous than the hind wing. The maculations entirely similar but ferruginous, paler 
and the slighter costal marks obsolete. Legs at base and under thoracic surface almost whitish 


Average expanse, 0.62; length of body, 0.30. Described from numerous specimens. Under sur. 
faces exactly alike in both varieties. 


THE SKED-CORN MAGGOT, Anthomyia zeas—N. Sp.—PI. 2, Fig. 24. 
(Diptera Muscide.) 
DESTROYING THE SEED AFTER IT IS PLANTED. 
About the 20th of last June I received the following letter from 
A.S. Fuller, of Ridgewood, New Jersey: 
“DEAR Srr: I send you, by mail, a small box containing kernels 
of sprouted corn, upon which you will find small white worms. Some 


of the corn fields in this vicinity are being ruined by this pest. These 
worms attack the corn before it comes up. What are they ?” 


{ See his paper in Proc. Phil. Ent. Soc., Vol. V, p. 194-216. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 155 


Subsequently I was informed that the seed-corn in other fields in 
Bergen county, New Jersey, was being destroyed in the same manner. 
The cause of this destruction is a footless maggot, measuring 0.25 to 
0.30 of aninchin length, of a yellowish-white color, blunt at the pos- 
terior and tapering at the anterior end. Itis a new foe to corn, and 
itis to be hoped that it is confined to the localities above mentioned. 
In order that it may at once be recognized, I give the following brief 
account of it: 
This maggot is shown, enlarged, at Figure 86 a, the hair line un- 
[Fig. 86.] derneath giving the natural size. It greatly re- 
sembles the Onion maggots, which are known to 
Q attack the onion in this country, and its work on 
corn is similar to that of this last named maggot 
6 on the onion; for it excoriates and gnaws into 
the seed-corn, as shown at Figure 87, and finally 
causes such seed to rot. 
After having become full fed, these maggots usually leave the ker- 
nels for the surrounding earth, where they contract into smooth, hard, 
« [Fig. 87.] light-brown pup», of the size and form of Figure 
a 86 b, and in about a week afterwards the perfect 
‘ly pushes open a little cap at the anterior end, 
ind issues forth to the light of day. In thisstate 
itis a two-winged fly belonging to the order 
Diptera, and quite inconspicuous in its markings 
and appearance. Though I bred but two females, and this sex fails 
to exhibit some of the most important generic characters, yet there is 
nothing in the females of this species to distinguish it from the genus 
Anthomyia proper, of Meigen, as restricted by Macquart, and this 
Corn maggot, therefore, belongs to the same genus as the imported 
Onion fly (Anthomyia ceparum, Meigen). Upon submitting a speci- 

‘men, for inspection, to Dr. Wm. Le Baron, of Geneva, Illinois, who 
has paid especial attention to our two-winged flies, he informed me 
that it is distinct from any hitherto described North American species, 
and I have, therefore, called it the Corn Anthomyia (Anthomyia 
Zeas). 

ANTHOMYIA ZEAS Q, N. Sp. (Pl. 2, Fig. 24). Length 9.20; alar expanse 0.38. Antenne blacks 
style mircoscopically pubescent; front, fulvous, with a distinct, rather narrow, brownish, cinere- 
ous margin ; face and orbits brownish-white ; palpi and probascis black; ocellar area somewhat 
heart-shaped ; thorax and abdomen pale yellow-brownish cinerous,’ with minute black points at the 
insertion of the bristles ; thorax with an indistinct middle stripe of brown; legs black, tinted with 
cinereous ; poisers pale orchre-yellow; scales small, the upper valve larger than the lower. 

It is difficult to suggest a remedy for this pest, as its presence is 
not observed till the mischief is done. Hot water has been found ef- 
fectual in killing the Onion maggot, withovt injuring the onions, and 
would doubtless prove as effectual for this Corn maggot, where a few 
hills of some choice variety are attacked, which it is very desirable to 
save. But its application in a large field, even if one knew where to 
apply it, would be impracticable, and I can only suggest soaking the 


156 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


seed, before planting, in gas-tar or copperas, and hope that the ex- 
periment will be tried next spring by those of our Eastern friends who 
have suffered from this maggot. 


The larvee of the genus Anthomyza live, for the most part, on 
vegetable matter, and seem to prefer itin a state of decay. Some, 
however, breed in excrement. Besides this corn species and the onion 
maggot already spoken of, there is one in this country that attacks 
radishes, and another that attacks the stem of cabbages. Specimens 
of this last species have been sent to me by Professor A. N. Prentiss, 
of Michigan Agricultural College, with the statement that they were 
proving very injurious to this esculent, around Lansing, in that State, 
and the flies produced from them seem to be identical with the species 
that attacks the cabbage in Hurope (Anthomyia brassice, Bouché). 


, 


THE WHITE GRUB. 


Larva of the May-beetle, Lachnosterna quercina, Knoch. 


(Coleoptera, Melolonthide.) 


[Fig. 88.] The “White Grub is one of 
the very worst and insidious of 
the farmer’s foes. To give its 
metamorphoses at a_ glance, 
and to obviate the necessity of 
verbal descriptions of so com- 
mon an insect, I have prepared 
a the annexed figure (88) which 
wot illustrates the full grown larva 
: iy (2), the pupa (1), aad side and 
_ back views of the beetle (3 &4). 
: The following letter from 
| Mr. Jno. P. McCartney, of Cam- 
eron, isa sample of numerous 
Time accounts of its depredations 

which I have received during the year. 

“Cameron, Missourt, Sept. 21, 1868. 

“Mr. 0. V. Ruwzy, Dear Sir: The White grub worms have done 
us in this part of the State a great deal of damage. Will you please 
give us a history of the insect’s habits. The grubs are now fall grown, 
fine fat fellows. Two years since (1866), during the last of May, the 
beetles were very plenty. After sundown they came in great num- 
bers and swarmed around the tops of the trees on the lawn, making 
a noise like the coming up of a storm of wind and rain. Last year 
(1867), the grubs did but little damage. What we want to know is, 
when will they leave the ground again as beetles? If they spend 
another summer in the ground it will be of but little use to try and 


+ i 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 157 


raise a crop on the land that is now full of them. They have ruined 
all the meadow in tnis vicinity.” 

It is characteristic of the beetle to appear in vast swarms during 
the month of May-——earlier or later, according to season or latitude. 
The beetle is quite voracious, and often greatly injures both fruit and 
ornamental trees. [have known the Lombardy poplar to die, in con- 
sequence of the utter denudation they caused; while last June cer- 
tain groves of both Pin and Post oaks on the farm of Mr. Flagg, of 
Alton, Illinois, were so thoroughly and suddenly denuded by them, 
that Mr Flagg could not at first divine the cause. Their existence in 
the beetle state is however short, and as they are confined to the foliage, 
their injuries are exceedingly small compared with those which their 
larvecinilict upon us. Our meadows, strawberry beds, corn, vegetables, 
and even young nursery stock, are all subject to the attacks of these 
White grubs, and oftenruined by them. Soon after pairing, the female 
beetle creeps into the earth, especially wherever the soil is loose and 
rough, and after depositing her eggs, to the number of forty or fifty— 
dies. These hatch in the course of a month, and,the grubs growing 
slowly, do not attain full size till the early spring of the third year, 
when they construct an ovoid chamber, lined with a gelatinous fluid; 
change into pup, and soon afterwards into beetles. These last are 
at first white, and all the parts soft asin the pupa, and they frequently 
remain in the earth for weeks at a time till thoroughly hardened, and 
then, on some favorable night in Muy, they rise in swarms and fill 
the air. 

This, is their history, though it is very probable, as with the Eu- 
ropean @ock-chafer (a closely allied species), that, under favorable 
conditions, some of the grubs become pupee, and even beeties, the fall 
subsequent to their second spring; but growing torpid on approach 
of winter, remain in this state in the earth, and do not quit it any 
sooner than those transformed in the spring. On this hypothesis, 
their being occasionly turned up in the fresh beetle state at fall plow- 
ing, becomes intelligible. 


Remepies.—As natural checks and destroyers of this grub, may be 
mentioned the badger, weasel, skunk, marten, the crow, and the differ- 
ent hawks, but especially the Ground beetles among insects, some of 
which have been figured on page 115. Hogs are fond of them, and a 
gang may be turned into an infested meadow, which is to be cultivated 
the next year, with good advantage. The grub sometimes so thoroughly 
destroys the roots of meadow grass that the sward is entirely severed ; 
in such cases a heavy rolling would doubtless kill great numbers of 
them. Applications of ashes and salt have been recommended, but I 
think they are of doubtful utility, unless sufficiently applied to saturate 
the ground to the depth of more than a foot. <A field or meadow ig 
badly injured during a certain year by the full grown grubs, 
The following spring the owner, ignorant of the insect’s history, applies 
some substance to the land as a remedy, and finding no grubs during 


158 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the summer following, will naturally cenclude his application was ef 
fectual, when in reality the insects left of their own accord in the 
beetle state. 


During their periodical visits as beetles, they should be shaken 
from the trees, gathered up, scalded and fed to hogs. As an illustra- 
tion of what may be done in the way of hand-picking, I will state that 
under the efforts of M. Jules Reiset, the incredible amount of 160,000 
kilogrammes, or about eighty millions of similar White grubs were col- 
jected and destroyed in a portion of the Seine-Inferieure of France, 
during the autumn of 1866. 


The beetles make their appearance in different localities with 
great regularity every three years, and in a case like that communi- 
cated by Mr. McCartney, I should advise him to plant freely next 
spring without fear of their ravages; for he may rest confident that 
they will issue as beetles next spring and not be very troublesome 
again, as grubs, till the summer of 1871. At Unionville, according to 
Mr. A. L. Winchell, the beetles appeared “in millions” last spring, 
and I hope soon to be able to give the years in which they will appear 
in the different localities throughout the State. The White Grub is 
subject to the attack of a curious fungus, which the following item 
from the Sedalia, Pettis county, Press very well describes : 


“W.B. Porter, of this county, has Jeft at our office a specimen of 
the White Grub, so formidable as a corn, potato, and grass destroyer. 
There are two sprouts of green, vegetable growth, growing out of the 
head of the grud, one on either side, of nearly half an inch in length, 
resembling a hog’s tusk in shape. Mr. Porter informs us .that the 
one presented is by no means an isolated example, but that myriads 
of them can be found which present the same anomalous combina- 
tion of animal and vegetable life. Who will explain this aberration 
from the well settled laws of organic life?” 


In the second volume of the late Practical Entomologist, page 
16, an account was given of the same fungus, great numbers of the 
grubs on Mr. Paulding’s place at Tipton, Iowa, being affected with it. 
Dr. Kirtland, of Ohio, also evidently refers to the same fungus as 

[Fig. 83.] being well known to science in the Prairie Farmer 
for 1865, Vol. XVI, p. 71. At Figure 89, I represent one 
of the grubs as it appears when attacked by this fungus, 
drawn from specimens received from Mr. Porter. The 
sprouts are almost invariably two in number and pro- 
ceed from the corners of the mouth, but in one speci- 

ihe men which I have, there is but one near the mouth, the 
ether protruding from the middle of the back. 

In Virginia the grub seems to be attacked by another fungus, as 
the following letter of Mr. Sam. H. Y. Early, which was communi- 
cated to Mr. Walsh by the well known Entomologist, Wm. H. Edwards, 
abundantly shows: 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 


“There is a white mushroom known in the region in which I was 
raised, as poisonous and fatal to the hogs that feed on it. I believe 
it is common in all localitiesin which I have been. In the spring of 
1842 I observed in what is called a ‘new ground’ in Virginia a great 
quantity of these mushroom, and in reply to some remark I made 
about them, some of my father’s negroes. who were then making hills 
with hoes for planting tobacco, inquired of me if I knew what pro- 
duced these mushrooms. On my replying in the negative, I was in- 
formed that they grew from the White grub worm. I think there 
were some twelve or fifteen negroes present, all of whom curcurred 
in the statement, and said it was no new thing to them. ‘They had no 
difficulty in establishing the truth of what they stated, because they 
dug them up in all their stages of germination and growth before my 
own eyes. In avery short time they had furnished me with a large 
number of the worms in their original shape, features and size, and 
as distiuct to the eye as if they had been alive, but having the con- 
sistency, color and smell of a mushroom; and I actually broke them 
up, just as a mushroom breaks in one’s hands, snapping them cross- 
wise and sqarely off. Many others I found to be enlarged before 
germinating, and many just germinating, but with the shape of the 
worm preserved. And in some I noticed that the features of the 
worm were preserved in the root, even after the mushroom had grown 
up through the earth and attained some size. I gathered a good 
many specimens in their various stages into my handkerchief, and 
carried them to my father’s house, where they lay on the mantel for 
some time. They seemed, however, to be no novelty to many to 
whom [ exhibited them. In fact they were familiar to almost all 
who had opportunities of investigation, and to whom I mentioned 
them at the time.” 

Whether there is any relation between these two fungoid growths 
further investigation will alone tell; but when we shall have become 
better acquainted with them we may possibly be able, by sowing the 
spores of either kind to effectually kill the White Grubs in our fields. 


THE AMERICAN MEROMYZA—WMeromyza Americana, Fitch.— 
PI, 2,. Fig. 28. 
(Diptera Muscide.) 
ATTACKING WHEAT. 

About the middle of the month of June last, in all the wheat fields 
which I examined between Bluffton on the Missouri river and St. 
Louis, I noticed that a great many of the ears had prematurely ripen- 
ed, had turned yellow and were stunted and shorter than the rest, and 
upon examination the kernels proved to be withered and shrunken. 


160 FIRST ANNUAL REIORT OF 


In most fields about one per cent of the ears were thus affected, but 
in two fields near Hermann, from three to four per cent were injured 
in this manner. This appearance was variously attributed to Hessian 
fly, Midge, etc., etc., no one seeming to know the true cause. Upon 
(Fig. 90.]| examination I found that the last or ear-bearing joint could 
invariably be pulled out of its sheath with but a slight ef- 
\ jj fort, and that it was perfectly yellow and dry, while the 
#{ lower end bore an irregular and gnawed appearance. 
') Upon splitting open the first joint of the stalk, a space of 
ii|about a quarter of an inch was found to be completely 
il corroded, so to speak, and filled with excrementitious mat- 
14) ter, as shown at Figure 90.qa. In this space would generally 
be found a pale watery-green maggot of the form of Fig- 
ml! ure 90, 6, attenuated at one end and blunt at the othér. I 
f) took a number ef infested stalks home, and many of the 
Bi chaggots changed to green pups of the form and appear- 
| yance of Figure 90,c. Before changing to pupa the maggot 
} would sometimes crawl away from the joint and get nearer 
the head, between the stalk and the sheath. The pupa state lasted 
from 12 to 14 days, and the first flies emerged during the first week in 
July. 

This fly is represented, magnified, at Plate 2, Figure 28, and be- 
longs to the genus Meromyza in the family Muscipa of the order 
Dirreri. It appears to be the very same species which Dr. Fitch 
found flying about wheat fields in New York State, and which he de- 
scribed and named as the American Meromyza (Meromyza Amert- 
cana), on page 299 of his Ist and 2d Reports.* He did not ascertain 
the habits of the larva, however, anu they have ever since remained 
unknown. The fly measures, on an average, 0.17 to the tip of the ab- 
domen, and expands about 0.20. Itis of a pale yellowish-green, the 
head being more inclined to straw color. The eyes are black and 
there is a round black spot between them on the top of the head. 
There are three broad black stripes, with a bluish-gray cast, on the 
thorax, the middle one straight and extending anteriorly to the pedi- 
cel of the neck, the outer ones slightly rounded outwardly, not ex- 
tending so far anteriorly, but extending around the scutel and joining 
the middle one posteriorly. The abdomen also has, above, three broad 
blackish stripes, which are confluent posteriorly and interrupted at 
each of the sutures. Wings prismatic, hyaline and greenish anterior- 
ly, their veins and the tips of the feet being dusky. 

In Europe the larvee of the closely allied genera Chlorops and 
Oscinis have long been known to attack some part or other of the 
stalks of wheat, rye, barley and other small grains. Several species 
are figured and described by the English Entomologist Curtis in his 


* My specimens are all somewhat smaller than Dr. Fitch’s according to his description, and 
have black eyes instead of “‘bright green;’’ but upon submitting specimens to Baron R. Osten 
Sacken who makes a specialty of Déptera he referred it to the same species. 


i eal ao awe ee hea 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 161 


“Harm Insects,” and one of them—the Oscinis vastator—though a 
very different fly, seems to have almost precisely the same habit as 
our insect.. It is quite probable, also, that in this country as in En- 
rope, there are two broods during the year, the second brood of larvee 
attacking grain sown in the fall, but further investigation alone will 
decide these points. 

. Remepies.—Much can be done in an artificial way by cutting off 
and destroying all the infested stalks, which may readily be recognized 
by the signs already described; but even if this plan should faithfully 
be carried out, it is doubtful wheter it would pay in a country where 
labor is so scarce and demands such high wages asin ours. We there- 
fore have to fall back on the only practical means within our reach, 
viz: that of varying the culture by alternate courses, and this style of 
cultivation will have to be more generally adopted, should this pigmy 
foe sufficiently increase as to greatly diminish the yield of the “staff 
of life.” There is every reason to believe, however, that Nature has 
her own means of keeping these flies within due bounds, for they are 
known to be preyed upon by BM fapitig Ichneumon flies in Kurope, and 
I noticed many flies of this last iption, of polished hues and. act- 
ive movements, deftly darting thy . as resting: upon the wheat 


ser 
1yOug gh 
plants of the fields infested with the ERE 


THE SHEEP BOT-FLY OR HEAD MAGGOT—Csirus ovis, Linn. 


(Diptera, stride.) 

For the benefit of sheep. rais- 
give the following brief ac- 
‘count. of the insect which causes 
“(rub in the, head.” The annexed 
illustration (Fig. 91) represents it in 
all its stages. 1 shows the ares 
life size, with wings closed; 2, the 
same with wings expanded; 3, the 
pupa from which the fly has escaped. 
4 the full grown larva, dorsal view; 
5 the same, ventral view; 6 the same 
when younger. 

This iueseta is the dread of sheep in the Old as well asthe New 
World, and was made mention of by the Greek physician, Alexander 
Trallien, as far back as the year 569. 

The flies make their appearance in June and July, and deposit 
living maggots in the nostrils of the sheep. As soon as they are de- 
posited they ascend the nostrils, causing great irritation on, their way, 
until they reach the frontal sinuses; there they attach themselves by 

lL RSE 


4 
S 
poo 


162 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the little hooks or tentacula placed each side of the head, to the mem- 
branes which line the cavities, feeding on the mucus which is always 
to be found in them. Until they attain their growth they are of a 
creamy white color, with two brown spots placed side by side on the 
posterior segment. These spots, (6, ¢) are spiracles or stigmata, through 
which the worm breathes. The segment with these two spiracles, 
is retractile, and can be drawn in and hidden at the worms pleasure. 
When full grown, the grub becomes darker, particularly towards the 
tail, the white of the first two or three segments becoming dirty white 
on the 4th or 5th, and growing darker on each successive segment 
until the last, which is of a very deep brown. It has two small paral- 
lel hooks or tentacula at the head (a), and above these, two very 
small tubercles, not very easily shown in the engraving. It also has 
a small brown elevated round spot on each segment along the sides, 
which might at first be taken for spiracles but which are not, and 
also two small corneous appendages (5,6) on each side of the anus. 
The ventral region has a band of small elevated dots running the 
breadth of each segment in their middle, which, under the magnifier 
appear to be minute brown spines, all pointing posteriorly. (See Fig. 
91,5). These aid the worm in its movements. 

When ready to contract into a pupa, it descends down the nostrils 
of the sheep and falls to the ground, where it quickly buries. itself 
and in about 48 hours, contracts to half its former size, and becomes 
smooth and hard and of a black color, tapering as in the larva to- 
wards the head. It remains in this state from 40 to 50 days, or more, 
according to the weather, when the fly pushes open a little round cap- 
piece at the head and thus arrives at maturity. 

In this stage it looks something like an overgrown house-fly. 
The ground color of the upper part of the head and thorax is dull- 
yellow, but they are so covered with little round elevated black spots 
and atoms (scarcely distinguishable without the aid of a magnifier) 
that they have a brown appearance. The abdomen consists of 5 rings, 
is velvety and variegated with dark brown and straw color. On the 
under side it is of the same color, but not variegated in the same way, 
there being a dark spot in the middle of each ring. The feet are 
brown. The under side of the head is puffed out, and white. The 
antenee are extremely small and spring from two lobes which are 
sunk into a cavity at the anterior and under part of the head. The 
eyes are purplish brown, and three small eyelets are distinctly visible 
on the top of the head. It has no mouth and cannot therefore take 
any nourishment. The wings are transparent and extend beyond the 
body, and the winglets, which are quite large and white, cover en- 
tirely the poisers. Its only instinct seems to be the continuation of 
its kind. It is quite lazy, and except when ae to deposit its 
young, its wings are seldom used. 

It has lately become the fashion with many members of the Agri- 
cultural press, to ridicule the idea that sheep die at all from grub in 


TUE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 163 


the head, and many even deny that the grub is capable of any injury 
to the sheep whatever. From the fact that this grub may be found in 
the head of almost every sheep that dies,in the Western States at 
least, it is undoubtedly true that many other diseases are cloaked by 
the popular verdict of “grub in the head.” Itis none the less true, 
however, that those Agricultural editors, who pretend to instruct, 
simply show their lack of practical knowledge, in butting against 
that which must be the firm conviction of every flock master, viz: 
that sheep do die of grub in the head, Messrs. Youatt and Clark not- 
withstanding. 

Mr. Youatt declares: “It is incompatible with that wisdom and 
goodness that are more and more evident in proportions as the phe- 
nomena of nature are closely examined, that the destined residence 
of the @strus ovis should be productive of continued inconvenience 
or disease.” I agree most decidedly with Mr. Randall, that “this is as 
far fetched as a conclusion, as the reasoning on which it is founded.” 

If grub in the head is not productive of inconvenience or disease, 
as the disciples of Youatt have it, whence the suffering condition, 
the loss of appetite, the slow, weak gait, the frequent coughing, the 
slimy and purulent matter, sometimes so profusely secreted as at 
times to almost prevent the animal breathing? Whence the tossing 
and lowering of the head,and the fits of frenzy, to which so naturally 
quiet and gentle an animalas the sheep issubject? All these symp- 
toms result from grub in the head, andthe animal frequently gets too 
weak to rise, and finally dies. These effects of the grub were well 
recognized and understood by such old writers and close ohservers as 
Reaumur and Kollar; while Mr. Dan’! Kelly, of Wheaton, Illinois; 
Towne Bros., of Geneva, Illinois; M. L. Cockrill, of Tennessee, and 
other well known flock-masters with whom I have either con- 
versed or corresponded, are unanimous in ascribing these symp- 
toms to the true cause; and the late 8. P. Boardman, of Lincoln, Llli- 
nois, coincided with them in this respect. For my part, I would as 
soon believe that those parasites were beneficial, which are so injuri- 
ous to man, either internally or externally, or those which prey upon 
our caterpillars and other insects,and invariably destroy them; for. 
although, when there are but few grubs in the head, the injury they 
inflict 1s not perceptible, they can never be beneficial, and when nu- 
merous enough will undoubtedly cause death. They cannot live in 
the head of the sheep without causing great irritation by the spines 
with which the ventral region is covered and the hooks with which 
they cling to such asensitive membrane as that which lines the sin- 
uses. Moreover, when numerons enough to absorb more mucous than 
the sheep secretes, the grubs will feed on the membrane itself, and 
(according to the evidence of some practical sheep men) will even 
enter to the brain through the natural perforation of the ethmeid 
bone, through which pass the olfactory nerves; in either of which 
cases, they must cause the most excruciating pain. The natural fear 


ea eae 


164 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


also, which sheep have of the fly, and the pains they take to prevent 
its access to the nose, is of itself proof enough that it is obnoxious to 
them. The rabbit is subject to the attack of a very large gad-fly (the 
Cuterebra canicult of Clark). I saw a half grown rabbit the past 
summer with an enormous swelling each side of its neck. On exami- 
nation these swellings were found to be caused by the grubs of this 
fly, and the rabbit was so weakened and emaciated that it could scarce- 
ly move. No one could witness such a sight without being convinced 
that the parasite was injurious. 

In the Prairie Farmer of October 14, 1865, the fact was published 
that the Sheep Bot-fly deposits dévzng maggots in the nostrils of the 
sheep. It was published on the authority of Mr. Kelly, and both he 
and myself then believed it to be the first published account of the 
viviparous nature of this fly. But the following extract from a letter 
from the late lamented Samuel P. Boardman, of Lincoln, Iilinois, 
shows that the same discovery has been made by three independent 
observers in this country. Mr. Boardman wrote as follows: 

“All the authors, both European (at least all English) and Ameri- 
ean, from Youatt to Randall, will persist in saying that the ily de- 
posits an egg, which hatches out, and crawls up the nostrils of the sheep, 
etc., etc. Now three independent and perfectly original discoverers 
have in our own country within twenty-five years past, disproved the 
book account of the grub’s transformations. 

“John Brown—Old Ossaw atopic Sas Brown 1s PEPER Se an 
account in an Agricultura! paper get what one) about twenty 
years since, of his. seeing, ‘with his « own eyes,’ the fly drop the per- 
fectly formed and living grub in the nostrils of sheep. Some seven 
years since, ‘Old Dan Kelly,’ of Du Page county, Illinois, made the 
same discovery and supposed that he was the only man who had ever 
done it. At the time he made known. his discovery, at a meeting of 
the Illinois State W. G. Association held in Chicago, I thought also, 
that he was the first man to ever notice the like. Two or three years 
afterwards I saw the account of John Brown’s discovery, in the Ohzo 
Farmer, copied from an old paper dated about seventeen years pre- 
viously. When Kelly and I were at the meeting of the National W. 
G. Association, I went with him to the Oho Farmer office, and I 
found in the file, Old John Brown’s account. Mr. Hpi took a Cony, 
of the Furmer containing it, home with him. That makes two ‘per- 
fectly original and independent discoveries of the fact alleged. Now 
then, within a year past (I think) I have seen a letter from Mark 
Cockrill, of Tennessee, (who, before the war, was one of the oldest, 
largest and richest wool growers in the South,as well as one of the 
richest men in the South), in which he speaks of having made the 
same discovery years ago, and in which he speaks of it asif he thought 
he was the only, and original discoverer. Here are three men widely 

separated, who, we must acknowledge, are all capable and honest ob- 
servers, and yet, Randall, (or at least his publisher) continues to put 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 


forth in every new edition of the ‘Practical Shepherd, the same old 
exploded (or should be) notion of the fly depositing an egg. I pre- 

- sume it is altogether likely that all modern English writers on sheep 
keep up the same thing—by copying from Youatt.” 

On one occasion in i866,I myself obtained living maggots from 
one fly and Mr. Cockrill has since obtained over 300 living, moving 
worms from one that was caught while she was after the sheep. 
Many flesh-flies, if they cannot find suitable meat or carrion on which 
to lay their eggs, retain these egg so long in their bodies that they 
hatch there, into living larve; and it is not impossible that the above 
observations were made with flies that had been so circumstanced, 
but I think it highly improbable, and strongly incline to believe that 
it is the normal nature of this fly to produce living larve. Iincline 
to this belief the more strongly, from the fact that it would be diffi- 
cult to attach an egg to the slimy nostrils of a sheep. 

To prevent it from depositing its young, different means are re- 
sorted to. Mr. Randall says that “some farmers turn up the soil in 
portions of their pastures, so that the sheep may thrust their noses 
into the soft ground, on approach of the fly, while others smear their 
noses with tar, or cause them to do so themselves.” But as the fly is 
very persevering, and generally attains her object, the means to be 
depended on the most, is the dislodging of the larva, or “grub,” and so 
far, lime has been thought to be the most effecttial, and should be 
given them, that they may bv sniffing it, cause sneezing, and in many 
cases dislodge the grub. Some sheep keepers even shut their sheep 
up for several nights, in a tight barn, when first taken up in the fall, 
believing that the close and heated atmosphere induces the grub to 
descend, and is therefore more readily dislodged, and that the injury 
accruing from such foul air, is trifling, compared with the benefit re- 
ceived by dislodging the grubs. Other sheep breeders are in the 
habit of fixing salt logs in their pastures, of sufficient length to enable 
all the sheep to get at them. Into these logs, at distances of five or 
six inches, holes are bored with a two-inch auger, and during fly sea- 
son a little salt is kept in these holes, while every two or three days 
tar is smeared around them with a brush. The sheep in obtaining the 
salt, tar their noses, and the odor of the tar keeps the fly away. In 
severe cases where the grubs are already in the head, they may be 
dislodged in a measure, by a feather dipped in turpentine, which 
should be run up the nose and gently turned. 


166 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 
INSECT ENEMIES OF THE HONEY-BEE. 
THE BEE-MOTH OR WAX-WORM,—Gallerea cereana, Fabr. 
[Fig. 92.] 


Large hawk-moths sometimes enter a beehive for what honey 
they can get, and even mice have been known to enter a hive; while 
several parasites live upon the bees themselves. In ourown State as I 
shall presently show there is a large two-winged fly which seizes the 
bee while on the wing and kills it. But by far the worst enemy the bee- 
keeper has to contend with, is the Bee-moth (Galleria cereana, Fabr). 
This insectis so well known to bee men generally, that it scarcely needs 
a description. It is well illustrated above (Fig. 92) in all its stages, a 
showing the full grown worm, 4 the cocoon which it spins, ¢ the chrys- 
alis to which it changes, d the female with wings expanded, and e the 
male moth viewed from the side with the wings closed. It suffices to 
to say, that the color of the moth is dusky gray, the fore wings which 
are scalloped at the end, being more or less sprinkled and dotted with 
purple-brown. The female is generally a good deal larger than the 
male, though there is not so much difference between the sexes as 
some writers have supposed. The worms which produce these moths 
are of an ash-gray color above, and yellowish-white beneath. 

The Rev. L. L. Longstroth, in his excellent work on the Honey- 
bee, which every bee-keeper should possess, has given such a com- 
plete account of the Bee-moth, that itis only necessary for me to men- 
tion a few of the most important facts with regard to it, my object 
being principally to show that there can be no such thing as a moth- 
proof hive; that wire-gauze contrivances are of no avail, and that 
the man who pretends to sella moth-proof Azve, may usually be set 
down as a know nothing or as a swindler. 

The Bee-moth was first introduced into this county from Europe, 
about the commencement of the present century, and it was in all 
probability imported with the common bee-hive. ‘There are two 
broods of the moth each year, the first brood appearing in May and 
June, and the second, which is the most numerous, in August. Du- 
ring the day time, these moths remain quietly ensconced in some an- 
gle of the hive, but as night approaches, they become active, and the 
female uses her best endeavors to get into the hive, her object being 
to deposit her eggs in as favorable a place as possible. Wire-gauze 
contrivances are of no avail to keep her out, as she frequently com- 
mences flying before all the bees have ceased their work. But even 
if she were entirely prevented from entering the hive, she could yet 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 


deposit her eggs on the outside, or by means of her extensile oviposi- 
tor, thrust them in between the slightest joint or crack, and the young 
worms hatching from them, would readily make their way into the 
hive. The moment the worm is hatched, it commences spinning a 
silken tube for its protection, and this tube is enlarged as it increases 
in size. This worm cuts its channels right through the comb, feeding 
on the wax, and destroying the young bees on its way. When full- 
grown, it creeps into a corner of the hive or under some Jedge at the 
bottom, and forms a tough white cocoon, of silk intermingled with its 
own black excrement as in figure 92, 6. In due time the moth emerges 
from this cocoon. 

A worm-infested hivemay generally be known by the discouraged 
aspect which the bees present, and by the bottom-board being cover- 
ed with pieces of bee-bread mixed with the black gunpowder-like ex- 
crement of the worm. It must not be forgotten, however, that in the 
spring of the year, pieces of bee-bread at the bottom of a hive when 
not mixed with the black excrement, is not necessarily a sign of the 
presence of the worm, but, on the contrary, may indicate industry 
and thrift. If a hive is very badly infested with the worm, it is bet- 
ter to drive out the bees and secure what honey and wax there may 
be left, than to preserve it as a moth-breeder to infest the apiary. If 
put into a new hive, the bees may do something, and if they do not, 
there is no loss, as they would have perished, finally, from the rava- 
ges of the worm. 

It should invariably be borne in mind that a strong stock of bees is 
ever capable of resisting, toa great extent, the attacks of the worm; 
while a starved or queenless swarm is quite indifferent to its attacks. 
In acommon box hive, a good way to entrap the worms after they are 
once in ahive, is to raise the front upon two small wooden blocks, 
and to put apiece of woolen rag between the bottom-board and the 
back of the hive. The worms find a cozy place under the rag, in 
which they form their cocoons, and may there be found and killed, 
from time to time. Much can be done in the way of prevention, by 
killing every morning, the moths which may be found on the outside 
of the hives. At this time of the day, they allow themselves to be 
crushed, with very good grace; and if two or three be killed each 
morning, they would form an important item at the end of the year, 
especially when we recollect that each female is capable of furnish- 
ing a hive with at least 300 eggs. In conclusion, I give it as my con- 
viction that immunity from the ravages of this Bee-worm can only 
be guaranteed where a thorough control is had of both hive and bees; 
hence the great importance of the movable frame hive. 


168 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 


THE BEE-KILLER—Trupanea apivora, Fitch. 
(Diptera, Asilida.) 


In the last chapter of his 9th Report, Dr. 
Fitch describes a fly by the name of the “Ne- 
braska Bee-killer,” which he received from 

Mr. R. O. Thompson, of Nursery Hill, Otoe 
== county Nebraska, and which the latter named 
gentleman had found preying upon the bee in 
North Nebraska in the summer of 1864. Mr. 
Thompson has since removed from Nebraska 
to North Missouri, and in conversation with 
him last summer he informed me that he had 
met with this Bee-killer each year since 1864, and that it seemed to be 
increasing. At a later day, in a communication to the Rural World of 
September 12, 1868, he states that it made its appearance in such num- 
bers in North Missouri last summer, that it to a great extent prevented 
the bees from swarming. I present above at Figure 93 a life-size por- 
trait of this voracious insect, its general color being yellowish-brown or 
yellowish-gray. This figure will enable its ready recognition, and 
those who wish a very full and detailed description of it will find it 
in the Report of Dr. Fitch above referred to. It belongs to the Aszlus 
family of two-winged flies which have been very aptly termed the 
hawks cf theinsect world. Last July J found thse flies quite common 
in Mr. Shaw’s beautiful gardens in St. Louis, and I watched them by 
the hour and found to my amazement that though other insects were 
flying all around, as well as other species of bees, yet they never 
seized any other species but the common Honey-bee. They capture 
the bee on the wing, pouncing upon it with lightning-hke rapidity; 
then grasping it securely with their fore legs, they alight upon some 
plant or even upon the ground, and rapidly suck out the inside of the 
bee, with the stout and powerful proboscis which is shown in the fig- 
ure, leaving the empty shell when they get through. Mr. Thompson 
says that beneath some favorable perch that is near the apiary, hun- 
dreds of these bee-shells may be found accumulated in a single day; 
whiie he has watched and found that a single fly on one of these 
perches destroyed no less than 141 bees in that period of time. 


The habits of these flies are little known, and until they are bet- 
_ ter understood ne feasible way of protecting the bees from their at- 
tacks can be given. Those which are known to haunt the apiary 
should be captured, and this can best be done by means ofanet. It 
is almost impossible to catch them while on the wing, though as soon 
as they have settled with their prey they are caught with compara- 
tive ease. It will pay to thus catch them for they are doubtless the 
cause of much of the non-swarming which we hear of. 


TNT SIT et ee ee ee, OP eT mes 


BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 


I have already treated of a number of beneficial insects in con- 
nection with the insects on which they prey, and under this head I 
shail, for the present, only say a few words about 


THE REAR-HORSE, alias CAMEL-CRICKHT, altzas DEVIL’S RID- 
ING HORSE— Mantis Carolina, Linn. 
(Orthoptera Mantidee.) 
[Fig. 94.] 


$e 


This peculiar and predatory insect which is variously known by 


either of the above names in different localities, is very fortunately | 


quite common in the central and southern parts of Missouri, as well 
as in most of the Southern States. Its food consists mainly of flies, 
though it is a most voracious cannibal and will devour its own kind 
as weil as any other living insect that comes within its grasp. Ihave 
known it to attack various kinds of butterflies, including the male 
Bag-worm, grasshoppers, and caterpillars of various kinds, and in one 
instance a single female devoured eleven living Colorado Potato- 
beetles during one night, leaving only the wing-cases and parts of the 
legs. it disdains all dead food, and never makes chase for the living, 
‘but warily, patiently and motionless, it watches till its victim is with- 
in reach of its fore-arms, and then clutches it with a sudden and rapid 


170 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


motion. Its appearance is really formidable, and its attitude while 
watching for its prey quite menacing, and on this account itis held in 
very general and superstitious dread. It is, however, utterly incapa- 


ble of harming any one; and, as one of our best friends should be 
cherished and protected. 


At Figure 94, above, this insect is represented in the full grown 
state, a showing the female and 4 the male. It will be seen that they 
differ materially from each other, the male having a long slender body 
with long wings, while the female has a broad flat body with short 
wings. Hence, while the male can fly through the air with greater 
facility than do our grasshoppers, the female is utterly incapable of 
performing the same feat, and only uses her wings when in battle 
with one of her own kind, or when pouncing upon her prey, at which 
time she hoists them very much as a swan hoists his wings when irri- 
tated. The difference in the sexes is not apparent till after the third 
moult, all the young Mantes being very much alike. The general 
color of the Mantis is grayish-brown though a pale green dimorphous 
form is quite common. The newly hatched larva is invariably, so far 
as my observations exten, light yellowish-brown, though I have seen 
green individuals after the first moult. The green form is almost en- 
tirely confined to the female sex, and seems to be the most common 
color of this sex when full grown; but it is found likewise, to some 
extent, among the males, as specimens with green legs and partly 
green bodies are to be met with, though I have never seen a male that 

[Fig. 95.] was entirely green. About the beginning of August 

ie these Mantes acquire wings, and by the middle of Sep- 
tember the female commences to deposit her eggs. 
These eggs are all glued tightly together in a peculiar 
mass, and are deposited in all sorts of situations, but 
principally on the twigs of trees. At Figure 95 two of 
these egg-masses are represented, natural size, the lower 
mass showing the most common form, the upper mass 
illustrating how it conforms to the object on which it 
is placed. hese egg-masses are often found by per- 
sons in the winter, though very few are able to con- 
jecture what they really are. On cutting them open 
the eggs are found to be very systematically arranged 
and to contain a mucilaginous substance of the color 
of thin glue. 

The manner in which these eggs are deposited has 
never been described, and though I have never myself 
witnessed the operation, I have found the mass while 
it was yet quite soft and freshly laid, and have dissect- 
ed the female just before she was about to deposit; 
and incline to believe that it is gradually protruded in 
a soft mucilaginous state, being covered at the time 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 171 


with a white, frothy, spittle-like substance which soon hardens and 
becomes brittle upon exposure to the air. Mr. Parker Earle informs 
me that he has witnessed the operation. and that he judges it to re- 
quire about an hour, the eggs being “pumped out, and the entire 
mass elaborately shaped, with a fine instinct of construction as the 
process continues.” 

Between the 10th and 20th of June these eggs hatch into comical- 
looking little Mantes, in all respects resembling their parent, with the 
exception that they have no wings; for, with the grasshoppers, crick- 
ets, katydids, walking-sticks and roaches, etc., etc., which belong to 
the same order (Orthoptera), they do not undergo any sudden transi- 
tions from the masked Jarva, to the quiescent pupa, and thence to the 
winged zmago state, as do most other insects. 

When the young first issue from the egg-mass, they are yet, as 
with the young of most other Orthopterous insects, enveloped in a 
fine skin which confines their members and prevents free motion. In 
this condition they look not unlike some of our leaf-hoppers ( Zetti- 
gonie,) but as soon as they extricate themselves they begin to show 
their unfeeling and voracious disposition by attacking and devouring 
each other. Indeed, those sentimentalists who believe that the worm 
crushed under foot suffers as much as the man who breaks an arm or 
a leg, would do well to study the habits of these Mantes. They are 
so void of all feeling that, the female being the strongest and most 
voracious, the male in making his advances, has to risk his life very 
many times, and at last only succeeds in grasping her by slyly and 
suddenly surprising her; and even then he frequently gets remorse- 
lessly devoured. I have seen a female, decapitated, and with her 
body partly eaten, slip away from another that was devouring her, 
and for over an hour afterwards fight as tenaciously and with as much 
nonchalance as though nothing had happened. 

The eggs may be readily transported from one place to another, 
and the insect can thus be easily colonized. Mr. Jordon in this way has 
caused them to increase very much in his home nursery in St. Louis, 
though he finds some difficulty in protecting the eggs during the 
winter from the attacks of birds. He considers that as long as he can 
keep the Mantes sufficiently numerous he will never be troubled 
with noxious insects. 

We know with what fear the hawk is regarded by the great ma- 
jority of small birds, but that at the same time the common house 
martin defies and even tantalizes and drives it off. In like manner 
this Mantis which must be the dread of most flies, is yet defied by a 
certain class of them, belonging to the same ( Zachina) family, as that 
described and figured on page 111, for I have found no less than nine 
maggots in the body of a living female Mantis, which must have 
hatched from eggs that had been deposited on her body by one of 
these flies. 


Sh Tv, tre 
« f . , errs 


INNOXIOUS INSECTS. 


Under this head, I propose to devote a few pages each year to 
those insects which can neither be considered injurious or beneficial 
to man, either directly or indirectly. As State Entomologist I feel it 
my. duty to devote my time primarily to the study of those insects 
that immediately concern the agriculturist, and by thus.doing, tu save 
to our great and growing State a portion of that immense sum which 
is annually lost by insect depredations. At the same time I feel that 
it will be expected of me to add to our present knowledge of the nat- 
ural history of the State, by discoveries in my particular branch of 
zoology. The prosperity of a State does not depend solely on its ma- 
terial wealth, but to a great extent on its mental wealth. KwowLepex 
—that great interpreter of oracles—moves the world! It enables us 
to see in the bowels of the unfathomable earth beneath, in the water, 
in the air, and in the skyey vast above, volumes written by the hand 
of Omnipotence! 


‘¢To win the secret of a weed’s plain heart, 
Reveals the clue to spiritual things,” 


And there are few departments of science which offer such food for 
the mind as does the study of Natural History. It has been truly said 
that the naturalist has no time for selfish thoughts. Lverywhere 
around him he sees significances, harmonies, chains of cause and ef- 
fect endlessly interlinked, which draw him out of the narrow sphere — 
of self-lauding into a pure and wholesome atmosphere of joy and 
felicity. 

Day by day science is becoming more and more popularized, and 
before long the necessity of devoting more attention to natural his- 
tory in our schools and colleges will become apparent. There are few 
things, for instance, so well ‘calculated to train the minds of children, 
and at the same time entertain and instruct them as would be a chart 
illustrating the transformation of insects, and itis with the firm belief 
that this kind of information will soon be more generally sought for, 
that I introduce to my readers 


FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1% 


THE SOLIDAGO GALL MOTH—Gelechia gallesolidaginis, N. Sp. 
—P]. 2, Figs. 1 and 2. 


Every body must have noticed the large round galls about the 
size of a walnut which are found upon the straight smooth stem of the . 
common Golden-rod (Solidago nemoralis). There are sometimes two 
on the same stalk and they are most conspicuous in winter time when 
the leaves are off the plant. Upon cutting open one of these galls it 
is found to consist of a pithy solid mass, in the centre of which is a 
vlump white footless maggot. This rapa in due time develops into 
a two-winged fly, which was long since described by Dr. Fitch as 7ry- 
peta (Acinia) solidaginis. 


The gall which I am now about to speak of, occurs on the same 
species of Solidago, and in almost equal abundance with the former, 
though its architect has never hitherto been described. This gall 

[Fig. 96.] | which is represented at Figure 96, 6, is of a 

| very different form from the preceding, being 

altogether more elongate and narrower, and 
upon cutting it open it is found to be hollow, 
\ and to contain, instead of a white footless mag- 
Te root, a gray 16- footed caterpillar (e),which in time 
|] develops into the httle moth which is repre- 
comes with aie wings expanded at Plate 2, Fig- 
4 ure 1, and with the wings closed at, Renn 2. 
The hae of this insect may be thus briefly 


The moths winter over and may be seen 
flying in the month of May,in which month I 


; 
1ave myself captured a specimen. When the 
young plants of the Golden-rod are about six 
inches hign the female moth deposits an egg 
either in the terminal bad, or at the side of the 
stalk just below it,and the worm hatching irem 
the egg works into the stalk, and causes it to 
swell by gnawing and thus inducing the secretions towards it. By 
the beginning i June the gall has just begua to form and at this time 
upon cutting it open the worm is found to be about $ grown, and its 
excrement is as yet all at the upper portion of the gall. As the plant 
grows, so the gall increases in size, remaining, however, at the same 
altitude from the ground. By the middle of July both the gall and 
its maker have attained their full size, and upon opening the former 
at this season of the year the excrement will be found packed closely 
at bothits ends, and from the small quantity of such excrement (//) to be 
found, it would appear that all but the more solid parts had been ab- 
sorbed by the plant, it probably acting as a manure to stimulate the 
growth of the gall. When full grown, the worm measures rather 
more than half an inch, and it now prepares for changing into the 


174 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


chrysalis state by eating a perfectly round passage-way entirely 
through the wall of the gall at its upper end. It then protects the ori- 
fice with a secretion of liquid silk which hardens and forms a perfect 
little plug (Hig. 96, c,) about 0.04 thick and 0.08 in diameter, and which 
_isso constructed that it cannot be readily displaced from without, as it 
has arim onits outeredge. The inner edge, however, is not so rimmed, 
and the plug can be pushed away from the inside with the siohtees 
effort, for the little tenant when it shall have become fitted to leave 
its dark and secluded tenement and soar into the air, must needs 
make its exit through this orifice. Well may we wonder at Nature’s 
handiwork, for what consummate skill, and wonderful instinct—I had 
almost said forethought—is here exhibited! Can this action be buta 
blind instinct, or has the larva a premonition of its future etherial 
imago state and its wants? Who can answer? Our little host, not 
satisfied with having thus protected the entrance to his home, now 
lines its passage way, and the walls, with a delicate silken tissue, after 
which he rests from his labors, and commences to undergo those mys- 
terious transformations, so characteristic of his class. A gall cut in 
two at this stage of its growth presents the appearance of Figure 96, 
b. In two days’ time the little worm has changed to a chrysalis, just 
4 inch in length, rather slender and of a shiny mahogany-brown. At 
the end of about three weeks more the chrysalis grows very dark, and 
finally the inclosed moth bursts the skin and escapes from the gall. 

The first moths usually appear about the middle of August, but as 
the time of egg-depositing covers a period of over a month, some of 
the moths have not left till the beginning of October. As winter ap- 
proaches, the stem seems to grow weak above the gall, and usually 
bends and droops, while the gall itself sbrinks and acquires a whitish 
weather-washed appearance. It is for these reasons, and from the 
gall being so near the ground that it does not attract the same attention 
as the large, round gall of the Ziypeta. 

I have been acquainted with this gall for six years, and have 
studied it closely during that time. It seems tooccur qu.te generally 
over the country, and is especially abundant in the West. The first 
published account that I can find of it in this country is that given by 
Baron Osten Sacken, in the first volume of the Proceedings of the 
“Philadelphia Entomological Society,” page 369, where he correctly 
describes it, as well as the puffed carcass of one of the caterpillars 
(Pl. 2, Fig. 5), caused by a parasitic Chalets fly presently to be des- 
cribed; but he was not acquainted with the maker of the gall. The 

galls were received by him from Edward Norton, who resides at 
metinin gton, Connecticut. They occur abundantly Leonte Chicago, 
especially on the north side, in the old cemetery, which is now Woe 
converted into Lincoln Park. They are equally abundant, around St. 
Louis, while Ihave found the same gallon the Sclidaga Missouriensis 
growing beyond Fort Kearney, in Nebraska, and even there the worm 
was attacked by the same parasitic Chaleis fly mentioned above. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 175 


The gall-making insects belonging to the same order (Lepidoptera) 
as our little moth, are by no means common, and the only other gall 
of this character with which Iam acquainted, at all resembling the 
one just described, occurs on the stems of Artemisia compestris in 
France, andis produced by the larva of avery different little moth 
with pale yellow wings shaded with orange, first described by Herrich- 
Scheeffer by the name of Cochylis hilarana. This last gall is figured 
on Plate 1,of the “Annales de la Société Entomologique de France” 
for 1856, and its history is detailed by M. E. Perris, at pages 58-88 of 
the same volume. The gall is similar in form, but narrower, with the 
walls thicker than that of my insect, while the larva is yellowish- 
white. 


GELECHIA GALLMHSOLIDAGINIS, N. Sp.—Larva.—Length 0.60. Cylinderical. Color dark dull- 
brown, without shine. Largest on middle segments; tapering from 4th to head, and from 9th to 
extremity. Hach serment impressed transversely in the middle, thus forming two folds, the thor- 
acic segments haying other such folds. Six small piliferous spots, two each side of dorsum and 
one above stigmata, which, together with the stigmata, are shiny and of a lighter brown than the 
body. Head and cervical shield light shiny-brown. 

Chrysalis.—Length 0.50.. Mahogany-brown. Form normal. Blunt at extremity. 

Perfect moth.—Average length 0.38. Alarexpanse Q 0 95, ¢' 0.75. Fore wings deep purplish- 
brown, more or less sprinkled with carneous. A light carneous band starts from the costa near the 
base, and curves towards the middle of the inner margin, which it occupies to a little beyond the 
beginning of the cilia, where it curves upwards towards the tip, reaching only half way up the 
wing. Here it is approached from above by a somewhat diffuse spot of the same color, which starts 
from the costa just behind the apex, and runs down to the middle of the wing. 

In the plainly marked individuals there is an extra line running from the middle of the inner 
margin, outwardly obliquing to the middle of the wing, and then back to the inner margin a little 
beyond where the cilia commence, but in the great majority of specimens this mark is indistinct. 
Cilia light carneous. Hind wings slate-gray, with the cilia lighter. Antenne finely annulated 
with the same two dark and light colors. Head, thorax and palpi light, with a sprinkling of the dark 
brown. Body dark, with light annulations, The species varies in the distinctness of its markings, 
and the light parts of the wing appear finely sprinkled with brown under the lens. Male generally 
smaller than female, with the antenne proportionately alittle longer. 

Described from numerous bred specimens. 

It seems to resemble G. longifasciella of Clemens, in coloration and pattern ; but unfortunately 
our late lamented microlepidopterist, failed almost always to give the measurement of the species 
he described, and it is impossible to tell how much mine really resembles that species. Yet, as 
longifasciella was described from two mutilated specimens, received from A. S. Packard, jr., and 
as that gentleman has seen my insect and declared it an undescribed species, there can be little 
doubt of the fact. 


Concealed within its gall, as this worm is, one would naturally 
suppose that it would rest unmolested from the outside world, and 
that no parasite could attack it throughits green-walled fortress. Such 
however is not the case. Those oft-quoted lines, written in that spirit 
of ridicule, in the exercise of which Swift was always happy, 

‘¢ The little fleas that do so tease, 
Have smaller fleas that bite ’em, 


And these again have lesser fleas, 
And s0 ad infinitum,”’ 


are as applicable to our gall-maker as to most other insects. There 
are indeed no less than six parasites which attack it, and from many 
hundreds of galls examined,I estimate that one worm out of every 


ty —- * Fe 


176 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


five is thus destroyed. As four of these parasites are new to science, 
and are all probably confined to this one species of insect, I will 
briefly describe them. 

They all belong to the order Hymenoprera, and by far the most 
common of them isa little fly of a dark metallic green color, with 
reddish legs, which is represented highly magnified in Plate 2, Figure 
6, the hair line below showing the natural size. Its larvee infest the 
caterpillar in great numbers, and cause it to swell to three and four 
times its normal size. After they have absorbed all thejuices of their 
victim, they form for themselves very fine brownish cocoons, which 
are so crammed together that they give the puifed-up worm the rough- 
ened appearance, shown at Plate 2, Figure 5, and prevent the skin 
from collapsing after they have left, so that it may be found within 
the gall at any time during the winter. These minute flies all leave 
the gall through a single minute hole, which must be made by one of 
their number. They are active little creatures, running nimbly, with 
their antennz always bent towards the surface on which they travel. 
They have a wonderful power of jumping, and are able to leap the 
distance of a foot so suddenly and rapidly that they are, for the mo- 
ment, scarcely visible. I have counted over 150 of them in a single 
caterpillar, and the mother fly must gnaw for herself a passage through 
the gall, and leisurely insert her batch of eggs in the inmate. This 
fly belongs to the Cialcis family, and may be called the Inflating Chal- 
cis fly. The family to-which it belongs has scarcely been at all studied 
in America, and very few species have been described. I there- 
fore leave the species, for the present, undescribed, it apparently be- 
longing to the genus Prene. 

Another parasite which infests this caterpillar, is represented in 
the perfect state at Plate 2, Figure 9, the hair line above showing the 
natural size. Itis a black fly, and its larva, which is often found at 
the bottom of the gall during the month of August, is a white, foot- 
less grub, about 9.24 long, and attenuated at the head. Some of these 
maggots change to pupze and become flies in the fall of the year, while 
others remain in the maggot state till spring. The pupa is whitish, 
with the members confined and darker. This fiy belongs to the same 
(Chalcis) family as the preceding, and to the genus Hurytoma. I 
name it in honor of my esteemed friend, Mr. A. Bolter, of Chicago— 
an entomologist, as enthusiastic as he is modest, and an indefatigable 
collector. WhenIthink of the many happy hours we have spent 
together, and recall our many pleasant hunting grounds, the following 
pretty lines are ever floating in my mind: 

«‘T long to walk by the meadow’s brook, 
To visit the fields and the woods once more, 
To loiter long in the shady nook, 
And tread the paths I have trid before ; 


Or, under the spreading branches to lie 
And watch the clouds in the azure sky.”’ 


Annexed will be found a full description of this parasite: 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 177 


EurytomaA Boitert, N. Sp.—Q Length 0.18. Antenne black, not much longer than the 
face, perceptibly thicker towards the end, and apparently 10-jointed, though the three terminal 
joints are almost always confluent. Dimensions and appearance of joints, represented in the an- 

[Fig. 97.] nexed Figure 97, a. Head and thorax rough-punctured 
and finely bearded with short, stiff gray hairs. Abdo- 
men about as long as thorax, scarcely so broad, viewed 
from above, but wider viewed laterally ; highly pol- 
ished, smooth and black, the three terminal segments 
with minute stiff gray hairs along the sutures; visibly 
divided into seven segments, the four anterior ones of 
about equal length, the two following shorter, and the 
terminal one produced into a point. Legs fulvous with 
the cove, thighs and more or less of the shanks black- 
ish-brown. Wings perfectly transparent, glossy, color- 
less, and with the nerves very faint. 


GO Measures but 0.14, and differs in the antenna, being twice as long as the face, in their 
narrowing towards the tip ard in being furnished with whorls of long hairs. The number of joints 
are not readily made out, and I have consequently presented at Figure 97, b, a magnified figure. 
His body is but half as wide and half as long as the thorax viewed from above, and not quite as 
broad as the thorax, viewed laterally; it also lacks the produced point of the Q. His wings are 
also cut off more squarely and more distinctly nerved. 


The third parasite which attacks our gall-maker is represented 
somewhat enlarged at Plate 2, Figure 7. Itis an opaque black fly 
* belonging to the true IcuNzumon family and apparently to the genus 
Hlemiteles. After most of the gall-makers have undergone all their 
transformations and escaped, some few of the galls are found still in- 
inhabited by the worm. These belated worms contain the larva of this 
fly, and they are somewhat smaller and paler than are the healthy 
ones; their life as worms being prolonged by the presence of their 
enemy within. During the month of September, the parasitic larva 
leaves the body of the caterpillar, and spins for itself, within the gall, 
a tough white silken cocoon, in which it remains through the winter, 
and from which the fly escapes during the following March or April, 
some of them escaping much earlier than others. This fly I have 
named in honor of my friend Mr. E. T. Cresson, of Philadelphia, to 


whom I am indebted for the generic determination of all these para- 
sites. . 

THeMITELES (?) Cressontt.—'\—Length 0.25. Black, opaque, head transversely-subquadrate; face 
clothed with pale glittering pubescence ; spot onmandibles, palpi, scape of antenne in front and the 
tegula, white; eyes large, ovate; antenne longer than head and thorax, slender, black; thorax closely 
and minutely punctured ; mesothorax with a deeply impressed line on each side anteriorly ; scutel- 
lum convex, closely punctured, deeply excavated at base; metathorax coarsely sculptured, truncate 
and excavated behind, the elevated lines sharply defined, forming an irregularly shaped central 
area, and a triangular one on each side of it, the outer posterior angle of which is prominent and 
subacute; wings hyaline, iridescent, nervures blackish, stigma large, areolet incomplete, the outer 
nervure wanting; legs pale honey-yellow, cox paler, tips of posterior femora, and their tibiee and 
tasri entirely blackish; abdomen elongate ovate, flattened, petiolated, the first segment flat, 
gradually dilated posteriorly, somewhat shining, and indistinctly longitudinally aciculate; the two 
following segments opaque, indistinctly sculptured ; remaining segments smooth and shining. 


A tourth parasite, belonging to the same great Icunzumon family, 
issues fromthe worm and spins a white silken cocoon, in exactly the 
same manner as the preceding. From this cocoon at the same season 
of the year, escapes a fly which is also of very much the same size 


and appearance, but which belongs to the distinct genus Mcrogaster. 
I2RSE 


178 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


It has hitherto been undiscribed and may be known by the specific 


name of gelechia. 

Micro@asteR GELECHIA—Length 0.20 q'9.—Black, clothed with a short, thin, glittering, whitish 
pubescence, most dense on the face, which latteris closely punctured; occiput and cheeks shining ; 
mandibles rufopiceous; palpi whitish; eyes pubescent; antenne as long as the body in @, 
shorter in 9, 18-jointed; thorax shining, feebly punctured, mesothorax closely and more strongly 
punctured, with a deeply impressed longitudinal line on each side over base of wings ; scutellum 
smooth and polished, the lateral groove broad, deep, arched and crenulated; metathorax opaque, 
densely rugose, witha sharp, central, longitudinal carina, anda smooth, flat, transverse carina at 
base; tegule testaceous, wings hyaline, iridescent, apex smoky, nervures blackish, areolet com- 
plete, subtriangular, radial nervure indistinct; legs pale honey-yellow, cox blackish, pale at 
tips, middle pair in Q concolorous with legs; abdomen with the two basal segments densely ru- 
gose and opaque, the remainder smooth and shining; yenter more or less varied with pale testa- 
ceous. 


The galls containing worms that have been victimized by either 
of these last two parasites are generally small and narrow, indicating 
that the worm has been sickly and not able to perform its functions in 
a proper manner, but those containing worms infested with the In- 
flating Chalcis-fly, first described, are of the normal size, the worm 
often having completed its passage-way before succumbing to its 
enemy. 

There are two other and larger parasites which attack our little 
Gall-maker, the one anundescribed species of Pzmpla and the other 
an undescribed species of Hphialtes; making in all six distinct para- 
sites. Besides these, there is another insect which intrudes upon and 
often kills him. This last is the larva of somesmall long-horned bee- 
tle, and most likely of some species of the genus Oberea, asit greatly 
resembles the larva of Oberea ocellata, Hald., which I have bred from 
the stems of the Cottonwood. After the parent gall-moth has de- 
posited her egg, and the young worm and its gall have acquired con- 
siderable size, the parent beetle of this larva comes along and deposits 
her egg higher up on the same stem, and the larva hatching from it 
immediately commences boring downwards till it reaches the gail, 
where it riots until it has crowded out the properinhabitant and filled 
the gall with excrementitious and. pithy debris. It then continues 
its descent till it reaches the root, where it continues boring till win- 
ter approaches, and where it hybernates in the larva state. Sometimes 
the gall-maker succeeds in webbing this intruder out, so that he only 
partially destroys the gall, while at other times the intruder does not 
reach the gall till the inmate has changed to the chrysalis state; but 
in the latter case the moth always dies in its endeavors to escape. 
The vacated galls of this gall-moth afford excellent winter shelter for 
a variety of insects and spiders, and the common Chinch bug is espec- 
ially fond of taking up its winter quarters in them. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 179 


THE CHICKWEED GEOMETER, Hematopis grataria, Fabr.—Pl. 2, 


Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21. 
(Lepidoptera Geometride.) 


At Plate 2, Figure 18, I have figured a very common little moth 
which may be seen flitting over our meadows and in our gardens 
during the summer and fall months. It is of a delicate orange color, 
marked with pink, asin the figure. A number of persons have desired 
to know whether or not it was injurious, and what its larva fed on, 
and, as its transformations have been hitherto unknown, I will briefly 
record them. 

The female moths deposit their eggs in rows of about twenty, along 
the edge of a leaf, or along the stem of the common chickweed (Stel- 
laria media.) These eggs (see Pl. 2, Fig. 21) are not quite 0.02 of an 
nch long and are oval, flattened and depressed near the centre. 
When first laid they are yellowish-white, but change within two days 
to a very bright, shiny, red color, between Venetian and vermillion. 
These eggs hatch in a very short time, frequently within a week, into 
thread-like worms, with ten legs only and with the habit of looping 
themselves into all manner of shapes, especially into a circle. In 
about a month, during hot weather, they acquire their full size, when 
they are of the form and appearance of Plate 2, Figure 19. They are 
quite variable in color, being either gray, yellowish-green, or dark 
brown. They change to chrysalids within a slight web attached to 
the leaves of their food-plant, and in this state they bear the appear- 
ance of Plate 2, Figure 20, the skin being so thin that before the moth 
escapes the colors of the wings show distinctly through it. There 
are several broods during the year, and the insect may often be found 
in all its different states at one and the same time. It probably passes 
the winter in either the larva or egg state, for I have taken both 
eggs and half grown larve in the beginning of November. In 
the larva and chrysalis state it is not easily detected, on account of its 
small size and of its assimilating the color of the food-plant. The 
larva has furthermore the habit of jerking itself away to a consider- 


able distance when disturbed, especially while it is young. 

Hamaroris GRataria, Fabr.—Larva—Average length 0.85. Color quite variable; either 
pale yellowish-green, deep rufous with an orange tint, or of a mixture of gray and cream-color. 
Minutely punctate all over. Segments 1, 2 and 3, extremely short; 4, longest and widest, having 
two wrinkles each side, with a dark depression between them; 5, 6, 7 and 8, of equal length; 9, 10 
and 11, short, the two former also somewhat wider than the other. Dorsum dark, with a lighter 
middle line, and a light, somewhat irregular subdorsal line which converges anteriorly and diverges 
posteriorly of each segment; two dark spots anteriorly each side of the middle line. Sides more 
or less wrinkled, lighter than dorsum and witha light longitudinal ridge below. Venter variegated 
with longitudinal marks, and shaded outwardly with deep olive-green in strong contrast with the 
laterallight ridge. Stigmata minute, black, and placed on an oval swelling at the anterior portion 
of the segment. Head of the same celor as body, with a dark line, edged each side with white, con- 
tinuing from the thoracie segments. 

Chrysalis.—(Plate 2, Fig. 20.) Length, 0.50. Wing sheaths and tip of abdomen pale buff, 
the middle of the abdomen very light yellowish-green. A purplish dorsal line. Obliquely truncated 
at the head, having a somewhat triangular appearance, the ventral angle being lengthened into a 
slightly bifurcate snout. Anal segments quite attenuated, the extremity being also slightly bifur- 
cated. Stigmata small, black and distinct. 


180 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE THISTLE PLUME,—Pterophorus carduidactylus, N. Sp., Pl. 2, 
Figs. 18 and 14. 
(Lepidoptera Alucitide.) 

Having already sketched the history of the Grape Plume, page 
137, the larva of which attacks the Grape vine, I will now give the 
history of another species of the same genus whose larva infests the 
common Thistle (Cersiwm lanceolata) in order to show how very dis- 
similar two larvee may be, which belong to the same genus and greatly 
resemble each other in the perfect state. 

During the month of May the heads of the above named thistle 
may frequently be found drawn together by silken threads, with some 
of the leaves frequently dead. On pulling this webbed mass apart 
from eight to a dozen thick smooth worms may be found, which are 
of a light straw color with rows of black spots, and the head and tail 

[Fig. 98.] marked as in the accompanying figure. These worms are 
found of different sizes in the same head, which would in- 
dicate that the parent moth either deposits her eggs at dif- 
ferent intervals in the same place or that the eggs hatch 
out irregularly. Towards the end of May they change to 
pup within the burrow which the worm inhabited; these 
pup being of a dull yellow color, without polish, and re- 
sembling the pup of some long-legged Crane fly ( Zipula) 

rather than a moth—see PI. 2, Fig. 14. In just one week 

after they have thus changed, the moths escape. This moth, which is 
represented at Plate 2, fveune 13; isof a tawny yellowcolor, with a 
prominent triangular dark spot on the outer third of the front wing, 
running from the front edge. As it differs from all hitherto de- 
scribed North American species, it may appropriately be called the 
Thistle Plume. 


PreropHorus cARDUIDACTYLUS, N. Sp.—Larva.—Average lergth 0.60. Largest in the middle of 
body, tapering thence each way, Color light straw-yellow—gyveener when young. Somewhat darker, 
partly translucent, dorsal, subdorsal and stigmatal lines. ‘Two lateral rows of black spots, the 
lower spots rather smaller and placed behind the upper ones. <A third row above these, and others 
elong the back, but so small that they are generally imperceptible with the naked eye, except on the 
thoracic segments, being especially distinct on segment 2. Head small, black, sometimes inclining 
to brown. Cervical shield black, divided Iongitudinally in the middle by a lighter line. Caudal 
plate also black. Segment 11, besides the spots above mentioned, has two transverse black marks, 
the posterior one the largest. Thoracic legs black, the others of the same color as the body. 

Described from 12 specimens. : 

Pupa.—Average length 0.45. Of form of Plate 2, Figure 14. Soft, dull yellow, with a lat- 
eral dusky line, each side of dorsum, and another, less distinct each side of venter. Also 
dusky about the head and wing-sheaths. 

Perfect insect.—Length 0.45; alar expanse 0.80. Front wings bifid, the cleft reaching not 
much more than } of wing; tawny yellow, with a distinct dark brown triangular spot running from 
costa to the base of cleft—sometimes a little below it—its posterior margin with a slight concave 
curve. Three dusky, diffuse longitudinal spots, one placed on the basal third of the wing at costa 
and frequently reaching along the costa to the triangular spot; one near the interior margin, a lit- 
tie nearer to the base of wing than the last, and one on the outer third of the interior margin. Two 
light-colored transverse lines across the end of wing, one very near and parallel with posterior 
margin, the other bordering the triangular spot behind, and curving across the lower lobe towards 
posterior angle. The space between these two light lines usually darker than the ground-color. 
Fringes dark with a light margin. Hind wings trifid, the upper cleft reaching a little beyond the 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 181 


middle, the lower one to the base of wing. Color ashy-brown, the lower lobe produced into a dark 
angular spot about their middle posteriorly. Antenne, palpi, head, thorax, and}, ody, tawny yel- 
low; legs of the same color with the exception of the tarsi, which are almost white, with alternate 
dark brown spots, the spines being black, with dusky tips. 


ABO ewe Nae ean 


Page 8, line 21, for ‘‘ being” read ‘‘ were.’” 

Page 10, line 1, for “ Figure 3, S” read “‘ Figure 3, 2.’” 

Page 12, line 29, for ‘‘last” read ‘‘1866.”’ 

Page 12, line 3 from bottom, after ‘‘ February,” add ‘ (1867).”” 

Page 3%, line 15, for ‘370 read * 380,” 

Page 47, line 16, for ‘‘far’’ read ‘‘for.’’: 

Page 114, line 1, after ‘‘ insect’ read “‘ (Strietrus frimbriatus, Say).”” 

Page 120, line 30, after ‘“ Cottonwood”’ read “‘ (Pemphigus vagabundus, Waisi).’” 
Page 133, line 24 from bottom, for ‘‘ preceding insect’’ read ‘‘ Grape curculic.”” 
Page 134, line 3 from bottom, for ‘‘ Part V” read ‘ Part VI.’’ 

Page 142, under the heading, add ‘‘ (Lepidoptera, Tortricide).’” 

Page 166, under the heading, add ‘‘ (Lepidoptera, Tineidse).”” 


INDEX. 


UT CMR ALEDLELOS Ohi dcceaes cracassssccsotscaserenat settee caticcosstescenerescunersenccrsessosecectecccccencescouanseccanssscectenm atl 
VAlGnOLiS an COCK OMI <cesseseccsserccesetecrncecsaetccte ene vecesestaccessccatinavesseereccnssscassenavesevsssa) Sseesesses ese sims 
CG PTET) Ge OCP RRA apg ai nee eR TER RHR ROR CTUICLCLU APP CTE CLE OOLEEL COOL eenCGG,: | Les 
“e 


PIMBT IVES cisavckewbn cy cous Uses soos GRE SITU Te Oat sls Soe eo SUS RROD Lon aBh cee sun ed oeen this becuse ceaconstece tacde ene Tes eem eae 


ce 


ee 


ce 


SCANGENS « spececcccarccevsscccncrsceccesssesseesssseeeeeeressneessesereeereeeesssnssseesassssneseeeeesererenersseees 


6e 


AMETICAN MeYLOMYZA.coscrreccsccnesesscctrevcsscossesscseecerescsarcsconssasseesssscsnscces ovoswessveccwecoans . 159 


ANchylOperd FAG Avie ...ccceccrerecsssccverensveccencccccecsescecscsssasesascsesssoeseasssseniosccssecosoreesscossees 


preesresadrenrn 139 


SAMIOMES TUDVVON Da vaccssessnceaseqesassesseccosesesecausessosseresnepucssesvenesesonss 


sane 


PAD PIC= WOT.» ccopspncccsoescecansccarsscescnccasccceceasrcesenassecsssesarsssesnss 


a eee wee erererereesocenee 


eh ewe ee weresscroeses 


OG €¢__Cut WOTMS ON. ...cesecccecsecees 
OG «‘_Round-headed borer........ 


ce 


Appearance and disappearance of the Periodical Cicada....... 
Arbor-Vite—Bag worm on........ 


Aspidiotus Harrisii... 
oS CONCHU ONS trevecevahentwecsecncnescexcscstssveyscessssecscsnsuccucvedsonmwesce 


ee eeeeeererescee 


PAO WNT ctaweareanecsoosesscessqvanscesensospcasstevesyecnenacsrecescqaseaeesssceeteenceleqeaseasscees * 
Park-Mesrotei Mera ole -tO Cres ..cesseseeecssaieetisacseseaterenccnancsscesnsrscsesepnneaos 
CG ONSNEO MUM e messi sense session asepesassedecpesstisassesaespesescasssnaceneose ss 
ce ce 


WPdM sec eceuGssesperassehecsecatesrossseacesereer tases rersrsreppeapesinc sofosweWe eeeietete 


OG OG Hpi AM epee ears Rass cenes sans ab acesimasmennacmaarccppeensisaans cccscualeeWussatatehts 


eee teen seeeneee 


Cs SSPMBIAETST ATIC yan enaieadascacsissiasneaacecseaceenedaseaaceaascs 
Baridius trinotatus.. 
Basket-worm. ..... 
Bee-moth..... ... 
Bee-killer...... 
Beneficial insects... 
Black Blister-beetle ..... 
Black Rat Blister-beetle 


147 
croscdeesce-peceee lO 


9 INDEX. 


PE ACACDET TY ATUL WORT ss .unushossunnpnasse roauccasqne caaguemensyscarecesiciacneasetetse med nssa tases eaeeenes cacy eee 


‘ Cane—Tree Cricke 
ce 


——WUGWORIMS tO vevatcsecsctscovcsucovceoenserccecsetes ovetinentescciccass eee ceeere cate EEE Soon 
HUIS TEL=D EQUI Ca trreccccs<fccett cho cecasuccnes cosechonecnuuceeteee en cowedreee cee ee etre ee ee acces Sen at eRe ot me 
Go —Striped 
“e 


eee eee eee ee eee Cer ee reer rr errr errr rece ere rer ere eer ery Tere eT teeeeeees 


AG DSETUViceoccescstacceresesneedtercrsarencateer’ 


eee eee eee ee eee Sere ees 


“ —=BIRCK=TWb. .ccecerssdeccevceoree 


tebe wees eee eee eee eee cere rere ee eee eee eee eee 


ins 


—Black.....ccseee 


STORER ewe m eee e rere eee EEE EEE EE HEE ES EEE EEE E ES ESE EEE EEO EES E SHE EE EEE O EE EEEHEEE® 


«6 —Margined...... 


Bogus Colorado Potato-bee 
Bordered Soldier-bug: 


TR TTT O Reem eee eee meee ee rnanene SHE e Hees ee OEE EE HES EE EES OSES EEE EH OE EE EEEE HESS SESEEOS tennessee eeeteseses 


Borers—Round-headed apple-tree. 
“ee 


FER e meee ee EEE e eee eee eee eee EEE HEHE EE HEHEHE EE EH TEES EEE SEES EEO EEE TEES EEE EES 


CLG Vavacaceseenecac se contcc \oacinccdnsoemeasove see ce oc Gross eee see SON eR eIN Moree ranean eae 


POOH Oe ee eee EHO eee EEE e eee Ee ee EEE EE Eee OEESEEHE SE EE EE EO EEE TOE HEHE SESE TERE SE EEE SERS EOS 


= Hlatshegd edtapplo-trcCescsuscatia.vstescssutescesesseveresterssocseseeteconsecssouconsncsan oor ne ataeen aaote 


WL OSONLARCOLLCU MM racastecceecececossdeccecdsccdeeedsieccsdesvatcs cocceaceesedeadecsdeddecediceseeete eT RD 


Catalpa 


ce 


Bag-worm on...... 


== (HUW ONIN OD iow coves cveis ee sdccscacusdetodecscenesees seccecdscoadesescees sosccacecossessisc: coven here ecttnonnerne 


EL ENARPENTG CHO racnscessvtsseessereesusceassesessehvobrsaroreuveveneess ronSpeudectevectsivatosdsscscs taco escsercterscsiteceee 


Chal cis fy —— THe IN Matinec...0.sscecereesndeovesevessievssicveseovesssetss! cessucss vsssaenecveesssaccsecesteretcedtscnestee 
OGRAUTLOON AEN US ENNSYTUANICUS sie waveravarcorergievcveversouievn ce scoveeessesessbaueeleveesseestcccsecclededeessscereeseene 
CEE Y—BROAW OLIN ODi.cececssussvccsasccssstossoussvies chavesesesseevesssviiovecsesabevewceues soncccoettees trode. Ueceseues 
CHICK Weed Geometers wccccrceceiasversscewesesnevvvicre saver vsuveeeveversdvenseveudtsnsacevevecedevoesseeseeieesattenvel tes 
Chronological history of Periodical -Cicada..:. 5. ccccccovseve ovcecssscossnsstsccadcdescscesccsaveosscossessceceess 
ORFYSODOTNIIS) JONOT AEM eee ceoseavvaecosse'sals'ewsvo' ou sosees'eses'es e00eoe'secbses'sslovn'evevaenbeceysscacineasbeeessfererees sees 


MBIT ROD CU nececsivestcessescocsenee ces escsqteseeteceseeeces sreseeteeesccsssceseeesnvescesceselivatctscccesccesceseeseosconesseesasese 


OTCDOONSCNTCMAECCIN saan 0 cceu es cevoousscoesectelsessecsceccsecevebec cece sscleseeecessevsceseeccteheseneces 


OSs SN CUSSUNTssssceveseveasees 
se =~—The Periodical...... 
Clandestine Oinloat=mothicnccoscescsciscceeacesssescadecescess "osccsctecssccscoceseccsecegcsedcssecdsacosscscedeesounecdeseas 


’ 


Glimbin ew cubawOnmissassceccarssseredsccssssvesocstsecescessecccecssessnccdecencssossessascescccectesessectesescrectcescenes 
ce 


Wochnans Rush Csccccsccccossecdesasedecseececsaveodcscescesescseccecscssdecccevdssdscscacdetoeeeececcccesadeesdovcevecrecssience 
CBO COMMCLICI=-NO UAT Aicicccaccecewcccdeccesecccccstsccceccecccccscseineetesccessccedsescecsscccseceecosctvatstesssdesessrsneeiesis 


QUOTES ANE GUAUSrssccrasasecorsvssecbacssssee! oo ssevicerecosesesbsteesesteesoseovecesncrssicesesevsicussecscrdcsoseeevarseance 


Wordlamowmmiathtesssacsscsareacccccccetcacscserscoasacsssssscssesseses secsenaiitescsesecaassanesccecatasacesecssectecstssceuncee 


ce 


OF the Grape. .scrccccccrccosccscscsccscvccesccscoccseceseasseceesss cies sessesececosscesesccssveccsscnsescoscnesee 


Colorad oP obato-beetlen. .sc.cc.ccsccsscsccvcccscoceessescstescasececssatecscsccssecscscees coccceccccsseeteceotedcsscecceene 
“e ce ce 


PALASILC .<2.scsccsccsgccecsscdosrseccossavessienasseresvesiesssessseseueresscesecesseestseacseenns 
a0 GG ‘© —Tts past history and future progress......cccccccscsccovcccscosccescrtvvccesccesoess 


“ce “c sé —Tts habits....... 
(a3 ce “e 


“ec ce ce 


Hotton wood Gall plant-louse.........ccsccccerscsesccscsesscveccceccecseve seececssesesssessensesesseeevessreesesnsesens 
CONOLVACHELUS NCNUPNAT .ceevesecccvercvevcereccerscccescesses ceessessausees seneescsrsusssecserseeasousssseseensne eeeenens 


COT CUS EVISLIS .-cecccvocsouecssscccccecasscscceccccscce: $0eensceucenceecesseserceceesseseenscsesscsccetscorccccvecsocsscens 
Crab-apple—WOrm iN.......ssscccseccecraccccsccsecscccecssscessscassccnsscaseseensssaacccseses eesseesesesscssocecoseeses 


MOTI CTIIMPER-=D Ee tl Owanssunecadacidentondonee socdaccsacccevencrscevecscuccctcennbocssesoncerecce seaseeagcccosceseecencastteararses 


“é 


HOa—DOCE] Ouceco cco avacelitoee eamnlee’s eleclatcoslsslelcuiaiee's oveuiohisecibehblsliesersessscvecsccepeeessteemeccerssesot=ncsee 


Wir Guldo—— he MMs, ccccscsccacesscenoauetesdeteccectctseccccccsessonesteoNiesseosvsvss secuseasdtelvslestscacedepsemanes telson 
ce 


Mt ONEMMTOBsss sc cectace see eco croe cena cae cactnovsececoeturechecsosesehoscnccceteccorctabereseuentesscacsdessecmane 


s¢ of the Grape.. 


“e “ec ‘© seed. Mocdcoceccdouucedasevecheshesacdoseccccccie Vecserecewansinesd cocsectiuescsssninamm 


oe “ce 6 (CANC.ccccoe eeSvevecsccsciece ces vevseseseaseevenseccusccedecesinceascessavee 


Currant—Bark-lice on.. 
ee 


Aten e nen eeneeeneere 


——(UL-WOLIIE OLiccccecocccsccecedscsvccscocnctesecooradevensecccascsececd)sicussveseeesnacicncseeeiaces 


139 
138 
70 
115 
96 
97 
98 
98 
98 
105 
114 
42 
46 


115 
169 
131 


150 


176 


150 
179 


112 
128 


133 
101 
111 
101 
107 
116 
105 
120 

50 
154 
113 

65 
100 
101 

50 

57 
128 
129 
131 

15 

70 


INDEX. 


Currant Fruit-worm.....ccccsccsccsssssssvenvesesse soseocsscenssssensraceneceesescnsss ose senstecceseccessersceaaaseeses 
CufawOntishecscessoslasassoccnecesineeeeneesss SonaotionsoBucnvecs AA OOCOOS III SaceqoaHoon0 NIC sesebspaidctuenessencos ade 
66 Remedies against.rcc..cccecssersrceretecrerscessenceesereseresnes Rsinseasteceensecless senstneacnensieans ..89, 
OG —The natural history of twelve distinct species.........++ seeiieaess So RoFnencdadsoncno5 Bocousoad : 
GO —Climbing .......000 Sestees beacbbcos gedobnecccoe easteneceeeatoasans obeceos Raneescaeeisessienacts lessee caponpeic 
Cut-worm—The Variegated ........csscsceees Seehgnasbonecacin easuscesecsenees eabenoe Oeebieseronecseetecmcentsts eeoweens 
Gs —The Dark-sided..,....sssesesesee Raanoaed smesesaeae Moscusterde dees ees Re acevedtamsecsesedqreateasvesnerecn@ace : 
SG —The Climbing....cecrcccccvcereccersscccssceceses mevecebecoseseses Scabmeccaa cpete donee BoscceLo DOGKE tasevenes 
AG —The W-marked........ .cccccccorerceser oocareoces Socsecoonnbene siuaeelsiicates pacasoe GocbopaduEconaonacas 
ae —The Greasy ........ses00 aasecees Renecessse Aaseseeesateiias AACE OECUSO HEC cosacoecan Saban Reseseseseeaeuss 5 
Bs —The Western Striped........c..s.seescssessersersseres Siaeslesasseeeesenase Paaecsene eee boasacacoocescdee 3 
‘6 —The Dingy..........s.ccccccseres Sensentels remachsiareen ose ROCIO IOS Speeeaneane Rel Sedee eva seboes Reser 4 
US —The Glassy ....secsesscseeere Re ceasalseamsnncepstesisiniess aoekseeesusie RODOCIO OA SIO NIO IDEATION breaee SoDOnOIe . 
us —The Speckled . .......ccccssceeee Racsaseees cinaeaesecrcicneessneud vaseiccawauseeademesasseees vescees AED SOOOE 
ae —The Small White Bristly........cscsrsessssceessceoeee Seaaesies Gaede sesccetesesdeeseenssccssemspeceselansa PY 
ne —The Wheat.. ....... acecescaedberrocscccnsuuiaersenpeseesces asses soave ets GeeestsasiecaseeeecsieseeOncursecus's os 


Dark-sided Cut-WOrm.........ssccccreccssens napeno weeceens Redoeduastanuecgsduenccacesasseancesnacuacies tance selisatsiciases 
Dart-bearing Rustic ...........csccccscosscnsscesrscsseesceces JESS SRE CRGOO MECC OCS Sconnnnscatonscc eee sen eeknetdecece seca 
Devastating: Dart.........ceccassscosses Rar cecevceckcncecnsteseaseacasensacaces eEegoncnobe ecnenacereccenat dagasesdeeeereses ; 
Devil’s Riding horse.........sscseeseeees sresseesesteeseeeees BacOsOUe Neceseacanasesses Sacnencosan sesesees Novetanescece 
Dini oxy Cut WOLMssecc.cceseoecceseeatncotseceerssmerss Manesieaesans BBeaO00 Re sieseecsoesceneescnas aneeens Sasoveecsiccsetass Uaeiate 
Diabroticd Vittatd......ecccvccees Seesscecvece Sendsade capieswasesais sine Sacisissjesisisscsipsteleele.e coeveccccrecces Sew eblscedselensecsieste . 
Doryphora 10-lineata ....6 ve. Fhoomaee aiitanel fens easeweescs Raseaduseses Rosecredesscetberiscastes Agdnoo2 Suacuevessaceavene 

UG UMC OC daccvasiedecioraes siecle AROSE ORUCOCERECTS Rapmansesesssoccivcecosasseenasenssmatcss ROnCORHC Sasanacuoe senses iatents 


Drop-WOTm o...eeeceseeeeee Rea ceatcaciecupenereatcncnenesersernreconsceceennens SpA HOHaOOBON: sosdesecsescstmrecescerrecessens 


Hight-spotted Forester....... SERB ERCASCOD COOLS Moccesciescescesscas Meeadoctecettesseassasacsecces FeDOON Sooscocbanga 
Hlongate Ground-beetle..........sccscsecsecereeees =epGODHONAONRUGREIE 030008 SA OROOHORIHOOUNE BopepuCQaGTS Bbosoanende Adood 
Hl MECLCOM OURO rrr weincsesiets coetaceccences's Meieaa unseat seecatererereseeane Sn eeansecrs Mates dace neasatecceniectadsseseeteels 
Enemies of the Periodical Cicada.......,...0+ RatoAtO BE ABOCCOC ACH ARIUCBOC OS COKoodaHO SO coDoanErOsaOCaunCe Sokeacens 

OG OG Colorado Potato beetle.......cescserescserees Resteee nenedecdoceaho ARSRORCUCBecoS Ue aocaoactognsodiod ; 
ETi0soMmad PyVi.ecrees nicioslesetaindesesiinase ics oes ciscleneslcsasslacdsclesictesies Salasleneisteneics steneseene OACOnCneLAcnoonuadee AsocdC 

OG AUT oleae ca nelecie'e Deadnaetccssedeceecesseacecevocassnacicue Rencesessssee SodORCOCEEOEDECOR Riewsceecscs Gasoeencnaecneaaee 
Eurytema Bolteri...... aiecises sietaccchocrs ApopOO AND ECCOOCO DADO SD OLE CHOOCGIG madaibceccusasecensteeseceneses Sslneslacchuincisesiveee 


Fidia viticidd........ cudeeseastavescvosessesenen eeccscceccsccccocesve dec svucedescesecsecausasessssvess seeses ceveseocs eoseeestan 
Mer yaeLOUNG=DECUCscasscseeccrsseccssneussrecesensssecctsesrscoesers™ aisbbepONgDOAABIO Seodenticcon SSH SAOSDELOOD ese eOs 
Figure 8 minor............. SED SCCEHRESGODS0B Gd HOEK BBBOOROLC GGSDUOLSOS Roscctacsceenenereestera ses cpededaosdaaotdodoaso Reese 
Fruit trees—Injury caused to them by Cicadas..........006 Le eeastescinocuscstersdcuressuestasceens Seecodatodood 

oe attacked by CUt-WOLMS....sscsscorssccesssessesenee-cennecsccuenierssaneerereneeseasesessenaueeee senseees 


Gall-curculio of the grape.....cccccosccccessecsceees aaraistslulsininsinssieveistslocuenscese ss ouocodd eoaisin sea ilsasavecises onedead 
Gall-moth of the Golden-rod.......... eeiaasaahcvasupegeeccessesuaecsels poneceS ecies Medsawasaes Petronas coceran mein vicels conn 
GOUICTCONCCT CANA cccscccsestscccnspeaesope Barapa RESUS IO SOC CTOD OBO NOUS OOOO ROOCATO CO SIEIaCOCNS weeivleviocisins ble sieeiiesidenivel 
Gelechia gallesolidaginis.......- desnecaanpaccos ee cooKo=oaD aisplncsiesclese's PACS IDSC ED COODASOO OOOO SOG ICOCO Sle sas siento 
Geometerion  thelChick-weeds....soccceatsececnceserescarecenernce mreeeeacacisasancesse Medessees Sete Beacanes eden 
Geopinus incrassatus.....- BOCeROCOL Wecseseence Renceseincessen ghadcosodvodcoaeceson6 laclala sleeve ieleie we sleisielsisiaisisessialeis's Sonbbada 46 
Glassy, CUt-WOLMs ccdeccencntesessices HgheBdoedtogopdbauN0esaN Sacogoaeadconeacs Supctoeeenauncon Se POLONEOBOROK Bocsbodnocenc 
Golden-rod Gall-moth.............. See taiedetws shusecudectecusies Ucwssewasiccciesnceresesseneavsiicuen sin Wecuceasoecnececes 
Gooseberry Fruit-worm... Rvanaveceies SRR COC TOOL OLCC Rastaeretesear eens: SLR io aes oes cawedoveseotece see tuee emacs ee sie 
Gortyna Nitela.... soo... cocees ARCOCCOOCOOLUCHDOD 8) cletesieneee dococs Gneniseniscisesitcives'ccieeesieeeln doavceesteeunctea sis(aela'sisislecisios A 
GothiciDart: ccccrsccscasces sconnaause Tactateseeces ocedaodoodh Tuas oatasct dllvecevsentcsevesoeceeumaneine ame aeeiaaces onipaaaacas 
Grape vine—Insects injurious tO........cessceeessceeeers SE 000H SITE OOTOUOCOSOGCEIEIG voneesseseemece Sb COSSERE acaBOCECO 

UG S605 DIUM a scseisaesdestss Renentesnssaise ccs costes sie scesisc ssn siecceceeseclnsvess Soncceessceeeeene canbseebaggeanNsds 3 

Se £6, UW desspsnmecedaccsenenaaselacansee ces aeaaaee eases aoseee's eaetenaseas ieceweectes Ralaedtheatere neces ness emase 

66 Co =— rea CricketiOm«nccescesseussssacess taavass aetiess BB poausDsoadaddS decseoseas Reena seine ese wscinsstesia 6 


UG 66.) —Cut=WOLIMS Oliscnsserecepessics/abarerscpecctssasseecseepeasronssesscessvccseusasrssnsssccccnuesconennnens 


82 


169 


100 
101 
105 
147 


136 
115 
123 

26 
111 
118 
123 
1i7 


132 
115 
86 
29 
69 


131 
173 
166 
173 
179 
Gt 
83 
173 
140 
92 
81 
124 
1387 
132 
138 
70 


4 INDEX. 

Grape: ‘vine—The Hight-spotted Foresters. vssevawssrcossecseresasscasscaonnsevassenencvorstbeieiesldiesieesetees GO 
eo (Curculioc...a<- pea shuseraieeests Beeeneseny Prensuneare pacbaussavaccupeuwssenueslasecesdseh devevaveravaenedadces sees «o. 128 
SOM WDCCHICUNCHIIO tasaccenedvescuesececsosacsddsseusdadvecteacsrss Reon Sesevncccrseacsrconccscanseudevavesessdvedeccesssss LOD 
66 Gell CunculliOnssccccsscesseessevscveees dégadddesdurecceudeteess Seearcechcctcneconcocnctcctc Soosoccen ate oceengoo: . 181 
CDV aCOGMIN Gs. ccwswecvrecsestteys mcbievinledosvolslessalddeevesvsuMsviesesacveedenereddeddsdsauneduxones senate nociadhicoboon cnc . 133 
KER PRG Ot-DONCIi secon sevucsesseusseees covccossizcés sfundgaNeuses Sesissso nese dseecsecseVanseascsceecaens Seclenwaadecieastonene 124 

Greasy Cut-Worm........ccsssccceee eceseeenss cocncidsedsaavasece edasncsceesocosstseecs sauadescsens dedeegeere ses eactlve sessecet 80 

Greengage plum—W orm iN......sccrscoseceeseceeees acdesedess Sadeendasccosesecersesecs coccnsecasaudued Sates saetts Rocco) WEKt 

Ground-beetle—The subangular...... avevseeveeetevesce cesessreccees eeeeereys sesvosvossediddecehe tveaveassusterses® 58 
Cer Us Larva... .cecveess Sunae|-lesclee stvlevespawda'wau een stinslfeldsosecleue se sceusensnvecernre cn cutee eoraednersccace . 59 
ae 66 —The Pennsylvania...........ccssseeseoes pewseuswesllewer con Sips sconohacncooce Ssencticoocknace.. car Aron i) 
ae Ae —tThe Fiery...... seesceesecneccesceseseecesvcovsces Gevcesveccssenteose aasnessenes dausnecttscoccesdaecnce 89, 115 
ae 66 —The Elongate........ muceeenes esceuevevelwoeces veotoacseeesevdvcceceauesece rete wavsorencewossetesse seen LO 
ce GA ews —“NhO PMLUP KV acdavese/edvesdevaddedecdoadeddaddesddddedesdccvesccerancscececssdascststnvastescesveeserece - 115 


Hadena subdjunctdesescccrecee Rowiicacascersvecesneccaeetaesctesneccccecenesc/centeesecss Buesecercdeencen seuccectesceeceescece tek: 
H@mMatopis Gratarid...cccccccrcccececereces asacdorsdesese vesvdese eoeme sete ABORCCCAA ce erocdceacscucedeccccetesetcrarceeed sooig 
Haltica cucummeris....ccccces Seavecees Siaihectasccsacstcesnt ects vencoceroceswsredes Receostens pcaoac ansaedats conatcces Seseae HO 

Og MUDCSCONG ccadidetccccdccdedesstecdddedvecsecsdsrescsvesecesddcvers Geeccisscwese Sadewbrwevdcasnee stenceos eee neae eee LOU 


Hlarnis’s: Bark=louse.sss<cesccsssssiveovsevcweseseevees Ricwiovenhse) estveheeastsesercscerersccnscssesss dwessvececswscteecnsnes seas, 
Harpalus Pennsylvanicus....ccceoee esaseeeacveecet Savesececsesss casewaes sceweecbeces ccecseses ssacasccectsesesterrecsesten 59 
6 CaLIQiNOSUS.. 020 .s0000088 desu ce vbeveceeees stock eoee Sepebuwvosseeseeeee Taevadeceeweeetrentee RE ACS 115 
Harpactor cCinctus...cccsecoee Seaseses bigssssdsessectavdaceses CECE EOC CG PEO caeceesenteceee Sees edeacMTeasee 114 
Head maggot........scsccccseeeee sabuussshbeweuoesvebusbvesseeel view! eviess vcs cweicesschconsceosesss\meseisieeee SCO IOOEUIIIO . 161 
Hemiteles (2) Thyridoptery2......-00 bithenuucebetveedsastneteerseees sesereasce eprorecsess soeapasnsenede’s covenseerancen’s 150 
cs Cressonit......0. seaeaaatsccaconsece Go aacoednones. sa eoenescesterecns snctotedvedescasccacesdusecatecee cutee « LTT 
Hippodamia Maculatd......cccccecoseees AeACCHOROD eencerestcccaevecsesenaoeeeredosesses ceceotestccouchancseccsecpereeccote 112 
Su WS UUCLOLGrseccsscevescsssseesessess Reacevescorces atasedccseeasccaudeddescrcetnrecantacanerocedaesenencaasnanss 112 

a CONVEV GENS. vessereesees Rencacessdececcstuscsssceseticecaveccnetts Borpoo=S0nridoccopadoties oo Soncocens coecesncop ileus 
Honey locust—Bag-worm ON........sscsssesssesseveeeee sercecsess Roseonaen ASOD TOCOUUCLERSORIIGICC Sohesse es eoceeread 150 
Honey-bee—Insect enemies of........++6- aeaslecteecrasdsas orecseees saavscasacassescenas-carcesepesss aausesessccrerese «+. 166 


Incrassated Geopinus........-.. Sicaccacsencorsoss Peauacevscneanansnecdcvassserseaecs Sacasee Gasceacdesseesccastt spook AO ea lith 
Inflating Chaicis fly.........00 Ryetseneseasscscncssissccsasssocessccrsees Wgicscsonssemeacce costes saecdncccesesananatesers coe 116 
Injury caused to fruit-trees by Cicadas...... dccaserarcecascerasseres RDORGOSODOOOO SEC wunessosescenscenesaeeascces 29 
HGTO mI OUSMMNSOCUS Mec sschsacsessaseceroescoascecscarcnesesescosccencsescleeceeses Moutcseccascrcsseeceateecucracanarercesaseses 172 
Insects infesting the potato...........serccesessen AONE ANRRNOGUCOOE sGasssecucrenvsnss setcscnescocscsRtocccased secercatcss 91 

SS INIUELOUS, LO UNEr GTAPC-VANOs.cecacadessccccocscocsesescscssccsateccscss Sa semaseseeseren Secess esis seserecessscnoieliae 

«enemies of the Honey-bee............ Poasehessesse 9 Brssceneelnecccensccesarsencs xencasaes SUSEESECOOIQUOON O00 . 166 
MTLOUUCCOLY:. «crvessessoerevss aesecseesenecets Mescceccceseacsetcessesiess Re sdescccstsescostonciietees seseecenee Basesescre sascct ao) 


Lacewing larva .........c006 Sad satesacevoveedecccesssedsseastcss Weceseenss Gadeceddeceseocteceers Saar Rccuasouacceccoreccel TO10 
LachnosternG Quercind....crcccecereccereee accosessceousease eeaveesss aebvetvocctenes etevteuccscesssesemotces Riecvscedcewe SOOT 
Ladybirds ....... pduaducenacccua- petsesese Rrhcsoosseteeccenbeccteetcnciaeteer Seseses Seceseteseuenees Siinwansteracesease Secs heewetmlil 
Ladybird—The Spotted....... weedecdeveuecuccdcoescsdcsseccdecoes sascnsvadeceacsscsedeencet Sesreereeseces eyesoetes Sahoo: 112 

se — —The 9-Spotted.........ccee0e Soa sucessasecaess Ssanstdeslecsolacesevlesiees Scoesee sivcecacsucsbeensesoccburroecres 112 

66 ~~ —The 13-Spotted..........cccccsesseeee sioaes thou stecbecseeneTeseercnoeeNessaceet cree esnvaveecsendedchwecvaseae 112 

66 —The Convergent........0 sssececcsees acastagcectecssesusseststncencscstvosscacdsensstamaveaededtneatedorecens 112 
MAAN COMLUS Ul Cosascccnscessccsecnenornnetstees Sparen ecsncantssasnasseaaesateeatascacceasaves Sos sucaeosrenectinaceeees ences saenoars 80 
Theaf-roller of the Strawberry....as.oceccscsccsseccesccsssecsccccsnscee sovcess etascess ase ese seceecees subeseecaccensste 142 
MICU EVTAMEATO, vcs eeveveseceseesosctoiccsesas Sereceres eetaccceaseateectresers Siea'suese osseleenens (ates censtostesveaeeseyeve Se) 
Winden—Baie--worm) ON) sssessistescsssersebeveeoesevescmaes eeeaeeteseeesstestsscteses vb cdadubelcediscdavcneaobercdectes ee eto 
Lombardy Poplar—Bag-wWorm Ons..scs.dscccssccosccese | se vcsocceessoseccs decevecaves Sausecasdddcccecuaedteceescacs eo. 150 
DY CCHAMONYUD LOT E..ccocetccccevccdccessedaceeecceddssesos scaudevecevetececsdcsvsco ccedecddcdd cendeadaswaaeevcstasasneer=cecls 111 
MT ULOMUULEDT Wad ccvecasnnadcelrocavossdcuccecdcodsccdececenasess Sedcccececenunaetsccccscucddalcseslteeedetssaediecsteetsmecsseun opomt 


CLNCUTEONED ss esshaccseosthes Nobccodse PSC SSCHOCOLO DOC OQ cA TOCICLICOO OOK KIO acseubetel eeeeeswereerees Sechdetee Sercoue Fondo, tlt 


INDEX. 


Lytta MLUTEN ivouddeat'e ccs candace cepaecscnessesteesehccvccscacrcocweccasssscencveessvesauenconece see eoeeeevoneeeseesseresenes 
CURL elswanoeesaaeaca vevenvasddsetieseessarsssccsesadsasnvassctcedastscsuascnassscaedeseveescecacaeseceencsssrsccensee 


SOMMILOROLIL ACC nccses recess deckaerecsnarandes uetuccssaastced vdancaaereswesadssebierasasdaeseeccrscscseensesusesteneusese 


IMC ATUSIULITSenacornenensasisascssiestonesaiveais vac clicsse seins esisiclscnecencesesase denensecesassuvaasstsrenssoccasecurssesycccty 
UO NTSECATOUULG «009 oonninevoncocpeehansaeseveceseessasloseverssnsespesisuselidessececseaccesoccedwascescevetectasecssssusescusee 
Mamiya bs ded WROD DOL snccsmaatemecdercassass cascececciersasssnrsecsnes oceans: sondeseasieeontresnstsstenccasteonccesvaverts 
Min le—Hilathead edi boneniMscaasansnscnosesssesncnesiesomavedesicecssucissnsonstecdesucidsaredsscatseccarsceccnsttavasee 
Minin] Abo WON Olen alaasasoecsecasocsitendvepuisveaescessessaavacarssniecsacouseschesercssbenascscersedsderdssctentesmestane 
Miampmed malig ter-Dee tl eb cccacssussesnpapdaccasneassastnuvsnaqsaebecarseclsvnasucslacssiuqecaseacsessceeseneterscncedesere ee 


Peer eeerccceeessoens 


Microgaster.s,cecccevee iinelnteise 


PVE KsypsGMOUNG-DECLIOcserassonssecsncanessscursvesecenstccuserdscaensercecsesttecssnertcsvetncvscecvessacassrsorseststenrss 


Natural history and transformations of the Periodical Cicada.........ssccsssee ccssvereccesscecarevsscoss 

we sic OLMEWELVC CUL=WOLMSvecssecaccoucceessdvatcrnscausvedscvertscesasacessueccceccasaeaencenstesserestnte 
IND CLILEMCLUMLCSEU OU sieccnvatesprcucansntecesessteuceecccesserncavessteccccecsdsasencsacdcressdsdsedaresucucceoeeseenaaamsitetres 
WOT Ways SPLuUCe Bar WOLmMs), Olt. scsecs sorceccscscteccscacencsensustdsnsdcstocceucstoccescccecstoscsdusesecateeercarns 


IN OXT OMS HNSECES tcc caceorevaccoustescacgonebecscwecoes ec euCe seas eee ote oe ew ene aah Re ee be Naboo ene CRORE ERT acne 


Oak—Flat-headed borer in.........cscssceeeees 
Oak stumps—Grape-root borer in........ 
CRE CUERUERMINUU Cl Sodueducecsesunsoacsseecdusstssesiivesasvacastcasesaecacesicccees lscaatecsmassrsesaseaedsscecccesscrsansseerscats 
@strus ovis...... cee sisevesensesereccsshover(scsneersevesscvncseatccerescscecsscneeseseusevcsesendsccersseseseceuseseiesswovenvas 
CEL ECACOMUDU Oven celyonessacasaqesaecheecerescersuacccace seessescecss seae\cssnccassvendevscasccserredscccccserassccetacsercsesttens 
OU ChECROCCIIALE Scenacncarcvocnaselcucacessadecdcnesbsecsarsscncscceeeascccudscnacsacsesecsesescsiciersnaeneesaccdeaccscusororsres 
On TE MUCUCOSLUONN Cais anciieriesvlnvniedsa'scosseccscesesscascstesosesencssccescesscscscussesarecucdenecreceraasccencdanetenenense 
OUCKOSOMANCULUTORUCUINA 2) nascetccestensescoscnsssascededacsinesorscoscescsecsseatesclesedctes cousbeseaccccestaneTeousecee “00 
Osaceforange—— Dae =WOLM OD sssresatececesestesscoccssieveernssessstsaesdeceseaseascsenartatwassunces siewleciien iv sieeieesels 

CG STi GLAD C-LOOU DOLCE AN ccsesessavecceceraliilestevevcescessecess Mosisccsuceesbat cacanansnctosscatraercesaneens 
Other cut-worms...... asdsde'sescestevavcessveisisceees soos esisbabasctesccccstcseoitescncarccncssssesslecerasdemicccsssereeneae 
Oyster-shelk bark-lOUSe...ccec.cccrsacseesacdecevercsevest 


Harasileror, the Colorado Potato-beetle:...0.-:-ccessscco-sesseesepersoercrerstcoesesetsecncecscecsosesten sean eeturen 
PACS TMOCHUS \CLONOULUS. ssasdscssshacseeeisscrussencacscescdsesesranesesecsoseeacesaseccssenersnoressscceecesesenensisscnecs 


1RTESYO) sis] XO SF He SEDO GE SESS OO TDS E EES AEH CHE EER BER SEEE SEE EH ASE TPE RCEE CES trae Hee ies AGAIN oe 


Sr —— Hl atchead ed vOOnGr leaks acecesserencedectscodaescie cebeatenwactnccenssaes 
s¢ —Curculio on... 


© eeecsereces 
oer eeeee cee 


Crh WL ORMUOMstsoders sesescsstoarcassrenececsnencccsessnee SOC Epo COROACUECOSe COC CUCL OAR COORD ICO ECO Tc sasdnicagsacncc 

S57 (iE WOLINS (OU rs covscesconsseuesaevceusususccestestanscstsauscusscesteecevecctesccueucissviseastcseancscensceseeseaseees 

PCI IDCLU NOM OSSTULOIUCE wlcvanaucienacestccavencsconenstcecsunaquenausserescaccsdussesascaishrcreuccssseates veldencnsedacsnraacese 

UCM PNIGUUO POUL MILs wun delatcaancsaausessceyaccssseqeasanvancss snes sasesceasacasesaanacesectssurcsvccssansaconntacsnecene 

IPENUSY MANTA SOLER DUC ices cecsaes ssasenadsesusctecarsetestaeccceesiersede seus cvsncese scm sasceortacdenes te speaeerecerea 

oe Gromd= beetle re-covccvccseccccsavscseccaue scesessesdsvtgsaccecscccvsccsccecersebads secuuen seletacsansese 

ACME LIC MUDLIR ON anerotnaastadccearrcnscnssessnads sccer-deesteessacneeaceuestievsccccncecesteceseeaqansacetsneelerssat sea 
Periodical: Cicadas a2. spsecttse seceeessccleoseccacessssvesssveuseses pieeidnes cv aecce cecocsceen eeeeeeeae 

GG «« —I7 and 13-year broods, 

6c ‘© —Two distinct forms......... ‘ . 

US «« —Season of their appearance and disappearance........+0+. on 

SG © —Their natural history and transformations..........0.cssesessssscsseccersscees SseeasB 


“e Ser NIP OU) ENEMIES Meese cesccce ct coc obess one deo en sud uae ds oscececce nactene serra coe nUladnasteoasepeers 


ce (Ge DHei ny UU CSMCOMELULUSELECH secsetscatesesvacescuces dercaesssarseasearsdansavescertcaterssses 


131 
169 
114 


150 


156 
159 


178 


128 
150 


140 
112 


153 
18 


6 INDEX. 


Worrodical ‘Cicadas—Mheirstin psictsciscassasssseccnastctcacesseseacerenceeckeseactes orca tees eee te ce ete 
Xs «« —Their chronological history with predictions of the future appearance of all 
well ascertained broods throughout the COUNtIY........csecesesscsssces sosccees 

POUSIANN IU A C= ATKIN CO) OD ccc. cnnzan<savecces <cbeaeectentectmoracaswcserecctanecunsesesetie 
PAG 2 AU LORCUNY lan ancacepelane senses oscuss acres taveateanateddrasachsescecesdeseaseesees 


Plum—Bark-lice on..... .......0s. 


TORR meena ween ete eee eneees 


POON m eee e eee meee eee Eetewaeneneee® 


TORO Cee e eee eee Rea a eee eee ee H HES EE ESE E ESTHET EES EES EEET EE EEE SEE EHE SSE H EES EHH EEE EEES 


So— A DPLO WON INTOS UNG, I eauscsncspscaentencbhises stscusasscodesercoselacwanseaseccus ldccovesanee yeseneenten atte 
“e 
“ce 
“ec 


BME TO Lathe OnAPe) VN O-..s.aseceovses toes: scccuseshessserseesssense 


Potato—Insects infesting it........ccceccecesescssccosceoees 
“ec 


Plaka Onenerevasen cauccecessesecie tsesceseseseatecs 
SLalKwe ewe leanceesacccrccccscctaccsiwosselesace 


“e 


sewer enone NORE eee ROO eee EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE HEH eE EEE Hee Eee Ee EEE Se 


“e 


SME MISTER -DOCUION 5. .avecadesaacesceestevatscescicevcacelecescneces 
«¢ —Three-lined leaf-beetle.......ccseccescccscecsccsscascces: 


ea AUOLOT AC OMDCCUILO’ «dines ctwacceveccuncochicescaeccace loccesescdescaesetaduicoredsdes vccrtuceseevecuecestees 
ce 


POeeeeU Ue CCCOCOCOCeCOCUOOS OSE Cee ee ee ee eee errr errr eT 


3.0 PIE COLOTAC OND COLA sacasecasentacsicuccessanecsaeseanacese cassetesncasvecsoesssesedersereodses 


EER ODILOMUS  CONAULACCEYLUS vccceacnecvsiecucceessececseercsdecenseeeeracss 
“e 


POR ee eee ee ween eens Ra eeweeneees 


I CTHACCLECACLULIUS-cemwcscloveacasdaues soatecswesicas eestsssessevedsetcessiecovessocessecaesessoccsresesnasonestoe 


PUMICE AD IO<WOLIN IN scccassaceicassacscccoccncengecctoesecsocevssccusaccssensedsecosdesecaesusions sacteseeccottavaeetes 
“é 


= eUMW ONINW OM vsassctasceverssncsecdessocesscccssecsdccccevesascaacesdes vesesecouscdossescesenisccersserscosecsers 


EMMCIOUSHSOLMLCr=DULs.cccccocsssesacsesssisscoctes secceescesecsdeassiscessucecsossssscouceessbicecvessssesesenestsesesest 


Raspberry Geometer...... 
“é 


POMOC ee R a mew eee eee eee EOE EEE HEEL EE HEH HEHEHE REE HHEHEE HEHEHE EE TEREEESEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HEHEHE EOD 


= PB OU OTN CKO GON se sasca 04 vax ccineccaces'cassdedccoss sete ¥ssececs secesweteetonteesacisesstecoenses Sean cae tlaattees 


“e —Cut-worm on........666 


OO meee e eee eee ee eee eee eee ee eeee® 


NGAI ORS Come csteclcorteestrcass cies cocceconcosses sync escerus ceva UeeceewenticusseseseCeccecd sceuercs couuaecscuneenceesenes 


Reduvius raptatorius...... Seas swesaesscesenessecatiseciens se 


PoeUe ERT OPEC OOPS eT eOeCCCeTO CeCe reser err rere eee eer) 


Red Cedar—Bag-worm on.,........ 


FOC e meee meee eee eee eee HEE EE EEE EEE EEE EEHH EE EE HES HEEEESHEEHES Fane eee rete ee neee 


Oe etal anit OMBGNOMMUNELAPDLENGLGOsscccececzesccceseccs+ocrseccesccvecscesscesescesesserescostsecestonsecavesceascsesee 
ee “e ce 


PSOLCI IONS NGM G LANA WANG vsatsccccercesssroctseseccocstsccocsssseshesesessonccedsereeacesesececarscucscscenocessocn's 


NOH CAIISH——=“ CUE -WORMNSlOlitesccceserssrctoocceaccteccesecscon cused stacntcesevevesesterscocesevetevsstscuecdecerestomnens 


ILMEMMOMDLOULLOL Uwcowccvnceescvecseesttevecsescoteetseccccscedsddscctcoeccudedccuccucesscesesecsuscuccecccuccsessecsiuvecsesea 


eedecuneuliOuOh the, Grapeia.s..c-sccevewecastwatscsccscavesceccsectsesecssccocserdsccbisccouscsss ococeesestcactoesss ane 
ce 


COXMPH MALLOC cc. cases cscccsescenvcoccaccdeceasccesececcvcccuccsusssecsecececses coc ceee es ceeeenceseeeevesccccasseess eee 


Seventeen and thirteen year broods cf the Periodical Cicada ........c.ssscsssescosscccsccsvsccsscearereenees 
EmalliwihiterBristhy Cut-worm<...csvssscsssscessessascessscessseatscnsssceeesscessavee 
Solidago gall-moth.............05 alee ccivicsicdeasecicsvceleedsesddeeseecsceeUsesde codcveadececUsocsed socedcosshedresscesevecvcs 


SPC CHUNCONCIG=WVOLM c[vaccaleceveeccecdvescaccsceeesccsteceesvevewecouseevescocdsddeddccndcoddecescedceeecedstrcasens cece oof 


IIULIONO = MUOCIUGUE dasa steseetecs ¢ceccecccnceccctedcccnsecdscccducccdecedccdsccsessscasecsesdecsababavssceenetease csccasuecerds 
ce 


COON TG eaescccccseucsess eoececccces sovcccccvecccccesseescccesccsccedecccecceeecs ene seceevesessecceescsscseceosecce 
RPINE GIS Ol Mlor=Dueisscssstsssececsecessc'ccssvevssaccvecvecsces dedecceudseceevenssecelinedsveceoveddcscdverceSancensescestOOy 
ISUMASH DUG. cscccnssccesccsecssorscsccascnsssetssscosccctacccsedscsncsdccccccccrscessescavcesecdssccevssccavensveverasrscstess 
Stalk-borer of the Potato........... 

Ke WOVE Ol Hew OLMbOsiscsaccecsccteretcoctenceasccseecocessacctereesocccedsccsod sscccseedeseuceaneesanescscnasrennce 
Btrawberry leaf-roller :.:ciccccssescescecscoscssesccosesseseceess Stik eente ce tevalcescees sesUectlseslevecteccccnceteescsescens 
Henevor the Periodical! Cicadasssssettcsscestiaccesccscssestoctsessesascessoceessesaccnccocawaceee shocesouses tovcses 
Hiriped Blister=bectlemis.cst.ssescscessessece teatvecsessiecesstessosses Gedeveeccoccdsaccecccectectecsmsrencttecccensceaes ca 


Strietrus fimbriatus..... dees ccosccnadamaneccanacsecatedsevcsce sevetsves GS dadedeeseb en sanmecabenerenahiote eens veces potecco 
Sycphusatiy Of Root-louse....c.sissiccsosesstestsscvescereseveces sada bea see ooostetotatendeesscescsatstaessrs sassens 
Subangular Ground-beetle ..........06. 


pena ect tcncaeccucenteaectscnscesensdenerevseocecwveceneaetscnts scence ss os 
Sabjomed Ha dena. csicies'actersecastoveceraasete severe eeeceaveveapecteassesseceasesecdostedosas eben semgemtconcosocgeress an 


PY CAMOTE—-BAS-WOLM ON aicsics sesusvstsdescuedtddccecdesescocccsnstcocescesess] ecccsveceuerstteseenesnssous desta. exer 


121 


140 
150 


137 


129 
154 


173 


113 
113 

92 
142 


114 
121 


150 


INDEX. 


TEV GChE Vir Qenzed.. cevocrsvoveccesse svssescerssvcccescossose Wolestoid Sootodo-Hhosdseada ecdaadachocosoudancoboossbicesasasc 
bis tlayPlumlersssccsspsecerscosenesers Sasa seas Bde cinocdesracos aisycsossies Bateaasateress suosesatecchtastoses’ eadanaesceett 
Minee=lined eluent OCC ulernces te minasceredecnsscswanecessccureccetesececescssaesmsisesseccanesesveccercccauestsenssccemens 
Thyridopterye ephemere@formis...... Sed tS SHAASCOON Remstconsitcndashsales siiacle sacl wesesslea weleasloseis'scts dncbycenane AgacboS 
Tortrizx Rileyand. nvr. seccorerere 50655 eitedtesecercssns GomoboS Baeceetates cae Asatnd nsacosaoccn penacedosccbnecd sansaoncentt 
Tomato-worm ........... wusiceees abehiaitasassaeear See a ee Resoerceerc assessor HERS SCRECE ODEO SScacecuy onde ReOngsO006 eocerecs 
Tree-cricket......- a lctgesssacometeeasbassctacdedcssevewevcescesesi's seacnacceasneesieges ates Wusseavevesstasne.ccasne a seeene Re 
Trupanea apivora 
Mwoldistinct sOrmsion themberlodicml CICad arteninsc coc'sceuesconsscoesavuccetenaal tentevekeslers oserceliocsvecntcces 


Unarmed Rustic: Moth: ccsvessavsncocssnssapweccstcccevelosscecasdauecedasho sos usctceussesereeues 


Variegated Cut-worm........... docHanccoosdencecéanockcanccandan castateunlercaccotnn cotcuonendncieehs Bashapesocs nenee 
Vine Root-borer........... BS coogdonoe Mactaaaltsisscecasccorsess AppapocnBcoe scnieeereasaccsansee Rucseectosanendsencseenascn ers 2 
Virginia Tiger-beetle......... eels cnn conseaslussersionen cesses meancemts ts ppad ene agaocoUBSCLOCS 6 boobed pugsone pabdanocss < 


Veal ontrixcecsss.sscseceensaescs Reneeroidscdscererersesscssscese sesteecanansceees Boqncoabacneaccccn actecunees 
PAR AIVOLM cevesscswesccsvovessdeceveensesctvslbccesweceessSouebase eaves aus acuuesesausstrassensees DOCLODOKI GAR OCHESESEIEDS SERCO 
Mies tenn StripedsGut-wi0rinsc.c.scscsavcoceroveccscavsacerecssccetsccseseeces é 
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SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 


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BENEFICIAL AND OTHER 


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MADE TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, PURSUANT TO AN APPROPRIATION 
FOR THIS PURPOSE FROM THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE. 


BY CHARLES V. RILEY, 
STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. g 


JEFFERSON CITY: 
Horace Wilcox, Public Printer; 


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PRR AG Re 


To the Members of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture: 


GENTLEMEN :—I herewith submit, for publication, my Second An- 
nual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial and other Insects of the State 
of Missouri. 

For my First Report, 1 prepared two lithographic plates, a cer- 
tain number of which were colored. Such plates, when well exe- 
cuted, are an adornment to any work, but they are expensive; and 
upon conferring with different members of the Board, it was thought 
best to furnish two such plates for one-half the edition, rather than 
one plate for the whole edition. ‘The plan has not worked well, how- 
ever, since many of those persons most interested in the Report, and 
for whom it is more especially designed, failed to get copies which 
had plates. 

For this Second Report, therefore, I have confined the illustra- 
tions to wood. Most of these wood-cuts are executed in the best 
style of the art, but they cannot possibly show to good advantage 
on such paper as was used in last year’s Report; and the pains taken 
in the preparation of these cuts,and in hiring the very best engrav- 
ers the country affords, seems too much like waste of time and means, 
when their effect is so spoilt by poor ink and poorer paper. If it is 
in the power of the Board, by proper action, to secure a better qual- 
ity of paper for this Report, I sincerely hope that such action will be 
taken; for a clear impression of an insect cut is often absolutely 
necessary, to enable the general reader to recognize, in the field, the 
living form of the particular species which it represents, 

The cause of Economic Entomology lost one of its greatest 
champions, and the farmers and fruit-growers of the West, and espe- 
cially of our sister State, Illinois, suffered an irreparable loss, in the 
sudden death, on November 18th, i869, of Mr. Benj. D. Walsh, of 
Rock Island. At the time of his death, he was State Entomologist of 
Illinois, and my Associate in the Editorship of the American Ento- 
mologist, published at St. Louis; and I hardly need say that this sad 
and unexpected fate of my friend has very much increased my own 
labors. WhenI add to this the fact that Mr. Walsh was prostrated 
for over three months last spring and summer, and that Mr. Wilcox, 
our State Printer, was ready for this Report at an earlier day than I had 


4 PREFACE, 


anticipated; you will not be surprised to learn that several subjects 
which I had contemplated treating of, have been unavoidably de- 
ferred another year. 

In order to make the sense of the text plain to every reader, and 
at the same time to insure scientific accuracy,I shall continue to con- 
form to the rules Jaid down in the introduction to my First Report— 
namely, to print all descriptions of merely scientific interest in small 
type; to use as far as possible a common name for each insect, always 
adding the scientific appellation in z¢a/zcs and parenthesis, so that it 
can be skipped,if necessary, without interfering in the least with the 
sense of the sentence; and to give the Order and Family to which 
each insect belongs, in parenthesis under each heading. 

The reader will also bear in mind that the dimensions given, are 
expressed in inches and the fractional parts of an inch, 0.25 thus im- 
plying a quarter of aninch; and that the sign ¢ is an abbreviation 
for the word male,the sign 2 for female, and the sign 9 for neuter. 

My grateful acknowledgments are due to the Superintendents 
of the Missouri Pacific, South Pacific, Iron Mountain, Hannibal and 
St. Joseph, North Missouri, and Illinois Central Railroads for free 
passes over their respective routes. 


All which is respectfully submitted by 
CHARLES VY. RILEY, 


State Entomologist. 
Sr. Louis, Mo., Dec. 2, 1869. 


[COPYRIGHT SECURED TO THE AUTHOR. | 


NOXIOUS INSECTS. 


REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENTOMOLOGY. 


READ BEFORE THE MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT ITS ELEVENTH 
ANNUAL MEETING, BY C. V. RILEY, CHAIRMAN OF 
THE COMMITTEE. 


In the preparation of my Annual Report, I have dwelt in detail on 
many insects that have attracted attention during the year, either by 
their injuries or benefits. In that Report numerous illustrations will 
be used to appeal to the eye of the reader, and as it will be published 
in the same volume with your transactions, I deem it superfluous at 
the present time to dwell on the natural history of any one insect. 
Permit me, therefore, to cursorily refer to a few of the prominent en- 
tomological events of the year, and afterwards to make a few gener- 
alizations, which it is hoped will prove of some little interest and 
value. 

The year 1869 may be set down as one in which our crops, as a 
general thing, have suffered less than usual from insect depredations. 
At least such has been the case in Missouri, and, judging from ex- 
tensive correspondence, the same statement would hold true of most 
of the northern and middle States of the Union. 

True, the Army-worm (Zeucania unipuncta, Haw.), and the Grain 
Plant-louse (Aphis avena, Fabr.), appeared in many parts of the State 
in suflicient force to do considerable damage, and these two insects 
may always be expected in a tolerably wet year that was preceded 
by a very dry one. But most insects, and especially those which 
afflict you as horticulturists, have behaved exceedingly well, though 
it is difficult to say whether we are to attribute this good behavior 
on their part, to the increased knowledge of their habits which has 


6 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


been disseminated among those who have to deal with them, or to 
the more potent and unalterable workings of Nature. 

The Chinch Bug, which in the dry summer of 1868, committed 
such ravages upon our grain crops in many portions of our State, and 
especially in the southwest, was scarcely heard of in 1869, after the 
copious rains which characterized the past summer commenced to 
shower down. The Apple Worm, or Codling Moth has been alto- 
gether less injurious than it was the year before, and in Adair, Bu- 
chanan, Cooper, Callaway, Cass, Lewis and Polk counties, especially, 
and probably all over the State, our orchards have been loaded with 
fair fruit. This result was predicted by the writer, and may be at- 
tributed principally to the scarcity of the insect, resulting from the 
partial failure of the apple crop in 1868; but in some part to the im- 
proved methods of fighting the foe. For, as in our civil strifes, we 
introduce improvements in the machinery which is to slay the oppos- 
ing armies, so in this progressive age, we believe in introducing ma- 
chinery to battle with our liliputian insect hosts, whenever itis avail- 
able. And the experience of the past year proves, that to destroy 
this insect, old pieces of rumpled rag or carpet placed in the crotch 
of a tree, are to be preferred to the hay-bands wrapped around it, be- 
cause it requires altogether less time to place the rags in their place 
than to fasten the hay-band; and the worms which spin up in them 
can be killed by wholesale, either by scalding the rags or by pressing 
them through the wringer of a washing machine. 

Owing to the severe drouth of 1868, which was unfavorable to its 
successful transformations, that dreaded foe of the fruit-grower, the 
Plum Curculio, was scarce in the early part of the season, and our 
plum and peach trees set a fuller crop than they had done before for 
years; but the subsequent moist weather was favorable to the under- 
ground evolutions of this little pest, and the new brood appeared in 
great numbers about the end of June and beginning of July, when 
they did much damage to stone-fruit and some damage to pip-fruit 
by the gougings which they made for food. As stated in an essay 
read before the State meeting of our Illinois horticultural friends, f 
have discovered a little cannibal in the shape of a minute yellow 
species of Z’Arips, which destroys vast numbers of the ‘‘ Little Turk’s”’ 
eggs; and let us hope, that by attacking the Curculio in its most vul- 
nerable point, this Z’Arips may in the course of a few years reduce 
the numbers of the Curculio, as the ladybirds have done with the 
Colorado Potato-bug, or as the minute mite (Acarus mali) is known 
to have done with the common Oyster-shell Bark-louse of the Apple. 
The eggs of the Apple-tree Plant-louse (Aphis mali) which last win- 
ter so thickly covered the twigs of the apple trees in many orchards, 
hatched and produced a prodigious number of lice as soon as the 
buds commenced to burst. In this immediate neighborhood they 
were soon swept away, however, by their cannibal insect foes, and by 
insectivorous birds, such as the warblers, etc.; but a physiological 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 7 


fact connected with this insect has been developed this year by Dr. 
K. S. Hull, the able Illinois State Horticulturist, which is of such im- 
portance that I cannot pass it over even in this brief report. He has 
ascertained that we suffer from the injurious punctures of their little 
beaks long after the lice themselves have disappeared. In fact, he 
has proved to his own satisfaction that the so-called ‘‘ scab” in apples, 
which prevailed to such an alarming extent last year, and rendered 
thousands and thousands of bushels valueless for market purposes, is 
actually caused by the punctures of these lice. I said thatthe doctor 
had proved this matter “to his own satisfaction,” because I believe 
that caution requires that we should not consider it as an established 
fact until all objections to it can be dispelled. Personally I have 
made no observations on this matter, but the facts in the case all add 
weight to Dr. Hull’s theory, if such it can be called. Hitherto the 
cause of the “scab” on apples has been involved in mystery. 
It was supposed to have a fungoid origin; yet an examination will 
show that the scabby appearance is not caused by any live fungus, 
but by arrested growth of the cells which have become corky and 
cicatrized. The importance of this discovery of Dr. Hull’s, should it 
once be firmly established, cannot well be estimated; for when we 
have once ascertained the cause of a disease, it need scarcely exist 
any longer. By destroying the lice we shall prevent scabby apples, 
and experience teaches that they can be destroyed by a good syring- 
ing of tobacco-water. We may expect, in this immediate vicinity, 
an almost total exemption from “scab” next year, for the apple trees 
are remarkably free from the minute black bead-like eggs of the 
Plant-louse with which they were so thoroughly peppered a year ago. 

The Tent Caterpillar (Clisiocampa Americana) was more abund- 
ant than usual in our orchards, and the Tent Caterpillar of the Forest 
(Clisiocampa sylvatica) also appeared in great numbers both on our 
orchard and forest trees. 

A worm which I have called the Pickle Worm, (Phacellura niti- 
dalis, Cram.) and which had never been publicly noticed before, ap- 
peared in immense numbers, and did great damage to our cucumbers 
and melons by boring into the fruit, but as this insect, with others, 
will be fully treated of in my forthcoming Report, I will pass on to 
a more general subject. 

‘<The pebble in the streamlet scant, 

May turn the course of many a river; 
The dew-drop on the infant plant, 

May warp the giant oak forever.’’ 

In no department of science does the old proverb “ prevention is 
better than cure,” apply with such force as in that of Economic Ento- 
mology. In my studies and observations I have often been struck 
with the fact that many of our very worst insect enemies have been 
introduced from abroad, and that if this subject of Economic Ento- 
mology had been better understood and appreciated fifty years ago, 


8 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


and the proper measures had been taken to prevent the introduction 
of these pests, we should at present be free from the curse of the 
great majority of them. We have, indeed, plenty of Native American 
insects, which have become great pests to the cultivator of the soil, on 
account of the artificial state of things which he induces. In a state 
of Nature, a given species of plant, in its struggle for existence, is 
scattered promiscuously over a certain extent of country, and the 
particular insect or insects which feed upon that plant, have to search 
for it over a comparatively extensive surface, and their multiplica- 
tion is consequently restricted. But the pursuit of horticulture, for 
instance—which may be succinctly defined as the assembling in tracts 
of greater or less extent, of one species of plant at the expense and 
exclusion of others—causes the particular insects which feed upon 
that plant, to multiply unduly, and we have to use that same intelli- 
gence in subduing these insects, which we employ in producing the 
artificial results which caused their increase. In the normal state of 
things insects never increase unduly; but, on the contrary, always 
act as Nature’s most faithful servants, and accomplish a most impor- 
tant work in her economy. Yet, for reasons explained above, they 
naturally become our enemies, and we should suffer from the depre- 
dations of our indigenous species, even though no foreign ones had 
been imported. But we have altogether more than our share of these 
insect depredators, and so truly is this the case, that insects 
which attract universal attention, and are considered as very serious 
evils in Europe, would not be deemed worthy of notice in this coun- 
try. There, if they lose one-fifth of a given crop, the whole commu- 
nity becomes alarmed; but here the cultivator sometimes considers 
himself fortunate if he secures the half of his crop from insect rava- 
ges, and each State loses annually from fifty to sixty million dol- 
lars from this cause alone, though but four States have as yet made 
any attempt to prevent this serious loss. In order to bring this fact 
home to you, and to show why we suffer more than do our foreign 
brethren, I will read a paper, which I have prepared for the Ameri- 
can Entomologist, on 


IMPORTED INSECTS AND NATIVE AMERICAN INSECTS. 


If we examine into the history, as detailed in a recent number of our 
Magazine, (pp. 15-22) of the imported Currant Worm and the Native 
Currant Worm, we shall find a very curious state of things. These 
two insects both produce Sawflies, which are so closely allied to each 
other, that although they are referred to distinct genera by Entomol- 
ogists, it may be doubted whether the genus (Pristiphora) under 
which the native species is classified be not a mere subgenus of that 
under which the imported species is classified. Reasoning a priori, 
therefore, we should expect to find a very great similarity in the de- 
structive powers of these two worms, especially as each of them in- 
fests the leaves both of the Red Currant and of the Gooseberry. But 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 9 


what are the actual facts? On the one hand we see a Native Ameri- 
can species—which must have existed here trom time immemorial, 
feeding on our wild Gooseberries and perhaps on our wild Red Cur- 
rant, and which yet has troubled our tame Gooseberries and tame 
Red Currants so very slightly, that it cannot be proved with abso- 
lute certainty to have ever done so at all, except in Rock Island 
county, Ills., and in Scott county, lowa.* 

On the other hand we see a species, only introduced into this 
country, from Europe, some twelve years ago, which has already 
almost put a stop to the cultivation of the Gooseberry and 
Red Currant throughout a large part of the State of New 
York, the northern borders of Pennsylvania, and the whole of 
Canada West, and is slowly but surely extending itself in all 
directions from the point where it was originally imported. What 
can be the reason of such a wide difference in the noxious powers ot 
two such closely allied insects, feeding on exactly the same plants, 
but one of them indigenous to America and the other imported into 
America from Europe? Nor is this the only case of the kind. We 
can point out at least three other such cases. The Imported Onion- 
fly (Anthomyia ceparum), is a terrible pest to the onion-grower in 
the East, though it has not yet made its way out West. On the other 
hand, the Native American Onion-fly (Ortalis arcuata, Walker), 
which is a closely allied species and has almost exactly the same 
habits, has only been heard of in one or two circumscribed localities 
in the West, and even there does comparatively but little damage. 
Again, the Imported Oyster-shell Bark-louse (Aspidiotus conchifor- 
mis) is a far worse foe to the Apple and certain other fruit trees than 
our indigenous Harris’s Bark louse, (Asp. Harrisii), though each of 
them infests the same species. Finally, the imported Meal-worm 
beetle (Zenebrio molitor) swarms throughout the whole United 
States, and is a great pest; while the Native American species ( Tene- 
brio obscurus), which has almost exactly the same habits, belongs to 
the same genus, and is of very nearly the same size, shape and color, 
is comparatively quite rare among us, and is scarcely known to our 
millers and flour-dealers. 

On a careful and close examination, it will be found that almost 
all our worst insect foes have been imported among us from the 


*In Volume 15 of the Prairie Farmer, page 504, a correspondent from Jefferson county, 
Towa, states that as early as June I]th, in the year 1865, ‘‘a small green worm had taken the 
lion’s share of his currants and gooseberries.’’? This may possibly refer to the Native Currant 
Worm, which feeds upon gooseberry and currant leaves, but it more probably means the Goose- 
berry Fruit-worm (Pempelia grossularie, Packard,) which feeds upon the gooseberries and currants 
themselves, and which may be found figured and described in our First Missouri Report, page 140. 
What a vast fund of information is scientifically unavailable, simply because correspondents are 
so stingy with their pen, ink and paper. Again the editor of the Far mers’ Union, published at Min- 
neapolis, Minn., says in a recent number of that paper, that several gardens in that vicinity have been 
for the past few years infested with the Currant worm, and that Jast year they visited bis own gar- 
den for the second time, having, the previous year, made sad havoc with the foliage before they 
were discovered. Now, as there are three perfectly distict worms which attack the leaves of cur- 
rant bushes, and as the editor contents himself with referring to “THe Currant Worm,’’ the infor- 
mation he imparts is perfectly valueless to the Entomologist, and the practical man may be led 
astray by the remedies suggested. 


10 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


other side of the Atlantic. The Hessian Fly* was imported almost 
ninety years ago; the Wheat Midge about half as long ago; the Bee 
Moth at the beginning of the present century; the Codling Moth, the 
Cabbage Tinea, the Borer of the Red Currant, the Oyster-shell Bark- 
louse, the Grain Plant-louse, the Cabbage Plant-louse, the Currant 
Plant-louse, the Apple-tree Plant-louse, the Pear-tree Flea-louse, the 
Cheese-maggot, the common Meal-worm, the Grain Weevil, the House 
Fly, the Leaf-beetle of the Elm, the Cockroach, the Croton Bug, and 
the different Carpet, Clothes and Fur Moths, at periods which cannot 
be definitely fixed. Even within the last few years the Asparagus- 
beetle has become naturalized in New York and New Jersey, whence 
it will no doubt spread gradually westward through the whole United 
States, while the Rape Butterfly was introduced about a dozen 
years ago, and is rapidly spreading over some of the Eastern States. 
And only a year ago the larva of a certain Owlet-moth (Hypogymna 
dispar), which isa great pest in Europe, both to fruit-trees and 
forest-trees, was accidentally introduced by a Massachusetts entomo- 
logist into New England, where it is spreading with great rapidity. 
It is just the same thing with Plants as with Insects. We have looked 
carefully through Gray’s Manual of Botany, and we find that—ex- 
cluding from consideration all cryptogams, and all doubtful cases, 
and all cases where the same plant is supposed to be indigenous on 
both sides of the Atlantic—no less than TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY- 
THREE distinct species of plants have been imported among us from 
the Old World, all of which have now run wild here, and many of 
which are the worst and most pernicious weeds that we have to con- 
tend against. In the United States Agricultural Report for 1865 
(pp. 510-519) will be found a list of ninety-nine of the principal 
“Weeds of American Agriculture,” by the late Dr. Wm. Darlington. 
Of this whole number no less than forty-three, or nearly one-half, are 
species that have been introduced among us from the Old World. 
Among these we may enumerate here, as the best known and the 
most pernicious, Butter-cups (two species), Shepherd’s Purse, St. 
John’s Wort, Cow-cockle, May-weed or Dog-fennel, Ox-eye Daisy, 
Common Thistle, Canada Thistle, Burdock, Plantain, Mullein, Toad- 
flax, Bind-weed, Jamestown (Jimson) weed, Lamb’s Quarter, Smart- 
weed, Field Garlic, Fox-tail Grass and the notorious Cheat or Chess. 
And to these we may add the common Purslane, which, through some 
strange oversight, has been omitted in Dr. Darlington’s catalogue. 

It will be supposed, perhaps, since there are about as many voy- 
ages made from America to Europe as from Europe to America, that 
we have fully reciprocated to our transatlantic brethren the favors 


*For the sake of the scientific reader, we subjoin here, in their regular order, the scientifie 
names of the [usects catalogued by their English names in the text of this paragraph to Cecido- 
myia destructor, Diplosis tritici, Galleria cereana, Carpocapsa pomonella, Plutella cruciferarum, 
figeria tipuliformis, Aspidiotus conchiformis, Aphis avene, A. brassice, A. ribis, A. mali, Psylla 
pyri, Piophila casei, Tenebrio molitor, Sitophilus granarius, Musca domestica, Galeruca calmarien- 
sis, Blatta orientalis, Ectobia germanica, Tinea tapetzella, vestianella, pellionella, &c.; Crioceris 
asparagi, Pieris rape and Hypogymna dispar. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1i 


which they have conferred upon us, in the way of Noxious Insects 
and Noxious Weeds. Itis no such thing. There are but very few 
American insects that have become naturalized in Kurope, and even 
these do not appear for the most part to do any serious amount of 
damage there. For example, on one or two occasions single speci- 
mens of our Army-worm Moth ( Leucanita unipuncta) have been cap- 
tured in England; but the insect has never spread and become ruin- 
ously common there, as it continually, in particular seasons, does in 
America. Our destructive Pea-bug (Bruchus pisz) has also found its 
way to Europe; but althoughit is met within England, and according to 
Curtis has become naturalized in the warmer departments of France, 
Kirby and Spence expressly state that it does not occur in England 
“to any very injurious extent,” and Curtis seems to doubt the fact of 
its being naturalized in England at all.* Again, the only species of 
White Ant that exists within the limits of the United States, ( Zermes 
frontalis), has been known for along time to bea guest at the Plant- 
houses of Schénbrunn, in Germany; but is not recorded to have 
ever as yet spread into the surrounding country. As to our American 
Meal-worm (Tenebrio obscurus), Curtis states that it has been intro- 
duced into England along with American flour, and that it is some- 
times abundantin London and the provinces;+ but Kirby and Spence 
say not one word about it, and it seems to be confined to the English 
sea-ports and the places where American flour is stored, without 
spreading into the adjacent districts. 

A very minute yellow ant, however, (J/yrmica molesta), which is 
often very troublesome with us in houses, has, according to Frederick 
Smith, “become generally distributed and naturalized” in houses in 
England; and Kirby and Spence state more specifically, that “it has 
become a great pestin many houses in Brighton, London and Liver- 
pool, in some cases to so great an extent as to cause the occupants to 
leave them.”t As toour Chinch Bug, our Curculio, our Plum Gouger, 
our two principal Apple-tree Borers, our Canker-worm, our Apple- 
tree Tent-caterpillar, our Fall Web-worm, our Peach-tree Borer, and 
our other indigenous pests among the great Army of Bad Bugs, 
nobody ever yet found a single one of them alive and kicking on the 
other side of the Atlantic. And with regard to Plants, the only two 
American plants that we know to have become so firmly established 
in Europe as to be a nuisance there, are an American aquatic plant, 
the common Water-weed (Anacharis canadensis), which has choked 
up many of the canals in England, and our common Horse-weed, or 
Mare’s tail as itis called in the West, (Lrigeron canadense), which has 
spread from America nearly over the whole world. 

Since then, it can be demonstrated by hard, dry facts, that Amer- 
ican plants and insects do not become naturalized in the Old World 


*Kirby & Spence Introd. Letter 6th; Curtis Farm insects, p. 358. 
{Farm insects, p 334, 


{Smith in Stainton’s Entom. Annual 1862, p. 70, and 1863 pp. 59-62; Kirby & Spence Introd., 
Letter 8th as z ; 


12 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


with anything like the facility with which the plants and insects of 
the Old World are every day being naturalized in America, there 
must be some cause or other for this singular state of things. What 
is that cause? It is, as we believe, a simple fact which is pretty gen- 
erally recognized now as true by modern naturalists, namely, that 
the plants and animals of America belong, as a general rule, to an 
old-fashioned creation, not so highly improved and developed as the 
more modernized creation which exists in Europe. In other words, 
although this is popularly known as the New World, itis in reality a 
much older world than that which we are accustomed to call the Old 
World. Consequently; our plants and animals can no more stand 
their ground against European competitors imported from abroad, 
than the Red Indian has been able to stand his ground against the 
White Caucasian Race. On the other hand, if by chance an Ameri- 
ean plant or an American animal finds its way into Europe, it can, as 
a general rule, no more stand its ground there against its European 
competitors, than a colony of Red Indians could stand their ground 
in Englind, even if you gave them a whole county of land and an 
ample supply of stock, tools, and provisions to begin with. For 
throughout Animated Nature, as has been conclusively shown by 
Charles Darwin, there is a continual struggle for existence, the 
stronger and more favorably organized species overpowering and 
starving out from time to time their less vigorous and less tavorably 
organized competitors. Hence, it is as hopeless a task for a poor 
puny, old-fashioned American bug to contend against a strong 
energetic, highly-developed, European bug, as it would be for a fleet 
of old-fashioned wooden ships to fight against a fleet of our modern 
iron-clads. 

Let not “Young America,” however, be altogether discouraged 
and disgusted at hearing, that our Animal and Vegetable Creation is 
more old-fashioned than that of what is commonly known as the Old 
World. The oldest geological formations, in which the remains of 
Mammals occur, contain the remains of such mammals exclusively 
(Marsupialea) as bring forth their young only partially developed, 
and carry those young about with them ina pouch, till the day of 
complete development and physical “second birth” arrives. In Amer- 
ica we haveasingle genus—the Opossums—that belongs to this ante- 
diluvian type. In the three ancient continents they have absolutely 
none at all. Butif inthis respect Americais more old-fashioned than 
Europe, Australia is still more old-fashioned than America; for there 
almost all their mammals possess this remarkable peculiarity; so 
that if the American creation is somewhat old-fogyish, that of Aus- 
tralia is the very concentrated essence of old-fogvism itself. Conse- 
quently, if Europe crows over us as altogether “behind the times,” 
“Young America” can take its revenge by crowing over Australia, as 
the land of the Kangaroo and the Wombat and other such exploded 
absurdities of the Mesozoic epoch. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 18 


The theory advanced in the above paper, may meet with some 
objectors, although I confidently believe in the inference there stated 
of the relative advancement and improvement of the flora and fauna 
of the two continents. But there is another reason why the insects 
which are imported into this country multiply ata prodigious rate, 
and soon acquire herculean power of doing harm, though they may 
never have stepped beyond the limits of propriety in their own native 
home—a reason too palpable and evident to savorof the theoretical. 
It is, that whenever an injurious insect is introduced in our midst, as 
a general rule the particular parasite or parasites which kept it in 
check abroad, are not introduced with it. In consequence, the for- 
eigners, unaccompanied by the usual gens d’armes, throw off all re- 
straint and play the deuce with our crops; just as the rats and mice 
will take possession of, and overrun a house, if not restrained by hu- 
man or by feline agencies. 

Sometimes, asin the case of the Imported Ourrant- -worm, the 
noxious insects introduced from the old world are attacked by uppees 
American parasites, but asI believe the parasites of HKuropean na- 
tivity to be, as a rule, more energetic and vigorous than our indige- 
nous ones, it would be advisable even in such a case, to import in 
addition such species as prey upon itin Europe. But in the case of 
the Wheat Midge which has actually flourished among us for almost 
half a century without a single parasite of any kind whatever infest- 
ing it from one end of the country to the other, it is sheer folly and 
cupable shiftlessness not to import among us from the other side of 
the Atlantic some one or all of the three different Chalcis flies which 
are known to check it throughout all Europe. And so with other 
insects which are known to be unaccompanied with the parasites 
which attack them abroad. Years and years ago Dr. Fitch demon- 
strated in print the policy of such a step; but bugs and bug -hunters 
are so very generally the subject of festive ridicule among the high 
and low vulgar, that hitherto the recommendation of the State Ento- 
mologist of New York has met with no practical response. 

Now no one will fail to understand the force of the old proverb 
already quoted, after listening to these facts. Let us profit by the 
experience of the past, and while battling with those foes which are 
already in our midst, let us keep a watchful eye, and be on our guard 
ready to crush any new plague that may threaten us, before it gets 
beyond control. Yes, but say you, how is this to be accomplished? 
Can it be done by the government? Yes, in some cases ; as for in- 
stance in the importation of parasites, government aid should be so- 
licited. If, in 1860, when the Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi, 
Linn.) was first introduced on to Long Island, the Legislature of the 
State of New York had taken proper action in the matter, the insect 
might have been stamped out of the island at the trivial expense of 
afew hundred dollars, instead of being allowed to multiply, as it did, 
to such an extent as to occasion a dead loss of some fifty thousand 


¢ 


14 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


dollars in a single county, and of spreading from the island into the 
adjoining country. Quite recently a weevil (Lruchus granarius) 
which does immense damage to peas and beans and some other 
plants in Europe, was introduced into New York in some pods which 
a certain gentleman presented to the New York Farmers’ Club, and 
if the proper steps are at once taken, it may yet be prevented from 
spreading through the country. 

In Europe vast sums have been expended in founding professor- 
ships of Economic Entomology in the various agricultural colleges, 
and in conducting elaborate experiments on the best means of check- 
ing and controlling these tiny foes. But the entire sum expended by 
Congress or by our various State Legislatures for this purpose, from 
the Declaration of Independence to the year of our Lord 1869, can- 
not exceed ninety or one hundred thousand dollars, or about one 
thousand dollars a year. Yet the annual damage done by insects 
within the limits of the United States cannot be less than three hun- 
dred million dollars. Indeed, it is but quite recently that the people, 
from necessity, have awakened to the importance of the subject. 
We now have an Entomologist connected with the Department of 
Agriculture at Washington, and, with proper care, he can be of in- 
estimable service to the country,in preventing the introduction of 
noxious insects. Itis not noxious weeds alone, such as the Canada 
thistle, which are sent broadcast over the land by the distribution of 
uninspected seeds; but noxious insects are very frequently distri- 
buted in the same way. We have the highest authority, Dr. J. L. 
LeConte, of Philadelphia, for the statement, that before the Entomol- 
ogist received his appointment, a noxious beetle, RhAizopertha pusilla, 
which has now become naturalized here, was originally introduced 
into this country in wheat from the Patent Office. 

Therefore, there can be no doubt that much may be done at 
headquarters. That government aid cannot be of any avail in the 
great majority of instances, however, is equally apparent to those 
who have studied this question; and we must trust to a more 
thorough dissemination of such information as will enable each in- 
dividual to protect himself. Much is being done in this direction by 
means of State Reports, through the American Entomologist, and 
through our various agricultural and horticultural journals; but much 
yet remains to be done. We must bear in mind that by enlightening 
our neighbors, we are helping ourselves, and, as horticulturists, we 
should urge that more attention be paid in our colleges, and es- 
pecially in those of an Industrial nature, to the study of the Natural 
Sciences. 

In my First Report, I have shown how the Oyster-shell Bark- 
louse, though perfectly able to live in the northern part of this State, 
is yet unknown there; and I tremble, lest some one in carelessness or 
ignorance should, introduce this dreaded plague of the apple grower 
into that section, from some Eastern or Northern nursery. Every 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 


tree received from a distance should be examined from “top to 
stern,” as the sailors say, before it is planted, and all insects, in what- 
ever state they may be, destroyed. There can bedo doubt that many 
of our worst insect foes may be guarded against by these precautions. 
The Canker-worm, the different Tussock-moths or Vaporer-moths, the 
Bark-lice of the Apple and of the Pine, and all other scale insects 
(Coccide), the Apple-tree Root-louse, etc., are continually being 
transported from one place to another, either in earth, on scions, or 
on the roots, branches, and leaves of young trees; and they are all 
possessed of such limited powers of locomotion, that unless trans- 
ported in some such manner, they would scarcely spread a dozen 
miles in a century. 

In the Pacific States, fruit-growing is a most profitable business, 
because they are yet free from many of the fruit insects which so in- 
crease our labors here. Jn the language of our late lamented Walsh, 
“although in California the Blest, the Chinese immigrants have al- 
ready erected their joss houses, where they can worship Buddha with- 
out fear of interruption, yet no ‘ Little Turk’ has imprinted the cres- 
cent symbol of Mahometanism upon the the Californian plums and 
the Californian peaches.” But how long the Californians will retain 
this immunity, now that they have such direct communication with 
infested States, will depend very much on how soon they are warned 
of their danger. I suggest to our Pacific friends that they had better 
“take the bull by the horns,” and endeavor to retain the vantage 
ground they now enjoy. I also sincerely hope that the day will soon 
come when there shall be a sufficient knowledge of this subject 
throughout the land, to enable the nation to guard against foreign in- 
sect plagues; the State against those of other States, and the indi- 
vidual against those of his neighbors. 


‘THE CHINCH BUG—MMicropus leucopterus, Say. 


(Heteroptera, Lygeide.) 


[Fig. 1) Few persons will need to be introduced to this 
* unsavory little scamp, but, lest perchance, an occa- 
sional reader may not yet have a clear and correct 
idea of the meaning of the word Chinch Bug, I repre- 
sent herewith (Fig. 1) a magnified view of the gen- 
tleman. The hair-line at the bottom shows the nat- 
ural size of the little imp, and his colors are coal- 
black and snow-white. He belongs to the order of 
Half-winged Bugs (HerrroptTERA), the same order to 
which the well known Bed Bug belongs, and he ex- 
hales the same loathsome smell as does that bed-pest 
of the human race. He subsists by sucking, with his sharp-pointed 


16 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


beak, the juices of our cereals, thereby causing them to shrink and 
wither, and not by gnawing or biting their substance, as many per- 
sons suppose. Insignificant as is the minute puncture of a single in- 
dividual, yet these insects often appear in such countless numbers as 
to bleed to death whole fields of grain by their myriad beaks. 

If the Western Fruit-grower is asked, what particular insect is the 
most difficult for him to combat, and the most destructive to his crops, 
he will probably answer “The Curculio.” If the same question is put 
to the Western Grain-grower, he will infallibly reply “The Chinch 
Bug.” And he will be in the right. The Wheat-midge—popularly 
known in the West as the ‘“‘ Weevil” or the “Red Weevil ”—does a 
considerable amount of damage, in particular years and in particular 
localities, by its little legless orange-colored lava sucking away the 
sap from the growing kernel of wheat. The Hessian Fly—often called 
simply “the Fly ”—injures the wheat by the maggot that produces it 
living between the stem and the sheath of the blade, and intercepting 
the sap before thatsap can reach the ear. The Grain Plant-louse, easily 
distinguished from the above two little pests hy its long sprawling 
legs, has in certain years somewhat injured the small grain in the West 
by accumulating, first on the growing stem and afterwards on the ear, 
and abstracting the sap with its long pointed beak. There are also, 
in all probability, several minute Two-winged Flies, which do more 
or less injury to the growing grain by their larve breeding in the 
stem, the natural history of one of which, the American .Mecromyza, 
was given for the first time in my First Report (pp. 159-61). The larva 
of an unknown moth, which burrows upwards and downwards in the 
stem of oats, and probably of wheat also, causing the ear to become 
prematurely white and the kernel to be entirely blasted, also in some 
years does considerable damage. The White Grub, the Wire-worm, 
and certain Cut-worms take a certain per centage of the young grain, 
almost as soon as it peeps out of the ground. But undoubtedly the 
meanest bug, out of the whole crowd of the multifarious insect-foes of 
the grain-growing farmer, is the Chinch Bug. He isnot satisfied with 
taking a field here and a field there, and sparing the remainder. But 
when his time comes—and in mercy to the Western Farmer we are 
not cursed every year with this little savage—he sweeps the whole 
country with the besom of destruction. The Wheat-midge, the Hes- 
sian Fly, and the Grain Plant-louse, destructive as they are to small 
grain, yet spare our corn. If they take the good white wheaten bread 
out of our mouths, they yet leave us an ample supply of corn-dodgers. 
But the Chinch Bug makes a clean sweep, whenever he gets the up- 
per hand of us. He “ goes the entire hog.” Nothing in the way of | 
grain comes amiss to him. He is not dainty, not he! Whenever he 
gets a chance to spread himself, he first of all at one fell swoop de- 
stroys the small grain, and then fastens his liquorish beak upon the 
corn and takes that also. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 
PAST HISTORY OF THE CHINCH BUG. 


' The first record we have of the prevalence of the Chinch Bug 
was in the old Revolutionary times in North Carolina, where it was 
confounded with the Hessian Fly, an insect just then imported from 
Europe into the United States. Ever since those times it has been 
an epidemic pest,in particular years,in North and South Carolina 
and in Virginia. The great American entomologist, Thomas Say, in 
1831, when he had been residing in Indiana for six years, was the 
first to name and describe it scientifically. Hestates that he “took a 
single specimen on the Eastern shore of Virginia;” whence we may 
reasonably infer that it was then either unknown or very rare in Indi- 
ana, and probably also in the other Western States. In Missouri it 
did considerable damage as early as 1854, for Jas. Pleasant of Fox 
Creek, St. Louis county, informed me that he had known it since that 
year, and that he had been previously acquainted with itin Virginia. 
Wm. M. Beal of Edina, Knox county, writes that it has existed and 
done more or less damage there since 1856, though it has scarcely 
been heard of since 1865. Mr. A. H. Roberts of Gray’s Summit, 
Franklin county, informs me that it has not been in that neighbor- 
heod more than eight or ten years, and Mr. O. S. Jeffries, of Boles’ 
post office in the same county,never heard of it till about fifteen 
years ago, though he has lived there for the last fifty years. 

If proper records existed, we should doubtless find that it at- 
tracted attention in Missouri at a much earlier day, forin Illinois it was 
noticed as long back as 1840, in Hancock county, where it was 
absurdly supposed to have been introduced by the Mormons of Nan- 
voo, and was called the “ Mormon louse” 

{n 1868, owing to the great drouth, this insect, as I have stated 
elsewhere, was quite injurious in many sections of our own State, 
and especially in the southwest. In the extreme northern portion 
they began to attract attention about the first of May, but the wet 
weather that occurred about that time caused them to disappear. In 
the more central counties the earliest sown wheat suffered but little 
from their depredations, though that which was sown later, was re- 
duced about one-third. The conditions being favorable, they rap- 
idly increased during the Summer, and in the fall, the second brood 
was so numerous that great fears were entertained for the safety of 
the crops of 1869. Let us be thankful, however, that the excessive 
rains of last spring and summer, though deplored and regretted by 
many, had the effect to so thoroughly drown out these little pests, as 
to make them comparatively harmless; for the only place in which I 
heard of their doing serious harm was at Tinney’s Grove in Ray 
county. Seeming misfortune is often a blessing in disguise, and 
though the corn crop was lessened by the heavy rains, the wheat 
crop in all probability would have suffered far worse, had the season 

2—E R 


18 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


been dry and favorable to the increase of this, the greatest insect foe 
of the wheat-grower. 

We may safely conclude that the Chinch Bug has always existed 
in Missouri, in small numbers; but that it did not multiply to an in- 
jurious extent until the grains began to be cultivated on.an exten- 
sive scale. At all events, we know from the evidence of Dr. Harris 
and Dr. Fitch, that it existed long ago in exceedingly small numbers 
in New York, and even in Massachusetts. What the causes may 
have been, that thinned out the numbers of this insect in former 
times in the West, is another question. In former times, the great 
bulk of these bugs were probably destroyed every winter by the 
prairie fires, and, as cultivation has extended in consequence of the 
country being radualiy settled up, and less and less prairie has been 
annually burnt over, the number that has survived through the win- 
ter to start the next year’s broods has annually become greater. If 
these views be correct, we may expect them, unless more pains be 
taken to counterwork and destroy them, to become, on the average 
of years, still more abundant than they now are, whenever prairie 
fires shall have become an obsolete institution; until at last West- 
ern farmers will be compelled, as those of North Carolina have 
already several times been compelled, to quit growing wheat AEDs 
gether for a term of years. 

It may be very reasonably asked, why the Chinch Bug does not 
increase and multiply in Massachusetts and New York, seeing that it 
existed there long ago, and that there are, of course, no prairie fires 
in those States to keep it in check. The answer is, that the Chinch 
Bug is a Southern, not a Northern species; and that hundreds of 
Southern species of insects, which on “the Atlantic seaboard only 
occurin southerly latitudes, are found in profusion in quite a high 
latitude in the Valley of the Mississippi. The same law, as has been 
observed by Professor Baird, holds good both with Birds and with 
Fishes.* 


NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CHINCH BUG. 


In the four great and extensive Orders of Insects, namely, the 
Beetles (Coleoptera), the Clear-winged Flies (Hymenoptera), the 
Scaly-winged Flies ( Lepidoptera), and the Two-winged Flies (Dip- 
tera),and in one of the four small Orders in its restricted sense, 
namely, the Net-winged Flies (Weuroptera), the insect usually lies 
still throughout the pupa state, and is always so far from being. able 
to eat or to evacuate, that both mouth and anus are closed up by 
membrane. In the remaining three small Orders, on the contrary, 
namely, that of the Straight-winged Flies in its most extensive sense 
(Orthoptera including Pseudo-neuroptera), the Half-winged Bugs 
([Teteroptera) and the Whole-winged Bugs ( Homoptera), the pupa is 
just as active and just as ravenous as either the larva or the perfect 


* Silliman’s Journal, xli, p. 87. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19 


insect, and the little creature never quits eating as long as the warm 
weather lasts, except for a day or so while it is accomplishing each 
of its successive three, four or five moults. As the Chinch Bug be- 
longs to the Half-winged Bugs, it therefore continues to take food, 
with a few short intermissions, from the day whenit hatches out 
from the egg to the day of its unlamented death. 

Most insects—irrespective of the Order to which they belong— 
require 12 months to go through the complete circle of their changes, 
from the day that the egg is laid to the day when the perfect insect 
perishes of old age and decrepitude. A few require 3 years, as for 
example the Round-headed Apple-tree Borer (Saperda bivittata, Say) 
and the White Grub which produces the May-beetle ( Zachnosterna 
quercina, Knoch.) One species, the Thirteen-year Locust (Cicada 
tredecim, Riley), actually requires 15 years to pass from the egg to 
the winged state; and another, the Seventeen-year Locust (Cicada 
septemdecim, Linn.) the still longer period of 17 years. On the other 
hand there are not a few that pass through all their three states in a 
few months, or even in a few weeks; so thatin one and the same 
year there may be 2,3 or even 4 or 5 broods, one generated by the 
other and one succeeding another. For example, the Hessian Fly 
(Cecidomyia destructor, Say), the common Slug-worm of the Pear 
(Selandria cerasi, Peck), the Slug-worm of the Rose (Selandria rose 
Harris), the Apple-worm and a few others, produce exactly two gen- 
erations in one year, and hence may be termed “two-brooded.” 
Again, the Colorado Potato-beetle in Central Missouri is three-brooded, 
and not improbably in more southerly regions is tour-brooded. Lastly, 
the common House-fly, the Cheese-fly, the various species of Blow- 
flies and Meat-flies, and the multifarious species of Plant-lice (ApAis) 
produce an indefinite number of successive broods in a single year, 
sometimes amounting in the case of the last-named genus, as has 
been proved by actual experiment, to as many as nine. 

As long ago as March, 1866, I published the fact that the Chinch 
Bug is two-brooded in North Illinois (Practical Entomologist, I, p. 
43), and I find that it is likewise two-brooded in this State. and most 
probably in all the Middle States. Yetitis quite agreeable to anal- 
ogy that in the more Southern States, it may be three-brooded. For 
instance, the large Polyphemus Moth is single-brooded in the North- 
ern and Middle States, and yet, two broods are sometimes produced in 
this State, while in the South it is habitually two-brooded. Again, the 
moth known as the Poplar Spinner, (Clostera Americana, Harris), is 
stated by Dr. Harris and Dr. Fitch to be only single-brooded in Mass- 
achusetts and New York, the insect spinning up in September or Oc- 
tober, passing the winter in the pupa state, and coming out in the 
winged form in the following June. But Dr. Harris—no doubt on the 
authority of Abbott—states that “in Georgia this insect breeds twice 
a year ; ;’* and I have proved that it does so breed in Missouri, pave 


"Te Injurious Insects, p. 434. 


20 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


now (Dec. 69) a number of cocoons which were formed by a second 
brood of larve. It is quite reasonable, therefore, to infer that the 
Chinch Bug may produce even more than two broods in the more 
Southern States. 

It is these two peculiarities in the habits of the Chinch Bug, 
namely, first, its continuing to take food from the day of its birth to 
the day of its death, and secondly, its being either two-brooded or 
many-brooded, that renders it so destructive and so difficult to com- 
bat. Such as survive the autumn, when the plants on the sap of 
which they feed are mostly dried up so as to afford them little or no 
nourishment, pass the winter in the usual torpid state, and always in 
the perfect or winged form, under dead leaves, under sticks of wood, 
under flat stones, in moss, in bunches of old dead grass or weeds or 
straw, and often in corn-stalks and corn-shucks. In the fall and win- 
ter of 1868, I repeatedly received corn-stalks that were crowded with 
them, and it was difficult to find a stalk in any field that did not re- 
veal some of them, upon stripping off the leaves. I have even found 
them wintering in the gall made by the Solidago Gall-moth (Gelechia 
gallesolidaginis), described in the First Report. 

In the winter all kinds of insect-devouring animals, such as birds, 
shrew-mice, etc., are hard put to it for food, and have to search every 
hole and corner for their appropriate prey. But no matter how 
closely they may thin out the Chinch Bugs, or how generally these 
insects may have been starved out by the autumnal droughts, there 
will always be a few left for seed next year. Suppose that there are 
only 2,000 Chinch Bugs remaining in the spring in a certain field, and 
that each female of the 2,000, as vegetation starts, raises a family of 
only 200, which is a low calculation. Then—allowing the sexes to be 
equal in number, whereas in reality the females are always far more 
numerous than the males—the first or spring brood will consist of 
200,000, of which number 100,000 will be females. Here, if the species 
were single-brooded, the process would stop for the current year; 
and 200,000 Chinch Bugs in one field would be thought nothing of by 
the Westernfarmer. But the species is Nov single-brooded and the 
process does not stop here. Each successive brood increases in num- 
bers in Geometrical Progression, unless there be something to check 
their increase; until the second brood amounts to twenty millions, 
and the third brood to two thousand millions. We may form some 
idea of the meaning of two thousand millions of Chinch Bugs, when 
it is stated that that number of them, placed in a straight line head 
and tail together, would just about reach from the surface of the earth 
to its central point—a distance of four thousand miles. 

According to the reasoning of Dr. Henry Shimer, of Mr. Carroll, 
{llinois, who published an interesting paper on this insect in the pro- 
ceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia for May, 
1867, the Chinch Bug takes wing only at its love seasons, which occur 
in his locality in May andin August. His views on this subject are 


YHE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 


well set forth in the following paragraph taken from the paper above 
alluded to: 

May 16, 1865, was a delightful, mild, bright, sunny, summer-like 
day: and I again, for the last time, observed the same highly inter- 
‘esting phenomena, which I have noticed above as occurring after the 
harvest of 1864—the atmosphere swarming with Chinch Bugs on the 
wing. This is their spring; that was their autumnal nuptial season— 
their season.of love. These remarkable little creatures prefer to conduct 
their courtships under the searching gaze of the noonday sun, instead 
of at the midnight hour. They were so numerous, alighting on the 
pavements in the village, that scarcely a step could be taken without 
crushing many of them under foot. In afew days, they had all disap- 
peared; their breeding grounds were chosen, where they could be found 
in great numbers, often in pairs. I first noticed this disposition of the 
Chinch Bug to take wing under the promptings of the love passion, 
about six years ago, in their autumnal love season. At no other time 
save their love season, twice a year, have I ever seen one Chinch Bug 
flying. It is quite remarkable that the winged imago, under no other 
circumstances will even attempt to use its ample wings. No threat- 
ening danger, however imminent, whether of being driven over by 
grain reapers, wagons, or of being trodden under foot, etc., will prompt 
it to use its wings to escape. I have tried all imaginable ways to in- 
duce them to fly, as by threshing among them with bundles of rods or 
grass, by gathering them up and letting them fall from a height, etc., 
but they invariably refuse entirely to attempt to use their wings in 
escaping from danger. The love emotion alone makes them conscious 
that they are in possession of wings.4 

I agree entirely with Dr. Shimer as to the facts mentioned in the 
paragraph, but not as to the conclusions which he deduces. There 
are many objections to his theory, some of which may be found in the 
American Entomologist, (Vol. I, pp. 172-3). 

It is a notorious fact that Chinch Bugs do not all mature at once, 
and if they took wing only when making their courtships, some of 
them would be flying during a period of several weeks; and as will 
be shown presently, there exists a dimorphous short-winged form of 
the Chinch Bug, which cannot possibly make any such eerial love 
trips. It seems more agreeable to analogy that they take wing only 
when they have become so unduly numerous that they are in- 
stinctively aware that they must either emigrate or starve. Be this 
however as it may, the fact of their being as a general rule unwilling 
to use their wings is well known to every practical farmer. 

It has long been known that the Chinch Bug depositsits eggs un- 
derground and upon the roots of the plants which it infests, and that 
the young larve remain underground for some considerable time after 
they hatch out, sucking the sap from the roots. If, in the spring of 
the year, you pull up a wheat plant in a field badly infested by this 
insect, you will find hundreds of the eggs attached to the roots; and 
at a somewhat later period the young larve may be found clustering 
upon the roots and looking like so many moving little red atoms. 
The egg is so small as to be scarcely visible to the naked eye, of an 
oval shape, about four times as long as wide, of a pale amber white 


22 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


color when first laid, but subsequently assuming a reddish color from 

the young larva showing through the transparent shell.* As the 

mother Chinch Bug has to work her way underground in the spring of 
the year, in order to get at the roots upon which she proposes to lay 

her eggs, it becomes evident at once, thatthe looser the soil is at this 
time of the year the greater the facilities which are offered for the 

operation. Hence the great advantage of ploughing land for spring 

grain in the preceding autumn, or, if ploughed in the spring, rolling 

it repeatedly with a heavy roller after seeding. And hence the re- 

mark frequently made by farmers, that wheat harrowed in upon old 

corn-ground, without any ploughing at all,is far less infested by 

Chinch Bug than wheat put in upon land that has been ploughed. 

There is another fact which has been repeatedly noticed by practical 

men. This insect cannot live and thrive and multiply in land that is 

sopping with water; and it generally commences its operations in 

early spring upon those particular parts of every field where the soil 

is the loosest and the driest. 

The female occupies about three weeks in depositing her eggs, 
and, according to Dr. Shimer’s estimate, she deposits about 500. The 
egg requires about two weeks to hatch, and the bug becomes fuli 
grown and acquires its wings in from 40 to 50 days after hatching. 

[Fig. 2.] There are,as is well known to Entomologists, 
* many genera of the Half-winged Bugs, which in 
Europe occur in two distinct or “dimorphous” forms, 
with no intermediate grades between the two; 
namely, a short-winged or sometimes even a €om- 
pletely wingless type and a long-winged type. Fre- 
quently the two occur promiscuously together, and 
are found promiscuously copulating so that they can- 
not possibly be distinct species. Sometimes the long- 
winged type occurs in particular seasons and es- 
pecially in very hot seasons. More rarely the short- 
winged type occurs in a different locality from the long-winged type, 
and usually in that case in a more northerly locality. We havea 
good illustration of this latter peculiarity in the case of the Chinch 
Bug, for a dimorphous short-winged form (Fig. 2.) oceurs in Canadas 
and Dr. Fitch describes it from specimens received from the States, 
as a variety, under the name of apterus. 


DESTRUCTIVE POWERS OF THE CHINCH BUG. 


Few persons in the more Northern States can form a just concep- 
tion of the prodigious numbers and redoubtable armies in which this 
insect is sometimes seen in the South and Southwestern States, 


*In Dr. Shimer’s Paper the dimensions of the egg, as ‘‘ determined with fine mathemati- 
eal instruments,’”’ are said to be ‘0.04 inch long and 0.01 inch wide,”’ (p. 99.) This is either a 
elerical or a typographical error for ‘0.004 inch long and 0.001 inch wide.”’ Otherwise the egg 
would be nearly one-third as long as the insect itself; and as Dr. Shimer thinks that every fe- 
male lays about 500 eggs, this would be something like getting a bushel of wheat out of a quart 
measure. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 98 


marching from one field to another. The following extracts—the first 
one written in June, 1865, by Dan. F. Rogers to the New York Far- 
mers’ Club, and the second from an old number of the Prairie Far- 
mer—may seem a little far-fetched, but Ihave no donbt that both 
accounts are substantially correct: 


There never was a better “show” for wheat and barley than we 
had here the 10th of June,andno more paltry crop has been harvested 
since we were a town. Many farmers did not get their seed. In 
passing by a field of barley where the Chinch Bugs had been at work 
for a week, I found them moving. in solid column across the road toa 
corn field on the opposite side, in such numbers that I felt almost 
afraid to ride my horse among them. The road and fences were alive 
with them. Some teams were at work mending the road at this spot, 
and the bugs covered men, horses and scrapers till they were forced 
to quit work for the day. The bugs took ten acres of that corn, clean 
to the ground, before its hardening stalks—being too much for their 
tools—checked their progress. Another lot of them came from a 
wheat field adjoining my farm into a piece of corn, stopping now and 
then for a bite, but not long. Then they crossed a meadow 30 rods 
into a 16-acre lot of sorgo, and swept it like a fire, though the cane 
was then scarce in tassel. From wheat to sorgo was at least sixty 
rods. ‘Their march was governed by no discoverable law, except that 
they were infernally hungry, and went where there was most to eat. 
Helping a neighbor harvest one of the few fortunate fields, early 
sown—and so lucky !—we tound them moving across his premises in 
such numbers that they bid fair to drive outthe family. House, crib, 
stable, well-curb, trees, garden fences—one creeping mass of stinking 
lite. in the house as well as outside, like the lice of Egypt, they 
were everywhere; but in a single day they were gone. 


If any Western rustics are verdant enough to suppose that Chinch 
Bugs cannot be out-flanked, headed off and conquered, they are en- 
tirely behind the times. The thing has been effectually done during 
the past season, by Mr. Davis, Supervisor of the town of Scott, Ogle 
county, Ilis. This gentleman had a cornfield of a hundred acres, 
growing alongside of an extensive field of small grain. The bugs had 
finish ed up the latter and were preparing to attack the former, when 
the owner, being of an ingenious turn, hit upon a happy plan for cir- 
cumyventing them. He surrounding the corn with a barrier of pine 
boards set up edgewise, and partly “buried in the ground, to keep 
them in position. Outside of this fence deep holes were dug, about 
ten feet apart. The upper edge of the board was kept constantly 


moist with a coat of coal tar, whieh was renewed every day. 

The bi uss, according to their regular tactics, advanced to the 
assault in solid columns, swarming by millions, and hiding the 
ground. They easily ascended the boards, but were unable to cross 


the belt of the coal tar. Sometimes they crowded upon one another 
so as to bridge over the barrier, but such places were immediately 
covered with a new coating. The invaders were ina worse quandary 
than that of Butler and Weitzel at Fort Fisher, and, in that state of 


mind crept backward and forward until they tumbled into the deep 
hole aforesaid. These were soon filled, and the swarming myriads 
were shoveled out of them literally by wagon loads, at the rate of 
thirty or forty bushels a day—and buried up in other holes, dug for 
the puntos, as required. This may seem incredible to persons un- 
acquainted with this little pest, but no one who has seen the count- 


less myriads which cover the earth as harvest approaches, will feel 


24 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


inclined to dispute the statement. It is an unimpeachable fact. The 
process was repeated till only three or four bushels could be shovelled 
out of the holes, when it was abandoned. The corn was completely 
protected, and yielded bountifully. 


HEAVY RAINS DESTRUCTIVE TO THE CHINCH BUG, 


As the Chinch Bug, unlike most other true Bugs, deposits its 
egos underground, and as the young larvex live there for a consider- 
able time, it must be manifest that heavy soaking rains will have a 
tendency todrown them out. The simple fact, long ago observed and 
recorded by practical men, suchas Mr. B. E. Fleharty of North Prairie, 
Knox county, Ills., that this insect scrupulously avoids wet land, 
proves that moisture is naturally injurious to its constitution. Hence 
it was many years ago remarked by intelligent farmers, and we had 
an illustration of it the present year (1869), that. very often when the 
spring opens dry, Chinch Bugs will begin to increase and multiply in 
an alarming manner; but that the very first heavy shower checks 
them up immediately, and repeated heavy rains put an almost entire 
stop to their operations. It is very true that nearly all insects will 
bear immersion under water for many hours, and frequently for a 
whole day, without suffering death therefrom; for although animation 
is apparently suspended in such cases, they yet, as the phase is, 
“come to life again.” But no insect, except the few that are pro- 
vided with gills like fishes and extract the air out of the water, in- 
stead of breathing it at first hand, can stand a prolonged immersion 
in water without drowning. Andit must be obvious to the meanest 
capacity, that an insect,such as the Chinch Bug, whose natural home 
is the driest soil it can find, will have its health injuriously affected 
by a prolonged residence in a wet-soil. 

In fact the whole history of the Chinch Bug, from the very 
earliest records which we have of ‘it, points unmistakably to the fact 
that a wet season affects it injuriously, and often almost annihilates it. 

arolina and Virginia, during the dry years which preceded 18490, 
it had become so numerous that the total destruction of the crops 
was threatened; but fortunately, unlike its predecessors, the summer 

1840 was quite wet and the ravages of the bug were at once ar- 
rested. In Illinois and in this State it had increased to an alarming 
extent during the latter part of the late Rebellion; but the excessive 
wet summer of 1865 swept them away to such an extent that if was 
difficult to find any in the fall of that year. So it was again in 1869- 
70, and so it always has been, and doubtless always will be. It will 
be well therefore for farmers to bear in mind, that in u hot, dry sea- 
son Chinch Bugs are always the worst, and that in a wet season tt is 
impossible for them to do any considerable amount of damage. 

Dr. Shimer, however, is not satisfied with this simple theory. He 
has gotten up and expounded to the world a new and recondite 
theory of his own, namely, that in the terrible wet season of 1865, 
when the Chinch Bug, although in early spring it had appeared in 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 


very great numbers, was almost annihilated in the course of the 
summer, it perished, not as others had foolishly supposed, from the 
direct operation of the rain, but indirectly through a certain myste- 
rious epidemic disease analogous to the Cholera.or the Yellow Fever 
among human beings. He fully allows that the mortality among the 
Chinch Bugs was contemporaneous with the wet weather; but he 
will have it that it was not the wet weather that killed the Bug, 
as we common folks have always hitherto believed, but that 
it was his newly-discovered Epidemic Disease. But as in the con- 
joint article in the American Entomologist (1, pp. 174-6) this Epi- 
demic theory was fully considered by my late associate, Mr. Walsh, 
in his own peculiar style, I shall not dwell upon it here. 


CANNIBAL FOES OF THE CHINCH BUG. 


As long ago as 1861, Mr. Walsh, in his Hssay upon the Injurious 
Insects of Tilinois, published facts which tended to show that four 
distinct species of. Ladybirds preyed upon the Chinch Bug.* The 
first of these four is the Spotted Ladybird (Hippodamia maculata, 

a 3.] DeGeer, Fig. 3), which also preys upon a great ["is. 4] 
eI” variety of other insects, attacking both the eggs “VSS 
of the Colorado Potato Bug and those of certain 
MOE Bark-lice; and which is further remarkable for-~,, 
Seine one of the ee insects found both in Europe and in North 
America. 

In corroboration of the fact of its preying on the Chinch Bug, 
I may state, that the Rev. Chas. Peabody, of Sulphur Springs, aierme 
me that he has repeatedly found it so feeding on his farm. The second 
species is the Trim Ladybird ( Coccinella munda, Say, Fig. 4), which 
is distinguishable at once from a great variety of its brethren by 
having no black spots upon its red wing-cases.. The other two are 
much smaller insects, belonging toa genus (Scymnus) of Ladybirds, 
most of the species of which are quite small and of obscure brown 
colors, and hard to be distinguished by the popular eye from other 
beetles, the structure of which is very different, and which therefore 
belong to very different groups and have very different habits. 

- In the autumn of 1864 Dr. Shimer ascertained that the Spotted 
Ladybird which has been sketched above, preys extensively upon the 
Chinch Bug. In a particular field of corn, which had been sown thick 
for fodder, and which was swarming with Chinch Bngs, he found, as 
he says, that this Ladybird, “could be counted by hundreds upon 
every square yard of ground after shaking the corn; but the Chinch 
Bugs were so numerous that these hosts of enemies made very little 
perceptible impression among them.” 

In the same autumn Dr. Shimer made the additional discovery, 
that in the very same field of fodder-corn the Chinch Bugs were 
preyed upon by a very common species of Lacewing-fly, which he 


*See Trans. Ill. St. Agric. Society, lV, pp. 346-9. 


\ 


26 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


described in January, 1865,* as the Illinois Lacewing (Chrysopa Illi- 
noiensis). The description was republished, together with the sub- 
stance of Mr. Shimer’s observations in the Prairie Harmer, of Chicago, 
{ll., accompanied with a non-characteristic wood-cut of the larva, 
cocoon andimago. At this time Mr. Shimer favored me with twe 
specimens of the perfect insect, and he likewise furnished Mr. Walsh 
with additional specimens. From these specimens, it is evident that 
the species is the same as that described long before, by Dr. Fitch, 
as the Weeping Lacewing (Chrysopa plorabunda). In 1868, I found 
the same species quite numerous in a wheat field belonging to Mr. 
T. R. Allen, of Allenton, where its larvee were perhaps feeding on the 
Chinch Bugs, as they were found to doin North Illinois, by Dr. Shimer. 
[Fig. 5.] The Lacewing flies all beara striking resemblance 
to one another, both in size, shape and color ; and to 
Sa convey a correct idea of their appearance, it is 
only necessary to repeat the annexed drawing 
(Fig 5.) from my First Report, where a sketch of 
their natural history will be found (pp.57-8).+ They 
almost all of them, in the fly state, have a charac- 
teristic and disagreeable odor, resembling nothing so muchas human 
ordure. 

According to Dr. Shimer, the Weeping Lacewing-fly was not 
quite as abundant as the Spotted Ladybird among the fodder-corn, 
but still there were so many of them, that he thought that “ there was 
one or more of them for every stalk of that thickly sown corn.” 
“Hivery stroke of the cutter,” he adds, “would raise three or four 
dozen of them, presenting quite an interesting spectacle as they 
staggered along in their awkward, unsteady flight.” And he not only 
actually observed the larvee preying very voraciously on the Chinch 
Bugs in the field, but he reared great numbers of them to the mature 
Fly by feeding them upon Chinch Bugs. His account. of the opera- 
tions of the larva when in captivity is so interesting that I quote it in 
full: 


I placed one of the larve in a vial, after having captured it in the 
field in the very act of devouring Chinch Bugs of all sizes, and sub- 
sequently introduced into the vial a number of Chinch Bugs. They 
had hardly reached the bottom before it seized one of the largest 
ones, pierced it with its long jaws, held it almost motionless for about 
a minute while it was sucking the juices from the body of its victim, 
and then threw down the lifeless shell. In this way, I saw it destroy 
in quick succession, about a dozen bugs. Towards the last, as its 
appetite was becoming satiated, it spent five or more minutesin suck- 
ing the juices from the body of one bug. After this bountiful repast, 
it remained motionless for an hour or more, as if asleep. Never for 


*Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., IV, pp. 208-12. 


tIn that account I stated asa fact which, so far as I was aware, had not been recorded by 
any previous writer, that the insect issues from the small cocoon in an active sub-imago state, 
from which, after a few hours, the winged fly emerges, leaving behind it a fine silvery-white trans- 
parent skin. I have since found that Dr. Shimer, in the scientific paper already referred to, had 
previously recorded the very same fact. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 2% 


a single moment, during the feast, did it pause in the work. When 
not in possession of a bug, it was on the search for, or in the pursuit 
of others. It manifested much eagerness in the pursuit of its prey, 
yet not with a lion-like boldness; for on several occasions I observed 
a manifest timorousness, a halting in the attack, as if conscious of 
danger in its hunting expeditions, although here there was none. 
Sometimes, when two or more bugs were approaching rapidly, it 
would shrink back from the attack, and turning aside go in the pur- 
suit of others. At length, awakening, it would renew the assault as 
before. On one occasion, when it was on the side of the vial, two 
inches up, with a large bug i in its mouth, I jarred: the vial,so that it 
fell to the bottom and rolled over and over across the bottom, but 
holding on to its prey, it regained its footing and mounted up to its 
former. position. Occasionally the Chinch Bugs would hasten to es- 
cape when pursued, as if in some degree conscious of danger. 

Fig. 6. The Insidicus Flower Bug, (Anthocoris insidt- 
osus, Say), of which I represent herewith a highly 
magnified figure, (Fig. 6), may often be found in 
company with the Chinch Bug, under the husks of 
ears of corn. It is quite common in Missouri, 
where [ have found it in several different galls, 
and especially in the Grape-vine Leaf gall, where 
it was preying on the lice (PAiylloxera vitifolie), 
which are the architects of the gall. It has 
often been mistaken for the Chinch Bug, and was 
upon one occasion sent to Dr. Fitch, by one of. his 
correspondents, for that veritable Bug. Yet it undoubtedly preys 
upon the Chinch Bug, as well as upon a variety of other plant-feed- 
ing insects, and it therefore becomes very necessary that the farmer 
should learn to recognize it and distinguish it from the true culprit. 
It is very true that, practically, it will be found almost impossible to 
separate the sheep from the goats, and spare the lives of the former 
while condemning to destruction the unsavory little carcasses of the 
latter. Still, it will be some comfort to the grain-grower, when at 
some future day he may discover his small grain or his corn to be 
alive with Chinch Bugs, to perceive the bright orange-colored larvae 
of the Insidious Flower-Bug dodging about among the blood-red or 
blood-brown larvee of his bitter foes, and sucking out their life-blood 
with ravenous avidity; or to discover the little slow-going larve of 
the Scymnus group of Ladybirds, with such dense and evenly-shorn 
masses of short milk-white cottony threads growing out of their en- 
tire bodies that they look like little animated flakes of cotton wool, 
crawling about among the stinking crowd and making many a hearty 
meal off them, stink they never so badly; or, finally, to watch the 
lizard-like black and yellow larve of the Spotted Ladybird, and the 
Trim Ladybird, with their short, robust jaws, or the greerish-brown 
larve of the Lacewing-fly, with their long slender sickle-shaped 
jaws, running rapidly about among the hosts of their enemies, and 
smiting them hip and thigh without any more mercy than the Amale- 


28 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF . 


kites of old experienced at the hands of avenging Israel. He will 
then know that, even if he is himself powerless to make head against 
a host of minute foes, as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and 
as destructive and irresistible as the waves of the great ocean itself, 
Providence has provided a check upon the unlimited increase of his 
enemies; and that a Power which is above us all and provides for us 
all, and which alloweth not even a sparrow to fall to the ground un- 
less: by His especial permission, has said to every vegetable-feeding 
insect, through the mouths of the various Cannibal and Parasitic spe- 
cies which He has appointed to do His work: “ Thus far shalt thou go, 
and no farther; and here shall thy proud hosts be stayed.” 

The common Quail of the Middle and Western States (Ortyx 
Virginiana) otherwise known as the Partridge in the Northern States 
has long since been known as a most efficient destroyer of Chinch 
Bugs, and the fact was some time ago published by myself in the 
Praivié Farmer, and by others in various Agricultural Journals and 
Reports. Wealso have the corroborative testimony of Dr. Shimer, 
who is a good ornithologist. In the winter time, when hard pushed 
for food, this bird must devour immense numbers of the little pests 
which winter in just such situations as are frequented by the Quail; 
and this bird should be protected from the gun of the sportsman in 
every State where the Chinch Bug is known to run riot. 


AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE BY THE CHINCH BUG. 


According to Dr. Shimer’s estimate, which may be considered a 
reasonable one, in the year 1864 “ three-fourths of the wheat and one- 
half of the corn crop were destroyed by the Chinch Bug throughout 
many extensive districts, comprising almost the entire Northwest.” 
At the average annual rate of increase, according to the United 
States Census, in the State of Illinois, the wheat crop of 1864 cught 
to have been about thirty millions of bushels, and the corn-crop about 
one hundred and thirty-eight million bushels. Putting the cash 
value of wheat at $1.25 and that of corn at 50 cents, the cash value 
of the corn and wheat destroyed by this insignificant little bug, no 
bigger than a grain of rice, in one single State and in one single year, 
will therefore, according to the above figures, foot up to the astound- 
ing total of OVER SEVENTY-THREE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! Put itas low as 
we choose, it is still a“ big thing; ” and it is unnecessary to argue a 
question any further, when facts and figures speak so plainly. 


REMEDIES AGAINST THE CHINCH BUG. 


it has long been noticed that the Chinch Bug commences its rav- 
ages in the spring from the edges of a piece of grain, or occasionally 
from one or more small patches, scattered at random in the more cen- 
tral portions of it, and usually drier than the rest of the field. From 
these particular parts it subsequently spreads by degrees over the 
whole field, multiplying as it goes and finally taking the entire crop 
unless checked up by seasonable rains. In newly-broken land, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 


‘where the fences are new and consequently no old stuff has had time 
to accumulate along them, the Chinch Bug is never heard of. These 
facts indicate that the mother insects must very generally pass the 
winter in the old dead stuff that usually gathers along fences. Hence, 
by way of precaution, it is advisable, whenever possible, to burn up 
such dead stuff in the winter or early in the spring, and particularly 
to rake together and burn up the old corn-stalks, instead of plowing 
them in, or allowing them, as is often done, to lie littering about on 
some piece of waste ground. Itis true, agriculturally speaking, this 
is bad farming; but itis better to lose the manure contained in the 
corn-stalks than to have one’s crop destroyed by insects. Whenever 
such small infected patches in a grain field are noticed early in the 
season, the rest of the field may often be saved by carting dry straw 
on to them and burning the straw on the spot, Chinch Bugs, green 
wheat and all; and this will be still easier to do when the bugs start 
along the edge of the field. If, as frequently happens, a piece of 
small grain is found about harvest-time to be so badly shrunken up 
by the bug as not to be worth cutting, the owner of it-ought always 
to set fire to it and burn it up along with its ill-savored inhabitants. 
Thus, not only will the insect be prevented from migrating on to 
the adjacent corn-fields, but its future multiplication will be consid- 
erably checked. . 

A very simple, cheap and easy method of prevention was recom- 
mended in the Prairie Farmer of April 19th, 1862, by Mr. Wilson 
Phelps, of Crete, Hlinois. It may very probably be effectual when 
tbe bugs are not too numerous, and certainly can do no harm: 

_ With twelve bushels of spring wheat mix one bushel of winter 
rye, and sow in the usual manner. The rye not heading out, but 
spreading out close to the ground, the bugs will content themselves 
with eating it, until the wheat is too far advanced to be injured by 
them. There will, of course, be no danger of the winter rye mixing 
with the spring wheat. 

When Chinch Bugs are likely to march, as they often do, after the 
fashion of Army-worms, from an infected to an uninfected field, Mr. H. 
J. Everest, of Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, recommends the 
following plan, which is stated to have been tried by several persons 
and found to be perfectly effectual, and which is substantially the 
same as that referred to on page 23: 

Take common fence-boards, six inches or less wide, and run them 
around the piece, set edgewise, and so that the bugs cannot get under 
them or between the joints, and then spread either pine or coal tar 
on the upper edge, and they will not cross it. The tar needs renew- 
ing till the edge gets saturated, so that it will keep wet and not dry 
in any more, and either kind of tar is effectual. Then dig holes close 
to the boards, about like a post-hole, once in four or five rods, and 
run a strip of tar from the top of the board to the bottom on the out- 
side opposite the hole, and they will leave the board, and in trying to 
get around the tarred stripe will slide into the hole, where they will 
be obliged to remain till they can be buried at leisure, and new holes 
opened for more victims. It is seldom one has to fence more than 


30 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


one side of a field, but wherever the fence is, itd is a sure slop.—Proe. 
New York Farmers’ Club. 

Finally, when the Chinch Bugs are already in the field which itis 
proposed to rescue from their clutches, Mr. Michael Hopps, of Lyons- 
ville, Cook county, Illinois, says that he saved a piece of wheat by 
sowing gas-lime broadcast over it, at the rate of six or seven bushels 
to the acre; and that the effect was that the bugs immediately left 
his field, and his crop was saved, while the wheat of his neighbors was 
nearly ruined by them. He further states that “a neighbor hada 
field of wheat adjoining his (Mr. Hopps’s) cornfield, in which the bugs 
worked badly. Thinking that, as soon as the wheat was cut, they 
would emigrate to his corn, he dropped a handful of the gas-lime upon 
each hillof corn,in the same manner as plaster is often dropped upon 
corn in the Hast. The consequence was that the bugs did not attack 
the corn in the least."—( Prairie Farmer.) 

But, if gas lime keeps off Chinch Bugs, which may or may not be 
the case, it appears that coal-tar most certainly will not do so, as the 
felonies experiment of Dr. Shimer’s proves: 

May 26th, 1864—I saturated some saw-dust with coal-tar, and 
mixed some quick-lime among it, so that it might bé in a good condi- 


tion for handling, and sowed it thickly broadcast over a portion of my 
wheat field, where the bugs were very numerous. 


May 27th-29th, 1864.—The bugs refuse to leave the part of the 
field where I sowed the tarred saw- -dust, so there is but little hope of 
driving them from their once chosen grounds, by the seasonable ap- 
plication of strong smelling drugs. 

I have known farmers to follow the plan of going through a wheat 
field badly infested with Chinch Bugs, and with a sickle to cut, here 
and there,small patches of the wheat which they threw on the ground 
in the form of a loose irregular shock. The bugs would gather under 
‘these cut stalks in great numbers from the standing grain, and could 
then be destroyed either by crushing or by burning them with 
straw. : 

The above remedies are selected as the most likely to prove prac- 
tically successful, from a mass floating round in the various Agricul- 
tural Journals, some of them utterly absurd and irrational, and others 
of very doubtful use. As to the ridiculous proposal put forth in the 
Waukegan (ills.) Gazette, in 1865, with a great flourish of trumpets, 
by one D. H. Sherman of that town; namely, to destroy the Chinch 
Bugs in the egg state by pickling all the seed wheat; it is sufficient 
to observe that this insect never deposits its eggs upon the kernel of 
the ripe wheat. Consequently, to attempt to kill Chinch Bug eggs, 
by doctoring the seed wheat, would be pretty much like trying to kill 
the nits in a boy’s head by applying a piece of sticking-plaster to his 
great toe. In the old Practical Entomologist (I, p. 48), I showed that 
there were no such eggs in the wheat kernels, which Mr. Sherman 
himself had sent me, and which he had supposed to be thus infested. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 31 


BOGUS CHINCH BUGS. 


Few things are more astonishing than the acuteness of perception 
superinduced by being constantly conversant with some one particu- 
lar subject. I have often been surprised at the readiness with which 
nurserymen will distinguish between different varieties of Apple, 
even in the dead of the year, when there are no leaves, and of course 
no fruit on their nursery trees. In the same way old practiced shep- 
herds can recognize every individual sheep out of a large flock, 
though, to the eyes of a common observer, all the sheep look alike. 
Experienced grain-growers, again, can distinguish ata glance between 
twenty different varieties of wheat, which the best botanist in the 
country would fail to tell one from the other; and I have been in- 
formed that a miller of many years’ standing, as soon as he has shoul- 
dered a sack of wheat, knows at once whether it is spring grain or 
fall grain; while ninety-nine entomologists out of every hundred 
would probably be unable, on the most careful inspection, to tell the 
difference between the two, and some might even mistake wheat 
for rye. 

It is not surprising, therefore, that persons who have paid no par- 
ticular attention to the study of insects, often confound together in- 
sects which, in the eyes of the professed entomologist, look as differ- 
ent from each other as a horse does from a cow ora hog. It would, 
indeed, be little short of miraculous if this were not so; for there are 
about thirty thousand distinct species of insects to be found within 
the limits of the United States, and of course in such a vast multipli- 
city, there must be many strong resemblances. 


I will therefore conclude this article on the Chinch Bug, by 
briefly mentioning several true Bugs, belonging to the same Order of 
Halt-winged Bugs (Heteroptera), as that pestilent little foe of the 
farmer, and which I know to be frequently mistaken for it. The 
reader will then, by comparing the different figures, see at once how 
widely they all differ, and by a very little practice, his eyes will be- 
come so well educated that he will soon, without any artificial assist- 
ance from glasses, be able to distinguish the creatures one from the 
other, as they crawl or fly about in the almost microscopic dimensions 
assigned to them by their Great Creator. 


One reason, perhaps, why so many different bugs are popularly 
confounded with the Chinch Bug, is the similarity of their smell. 
Kivery body is aware that Chinch Bugs possess the same peculiarly 
unsavory odor as the common Bed Bug; and hence when a person 
finds a small insect that has this obnoxious smell, he is very apt to 
- jump to the conclusion that it must be a Chinch Bug. No mode of 
reasoning, however, can be more unsafe or unsound. There are hun- 
dreds. of different species of Half-winged Bugs—the common brown 
Squash Bug (Coreus tristis) for example—that possess this peculiar 
smell; and what is stranger still, although this smell is more usually 


32 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


met with among the plant-feeders, there are a few of the true Canni- 
bals that possess it to perfection. Among these I may mention the 
Spined Soldier-bug (Arma spinosa, Dallas) whose portrait I here re- 

[Fig. 7.] produce from my First Report (Fig. 72); for, as the bit- 
terest enemy of the Colorado Potato Bug, and conse- 
my quently one of our best friends, he cannot too often be 
; = presented, or become too well known. We can well 
afford to endure his unpleasant odor, when we duly 
reflect on his kind services. Just think of it, you bit- 
ter bug-haters—this little soldier has, beyond all doubt, saved thou- 
sands of dollars to the State of Missouri in the last few years, by 
heroically stabbing and slaying countless hosts of one of your worst 
enemies! That he should have the bed-buggy odor is not very sur- 
prising, since he appertains to a large and extensive group, (the Scw- 
fellera family) most of the other species belonging to which are plant- 
feeders. Indeed it is a very general rule, to which I know of but one 
exception* that the insect in the great Reduvius family among the 
Half-winged Bugs, every one of which is of carnivorous propensities, 
never have this peculiarly nauseous aroma; and that it is bestowed 
only upon certain plant-feeding bugs, to protect them no doubt from 
their insect foes, in the same manner as the skunk is protected from 
the eagle by his odoriferous tail.. Yet while many of the plant-feed- 
ing Bugs do have this odor, a good many of them are entirely free 
from it, and some few of them really smell so agreeably that the fact 
has been thought worthy to be recorded by entomological writers. 
Even that detestable pest, already referred to, the common Squash 
Bug, sometimes emits a pleasant aroma, altogether different from that 
which it normally gives out; for I have kept this winter, in a separate 
box, one which emits a most pungent but agreeable smell, very much 
resembling that of a very ripe, rich pear. But perhaps the most sug- 
gestive fact of all is that, notwithstanding the close alliance between 
the two Orders of Half-winged and Whole-winged Bugs, there is not 
- a single known species of the latter that has ever been known to ex- 
hale the bedbuggy effluvium, which is met with in so many species 
belonging to the former. : 

Tue Instprous FLower-bpua.—First among the insects frequently 
mistaken for the Chinch Bug, may be mentioned the Insidious Flower- 
bug (Anthocoris insidious, Say) already referred to under the head of 
“Cannibal Foes of the Chinch Bug.” This little Flower-bug has been 
usually referred by entomologists to the same extensive group 
(Lycus family) as the true Chinch Bug, though more recent authors 
have placed it in a distinct group on account of its short three-jointed 
beak. 

THe Asu-cray Lear-Bue.—Second among the Bogus Chinch Bugs 
may be mentioned the Ash-gray Leaf-bug (Piesma cinerea, Say) a 


~s 


* A shiny black species of Nabis (Nabis marginatus, Uhler, MS) smells as much likea Bed 
Bug as the most peaceable Plant-feeder. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 30 


small greenish-gray bug of which I present herewith a highly magni- 
fied figure (Fig. 8), its true size being about the same as that of the 
Chinch Bug for which it has been mistaken, though it lacks altogether 
the conspicuous black and white markings which characterize that 
littlé grain pest, and really resembles it in nothing but 
the unpleasant odor which it emits. In the summer of 
1868, Col. F. Hecker, of St. Clair county, Illinois (See 
Am. Entomologist, I, p. 19), found an insect, which he 
-\ mistook for the Chinch Bug, destroying the blossom 

‘ebuds of his grape-vines. Now as the Ash-gray Leaf- 
j \ bug is known to work in this way on the Grape-vine, 

* and as I found it abundant in Col. Foster’s vineyard, on 
the Iron Mountain Railroad in this State, it was doubt- 
less this species which injured Col. Hecker’s vines; for 
the true Chinch Bug has never hitherto been observed to attack 
woody plants like the Grape-vine, but confines itself exclusively to 
herbaceous plants, such as wheat, oats, Indian corn, etc. The Ash- 
gray Leaf-bug belongs to an entirely different group from the Chinch 
Bug ( Zingis family) all the species of which have a short 3-jointed 
beak, which however differs from that of the 3-jointed beak of the 
Flower-bugs (Anthocoris) by being encased in a groove when not in 
use. They mostly live on green leaves in all their three stages, after 
the fashion of plant lice. Like the Chinch Bug, the Ash-gray Leaf-bug 
hybernates in the perfect state, and may be found in the winter in 
considerable numbers under the loose bark of standing trees and es: 
pecially under that of the Shag-bark Hickory. 

With the exception of the Ash-gray Leaf-bug, there is no North 
American species belonging to the genus, that is known to attack 
fruit, trees or fruit-bearing bushes or vines; though there are several 
that infest forest trees—each species generally confining itself to a 
particular genus of trees. But in Hurope there is a species, the Pear- 
tree Leaf-bug (Zingis pyri) whichis so injurious to the Pear, that 
the French gardeners have given it the name of “the Tiger.” It is to 
be hoped that it may never, like another European pest of pear- 
growers, the Pear-tree Flea-louse (Psylla pyri)—which has already 
‘ been introduced into the New England States, and will perhaps make 
its way out West—traverse the Atlantic ocean and take out its natu- 
ralization papers in this country. 

Tue Fiea-tixe Neegro-sue.—Third among the bogus Chinch Bugs 
may be mentioned the Flea-like Negro-bug (Corimelena pulicaria, 
(Fig. 9-] Germar), of which I here present a magnified out- 

4 line (Fig. 9). Its color is black with a white 
stripe each side. This insect resembles the Chinch 
Bug in having an ordinary 4-jointed beak, but 
‘differs from it in belonging to a very distinct 
and well marked group (Scutellera family), which 


j wa 
is characterized by the enormous size of the “scutel” or shield. 
3—E R 


34 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


In the most numerously represented division of this family the 
scutel forms a large triangle, extending along the back about 
half-way to the tip of the abdomen, as may be seen in the figure of 
the Spined Soldier-bug (Fig. 7), referred toon a previous page. But 
in another division of this family which does not contain nearly so 
many species, the scutel, instead of being angular, is rounded at top 
and covers more or less the entire upper surface of theabdomen. Itis 
to this last division that the Flea-like Negro-bug belongs, and the dirty 
yellow or white stripes at its sides arereally nothing but the thick- 
ened anterior edge of the front wings, all the remaining part of the 
front wings, as well as the entire hind wings, being, in repose, com- 
pletely hidden under this enormously extended shield. In the Bor- 
[Fig-10.] _ dered Soldier-bug, as the reader will perceive from the 
» ‘f annexed drawing (Fig. 10), which I reproduce from my 
J First Report, the scutel is indeed rounded, and also 
4 extends a considerable distance over the abdomen; but 
,as it otherwise agreés with the other Soldier-bugs in 
eal? ' the rest of its organization, it is classified with them, 
iS” % and not with our Negro-bug. 
The Flea-like Negro-bug has been known to injure various plants 
for two or three years back. I found it exceedingly abundant last 
summer in all parts of the State which I visited. It has a great pas- 
sion for the fruit of the Raspberry, and is sometimes so plentiful as 
to render the berries perfectly unsaleable by the bed-bug aroma 
which it communicates to them, as well as by sucking out their 
juices. Wherever it occurs, the nauseous flavor which it imparts to 
every berry which it touches, will soon make its presence manifest. 
though the little scamp may elude ocular detection. Itis really too 
bad that such alittle black varmint should so mar the exceeding 
pleasure which a lover of this delicious fruit always experiences 
when in the midst of a raspberry plantation in the fruit season. It 
is also quite injurious to the Strawberry, puncturing the stem with 
its little beak, and thus causing either blossom or fruit to wilt; and 
the following extract, taken from a communication to the Western 
Rural by Mr. B. Pullen, of Centralia, Ills., undoubtedly refers to 
the same Bug, and would indicate that it made its first appearance in 
that neighborhood last summer: 

“A new insect, to us here, has appeared on our strawberries for 
the first time the past season, damaging the crop very much. It re- 
sembles somewhat the Chinch Bug, so destructive to our wheat and 
corn, and, judging from the peculiar odor they emit on being mashed, 
should think them very nearly related. Some claim that they are of 
a different species altogether. Whether this be so or not those inter- 
ested in the cultivation of the strawberry are anxiously looking for- 
ward to another season to see if they are to continue their depreda- 
tions.” 

It likewise attacks the Strawberry in Canada, as an account of 
its attacking that plant, is given by my friend, OC. J.S. Bethune, in the 


JHE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 


Canada Farmer for August Ist, 1867; and it was under this very same 
serious charge that it was apprehended and brought up for trial at 
the last May meeting of the Alton (Ills.) Horticultural Society. It 
also attacks both Cherry and Quince, occurring on these trees in very 
large nambers, and puncturing the blossoms and leaves, but espe- 
cially the fruit stems, which in censequence shrivel and die. 1: is 
also quite injurious to garden flowers and especially to the Coreop- 
sis, and abounds on certain weeds, among which may be mentioned 
the’ Red-root or New Jersey Tea-plant (Ceanothus Americanus), and 
Neckweed or Purslane-speedwell (Veronica peregrina). In the 
month of June under these two last named plants, they may be 
found in countless numbers of all sizes and ages, from the small light 
brown wingless, newly hatched individuals, to the full fledged jet 
black ones. In fact they breed on these weeds, and there is no more 
effectual method of checking their increase and thus preventing their 
injuries to our cultivated fruits, than by sprinkling these weeds, and 
the ground underneath them, with a good strong solution of Oresylic 
soap. I should advise the propagation of a small patch of either one 
of these weeds near a strawberry patch, as a decoy for the Bugs, 
which may thus be, to some extent, enticed away from the straw- 
berry plants, and killed more readily. 

There are twe other species of Negro-bug which are common in 
this State, though they never swarm in such injurious profusion as 
does the Flea-like Negro-bug. The first of these (Corimelena latera- 
dis, Fabr.) is absolutely undistinguishable from it however, except in 
being fully one-half longer and wider. The shape, sculpturing and 
coloring are exactly the same, even down to the lateral white stripe; 
so that, but for the fact of ne intermediate grades in size occurring, 
the two would be certainly considered as mere varieties of one and 
the same species. The other Negro-bug (Cor. unicolor, Beauv.) is 
fully twice as long and wide as our insect; but though resembling it 
closely in every other respect, yet differs very notably in lacking the 
white anterior edging to the front wings. It might indeed be said, 
that the biggest Negro dresses entirely in black, while the two other 
smaller sized darkies relieve the sombre monotony of their sable 
suits, by wearing a conspicuously white shirt-collar. 

To these three bogus Chinch Bugs, might be added one or two 
other species of small stinking Bugs which have been, by some per- 
sons, mistaken for the true Chinch Bug. But enough has been already 
said to show, that insects which in reality are shaped and fashioned 
as differently as are cows and deer, are yet often confounded together 
in the popular eye, principally, no doubt, because they have the same 
peculiar bed-bug aroma. Should the ignorance of the popular ju /g- 
ment in confounding these tiny creatures which seem to the Ei to- 
mologist so very, very different from each other, therefore, be des- 
pised and ridiculed? Far be it from-me to display such intolerant 
stupidity! As well might the nurseryman ridicule the grain-grower, 


36 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


because the grain-grower cannot distinguish a Baldwin Seedling from 
a High top apple; or the grain-grower the nurseryman because 
the nurseryman cannot tell Mediterranean from Tea wheat, or Club 
from Fife. I do, however, entertain an abiding hope that by the pres- 
ent very general and praiseworthy movement towards the populari- 
zation of Natural History, and by the dissemination of Entomological 
Reports, a better knowledge ofthis practically important subject will 
soon existin the community. Our farmers will then, not so often wage 
a war of extermination against their best friends, the cannibal and 
parasitic insects, while they overlook and neglect the very plant- 
feeders which are doing all the damage, and upon which the others 
are feeding in the very manner in which a Wise Providence has ap- 
pointed them to adopt. 
RECAPITULATION. 

The following important points in the history of the Chinch Bug, 
may be considered as firmly established : 

1st. Chinch Bugs hybernate in the perfect or winged state in any 
old dry rubbish, under dead leaves, in old straw, in corn-shucks and 
corn-stalks, among weeds in fence-corners, etc., etc. Therefore all 
such substances should be burned up,as far as possible, inthe spring. 

2nd. The earlier small grain can be sowed in the spring, the 
more likely itis to escape the Chinch Bug; for it will then get ripe be- 
fore the spring brood of bugs has had time to become fully developed 
at the expense of the grain. 

3d. The harder the ground is where the grain is sowed, the less 
chance there is for the Chinch Bug to penetrate to the roots of the 
grain and lay its eggs thereon. Hence the importance of fall-plough- 
ing and using the roller upon land that is loose and friable. And 
hence, if old corn-ground is sufficiently clean, it is a good plan to har- 
row in a crop of small grain upon it without ploughing it at all. 
Moreover this rolling plan should always be adopted, as the best 
wheat-growers both in this country and in Europe attest that the 
heavier the ground for wheat is rolled, the better will be the crop. 

4th. A single heavy rain immediately checks up the propagation 
of the Chinch Bugs. Continued heavy rains diminish their numbers 
most materially. A long-continued wet season, such as that of 1865, 
almost sweeps the whole brood of them from off the face of the earth ; 
but from the rapid rate at which they multiply there will always be 
enough left for seed for another year. It may be laid down, not only 
as a general, but universal rule, that this insect is never ruinously 
destructive, except in those sections of country where there is con- 
tinued hot dry weather; and that if, in two adjoining districts, there 
has been a dry Summer in one and much wet weather during the sum- 
mer season in the other, however plentiful and destructive the bug 
may be in the first district, it will scarcely be heard of in the second. 
Certainly this state of facts is not exactly that from which any rea- 
sonable man would infer, that the paucity of Chinch Bugs ina wet 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 


season is caused by an Epidemic Disease taking them off. We might 
as well maintain that, although there was no Epidemic Disease among 
the children of Israel that had just crossed the Red Sea, or among 
‘the Egyptians that staid at home, it was simply and solely an Epi- 
demic Disease that slew the pursuing hosts of the Egyptians and cov- 
ered the bottom of the Red Sea with their carcasses. 


THE ARMY-WORM— Leucania unipuncta, Haw. 
[ Lepidoptera Noctuidz. ] 

Among those insects which attract.especial attention, either from 
the peculiarity of their habits, or the vast amount of damage which 
they inflict, the notorious Army-worm holds a conspicuous place. 
The mode in which these worms travel in vast armies when in search 
of food, the great value of the cereals and the grasses to which they 
: for the most part confine their ravages, their sudden appearance in 
such incomputable numbers, and their equally sudden disappearance, 
all tend to arouse the curiosity and interest of even the most indiffer- 
ent observer. 

Before giving a history of this insect, it will be necessary to state 
that there are four distinct caterpillars, producing four perfectly dis- 
tinct moths, which have been designated as Arm y-worms in various 
parts of the United States. 

First—The Tent-caterpillar of the Forest (Clisiocampa sylvatica, 
Harr.) has been erroneously known by the name of “Army-worm ” in 
the northwest corner of the State of New York. A back view of 
this caterpillar is given in the accompanying sketch (Fig. 11) 

ie 11-1 by: which it, will sat. once, ..be recognized by the 
\\WW, reader. For a number of days, last June, this worm 
might have been seen marching “single file” up the rail- 
2 road track on Pilot Knob, in the scorching rays of the noon- 
= day sun; and it is often found crawling along roads in very 
=considerable numbers. Yet it cannot with propriety he 
= called an Army-worm, and our Eastern friends had best drop 
= = the title and avoid confusion in the future. 
= Second—The Cotton-worm (Anomis «ylina, Say), 1s 
very generally known by the name of “ the Cotton Army- 
‘worm,” in the South. The term as applied to this species is 
not altogether inappropriate, as the worm frequently appears 
NS in immense armies, and when moved by necessity will trave] 
/ \ S over the ground in “solid phalanx;” and so long as the 
word “Cotton” is attached—its ravages being strictly confined to 
this plant—there is no danger of its being confounded with the true 
Army-worm. ‘The term has furthermore received the sanction of 
custom in the Southern States, and of Mr. Glover in his Department 
Reports. 


38 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


As various attempts have been made, with more or less success, 
to grow the cotton plant in the southern parts of this State, a descrip- 
tion of this insect will not be inappropriate, the more especially, 
since it will teach the reader the difference between it and the true 
Army-worm. 

The Cotton-worm was first scientifically described by Mr. Thomas 
Say, in the year 1827. According to Dr. D. L. Phares, of Woodville, 
Miss., it destroyed at a low estimate, 200 tons of cotton in the Baha- 
mas as long ago as 1788; while in Georgia it completely destroyed 
the crop in 1793. According to Dr. Capers* its injuries were noticed 
in 1800, and it hkewise proved very destructive in 1804, 1825 and 1826. 
Since the last date, as we may learn from old volumes of the American 
Farmer, of Baltimore, Md., and from the Patent Office Reports, it has 
done more or less damage to the crop almost annually, in some part 
or other of the cotton-growing district. As with the real grass-feed- 
ing Army-worm of the Middle States, it swarms in particular years to 
such an extent as to utterly ruin the crop, while in other years it is 
scarcely noticed. This fact has led many to infer that there is a 
‘stated periodicity in its returns in such immense numbers; but the 
natural history of the worm confutes such an idea, while the records 
give no foundation for the inference. The sudden increase or decrease 
of this, as of other species of noxious insects, depends on climatic, as 
well as on other equally potent influences. 


[Fig. 12.] 


The egg, (Fig. 12, @), according to Dr. Phares is shaped “ pre- 
cisely like a scull-cap, with rows of pinheads from base to apex as 
thickly set as possible,’ appearing as if moulded in a very deep 
saucer. These eggs are of a translucent green color, and are depos- 
ited upon the under side of the leaves, and from their small size, are 
naturally difficult of detection. Each female moth deposits from 400 
to 600, and aecording to the late Thomas Affleck, of Brenham, Texas, 
they hatch two days after being deposited, if the weather be moist 
and warm. The worms (Fig. 12 }, 4 grown) at first feed upon the par- 
enchyma or soft fleshy parts of the leaves, but afterwards devour in- 


*Patent Office Rep., 1855, De. 74. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 


differently, not only any portion of the leaves, but also the blossom- 
bud and blossom, together with the calyx leaves at the base of the 
boll, thus causing the lobes which hold the cotton, to fall entirely 
back and allow the cotton to drop at the slightest touch. While young 
these worms readily let themselves down by a web when disturbed, 
but when older they make less use of this web, and jerk themselves 
away to a considerable distance when suddenly touched. They cast 
their skins at five successive periods, and come to their growth in the 
incredibly short space of fifteen or twenty days. Mr. Affleck even 
states that they usually enter the chrysalis state on the eleventh day 
after hatching; but I incline to believe that such a brief larval exist- 
ence is extremely exceptional, and the length of time required for 
them to mature will not only differ in different individuals of the same 
brood, but will vary with the state of the atmosphere. At Figure 12 
cis given a side view, and at d a back view of a full-grown worm. It 
has the normal complement of legs—namely 16—but the two fore- 
most pair of false legs, or those undex segments 6 and 7, are so re- 
duced in size that they are scarcely used in motion, and it conse- 
quently loops when walking. 

I have upon two occasions received full-grown specimens of this 
worm, and they differ materially, both in depth of shade, coloration 
and markings, as indeed do almost all the larve of moths belonging 
to the same (WVoctua) family. The most common color is light green, 
though they are frequently quite dark with a purplish hue at the 
sides, and with black backs. Whether light or dark colored, how- 
ever, they are more or less distinctly marked with pale longitudinal 
lines and black spots, as in the above figures. 

Mr. Lyman, in his “ Cotton Culture,” says of this insect: “The 
first moths that visit a crop deposit their eggs anddie. These eggs in 
ten days become little worms, which fall to eating the leaf on which 
they were hatched, and as they grow, consume the plant and pass to 
another. But age comes on apace with these ephemeral creatures ; 
the worm presently grows weary of devouring, selects a leaf, rolls 
himself in a little cocoon and dies.” Of course this is a serious mis- 
take to think that the worm dies, else how could it produce the moth 
which, as Mr. Lyman himself shows, afterwards issues from the cocoon. 
It is astonishing to find such gross errors creeping into our popular 
works, but then, the study of these contemptible little Bugs, even if 
they do sometimes totally destroy the crop, is of course beneath the 
dignity of the man who can write a work on cotton culture!! The 
truth of the matter is that, when they have completed their growth, 
the worms fold over the edge of a leaf (Fig. 12 ¢), and, after lining the 
inside with silk, change to chrysalids (Fig. 12 7), which are at first 
green, but soon acquire a chestnut-brown color; after remaining in 
this last state (in which, though the insect is inactive, it is yet full of 
life, and undergoing wonderful development) from seven to fourteen 
days, or even longer, the moth escapes, the chrysalis being held fast 


ee 


40 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


within the cocoon by means of several very minute hooks with which 
the tail is furnished. 
[Fig. 13.] At Figure 13 a, this moth 
hs. aggis represented with the wings 
yey expanded, and at b, with the 
wings closed. The general 
color of the upper surface is a 
golden-yellow inclining to 
buff, with a faint olive tint 
near the outer or posterior 
margin. The fore wings are crossed, as in the above figures, by more 
or less distinct, irregular lilac-colored lines. But the chief character- 
istic is a dark slate-colored, or black spot on the front wings,in which 
spot there are paler scales forming almost a double pupil as repre- 
sented in the figures, while between this spot and the base of the 
wings there is a much smaller pure white dot. In general color and 
in the position of the larger spot, this moth bears a remarkable re- 
semblance to that of the true Army-worm of the Northern and Middle 
States. 

Mr. Affleck, who certainly had abundant opportunities for observ- 
ing the fact, assured me that this moth rests in the position shown in 
Figure 13, }, namely, with the head downwards. He wrote on August 
22d, 1868: “The Cotton moth ( Ophinsa xylina of Harris in his corres- 
pondence with myself) never alights in any other position, or if by 
accident it first assumes another position, it instantly wheels around 
head down.” 

According to the best authority, there are three different broods 
of worms during the year, the first appearing in June or July, and the 
last, which does the most damage, appearing in August or Septem- 
ber, or even later. Mr. Lyman, in the little work already referred to, 
says: “That nature hasmade no provision by which either the fly, 
the worm, the chrysalis or the eggs, can survive the winter or exist 
for any length of time where the cotton plant is not a perennial.” 
But this is surely an error, which Mr. Lyman would never have made, 
had he possessed a better knowledge of insect-life ; and as Mr. Glover 
found that the chrysalis was killed by the slightest frost, the insect 
evidently winters over in the moth state, as do many others belong- 
ing to the same tribe. Mr. W. B. Seabrook gives strong evidence that 
this is the case, in a “* Memoir on the Cotton Plant,” read in 1843, be- 
fore the State Agricultural Society of South Carolina, wherein he says: 
“That the Cotton Moth survives the winter is nearly certain. An ex- 
amination of the neighboring woods, especially after a mild winter, has 
often been successfully made for that purpose.” And Dr. Phares 
states positively that the moth hybernates in piles of cotton seed 
under shelter, under bark and in crevices of trees in dense forests and 
other secluded places, and that it may often be seen on pleasant days 
in winter. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 41 


The two principal remedies which have hitherto been relied upon 
are, Ist, hand-picking; 2d, destroying the moths by fires, to which 
they are naturally attracted. The first method is sure, but tedious 
and somewhat impracticable on a very large scale. The second is 
most effectual if carried out when the first moths appear, in May and 
June. If these two methods were persistently carried out in the early: 
part of the season throughout any given cotton-growing county, they 
would of themselves be sufficient to save the crop; but the efforts of 
individuals are of no avail, where there are slovenly neighbors who 
neglect to perform these labors. It would therefore be of incalcul- 
able advantage, if something could be applied to the plants which 
would prevent the moths from depositing their eggs upon them, as 
the industrious planter could then set at defiance his more slovenly 
neighbor. Mr. Affleck was enthusiastic in his praise of cresylic soap 
as such a plant-protector, and I received a long letter, written a few 
weeks previous to his death, and showing how he had found that no 
cotton moth had ever deposited an egg on any plant that had been 
sprinkled with a solution of this soap. But Dr. Phares states that it 
was pretty thoroughly tried last year, and proved a failure, though he 
does not give the reason why. 

It is some little consolation to know that,the character of the sea- 
son determines their numbers, and that if none make their appear- 
ance in any stage by the first of July, there is little to be feared from 
them the rest of that year. 

Third—There is in the South another insect (Zaphrygma frugt- 
perda, Sm. & Abb.?) which is frequently known by the ominous name 
of “Army worm ;” an insect which also will attack cotton, though it 
prefers grasses and weeds. This species in its habits resembles the true 
Army-worm of the Middle States, more closely perhaps than does the 
Cotton Army-worm, and Mr. Joseph B. Lyman, in his recent work on 
“Cotton culture ”* (p. 92), calls it the “Army-worm;” yet to prevent 
confusion, the cognomen should be discontinued, and the term 
“Southern Grass-worm” (by which it is already very generally known) 
should be strictly applied to this third bogus Army-worm. We now 
come to the veritable Army-worm of the Northern and Middle States 
—the insect which is the subject of this article, and we will dwell for 
a few moments on the 


PAST HISTORY OF THE TRUE ARMY-WORM. 


If we trace back the history of the Army-worm in this country, 
we find that inaccuracy and confusion characterize most of the rec- 
ords concerning it previous to the year 1861. In that year, however, 
by the contemporaneous observations and experiments of several 
entomologists, in different sections of the United States, its natural 
history was first made known to the world, and the parent moth iden- 
tified. 


* Cotton Culture, by J. B. Lyman, late of Louisiana. Orange Judd & Co., New York. 


42 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


The very earliest record which we find of its appearance in this 
country is in Flint’s 2nd Report on the Agriculture of Massachusetts, 
where it is stated that in 1743 “there were millions of devouring 
worms in armies, threatening to cut off every green thing.” 

In 1770 it spread over New England in alarming numbers. Dr. 
Yitch in his 6th Report quotes the following full and interesting ac- 
count from the Rey. Grant Powers’s Historical Sketches of the Coés 
Country in the Northern partof New Hampshire. “In the summer of 
1770 an army of worms extended from Lancaster, the shire town of 
Coés County, N. H,, to Northfield, Mass., almost the whole length of 
the Granite State. They began to appear the latter part of July, and 
continued their ravages until September. They were then called the 
‘Northern Army,’ as they seemed to advance from the north or north- 
west to the south. It was not known that they passed the highlands 
between the rivers Connecticut and Merrimack. Dr. Burton, of 
Thetford, Vermont, informed the author that he had seen the pastures 
so covered with them, that he could not put down his finger without 
touching a worm, remarking that ‘he had seen more than ten bushels 
inaheap.” They were unlike anything that generation had ever 
seen. There wasa stripe upon the back like black velvet, and on 
each side a stripe of yellow from end to end, and the rest of the body 
was brown. They were seen not larger than a pin, but in maturity 
were as long as a man’s finger and of proportionate thickness. They 
appeared to be in great haste, except when they halted to feed. They 
entered the houses of the people and came up into the kneading 
troughs as did the frogs in Kgypt. They went up the sides of the 
houses and over them in such compact columns that nothing of the 
boards or shingles could be seen. Pumpkin-vines, peas, potatoes and 
flax escaped their ravages. But wheat and corn disappeared before 
them as by magic. Fields of corn in the Haverhill and Newbury 
meadows, so thick that aman could hardly be seen a rod distant, 
were in ten days entirely defoliated by the‘Northern Army.’ Trenches 
were dug around fields a foot deep, as a defence, but they were soon 
filled and the millions in the rear passed on and took possession of 
the interdicted feed. Another expedient was resorted to: Trenches 
were cut, and thin sticks, six inches in diameter, were sharpened and 
used to make holes in the bottom of the trenches within two or three 
feet of one another, to the depth of two or three feet in the bottom 
lands, and when these holes were filled with worms, the stick was 
plunged into the holes, thus destroying the vermin. In this way 
some corn was saved. About the first of September the worms sud- 
denly disappeared. Where or how they terminated their career is 
unknown, for not the carcass of a worm was seen. Had it not been 
for pumpkins, which were exceedingly abundant, and potatoes, the 
people would have greatly suffered for food. Asit was, great priva- 
tion was felt on account of the loss of grass and grain,” 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 43 


The same writer adds that “in 1781, eleven years after, the same 
kind of worm appeared again, and the fears of the people were greatly 
excited, but this time they were few in number.” 

In 1790 their ravages are again recorded in Connecticut, where 
they were very destructive to the grass and corn, but their existence 
was short, all dying in a few weeks (Webster on Pestilence, I, 272.) 

Their next appearance in the Eastern States was in 1817, after an 
interval of twenty-seven years, according to Fitch, who quotes the 
following paragraph from the Albany (N. Y.) Argus: 

Worcester, Mass., May 22nd, 1817.—“ We learn that the black 
worm is making great ravages on some farms in this town, and in 
many other places in this part of the country. Their march is a ‘dis- 
played column, and their progress is as distinctly marked as the 
course of a Fs which has overrun the herbage in a dry pasture. Not 
a blade of grass is left standing in their rear. From the appearance 
of the worm it is supposed to be the same which usually infests gar- 
dens, and is commonly called the cut worm. Fs * ‘i 
This same worm is also destroying the vegetation in the northern 
towns of Rensselaer and eastern section of Saratoga, New York. 
Many meadows and pastures have been rendered by their depreda- 
tions as barren asaheath. It appears to be thesame species of worm 
that has created so much alarm in Worcester county, but we suspect 
it is different from the cut worm, whose ravages appear to be confined 
to corn.” 

It was not until after a lapse of forty-four years from the last 
mentioned date, namely, in the summer of 1861, that this worm again 
spread over the meadows and grain fields of the Kastern States. 
During the interval, however, it had from time to time attracted at- 
tention in the Western States, where it often proved quite destruc- 
tive. Thus, in Illinois, itis recorded as having appeared in 1818, 1820, 
1825, 1826, 1834, 1841, 1842, 1845 and 1856, and according to Mr. B. F. 
Wiley, of Makanda, IIl.,it was quite numerous and destructive in the 
southern part of the State in 1849, and appeared there also in 1857, 
though it was confined that year to limited localities.* Mr. J. 
Kirkpatrick, of Ohio, mentions its appearance in the northern part of 
that State in 1855. He says: ‘ Last season (1855), in consequence of 
the heavy rains in the early part of June, the flats of the Cuyahoga, 
near Cleveland, were flooded. After the subsidence of the water, 
and while the grass was yet coated with the muddy deposit, myriads 
of small blackish caterpillars appeared; almost every blade had its 
inhabitant; no animal could feed upon it without, at every bite, 
swallowing several; if anew blade sprung up, it was immediately 
devoured, but what was most remarkable, the insects did not attempt 
to remove to land a foot or two higher but that had not been covered 
by the water.’’+ 


*Prairie Farmer, July 18th, 1861. 
fFOhio Agricultural Report, 1855, p, 350. 


44 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


The year 1861 will long be remembered as a remarkable Army- 
worm year, for this insect was observed in particular localities 
throughout the whole nerthern and middle portion of the United 
States from New England to Kansas. It was first noticed in numbers 
sufficient to cause alarm, in Tennessee and Kentucky during the 
month of April; and toward the close of the same month it appeared 
in the southern counties of Illinois. By the end of June it had visited 
nearly all portions of the latter State, proving more or less destruc- 
tive to grass, wheat, oats, rye, sorghum and corn. 

Its advent in Missouri was simultaneous with that in Illinois, and 
judging from what facts I have accumulated, it occurred very gen- 
erally over this State, though recorded only in St. Louis, Jefferson, 
Warren, Boone, Howard and Pike counties. No mention is made ot 
its occurrence, at this time, in any of the States or Territories west of 
Missouri, but to the East, scarcely a single State escaped its ravages. 
In many portions of Ohio it entirely destroyed the hay and grain 
crops, and in the eastern part of Massachusetts the damage done was 
reported to exceed ahalf million of dollars. 


Singularly enough, I can find no trace of the occurrence of this 
insect in Missouri prior to the year 1861, and the first intelligible ac- 
count of it from the pen of a Missourian, is that by Dr. Wislizenus 
of St. Louis, published in the Transactions of the St. Louis Academy 
of Science (Vol. II, No. 1, pp. 159-60). My good friend Wislizenus 
then erroneously supposed it to be identical withthe Bombyx grami- 
nis of Northern Europe—an insect which commits similar devasta- 
tions on the grasses and cereals in that country. But I believe he is 
now well aware that it is an entirely distinct species. 


Since 1861 the Army-worm has never spread so generally over 
such a vast extent of country, though in 1865 it appeared in consid- 
erable numbers around St. Joseph in this State, and in 1866 did some 
damage near Quincy, Ills., as we learn from the Quincy Waizg. 

Last year it made its appearance again 1n vast numbers in many 
portions of this State, especially in St. Louis, Jefferson, Cooper, Cal- 
laway, Henry, St. Clair, Marion, Ralls, and Lafayette counties, and in 
some counties in Illinois and Indiana. The first intimation I received 
of its appearance in Missouri was the following letter sent to me by 
Mr. A. E. Trabue of Hannibal, under date of June Sth: 


I inclose a match-box with grass and two worms, which we think 
are Army-worms. They are here in myriads destroying the grass. 
Destroyed a hundred acres of blue grass meadow in five days, and 
are now advancing on me. What are they and their habits? 

Carbolic acid (one part acid, 20 parts water) kills them if they 
get a good drench with it, but is too expensive at that rate. They 
will cross a trail of it without injury, though they evidently dislike 
the smell. Have sent to town for coal tar to see if they will cross it 
when the ground is soaked with it. The advancing column is a half 
mile wide. 

The hogs are very fond of them; will not notice corn when they 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 
can get Army-worms, but we have more of the latter than they can 


dispose of. 
A. E. TRABUE. 
Upon receipt of this letter, I visited Hannibal and ascertained ~ 
that the worm was even more numerous around New London, and 
especially on the farm of Mr. A. McPike. 


ITS SUDDEN APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE. 


The popular idea about the sudden appearance of an insect has 
always been an erroneous one. The ‘blows” or “ gentiles” in meat, 
“skippers” and mites in cheese, plant-lice on plants, etc., etc., are 
very generally supposed to have a spontaneous origin, and our sud- 
den Army-worm invasions have very generally been accounted for 
in the same way, by those who know nothing of Nature’s workings. 
Yes, and so-called savans—will it be credited !—have been anxious to 
so far tickle the popular fancy as to conceive and give birth to 
theories (such as that of larval reproduction) which were not one whit 
more sensible or tenable. 

It is well known to entomologists, and the reader, by perusing 
the article on “Cut-worms” in my First Report, will soon become 
aware of the fact, that most of the larve of our Owlet Moths (family 
Noctuide) rest hidden during the day and feed in the morning and 
evening, or at night. They are all smooth, tender-skinned worms, 
and cannot endure the scorching rays of the sun. Consequently 
many of them live almost habitually, just under the surface of the 
soil, while others shelter themselves under vegetable substances dur- 
ing the day. Our Army-worm forms no exception to the rule, for 
upon closely watching the habits of the hosts I witnessed last sum- 
mer in the field, and of hundreds which I had confined in breeding 
cages, I ascertained that they frequently hide themselves Cut-worm 
fashion, just under the surface of the ground, or under the plants 
upon which they feed. The Army-worm delights, in fact, in cool, 
moist and shady situations, and from the passage already quoted, from 
Mr. Kirkpatrick, where it is shown that the worms which swarmed on 
the Cuyahogo flats, did not attempt to remove to land a foot or so 
higher: and from further facts recorded by Dr. Fitch, it becomes evi- 
dent that its natural abode is in the wild grass of our swamps, or on 
low lands. During an excessive dry summer these swampy places 
dry out, and the insect, having a wider range where the conditions 
for its successful development are favorable, becomes greatly multi- 
plied. The eggs are consequently deposited over a greater area of 
territory, and if the succeeding year prove wet and favorable to the 
growth of the worms we shall have the abnormal condition of their 
appearing on our higher and drier lands, and of their marching from 
one field to another. For just so soon as the green grass is devoured, 
in any particular field in which they may have hatched, these worms 
are forced, both from hunger and from their sensibility to the sun’s 
rays, to leave the denuded field. 


46 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Thus the fact becomes at once significant and explicable, that 
almost all great Army-worm years have been unusually wet, with the 
preceding year unusually dry, as Dr. Fitch has proved by record. 
The appearance of this insect last summer in the West forms no ex- 
ception, for the summer of 1868 was unusually dry and hot, while 
that of 1869 was decidedly wet. I may remark here, in further cor- 
roboration of these views, that, as might have been expected, no 
Army-worms were noticed last year in the Eastern States; for though 
in the summer of 1868 we of the West suffered so severely from 
drouth, yet in the East they were blessed with the usual amount of 
rain-fall, and in some sections had even more than the average 
amount. J 

There is in reality nothing in the least mysterious in the sudden 
appearance and disappearance of the Army-worm, for the truth of 
the matter is, that there are afew of these insects in some part or 
other of the country every year, and I have for the past four or five 
years captured one or more specimens of the moth every fall. The 
eggs hatch during the early part of May, in the latitude of South Ili- 
nois and South Missouri,and the young worms may feed by millions in 
a meadow without attracting attention; but when they have become 
nearly full grown and have stripped bare the fields in which they 
were born, and commence to march as described above, they neces- 
sarily attract attention, for they are then exceedingly voracious, 
devouring more during the last three or four days of their worm-life, 
than they had done during the whole of their previous existence. As 
soon as they are full grown they burrow into the earth, and, of course, 
are never seen again as worms. 

Their increase and decrease is dependent on even more potent 
influences than those of a climatic nature. The worms are attacked 
by at least eight different parasites, and when we understand how 
persistent these last’ are, and how thoroughly they accomplish their 
murderous work, we cease to wonder at the almost total annihilation 
of the Army-worm the year following its appearance in such hosts. 
In the words of the late J. Kirkpatrick “their undue increase but 
combines the assaults of their enemies and thus brings them within 
bounds again.” 

We must also bear in mind, that besides these parasitic insects, 
there are some cannibal insects, such as the Fiery Ground-beetle 
(Calosoma calidum, Fabr.) and its larva,* which prey unmercifully 
upon the worms, while the “Mosquito Hawks” (Zzbellule@) and bats, 
doubtless destroy many of the moths. Hogs, chickens and turkeys 
revel in the juicy carcasses of the worms, and sometimes to such an 
extent that, as Iam informed by Mr. T. R. Allen, of Allenton, the 
former occasionally die in consequence, and the latter have been 
known to lay eggs in which the parts naturally white, would be green 
when cooked. Small birds, of various kinds, and toads and frogs also, 

*Pirst Report, Fig. 34. oat. ie 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 


come in for their share of this dainty food; while the worms, when 
hard pushed, will even devour each other. 


NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ARMY-WORM. 


Previous to the year 1861, but very little accurate knowledge had 
been acquired respecting the habits of the Army-worm, and nothing 
whatever of a scientific nature had been published. 

A few very observing farmers ventured to predict its appearance 
during very wet summers succeeding very dry ones. They did not 
know why this was the case, but it was a fact that they had learned 
from experience. It was also known that the worm attacked only 
the grasses and cereals, that it was gregarious in its habits, and that 
it disappeared suddenly, in a manner as seemingly mysterious as that 
in which its advent was supposed to have been made. 

These few facts were about the enly ones of real value, respecting 
the habits of this insect, that could be gleaned from the statements 
of those who had suffered most from its ravages; while the subject 
seems to have been, up to that time, entirely ignored by entomologi- 
cal writers. 

In i861, however, its very general appearance, and the vast 
amount of damage it did, attracted the attention, not only of farmers, 
bat of several well-known entomologists, among whom may be men- 
tioned our late friends, Walsh, of Illinois, and Kirkpatrick, of Ohio; 
and Cyrus Thomas, of Illinois, Dr. Fitch, of New York, and J. H. 
Klippart, of Ohio. 

Asmight have been expected, diverse conclusions were arrived 
at, and various theories entertained by these writers, and some very 
spirited correspondence between Messrs. Walsh and Thomas and 
Walsh and Klippart may be found in old files of both the Ohio Farmer 
and the Prairie Farmer. 

The principal point of dispute was, whether the Army-worm win- 
tered in the egg or chrysalis state, and, as a consequence, whether it 
was single or double-brooded. 

It is needless to follow these gentlemen in their discussions, which 
were frequently caustic and pungent; but sometimes partook more 
of the character of personal wrangling than of a calm and conscien- 
tious search after truth. Two of the five parties mentioned above, 
are now in their graves, and while one of those yet living—Mr. Cyrus 
Thomas—believed in the two-brooded character of the insect; the 
other two evade the question entirely. Mr. Walsh took the ground 
that it was single-brooded, and the experience of the past year has 
+ convinced me that he was correct. 

The Army-worm, like all other insects, hatches from an egg, and 
this egg is evidently deposited by the parent moth at the base of 
perennial grass-stalks. In Southern Missouri it hatches out about 
the middle of April; in the central part of the State about the first, 
and in the northern part about the middle of May; in Massachusetts, 


48> SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


about the middle of June, and in Maine about the middle of July. In 
every locality the worm goes underground about a month afterwards 
to assume the pupaor chrysalis state, and stays underground between 
two and three weeks. Hence,in the southern part of this State the 
moth appears about the fore part of June, and a month later in each 
successive locality as we go north, till in Maine, the period becomes 
the fore part of September. Of course, these dates will vary some- 
what with the character of the seasons, and sometimes from local 
causes; but, broadly speaking, they will hold good. 

The moths soon pair, and sometime during the summer and fall 
months, deposit their eggs in the positions already indicated. Many 
eggs are thus deposited in tame meadows, but there is little doubt in 
my mind that the great bulk of these eggs are deposited in low, damp 
situations, and if the fall should prove wet, instead of dry, many of 
them would perhaps get drowned out, and we should thus have 
another potent influence at work to decrease the numbers of the 
worm the succeeding year. I make this suggestion with all due con- 
sideration, for I have long since concluded that the instincts of 
insects, as of some of the higher animals, are not always sufficient to 
guard against all contingencies. It has been demonstrated beyond 
the possibility of a doubt, that the Plum Curculio deposits its eggs in 
fruit that overhangs water, and in other positions where the grub 
must inevitably perish; and certain flesh-flies are well known to 
deposit their eggs, by mistake, on flowers which have a putrescent 
smell. Darwin has remarked that a small South American bird 
(Furnarius cunicularius) which builds its nest at the bottom of a 
narrow, cylindrical hole, which extends horizontally several feet 
underground, is so incapable of acquiring any notion of thickness, 
that, although he saw specimens constantly flitting over a low clay 
wall, they continued vainly to bore through it, thinking it an excel- 
lent bank for their nests.* Many such instances of misdirected in- 
stinct might be cited, and they all lead me to believe that the female 
Army-worm moth would be just as likely to lay her eggs in situa- 
tions where they would drown out, as in situations more favor- 
able. 

The above may be considered as the normal habit of the Army- 
worm; but exceptional individuals occur, perhaps one in a hundred, 
but demonstrably not as many as one in twenty, which lie in the 
chrysalis state all through the winter and do not come out in the 
moth state till the following spring. The proportion of those which | 
lie over till spring is doubtless greater in the more northern States 
than itis with us. The great fault which Mr. Walsh made in his ex- 
cellent paper on this insect, published in the Illinois State Agricul- 
tural Transactions for 1861, was, that he drew his lines too rigidly, 
and allowed of no exceptions to the rule which he laid down, of its 
single-broodedness. He also fell into an error in roughly estimating 


* Voyage Round the World, p. 95. 


a 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 


the average life of the moth at from three to five weeks. I have 


-often caught the moths, both in the fall and spring months, even 


in years when the worms themselves were unnoticed by farmers; and 
‘Dr. Levi Bartlett, formerly of Pesotum, Ils.,informed me while he 
was practising in Chicago, that he had himself ascertained that they 
would sometimes live at least three months, and that he had often 
found them as late as October. We must also bear in mind that they 
do not all mature and issue from the ground together, even in the 
same locality; but that an interval of from six to eight weeks may 
intervene between the issuing of the first and last moths. With 
these facts before us it is easy to comprehend how some of the moths 
live long enough to deposit their eggs on newly sown fall grain, 
though grass meadows are more favorite resorts. It also becomes 
clear that the moths may sometimes lay their eggs before harvest 
upon growing grain, sufficiently high from the ground, for the egg to 
be carried off with the straw; and this accounts for several well 
authenticated instances of the Army-worm starting from stack-yards. 

The Army-worm larva varies but little in appearance from the 
time it hatches to the time when it is full grown. Some specimens 
are a shade darker than others, but on many thousands examined, I 
have found the markings very uniform as represented in the annexed 
[Fig-14.] gut (Fig. 14). The general color is dingy black, and 
jit is striped longitudinally as follows: On the back a 
\. | /broad dusky stripe; then a narrow black line; then 

i a narrow white line; then a yellowish stripe; thena 

A ’ A pe; 

\ |] narrow sub-obsolete white line; then a dusky stripe; 
il] then a narrow white line; then a yellowish stripe; 
‘/ then a sub-obsolete white line; belly obscure green. 
Those who are more particular will find a detailed 
description at the end of this article. 

The chrysalis (Fig. 15) is of a shiny mahogany- 
brown color, with two stiff converging  [Fig. 15.) 
| thorns at the extremity, having two fine_.<«fTiees 
| curled hooks each side of them. The ““*& 
general color of the moth is light reddish-brown or fawn color, and it 
is principally characterized by, and receives its name from, a white 
spot near the center of its front wings, there being also a dusky ob- 
lique line running inwardly from their tips. The accompanying 
(Fig. 16.] illustration (Fig. 16), though darker than it 

| should be, will show wherein it differs from 
the Southern Cotton Army-worm, notwith- 
7 standing the colors of the two moths are 
nearly alike. Our Army-worm moth 
was first described by the English En- 
tomologist Haworth in the year 1810, in 
his Lepidoptera Brittanica, page 174, as 
rece unipuncta. Subsequently the French Entomologist Guenée 

—ER 


50 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


(Noctuelites I, p. 77) overlookiny the former’s description, and re- 
garding it as a new species, named it Leucania extranea. Of course 
Haworth’s name takes the precedence. It is considered a common 
species even in European collections, and Guenée mentions it as oe- 
curring in Brazil. A variety without the white spot occurs in Java 
and India, and still another, lacking the white spot, and having a 
dark border on the hind wings, occurs in Australia; while an occa- 
sional specimen has been captured in England. A figure is given 
in Stainton’s Entomologist’s Annual for 1860, of one captured there 
in 1859, but if the figure be a correct one, the specimen is much 
lighter than ours, and the characteristic white spot is not nearly so 
conspicuous, 


PARASITES OF THE ARMY-WORM. 


Tue Rep-rarep Tacuina Fry—Lwvorista leucaniw, Kirk.—To one 
who has never before seen the Army-worm in its might, the sight of 
the myriads as they return thwarted in their endeavors to cross, or 
of the living, moving and twisting mass which sometimes fills a ditch 
to the depth of several inches; is truly interesting. At Hannibal 
I was much surprised to find that fully nine worms out of every ten 
had upon the thoracic segments, just behind the head, from one to 
four minute, narrow, oval white eggs, about 0.04 inch long, attached 
firmly to the skin; and my companions were equally surprised when 
I informed them that these were the eggs of a parasite, and that 
every one of the worms which had such eggs attached to it, would 
eventually succumb to one of the maggots these eggs produced. The 
eges are no doubt deposited by the mother fly just behind the head, 
so that the worm may not reach the young maggots when they hatch, 
and be enabled to destroy them with its jaws. Ihave found several 
different kinds of cut-worms with just such eggs attached invariably 
on the back just behind the head. They are glued so strongly to the 
skin of the worm that they cannot be removed without tearing the 
flesh. 

The large two-winged parasitic flies which deposited these eggs, 
were wonderfully numerous, buzzing around us and about the worms 
like so many bees, and the moment one was caught, I recognized it as 
the Ited-tailed Tachina Fly. This is one of the most common and 
abundant of the Army-worm parasites, and attacks itin widely different 
parts of the country. I have also bred the same fly from the Variga- 
ted cut-worm (larvaof Agrotis inermis* ), and a variety of it from our 
common large Cecropia worm, whichis often found on apple and other 
fruit trees. It was first very briefly and imperfectly described as /xor- 
ita leucalija, by the late J. Kirkpatrick, in the Ohio Agricultural 
Report for 1860, page 358, and was subsequently much more fully de- 
scribed as Senometopia [ Hxorista| militaris by Mr. Walsh, in his 
Army-worm paper already referred to. Of course Mr. Kirkpatrick’s 

*First Report, p. 72. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 


name has the priority, but l introduce Mr. Walsh’s original descrip- 
tion of the fly and likewise the very same figure (Fig. 17) which he 
used to illustrate it. 
[Pig. 17.] Exorista leucanie—Length, .25 to .40 inches, or from 6 to 
10 millimetres, the females not exceeding .30 inch. Face sil- 
very, with lateral black hairs only on the cheeks, at the top of 
which is a black bristle. Front, golden-olive, with a black cen- 
tral stripe, and lateral black convergent hairs. Occiput, dusky. 
Labium, brown, with yellowish hair. Maxipalps, rufous. Hyes, 
cinnamon-brown, covered with very short dense whitish hair. 
Antenne, two basal joints, black, with black hairs; third joint, 
flattened, dusky, and from two anda half to three times the 
length of the second joint; seta, black. ‘The entire hinder part 
of the head covered with dense whitish hair. Thorax glabrous, bluish-gray, lighter at the side, 
with four irregular black vittee, and black hairs and bristles. Scutel, reddish-brown, whitish be- 
hind, glabrous, with black hairs and bristles. Pectus, black, glabrous, with hairs and lateral 
bristles. Legs, black, hairy; thighs, dark cinereous beneath; pulvilli, cinereous. Wings, hyaline ; 
neryures, brownish; alulew, opaque greenish-white. Abdomen, first joint black ; second and third, 
cpalescent in the middle with black and gray, and at the sides with rufous and gray; last joint, 
rufous, slightly opalescent at the base with gray ; all with black hairs and lateral bristles. Be- 
neath, the first joint is black, the others black, margined with rufous, all with black hairs. In the 
male the space between the eyes at the occiput is one-seventh of the transverse diameter of the 
head; in the female it is one-fourth. The colors of the abdomen sometimes ‘‘grease’’ and fade 
in the dried specimen. 
Bred fifty-four specimens from about the same number of Army-worms. Described from eight 


males and six females. Two species, similarly marked with rufous, but generally distinet, occur 
at Rock Island. 


Mr. Kirkpatrick also described on the same page of the Ohio 
Report for 1850, another species (?) to which he gave the name of Osten 
Sachenii. But upon the very face of it, this proves to be butasmaller 
specimen of his /ewcania, for the characters on which he would build 
this other species, are none of them constant. Hesays it differs from 
leucanie in its smaller size; in the gray bands on the abdomen not 
being so distinct; in some little variation in the position of the brown, 
and in the pulvill[¢]@ being more distinctly gray. Now leucanie va- 
ries from 0.25 to 0.40 inch in length; the brown on the abdomen is 
opalescent and varies; the pulvilli and gray abdominal markings 
vary far more in depth of shade than there set forth, and the abdo- 
men in fact, if the least greasy, often loses all trace of gray. 

[Fig. 18.] Tue YELLOW-TAILED Tacuina Fry, (Zxoris- 
ta Havicauda, N. Sp.}—We have another spe- 
cies in Missouri however, which may be call- 
—— the Yellow-tailed Tachina Fly, and which 

— differs so notably from the Red-tailed species 
that it may be recognized even on the wing. 
It is almost twice as large, and the head in- 
stead of being narrower than the thorax asin 
leucanie is broader. Its flight is also more 
vigorous and its buzz twice as loud, I represent this species at Fig- 
ure 18, and draw up the following description for the scientific 
reader: 


Ezorista flavicauda, N. Sp.—Length, 0.35 to 0.50 inch. Head broader than thorax; face, sil- 
very-white, the cheeks inclining to yellow, with lateral black hairs extending to near the base of 


—_ 
a7 


52 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


antennex, and one stiffer and longer bristle at top of cheeks; front, dusky, ferruginous, with two 
rows of black converging bristles; divided by a broad depressed stripe of a brighter ferruginous 
color and without bristles ; occiput bright ferruginous ; labium ferruginous with hairs of same 
color; maxipalps rufous ; eyes dark mahogony-brown, and perfectly smooth; antennx, two basal 
joints rufous, with black hairs, third joint flattened, dusky,, and thrice as long as second; seta, 
black ; entire hinder part of head covered with dense white hairs. Thorax, more decidedly blue 
than in leucanie, broader (instead of narrower) in front than behind; the vitte less distinct ; scute! 
of same color as thorax. Abdomen, stout and more cylindrical than in leucania; first joint dark 
bluish-gray ; second, light bluish-gray, becoming darker along the middle, at sides and at lower 
border ; third joint, like second above, but golden-gray at sides (no rufous); last joint entirely yellow 
or pale orange, with no other color and but few black bristles around anus. Wings more dusky 
than in leucania; alulz, opaque bluish-white. Legs, black; pulvilli pale yellow. 

Described from one captured, 4bredQ. Space between eyes at occiput fully one-third the width 
of head. 


[Fig. 19.] To give an idea of the other parasites which attack the 
Army-worm, I will briefly allude to them, and transmit 


descriptions for the scientific reader. 

Tue GLAssy MresocHorus—Mesochorus vitreus, Walsh. (Fig. 19.)—Length of 
body .08 inch, (two millimetres,) to .13 inch, (three millimetres); the small speci- 
mens being parasitic on the Army-worm and the large ones captured in Rock fIs- 
land county. Male, general color light rufous. Eyes and ocelli, black; antenna 
fuscous, except toward the base. Upper surface of thorax in the larger specimen fuscous; inter. 
mediate and posterior tibize with spurs equal to one-fourth of their length ; posterior knees slightly 
dusky ; tips of posterior tibie distinctly dusky. Wings hyaline; nervures and stigma, dusky. 
Abdomen, a translucent yellowish-white in its central one-third; the remaining two-thirds piceous- 
black, with a distinct narrow yellowish annulus at the base of the third joint. In the larger speci- 
men, which seems to be immature, the basal abdominal joint, and the articulations of the terminal 
joints are lightrufous. Appendiculum of the abdomen composed of two extremely fine sets, thick- 
ened at their base, whose length slightly exceeds the extreme width of the abdomen. 

The female differs from the male, in the head from the mouth upwards being piceous. The 
thorax and pectus, in all three specimens, are also piceous-black. Abdomen as in the smaller 
male. Ovipositor, which is dusky, slightly exceeds in length the width of the abdomen. 

Tue DiminisneD PezomAcHUS—Pezomachus minimus, Walsh, (Fig. 20.).—Length of the body 

[Fig. 20.] .07 to .10 inch., (2 to 24 millimetres). Male, general color, [Fig. 21.] 
piceovs. Eyes black; antenne black, except toward the oo 

Fassuaal 


base, where they are Hehe rufous. Legs rufous; hind legs a 

little dusky. Abdomen narrowed ; second and sometimes gs rae 

rh [the third joint annulate with afar at tip. The female ait-Q STING < 

fers from the male in the thorax being almost invariably 20 3 ae eee 
rufous, and in the first three abdominal joints being gener- 

ally entirely rufous, with a piceous annulus at the base of the third, which is sometimes absent. 

The abdomen is also fuller and wider. Ovipositor dusky, equal in length to the width of the 

abdomen. No vestige of wings ineither sex, and the thorax contracted and divided as in Formica. 


Fig. 22. The larvee of this species issue from the body of the 
Army-worm, and spin on its skin, small cocoons pe peiric: 
ally Seetaeed side by side, and enveloped i in floss (Fig. 21). 
It belongs to a genus of yineleee Ichneumons, and inits vars 
is preyed upon by a small Chalecis fly (Chalcis albifrons, 
Walsh) which is represented at Figure 22. ; 
’ Tun Mrirrary Microgaster—Microgaster militaris, Walsh, (Fig. 23).—Length 0.07 inch. 
[Fig. 23.]  Tfead black; palpi whitish ; antennz fuscous above, light brown beneath towards 
the base. Thorax black, polished, with very minute punctures. Wings hyaline ; 
nervures and stigma fuscous; lower nervure of marginal, and exterior nervure of 
/ second submarginal cellule entirely obsolete. Lower nervule of third and terminal 
AS < submarginal cellule, hyaline. Legs light rufous, posterior pair, with knees and 
tips of tibize fuscous. Abdomen black, glabrous, highly polished. Ovipositor not 
exserted. 
The cocoons of this little parasite are spun in irregu- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 58 


lar masses, and are so completely covered with loose white silk that 
as a whole they look like little pieces of fine wool attached to the 
back of the Army-worms. They were very numerous last year in 
this State, and were sent to me by several correspondents, under the 
supposition that they were the eggs of the Army-worm. Nothing 
could be more unsafe and erroneous than such a conclusion; for in- 
stead of giving birth to new generations of the Army-worm they pro- 
duce the little flies which are its most deadly foes. All the numer- 
(Fig. 24] ous specimens which I bred accord exactly with the 
above named species. This parasite is also in its turn 

Pe infested by two parasites (Glyphe viridascens (Fig. 24) 

; and Hockeria perpulcra, Walsh), but while over 90 per 
ES cent. of Army-worms are killed by primary parasites, 
only about 18 per cent. of these primary parasites are 


destroyed by the secondary parasites. 
Tur Purcep OPHION—Ophion purgatus, Say*.—Body pale honey-yellow, somewhat sericeous ; 
[Fig. 25.] antenne rather longer than the body; orbits yellow, dilated be- 
fore, so as to occupy the greater part of the hypostoma; ocelli 
large, prominent; wings hyaline; stigma slender; first cubital 
cellule with two opaque, subtriangular spots; no areolet; meta- 
thorax with a single, raised, rectilinear, transverse line, near the 
base. Length, seven-tenths of an inch. 


This large Ichneumon Fly (Fig. 25) has 
been bred from the Army-worm. The ovipos- 
itor is very short, and instead of piercing the 
skin of her victim as do all the other Ichneu- 
mons that have been described, the female 
Ophion simply attaches her egg, whieh is bean- 
shaped, by a pedicle to the skin. The footless grub which hatches 
from this egg does not entirely leave the egg-case, but the last joints 
of its body remain attached to the shell, while it reaches over, and 
with its sharp jaws gnaws into the side of the worm (Packard). This 
Ophion has been taken in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana, 
Illinois, Missouri and Carolina and doubtless occurs all over the Uni- 
ted States. 

Tue Army-worm IcHNEUMON Fiy—Jchneumon lucanie, Fitch— 

Dr. Fitch* has briefly described another true Ichneumon Fly 
under the above name, which he bred from the Army-worm. 

Thus we have seven distinct and true parasites which attack this 
worm, and besides these, two others, undescribed, are figured in Har- 
ris’s Injurious Insects (last edition p. 630), swelling the number to 
nine. Can we longer wonder that this dreaded foe to the farmer, 
never molests his crops for two successive years ? 


HABITS OF THE ARMY-WORM, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ITS DESTRUCTION. 


Since the great bulk of the eggs of the Army-worm are depos- 
ited in the summer and fall months in grass swamps and grass mead- 


* Ophion purgatus, Say.=O. lateralis, Brullé. 
#N. Y. Reports, Vol. ITI, p. 126. 


54 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


ows, and the eggs do not hatch out till the following spring, it be- 
comes obvious that burning over grass meadows in the winter or very 
early in the spring, must destroy most of the eggs. Manv instances 
might be given where, in past years, burnt grass escaped the worm, 
while all the unburnt grass in the neighborhood was badly infested, 
and in one instance part of a meadow having been accidentally burnt 
and part remaining unburnt, the burnt portion in the following sum- 
mer, had no Army-worms on it, and the unburnt portion swarmed 
with them. Thus, if you burn your meadows over annually you 
will seldom be troubled with this pest, and if you get your neigh- 
bors to do the same thing, and in addition will also burn all the wild 
grass around you, the Army-worm will never do you any damage. 
The remedy is so simple that all can apply it. The best time to do 
this burning, is, as all practical men well know, in the dead of the 
year, when the ground is frozen; the roots of the grass are then un- 
harmed by the fire. Of course, ploughing the land late in the fall or 
late in the spring, will have the same effect as burning it, for if the 
eggs are turned two or three inches underground they will surely rot 
and fail to hatch. Here we see, as in the case of the Canker-worm, 
which I shall presently treat of, and asin the case of almost every 
other noxious insect, it is necessary accurately to investigate the 
habits and puculiarities of each one before we can effectually coun- 
terwork it. 

During my visit to Hannibal last June, I ascertained that the 
worms orignated in a large 100-acre field of very rich blue-grass, be- 
longing to Mr. W. R. Flowerree. This gentleman makes a business 
of fattening cattle, and intended feeding off the grass in the fall; but 
that same blue-grass field had neither been pastured nor plowed the 
year before; and this was the very reason why the worms originated 
there, as the reader will readily perceive from the foregoing account 
of the insect’s habits. 

The Army-worm when traveling will scarcely turn aside for any- 
thing but water, and even shallow water-courses will not always 
check its progress; for the advance columns will often continue to 
rush head-long into the water until they have sufficiently choked it 
up with their dead and dying bodies, to enable the rear guard to cross 
safely over. I have noticed that after crossing a bare field or bare 
road where they were subjected to the sun’s rays, they would congre- 
gate in immense numbers under the first shade they reached. Inone 
instance I recollect their collecting and covering the ground five or 
six deep all along the shady side of a fence for about a mile, while 
scarcely one was seen to cross on the sunny side of the same fence. 
Though they will nibble at clover, they evidently do not relish it, and 
almost always pass it by untouched. They will eat any of the grasses, 
and are fond of oats, rye, sorghum, corn and wheat, though they seldom 
‘devour any other part but the succulent leaves. They often cut off 
the ears of wheat and oats and allow them to fall to the ground, and 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 55 


they are perhaps led to perform this wanton trick, by the succulency 
of the stem immediately below the ear. South of latitude 40° they 
generally appear before the wheat stalks get too hard, or early enough 
to materially injure it; but north of that line, wheat is generally too 
much ripened for their tastes, and issometimes even harvested before 
_the full grown worms make their advent. 

IT have heard of the Army-worm, sometimes passing through a 
wheat field when the wheat was nearly ripe, and doing good service 
by devouring al] the chess and leaving untouched the wheat; but the 
following item from Collinsville, Illinois, which appeared in the J/is- 
souri Democrat, contains still more startling facts, and would indi- 
cate that even a foe to the farmer as determined as this, may some- 
times prove to be his friend. 

“ HARVEST AND Crops.—Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, 
many farmers have commenced the wheat harvest. The yield in this 
immediate vicinity will be superabundant. Some fields were struck 
with rust a few days since, but the Amry-worm making its appearance 
simultaneously, stripped the straw entirely bare of blades and saved 
the berry from injury. These disgusting pests have saved thousands 
of dollars to farmers in this neighborhood. <A few fields of corn and 
grass have been partially destroyed, but by ditching around fields, the 
worm’s ravages have been confined within comparatively narrow 
limits.” 

The worms may be prevented from passing from one field to an- 
other by judicious ditching. Mr. Trabue has large meadows, sepa- 
rated only by a road from the blue-grass field of Mr. Flowerree; and 
he thought he could keep out the worms by simply making a V-shaped 
ditch ; believing that they could not crawl over, so long as the earth 
crumbled. The first evening after it was dug, this ditch seemed to be 
effectual, and the bottom was covered with one seething, twisting 
mass of the worms; but a heavy rain came on in the night following, 
after which they crossed without difficulty. Mr. Jas. Dimmitt how- 
ever, who had 80 acres of wheat adjoining the fatal blue-grass field, 
effectually protected it by surrounding it with a ditch which had the 
inner side slanting under, towards the field it was intended to protect. 
It was indeed most fortunate that Mr. Dimmitt had hit upon the true 
method in the beginning, for his wheat was yet in that soft state, in 
which many of the ears would have been devoured or cut off; and 
friend Trabue was not long in profiting by his example. 

A good plan to destroy the worms which accumulate in the fur- 
row or ditch is to burn straw init; for the fire not only kills the 
worms, but makes the earth in the ditch friable and more efficient in 
preventing their ascent. A heavy roller passed over a field will kill 
almost every worm, and I have already stated that hogs and poultry 
will devour great numbers of them. But it is always better and 


easier to prevent than to cure. 

LevcanraA onrpuncta, Haw.—Larva—General color dingy black, with the piliferous spots, 
placed in the normal position, but scarcely visible, though the soft hairs arising from them are 
easily seen with a lens. Four lateral light lines, of almost equal thickness, and at about equal 


56 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


distance from each other, the two uppermost white, the two lowermost yellow ; a much less dis- 
tinct dorsal white line, frequently obsolete in middle of segment, and always most distinct at the 
divisions : a jet black line immediately above the first lateral white one, the dorsum near it, 
thickly mottled with dull yellow, but becoming darker as it approaches the fine dorsal white line, 
along each side of which it is perfectly black. Space between lateral light lines. 1 and 2, dull 
yellow, the white lines being relieved by a darker edge; that between lines 2 and 3 almost black, 
being but slightly mottled along the middle; that between 3 and 4 yellow, mottled with pink- 
brown, and appearing lighter than that between 1 and 2. Venter greenish-glaucous, mottled and 
speckled with neutral color, especially near the edge of the 4th lateral line. Legs glassy and of *” 
same color as venter, those on thoracic segments with black claws, those on abdomen with a large 
shiny black spot on the outside. Stigmataoval, black, and placed in the 3d lateral light line. 
Head pale grayish-yellow, speckled with confluent fuscous dots; marked longitudinally by two 
dark lines that commence at the corners of the mouth, approach each other towards the centre, — 
and again recede behind; on each side are four minute polished black eyelets, piaced on a light 
crescent-shaped ridge, and from each side of this light ridge a dark mark extends more or lezs 
among the confluent spots above. Described from numerous average living specimens. 
Imago—Front wings: general color,tarnished yellowish-drab, inclining torusset;: sprinkled — 
with blackish atoms, the basal half of the costal margin being lighter than the rest. Ordinary ~ 
spots brighter than rest of wing, being either fulvous or rust-red, each having ordinarily: a tar- 
nished centre, the reniform or ‘‘kidney-shaped” spot, having at its lower border a conspicuous 
white point, indistinctly surrounded by blackish, from which point the moth takes its name; 
between this point and the terminal border a transverse row of black dots (one on each’ vein) 
much arcuated above; and inside and parallel withit a less distinct row, the dots forming 
which, are between the nerves; an oblique dark streak, shaded off gradually posteriorly, but re- 
lieved anteriorly by the same bright color as the ordinary ‘spots’’ runs from the head of’ this row 
of dots to the apex of the wing; nerves more or less marked with white, especially towards their 
tips ; posterior or terminal border with a row of black spots between the nerves; fringes same 
color as wing, with a narrow dusky line inside their middle. Hind wings-partly transparent, 
smoky-brown, with a slight purplish lustre, the veins, lunule, and terminal border more dusky 
fringes pale yellow with a dusky middle line. 5 


Under surfaces opalescent yellowish-white, the front wings shaded with smoky-gray, the costa 
narrowly, and the terminal margin broadly freckled with dusky specks, the fringes and .a shade 
near the apex flesh-color, and a distinct dusky band across their outer one-fourth, narrower but 
darker on the costa than in the middle of the wing: the hind wings with the lunule distinct and 
also speckled anteriorly and posteriorly, the basal edge of the posterior portion well ede pe a 
series of black dots on the nerves. spot 


Head and shoulders of same color as basal part of costa; thorax same as front wings ; abdo-- 
men same as hind wings; beneath all more uniformly gray. : 


INSECTS INFESTING THE SWEET-POTATO. 


TORTOISE-BEETLES. 


(Coleoptera, Casside.) 


In my First Report I described eleven different and distinct in- 
sects which habitually prey on the common Irish Potato (Salanwm 
tuberosum). I will now give an account of the worst insect enemies 
of the Sweet-Potato (/pomea batatus), all of which attack that plant- 
in this State. Before doing so, however, it will be as well to remark, 
that one species belonging to the same family as those which feed-on 
the Sweet-Potato, and which is quite frequently met with in Missouri, 
namely, the Clubbed Tortoise-beetle (Deloyala clavata, Oliv. Fig. 26,) 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. ay | 


[Fig. 26.) feeds in reality on the common Irish Potato, thus swelling 
the number of insects which injuriously affect that most 
» valuable esculent, to a round dozen. The larva of the 
Clubbed Tortoise-beetle is not yet known, and it is the per- 
ilfect insect which has been found to attack.he Potato. This 
is doubtless the species which Mr. Huron Burt of Williams- 
bate Callaway county, referred to in the Journal of Agriculture of 
June 6th, 1868, as “a scale-like, terrapin-shaped hard insect, spread 
out like a flying-squirrel,” that adhered tenaciously to the leaves of 
his potato plants. By referring to Figure 26 the reader will not be 
slow to learn why these beetles are called 'Tortoise-beetles, for the 


patches of dark opaque color which extend on the thin projecting 
semi-transparent shell of that species, remind one very forcibly of the 
insects, are six in number, and which in this species, are so short that 
they scarcely reach beyond the thin shield-like crust that extends from 
The insects which attack the Sweet:Potato are few in species, 
and belong almost entirely to this group of Tortoise-beetles. “With 
(Haltica cucumeris, Harr.), figured and de- - 
. scribed on page 101 of the First Report, and 
found any other insects on this plant; but 
these Tortoise-beetles are of themselves 
species 18 dtidn entirely destroy whole fields of this esculent, and % 
-they are especially severe on the plants when newly transferred from 
These insects are at present included in the great CHRYSOMELA 
family.of beetles, though they were formerly placed in a separate 
more strongly characterized. They are almost all of a broad sub- 
depressed form, either oval or orbicular, with the thorax and wing- 
margin, as to forcibly recall the appearance of a turtle, whence the 
popular name. Many have the singular power, in a greater or less 
further on, some of them shine at will with the most brilliant me- 
tallic tints. 
in such a manner that they effectually get rid of it, and in some cases 
they take pains to fling it as far from them as possible! by means of 
Oblotg-winged Katydid (Phylloptera. oblongifolia, DeGeer), 
which I have had numbers breeding in confinement durirg the past 


paws of a mud-turtle. The true legs however, which, as in all other 
the body, may readily be seen when the insect is turned upside down. 
Ss [Bige 27 <. the exception of the Cucumber Flea- beetle 

jy () a few solitary caterpillars, I have never 

‘ 
sufficiently numerous in individuals and 
the hot-bed. 

family. (Cassrprom) by fidmbblved and there certainly are few groups 
covers. so EHoneueiin dilated at the sides into a- broad and flat 
degree, of changing their color when alive, and as I shall show 
Insects, as with the higher animals, usually void their éxebaeient 
their hind legs. I have especially noticed this cleanly habit in the 
two summers. They almost always fling their excrement straight 


58 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


from them, so that if they are in a horizontal position, it adheres to 
the sides of their cages instead of falling to the bottom. In the 
great majority of insects the anus is situated at, or near the last ring, 
and usually on the ventral side, so that the feces are easily left 
behind; but the larvee of several species of beetles that have the 
peculiar habit of covering themselves with their own excrement, 
have the anus not on their bellies, but on their backs. The Three- 
lined Leaf-beetle* (Zema trilineata) has this habit, and is enabled 
to cover itself by the singular position of the anal vent which is on 
the back of the last segment. A closely allied European species, 
but belonging to a different genus ( Crioceris merdigera) has the same 
habit. In this country there is also another yellowish oval jump- 
ing beetle (Blepharida rhois, Forster), which in the larva state 
covers itself with its excrement. In this instance the anus is at the 
end of the last segment, but it is sufficiently extensile at the will of 
the insect to allow of the accomplishment of the feat. This last 
larva isa disgusting looking thing, and I found it last year very 
abundant along the line of the Iron Mountain Railroad, on all three 
of the Sumachs—Rhus aromatica, glabra and copalina—preferring 
them in the order of their naming. 

But the larvee of the Tortoise-beetles are par excellence the true 
dung carriers, for they excel all others in this medigerous art. Inthe. 
instances related above, the load is carried immediately on the back, 
but our Tortoise-beetles are altogether more refined in their tastes, 
and do not allow the dung to rest on the body, but simply shade 
themselves with a sort of stercoraceous parasol. 

The larvee of all the species that have been observed to feed on 
the Sweet-Potato are broad and flattened like the beetles, and have 
the margin of the body furnished with spines which are often barbed, 
(Pig. 27,2). They all belong tothe genera Cassida and Coptocycla, and 
there are thirty-two of these spines, or sixteen on each side of the 
body. Tour of these are situated on the prothorax, which forms two 
anterior projections beyond the common margin; four of them—the 
two anterior ones longer than the others—are on each of the two fol- 
lowing thoracic segments, and each of the abdominal segments is 
furnished with but two. There are nine elevated spiracles each side 
superiorly, namely, one immediately behind the prothorax and eight 
on the abdominal segments. The fore part of the body is projected 
shield-like over the head, which is retractile and small. 

[Fig.°8.] In a closely allied genus (Chelymorpha) to 


[Fig. 29.] 
bax which belongs a brick-red insect with black 
CASS 


spots (Ch. cribraria, Fabr., Fig. 28, pupa; 29 
beetle) found upon Milkweed ( Asclepias), and 
which has the body greatly rounded above, with si, 
scarcely any lateral flange, the larva, as ob- 
served by Dr. Packard, has the prickles smooth and not. 


/ First Rep., p. 100. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 


sprangling. In another genus also (Physonota) to which belongs the 
Five-dotted Tortoise-beetle (Ph. guinguepunctata, Walsh & Riley, 
[Fig. 30.] Fig. 30, 2), and which is intermediate in form be- 
“7 tween the last named genus (Chelymorpha) and 
those with the body greatly flattened (Cassida, 
| Coptocycla, Deloyala) the prickles of the larva are 
*.| also smooth and only 20 in number, i. e., 10 on each 
side, as may be seen by referring to Figure 30, a 
eS b Mr. Walsh found this insect in Northern Illinois, 
and though we do not know upon what particular plant it feeds, yet 
from analogy we may infer that it subsists on some Composite flower, 
as other species belonging to the same genus are known to do. 

Almost all the larvee of the beetles belonging to the great Cuny- 
SOMELA family, of which the Colorado Potato Bug may serve as an ex- 
ample, have, besides the six legs at the anterior end of the body, an 
additional proleg, or protuberance which serves as such, at the pos- 
terior end; but the larve of our Tortoise-beetles have no such proleg, 
and the six anterior legs are short, thick and fleshy, and with the re- 
tractile head, give these larvee, from a side view, as great a resem- 
blance to a turtle as have the beetles. 

Though lacking an anal proleg, however, they are characterized 
by having a movable forked tail, in the shape of two long prong-like 
horny filaments which both spring from a broad neck situated imme- 
diately above the anus. The anus projects and curves over the back 
at the will of the insect, and by the aid of this fork and of some of 
the lateral spines, it forms the parasol of dung which so nicely pro- 
tects it. x 

When we read of those Hottentots who cover different portions 
of their bodies with the uncleaned intestines of sheep and oxen, we 
feel shocked at such barbarism, and can scarcely comprehend how 
human beings can defile themselves with the like disgusting materials. 
Such men must be pitiable indeed, for they can have no other object 
than the gratification of their filthy and beastly pleasures. There is 
nothing so repulsive about our insect Hottentots, for the dung parasol 
of our Tortoise-beetles has neither offensive odor or appearance, and 
its true character is generally sufficiently disguised by being inter- 
mixed with the cast-off skin and prickly spines; and though those 
species, first referred to, which directly cover their backs, often look 
sufficiently unclean, we know that they thus act at Nature’s bidding 
and for a useful purpose. 

All the Tortoise-beetle larvze which I have bred to the perfect 
beetle state, have come to their growth in about three weeks after ° 
hatching. They cast their skins at three successive periods, and these 
skins are slipped on to the fork, where in most instances they remain. 
On carefully detaching from a full grown larva the dung with which 
these skins are mixed, these three successive skins are easily recog- 
nized, the smallest being at the extremity and the largest at the base 


60 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


of the fork. They are especially recognizable in the Mottled Tortoise 
beetle (Cussida guttata, Oliv., Fig. 386,) mentioned below, which re- 
moves most of its dung before each moult. 
Fig. 31. The eggs from which. these larvee hatch, are de- 
posited singly upon the leaves, to which they are fas- 
tened by some adhesive substance. They are of 
irregular angular form; flat, and somewhat narrower 
at one end than the other; ridged above and at the 
sides, but smooth and obovate below. They are usually 
furnished with spine-like appendages, which however 
are sometimes entirely lacking. They look, in fact, 
. very much like miniature specimens of those curious 
skate-barrows or Mermaid’s purses, which are found 
so commonly along the sea-shore, and which are the 
empty egg-shells of certain kinds of Ray-fish or Skate. Those of the 
common Golden Tortoise-beetle (Fig. 31,) are 0.04 inch long, and of a 
dull, dirty white color. 

The Tortoise-beetle larvae, when full grown, fasten the last two or 
three joints of the body to the underside of a leaf, by means of a 
sticky secretion, and in about two days change to pupz. The pupa 
of those species which have 32 barbed spines, is flat with usually 
four or five broad but thin and transparent serrated leaf-like appen- 
dages on each side of the abdomen, and the prothorax, which is greatly 
dilated and covers the head, is furnished around the edge with smaller 
barbed spines. The broad leaf-like spines at the edges of the body 
are bent under while the transformation is being effected, but are 
soon afterwards stretched stiffly out with a forward slant. The pupa 
loses the pronged tail, but as the old larval skin is left adhering to 
the terminal segments the prong of dung still protects it in most 
cases. The legs and antenne are not free in this, as in the pup of 
most other beetles, but are soldered together as in the chrysalis of a 
butterfly, and yet it has the power of raising itself up perpendicularly 
upon the tail end by which it is fastened. The pupa state lasts about 
a week, 

Having thus spoken in general terms of this anomalous group of 
beetles, I shall now refer more particularly to a few of the species. 
Most of those mentioned below infest the Sweet-Potato both in the 
larva and perfect beetle states. They gnaw irregular holes and when 
sufficiently numerous entirely riddle the leaves. They usually dwell 
on the underside of the leaves, and are found most abundant during 
the months of May and June. There must be several broods during 
the year, and the same species is often found in all stages, and of all 
sizes at one and the same time. In all probability they hybernate in 
the beetle state. 

I have proved by experiment that Paris green—one part of the 
green to two of flour—when sprinkled under the vines, will kill these 
insects, though not near so readily asit does the Colorado Potato 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61 


Bug. Moreover, as these Tortoise-beetles usually hide on the under 
side of the leaves, and as the vines trail on the ground, it is very diffi- 
cult to apply the powder without running some risk from its poison- 
ous qualities. I therefore strongly recommend vigilance when the 
plants are first planted, and by the figures and descriptions given 
below the reader will be enabled to recognize and kill the few beetles 
which at that time make their appearance, and thus nip the evil in 
the bud. The Bermuda and Brazilian Sweet-Potato plants are more 
vigorous than the Nansemond, and less liable to be attacked. 


THE TWO-STRIPED SWEET-POTATO BEETLE—Cassida bivittata,, Say. 


This is the most common species found upon the Sweet-Potato, 
[Fig. 32.] and seems to be confined to that plant, as [have 
2 never found it on any other kind. Its transfor- 
mations were first described by myself in the 
\ Prairie Farmer Annual, for 1868, (p. 53.) The 
ses (Fig, 27,2 enlarged; Fig. 32, natural size), 
s dirty-white or yellowish-white, with a more 
or less intense neutral-colored deeeuainel line 
along the ae Gees relieved by an extra light band each side. It 
differs from the larvze of all other known species in not using its fork 
for merdigerous purposes. Indeed, this fork is rendered useless as a 
shield to the body, by being ever enveloped, after the first moult, in 
the cast-off prickly skins, which are oe free from excrement. 
Moreover, this fork is eeidbae held close down to the back, as in the 
other species, but more usually at an angle of 45° over or from the 
body, thus suggesting the ideaof a handle. In Kirby & Spence’s In- 
troduction (p. 426), may be found the following passage in reference 
to the positions in which the fork of the ines of these Tortoise- 
beetles is carried: “The instrument by which they effect this is an 
anal fork, upon which they deposit their excrement, and which in 
some is turned up and lies flat upon their backs; and in others forms 
different angles, from very acute to very obtuse, with their body ; 
and occasionally is unbent and in the same direction with it.” Reau- 
mur is referred to as authority for these statements, and the language 
would lead us to suppose that the forks were thus variously carried 
by different species; but Reaumur never said anything of the sort. 
His language has been poorly rendered, for he distinctly referred to 
the different positions which the same insect could give to the fork, 
and I believe that the peculiarity mentioned above has never been 
observed in the larve of any other species of the genus. 

When full fed, this larva attaches itself to the underside of the 
leaf, and in two days the skin bursts open on the back, and is worked 
down towards the tail; when the pupa, at first pale,soon acquires a 
dull brownish color, the narrow whitish tail, which still adheres pos- 
teriorly, being significant of the species. See (Fig. 27, 3.) ; 

The beetle (Fig, 27, 4) is of a pale yellow, striped with black, and 
though broader and vastly different scientifically, still bears a gen- 


62 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


eral resemblance to the common Cucumber-beetle (Piabrotica vit- 
tata, Fabr.) 

These beetles may be seen quite thick around young peach and 
apple trees quite early in the season, and a little later they venture 
into the trees and pair off; but as soon as the Sweet-Potato plants 
are set, they leave everything else for them. : 


THE GOLDEN TORTOISE-BEETLE—Cassida aurichalcea, Fabr. 


Next to the preceding species, the Golden Tortoise-beetle is the 
most numerous on our sweet-potatoes; but it does not confine its 


(Fig. 33. 


injuries to that plant, for it is found 
in equal abundance on the leaves of 
the Bitter-Sweet and on the different 
kinds of Convolvulus or Morning 
r¢i - Glory. The lava (Fig. 33, a, natural 
a eS eee os size 6,enlarged with the dung taken 
* sh rakes com wie fork), is of a dark brown 
i * color with a pale shade upon the 
back. It carries its fsecifork directly over the back, and the ex- 
crement is arranged in a more or less regular trilobed pattern. The 
loaded fork still lies close to the back in the pupa, which is brown 
like the larva, and chiefly characterized by three dark shades on the 
transparent prothorax, one being in the middle and one at each side, 
as represented at Figure 34, «. 
The perfect beetle (Fig. 34, d), when seen in all its splendor, is 
ene of the most beautiful objects that can well be imagined. It ex- 
[Fig. 34.] actly resembles a piece of golden tinsel, and 
with its legs withdrawn and body lying flat to 
wc a leaf, the uninitiated would scarcely suppose 
ae” it to be an insect, did it not suddenly take wing 
*, while being observed. At first these beetles 
AGS are of a dull deep orange color, which strongly 
© relieves the transparent edges of the wing-coy- 
ers and helmet, and gives conspicuousness to six black spots, two (in- 
dicated in the figure) above, and two on each side. But in about a 
week after they have left the pupa shell, or as soon as they begin to 
copulate, they shine in all their splendor, and these black spots are 
scarcely noticed. 


, THE PALE-THIGHED TORTOISE-BEETLE—Cassida pailida, Herbst. 


This species can scarcely be distinguished from the preceding. 
It is of a somewhat broader, rounder form, and differs in partially 
lacking the black spots on the wing-covers, and in having the thighs 
entirely pale yellow, while in auricha’cea they are black at the base. 
It likewise feeds upon the Sweet-Potato, and its larva differs only 
from that of the former, in its spines being brighter and lighter col- 
ored, and in having a dull orange head, and a halo of the same color 
on the anterior portion of the body. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 68 
THE MOTTLED TORTOISE-BEETLE—Cassida gutlata,* Oliv. 


[Fig. 35.] This species (Fig. 86) whichis — [Fig- 26.] 

uu the next most common of those h 
Sie found on the Sweet-Potato in the 
j SY) latitude of St. Louis, is at once 


RS here described, by being usually 

black, with the shoulders black to 
the extreme edge of the transpa- 
rent wing-covers. It isavery variable species, and is frequently more 
or less speckled or mottled with gold, while more rarely it has a uni- 
form golden appearance.t 


The larva, which is represented enlarged and with the dung re- 
moved at Figure 35, a, is of a uniform green color, with a bluish shade 
along the back, which shade disappears however whenever the insect 
has fasted for a few hours. It carries its dung in irregular broad 
masses, often branching as in the species next to be described. The 
pupa (Fig. 35, 6,) is also of a uniform green color, with a conspicuous 
black ring around the base of the first abdominal pair of spiracles. 
Before changing to pupa and previous to each moult, this larva is in 
the habit of removing the dung from its fork. 


THE BLACK-LEGGED TORTOISH-BEETLE—Cassida nigripes, Oliv. 


[Big. 37.] 


This species, which is 
likewise found on the 
Sweet-Potato, is a little 
the largest of those here- 
tofore mentioned. The 
beetle (Fig. 38) has the 
#% power, when alive, of put- 
sling on a golden hue, but 

S¥ isnot so brilliant as C, 
aurichalcea, from which species it is at once distinguished by 
its larger size and by its black legs and three large con- 
(Fig. 88.] spicuous black spots on each wing-cover. The larva 
 >ex~= (Fig. 37, 0,) is of a pale straw color with the spines, 
which are long, tipped with black; and besides a dusky 
| shade along each side of the back, it has two dusky 
|*spots immediately behind the head, and below these 
m last, two larger crescent marks of the same color. The 
dung is spread in a characteristic manner, extending 
laterally in long shreds or ramifications. (See Fig. 87, a.) The pupa 


* This insect is referred by Boheman to the genus Co tocycla, which differs from Cassida by 
more slender, not distinctly clavate and nearly filiform antenne. 


} This species has very probably been described under different names. It is C. cruciate, 
Fabr. ; C. signifer, Herbst, and from larve found on the same batch of plants, and differing in no 
respect whatever, I have bred specimens which were determined by Le Conte as C. trabeata, Lec, 


64 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


(Fig. 37, ¢,) is dark brown, variegated with paler brown as in the fig- 
ure, while the spines around the edges are transparent and white. 


THE PICKLE WORM—Phacellura nitidalis, Cramer. 
(Lepidoptera, Margarodide.) 


As long ago as the year 1828, Dr. T. W. Harris described and 
named the common Squash Borer (4yeria [ Trochilium] cucurbite). 
This borer is a true caterpillar, having sixteen legs, and very much 
resembling the common Peach Borer. It is hatched in the early part 
of summer, from eggs placed by the parent moth on the stems of the 
vine, close to the root. It penetrates the stem, and by devouring the 
pith, frequently causes the death of the vine. When full fed it re- 
treats a short distance into the ground and forms a cocoon of agummy 
substance covered with particles of earth. Within this cocoon it 
passes the winter, and early the next summer issues as a moth. This 
moth is very beautiful, with a conspicuous orange-colored body spot- 
ted with black; with the front wings blue-black and with the hind 
wings perfectly transparent. 

Iver since the day when it was first described by Harris, this in- 
sect has been known as the Squash Borer. It seems to be confined, 
however, to a few of the more Eastern States, and although Mr. Wm. 
Klussman, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, thinks he is troubled with this 
species, and has given up the growing of all winter squashes in con- 
sequence of its ravages (Country Gentleman, Nov. 11, 1869, page 378), 
yet it certainly is not of common occurrence in the Valley of the Mis- 
sissippi, or we should more often hear of it. 

There is, however, another borer which attacks the roots of cu- 
curbitaceous vines, and which is but too common all over the coun- 
try. lrefer to that ubiquitous little pest the Striped Cucumber-beetle 
(Diabrotica vittata, Fabr.) an insect which annually destroys thou- 
sands of dollars’ worth of vines in the United States, and for which 
remedies innumerable—some sensible, but the greater portion not 
worth the paper on which they are printed—are published every year 
in our different agricultural papers. 

The natural history of this “Striped Bug,” as it is more commonly 
called, was first made known in the West by Dr. Henry Shimer, of Mt. 
Carroll, in the Prairic Farmer, for August 12, 1865. But as every- 
thing pertaining to such a very common and destructive insect, can- 
not be too often repeated, I will here relate its habits in the briefest 
manner. 

The parent beetles (Fig. 39) make their appearance quite early 
[Fig. 39] in the season, when they immediately commence their work 
- of destruction. They frequently penetrate through the cracks 
_ that are made by the swelling and sprouting of the seeds of 
~ melons, cucumbers, or squashes, and by nipping off the young 

sprouts, destroy the plant before it is even out of the ground. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 


Their subsequent work when the vines have once pushed forth their 
leaves, is too well known to need description. Yet notwithstanding 
the great numbers and the persistency of these beetles, we finally suc- 
ceed, with the proper perseverance and vigilance, in nursing and pro- 
tecting our vines, till we think they are large enough to withstand all 
attacks. Besides, by this time, the beetles actually begin to diminish 
in numbers, and we congratulate ourselves on our success. But lo! 
All of a sudden, many of our vines commence to wilt, and they finally 
die outright. No wound or injury is to be found on the vine above 
ground, and we are led to examine the roots. Here we soon discover 
the true cause of death, for the roots are found to be pierced here and 
there with small holes, and excoriated to such an extent, that they 
present a corroded appearance. Upon a closer examination the 
authors of this mischief are easily detected, either imbedded in the 
root, or lurking in some of the corroded furrows. They are little whit- 
ish worms, rather more than a third of an inch long, and as thick as’a 
good sized pin; the head is blackish-brown and horny, and there is a 
plate of the same color and consistency on the last segment. These 
worms are in fact the young of the same Striped Bug which had been 
so troublesome on the leaves earlier in the season; and that the in- 
sect may be as well known in this, its masked form, as it is in the 
beetle state, I present the annexed highly magnified figures of the 
[Fig. 40.] worm (Fig. 40), No. 1 showing a back view 
M- and No.2 a side view. The beetles, while 
fii feasting themselves on the tender feces of 
i the vine, were also pairing, and these worms 
) hatched from the eggs ee were deposited 
ie near the roots by the female. When the worms 
ae have become full-grown, which is in about a 
“/ month after they hatch, Sachs forsake the roots 
!/ and retire into the eine earth, where 
each one, by continually turning around and 
around, and compacting the earth on all sides 
forms for itself a little cavity and ina few days 
~\ throws offits larva skin and becomes a pupa. 
¢ This pupa is much shorter than was the worm, 
and is represented enlarged in the annexed Figure 41, No. 1 oan 
[Fig. 41.] view, and No. 2 back view, the hair ines at the sides 
(<3 snenpne the natural size. This pupa state lasts about 
two weeks, at the end of which time the skinis again 
moulted, and the perfect beetle form assumed. All 
the parts of this newly developed beetle are at first 
soft, but afler remaining motionless in its cell, till 
these soft parts have acquired solidity and strength, it breaks through 
the walls of its prison and works itself up to the light of day. 
There are from two to three generations each year, the number 


ald according to the latitude, or the length of the winter. To 
—ER 


66 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


show however, how the different broods run into one another, and to 
prove how difficult it is to separate them by distinct lines, I will state 
that at Kirkwood, Mo., I found this insect abundantin its three stages 
of larva, pupa, and beetle, during the first days of October last. And 
in a large jar partly filled with earth, in which I placed a number of 
infested roots about that time, I to-day (Nov. 8, 1869) find both pups 
and beetles. The soil in this jar was kept as nearly as possible in the 
same condition as that out of doors, and as I noticed the beetles 
around the vines even after the first frosts, I am led to infer that, in 
this latitude at least, the insect often hybernates as a beetle, and not 
always as a pupa, as intimated by Dr. Shimer. 

Of all the multifarious remedies proposed against the attacks of 
this insect, there are none so effectual or so cheap in the end, as in- 
closing the young vines in boxes which are open at the bottom, and 
covered with millinet on the top. Such boxes are made at a trivial 
cost, and if properly stored away each season after use, will last for 
many years. Whenever other remedies must from necessity be 
resorted to, there is nothing better than sprinkling the vines, 
early in the morning with Paris-green and flour, (one part of the 
green to four or five of flour) or with white hellebore. It of course 
follows, that if the beetles are effectually kept. off, there will after- 
wards be no worms at the roots. 

Much complaint was made last summer, in various parts of the 
country, of the sudden death of cucurbitaceous vines, from some un- 
known cause, and Henry Ward Beecher seems to have suffered in 
this manner, like the rest of us, but could find no worms in the roots 
of his vines. I know from experience that such vines are subject to 
a species of rot in the root—a rot not caused by insects, and for that 
reason the more serious, since we cannot tell how to preventit. Ihave 
seen whole melon patches destroyed by this rotting of the roots, but 
in the great majority of instances where I have examined vines that 
had died from “some unknown cause,” [ have had no difficulty in either 
finding the worms of the “Striped Bug” yet at work on the roots, or 
else the unmistakable marks of their having been there. Indeed, by 
the time a vine dies from the effects of their gnawings and burrow- 
ings, the worms have generally become fully grown, and have hidden 
themselves in their little pupal cavities. 

So much for the two borers which have heretofore been known to 
attack plants belonging to the Gourd family. We have seen how they 
both bore into the roots of these plants, and how one of them in the 
perfect state attacks the leaves. No other borers have been known 
to attack these plants, though the 12-Spotted Diabrotica (D. 12-punc- 

[Fig- 42] ¢ata, Fig. 42), may often be found embedded in the rind of 

“= both melons, cucumbers and squashes. But we now come to 
a third insect which attacks plants of this same Gourd fam- 
ily. It neither bores into the root, nor devours the foliage, 
however, but seems to confine itself to the fruit; and I have 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 


called it the Pickle Worm, from the fact of its often being found in 
cucumbers that have been pickled. 
[Fig. 43] At Figure 43, a, lrepresent 

“one of these worms of the nat- 
ual size. They vary much in 
appearance, some being of a 
yellowish-white, and very 
much resembling the inside of 
‘n unripe melon, while others 
re tinged more or less with 

e ereen. They are all quite soft 
and translucent, and there is 
a transverse row of eight shiny, 
«‘ightly elevated spots on 


eadbe) ty) OD, 


> a ae 


a ‘onal two he vind the others 
on the back. (See Fig. 43,c.) Along the back and towar!s the 
head, these spots are larger than at the sides, and each spot gives rise 
to a fine hair. The specimen from which I obtained my first moth 
last summer was very light colored, and these spots were so nearly 
the color of the body as to be scarcely visible. The head was honey- 
yellow bordered with a brown line and with three black confluent 
spots at the palpi. 

_ The cervical shield or horny plate on the first segment was of the 
same color as the body, and so transparent that the brown border of 
the head when retracted shone distinctly through it as at Figure 48, 
b&. The breathing-holes or stigmata are small, oval, and of the same 
color as the body, with a fulvous ring around them. In some of the 
young worms the shiny spots are quite black and conspicuous. My 
late associate, Mr. Walsh, communicated to me the following descrip- 
tion of such a marked specimen, from which he bred the very same 
species of moth as from the paler individuals: The description was 
taken when the worm was but half grown. 

Length inch. Color pale greenish-yellow; 16 legs. Head pale 
rufous, the Y-shaped sutures and the mouth black. Cervical shield as 
in Figure 43, d,each half edged with black, center rufous. Marked 
undershield on each side as at ¢,and the same lateral marking on joints, 
2and38. Above onjoints2and3asat7. On joints 4-11, eight (in- 
cluding 2 lateral) spots transversely arranged, and behind these, two 
dorsal spots. Of the eight spots the two lateral ones on each side are 
substigmatal. Stigmata edged with dusky. Anal joint with five spots 
as in g, the middle one large and transverse. Body with some sparse 
long dusky hairs, 6-8 times as long as wide, a little tapered toward 
the head. Spins a thread. Legs and prolegs nearly immaculate. 

The worms commenced to appear in the latitude of St. Louis, 
about the middle of July, and they continued their destructive work 
till the end of September. They bore cylindrical holes into the fruit 
- and feed on its fleshy parts. They are gross feeders and produce a 


4 


68 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


large amount of soft excrement. I have found as many as four ina 
medium-sized cucumber, anda single worm will often cause the fruit 
to rot. They develop very rapidly and come to their growth in from 
three to four weeks. When about to trausform they forsake the fruit 
in which they had burrowed, and drawing together portions of some 
leaf that lies on or near the ground, spina slight cocoon of white silk. 
Within this cocoon they soon become slender brown ehrysalids with 
the head parts prolonged, and with a very Jong ventral sheath which 
encloses the legs. If it is not too late in the season the moths issue 
in from eight to ten days afterwards. The late individuals, however, 
pass the winter within their cocoons; though, from the fact that some 
moths come out as late as November, I infer that they may also win- 
ter over in the moth state. 

The moth produced by this worm (of which Figure 43, 7, repre- 
sents the male) is very strikingly marked. It is of a yellowish-brown 
color, with an iris-purple reflection, the front wings having an irregu- 
Jar, semi-transparent, dull golden-yellow spot, not reaching their 
front edge, and constricted at their lower edge; and the hind wings 
having their inner two-thirds of this same semi-transparent yellow. 
The under surfaces have amore decided pearly lustre. The thighs, 
the breast, and the abdomen below, are all of a beautiful silvery- 
white, and the other joints of the long legs are of the same tawny or 
golden-yellow as the semi-transparent parts of the wings. The ab- 
domen of the female terminates in a small flattened black brush, 
squarely trimmed,and the segment directly preceding this brush is of 
a rust-brown color above. The corresponding segment in the male 
is, on the contrary, whitish anteriorly and of the same color as the 
rest of the body posteriorly, and he is, moreover, at once distinguished 
from the female, by the immense brush at his tail, which is generally 
much larger than represented in the above figure, and is composed of 
narrow, lengthened (ligulate) scales, which remind one of the petals 
of the common English daisy, some of these scales being whitish, 
some orange, and others brown. This moth was described nearly a 
_ century ago by Cramer, under the scientific name of Phak[clellura 
nitidalis, and it may be known in English as the Neat Cucumber 
Moth. The genus to which it belongs is characterized chiefly by the 
partly transparent wings, and by the immense scaly brush of the 
males. The antenne are long, fine and thread-like, those of the male 
being very finely ciliated; the abdomen extends beyond the wings, 
and the legs are very long and slender. The species are for the most 
part exotic, and the larve of all of them, so far as known, feed on 
cucurbitaceous plants. 

The following item, taken from a St. Louis paper, though some- 
what facetious, will give an idea of the extent of the injuries caused 
by this insect in that vicinity: 

What's the matter with the cucumbers? A lady of our acquaint- 
ance, the other day, sent to market to purchase some cucumbers for 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 69 


pickling purposes. They were placed in a vessel to be washed, previ- 
ous to being put in the brine. It was then observed that small, sin- 
gular looking worms clung in the ‘wrinkles’ on the outside of some 
of the cucumbers. These were washed off, when accident. led to the 
discovery that inside every one of the cucumbers was secreted a 
white, corrugated, creeping thing, from half an inch to over an inch 
in length, resembling in miniature a rattlesnake’s rattles, and not a 
very pretty object to look upon. It turns out that nearly, if not all 
the cucumbers brought to this market this season are affected the 
same way. These worms certainly do not look very good to eat,in 
the unpickled form; but we are told that they are entirely harmless 
in the natural state, and probably add to the pungency and crispness 
of the gherkin when forming part of the chow-chow, and other 
relishes which grace every well regulated square meal. Like the 
mites in the cheese, which with some are supposed to testify to the 
good quality and healthfulness of the article, we suppose worms in 
the pickles may fairly be considered a question of taste; but, if it is 
not obtrusive, we will add that we do not believe they are to owr taste 
or digestion, and, if it is all the same to the cucumber merchants, we 
would rather not take any in our’n, 

In Missouri, I have myself found this insect quite abundant in 
various parts of St. Louis and Jefferson counties, and the cucumbers 
seem to have fared worse than the melons. That it was not confined 
te these two counties, is also proved by the following communication 
which appeared in the Journal of Agriculture, of September 10, 
1869: 

Pleasant Hill, Mo., September 2, 1869.— Last winter, seeing 
many glowing accounts of the “ Alton Large Nutmeg Melon,” I sent 
to Mr. Barler and procured some, paying thirty cents an ounce for 
them; planted and worked well; during August, had some melons. 
The first few tasted right well, but soon my “Green Citron” cantelope 
ripening, the difference in the taste of the two was found to beso 
great that we could not eat the Alton Nutmeg. Furthermore, the 
latter had worms in them—the larva of some insect—eating into 
nearly every one. The Green Citron was rarely attacked by them. I 
have raised this variety of Green Citron for several years, and would 
not give one of the melons for a dozen AJton Nutmegs. It is sweet, 
juicy and very rich in taste. Whena boy, Ican remember a cante- 
Jope that was raised by my father, called “Persian.” I think the 
Green Citron probably derived from it. 

Yours, GC. BroaDHEAD. 

In Illinois, it was very destructive around Alton, during the 
mouth of August; for, on July 19th, I received specimens from G. W. 
Copley, of that place, and found (Sept. 2, 1869), on visiting Mr. O. L. 
Barler’s large melon fields, that fully three-fourths of his melons had 
been injured by it. Since then, several other Alton men have as- 
sured me that it was equally destructive with them. It also occurred 
around Springfield, for Mr. P. M. Springer sent to me, the last of Octo- 
ber, a specimen of the moth which he had bred trom a cucumber- 
boring worm; while Mr. Walsh also found it abundant at Rock Is- 
Jand, inthe northern part of that State. 

In Michigan, as I learned from Mr. W. B. Ransom, of St. Joseph, 


70 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


it greatly injured the cucumbers and melons around that place; and 
Mr. Glover, of the Department of Agriculture, informs me that he has 
found the worm on Squash, in Florida, in July. Thus it appears that 
this Pickle Worm has a wide range, and that last summer it simul- 
taneously fell upon the cucumbers and melons in widely different 
parts of the country. Of course, in making pickles, the worm is 
pickled with the cucumber, and we shall consequently continue to 
hear startling stories about the worms in the pickles. 

This insect, so far as I can ascertain, has never before been fig- 
gured or described in this country; nor can I find any mention made 
of its destructive work in past years. I am, therefore, led to the con- 
clusion that it was never numerous or destructive enough in the past, 
to attract attention. This fact beeomes the more astonishing, when 
we consider how wide-spread and general its injuries were the past 
summer; and it furnishes another illustration of thesudden and enor- 
mous increase, in some particular year, of an insect which had 
scarcely ever before been noticed. 

The system of Nature is so complicated, and every animal. organ- 
ism is subject to so many influences that affect its increase or de- 
crease, that we are not surprised at the fluctuation in the relative 
numbers of any particular species. The “Struggle for Life,” as ex- 
pounded by Darwin,isno where more effectual in bringing about 
changes than in insect life. Weare at first a little puzzled to ac- 
count for the sudden advent, and the equally sudden departure of 
such insects as the Army-worm, Chinch Bug, Wheat Midge, etc., but 
when we once acquire ajust conception of the tangled web in which 
every insect is involved, we wonder rather that the balance is so well 
kept. 

Our Pickle-worm is an indigenous species, and has, doubtless, 
existed in some part or other of the country from time immemorial; 
and now that its habits are recorded and its history made known, I 
should not be at all surprised to learn that individuals have suffered 
from it in years gone by. The French Entomologist, Guenée, gives 
as its food-plant, a species of potato, and it is just possible thatit may 
not always have fed upon the same plants on which it was found last 
summer. At all events, let us hope that it will disappear as suddenly 
as it appeared; but should it occurin great numbers again next year, 
the foregoing account will enable those who grow melons, cucum- 
bers or squashes, to understand their enemy, and to nip the evil in 
the bud, by carefully overhauling their vines early in the summer, 
and destroying the first worms that appear, either by feeding the in- 
fested fruit to hogs or cattle, or by killing the worms on the spot. I 
know from experience that this worm when pickled with the cucum- 
ber, does notin the least affect its taste, and is not in the least inju- 
rious to the human system; but asit is not very desirable food, pickles 
should always be halved, before being brought to the table, especially 
if they were gathered from a field or garden known to be infested. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 6 iy 
INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE-VINE. 


Under this head, I shall continue the series of articles begun in 
my First Report, in order to give the grape-growers of our State a 
thorough understanding of their insect enemies, and thus lessen the 
hindrances and drawbacks to viticulture—that most important and 
pleasant part of rural industry, which is increasing with such unpre- 
cedented rapidity. 


THE HOG-CATERPILLAR OF THE VINE—Cherocampa pampi- 


natria, Sm. & Abb.* 
[Lepidoptera, Sphingidz.] 


[Fig. 44.] 


at Of the large solitary cat- 
‘i i 


erpillars that attack the 
Grape-vilie, this is by far 
= ee, aM the most common and inju- 

; rious in the Mississippi Val- 
ley. I have frequently 
found the egg of this insect 
glued singly to the under- 
side of aleaf. Itis 0.05 inch 
in diameter, perfectly round 
and of a uniform delicate 
yellowish-green color. The 
young worm which hatches 
y._ trom it, is pale green, with 


along straight horn at its tail; and after feeding from four to five 
weeks it acquires its full growth, when it presents the appearance of 
Figure 44, the horn having become comparatively shorter and ac- 
quired a posterior curve. 

This worm is readily distinguished from other grape-feeding spe- 
cies by having the third and fourth rings immensely swollen, while 
the first and second rings are quite small and retractile. It is from 
this peculiar appearance of the fore part of the body, which strikingly 
suggests the fat cheeks and shoulders and small head of a blooded 
hog, that it may best be known as the Hog-caterpillar of the vine. 
The color of this worm when full grown is pea-green, and it is wrink- 
led transversely and covered with numerous pale-yellow dots, placed 


\ 
\\ 


*Synonyms, Sphinx, [Darapsa] myron, Cramer; Otus cnotus, Huebner. Of the four different 
generic names under which this species has been classified, ‘‘ Sphina’’ is a general term for all the 
Hawk-moths and refers to the sphinx-like attitude often assumed by their larve; ‘‘ Cherocampa’’ is 
derived from two Greek words which mean ‘‘ Hog-caterpillar ;’’ and ‘‘ Darapsa’’ and ‘‘ Otus’’ are 
gibberish. Of the three different specific names, ‘‘ Myron’’ refers to an ancient Greek who bore 
this appellation, “‘ cnotus’’ is pure unadulterated gibberish, and ‘‘pampinatria’’ is from the Latin 
and signifies ‘“‘a female vine-pruner.’’ Both Harris and Fitch describe this insect under the name of 
Cherocampa pampinatriz; and this, as the appellation best known to our grape-growers, and the 
most characteristic of the habits of the species, Ishould prefer to retain, although no doubt, ac- 
cording to the strict Law of Priority, the specific name of Myron ought to be employed. Mr. 
Walker, Dr. Clemens and Dr. Morris call this species ‘‘Darapsa Myron,’’ and Mr. Grote calls it 
“Otus Myron.’’ By ringing the changes with sufficient ingenuity upon the four generic and the 
three specific names, we may obtain no Jess than twelve different names for this one insect! 


72 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


in irregular transverse rows. An oblique cream-colored lateral band, 
bordered below with a darker green, and most distinct on the middle 
segments, connects with a cream-colored subdorsal line, which is bor- 
dered above with darker green, and which extends from the head to 
the horn at the tail. There are five and often six somewhat pale yel- 
low triangular patches along the back, each containing a lozenge- 
shaped lilac-colored spot. The head is small, with yellow granula- 
tions, and four perpendicular yellow lines,and the spiracles or breath- 
ing holes are orange-brown. When about to transform, the color of 
this worm usually changes toa pinkish-brown, the darker parts being 
of a beautiful mixture of crimson and brown. Previons to this 
change of color Mr. J. A. Lintner, of Schoharie, New York, has ob- 
served the worm to pass its mouth over the entire surface of its body, 
even to the tip of its horn, covering it with a coating of apparently 
glutinous matter—the operation lasting about two hours.* Before 
[Fig. 45.] transforming into the pupaor:« vsalis 
state, it descends from the vine, and with- 
in some fallen leaf or under any other 
AW Bx rubbish that may be lying on the ground, 
Es ay, forms a mesh of strong brown silk, within 
Ei” which it soon changes to a chrysalis (Fig. 
45.) of a pale, warm yellow, speckled and 
spotted with brown, but characterized chiefly by the conspicuous 
dark brown spiracles and broad brown incisures of the three larger 
abdominal segments. 


The moth (Fig. 46) which 
in time bursts from this 
% chrysalis, has the body and 
front wings of a fleshy-gray, 
marked and shaded with 
olive-green as in the figure, 
while the hind wings are of 
a deep rust color, with a 
small shade of gray near 
their inner angle. 


This insect is, in northerly regions, one-brooded, but tow ‘rds the 
south two-brooded, the first worms appearing, in the latitude of St. 
Louis, during June and July, and giving out the moths about two 
weeks after they become chrysalids, or from the middle of July 'o the 
first of August. The worms of the second brood are full grown in 
September, and passing the winter in the chrysalis state, give out the 
moths the following May. On one occasion I found at South Pass, 
Illinois, a worm but one-half grown and still feeding as late as Octo- 
ber 20th, a circumstance which would lead to the belief that at 


*Proc. Ent. Soc,. Phil., III, p. 663. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 4q3 


points where the winters are mild, they may even hybernate in the 
larva state. 

This worm is a most voracious feeder, and a single one will some- 
times strip a small vine of its leaves in a few nights. According to 
Harris it does not even confine its attacks to the leaves, but in its 
progress from leaf to leaf. stops at every cluster of fruit, and either 
from stupidity or disappointment, nips off the stalks of the half-grown 
grapes and allows them to fall to the ground untasted. It is fortu- 
nate for the grape-grower, therefore, that Nature has furnished the 
ready means to prevent its ever becoming excessively numerous, for 
I have never known it to swarm in very great numbers. The obvious 
reason is, that it is so freely attacked by a small parasitic Ichneumon 
fly—belonging to a genus (Microgaster) exceedingly numerous in 
species—that three out of every four worms that we meet with will 
generally be found to be thus victimized. The eggs of the parasite 
are deposited within the body of the worm, while it is yet young, and 
the young maggots hatching from them feed on the fatty parts of their 
victim. After the last moult of a worm that has been thus attacked, 
numerous little heads may be seen gradually pushing through differ- 
ent parts of ifs body; and as soon as they have worked themselves 
so far out that they are held only by the last joint of the body, they 
commence forming their small snow-white cocoons, [Fig. 48.] 

[Fig. 47.] which stand on ends and present “Q 
ans ,the appearance of Figure 47. In \\ » 
AWS “4 about a week the fly (Fig. 48, a, 

# magnified; J, natural size) pushes 
- open alittle lid which it had pre- 
viously cut with its jaws, and soars away to fulfil its mission. It is 
one of those remarkable and not easily explained facts, which often 
confront the student of Nature, that, while one of these Hog-cater- 
pillars in its normal and healthy condition may be starved to death 
in two or three days, another, that is writhing with its body full of 
parasites will live without food for as many weeks. Indeed, I have 
known one to rest for three weeks without food in a semi-paralyzed 
condition, and after the parasitic flies had all escaped from their 
cocoons, it would rouse itself and make a desperate effort to regain 
streneth by nibbling at a leaf which was offered to it. But all worms 
thus attacked succumb in the end, and I cannot conclude this ar- 
ticle to better advantage than by reminding the Grape grower, that 
he should Jet alone all such as are found to be covered with the white 
cocoons above illustrated, and not, as has been often done, destroy 
them under the false impression that the cocoons are the eggs of the 
worm. Numbers of these little white cocoons are sent to me every 
year under the supposition that they are eggs, and no doubt many of 

them get destroyed by the very persons who ought to cherish them. 


74 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE ACHEMON SPHINX—Philampelus achemon, Drury.* 


(Lepidoptera, Sphingide.) 
[Fig. 49.] 


a 

This is another of the large Grape-vine-feeding insects, belonging 
to the great Sphinw family, and which may be popularly known as 
the Achemon Sphinx. It has been found in almost every State where 


the Grape is cultivated, and also occurs in Canada. It feeds on the 
| show no preference for any of 

a Oud vobeee 
Z remark, that both its food-plants 
part of August and fore part of September. It measures about 34 


American Ivy (Ampelopsis quinquefolia, with as much relish as on 
the different varieties of the lat- 

belong to the same botanical Family. 

inches when crawling, which operation is effected by a series of sud- 


[Fig. 50.] the Grape-vine, and seems to 
ter. It is, however, worthy of 
The full grown larva (Fig. 49.) is usually found during the latter 


za 
“yh ny 
Serie pa 
Ot | 
eS K iid 
XS 
; 


den jerks. The third segment is the largest, the second but half its 
size and the first still smaller, and when at rest the two last men- 
tioned segments are partly withdrawn into the third as shown in the 
figure. The young larva is green, with a long slender reddish horn 
rising from the eleventh segment and curving over the back, and 


*The synonyms for this insect are Sphinx Orantor, Cramer, and Pholus crantor, Huebner. The 
genus Philampelus—meaning literally “ fond of the vine’’—was erected by Harris to include this 
and the next species. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIS®. 75 


though I have found.full grown specimens that were equally as 
green as the younger ones, they more generally assume a pale straw 
or reddish-brown color, and the long recurved horn is invariably 
replaced by a highly polished lenticular tubercle. The descriptions 
extant of this worm are quite brief and incomplete. The specimen 
from which my drawing was made, was of a pale straw color which 
deepened at the sides and finally merged into a rich vandyke-brown. 
A line of a feuzlle-morte brown, deep and distinct on the anterior 
part, but indistinct and almost effaced on the posterior part of each 
segment, ran along the back, and another line of the same color, con- 
tinuous, and with its upper edge fading gradually, extended along 
each side. The six scalloped spots were cream-colored; the head, 
thoracic segments and breathing-holes inclined to flesh-color, and the 
prolegs and caudal plate were deep brown. The worm is covered 
more or less with minute spots which are dark on the back but light 
and annulated at the sides, while there are from six to eight trans- 
verse wrinkles on all but the thoracic and caudal segments. 

The color of the worm, when about to transform, is often of a 
most beautiful pink or crimson. The chrysalis (Hig. 50) is formed 
within a smooth cavity under ground. It is of a dark shiny mahogany- 
brown color, shagreened or roughened, especially at the anterior 
edge of the segments on the back. 

Unlike the Hog-caterpillar of the Vine, just described, this in- 
sect is everywhere single-brooded, the chrysalis remaining in the 
ground through the fall, winter and spring months, and producing 
the moth towards the latter part of June. I rather incline to believe 
however that there may be exceptions to the rule in southerly lati- 
tudes, and that in such latitudes it may sometimes be double- 
brooded; for I have known the moth to issue near St. Louis during 
the first days of August, and have this very year found two worms in 
the same locality as late as the 25th of October, neither of which was 
quite full grown, though the Jeaves on the vines upon which they 
were found had almost all fallen. Apparently such premature de- 
velopment of Sphinz moths is a well-known occurrence among the 
different European species; for Chas. Darwin remarks that “a num- 
ber of moths, especially Sphinx moths, when hatched in the autumn 
out of their proper season, are completely barren; though the fact of 
their barrenness is still involved in some obscurity.* 

The moth (Fig. 51), is of a brown-gray color variegated with 
light brown, and with the dark spots, shown in the figure, deep brown. 
The hind wings are pink with a dark shade across the middle, still 
darker spots below this shade, and a broad gray border behind. I 
once had an excellent opportunity of observing how it burst open 
the chrysalis shell, for while examining a chrysalis, the moth emerged. 
By a few sudden jerks of the head, but more especially by friction 


*See Variation of Animals and Plants, etc., 11, pp. 157-8, English Edition, and the references 
there given in the foot-note. 


16 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


with the knees of the middle pair of legs, it severed and ruptured the 
thin chrysalis shell, and the very moment the anus touched the rup- 
tured end, the creamy fluid usually voided by newly-hatched moths 
was discharged. 

I have never found any parasite attacking this species, but its 
solitary habit and large size make it a conspicuous object, and it is 
easily controlled by hand, whenever it becomes unduly numerous 
upon the Grape-vine. 


THE SATELLITE SPHINX—Piilampelus satellitia, Linn.* 


(Lepidoptera Sphingide.) 


Like the preceding insect this one occurs in almost. every State in 
[Fig. 52.] the Union. It also bears a strong 

a resemblance to the Achemon 

Sphinx, and likewise feeds upon 
the Ampelopsis as well as upon 
the Grape-vine; but the worm 
may readily be distinguished 
from the former by having five 
cream-colored spots each side, 
instead of six, and by the spots 
themselves being less scalloped, 
In the latitude of St. Louis, 
this worm is found full grown 
throughout the month of Sep- 
tember, and a few. specimens 
* may even be found as late as 
the last of October. The eggs 
of this species, as of all other 
Hawk-moths (Sphinx family) 
known to me, are glued singly 
) to the leaf of the plant which is 
to furnish the future worm with 
> food. When first hatched, and 
for sometime afterwards, the 
larva is green, with a tinge of 
s pink along the sides, and with 
y an immensely long straight 

pink horn at the tail. This horn soon begins to shorten, and finally 


*The svnonyms for this insect are Sphing lycaon, Cramer; Pholus lycaon, Huebner, and Daphni 
pandorus, Huebner. Mr. A. Grote (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., I, p. 60), believes that the Sphinx lycaon 
of the authors above quoted, is distinct from S. Safe//iha, Linn., and would fain ‘ eliminate’ & 
third species (vosficatus). For reasons which it would be tedious to give here, 1 prefer to regard 
lycaon as a variety of satellitia. 


. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. ui 


eurls round like a dog’s tail, as at Figure 52,¢. As the worm grows 
older it changes to a reddish-brown, and by the third moult it entirely 
loses the caudal horn. 

When full grown, it measures nearly four inches in length, and 
when crawling, appears as at Figure 52,a. It crawls by a series of 
sudden jerks, and will often fling its head savagely from side to side 
when alarmed. Dr. Morris* describes the mature larva as being 
green, with six side patches; but though I have happened across 
many specimens of this worm during the last seven years, I never 
once found one that was green after the third moult; nor do I believe 
that there are ever any more than five full-sized yellow spots each side, 
even in the young individuals. The specimen from which the above 
figure was made, occurred in 1867, at Hermann, Missouri, in Mr. Geo. 
Husmann’s vineyard. The back was pinkish, inclining to flesh-color; 
the sides gradually became darker and darker, and the five patches 
on segments 6—10 inclusive, were cream-yellow with a black annula- 
tion, and shaped as in the figure. On segments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, were 
numerous small black dots, but on each of the following five seg- 
ments there were but two such dots. A pale longitudinal line ran 
above the yellow patches, and the head and first joint were uniformly 
dull reddish-brown. 

The most common general color of the full-grown worm is a rich 
velvety vinous-brown. When at rest, it draws back the fore part of 
the body, and retracts the head and first two joints into the third (see 
Fig. 52,4), and in this motionless position it no doubt manages to 


(Fig. 53.] 


escape from the clutches of many a hungry insectivorous bird. Dr. 
Morris, copying perhaps after Harris, erroneously states that the 
three anterior joints, together with the head, are retracted into the 
fourth, and Mr. J. A. Lintner+ makes the same false assertion. It is 


*Synopsis of N. A. Lepidoptera, p. 178. 
fProc. Ent. Soc. Phil., ITI, p. 659. 


78 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the third segmentin this species, as well as in the Achemon Sphinx, 
which is so much swollen, and into which the head and first two seg- 
ments are retracted. 

When about to transform, the larva of our Satellite Sphinx enters 
a short distance into the ground, and soon works off its caterpillar- 
skin and becomes achrysalis of a deep chestnut-brown, and very 
much of the same form as that of the Achemon Sphinx, figured on 
page 74. The moth (Fig. 53), makes its appearance in June of 
the following year, though it has been known to issue the same year 
that it had existed as larva. In this last event, it doubtless becomes 
barren, like others under similar circumstances, as was shown on 
page 75. The colors of the moth are light olive-gray, variegated as 
‘in the figure with dark olive-green. The worms are easily subdued 
by hand-picking. 


THE ABBOT SPHINX—TZhyreus Abbotiz, Swainson. 
(Lepidoptera, Sphingide.) 


This is another of the large Grape-feeding insects, occurring on 
the cultivated and indigenous vines and on the Virginia Creeper, and 
having in the full-grown 
_ larva state, a polished tu- 
#bercle instead of a horn 

at the tail. Its habitat is 
given by Dr. Clemens, as 
New York, Pennsylvania, 
Georgia, Massachusetts, 
and Ohio; but though not 
so common asthe Sphinx 
moths previously describ- 
ed, yet it is often met with 
both in Illinois and Mis- 
souri. The larva which is 
represented in the upper 
part of Figure 54, varies considerably in appearance. Indeed, the 
ground-color seems to depend in a measure on the sex, for Dr. Morris 
describes this larva as reddish-brown with numerous patches of light- 
green, and expressly states that the female is of a uniform reddish- 
brown, with an interrupted dark brown dorsal line and transverse 
striw. Ihave reared two individuals which came to their growth 
about the last of July, at which time they were both without a ves- 
tige of green. The ground-color was dirty yellowish, especially at 
the sides. Each segment was marked transversely with six or seven 
slightly impressed fine black lines,and longitudinally with wider 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79 


non-impressed dark brown patches, alternating with each other, and 
giving the worm a checkered appearance. These patches become 
more dense along the subdorsal region, where they form two irregu- 
lar dark lines, which on the thoracic segments become single, with a 
similar line betweenthem. There was also a dark stigmatal line with 
a lighter shade above it, and a dark stripe running obliquely down- 
wards from the posterior to the anterior portion of each segment. 
~The belly was yellow, with a tinge of pink between the prolegs, 
and the: shiny tubercle at the tail was black, with a yellowish 
ring around the base. The head, which is characteristically marked, 
and by which this worm can always be distinguished from its allies— 
nofmatter what the ground-color of the body may be—is slightly 
roughened and dark, with a lighter broad band each side, and a cen- 
tral mark down the middle which often takes the form of an x. This 
worm does not assume the common Sphinx attitude of holding up the 
head, but rests stretched at full length, though if disturbed it will 
throw its head from side to side, thereby producing a crepitating 
noise. 

The chrysalis is formed in a superficial cell on the ground; its 
surface is black and roughened by confluent punctures, but between 
the joints it is smooth and inclines to brown; the head-case is broad 
and rounded, and the tongue-case is level with the breast; the tail 
terminates ina rough flattened wedge-shaped point, which gives out 
two extremely small thorns from the end. 

The moth (Fig. 54, below) appears in the following March or 
April, there being but one brood each year. It is of a dull chocolate 
or grayish-brown color, the front wings becoming lighter beyond the 
middle, and being variegated with dark brown as in the figure; the 
hind wings are sulphur-yellow, with a broad dark brown border 
breaking into a series of short lines on a flesh-colored ground, near 
the body. The wings are deeply scalloped, especially the front ones, 
and the body is furnished with lateral tufts. When at rest, the abdo- 
men is curiously curved up in the air. 


THE BLUE CATERPILLARS OF THE VINE. 


Besides these large Sphinx caterpillars, every grape-grower must 
have observed certain so-called “ Blue Caterpillars,” which, though 
far from being uncommon, are yet very rarely sufficiently numerous 
to cause alarm, though in some few cases they have been known to 
strip certain vines. There are three distinct species of these blue 
caterpillars, which bear a sufficiently close resemblance to one 
another, to cause them to be easily confounded. The first and by far 
the most common with us is the larva of 


380 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 
THE BIGHT-SPOLTED FORESTER—Alypia octomaculata, Fabr. 
(Lepidoptera, Zygwnide.) 


Beal At Plate I, Figure 18 of my First Re- 

’ port, the male of this moth is illustrated 
by the side of its supposed larva, Figure 
19 of the same Plate. In the text (pp. 
186-7) I expressed some doubts as to 
whether this last was the rightful larva of 
the Eight-spotted Forester, and as I have 
siave reared several moths from the larva 
state, and ascertained that the worm there 
figured does not belong to the Kight- 
; spotted Forester, but in all probability to 
the Pearl Wood Nymph, I will now give the characters of these three 
different. blue caterpillars, so that they may readily be distinguished 
hereafter. 

The larva of the Kight-spotted Forester may often be found in 
the latitude of St. Louis as early as the beginning of May, and more 
abundantly in June, while scattering individuals (probably ofa second 
brood) are even met with, but half-grown, in the month of Septem- 
ber. The young larvee are whitish with brown transverse lines, the 
colors not contrasting so strongly as in the full-grown specimens, 
though the black spots are more conspicuous. ‘They teed beneath 
the leaves and can let themselves down by a web. The full-grown 
larva often conceals itself within a folded leaf. Itis of the form of 
Figure 55, a, and is marked transversely with white and black lines, 
each segment having about eight light and eight dark ones. The 
bluish appearance of this caterpillar is owing to an optical phenome- 
non from the contrast of these white and black stripes. The head 
and the shield on the first segment are of a shiny bright deep orange 
color, marked with black dots, and there is a prominent transverse 
orange-red band, faint on segments 2 and 3; conspicuous on 4 and 11 
and uniform in the middle of each of the other segments. In the 
middle segments of the body each orange band contains eight black 
conical elevated spots or tubercles, each spot giving rise to a white 
hair. These spots are arranged as in the enlarged section shown in 
the engraving (Pig. 55, 6), namely, four on each side as follows: the 
vpper one on the anterior border of the orange band, the second on 
its posterior border, the third just above spiracles on its anterior bor- 
der—each of the three interrupting one of the transverse black lines 
—and the fourth, which is smaller, just- behind the spiracles. The 
yenter is black, slightly variegated with bluish-white, and with the 
orange band extending on the legless segments. The legs are black, 
and the false-legs have two black spots on an orange ground, at their 
outer base; but the characteristic feature, which especially distin- 
guishes it from the other two species, is a lateral white wavy band— 


<4 


\ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. $1 


obsolete on the thoracic segments, and most conspicuous on 10 and 
11—running just below the spiracles, and interrupted by the trans- 
verse orange band. 


I quote here Harris’s full description of this larva (Correspondence, p. 286), as it agrees with 
mine, except in giving the number of transverse black lines as 6 on each segment, instead of 8, 
from the fact that he does not include the two which border the orange band, on account of 
their being interrupted. I have preferred to consider each segment of this worm as 8-banded, to 
distinguish it more readily from the other two species, which have respectively only six and four. 
‘Length, when at rest, one inch and two-tenths, very pale blue, transversely banded with orange 
on the middle of each segment, the bands dotted with small black points, producing hairs, and 
surmounted by black lines, and between each of the bands six transverse black lines. A large, 
irrecular, white spot on the side of the tenth and eleventh segments, and a series of smaller white 
spots on each of the other sezments except the first three. Head orange dotted with black. Legs 
blackish externally. The full-grown, have a decidedly bluish tinge, entirely owing, however, to 
an optical phenomenon from the contrast of the white with the transverse black lines. The head 
is of a pale dirty orange or rusty yellow, with about eight black dots on each side; [about 10 
large and 14 small dots in all,] a semicircular plate on the top of the first segment and the anal 
valves are pale orange dotted with black. There is a transverse series of black dots on the second 
and third segments, without an orange band. Each of the other segments is transversely banded 
with orange and dotted with black; the dots being in two alternate rows, and all of them emitting 
distinct, long whitish hairs. [The anterior dots on the back of segments 4, 5 and 6 and the pos- 
terior ones on 11, are considerably larger than the rest]. Between each of the bands there are six 
slender, continuous, black transverse lines. The points are also connected by interrupted black 
lines. Legs at base orange, black externally and at tip, except the anal pair which are orange, 
dotted with black. The large white lateral spot is common to the side of the tenth and 
eleventh segments. The other lateral white spots are situated immediately behind the bands on 
the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth segments, the anterior spots being largest; and 
thence they diminish to the ninth, while again the posterior spot is very large and very distinct. The 
orange bands are interrurted on the top of the seventh, eighth and ninth segments.”’ 


This larva transforms to chysalis within a very slight cocoon 
formed without silk, upon, or just below the surface of the earth, and 
issues soon after, as a very beautiful moth of adeep blue-black color, 
with orange shanks, yellow shoulder-pieces, each of the front wings 
with two large light yellow spots, and each of the hind wings with 
two white ones. The illustration (Fig. 55, c) represents the female, 
and the male differs from her in having the wing spots larger, and in 
having a conspicuous white mark along the top of his narrower ab- 
domen. 

I have on one or two occasions known vines to be partly defoli- 
ated by this species, but never knew it to be quite so destructive as it 
is represented in the following communication from Mr. W. V. An- 
drews, of New York city, which I take from the February (1869) num- 
mer of the American Naturalist : 

“That a man should desire to raise his own Isabellas is laudable 
and praiseworthy ; and I see no reason why such desire should exist 
exclusively in the breasts of our bucolic friends. The inhabitants ot 
New York, as a general thing, clearly are of the same opinion, as is 
evidenced by the number of grape-vines ornamenting the doors and 
trellis-work of the houses of our citizens; not, of course, in the be- 
nighted regions of Wall street, but up-town; say from Sixteenth 
street northward. A friend of mine residing on Thirty-fourth street, 
showed me, in March last, a very fine vine, which he calculated would 


Cee him sundry pounds of choice grapes, and in the pride of his 
—E BRB 


82 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


heart he invited me to “call along” occasionally, and feast my eyes 
on the gradual development of the incipient bunches. Thinking that 
August would be a good month for my visit, I “called along,” won- 
dering in my mind whether my friend would, when the time of ripe 
grapes came, desire me to help myself out of his abundance; or 
whether he intended to surprise me with a little basket of nice 
bunches, garnished with crisp, green leaves. The first glance at the 
grape-vine banished all doubts on this point. There were an abun- 
dance of bunches on the vine, in a rather immature condition, of 
course, but of foliage there was not a trace. Of course I expressed 
my surprise, though, for certain reasons, I felt none; and asked my 
friend why he selected a species of vine for shelter, ornament, and use, 
which produced no foliage. He rebuked my ignorance pretty sharply, 
and told me that a few weeks before, the vine was covered with leaves; 
but, for some inexplicable reason, they had all disappeared—eaten, he 
guessed, by something. He guessed right. There were at least a 
hundred of the larvee of A, octomaculata, the rear guard of a mighty 
host, wandering about the branches, apparently for the purpose of 
making sure that no little particle of a leaf was left undevoured. 
Pretty little things they were, with harmoniously blended colors of 
black, yellow and blue, but so terribly destructive! I had the curi- 
osity to walk through all the streets to the east of Third avenue, as 
low as Twenty-third street, and every vine was in the same predica- 
ment. If grape leaves, instead of fig leaves, had been in request for 
making aprons, and one A/ypia had been in existence at the time, I 
doubt if in the whole Garden of Eden enough material would have 
been found to make a garment of decent size. The destruction of 
the crop for 1868 was complete. 


“This was bad. But it was not half so bad as the helpless ignor- 
ance which possessed nearly all of the unfortunate owners of vines. 
Scarcely one that I conversed with had the remotest idea of the cause 
of the disaster, and when I explained that it was the caterpillar of*a 
beautiful little black moth, with eight whitish-yellow spots on its 
wings, which had eaten up the foliage, my assertion was received 
with such a smile of incredulity, as convinced me that there is no use 
in trying to humbug such very sharp fellows as are the New York 
grape-growers. 


“Tt is a little remarkable, however, that the destruction was con- 
fined to the eastern part of the city. I saw several luxuriant vines 
on the western side; and across the river at Hoboken, and at Hudson 
City, not a trace of A. octomaculata was discernible. 


“The insect, then, is very local in its habits, and it is a day-flyer > 
and, from these facts, I infer that its ravages may be very materially 
checked. A little poisoned molasses, exposed in the neighborhood of 
the vine, would operate on the perfect insect [extremely doubtful] ; 
while a good syringing with so/t soap and water would bring. down 
the caterpillars effectually.” 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83 


THE BEAUTIFUL WOOD NYMPH—Eudryas grata, Fabr. 


(Lepidoptera, Zygenidex.) 


Here is another moth (Fig. 56), surpassing in real beauty, though 
[Fig. 56.] 


not in high contrast, the species just de- 
scribed. The front wings are milk-white, 
broadly bordered and marked, as in the 


Oe 


TA) 


ay) 


<—- outer margin being shaded on the inner 
: side with olive-green, and marked to- 
wards the edge with a slender wavy white 
line: under surface yellow, with two 
dusky spots near the middle. The hind wings are nankin-yellow, 
with a deep brown border, which does not extend to the outer angle, 
and which also contains a wavy white line: under surface yellow 
with a single black spot. 


Surely these two moths are as unlike in general appearance as 
two moths well can be; and yet their caterpillars bear such a close 
resemblance to each other, and both feed upon the Grape-vine! The 
larva of the Beautiful Wood Nymph is, in fact, so very similar to that 
of the Eight-spotted Forester, that it is entirely unnecessary to figure 
it. It differs more especially from that species by invariably lacking 
the white patches along the sides, by the hairs arising from the black 
spots being less conspicuous, and by the hump on the eleventh seg- 
ment being more prominent. The light parts of the body have really 
a slight bluish tint, and in specimens which I have found, I have only 
noticed six transverse black stripes to each segment. This larva, 
when at rest, depresses the head and raises the third and fourth seg- 
ments, Sphinx-fashion. It is found on the vines in the central por- 
tion of the State as early as May and as late as September, and it de- 
vours all portions of the leaf, even to the midrid. It descends to the 
ground, and without making any cocoon, transforms to a chrysalis, 
which is dark colored, rough, with the tip of the abdomen obtusely 
conical, ending in four tubercles, the pair above, long and truncate, 
those below broad and short (Packard). Some of them give out the 
moth the same summer, but most of them pass the winter and do not 
issue as moths till the following spring. 


THE PEARL WOOD NYMPH—Eudryas unio, Huebner. 


(Lepidoptera, Zygenide.) 


This is another pretty little moth, so closely allied to, and so 
much resembling the preceding species, that it is not necessary to 
produce its picture. It is a smaller species, and differs from the Beau- 
tiful Wood Nymph in having the outer border of the front wings paler 
and of a tawny color, with the inner edge wavy instead of straight; 


R4 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


and in that of the hind wings being less distinct, more double, and 
extending to the outer angle. 

The larva is said by Dr. Fitch to so much resemble that of the 
preceding species that “we as yet know not whether there are any 
marks whereby they can be distinguished from each other.” (Report 
[Fig. 57.] 3, § 124.) The mothis more common 

c ¢=% with us thanits larger ally, and though 
=eym, 1 have never bred it from the larva, 
See yet I have often met with a worm 
(Fig 57, a,) which there is every rea- 
son to believe, belongs to this species, 
and which is easily recognized from the preceding. It never grows 
to be quite so large as the other, and may readily be distinguished by 
its more decided bluish cast; by having but four light and four dark 
stripes to each segment (Fig. 57, 6,); by having no orange band across 
the middle segments, and by the spots, with the exception of two on 
the back placed in the middle light band, being almost obsolete. The 
head, shield on the 1st segment, hump on the 11th, and a band on the 
12th, are orange, spotted with black, the hump being marked as at 
Figure 57, c. Venter orange, becoming dusky towards head; feet and 
legs also orange, with blackish extremities, and with spots on their 
outside at base. 

The worm works for the most part in the terminal buds of the 
vine, drawing the leaves together by a weak silken thread, and 
cankering them. It forms a simple earthen cocoon, or frequently 
bores into a piece of old wood, and changes to chrysalis, which aver- 
ages but 0.56 inch in length; this chrysalis is reddish-brown, covered 
on the back with rows of very minute teeth, with the tip of the abdo- 
men truncated, and terminating above ina thick blunt spine each side. 

From the above accounts it is hoped that the reader will have no 
difficulty in distinguishing between these three blue caterpillars of 
the Grape-vine. But, says the practical grape-grower, “what does it 
concern me to know whether the little blue varmints that are defoli- 
ating my vines, belong to this species or to that? All I wish to know 
is how to get rid of them, and as they are all three so nearly alike, 
the remedy applied to one must be equally effectual with the others.” 
Gently, dear reader; it may prove of considerable importance that 
you know which particular species infests your vines! If, forinstance, 
a person living in the West should find the larvze of the Beautiful 
Wood Nymph, then he need feel no alarm; while if a person living in 
the East should find that of the Pearl Wood Nymph, he may in like 
manner put his hands in his pockets and go his way with an easy 
mind; for neither of these species are likely to become troublesome 
in those respective sections of the country, since heretofore they have 
always been quite rare in those parts. Again, the larve of the two 
Wood Nymphs have a fondness for boring into old pieces of wood, to 
transform to the chrysalis state, and Mr. T. B. Ashton, of White Creek, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 85 


New York, found that they would even bore into corn cobs for this 
purpose in preference to entering the ground, wherever such cobs 
were accessible.* The Hight-spotted Forester, on the contrary, has 
no such habit, and while the only mode of combating it, is to pick the 
larvee off and burn them, the Wood Nymphs may be more easily sub- 
dued by scattering afew corn cobs under the vines in the summer, 
to be raked up and burned in the winter. 


THE AMERICAN PROCRIS—Procris [ Acolotthus| Americanat 
Boisd. 


(Lepidoptera, Ctenuchidez.) 


During the months of July and August, the leaves of the Grape- 
vine may often be found denuded of their softer parts, with nothing 
[Fig. 58.] but the veins, and sometimes only 
a few of the larger ribs left skeleton- 
like, to tell of the mischief that has 
been done. Very frequently, only 
portions of the leaf will be thus de- 
nuded, and in that event, if we ex- 
amine such a leaf closely, we shall 
find the authors of the mischief 
drawn up in line upon the yet leafy 
tissue with their heads all towards 
the margin, cutting away with their little jaws and retreating as they 
feed. 


[Fig. 59.] These little soldier-like files 
are formed by worms in black 
and yellow uniforms which pro- 
duce a moth popularly known 
as the American Procris. The 
eggs from which they hatch, are 
laid in small clusters on the un- 
derside of the leaves, and while 
the worms are small, they leave 
untouched the most delicate 
veins of the leaf, which then pre- 
sents a delicate net-work appear- 
ance as shown at the right of 
Figure 59; but when they be- 
come older and stronger they 
devour all but the larger ribs, as 
at the left of the figure. 


*Fitch’s Rep. III, p. 82. 
{This is the Aglaope Americana of Clemens, Procris Americana of Boisduval and Harris, and 
Ctenucha Americana of Walker. 


86 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


The full grown larva (Figure 58, a) measures rather more than half an inch, and tapers a 
little towards each end. Itis of a sulphur-yellowcolor, with a transverse row of six velyety-black, 
prickly tufts on each of the principle segments, the lower tufts being less distinct than those on 
the back. The first segment is entirely black with a yellow edge, while the spots on segments 11 and 12 
usually run into one another. Head small, brown, and retractile, being usually hidden in the first 
segment. Fine scattering hairs anteriorly, laterally and posteriorly. The young worm is of a 
very pale yellow, covered with numerous fine white hairs, with a slight grayish-brown tint on the 
head, and with the fifth and seventh segments paler than the rest, and having the black spots 
scarcely visible. 


When full grown these worms disperse over the vines or forsake 
them entirely, and each spins for itself a small, tough, whitish, flat- 
tened cocoon (Fig. 58, ¢) within which, in about three days, it changes 
to a chrysalis (Fig. 58, 4), 0.80 inch long, broad, flattened and of a 
light shiny yellowish-brown color. In about ten days afterwards the 
moths (Fig. 58, e and d@) begin to issue. This little mothis the Ameri- 
can representative of the European Procris vitis; it is wholly of a 
black color, except the collar, which is of a deep orange, and the 
body ends in a broad fan-like notched tuft, especially in the male. 
The wings are of a delicate texture, reminding one of crape,and when 
the insect is at rest they generally form a perfect cross with the 
body, the hind wings being completely hidden by the front ones, 
which are stretched out straight at right angles, asin the genus Ptero- 
phorus, to which belongs the Grape-vine Plume.* I have, however, 
on one or two occasions found the American Procris resting in the 
manner shown at Figure 58, d. 

This is the only Grape-vine feeding caterpillar which has a 
gregarious habit, and as gregarious insects are always more easily 
subdued than those of a solitary nature, the American Procris need 
never become very destructive. Its natural food is undoubtedly the 
wild grape-vines of our forests, and the Virginia Creeper, and Mr. 
Jordon, of St. Louis, has noticed that while it very commonly attacks 
the foliage of the Concord, yet it never touches the Clinton and Tay- 
lor in his vineyard—a taste which is remarkable and not easily 
accounted for, since the foliage of the latter kinds is more tender and 
generally more subject to insect depredations than that of the 
former. 

There are two broods of this insect each year with us, some of 
the moths from the second brood of wormsissuing in the fall, but the 
greater part not leaving their cocoons till the following summer. 
During the month of June they may be seen in pairs about the vines, 
and I have also frequently observed around Hermann, a very closely 
allied but smaller and different moth (Acoloithus falsarius, Clem.) 
about the same season of the year. This last, though so closely re- 
sembling the other, may be distinguished by being scarcely more 
than half as large; by the body lacking the anal tuft and being 
comparatively much thicker and shorter; by the hind wings being 
comparatively larger, and by the collar being of a paler orange and 
divided on the top by a black point. 


*First Rep., Pl. II, Fig. 15. 


* 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 87 


The American Procris, though the fact is not mentioned by other 
authors, is subject to the attack of at least one parasite, with us ; 
for 1 have bred from it a very peculiar little four-winged black fly 
belonging to the great Chalcis family, and which Mr. Cresson of Phil- 
adelphia refers doubtingly to Pertlampus platygaster, Say. 


—— 


. THE NEW GRAPE-ROOT BORER. 


Under this head I published last year* an account of a gigantic 
Grare-root borer which had at that time not been bred, and of which, 
in consequence, the perfect insect was not with certainly known. In 

order that the 
-reader may get 
well familiarized 
=with its appear- 
= ance, the figure is 
‘= here reproduced 
= tae (Fig, 60). For 
reasons then given I inferred that this borer belonged to the Prvonus 
family of the Long-horned beetles, and that it would perhaps produce 
the Cylindrical Orthosoma (Orthosoma cylindricum, Fabr.), a large 
flattened bay-colored beetle which is common throughout the coun- 
try, and especially soin the Mississippi Valley, and which I illus- 
trated at the time. I expressed the hope to be able another year 
to settle this matter, and am glad to be able to do so. 

Last July I bred from worms that had been sent to me the year 
before, as occurring in Grape root, a different, though very closely 
allied species to that which I had inferred they would produce, 
namely, 


THE BROAD-NECKED PRIONUS—Prionus laticollis, Drury. 
(Coleoptera, Prionidz.) 

[Fig. 61.] This species is usually of a darker color 
ag jeer, than the Cylindrical Orthosoma, and differs 
¥ materially from that species by its larger 
size and broader form. The female, which is 
represented at Figure 61, differs from the male: 
in having shorter and narrower antenne, 

though her body is usually larger. 

In all probability this insect lives nearly 
three years in the larva state, for three dis- 
tinct sizes may be found. Those I have bred, 
left the roots they were inhabiting when about 
to become pup, and formed for themselves 
%. smooth oval chambers in the earth wherein 
they eventually cast their larval skins, and 


*First Rep., pp. 124-8. 


§8 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


[Fig. 62.] assumed the pupa form represented at Figure 62, but 
Eig in all probability they transform within the root, when 
in more natural conditions. This change takes place 
towards the end of June, and the perfect beetle ap- 
pears in about three weeks afterwards. 

Soon after breeding this beetle from Grape-feed- 
ing borers, I bred a feniale of the same species from a 
very large borer which I had found the same spring, in 
an apple root, it having entirely killed a young apple 
tree, by hollowing out nearly all the roots, and by 
finally severing the tap root near the butt of the tree. 

Thus it results that the Broad-necked Prionus 
bores in the larva state indiscriminately in the roots 
of the Grape-vine and Apple,and perhaps in those of the closely allied 
Pear. According to Harris it also infests the roots of different kinds 
of poplars, and it is consequently a pretty general feeder. 

Few persons are really aware of the amount of damage these gi- 
gantic borers are capable of causing. Last March I received a long 
Jetter from Mr. Robert S. Munford, of Munfordsville, Ky., minutely 
describing this borer, and the manner in which it destroyed three 
hundred dollars’ worth of his apple trees; while Mr. C. R. Edwards, 
of Bowling Green, Ky., writes that they have been quite injurious to 
his grape-vines of all varieties, though his Ionas suffered most from 
their attacks. Mr. Emory S. Foster, of Bushburg, sent mea specimen 
in May with the statement that it cut off a vine, after the fall of the 
leaf, and then went some six inches further down, and entered the 
main root, making for itself a comfortable residence where it spent 
the winter. Messrs. Bush and Spaulding inform me that they are con- 
tinually losing vines from this borer, and that they consider it one of 
the worst enemies they have to contend against. 

Little can be done to prevent the ravages of these underground 
borers after they are once“in a vine, the death of which is usually the 
only manifestation of their presence. Still, every vine-grower should 
make it a rule to search for them whenever he finds vines suddenly 
dying from any unknown cause, and upon finding such a borer should 
at once put an end to its existence. The beetles, which may often be 
found during the summer and fall months, and which not unfrequently 
rush with heavy, noisy flight, into our lighted rooms, should also be 
ruthlessly sacrificed whenever met with. As I shall presently show, 
however, much may be done by judicious management to prevent 
their getting into the vines. 


= a a: 
Ba te 


Ue 
i 
" 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 89 
THE TILE-HORNED PRIONUS—Prionus imbricornis, Linn. 
(Coleoptera Prionidee.) 


There is another species, the Tile-horned Prionus (Prionus imbri- 
[Fig. 63.] wee corns, Linn., Fig. 63 5 )—so called from 
SH, the joints of the male antennz lapping 
over one another like the tiles or shing- 
les of a roof—which very closely re- 
sembles the Broad-necked Prionus, and 
is with us much commoner. It may be 
distinguished at once from this last by 
the antennze of the male being about 
19-jointed, and those of the female about 
16-jointed ;* whereas both sexes of the 
Broad-necked Prionus have 12-jointed 
antennz. In other respects, these two 
beetles are almost exactly alike, so that, 
if the antenne happen to be broken, it is not very easy to tell one 
from another. 7 


Hitherto it has not been known upon what kind of tree this spe- 
cies fed, but I was fortunate enough last sunumer to ascertain that it 
also infests grape-roots. On the first of July last, Mr. Isidor Bush, of 
Bushburg, brought me quite a number of full-grown larvae which he 
had taken from the roots of his grape vines. These were so very sim- 
ilar in appearance to those which produced the Broad-necked species, 
that [ had not a suspicion they would produce anything else, and I 
was consequently greatly surprised when I bred from them a number 
of the Tile-horned species under consideration. By collecting to- 
gether fibres and chips of the roots, they form a loose sort of cocoon, 
and transform, either inside or outside of the root, to pups, which re- 
semble so closely that shown in Figure 62, that they can scarcely be 
distinguished from it. 

We have, therefore, two distinct insects which bore into the roots 
of the Grape-vine, and which, though distinct, are so closely allied, 
that the females can only be distinguished by the number of joints in 
their antenne. Oneof these is known to attack, besides the Grape, 
the Apple, the Lombardy poplar and the Balm of Gilead, and the 
other is very likely equally indifferent as to its choice of diet. 

The accounts given in my former article, of the immense borers 
found in Osage Orange roots, and even in the roots of corn-stalks, un- 
doubtedly refer to one or the other of these insects, and probably to 
the Tile-horned species, as that is the most common. 


% Having examined nearly 20 males of this species, I have found the antennal joints to vary 
in number from 18 to 20, the same specimen often having a different number of joints in the right 
and left antenna. In one Q the antennz are both of them 16-jointed, in another Q they are both 
of them 17-jointed. The typical number of joints in the Coleopterous antenna is only 11; and the 
number being so variable in these many-jointed antenne is in accordance with the general rule, 


hat multiple parts are often variable, 


t 


90 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Several persons who have recognized this immense borer from 
the figure and description which I published last year, have informed 
me that they have found it on prairie land, and Mr. Wm. ©. Holmes, 
nurseryman, of Plattsburg, writes: “The Borer described on page 124 
of your Report is destroying a good many of our apple grafts, set last 
spring. The root not being large enough for them to work inside, 
they eat out about one-third of the bark, and hollow out the rest of 
the root. Our nursery is on prairie, broke in the fall of 1867 and spring 
of 1868.” Now the fact of these large root-feeding borers occurring 
in such numbers in recently turned-up prairie land where no large 
roots exist, would have been perfectly inexplicable had I not been 
cognizant of other facts which threw light on the subject. 

There is a small dimorphous male form of the Tile-horned Prionus 
not more than half the normal size, and of a much paler yellowish 
color, which is quite common in the West, and which I have found 
even more common around St. Louis, than the true type. I know 
that this form is often found in prairie regions, and my entomological 
friend Chas. Sonne, of Chicago, Illinois, informs me that a relation of 
his, Mr. F. Jeger, of Siegel, Illinois, in digging a cellar, once found 
immense numbers of these large grubs near the surface of the ground. 
A whole lot of them were sent to Mr. Sonne, and he bred from them 
numerous specimens of this small form of the Tile-horned Prionus, 
every one of them males, and every one with nineteen joints to the 
antennz. On another occasion, at the same place, Mr. Sonne, having 
placed a lamp on a grind-stone, found that these beetles swarmed 
around the light, and next day upon examining a number which he 
captured, they all proved to be, in like manner, the small yellow 
form, and all males. Now, Mr. Jeger’s house is remote from any 
timber whatever, there being but a few scrub willows here and there 
near by; and, from these facts, and those mentioned by Mr. Holmes, 
we are forced to the belief that these grubs (at least those of the 
small 3 dimorphous form) are able, not only to subsist on the roots 
of small shrubs and very young trees, but also upon those of herba- 
ceous plants. Mr. H. A. Mungor, of Lone Cedar, Martin county, Min- 
nesota, has had a similar experience; for he often ploughs up these 
grubs in prairie land, and has captured the beetles a full mile away 
from any trees or shrubs, except a few specimens of a suflruticose 
plant known as the Lead-plant (Amorpha Oanescens), which very 
seldom grows a root there, of over one-half inch diameter. He has 
also actually bred the beetle from pup found in such prairie ground. 
Therefore, some of the accounts—such as their occurring full grown 
in the roots of annuals like corn and cabbage, and in those of grape- 
vines but one year planted—which were not easily explained before ; 
become perfectly clear, now that we have a better understanding of 
the facts in the case. 

Now then comes the point of practical importance. It may with 
reason be argued, that it matters little to the Grape-grower to which 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 91 


particular species these borers belong, so they have the habit in com- 
mon, of infesting the roots of his vines. But a more important 
question presents itself to the thinking mind. Is any danger to be 
apprehended from these borers, from growing grape-vines and fruit 
trees among decaying oak stumps? In my former article, from the 
testimony of practical vineyardists, I have hinted that there is, and 
have advised not to plant on land covered with such stumps, or even 
touse oak stakes, where those made of cedar can be had; and lam 
glad to be able to say that this advice is well founded. 

As a general rule, the larve of the Long-horned Boring Beetles 
either inhabit green and living wood or else decaying and dead wood, 
the same species never attacking both kinds of wood indiscriminate- 
ly; and asI knew that the larva of the Cylindrical Orthosoma fed on 
rotten pine wood, I thought it very probable that it also fed on rotten 
oak stumps, and had been confounded by practical men with those of 
the Broad-necked and Tile-horned species, which it so much resem- 
bles. This opinion was supported by the fact that it occurred abun- 
dantly in Union county, South Illinois, in 1861, where there are no 
pine trees growing, and where, at that period, the so called “poplar” 
or white-wood was universally used in buildings, in place of pine im- 
ported from the North; and I last summer ascertained that it really 
does breed in rotten oak stumps, as well as in decaying pine, for I 
found it in the former wood, both in the larva, pupa, and fresh beetle 
state. But what is still more important I also find that the Broad- 
necked Prionus, is an exception to the rule above mentioned, and 
that it breeds as freely in decaying oak stumps as in living roots. For 
this fact lam indebted to Mrs. Mary Treat of Vineland, N. J., who 
has sent me specimens of the beetle bred from larve that are found 
abundant in the oak stumps in that vicinity. 

Summary.—To sum up the whole matter in a few words, it is ob- 
vious that we have in Missouri three large boring grubs, which so 
closely resemble each other, that they cannot be distinguished by any 
marks which we are yet acquainted with—that the Broad-necked 
Prionus feeds indiscriminately on the living roots of Apple, Grape- 
vine, Poplar (and perhaps of several other trees), and on decaying 
oak stumps, and will travel through the ground from one place to 
another—that the Tile-horned Prionus not only attacks the Grape- 
vine, but can subsist on the roots of herbaceous plants, and in all 
probability will also feed on decaying oak, like the former species ; 
and finally, that the Cylindrical Orthosoma feeds on decaying pine 
and oak, but has not yet been found in living roots. From these facts 
we may deduce the important corollary, that it will not do to leave 
oak stumps to rot on ground which is intended for a vineyard or 
orchard—which was the thing to be proved. 


92 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE GRAPE SEED-MAGGOT—/sosoma vitis, Saunders. 
(Hymenoptera, Chalcididw.) 

In my First Report (pp. 125-31), I gave an account of a minute 

maggot (Fig. 64) which had been found by Mr. Wm. Saunders, of Lon- 

[Fig.'64.] don, C. W., to infest the seeds of growing grapes, 

and to occasion much damage around London and 

{(6Paris, by causing the berries of the Clinton, Dela- 

3 ware, Rogers’ No. 4, and some of Mr. Arnold’s Seed- 

lings, to shrivel up without maturing. There are so many noxious 

insects, common in Missouri, that occur also in the southern portions 

of Canada West, that it was deemed necessary to give the grape- 

growers of the State a diagnosis of its work, in case it should at any 
day make its appearance in our vineyards. 

From the appearance of this maggot, I inferred, with every one 
else who gave an opinion, that it would most likely produce some 
small species of snout-beetle (Curculio family). Now mark how 
dangerous a thing itis, for even an entomologist to guess at the char- 
acter of some insects, when in this masked form. We flatter our- 
selves that there are but very few insects among the half million dif- 
ferent species that are estimated to exist in the whole extent of this 
terrestrial globe of ours, that we cannot place at a glance in its proper. 
Order, even when in the larva state; but let us humbly acknowledge 
that there are some few larval forms among the more minute Four- 
winged Flies (order Hymenoptera) and Beetles (order Coleoptera) 
which itis almost, if not absolutely, impossible to distinguish the 
one from the other. 

Last August I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Mr. 
Saunders, at his place in London, and I was gratified to learn that he 
had bred the perfect insect from this seed-maggot. It proved to bea 
little Four-winged fly (Chalezs family), and upon my return home, I 
found a few specimens of the very same species of fly, in a bottle in 
which were placed some infested grapes received the year before 
from Mr. A.S. Fuller of New Jersey, and obtained by him from Canada. 


[Fig- 65.) This fly so closely resembles 
1X “ the notorious Joint-worm Fly (/so- 
She, © soma hordet, Harris) that the ac- 


q rag companying highly magnified 

sketch (Fig. 65) of that insect—a 

representing the female, } the 

male, ¢ the¢g antenna,d the ¢ do., 

e the 2 abdomen andf the ¢ do.—_ 
will afford a very correct idea of 
its appearance. 


Hey %, 
Re 
‘ 


The Grape Seed-maggot Fly 
differs principally from the Joint- 
worm Fly in its somewhat smaller 
size, in the legs being marked 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 93 


with black on the thighs and shanks, in the o abdomen being 
comparatively shorter, and in its third ring conspicuously overhang- 
ing the fourth. The following account and description from Mr. Saun- 
ders himself, is taken from the November number of the Canadian 
Entomologist : 


“In October I detached a larva from the inside of the seed, and 
placed it in a, small glass cell between two plates of glass,in which 
state it remained until early in January, when it became a pupa, hav- 
ing first attached itself to the sides of the cell by a few short silky 
threads. It had now contracted in length, become nearly oval, and 
assumed a yellowish tint, with a few short loose silky threads adher- 
ing to different parts of its surface. On thellth of February I exam- 
ined some seeds and found the larva within, still alive and active, just 
as it appeared in the fall. On the 7th of July further specimens were 
opened and the inmates found soft and motionless; these appeared to 
be in the pupa state, but I did not examine them with sufficient care 
to enable me to be positive. During the remaining part of July, I 
looked many times into the bottles in which the grapes were enclosed 
but could not discover anything. On the 9th of August, feeling sure 
that the time for the appearance of the insect must be fully come, if 
not already past,I resolved on a thorough search for it. As soon as 
the contents of the bottles had been emptied on a piece of white 
paper,l observed a number of small four-winged flies among the 
dried-up grapes. They were all dead and stiff,some of them more 
brittle than others. From the observations made, Ishould judge that 
they made their escape from the middle to the end of July.” 


Tsosoma vitis, Saunders, 9 —Head large, flattened in front, black, thickly punctured, and cov- 
ered with many short whitish hairs; mandibles pale brown at base, tipped with black; antennz 
(scape and 8 joints), 9-jointed, black, thickly covered with whitish hairs inserted in deep sockets; 
the scape pale brown, slender, nearly as long as the three following joints together ; the second short ; 
third to eighth inclusive nearly equal in length; the terminal joint longer, tapering slightly 
towards the tip. Thorax black, punctured and covered with whitish hairs. Legs, front pair pale 
brown, trochanters nearly black; second and third pairs, trochanters black, femora and tibix 
nearly black along the middle, pale brown at tips; tarsi pale brown. Abdomen, long, black, 
straight, smooth, with a polished surface; placed on a short pedicel ; a little contracted at base, 
thickest on third joint, tapering gradually to fifth, and then suddenly to extremity; the basal 
joint very short, second and third each somewhat longer, fourth as long as the three preceding, 
fifth less than half as long as fourth, sixth alittle shorter, terminal joint rather longer. 

GC differs from Q in having the antennz somewhat longer and more thickly covered with 
bairs. His abdomen is short, thick and blunt, placed on a moderately stout pedicel nearly its own 
length. The abdominal rings have about the same relative size as in the female, but the posterior 
edge of third overhangs the fourth, the latter appearing as if partially drawn within the project- 
ing edge of the third ring. 

Length Q 0.10, i, 0.06 inch. 

“ Having kept the grapes in bottles, only occasionally opened for 
ventilation, in a dry room, they had become quite hard, dry and shriv- 
elled. In consequence of this, many of the flies were unable to make 
their way out, the seed having become too hard for their jaws to eat 
through. On opening some of these the flies were found dead with 
wings fully developed and surrounded by small fragments of the in- 


terior coating of the seed which they had evidently gnawed off while 


94 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


endeavoring to escape. Those which had found their way out had 
eaten a small nearly round irregular hole through seed and skin, In 
many similar cases where the larva feeds within a hard substance 
it provides for the escape of the perfect insect by eating away the 
hard enclosure until it is reduced so thin as to appear almost trans- 
parent, then a very little effort is sufficient to remove the obstruction 
to the outward passage of the imago. In this instance I have been 
unable to detect any such preparation, and believe that the whole 
work of escape is accomplished by the perfect fly. 

“ Notwithstanding the abundance of this insect last year, I have 
as yet been unable to detect their presence or any evidence of their 
work during the present season; probably the cold and wet character 
of the summer has been unfavorable to their operations.” 


rg! 


THE CANKER-WORM—Anisopterya vernata, Peck. 
[Lepidoptera Phalenide.] 


- This word CaANKER-wWorm has formed the heading of so many arti- 
celesin our various Agricultural and Horticultural journals during 
the lastten or twelve years, and its natural history has been so fully 
given in the standard work of Dr. Harris, that one almost wonders 


(Fig. 66.] 


where there can be areading farmer who does not know how prop- 
erly to fight it. But then, new generations are ever replacing those 
which pass away, so that the same stories will doubtless have to be 
repeated to the end of time. Facts in Nature will always bear re- 
peating, and as it may be laid down as a maxim that no injurious in- 
sect can be successfully combated without a thorough knowledge of 
its habits and transformations, I will first recount those of the Canker- 
worm, and afterwards state the proper remedy. 

The eggs of this insect are very minute, measuring about 0.03 
inch in length and 0.02 in diameter. In form they are not unlike a 
miniature hen’s egg, minutely roughened and with longitudinal irregu- 
lar depressions. They reflect prismatic colors, and are deposited 
close together in rows, forming batches such as that shown in the 
above Figure 66, a representing them of the natural size, and 6 rep- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 95 


resenting them magnified. They are glued together by a grayish var- 
nish which the mother moth secretes, and they are attached to the 
trunk, or to some one or other of the twigs of the tree, and may often 
be found on the inside of loose scales of bark, each batch consisting 
of upwards of a hundred eggs. 

As the leaves begin to form, these eggs hatch into minute, thread- 
like span-worms, which in from three to four weeks afterwards ac- 
quire their full size, when they appear as at Figure 66c. The Can- 
ker-worm is distinguished from most other caterpillars that attack 
the Apple, by having but four prolegs at the end of the body. The 
normal number of such prolegs in caterpillars, is ten; and it is the 
lack of the foremost six which obliges our insect to span or loop, 
from which habit the characteristic name GEOMETRIDZ has been given 
to the group to which it belongs. 

When full-grown this worm measures scarcely an inch in length, 
and is commonly ash-gray on the back, darker at the side and yellowish 

(Fig. 67.] beneath. It varies greatly in the intensity ofits mark- 

aur, ings however, ash-gray, green, and yellow ones occur- 

ie a ring in the same brood, and the most constant character 

2°) by which it may be distinguished from other span-worms 

y~of the same size, is the pattern of the head, which, 

‘no matter what the general hue of the body may be, is 

usually shaded and marked as in the annexed Figure 67. 

The markings of the worm vary indeed so much, that, without this 

criterion I could hardly venture to determine a Canker-worm larva 
myself. 

Isubjoin a very full description of this worm from numerous 
average specimens, as it is of considerable importance, that an orch- 
ardist may be able to ascertain definitely whether he is troubled with 
the true Canker-worm or not. For if he mistakes some other span- 
worm which produces winged females as well as winged males, for 
the genuine Canker-worm which is apterous in the female moth state, 
it becomes very obvious that all his efforts to try and prevent the 
ravages of the spurious Canker-worm by the most approved and well- 
tried methods, will not only fail most absolutely, but he will lose all 
faith in such remedies, and may perchance, if he is given to the use 
of the quill, vent his wrath and disappointment by sending to some 
one of the horticultural journals of the land, a pithy article “ based 
upon Facts [?] and EXPERIENCE” showing up the utter worthlessness of 
the Canker-worm remedies! 

It is from such lack of true knowledge that the City Fathers of Bal- 
timore, Maryland, went to the useless expense of furnishing oil troughs 
for all their large elm trees which were being defoliated, under the 
delusive idea that the insect committing the ravage was the Canker- 
worm; whereas it turned out to be the larva of a little imported Bee- 
tle (Galeruca calmariensis, Fabr.), the female of which has ample 
wings, and can fly as readily asa bird from tree to tree; and it is 


96 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


from such oversights, that paragraphs like the following take their 
rise. This one may be found in the Boston Journal for may 284d, 
1866: 


Origin oF CANKER-worms.—A Medford correspondent says that 
last fall he applied to his trees protectors which were pronounced 
the best in the neighborhood, and notwithstanding not a single grub 
passed over them, the trees, like others in the vicinity, are this sea- 
son covered with worms which are now pursuing their devastating 
work. In his opinion the Canker-worms do not originate from the 
grub, and he challenges proof that they do. The subject is one 
worthy of investigation! 

Whe-e-e-e-ou! It needs no comments in this Report. 


When first hatched the young Canker-worms are of a dark olive-green or brown hue, witha 
shiny black head and thoracic legs, with a whitish lateral and dorsal band, the latter having a 
darker central line along it. After the first moult, the head becomes lighter and mottled, and the 
light bands less conspicuous. After the second moult the bands are almost obliterated and the 
body becomes more uniformly mottled and speckled with livid-brown; the head becomes still 
lighter and the prolegs being now large, spread out at almost a level with the venter. After the 
third (and I believe last) moult the appearance changes but little. The full grown larva averages 
0.90 inch in length with an average diameter of 0.10 inch, being broadest on joint 11. It varies 
from light fleshy-gray to almost black. Head mottled as in Figure 67. Ends of body somewhat 
darker than middle. Joint 1 with a yellowish dorsal shield, the hinder margin in form of a 
rounded W. Viewed under a lens the body has a series of eight fine light yellowish, irregular, 
somewhat broken lines, running the whole length of the body, each one relieved by a darker shade 
each side of it. The two along middle of dorsum are close together, with the space between them 
usually dark, and occupied at anterior edge and middle of joints 5,6,7and 11 by black, marks 
somewhat in form of x, these marks being represented by simple black dots on the other joints. 
Space between these dorsal lines and the next lowest, lighter, and containing four black pilifer- 
ous spots to each joint, the posterior ones rather further apart than the anterior ones which on joint 
11 form two larger elevated shiny black spots. Space between lines 2 and 8 darker than any other 
part of the body. That between lines 3 and 4 lighter than any other part of body and containing 
the stigmata which are perfectly round and black with a light centre, with a small piliferous spot 
anteriorly above and below them, and another behind them, this last becoming large on joints 5, 
6,7 and 8. Venter dark and livid at borders, with a pale greenish band along the middle, which has a 
pinkish patch init on joints 5,6, 7and8. Legs greenish at base, color of body at extremity. The 
markings are most distinct on the light specimens. 


The Canker-worm is by no means confined, in its destructive 
work, to the Apple, for it likewise attacks the Plum, the Cherry, the 
Kilm, and a variety of other trees. Mr. R. J. Mendenhall, of Minnea- 
polis, Minn., even informs me, in a recent letter, that “the Currant 
worm” spoken of in a late number of the Farmer’s Union as infesting 
the currant bushes in the gardens around that city, were really Can- 
ker-worms, but he is most assuredly mistaken. The Canker-worm is 
seldom ever noticed on our trees till the riddled and seared appear- 
ance of the foliage tell of its presence; for, like most other span- 
worms, it has the habit of resting in a stiff straight posture, either 
at an angle of about 45° from, or flat and parallel with the twig which 
it occupies—thus eluding detection. 

After it has attained its full size it either crawls down the tree or 
lets itself down by means of a silken thread, and burrows into the 
ground. Here, at a depth of two or three inches, it forms a rude co- 
coon of particles of earth intermixed with silk (Fig. 66, d). Within 
two days after completing the cocoon the worm becomes a chrysalis 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 97 


of alight brown color. The sexes are now distinguishable, the male 
chrysalis (Fig. 66, ¢) being slender, pointed in front, and showing the 
wing-sheaths; while that of the female is larger and destitute 
of wing-sheaths. 

In the latitude of St. Louis, the worms have generally descended 
from the trees and entered the ground by the middle ef May, though 
some remain till about.the first of June. As I have amply proved 
during the past two summers, there is but one brood each year in this 
State, just as there is but one brood in Maine,and whether the worms 
enter the ground the first or the last of May, they remain there as 
chrysalids all through the summer and fall months, and the great 
majority of them till the followingspring. A frost seems to be neces- 
sary to their proper development. Some come out during the first 
mild weather that succeeds the first frostsin November; others issue 
all through the winter whenever the ground is thawed, and the great 
bulk issue as soon as the frost is entirely out of the ground in spring. 
Many which I bred this winter issued during the warm weather of 
January. 

The moths (Fig. 66 £ 5, 7 9) show great disparity of sex, the male 
being fully winged while the female is entirely destitute of these ap- 
pendages. The front wings of the male are pale ash-gray, crossed by 
three equidistant jagged, more or less defined, black lines, all curved 
inwardly, and most distinct on the frent or costal border; and by a 
somewhat broader whitish line, which runs from the posterior angle 
to the apex; the inner and terminal borders also being marked with 
black. The hind wings are silvery-gray, and the under surfaces are of 
the same uniform silvery-gray color, each wing with a dusky discal 
spot, the front wings each with an additional spot on the cesta. Such 
is the appearance of the more common perfect specimens found in 
the West, but the wings are very thin and silky, and the scales easily 
rub off, so that it is almost impossible to capture a perfect specimen 
at large. They vary considerably also—so much so that Dr. Harris 
ranks asmaller form as a distinct species (A. pometaria) whichI have 
however bred promiscuously with the more typical specimens. The 
most common variation from the brief description above given, is 
found in such specimens which have the dark lines obsolete, and an 
additional white line inside the one described. The female is ash- 
gray, the thorax with a black spot, the body more or less marked 
with black along the back, and the jegs alternately marked with black 
and white. 

In Missouri the Canker-worm is not so injurious over broad tracts 
of country, as it is in some of the more eastern States. Yet it is suf- 
ficiently distributed in different parts, 1o require vigilance to keep it 
down. “R. P.,” of Mexico, Mo., found it very injurious in the spring 
of 1868, and sent me many specimens, and they were the genuine 


era: Around Pevely,I have likewise found it common on the 
—ER 


98 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


farms of Dr. Varnum and Mr. Foster. Mr. Wm. M. Beal of Edina 
tells me that it is considered one of the very worst enemies in Knox 
county, and as Iam informed by Mr. J. D. Dopf, editor of the Jour- 
nal, Rockport, Atchison Co., it was exceedingly troublesome to the 
elms there in 1866. Where they have once become established, and 
are neglected, their ravages soon become very great; and they were 
so bad in certain parts of Michigan a few years ago, and especially in 
the Grand Traverse region in 1865, that, unless my memory fails me, 
a certain Eastern editor, in response to an appeal for a remedy from 
Mr. Sanford Howard, the Secretary of the Michigan State Board of 
Agriculture very foolishly urged the Wolverines to cut down their 
trees. May I hope that these Entomological Reports will be the 
means of protecting Missouri from the fearful ravages of this worm 
which has so often discouraged the orchardists in Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and some of the Middle States. 

It is the apterous condition of the female moth which gives us 
such complete control of this enemy, and which indicates 


THE PROPER REMEDY. 


The sole object of the female, after she leaves the earth, seeme 
to be to provide for the continuance of her kind, and she instinctively 
places the precious burden, which is to give birth to the young whick 
she herself is destined never to behold, upon the tree whose leaves 
are to nourish those young. All her life-energy is centered in the 
accomplishment of this one object, and she immediately makes for 
the tree upon issuing from the ground. Consequently, anything that 
will prevent her ascending the trunk will,in a great measure (but as 
we shall presently see, not entirely) preserve the tree from the 
ravages of the worm. 

Numerous indeed have been the devices—patented or unpatented 
—which have at different times and in different parts of the country 
been used to accomplish this desired end; and every year our Agri- 
cultural journals report individual experiments with some one or 
other of these devices—some favorable and others adverse. Tar, 
applied either directly around the body of the tree, or on strips of 
old canvas, on sheep-skin, or on stiff paper; refuse sorghum molasses, 
printers’ ink, or slow-drying varnishes. or melted India _ rubber, 
which always retains its soft viscid state, applied in a similar man- 
ner; tin, lead, and rubber troughs to contain oil; belts of cotton- 
wool, etc., etc., have all been used, and with both good and bad 
results, very much according as they have been used intelligently or 
otherwise. Now, all these appliances, of whatsoever character, are 
divisible into two classes: first, those which prevent the ascension of 
the moth by entangling her feet, and trapping her fast, or by drown- 
ing her; and, second, those which accomplish the same end by pre- 
venting her from getting a foothold, and thus causing her repeatedly 
to fall tothe ground until she becomes exhausted and dies. 


4 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 


‘The first class of remedies are thoroughly effectual when applied 
‘understandingly and persistently. And by this I mean, that the 
orchardist must know that many of the moths issue in the fal! of the 
‘year, and that the applications must, in consequence, be made at 
Jeast as eatly as the latter part of October, and that they must 
be kept sticky, through all but freezing weather, till the leaves have 
well put out, in the following spring. J*urthermore he must know 
that many of the moths—frustrated in their efforts to climb the tree— 
will deposit their eggs near the ground or anywhere below the appli- 
eation, and that the young worms hatching from them are able to 
pass behind the slighest crevice or over the finest straw. Thus, if 
troughs are used, they must be fitted over a bandage of cotton-wool, 
so that when the trough is drawn tightly around the tree, it will do 
no injury, and will at the same time cause the cotton to fill up all in- 
‘equalities of the bark; the joint must likewise be kept smeared 
‘either with tar or molasses, and then the worms will not be able to 
mass. Inthe neglect to thus fasten them, lies the secret of failure which 
many report who use such troughs. The second class of contrivances 
‘are of no avail whatever, for although the moth is unable to travel over 
a very smooth surface, I know from experience that the young worms 
‘can march over the smoothest glass by aid of the glutinous silken 
thread which they are able to spin from the very moment they are 
born. For these reasons, even the “ Merritt’s Patent Tree-Protector,” 
which was so well advertised by Mr. Howard in his otherwise excel- 
lent article on the Canker-worm, in the Michigan Agricultural Re- 
port for 1865, must be classed with the worthless patents. ‘This 
“ Protector” consists of a ring of glass grooved below and hung from 
the tree by a tent of canvas, to which it is fastened by an iron 
clamp. 

I might enumerate a number of such ingenious contrivances both 
of glass, wood, tin, and isinglass, for heading off the female moth on/y, 
and some few which are sufficiently thorough to head off the young 
larvee also; but they are all so expensive, that I am perfectly convinced 
they will never be adopted in our large orchards; nor are they nec- 
essary, for some of the remedies already mentioned are altogether 
more simple and more effectual. 

It cannot be denied that it requires a great deal of time, labor 
and expense to continually renew the applications of tar on every 
tree in a large orchard during so many months of the year; while its 
application directly to the bark is more or less injurious to the trees. 
Yor these reasons, refuse sorghum molasses will be found much bet- 
ter for the purpose, as it does not harden so rapidly, and is said not 
to be injurious to the tree. In neighborhoods where sorghum is 
grown, it is also much cheaper. That it will pay to do this work in 
orchards where the Canker-worm is known to be numerous, there can- 
not be the least doubt. The old adage, “ What is worth doing at all 
is worth doing well,” was never truer than in fighting this insect. 


100 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Apply the remedy thoroughly during two successive years, and you 
have utterly routed the enemy, and this is more especially the case 
where an orchard is not in too close proximity to the timber, or to 
slovenly neighbors. Fail to apply the remedy, and the enemy will, 
in all probability, rout you. The reason is simple. The female being 
wingless, the insect is very local in its attacks, sometimes swarming 
in one orchard and being unknown in another which is but a mile 
away. Thus, after it is once exterminated, a sudden invasion is not 
to be expected, as in the case of the Tent Caterpillar, and of many 
other orchard pests; but when it has once obtained a footing in an 
orchard, it multiplies the more rapidly, for the very reason that it does 
not spread fast. 

If oil troughs are used, it will be found much safer, and surer to 
sink them in the ground close around the butt of the tree, instead of 
winding them around the trunk higher up. There will then be no 
chance for the young worms to get up between the trough and the 
tree. But it follows, that this plan can only be adopted in an orchard 
which is kept perfectly clean. 

As for muriate of lime, which has been so earnestly recom- 
mended as a preventive, by interested parties, here is what Mr. San- 
ford Howard says of it in the Western Rural of August 18th, 1866, 
and Mr. Joseph Breck, editor of the old American Journal of Horti- 
culture; G. C. Brackett, correspondent of the Maine Harmer, and 
several other persons with whom I am acquainted, all testify, after 
having thoroughly tried it, to its utter worthlessness for this purpose: 

The editor of the Harmer says, there are statements to the effect, 
that a substance called Gould’s Muriate of Lime, applied to the soil 
in autumn, had entirely prevented the subsequent appearance of 
Canker-worms on trees standing on the ground, although the trees had 
previously been much damaged by the insect. It is also stated that 
on other trees, not ten rods distant, where none of the so-called mu- 
riate of lime was applied, the worms were very destructive. 

I cannot think that this amounts to any proof that the substance 
applied destroyed the worms, or had any effect on them. ‘The non- 
appearance of the insect in the case alluded to, was probably due to 
other causes. If this substance will kill or injure the insect in any 
of its stages, it would be easy to prove it by a direct application to 
soil containing insects, in a box. Several years ago, I took pains to 
make a particular experiment with this so-called muriate of lime, the 
result of which was that the Canker-worm underwent its transforma- 
tions naturally, and to all appearance healthfully, in a soil composed 
of nearly fifty per cent. of the articles of which it was said a small 
proportion only was necessary to totally destroy them? If the sub- 
stance is the same in composition now that it was then, it is reasona- 
ble to suppose that the result of its application would be the same. 

As to the “ Plug Ugly Theory,” which consists of filling an auger 
bore with sulphur and plugging it tight, and which originated, some 
years since, in the inventive brain of some Prairie Farmer corres- 
pondent; it is altogether too absurd to need consideration, for even 
if the mode of application were not so downright ridiculous, it is well 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 


known to entomologists that many caterpillars will thrive exceed- 
ingly on leaves that have been thickly sprinkled with sulphur. 

Vigilance is the price of reward, and as it is always easier to pre- 
vent than to cure, it were well for the owners of young orchards, in 
neighborhoods where the Canker-worm is known to exist, to keep a 
sharp look-out for it; so that upon its first appearance the evil may 
be nipped in the bud. In the same manner that it is exterminated in 
the individual orchard, in like manner, it may, by concert of action, 
be exterminated from any given locality. When once the worms are 
on a tree, a good jarring will suspend them all in mid-air, when the 
best way to kill them is by swinging a stick above them, which breaks 
the web, and causes them to fall to the ground; when they may be 
prevented from ascending the tree, by the methods already described, 
or by strewing straw on the ground and setting fire to it. 

One word in commendation of late fall plowing and the use of 
hogs. A good deal has been said both for and against fall plowing, 
and the following discussion which took place at the November (1868) 
meeting of the Alton (Ills.) Horticultural Society, will afford a sample 
of the different opinions held by individuals: 

Dr. Long took the ground that fall plowing was one of the best 
and surest means of eradicating those insects which stay in the ground 
over winter. He said, some five or six years ago my orchard was 
badly infested with the Canker-worm; by late cultivation, I almost, 
if not entirely, got rid of them. 

Dr. Hull—I do not believe that fall plowing will destroy the lar- 
vee of insects to any extent. I haye dug up frozen lumps containing 
larve that were not affected by freezing. I think the Canker-worm 
will not spread here as in New England. 

J. Huggins—I have been led to believe—contrary to Dr. Hull’s 
statement—that they will spread, and feel that there is great danger 
of their spreading. I believe fall plowing a great aid in the extermi- 
nation of them. Cites a case where they have been almost entirely 
destroyed by late plowing, in an orchard that was nearly ruined by 


em. 

Dr. Hull—If it be true that they will spread, why is it that none 
of Dr. Long’s neighbors have them? He says he was badly overrun 
with them, and the fact that his neighbors were not, I think confirm- 
ation of my statement that they will not spread. 

Dr. Long—My brother’s orchard, adjoining mine, had double as 
‘many as my own. He fall plowed, and has very few left. He also 
cites the case of an old orchard, in this section, that was almost de- 
pies by them, but fall plowing has almost, if not entirely, destroyed 
them. 


The following item from the New York Weekly Zribune of Feb- 
ruary 26th, 1869, also bears on this point: 


CaNKER-WorMS Destroyep By Prowine.—Mr. McNeil Witherton, 
in answer to W. V. Monroe’s request: I will state that I think that the 
Canker-worm can be destroyed by plowing the ground where they 
are, late in the fall. The 23th of Nov., 1867, I was at my son David’s 
in Wisconsin. He told me that the Canker-worms were in his orchard, 
and had injured his apple trees very much the past season; that a 
man who owns a nursery and keeps apple trees for sale, went into the 
orchard and examined the trees and worms, and said it was the Can- 


108 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


ker-worm that was injuring his orchard. I told him that about fifty 

ears ago they had been in my father’s orchard some six years, and 
<illed a large number of the trees; that we plowed it late in the fall, 
and have never seen the Canker-worm there since. [ advised him to 
plow his orchard immediately. The next day he plowed it as far as 
the worms had been in it. I received a letter from him a few weeks 
ago, stating that the Canker-worms were not in his orchard this year, 
and those trees that weré, injured and not killed last year, revived 
some tlfis year. ; 


Now there is no doubt but late plowing will produce somewhat 
different effects, according to the character of the soil, and the depth 
of the plowing; but that it is more generally beneficial than other- 
wise I am perfectly convinced, and as for the assertion of Mr. Wm. P. 
Lippincott, of Vernon, Iowa, made some time ago, in the Jowa [ome- 
stead, namely, that it left the ground full of harbors for the next year’s 
breeding, it suffices to say that the insect does not breed in the 
ground, and, holes or no holes, the worms will penetrate the soil 
whenever the time arrives to change to chrysalis. After the summer 
months the insect invariably lies in the chrysalis state snugly en- 
tombed in a little earthen cell very thinly lined with silk, from two 
to six inches below the surface. This cell, though frail, is a sufficient 
protection, so long as it is whole, from any excess of moisture, and at 
the same time prevents too much evaporation in case of summer 
drouth or dry winter freezing. Now I have proved by experiment 
that whenever this cell is disturbed or broken in cold weather, the 
chrysalis has not the power to penetrate the ground again, and in the 
great majority of instances, either rots, dries out, becomes mouldy, or, 
if on the surface, is devoured by birds. Even summer plowing, if 
performed after the first of July would work beneficially ; and it is for 
this reason, that clean, well cultivated orchards are more free from 
the attacks of this insect, than slovenly and neglected ones. The only 
advantage of late fall plowing, lies in the facts, that the chrysalis is at 
that time too benumbed to work itself into the ground and form an- 
other cell, and that birds are then harder pushed for food, and more 
watchful for any such dainty morceau. 

As to the efficiency of hogs, in rooting up and devouring the chry- 
salids, during the summer months, abundant favorable testimony 
might be cited; but the facts are too obvious to need argument. 


ENEMIES OF THE CANKER-WORM. 


Like most of our noxious insects, the Canker-worm is subject to 
[Fig. 68.] the attacks of cannibal and parasitic insects. It is 
\ ¥ also devoured by very many different birds, some of 
\ m4 - which almost entirely live on if; and Dr. Packard, 
aa I 4 of Salem, Mass., has observed an elongated mite 
37 (Nothrus ovivorus, Fig. 68, enlarged) devouring its 
LY [ | Nas eggs. The most common parasite which I have yet 
‘ {\ | ; | discovered with us, is an undescribed small four- 
ey) winged fiy belonging to the genus Microgaster, of 

| the same size, but differing from the Military Micro- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 


gaster (Fig. 23) which preys upon the Army-worm. It differs also 
from most other insects of the same genus, by each individual larva 
as it eats through the skin of the Canker-worm, spinning its pale 
greenish-white cocoon alone, and not in company. About teh per 
cent. of the worms which I have endeavored to breed, have been de- 
stroved by this parasite. Harris mentions the larva of another four- 
winged fly, and that of a two-winged fly belonging to the genus Za- 
china, which also infest the worm, destroying about one-third of thena 
in Massachusetts. There is also a very minute and undescribed spe- 
cies of Platygaster which pierces the egg of the Canker-worm, and 
drops one of her own into it, from which in due time the perfect fly 
develops. 

Among the Cannibal insects, which prey upon it, may be men- 
tioned the Ground-beetles, two of which I have found preying upon 
this worm, namely, the Rummaging Ground-beetle (Calosoma scruta- 

[Fig. 69.] tor, Fabr. Fig. 69), a large and beautiful 

insect, with the wing- [Fig. 70.] 

covers golden-green, and ¢ 
the rest of the body 
marked with violet-blue, 
gold, green, and copper; 
and the Fiery Ground- 
beetle (Calosoma cali- j 
dum, Fabr. Fig. 70.), a & 
black species of almost 
equal size, with copper 
colored spots on the wing- 


covers. These beetles are very active, and run over the ground in 
search of soft-bodied worms, and will even mount upon the trunks of 
trees for the same purpose. 
The Fraternal Potter-wasp (Humenes fraterna, Say), is stated by 
[Fig. 71.] Harris, to store her cells with Can- 
n ker-worms, often gathering eighteen 
= oF twenty os them for a single cell. 
This wasp (Fig. 71, a), is quite com- 
{| monin St. Louis county, and uses 
other species besides Canker-worms 
as food for its young. Its clay nest 
(Fig. 71 4, entire; c, the same cut 
open shortly afterit was built, show- 
ing the manner in which it is com- 
pactly crowded with green worms), may often be found attached to 
the stems of the Goldenrod and of other plants in the open air, or 
cemented under the loose bark of some tree. It has even been fdund 
attached to the leaves of a deciduous plant, where it must neces- 
sarily fall to the ground in winter and lie there till the perfect insect 
issues in the following summer, 


104 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


CABBAGE WORMS. 


Of the various insects that affect this important esculent, the 
three following are among the most injurious in this State: 


THE SOUTHERN CABBAGE BUTTERFLY—Pieris protodice, Boisd. 


(Lepidoptera, Pierids.) 

Mr. S. H. Scudder, of the Boston Society of Natural History, from 

an examination of a large number of specimens of this butterfly, 

[Fig. 72. aN found that it enjoys a wide geo- 

oe Bi graphical range, “ extending 

Wy ay from Texas on the southwest, 

M Missouri on the west, and the 

~~ mouth of the Red River of the 

"6 North on the northwest, as far 

as Connecticut, and the South- 

ern Alantic States on the east.”* 

But while the species is scarce 

; in the more northern States, it 

is the common white bittentty of Missouri, abounding in many parts 

of the State, and sometimes flitting so thickly around the truck gar- 

L¥Fig. 73.] dens near large cities, as to remind 

one ata distance, of the falling of 

=snow. It often proves exceedingly 

# injurious, and I learn from a Missis- 

’ sippi exchange, that “there were 

last year thousands of dollars’ worth 

of cabbages devastated and ruined 

by worms in the neighborhood of 

Sl Corinth.” The paragraph goes on to 

state, “that ie ees gould not, in consequence, be had there even at 

ten cents per head.” The wom referred to, was doubtless the spe- 
cies under consideration. 

I have often passed through cabbage beds near St. Louis, and 
been unable to find a perfect head, though few of the gardeners had 
any suspicion that the gay butterflies which flitted so lazily from one 
plant to another, were the real parents of the mischievous worms 
which so riddled the leaves. 

The larva (Fig. 72, ~@) may be summarily described as a soft worm, 
of a greenish-blue color, with four longitudinal yellow stripes, and 
covered with black dots. When newly hatched itis of a uniform 
orange color with a black head, but it becomes dull brown before the 
first moult, though the longitudinal stripes and black spots are only 
visible after said moult has taken place. 

I subjoin a more complete description of it: 

Average length when full grown 1.15 imches. Middle segments largest. Most common 
ground-color green verging onto blue; sometimes clear pale blue and at others deep indigo or 
* See Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., VIII, 1861, p. 180. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 


purplish-blue. Each segment with six transverse wrinkles, of which the first and fourth are 
somewhat wider than the others. Four longitudinal yellow lines, each equidistant from the 
other, and each interrupted by a pale blue spot on the aforementioned first and fourth transverse 
wrinkles. Traces of two additional longitudinal lines below, one on each side immediately above 
prolegs. Oneach transverse wrinkle is a row of various sized, round, polished black, slightly 
raised, piliferous spots ; those on wrinkles one and four being largest and most regularly situated. 
Hairs arising from these spots, stiff and black. Venter rather lighter than ground-color above, 
and minutely speckled more or less with dull black. Head same color as body; covered with 
black piliferous spots, and usually with a yellow or orange patch each side—quite variable. The 
black piliferous spots frequently have a pale blue annulation around the base, especially in the 
darker specimens. 


The chrysalis (Fig. 72,6), averages 0.65 inch in length, and is as vari- 

able in depth of ground-color, as the larva. The general color is 
light bluish-gray, more or less intensely speckled with black, with the 
ridges and prominences edged with buff or with flesh-color, and 
having larger black dots. 
The female butterfly (Fig. 73) dif- 
=», fers remarkably from the male which 
Zl represent at Figure 74. It will be 
seen, upon comparing these figures 
that the 9 is altogether darker than 
the d6. ‘This sexual difference in ap- 
pearance is purely colorational, how- 
f sat ever, and there should not be the dif- 
osance in the fara of the wings hice the two figures would indi- 
cate, for the hind wings in the ¢ cut, are altogether too short and 
rounded. 


This insect may be found in all its different stages through the 
months of July, August and September. It hybernates in the chrys- 
alis state. I do not know that it feeds on anything but Cabbage, but 
Ionce founda ¢& chrysalis fastened to a stalk of the common nettle 
(Solanum carolinense), which was growing in a cemetery with no 
cabbages within at least a quarter of amile: and Mr. J. Rk. Muhleman 
is reported as having stated at a late meeting of the Alton ([Lllinois) 
Horticultucal Society, that itis injurious to turnips and other plants 
of the cabbage family. There are two broods of this insect each year. 

As already stated,in the more northern and eastern States our 

[Fig. 75 Southern Cabbage Butterfly occurs in 

= comparatively small numbers, but it is 
/ replaced by the Potherb Butterfly 
4% (Pieris oleracea, Boisd.), an indigenous 
species which does not occur with us. 
This last (Fig. 75, butterfly with the 
larva beneath) is in reality a northern 
species, for it rarely reaches as far south 
as Pennsylvania, but extends east to 
Nova Scotia, west to Lake Superior, 
and north as far as the Great Slave Lake 
in the Hudson’s Bay Company’s territory. It is readily distinguished 


106 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


from our species by being perfectly plain, with no black spots on the 
wings. The body is black, and the front wings have a slight shade 
of this color at their base, frontedge, and tips. Its larvais pale green 

[Fig- 76] and feeds on various other cruciferous plants besides cab- 

(i bages; its chryalis (Fig. 76) is also pale green or whitish, 

poeulanly and finely dotted with black. 

This butterfly has existed from time immemorial on the 
American continent, within the geographical limits already 
given, and yet has never made its way into Missouri or any of 
the southwestern States. Norisit likely toeverdoso; andwhy? Be- 
cause some insects are constitutionally incapacitated to live beyond 
certain geographical limits. The range of an insect is governed by 
various influences which I have not time to enumerate at present; 
but the principal influence is undoubtedly climate—temperature— 
heat. The‘ isothermal” lines, or the lines of equal heat, as all phys- 
ical geographers are well aware, do not run parallel with the lines of 
latitude, as one might at first thought suppose; but if our isothermal 
maps are to be relied on, vary most astonishingly to points north and 
south of a given line. The same variation from a given line of lati- 
tude is noticeable in the distribution of insects, or—to coin a word— 
we have “isentomic,” or iso-insect lines, which are as variable as the 
lines of equal heat, by which they are doubtless to a great extent 
governed. In Central Missouri we live on nearly the same latitude as 
that of Southern Pennsylvania, and in North Missouri, as that of 
Southern New York; yet we do not live on the same insect line, but 
nearly on that of Virginia and North Carolina, and even in the ex- 
treme northern part of the State, a number of insects are found, 
which on the Atlantic seaboard are never known to occur north of 
Virginia, and the same rule holds good with the birds and fishes of 
the United States. The same thing is true of our Central and South- 
ern counties. In other words many of our insects are southern, 
not northern species, and asfamiliar examples, I might mention the 
Tarantula of Texas (Mygale Hentzii, Girard), and its large Digger- 
wasp enemy (Pepsis formosa, Say), which have been frequently 
found in St. Louis county during the past two years, though they were 
for along time supposed to be confined to Texas. 

Now, since the indigenous Potherb Butterfly has never, in the 
course of past ages, extended to any point South of Pennsylvania, 
although its cruciferous food-plants have always flourished South of 
that line, we are justified in concluding that it never will do so, and 
that though a brood of the worms were introduced directly on to 
some cabbage patch in the extreme Northern part of this State, they 
would soon die out there. 

Consequently we have nothing to fear from this butterfly which 
has always troubled our northeastern friends. But the case is very 
different with another white cabbage butterfly which is now commit- 
ting sad havoc to the cabbages in some parts of Canada, and some 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 107 


of the Eastern States. The species] refer to is the Rape Butterfly 
(Pieris rape, Schrank), a recent importation from Europe, and while 
I have no fear of any evil results arising from the introduction of the 
Potherb Butterfly, I should hate to try the experiment of introducing 
a brood of worms of the Rape Butterfly into any portion of the State ; 
because, for the reasons detailed in the paper read before the State 
Horticultural Society, and which is published at the beginning of this 
Report, Ihave not a doubt but they would flourish exceedingly, and 
become far more injurious than either of the indigenous species. In- 
deed, the history of this insect, since its introduction into this coun- 
try, affords sufficient proof that such would be the result, for M. Pro- 
vancher in a recent number of his journal, Le Naturalista Canadien, 
says that it alone, has caused more damage around Quebec, since its 
arrival there, than all otber noxious butterflies put together, in the 
same space of time; and he estimates that it annually destroys $240,- 
000 worth of cabbages around that town. In short, as this insect is 
rapidly spreading westward, there is every reason to fear that it may 
some day get a foothold in our midst, unless the proper measures are 
taken to prevent such an undesirable occurrence. I[t will be well 
therefore to familiarize the reader with its appearance, for “‘to be fore- 
warned is to be forearmed !” 

Little did I dream, when, many years ago, I watched this butter- 
fly fluttering slowly along some green lane or over some cabbage 
patch in England, where it is THE butterfly ; or when I found its chry- 
salis so abundantly in the winter time on old palings or even on the 
kitchen wall indoors—that I should some day be fearing its presence 
here. But just as little did our forefathers dream of the immense 
though gradual changes which have come over this broad land dur- 
ing the last two or three centuries! Coming events are said to cast 
their shadows before them, but verily we know not what the morrow 
will bring forth. 

This Rape Butterfly is the bane of everv cabbage grower, and its 
larva is the dread of every cook in many parts of Europe. Unlike the 
two indigenous N. A. species already alluded to, this worm is not con- 
tent with riddling the outside leaves, but prefers to secrete itself in 
the heart, so that every cabbage has to be torn apart and examined 
before being cooked, and itis also necessary to keep acontinual look- 
out, even after it is dished up, lest one gets such an admixture of ani- 
mal and vegetable food asis not deemed palatable by the most of 
men. It is on account of this habit of boring into the heart of cab- 
bages, that the French call it the “ Ver du Coeur” or Heart-worm. 

It was introduced about 1856 or 1857, having been first taken in 
Quebec in 1859. In 1864 Mr. G. J. Bowles, who published an account 
of itin the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist, tor August, 1864, 
p. 258, estimated that it had not then extended more than forty miles 
from Quebec asacentre. In 1866 it was taken inthe northern parts 
ef New Hampshire and Vermont; in 1868 it had advanced as far 


108 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


South as Lake Winnepesaugee. It having since been taken at Ban- 
gor, and at other pointsin Maine; in certain parts of New Jersey, 
and the past year around Boston and New York. 


It was in all probability introduced into this country in the egg 
state, for the eggs are deposited on the underside of the leaves, and 
there is nothing more likely than that a batch may have been thrown 
with refuse leaves from some vessel, and that after hatching the 
young larve managed to find suitable food close by. 

[Fig. ye The larva (Fig. 77, a), ispale green, finely dotted 
with black, with a yellowish stripe down the back, and 
a row of yellow spots along each side ina line with the 
breathing holes. When about to transform, it leaves 
the plant upon which it fed, and shelters under the 
coping of some wall or fence, or on anything that may 
be conveniently at hand, and changes to a chrysalis 
(Fig. 76,6) which though variable in color, is usually 
pale green, speckled with minute black dots. The in- 
sect passes the winter in this state and as with the two 
indigenous species, there are two broods each year. 


The butterflies have the bodies black above, with the wings 
(ig. 78] white, and marked as in the accom- 
: panying cuts; the female (Fig. 78) 
being distinguished from the male 
(Fig. 79) by having two round spots 
(sometimes three) instead of only one 
on the front wings. Underneath, both 
(fal: ae sexes are alike, there being two spots 
“TP =X \\Y” on the front wings and none on the 
hind ones, which are yellowish, sometimes passing into green. The 
species varies very much, and there is a specimen in my collection in 
which all the spots are so nearly obsolete above, that if it were not 
[Fig. 79.] for the characteristic under-surfaces, 
__ it could scarcely be distinguished from 
“8the Potherb Butterfly. There is also 
®— in England a variety of the male sex 
which has the ground-color canary 
yellow instead of white, and curiously 
enough, this same variety has been 
taken in this country. 

Although some caterpillars are poly- 
phagous, feeding indiscriminately on a great variety of plants, yet 
most of them are confined to plants of the same botanical family, or 
at all events of the same natural order. Such is the case with the 
two indigenous cabbage butterflies above mentioned. for they are not 
known to go beyond cruciferous plants for food. The Rape Butterfly 
has a less epicurean palate however, and departs from this rule, inas- 


ONIN 
AN 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 


much as it has been known to feed upon the weeping willow in Eng- 
land. 

Remepdies.—One way of counterworking the evil effects of these 
cabbage butterflies, is to search for the eggs at the proper season, and 
destroy them. These eggs are pear-shaped, yellowish and longi- 
tudinally ribbed, but as they are deposited singly or in clusters of not 
more than two or three, the operation becomes tedious and some- 
what impracticable onalarge scale. Still, children should be taught 
how to find them, and incited to search for them by the hope of a re- 
ward for a certain number. The butterflies are slow lumbering flyers 
and may easily be caught in a net and killed. A short handle, per- 
haps four feet long, with a wire hoop and bag-net of muslin or musquito 
netting, are the only things needed to make such a net, the total cost of 
which need not be more than fifty or seventy-five cents. Ora more 
durable one may be made, in the following manner: Get a tinsmith 

to make a hollow handle of brass or 
tin from six to seven inches in length 
and tapering at one end, as seen in 
Figure 80,5; then procure a piece of 
stout wire, rather more than a yard 
long, and bend it in the manner shown 
in Figure 80, 5. Place the ends of the 
6  wireinthe small end of the handle, 
solder it on, and then fill in one-third of the handle with molten lead, 
so as to make the wire doubly fast and solid. Now make a bag of 
some strong but light fabric, and fasten it well tothe wire. The depth 
of the bag should be more than twice the diameter of the wire hoop. 
If a handle is required, a wooden one is easily made to fit into the 
hollow brass or tin, as at Figure 80,4. Poultry, if allowed free range 
in the cabbage field, will soon clear off the worms of our indigenous 
species. 

By laying pieces of board between the cabbage rows, and sup- 
porting them about two inches above the surface of the ground, the 
worms will resort to them to undergo their transformations, and may 
then be easily destroyed. 

Kither Paris green or white hellebore will kill the worms, if 
sprinkled on to them, but cannot be used on cabbages, as itis difficult 
to free the plants of these substances which are poisonous. The 
saponaceous compounds of cresylic acid are effectual, and without 
these objections. 

In Europe there are many parasites which serve to check the in- 
crease of the Rape Butterfly, and Curtis enumerates at least four. 
But on this continent, but one such parasite has so far been found to 
attack it, and that was a two-winged fly--probably a Zachina fly—-which 
M. Provancher bred from the chrysalis, in Quebec, Can.* M. Provan- 
cher, after remarking that he found achrysalis which, fromits blacken- 


*(Naturaliste Canadien Vol. II, p. 18.) 


110 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


ing in the middle, he suspected would not develop into a butterily, says 
of this parasite that he afterwards found a cocoon [pupa ?] by its side 
which was smooth blackish and oblong, and so large that he could 
scarcely believe it had escaped from the chrysalis, which was, how- 
ever, now pierced in the middle andempty. M. Provancher goes on 
to say: “Ten days afterwards, we perceived one morning that the co- 
coon was open at one end, and there was buzzing about in the vial a 
fly, which we recognized as belonging to the genus Sarcophaga|flesh- 
flies], the Jarvze of which are known to develop in meat. Here thén, 
we exclaimed, when we saw this fly,is an enemy of the Rape Butter- 
fly. But unfortunately the flesh-flies feed indiscriminately on almost 
any kind of flesh, and never being very numerous, cannot become 
very redoubtable enemies of this butterfly.” 

With all due respect to my friend Provancher, I incline to believe 
that he has mistaken a 7achina fly which is a true parasite, for a flesh- 
fly (Sarcophaga) whichis only a scavenger. And if this be so, his 
reasoning falls to the ground, for, as we may see in the Army-worm 
article in this Report, there are no more efficient checks to the in- 
‘erease of injurious insects than these same Zachina flies. 


THE CABBAGE PLUSIA—Plusia brassicae, N. Sp. 


(Lepidoptera, Piusidz.) 
[Fig. 81.] 


This is the next most com: 
mon insect which attacks the 
Cabbage with us,and curiously 
enough it has never yet been 
described It is a moth, and 
not a butterfly, and flies by 
night instead of by day. In 

the months of Angust and Sep- 
/ tember the larva (Fig. 81, a) 

may be found quite abundant 
= on this plant, gnawing large, 
gone —— ° 
(Cv Irregular holes in the leaves. 
XO) It is a pale green translucent 
‘ worm, marked longitudinally 
with still paler more opaque lines, and like all the known larve of 
the family to which it belongs, it has but two pair of abdominal pro- 
legs, the two anterior segments which are usually furnished with such 
legs in ordinary caterpillars, not having the slightest trace of any. 
Consequently they have to loop the body in marching, as represented 
in the figure, and are true “Span-worms.” Their bodies are very 
soft and tender, and as they live exposed on the outside of the plants, 
and often rest motionless, with the body arched, for hours at a time, 
they are espied and devoured by many of their enemies, such as 
birds, toads, ete. They are also subject to the attacks of at least two 
parasites and die very often from disease, especially in wet weather : 


‘ HE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. fil 


So that they are never likely to increase quite as badly as the butter- 
flies just now described. 

When full grown this worm weaves a very thin loose white 
cocoon, sometimes between the leaves of the plant on which it fed, 
but more often in some more sheltered situation; and changes to 
a chrysalis (Fig. 81,6) which varies from pate yellowish-green to 
brown, and has a considerable protruberance at the end of the wing 
and leg casés, caused by the long proboscis of the enclosed moth 
being bent back at that point. This chrysalis is soft, the skin being 
very thin, and it is furnished at the extremity with an obtuse 
roughened projection which emits two converging points, and several 
short curled bristles, by the aid of which it is enabled to cling to its 
cocoon. 


The moth is of a dark smoky-gray inclining to brown, variegated 
with light grayish-brown, and marked in the middle of Such front wing 
with a small oval spot and a somewhat U-shaped silvery white mark, 
as inthe figure. The male (Fig. 81, c) is easily distinguished from 
the female by a large tuft of golden hairs covering a few black ones, 
which springs from each side of his abdomen towards the tip. 

The suggestions given for destroying the larvee of the Cabbage 
Butterflies, apply equally well to those of this Cabbage Plusia, and 
drenchings with a cresylic wash will be found even more effectual, 
as the worms drop to the ground with the slightest jar. 


PriustA Brassica, N. Sp.—Larva—Pale yellowish translucent green, the dorsum made lighter and 
less translucent by Jongitudinal opaque lines of a whitish-green ; these consist each side, of arather 
dark vesicular dorsal line, and of two very fine light lines, with an intermediate broad one. Taperg 
gradually from segments 1-10, descending abruptly from 11 to extremity. Piliferous spots white, 
giving rise to hairs, sometimes black, sometimes light colored; and laterally a few scattering 
white specks in addition to these spots. A rather indistinct narrow, pale stigmatal line, with a 
darker shade above it. Head and legs translucent yellowish-green, the head having five minute 
black eyelets each side, which are not readily noticed with the naked eye. Some specimens are 
of a beautiful emerald-green, and lack entirely the pale longitudinal lines. Described from 
numerous specimens. 


Crysalis—Of the normal Plusia-form, and varying from yellowish-green to brown. 

Moth—Front wings dark gray inclining to brown, the basal half line, transverse anterior, 
transverse posterior, and subterminal lines pale yellow inclining to fulvous, irregularly undulate, 
and relieved more or less by deep brown margins; the undulations of the subterminal line more 
acuminate than in the others, and forming some dark sagittate points; the basal half-line, the 
transverse anterior near costa, and the transverse posterior its whole length, being sometimes 
obscurely double: four distinct equidistant costal spots on the terminal half of wing, the third 
from apex formed by the termination of the transverse posterior; posterior border undulate with 
a dark brown line which is sometimes marked with pale crescents; a series of similar crescents 
(often mere dots) just inside the terminal space; the small sub-cellulary silver spot oval, some- 
times uniformly silvery-white but more often with a fulvous centre, sometimes free from, but 
more often attached to the larger one which has the shape of a constricted U, very generally 
with a fulyous mark inside, which extends basally to the transverse anterior at costa. Fringes 
dentate, of the color of the wing, and with a single undulating line parallel to that on the terminal 
border. Hind wings fuliginous, inclining to yellowish towards base, and with but a slight pearly 
lustre; fringes very pale with a darker inner line. Under surfaces pale fuliginous with a pearly 
lustre, the front wings with a distinct fulyous mark under the sub-cellulary spots, speckled more 
or less with the same color around the borders of the wing, the fringes being dentate with light 
and dark; the hind wings speckled with fulvous on their basal balf, and with the fringes as 
above. Thoraa variegated with the same color as front wings, the tufts being fulvous inclining te 


112 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


pink. Abdomen Q gray, with a few pale hairs near the base, and scarcely extending beyond the 
margin of the hind wings; d' longer, covered with pale silky hairs, a distinct dorsal brown tuft on 
each of the three basal segments, and two large lateral either fawn-colored or golden-yellow 
brushes on the fifth segment, meeting on the back and partly covering two smaller brushes on the 
aixth, which are tipped with black: terminal segment flattened and with two lateral more dusky and 
smaller tufts: underside of thorax and abdomen gray, mixed with flesh-color. Alar expanse 1.55 
inches. Described from numerous bred specimens. In a suite of specimens bred from the same 
brood of larve a considerable difference in the general depth of color is found, some being fully as 
dark again as others. 

Closely resembles Plusia ni, Engr., which occurs in Italy, Sicily, France, and the northern 
parts of America. Mr. P. Zeller of Stettin, Prussia, to whom I sent specimens, considers it dis- 
tinct however from the European ni, and I have consequently given it a name in accordance with 
its habits. 

There is another worm which may be known as the Thistle Plusia, 


and which occurs on our common thistles, and cannot therefore be 
considered very injurious. It differs only from that of the Cabbage 
Plusia in having the sides of the head, the thoracic legs, arow of spots 
above the lateral light line, and a ring around the breathing pores, 
black. Ihave bred from it the Plusia precationis* of Guenée—an 
insect whose larval history has not hitherto been known. 


THE ZEBRA CATERPILLAR—Mamestra picta, Harr. 
(Lepidoptera, Apamide.) 


This is another insect which often proves injurious to our cauli- 
flowers and cabbages, though 
it by no means confines itself 
to these two vegetables. EKar- 
ly in June the young worms 
which are first almost black, 
though they soon become pale 
and green, may be found in 
dense clusters on these plants, 
for they are at that time gre- 
garious. As they grow older 


easily found, and in about four 
weeks from the time of hatch- 
ing they come to their full 
growth. Each worm (Fig. 82. 
a,) then measures about two inches in length, and is velvety-black 
with a red head, red legs, and with two lateral yellow lines, between 
which are numerous transverse white, irregular, zebra-like finer lines, 
which induced Dr. Melsheimer to call this worm the “Zebra.” Though 
it does not conceal itself, it invariably curls up cut-worm fashion, and 
rolls to the ground when disturbed. 

It changes to chrysalis within a rude cocoon formed just under 
the surface of the ground, by interweaving a few grains of sand or a 


A * Some of these bred specimens approach very near to Pl. iota, Gn. and even to Pl. u-brevis, 
72. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1138 


few particles of whatever soil it happens on, with silken threads. The 
chrysalis is ? of an inch in length, deep shiny brown and thickly pune- 
tured except on the posterior border of the segments and especially 
of those three immediately below the wing-sheaths, where it is red- 
dish and not polished ; it terminates in a blunt point ornamented with 
two thorns. The moth (Fig. 82, 6,) which is called the Painted Mam- 
estra, appears during the latter part of July, and itis a prettily marked 
species, the front wings being of a beautiful and rich purple-brown, 
blending with a delicate lighter shade of brown in the middle; the 
ordinary spots in the middle of the wing, with a third oval spot more 
or less distinctly marked behind the round one, are edged and tra- 
versed by white lines so as to appear like delicate net-work; a trans- 
verse zigzag white line, like asprawling W is also more or less visible 
near the terminal border, on which border there is a series of white 
specks; a few white atoms are also sprinkled in other places on the 
wing. The hind wings are white, faintly edged with brown on the 
upper and outer borders. The head and thorax are of the same color 
as the front wings, and the body has a more grayish cast. There are 
two broods of this insect each year, the second brood of worms ap- 
pearing in the latitude of St. Louis from the middle of August along 
into October, and in all probability passing the winter in the chrysalis 
state, though a few may issue in the fall and hybernate as moths, or 
may even hybernate as worms; for Mr. J. H. Parsons, of N. Y., found 
that some of the worms which were on his Ruta Baga leaves, stood a 
frost hard enough to freeze potatoes in the hill, without being killed.* 
I have noticed that the spring brood confines itself more especially to 
young cruciferous plants, such as cabbages, beets, spinach, etc., but 
have found the fall brood collecting in hundreds on the heads and 
flower-buds of asters, on the White-berry or Snow-berry (Symphori- 
carpus racemosus); on different kinds of honey-suckle, on mignonette, 
and on asparagus: they are also said to occur on the flowers of clover, 
and are quite partial to the common Lamb’s-quarter or Goosefoot 
(Chenopodium album). 

Qn account of their gregarious habit when young, they are very 
easily destroyed at this stage of their growth. 


THE TARNISHED PLANT-BUG—Capsus oblineatus, Say.t 


{ Heteroptera Capsidez.] 
Quite early last spring while entomologizing in Southern Illinois, 


* Practical Entomotogist, II, p. 21. 

} This bug was originally described by Beauvois as Coreus linearis, and subsequently as Cap- 
sus oblineatus by Say. Harris in speaking of it refers it to the sub-genus Phytocoris Fallen, and by 
mistake, changes Beauvois’ specific name linearis, to lineolaris, which he translates into popular 
language as the “ Little-lined Plant-bug.’’ As Say’s description is the only one I have access to, 
I have retained the name he gave it, as being eminently appropriate. 


S—E R 


114 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


[ Fig. 83.] [T spent a day with Mr. E. J. Ayres of Villa Ridge, 
and was surprised to learn that he had become quite 
discouraged in his efforts to grow young pear trees, 
on account of the injuries of a certain bug, which 
upon examination I found to be the Tarnished Plant- 
bug, represented enlarged at Figure 83, the hair line 
at its side showing the natural size. The family to 
which this bug belongs is the next in a natural ar- 
rangement to that which includes the notorious 
Chinch-bug, and the insect is, like that species, a ver- 
itable bug, and obtains its food by sucking and not biting. The Cap- 
sus family is a very large one, containing numerous species in this 
country, but among them, none but the species under consideration 
have thrust themselves upon public notice by their evil doings. 

The Tarnished Plant-bug is a very general feeder, attacking very 
many kinds of herbaceous plants, such as dahlias, asters, marigolds, 
balsams, cabbages, potatoes, turnips, etc.; and several trees, such as 
apple, pear, plum, quince, cherry, etc. Its puncture seems to have 
a peculiarly poisonous effect, on which account, and from its great 
numbers, it often proves a really formidable foe. It is especially hard 
on young pear and quince trees, causing the tender leaves and the 
young shoots and twigs to turn black, as though they had been 
burned by fire. On old trees it is not so common, though it fre- 
quently congregates on such as are in bearing, and causes the young 
fruit to wither and drop. I have passed through potato fields along 
the Iron Mountain Railroad in May, and found almost every stalk 
blighted and black from the thrusts of its poisonous beak, and it is 
not at all surprising that this bug was some years ago actually accused 
of being the cause of the dreaded potato-rot. 

This bug is a very variable species, the males being generally 
much darker than the females. The more common color of the dried 
cabinet specimens is a dirty yellow, variegated as in the figure with 
black and dark brown, and one of the most characteristic marks, is a 
yellow V, sometimes looking more like a Y, or indicated by three 
simple dots, on the scutel, (the little triangular piece on the middle 
of the back, behind the thorax). The color of the living specimens 
is much fresher, and frequently inclines to olive-green. ‘Lhe thorax, 
which is finely punctured, is always finely bordered and divided down 
the middle with yellow, and each ef the divisions contains two 
broader logitudinal yellow lines, very frequently obsolete behind. 
The thighs always have two dark bands or rings near their tips. 

As soon as vegetation starts in the spring, the mature bugs which 
winter over iu all manner of sheltered places may be seen collecting 
on the various plants which have been mentioned. Tarly in the 
morning they may be found buried between the expanding leaves, 
and at this time they are sluggish and may be shaken down and de- 
stroyed; but as the sun gets warmer, they become more active, and 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 115 


when approached, dodge from one side of the plant to the other, or 
else take wing and fly away. They deposit their eggs and breed on 
the plants, and the young and old bugs together may be noticed 
through most of the summer months. The young bugs are perfectly 
green, but in other respects do not differ from their parents exceptin 
lacking wings. They hide between the flower-petals, stems and leaves 
of different plants, and are not easily detected. Late in the fall, none 
but full grown and winged bugs are to be met with, but whether one 
or two generations are produced during the season I have not fully 
ascertained, though in all probability there are two. 


Remepivs.—In the great majority of cases, we are enabled to 
counteract the injurious work of noxious insects, the moment we 
thoroughly comprehend their habits and peculiarities. But there are 
a few which almost defy our efforts. The'T'arnished Plant-bug belongs 
to th® last class, for we are almost powerless before it, from the 
fact that it breeds and abounds on such a great variety of plants and 
weeds, and that it flies so readily from one to the other. Its flight is 
however limited, and there can be no better prophylactic treatment 
than clean culture; for the principal damage is occasioned by the 
old bugs when they leave their winter quarters and congregate on 
the tender buds and leaves of young fruit stock ; and the fewer weeds 
there are to nourish them during the summer and protect them dur- 
ing the winter, the fewer bugs there will be. The small birds must 
also be encouraged. Applications of air-slacked lime and sulphur, 
have been recommended to keep them off, but if any application of 
this kind is used, I incline to think that to be effectual, it must be 
of a fluid nature; and should recommend strong tobacco-water, 
quassia-water, vinegar, and cresylic soap. Some persons who have 
used the last compound have complained that it injures the plants, 
and every one using it should bear in mind, what was stated in the 
preface to my First Report, namely, that the pure acid, no matter how 
much diluted with water, will separate when sprinkled, and burn holes 
in, and discolor plant texture; whileif properly used as a saponaceous 
wash it will have no sach injurious effect. It must likewise be borne 
in mind, that the so-called “ plant-protector” which is a soap made of 
this same acid, will bear very much diluting, (say one part of the soap 
to fifty or even one hundred parts of water) and that it will injure 
tender leaved plants if used toostrong. Ihave noticed that the bugs 
are extremely fond of congregating upon the bright yellow flowers 
of the Cabbage, which, as every one knows, blooms very early in the 
season; and it would be advisable for persons who have been seri- 
ously troubled with this bug, and who live in a sufficiently southern 
latitude where the plant will not winter-kill, to let a patch of cab- 
bages run wild and go to seed in some remote corner of the farm, in 
order that the bugs may be attracted thither and more readily de- 
stroyed, than when scattered over a larger area. 


116 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 
THE PHILENOR SWALLOW-TAIL—Papilio philenor, Drury. 
(Lepidoptera Papilionide.) 


There is a genus of climbing plants (the Aristolochias), which is 

peculiarly attractive on account of its large, rich tropical-looking 
foliage. The Aristolochias are represented in almost all parts of the 
world, and some of the tropical species bear beautiful and immense 
flowers. In this country we have three native species which produce 
but small, pipe-like flowers, but which make very pretty ornaments 
for covering walls and arbors or for ornamenting trellises and 
screens. The most common and best known species in this State is 
the so called Dutchman’s Pipe ( Aristolochia sipho), but the two other 
DRESS species (A. serpentaria and A. tomentosa) are also 
oS cultivated. 
In the beautiful botanical grounds of Mr. 
y Shaw, at St. Louis, there are some magnificent 
specimens of the Dutchman’s Pipe, and about the 
end of last July, these had all been suddenly defo- 
\ liated. I was invited to go and examine the cause 
and propose some remedy. I found the vines lit- 
> erally denuded, for there was not a whole leaf 
upon them, those that were not entirely eaten off 
down to the stem, being riddled with different 
sized holes. Upon a close examination, the au- 
thors of the mischief were soon found, in the shape 
of the peculiarly horned caterpillar, represented 
at Figure 84; but as there were few large speci- 
mens to be found, it was quite evident that the 
great bulk of them had acquired their growth, and 
had already left the vines for some more sheltered 
situation, in which to transform to the chrysalis 
state. There were, however, a sufficient number of smaller or more 
recently hatched individuals, had they remained undiscovered, to have 
goon taken every vestige of the few imperfect leaves remaining; 
while the beautiful butterflies which produced these worms were 
noticed flitting around the vines. 

This insect is found on no other plants but the Aristolochias. 
The worms commence to hatch in this latitude by the beginning of 
July, from eggs deposited on the leaf; and individuals may be found 
as late as the last of August. They live in company, especially while 
young, and cover the leaves with zigzag lines of silk, which enable 
them the better to crawl about and hold on to the vines. The newly 
hatched worm is dark brown, with no spots, and with quite short 
tubercles. After the first month they become lighter colored, with 
the tubercles on the back of segments 6, 7, 8 and 9, of an orange 
color, and some of the other tubercles, especially the two on the first 
segment, proportionally longer than the rest. After the second 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. | 117 


moult the color of the body becomes still lighter, some of the tuber- 
cles still proportionally longer and longer, and those on the back all 
begin to appear orange; while a distinct orange spot becomes visible 
between the long horns on the first segment, from which spot the 
soft, forked orange scent-organs are thrust. After the third moult buat 
very little change takes place, and after the fourth moult, the worm 
loses in a great measure its shiny appearance, becomes more velvety 
and darker, and when full grown presents the appearance of Figure 
_84,and may be described as follows: 

Length, two inches. Color velvety black, with a slight purplish or chesnut-brown hue. Coy- 
ered with long fleshy tubercles of the same color as body, and shorter orange colored tubercles, as 
follows: Two, which are brown, long, tapering and feeler-like, springing anteriorly one from 
each side of joint 1, the two being movable, and alternately applied to the surface upon which 
the worm moves. Joint 2, with two brown tubercles, one springing from each side with a down- 
ward curve, and each about one-third as long as those on joint 1; also with two small dorsal, 
wart-like orange tubercles. Joints 3 and 5 exactly like joint 2, but on joint 4 the lateral 
brown tubercle is repiaced by a wart-like orange one. Joints 6, 7, 8 and 9, each with two small 
dorsal orange tubercles, and each with a lateral, elongated, pointed, brown, downwardly curved 
one, arising from the base of prolegs. Joints 10 and 11 also with these lateral tubercles, but the 
orange dorsal ones replaced by longer pointed curved brown ones, which however often have an 
orange base. Joint 12 with two somewhat stouter dorsal brown tubercles, but none at sides. 
Joints 7, 8, 9 and 10, each with a lateral orange spot just before and above the spiracles, which 
are sunk into the flesh and scarcely perceptible. Head, legs, venter and cervical shield the same 
color as body, the venter with two tubercles on joint 5, which much resemble prolegs, the 
cervical shield, with an orange transverse spot on anterior edge, from which is thrust the osma- 
terium. 


When full grown this tubercled worm fastens itself by its hind 
legs and by a silken loop drawn between joints 5 and 6, and inabout 
[Fig. 85.] two days changes to a chrysalis, of 
which Figure 85, a, gives a shaded 
=~ back-view, and 6 a lateral outline. 
This chrysalis is at first yellowish- 
green, but soon becomes beauti- 
fully marked with gray and violet, 
and more.or less with yellow on 
the back: and it is readily distin- 
guished from all other chrysalides 
y of North American butterflies be- 
longing to the same genus (Papilio) by two trigonate prominences 
on the head which give it a square appearance; by a very prominent 
trigonate projection on the top, and a lesser one each side of thorax; 
by the wing-sheaths being much dilated and sharply edged above, 
and by six prominent, rounded, narrow edged, longitudinal projec- 
tions on the top of the three principal abdominal joints. 

The butterfly which issues from this chrysalis in about three 
weeks, is such a delicate and elegant object, that it is next to impos- 
sible to give a just illustration of it. The front wings are black with 
a greenish metallic reflection on the nerves and along the front and 
hinder borders, and a row of white spots near the hinder border, 
which is very slightly undulate, with a narrow cream-colored mark on 


118 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the inner sinuses. The hind wings are of a brilliant steel-blue, with 
a greenish cast, with a carved row of white lunules and with the 
hinder border quite undulate and the inner sinuses cream-colored. 
The under surface of the front wings is more sombre than the upper 
surface, with the spots near the borders and the marginal lunules 
more distinct. The under surface of the hind wings, is on the con- 


[Fig. 86.] 


trary, with the exception of a large almost oval patch at base, of a 
very brilliant steel blue, with a curved row of seven rounded spots 
of a deep orange, bordered with black, and the four or five upper 
ones edged above with white; there is a small yellow basal spot, 
about five smal! whitish spots around the lower borders of the large 
sombre oval patch, and the marginal lunules are much more distinct 
than on the upper surface. The male which I illustrate (Fig. 86) dif- 
fers from the female in the more brilliant hue of the upper surface, 
and in either entirely lacking the row of white spots near the hinder 
border of the front wings, or in having but the faintest trace of them. 

As these Aristolochia worms are semi-gregarious, and as when 
young, all the individuals of a batch may be found close together, 
they are easily destroyed, and those persons who cultivate the Aris- 
tolochias, need never be troubled with this insect, if they will exam- 
ine the vines carefully during the first half of July. The worms in- 
variably produce butterflies during the fall months, and the insect 
consequently hybernates in the perfect or butterfly state. As the 
worms feed only onthe Aristolochias, scarcely a plant of the kind 
can be grown without sooner or later being attacked, and the gar- 
dener should always keep a watchful eye for the worms, about the 
time indicated. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 119 


THE COTTONWOOD DAGGER—Acronycta populi, N. Sp. 


(Lepidoptera Acronyctade.) 


[Fig. 87.] 


The Cottonwood tree ( Pop- 
ulus monilifera), though not 
very generally cultivated in 
the more thickly settled parts 
of the country,is yet a valuable 
tree, especially in the newly 
‘settled parts of the West, 
where by its rapid growth and 
large foliage, it soon furnishes 
both wood and shade on the 
bleak treeless prairies. Be- 
sides several borers which eat 
into the trunk and root, it is 
attacked in this State by a very curious lazy caterpillar, which de- 
vours the foliage, and not unfrequently strips the tree. 


This caterpillar (Fig. 87) when full grown, rests curled round upon 
the leaf, and is easily recognized by its body being covered with long 
soft bright yellow hairs which grow immediately from the body, part 
on the back, and curl round on each side. It has a shiny black head, 
black spots on the top of joints 1 and 2, and a straight black brush on 
top of joints 4, 6,7,8 and 11. There are two broods of these worms 
each year, the first brood appearing during the month of June and 
producing moths by the last of July, the second brood appearing the 
last of August and throughout September, and passing the winter in 
the chrysalis state. The chrysalis is dark shiny brown, and ends in 
an obtuse point which is furnished with several hooked bristles. It 
is formed within a pale yellow cocoon of silk intermingled with the 
hairs of the caterpillar, and is generally builtin some sheltered place, 
such as a chink in the bark of a tree, or under the cap of some 
fence. 


[Fig. 88.] 


__._ +The moth (Fig. 88, ¢) is of a pale 
<= seray, marked with black as in the figure. 
ZS} It belongs to a night-flying genus ( Acro- 
nycta) of true Owlet-moths, very closely 
allied £0 our common cut-worm moths; 
and yet the larvee belonging to this genus 
ite have none of them the cut-worm habit of 

concealing Heelan: under ground, and are exceedingly hetero- 
geneous among themselves. Some are furnished with long soft hairs 
like the species under consideration; some with prominent hairy 
warts; some have protuberances on certain segments; some are fur- 
nished with brushes; others not, etc.,etc. But notwithstanding this 
dissimilarity among the larve of the genus, the moths bear very close 


120 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


resemblances to one another, and in some cases it is not easy to sep- 
arate them without knowing the larvee. Our Cottonwood species has 
never been described. It bears a strong resemblance to several 
Kurvpean species, but as it would only weary the general reader to 
give the details wherein it differs from those already described, which 
closely resemble it, these details will be found to accompany the 
scientific description below. 

This insect would undoubtedly become much more numerous 
and troublesome, were it not for the fact that it is pursued by three 
distinct parasites. Many of the worms when full grown will fasten 
themselves firmly to a leaf in the curled position, and from the body 
will issue from thirty to forty little maggots. These maggots are 
each of them 0.17 inch long, of a dull green color, tapering each way, 
with a dark dorsal mark, a lateral elevated ridge, and a row of shiny 
elevated spots of the same color as the body between this ridge and 
the back. Each one spins a mass of white silk around its body, and 
creeps out of it and commences spinning afresh, until at last a large 
aggregate amount of flossy silk is spun, into which the maggots work 
back to transform, though some transform while lying on the surface. 
These maggots eventually produce a little black Ichneumon-fly be- 
longing to the genus Microgaster.* Another and larger unde- 
termed Ichneumon-fly belonging to the genus OpAzon, also attacks 
this Cottonwood worm, and it is also occasionally infested with a 
Tachina-fly larva. 

These worms are most easily destroyed when young, for though 
not strictly gregarious, they do not then scatter much from the 
branch upon which they were born. 


Acronycta popuLt, N. Sp.—Larva—Length 1.50. Color yellowish-green, covered with long soft 
bright yellow hairs which spring immediately from the body, part on the back, and curl round on 
each side. On top of joints 4, 6, 7, 8 and11, a long straight double tuft of black hairs, those on 7 
and 8 the smallest. Head polished black with afew white bristles. Joint 1 with a black spot 
above, divided longitudinally by a pale yellow line, giving it the appearance of a pair of triangles. 
Joint 2 with two less distinct black spots. Thoracic legs black; prolegs black with brownish ex- 
tremities. Venter greenish-brown. Described from many specimens. When young of a much 
lighter color, or almost white, with the black tufts short but more conspicuous, with a distinct 
black dorsal line, two lateral purplish-brown bands, and with hairs white, sparse and straight. 

Individuals vary much: some havea black dorsal line, some have but three distinct black 
tufts; some havea 6th tuft of black hairs on joint 9, and others have a few black hairs on all but 
the thoracic joints. Just before spinning up, many of the hairs are frequently lost, and the body 
acquires a dull livid hue. 

Moth.—@, Front wings, white, finely powdered with dark atoms which give them a very pale 
gray appearance; marked with black spots as follows: a complete series of small spots on posterior 
border extending on the fringes, one between each nerve; near the anal angle between nerves 1 and 
2a large and conspicuous spot bearing a partial resemblance to a Greek psi, placed sidewise, and 
from this spot a somewhat zigzag line running parallel with posterior border, but somewhat more 
arcuated towards costa, least distinct between nerves 3 and 4, and forming a large distinct dart- 
like spot between nerves 5 and 6; space between this line and posterior border, slightly darker 
than the rest of the wing-surface on account of the dark atoms being more thickly sprinkled over 
it; four costal marks, one subobsolete in a transverse line with the reniform sput, one conspicuous 
about the middle, and ina line with reniform spot and anal angle, one about the same size as the 
last and looking like a blurred X about one-third the length of wing from base, and one subob- 


* Microgaster acronycte of my MS. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 121 


solet, near the base; orbicular spot flattened and well defined by a black annulation; 
reniform spot indicated by a blurred black mark running on the cross-vein and some- 
times somewhat crescent-formed; a V-shaped spot pointing towards base half-way be- 
tween costa and interior margin, in a transverse line with the large costal spot which 
looks like a blurred X; a blurred mark in middle at base, and lastly a narrow spot on the inferior 
margin, half-way between base and anal angle. Hind wings same color as front wings ; somewhat 
more glossy, with the lunule, a band on posterior border one-fourth the width of wing, and some- 
times a narrow coincident inner line, somewhat darker than the rest; the posterior border also 
with a series of spots one between each nerve. Under surface of front wings pearly-white with 
an arcuated brown band, most distinct towards costa, across the posterior one-third, all inside of 
this band of a faint yellowish-brown ; lunule and fringe spots distinct, and with a faint trace of 
the psi-spot; hind wings uniform pearly-white with a distinct and well defined dark wavy line run- 
ning parallel with posterior margin across the posterior one-third of wing, and with the lunule 
and fringe spots distinct. Antennz simple and bristle-formed, gray above, brown beneath, Head 
thorax and body, both above and below, silvery-gray. Legs with the tarsi alternately dusky and 
gray. differs from Q by his somewhat stouter antenne ; much narrower body, and narrower 
wings and fringes, the front wings having the apex more acuminate, and the hind wings scarcely 
showing the darker hind border. 

Described from 2 9, 2! all bred. In the ornamentation of the front wings this species bears 
some resemblance to the European species tridens and psi, but otherwise differs remarkably, and 
especially in its larval characters. It bears astill closer resemblance both in the larva and imago 
state to the pale variety of a common species known in England as the ‘‘Miller’’ (A. leporina), but 
judging from the figures and description in ‘‘Newman’s Natural History of British Moths,” it may 
be easily distinguished from leporina by the well defined orbicular spot, by the greater proximity 
of the two large costal spots, by lacking a round spot behind the disk, and by the more prolonged 
apex. It differs also in the larva state from leporina which feeds on the Birch. It likewise closely 
resembles interrupta, though the larve are remarkably different ; and it also resembles lepusculina, 
the larva of which is unknown; but the specific differences will be readily perceived upon compar- 
ing Guenée’s descriptions. How near it approaches to Acronycta occidentalis, Grote,* it is impos- 
sible to tell, as the author’s description is exceedingly brief, considering the number of closely 
allied forms ; but as that species has a bright testaceous tinge on the reniform spot, it evidently 
differs from mine. Harris’s Apatela [Acronycta] Americana,} though very different in the imago, yet 
closely resembles populi in the larvastate. Ihave on two occasions found the larva of Ame*icana 
feeding on the Soft Maple, and it may be distinguished from populi, by its greater size; by the 
paler color of the body; by the hairs being paler, more numerous, shorter and pointing in all di- 
rections, especially anteriorly and posteriorly of each segment; by having on each of joints 4 and 
6 two distinct long black pencils, one originating each side of dorsum, and on joints 11 one thicker 
one originating from the top of dorsum; by a substigmatal row of small black spots (three to 
each segment, the middle one lower than the others) and by a trapezoidal velvety black patch 
starting from anterior portion of joint 11 and widening to anus, . 


THE MISSOURI BEE-KILLER—Asilus Missouriensis, N. Sp. 
(Diptera Asilidz.) 


On page 168 of my First Report an account is given, with a very 
poor figure, of a large two-winged fly which was first received by Dr. 


*Proc, Eut. Soc. Phil., VI, p: 16. 


{I am surprised that Dr. Morris (Harr. Inj. Insects, p. 436, Note) refers this species to Guenée’s 
acericola, when the larva of the latter, as described by Guenée himself, is so different and feeds 
withal on Birch and Alder, and not on either Maple, Elm, Linden or Chesnut. 


122 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Fitch, of New York, from Mr. R. O. 
Thompson of this State, who found that 
ithad the pernicious habit of catching 
and sucking out the juices of the com- 

fh mon honey-bee. Dr. Fitch referred this 
SS fly to the genus Zrupanea, and called 
it the Nebraska bee-killer, from its 
having first been captured by Mr. Thomp- 
sonin Nebraska, where he at that time 
resided. ‘the great German Dipterist, 
H. Loew, as I am informed by Baron 
Osten Sacken of New York, ignores and 
has discontinued the genus 7rupanea, substituting in its place that of 
Promachus; and Fitch’s Trupanea apivora is the very same species 
previously described by Loew as Promachus Bastardiz, and it is one 
of the most common species, occurring very generally over the United 
States. 

I find that we have in Missouri a somewhat larger fly (Fig. 89) 
which has the same pernicious habit of seizing and destroying the 
honey-bee in preference to all other kinds of prey. Itactsin exactly 
the same manner as the Nebraska Bee-killer, being, if anything, more 
inhuman and savage. It belongs to the typical genus Asz/ws, and I 
have called itthe Missouri Bee- killer (Astlus Wissouriensis). Though 
bearing a casual resemblance to the Nebraska Bee-killer, it may very 
readily be distinguished from that species, and especially by the dif- 
ferent venation of the wings. 

[Fig. 90.] The three more common genera of these vora- 

cious Aszlus flies, may easily be distinguished 

SEP from each other by the character of these wing- 

me nerves. In the typical genus Aszlus to which 

==sp ~—iobeilongs our Missouri Bee-killer, the ¢hzrd longitu- 

dinal vein is forked near the terminal ¢Aird of the 

ran wing, and the vein itself is connected about the 

SET middle of the wing, with the fourth longitudinal, as 

in Figure 90,6. Inthe genus Promachus, to which 

the Nebraska Bee-killer belongs, it is the second 

(not the third) longitudinal vein which is forked near the middle of 

the wing, and the third branch of this fork is connected by a slender 

cross-vein to the third longitudinal, near the terminal third of the wing, 

as in Figure 99,a@. Inthe genus “razr, which generally comprises 

smaller species, the venation is similar to that of Aszlws, but the 

upper branch of the fork, instead of joining the third longitudinal 

vein, is abruptly broken off and connected only near its termination . 
by a transverse vein, as in Figure 90, ce. 

Asitus Missourrensis N. Sp.—Alar expanse 1.85; length of body 1.30 inches. Wings trans- 

parent, with a smoky yellow tinge, more distinct around the veins, which are brown. Head pale 


yellow, sometimes brownish ; moustache straw-yellow with a few stiff black hairs below; beard 
pale straw-yellow ; crown very deeply excavated; base of the same pale yellow with short, stiff, 


[Fig. 89.] 


Cc 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123 


yellowish hairs, and a crown of black ones near the border ; eyes large, prominent, finely reticu- 
lated and almost black ; antennx, first joint black tipped with brown, cylindrical and hairy ; see- 
ond joint black, short, thick and rounded at tip, with a few stiff hairs ; third joint as long as first, 
tapering each way, smooth, black and terminating in a long, brown bristle ; proboscis black and 
nearly as long as face; neck with pale and black hairs. Thorax leaden-black, slightly opalescent 
with reddish brown at sides, more or less pubescent with pale yellow, especially laterally and pos- 
teriorly and in three narrow longitudinal dorsal lines which gradually approach towards meta- 
thorax; bearded at sides and behind with a few decurved black bristles, those behind 
interspersed with a few smaller pale hairs; scutel of the same color, with upward-curving, black 
bristles; halteres brown. Abdomen, 6, general color dull leaden-yellow, with darker transverse 
bands at insections; the light color produced by a yellowish pubescence and numerous short close- 
lying yellow hairs, the dark bands produced by the absence of this covering at the borders of each 
segment; basal segment broad, bilobed, and with lateral black bristles; segments 6, 7, 8 and anal 
valves with a decided pink tint, especially 7; 8 but one-third as long as 7 above. Q, broader, 
flatter, more polished and brassy, with no transverse darker bands, segments 7 and 8 polished 
black, the latter narrow and longer than any of the others ; anus with a few black bristles. Legs, 
dull purple-brown, with black bristles; thighs very stout, the hind pair rather darker than the 
others, the two front pair of trochanters with long, yellowish hairs; pulvilli, generally 
fulvous. 

Described from two @, and two Q, all captured while sucking honey-bees. I have not access 
to Loew’s descriptions, and cannot therefore compare it with already described species ; but speci- 
mens have been sent to Dr. Wm. LeBaron, of Geneva, Illinois, and to Baron Osten Sacken, of New 
York, and both these gentlemen are unacquainted with it, and believe it to be new. In the well 
marked ¢ specimens, the body bears a general resemblance to that of Trupanea [Promachus] ver- 
tebrata, Say. 

Of course the apiarian will care very little to know which of these 
two Bee-killers is weakening his swarms. They should both be un- 
mercifully destroyed, and though very strong and rapid flyers, they 
may be easily caught when they have settled on any little promi- 
nence with a bee in their grasp; for they are so greedy of the bee’s 
juices that they are at this time less wary, and even when disturbed, 
will fly but a few yards away before settling again. A net such as 
that described in the article on “Cabbage worms” will be found use- 


ful in catching these mischievous flies. 


The habits and preparatory stages of our Aszlus flies are not very 
well known. They are all cannibals in the fly state, sucking out the 
juices of their victims with the strong proboscis with which they are 
furnished, and by which they are capable of inflicting a sharp sting 
on the human hand. The larvae are footless, and live in the ground, 
and such as are known in this state are strangely enough, vegetable- 
feeders. 

[Fig. 91.] The only N. A. species that has heretofore 
/ been bred to the perfect state, is the Silky 
Asilus (Asilus sericeus, Say., Fig. 91) belong- 
““ ing to tlie typical genus Asélus. Its larva feeds 
upon the roots of the Rhubarb, and was bred to 
the perfect state by Dr. Harris (/nj. /nsects, p. 
605). Ihave succeeded in breeding to the fly 
state another species, belonging however to the 
genus “rax, and subjoin a description of the 
larva, as it is of considerable scientific interest. 
: The fly is figured below (Fig. 93 a). 


124 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


{Fig. 92.] Erax Basrarni (?)—Larva—(See Vig. 92.) Length 1.05 inches. Only twelve joints, 
the three anterior and the three posterior ones tapering gradually, the rest of equal width; 
slightly depressed; translucent yellowish-white, the chitinous covering tolerably firm how: 
om ever; a swollen lateral ridge; two rufous dorsal spiracles on joint 1 and two similar ones on 
f—\ joint il. Head dark brown, very retractile, pointed, divided at tip into two mandibulate 
points, and having two unguiform appendages ; anal segment with two depressed longitudi- 
nal lines above, ridged on anterior edge and with a central depressed line below. It makes 
use of its head in crawling. 

Pupa—(Fig. 93 b). Stout, honey-yellow; the leg and wing-sheaths soldered together though 
separated from the abdomen; eyes large and dark; head with two large brown spines in 
front, and a lateral set of three rather smaller ones; thorax with two small thin rounded 
[Fig. 93.] dorsal projections and a set of two small lateral spines just behind the 
x head; abdomen, with each segment ridged in the middle and furnished 
on this ridge with a ring of brown blunt thorns sloping backwards ; 

anal segment with a few rather stouter spines. 

7 Two specimens, one found by Mr. G. C. Brodhead of Pleasant Hill, 
Mo., under a peach tree, the other by Mr. G. Pauls of Eureka, Mo., un- 
der a ‘‘ creeping vire’’ of which he did not know the name. ‘They were 
found full grown in May, and gave out the flies the fore part of July. 
Both produced Q 9, on which account the species cannot be determined 
with absolute certainty. Osten Sacken informs me that it is allied to 
tabescens Loew, but is different. It is marked lictor in my MS., but from 
Macquart’s description of Bastardi, and from @ and Q specimens of that 
species kindly furnished by Dr. Le Baron, I feel pretty confident that itis 
Q of that species, which is described as follows: Abdominis segmentis tribus apicalibus nweus 3; 
omnibus segnentis albido marginatis 2. Pedibus nigris: tibiis rufis: alis flavidis. Long. 74}. 
He then adds: ‘Face and front black with gray down; moustache with the upper half black and 
lower half white; as also the beard. The middle band of thorax divided. The first four seg- 
ments of the abdomen with the posterior and lateral borders whitish. Extremities of the legs 
black. From North America. From 3 ‘, I have seen one which had the four terminal segments 
of the abdomen white.’? My females accord very well with this description so far as it goes, 
though I cannot see why Macquart restricts the whitish borders to the first four segments in the 
French description, when in the Latin it is stated that all the segments are so bordered, which is 
the case with my specimens. 


INNOXIOUS INSECTS. 


THE GOAT-WEED BUTTERFLY—Paphia glycerium, Doubleday. 
{Lepidoptera, Nymphalidz.) : 


There is is an interesting 
and rare butterfly known te 
. entomologists by the name of 
Paphia glycerium, which oe- 
§ curs in Missouri, Texas and 
*="Tllinois, and perhaps in other 
southwestern States. Itis an 
interesting species on ac- 
. count of the dissimilarity of 
the sexes,and of the position 
it holds among the butter- 
Sflies; and as its natural his- 
tory was unknown till the 
present year, I will transcribe 
from the American © Ento- 
mologist, the following ac- 
count of it, which I was ena- 
| bled to prepare from speci- 
iy mens kindly sent to me last 
September by Mr. J. RK. Muhleman, of Woodburn, Ills., and from 
further facts communicated by Mr. L. K. Hayhurst, of Sedalia, Mo. 
Dr. Morris; in his “Synopsis of the Lepidoptera of North Amer- 
ica,” places this butterfly with the Vymphalis family, of which the 
Disippus Butterfly (Vymphalis disippus, Godt.), is representative. 
The larva, however, has more the form and habits of that of the Ti- 
tyrus Skipper (genus Goniloba), while singularly enough, the chrysa- 
lis resembles that of the Archippus Butterfly (genus Danais). 
The larva feeds on an annual (Croton capttatum) which is toler- 
ably common in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and westward, where it 
is known by the name of Goat-weed, and as no value whatever is at- 


126 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


tached to it, the insect which attacks it,;cannot be classed among the 
injurious species. The plant has a peculiar wooly or hairy whitish- 
green appearance, and in the month of September its leaves may fre- 
quently be found rolled up after the fashion shown at the left of Fig- 

[Fig. 95.] ure 94, with the larva inside. 
M..lhis roll of the leaf is gen- 
erally quite uniform, and is 
made in the following man- 
ner: Extendingitself on the 
midvein, with its head to- 
wards the base of the leaf, 
the larva attaches a thread 
to the edge, at about one- 
fourth the distance from the 
base to the point. By a 
uy tension on this thread, it 
draws this edge partly toward the opposite one, and fastens it there, 
being assisted in the operation by the natural tendency of the leaf to 
curl its edges inwards. Fastening a thread here, it repeats the ope- 
ration until the edges meet, and then it proceeds to firmly join them 
nearly to the apex, leaving a small aperture through which to pass 
the excrement. During hot days the larva remains concealed in the 
leaf, and towards evening comes out to feed, though sometimes it 
feeds upon its house, eating the leaf down half way from base to point. 
It then abandons it and rolls up anew one. In the breeding cage, 
when placed inacool shady room, the larva seldom rolls up the 
leaves, but feeds at random over the plant, and when at rest simply 
remains extended on a leaf. From this we may infer thatits object 
in rolling the leaves is to shield itself from the rays of the hot August 
and September sun; for the plant invariably grows on high naked 
prairies. 


The young larva has a large head, larger than the third segment, 
which is the largest in the body. The head preserves its general form 
‘through the successive moults; it is light bluish, thickly covered with 
papillee of a dirty-white color, and there are also a number of light 
orange papillee of a larger size scattered among them. The skin of 
the caterpillar is green, but the general hue is a dirty-white, owing to 
the entire surface being very closely studded with white or whitish 
papilla: with dark-brown ones interspersed. These prominences are 
hemispherical, hard, opaque, shining, and the larva feels rough and 
harsh to the touch. 


At each moult some of these papillz disappear, especially all the 
brown ones, the body increases in size so that the head is smaller than 
the third segment, the green color of the skin becomes more appar- 
ent, the body is softer to the touch, and the whole larva assumes a 
neater appearance. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 127 


Thus this larva has very much the same peculiar whitish glau- 

[Fig. 96.] cous-green color as the 
plant on which it feeds; 
and any one who has seen 
it upon the plant, cannot 
help concluding that it 
furnishes another  in- 
stance of that mimickry 
in Nature, where an in- 
sect, by wearing the ex- 
act colors of the plant 
upon which it feeds, is 
enabled the better to es- 
cape the sharp eyes af its natural enemies. When full-grown, which 
is in about three weeks after hatching, this worm (Fig. 94, a) meas- 
ures 14 inches, and although, as above described, the little elevations 
frequently disappear so that it looks quite smooth, yet sometimes 
they remain until the transformation to chrysalis takes place, as was 


the case with two which I bred. 

PAPHIA GLYCERIUM.—Full-grown larva—Length 1.50 inches. Cylindrical. General appear- 
ance shagreened, pale glaucous-green, lighter above stigmata than elsewhere. Ground-color, of 
body clear green. Thickly covered with white papille or granulations, which are often inter- 
spersed with minute black or dark-brown sunken dots. Head quite large, (rather more than } as 
large as the third segment), nutant, subquadrate, bilobed, granulated like the body, but with the 
black sunken dots more numerous, and having besides, several larger granulations above, some 
four of which are generally black and the rest fulvous; a row of three very distinct eye-spots at 
the base of palpi; the triangular V-shaped piece elongated and well defined by a fine black line, 
and divided longitudinally by a straight black line; palpi and labrum pale. the latter large and 
conspicuous; jaws black. Neck narrow, constricted, green, smooth, and retractile within first seg- 
ment. Seements 1—3 gradually larger and larger ; 3 to last gradually smaller. Stigmata fulvous. 
Venter less thickly granulated than tergum. Described from five full-grown specimens received 
from Mr. Muhleman. 


Preparatory to transforming, it suspends itself by the hind-legs 
to a little tuft of silk which it had previously spun, and after resting 
for about twenty-four hours with its head curled up to near the tail. 
it works off the larval skin and becomes a chrysalis, which in from 
two to three weeks afterwards gives out the butterfly. This chrysa- 
lis (Fig. 94, 6) is short, thick, rounded, and of a light green; scme- 
times becoming light gray, and being finely speckled and banded 
with dark gray. The skin isso thin and delicate that the colors of 
the butterfly may be distinctly seen a few days before it makes its 
escape. 

The male butterfly (Fig. 95), is of a deep coppery-red on the up- 
per side, bordered and powdered and marked with dark purplish- 
brown, as shown in the figure. The under side is of a feuelle morte 
brown with a greasy lustre, the scales being beautifully shingled 
transversely so as to remind one of that article of dry-goods which 
the ladies call rep; while the bands which commenced on the front 
wings above, may be traced further across the wing, and there isa 
transverse band on the hind wings, with an indistinct white spot near 


128 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the upper edge. The female (Fig. 96), isof alighter color than the 
male, marked with purplish-brown as in the figure, the transverse 
bands being quite distinctly defined with very dark-brown. The 
under side is very much as in the male. 

A few of the butterflies, in all probability, manage to live through 
the winter, and are thus enabled to perpetuate the race, by deposit- 
ing their eggs, the following summer, on the leaves and stems of the 
(Yoat-weed, whichis the only plant upon which the insect is yet 
known to subsist. 


THE BLACK BREEZE-FLY—7ubanus atratus, Fabr. 


(Diptera, Tabanidw.) 


[Fig. 97.] There is a family of large 
ay Two-winged Flies, com- 
monly called Breeze-flies in 
England, but more com- 
monly known as Horse- 
flies in this country, the in- 
sects belonging to which 
are, in the perfect state, 
great nuisances, though 
there is every reason to be- 
lieve that as larvee they are 
beneficial to the husband- 
man, by devouring many 
noxious underground vege- 
table-feeding larve. 

This family comprises some of the very largest flies, and they are 
all noted for the tormenting powers which the female has of piercing 
the skin and sucking the blood of different quadrupeds and even of 
man. They are widely distributed, and species occur in all parts of 
the world, torturing alike the huge elephant and fierce lion of the 
tropics, and the peaceful reindeer of the arctic region. It is during 
the hottest summer months that they “do most abound,” and they 
frequent both our timbered and prairie regions. One of the most 
common species in the West is the so-called “Green-head Fly” 
( Tabanus lineola, Fabr.) and every farmer who has to work on the 
prairies, especially during the hay-making season, knows how blood- 
thirsty it is, and how absolutely necessary it is to cover the horses at 
this season of the year, in order that they may be able to work at all. 
Two other species of nearly the same size (7. costalis, Wied. and 7. 
cinetus, Fabr.) are common with us, and I have found the striped 


= 
wy “x 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 


Chrysops (Chrysops vittatus, Wied.)—a smaller yellow species with 
black stripes, and a broad smoky band across the middle of each 
wing; to be very troublesome in our wooded regions, confining its 
attacks more especially to the horses’ ears, from which habit it is fre- 
quently called the “ HKar-fly.” 

It is only the female flies, as is the case also with our mosquitoes, 
which thus torment our animals by means of their sharp lances, the 
males living on the sweets of flowers, and their mouths being desti- 
tute of mandibles. The flightof these Breeze-flies is very strong and 
rapid, and is attended with a buzzing, tormenting noise. The males 


‘may often be seen with the wings vibrating so rapidly that they be- 


come invisible, resting motionless in one place, and then darting 
rapidly and resting suddenly again, generally turning the head in 
some other direction each time they dart; and St. Fargeau has as- 
certained that this manceuvering is performed in order to intercept 
and seize the females. 

Although these flies swarm so prodigiously on our prairie and es- 
pecially on our low swampy lands, yet hitherto very little has been 
known of their larval character and habits. De Geer very many 
years ago described the larva of the European Cattle Breeze-fly ( 7a- 
banus bovinus, Linn.), and up to 1864 this was the only larva of the 
kind.known. In February of that year Mr. Walsh published the de- 
scription of another Tabanide larva, but without being able to refer 
it to any particular species.* I had the good fortune last summer to 
breed to the perfect state the very same kind of larva which Mr. 
Walsh described. It proved to be one of our most common and 
largest species, namely The Black Breeze-fly (7abanus atratus, Fabr.) 
This Fly (Fig. 97, c) is black, the back of the abdomen being cov- 
ered with a bluish-white bloom like that on a plum; the eyes are 
large, and the wings are smoky dark brown or black. 

The larva (Fig. 97, a) is a large 12-jointed, cylindrical affair, ta- 
pering at each end, of a transparent, highly polished, glassy, yel- 
lowish or greenish appearance, shaded with bluish-green and fur- 
nished above and below, as in the figure, with large roundish 
sponge-like tubercles which are retracted or exserted at the will 
of the insect. Though the external integument is so transparent, 
that the internal structure is readily visible, yet this integument 
is firm and the larva is most vigorous and active, burrowing with 
great strength either backwards or forwards in the earth, and be- 
tween one’s fingers while it is being held. Placed in water it will; 


swim vigorously by suddenly curling round and lashing out its tail, 


but it is apparently not as much at home in this element as in the wet 

earth, for it is restless and remains near the surface, with the tip of 

the tail elevated in the air. When the water is foul it moves. 

about actively near the surface, but when it is fresh it remains more. 

*Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. IX, pp. 302-6.. 
9—E R 


130 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


quiet at the bottom. The specimen which I succeeded in breeding, 
was sent to me by Mr. Adolph Engelmann of Shiloh, St. Clair Co., 
Ils. It was found by Mr. Wm. Cooper of the same county, about ten 
feet from a small but permanent stream of water. Mr. C. at first took 
it to be a leech, and when he attempted to capture it, it immediately 
commenced burrowing in the ground. 

Mr. Walsh’s description of this larva is so full, and agrees so well 


with mine, that I cannot do better than transcribe it. 

TABANUS ATRATUS.—Larva,—Length 2.25 inches when extended, 1.75 inches when contracted : 
diameter .25—.30 inch. Body cylindrical, 12-jointed, the three or four terminal joints much tapered 
at each end of the body, but more so anteriorly than posteriorly, and joints 1 and 11, each with a. 
retractile membranous prolongation at tip. Joints 1 to 10 are subequal; 11 is about two-thirds 
as long as 10 and 12 about one-fourth as long, and .05 inch in diameter. [Joints 1 and 12 pear- 
shaped when extended]. Color a transparent greenish-white, paler beneath; an irregular dark- 
green or greenish-black annulus, paler beneath, on the anterior and posterior margins of joints 
2 to 11, the anterior annulus laterally connected with the posterior by two to four dark-green 
lines. On the dorsum of 4 to 9, and more obscurely on 10, a dark-green basal triangle, extend- 
ing half-way to the tip; joint 1 with paler markings, and with no dark annulus behind; joint 12 
entirely fuscous. Head small, apparently fleshy, pale, truncate-conical, .03 inch wide, and about 
.04 inch long in repose, inserted in joint 1 without any shoulder. The trophi occupy two-thirds of 
its length, but it has a long cylindrical internal prolongation, extending to the middle of joint 2, 
which is sometimes partially exserted, so that the head becomes twice as long as before. All the 
trophi are pale and apparently fleshy, except the mandibles, which are dark-colored and evidently 
horny, and they have no perceptible motion in the living insect. The lubrum is slender, a little 
tapered, and three times as long as wide, on each side of and beneath which is a slender, thorn- 
like, decurved, brown-black mandible. The labium resembles the labrum, but is shorter, and on 
each side of it is a slender palpiform, but exarticulate maxilla, extending beyond the rest of the 
mouth in an oblique direction. No palpi. On the vertex are a pair of short, fleshy, exarticulate , 
filiform antennz, and there are no distinct eyes or ocelli. In the cast larval integument the entire 
head, .25 inch long, is exserted, and is dark-colored and evidently horny, all the parts retaining 
their shape except the antennx, labrum and labium. The whole head has here the appearance of 
the basal part of the leaf of a grass-plant, clasping the origin of the maxille on its posterior 
half, and bifurcating into the somewhat tapered cylindrical mandibles on its anterior half. The 
maxillz are traceable to two-thirds of the distance from the tip to the base of the head, scarcely 
tapering, bent obliquely downwards at two-thirds of the way to their tip, and obliquely truncate 
at tip. On the anterior margin of ventral segments 4—10, in the living insect, is a row of six 
large, fleshy, roundish, tubercular, retractile pseudopods, the outside ones projecting laterally, and 
each at tip transversely striate and armed with short, bristly pubescence ; on the anterior half of 
ventral joint 11 is a very large, transversely-oval, fleshy, whitish, retractile proleg, with a deeply - 
impressed, longitudinal stria. On the anterior margin of dorsal joints 4—10, is a pair of smaller, 
transversely-elongate, retractile, fleshy tubercles, covering nearly their entire width, armed like 
the pseudopods, but not so much elevated as they are. No appearance of any spiracles. Anus 
terminal, vertically slit with a slender, retractile thorn .05 inch long, not visible in one specimen. 
Head, and first segment or two, retractile. 


The larva reared by De Geer was terrestrial. This larva is semi- 
acquatic, for it is quite at home either in water or moist 
earth. My specimen was kept for over two weeks in a large 
earthen jar of moist earth well supplied with earth-worms. 
It manifested no desire to come to the surface, but burrowed in every 
direction below. I found several pale dead worms in the jar, though 
I cannot say positively whether they had been killed and sucked by this 
larva. Mr. Walsh in speaking of its haunts and of its food, says: “I 
have, on many different occasions, found this larva amongst floating 
rejectamenta. On one occasion I found six or seven specimens in the 
interior of a floating log, so soft and rotten that it could be cut like 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. Tot 


cheese. Once I discovered a single specimen under a flat, submerged 
stone, in a little running brook. And finally, I once met with one 
alive, under a log, on a piece of dry land which had been submerged 
two or three weeks before, whence it appears that it can exist a long 
time out of the water. I had, on several previous occasions, failed to 
breed this larva to maturity, and the only imago I have, was obtained 
in 1861, from larvee, which, suspecting them to be carnivorous from 
the very varied stations in which they had occurred, I had supplied 
with a number of fresh-water mollusks, but the habits of which, in con- 
sequence of having been away from home, I was unable to watch. On 
September 2d, 1863, I founda nearly full-grown larva amongst floating 
rejectamenta, and between that date and September 23d, he had de- 
voured the mollusks of eleven univalves (Gen. Planorbis) from one- 
half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter; and on three separate 
occasions I have seen him work his way into the mouth of the shell. 
In this operation his pseudopods were energetically employed, and I 
found, on cracking the shells after he had withdrawn, that a small 
portion of the tail end of the animal was left untouched—no doubt 
in consequence of his being unable to penetrate to the small end of 
the whorl! of the shell—and also the skin of the remaining part, and 
the horny-tongued membrane.” 


’ My larva transformed to pupa (Fig. 97, 2) within the ground, during 
the tore part of July; it remained in this state but afew days, and 
the fly issued July 13th, and soon made its presence known by its loud 
buzzing inside the jar. It was a perfect 2 specimen, and the pupal 
integument was sufficiently firm and polished, that by carefully wash- 
ing off the earth, an excellent cabinet specimen was obtained, which 
retained almost the exact form and appearance of the living pupa. 
Before the escape of the fly which was effected through a longitudi- 
nal fissure on the back of the head and thorax, reminding one of the 
mode of escape of our Harvest-flies (Cicada), this pupa by means 
of the thorns with which it is furnished, had pushed itself up to the 
surface of the earth. My specimen being female, may account for the 


very slight difference between the following description and that of 
Mr. Walsh’s. 


Pupa, (described from pupal integument).—Cylindrical, lying curved as in the figure ; rounded 
at the head, and tapering at the last two joints; pale semi-transparent yellowish-brown. Head 
with two transverse, narrow-edged, somewhat crescent-shaped dark-brown projections representing 
the mouth, two rounded tubercles above, on the front, of the same color, and each giving out a 
stiff bristle ; and midway between these four, two much smaller, lighter, rounded tubercles, set 
closer together; on each side in a line with the upper tubercles, a wrinkled ‘antenna, trigonate at 
base, appressed to the surface and pointing outwards; below these antenna, on the eyes, two small 
bristled warts. Thorax, pronotum commencing behind antennz, witha pair of small bristled brown 
tubercles* on its anterior dorsal submargin; mesonotum twice as long as pronotum, with a pair 
of large obliquely-placed, reniform, purple-brown tubercular spiracles, bordered on the outside 
above, with a distinct fine white line; between these spiracles are four small brown elevations the 
two middle ones quite small and close together; a short metanotal piece, about one-seventh as long 


*Evidently not spiracles as Mr. Walsh supposed. The mesonotal spiracles are well defined, with 
the white border above mentioned, and the abdominal spiracles are each marked behind by a dis- 
tinct white line ; but these tubercles have no such annulus and are illy defined. 


132 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


as pronotum and without spiracles. Abdomen, with 8 subequal segments, with two well defined 
lateral impressed lines, and al! but the last bearing between these lines, a rounded brown tubercu- 
lar spiracle, the posterior upper borders lined with white. ‘Lhe first segment is simple and extends 
to the tips of the wing-sheaths ; the others are all furnished, on the posterior one-third, with an an- 
nulus of fine, yellowish bristles, depressed and directed backwards. Anal thorn robust, yellow, 
truncated, and furnished with six stout brown thorns, hexagonally arranged. Length 1.20 inches ; 
greatest diameter 0.30 inch. One Q specimen. 


This large Black Breeze-fly does not attack horses to any consid- 
erable extent that 1 am aware of, but is said to bite cattle. The 
amaller species of real Horse-flies mentioned above, and which oc- 
cur in prodigious numbers on our Western prairies, away from any 
large streams of water, must evidently be terrestrial in the larva 
state, and not aquatic, and must just as surely live on other food than 
snails, which are quite rare on the prairies. They are certainly car- 
nivorous however, and it is but natural to suppose that they feed on 
underground vegetable-feeding larvee, such as the different kinds of 
white grubs, the larvee of Crane-flies ( 7ipulida@), etc. Thus, in all prob- 
ability, they perform a most important part in the economy of Na- 
ture, by checking the increase of those underground larveze which are 
the most unmanageable of the farmer’s foes. They therefore partly 
atone for the savage and blood-thirsty character ef the perfect females, 
and I prefer consequently to place them with the other Innoxious In- 
sects. 


GALLS MADE BY MOTHS. 


As a sequence to the article on the Solidago Gall Moth ( Gelechia 
gallesolidaginis, Riley) published in my former Report, I will here 
describe two other gall-making moths, with which I was not then ac- 
quainted, the first of which, as I have since ascertained, occurs in this 
State. The other I have never yet met with. 

THE FALSE INDIGO GALL-MOTH—Walshia amorphella, Clemens. 
(Lepidoptera, Tineidz.) 

On the leafless stems of the False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) 

may often be seen, during the fall, winter and spring months, an elon- 
[Big. 98.] gated swelling such as that 

shown at Figure 98, c, two 
of them often occurring 
one above the other. This 
swellingisasimple enlarge- 
ment of the stem to five or 
six times its natural diam- 
eter, and measures from 
three-quarters of an inch to 
an inch in length. If cut 
open during any of the win- 
ter months, the interior will 
present a tough woody ap- 

pearance, with an irregular brown channel, almost always 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 133 


at one side of the gall, and communicating above with a small 
closed-up tubercle (See Fig. 98, d,). At the bottom of this channel! 
the larva (Fig. 98, d, enlarged), which is whitish with a conspicuous 
black head and black collar, may always be found, and it does not 
transform to the chrysalis state till a few weeks before appearing as a 
moth. The tubercle near the top of the gall is evidently caused by 
the young larva penetrating the stem when it first hatches out; and 
this larva must, after it has burrowed the proper length down the 
stem, turn round and widen the burrow right up to the point of en- 
trance; for it is from this point that the moth escapes in the spring. 
The moth, of which Figure 98, a, represents an enlarged female, is 
easily distinguished from most other small moths belonging to the 
same family (Zinezde) by its beautifully tufted front wings, which 
are not easily represented in a wood-cut. Itis of a yellowish-brown 
color, marked with darker brown, and the males are generally a little 
darker than the females. This little moth was first described by Clem- 
ens (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., Vol. II, p. 419), who named the genus in 
honor of Mr. Walsh, its first discoverer, and so far as | am aware it is 
the only representative of the genus. 

The twigs invariably wither and dry up above this gall, but as the 
shrub has no particular value, the little gall-maker may be placed 


among the harmless insects. 

WALSHIA AMORPHELLA—Larva—Length 0.35—0.40 inch. Cylindrical, tapering each way, but 
more especially towards anus. Yellowish-white, each segment with about two distinct transverse 
folds. Two dorsal rows of pale but polished piliferous spots, two to each segment; stigmata 
round, jet black with a white centre, with a pale piliferous spot above, and two contiguous ones on 
a lateral fold, below each; on joints 1 and 2 the folds are more numerous and the piliferous spots 
are larger and arranged in a transverse row. Head either black or dark brown, the trophi except 
the maxillze white, and the eyelets, arranged in a crescent, also pale. Cervical shield same color as 
head, divided in the middle by a distinct pale line. Both have a few white hairs, arising from pale 
points. Anal shield small and brown. ‘fhoracic legs pale but slightly horny, transparent, fur- 
nished with hairs, and with two basal semi-circular brown lines behind, the largest terminating on 
the inside, in a black thorn. Prolegs very small and scarcely distinguishable except by a faint 
brown circular rim at extremities, and a still fainter’one at their base. Described from numerous 
specimens, all very uniform, 

Pupa—Unknown. 

Moth—Front wings yellowish-fuscous, with a rather large blackish brown patch at the base of 
the wing, somewhat varied with spots of the general hue, and a blackish-brown tuft, having the 
scales directed toward the tip of the wing, on the basal third of the fold, and a smaller one above 
it near the costa. Near the end of the fold is another small tuft of the general hue, having the 
ends of the scales tipped with dark brown, and in the middle of the wing nearly adjoining the lat- 
ter is a large tuft of the general hue. Above the end of the fold is a small blackish-brown tuft, 
the scales of which are not so much erected as in the other tufts; between this and the central tufts 
is a blackish-brown patch which sends a streak of the same hue into the fold. The apical portion 
of the wing is somewhat discolored with brown, and along the inner margin, at the base of the cilia, 
are five or six black dots. Cilia dull testaceous. [Hind wings shiny yellowish-brown, long, nar- 
row, lanceolate, with very long cilia] Antenne fuscous [the basal joint long, smooth and clavate]. 
Head and thorax blackish-brown; labial palpi yellowish-fuscous. [Abdomen above dark brown, the 
joints bordered behind with gray, the terminal joint with a yellow tuft. Legs short, the tarsi only 
of hind pair reaching beyond abdomen; marked with gray and brown. Under surface uniform 
grayish-brown, the hind wings somewhat paler, and all the wings bordered with a paler line. 
Length 0.20; alar expanse 0.53 inch.] (After Clemens). 


s 


134 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE MISNAMED GALL-MOTH—Euryptychia, saligneana, Clemens. 
(Lepidoptera, Tortricide.) 


The only other gall-producing moth known in this country is the 
species illustrated herewith (Fig. 99, ~), and there are some doubts in 
[Fig. 99.] my mind as to whether it is a real 

gall-maker or an “inquiline” or in- 


have ever been found, one of which 
is in the cabinet of the late Brack- 
enridge Clemens, at Philadelphia, 
and the other in my possession. 
They were both bred by Mr. 
Walsh from golden rod galls re- 
sembling those of my Solidago 
gall in being elongated and hol- 
low; and from specimens kindly furnished to me before his death, I 
am enabled to give the above sketch of the dried gall, with the pupa- 
skin attached, and likewise that of the moth. The only description 
which exists of the larva is of a dead and somewhat shrunken speci- 
men, in the following brief note taken from Mr. Walsh’s journal: 
“Larva 16-footed, yellowish; spiracles (fuscous) on all but 2d, 3d 
and anal segments. Head and 2d |1st] segment horny and rufous. 
Length 0.40.” 

The moth is the only representative of its genus (Zuryptychia) 
so far known. It was described in 1865 by Dr. Clemens * as Z. sa- 
lugneana, under the false impression that it wasreared from a willow 
gall. But the scientific name of the insect must stand, however inap- 
propriate. 

Evuryprycuta SALIGNEANA—Moth—Front wings white, tinted with yellowish. The basal 
patch is dark brown. The wing beyond the basal patch is nearly white, varied with leaden-colored 
speckles and striped over the nervules with dull, leaden-gray, transverse stripes, two of which 
near the anal angle form a white ocelloid patch. Immediately interior to the ocelloid patch is a 
small black spot, having a line of black atoms running into it, from above and beneath. Below 
the apex, on the hind margin, is a triangular brown patch, which is varied with grayish and 
dotted with black in the middle and along the inner edge. The costa is geminated with white, 
and striped with brown. Hind wings dark fuscous. (After Clemens.) 

Generic character—Hind wings broader than front wings. Costal and subcostal veins with a 
common origin; branches of subcostal connivent. Median vein 4-branched, three of which are ag- 
gregated, the two central ones from a common base. Front wings with a broad fold, extending to 
the middle of the costa, closely appressed ; atleast three times longer than broad; costa straight, 
tip moderately acute, apical margin rounded. The nervules given off from the posterior end of 
the cell are bent toward each other or are somewhat aggregated. 

Head smooth, with ocelli at base of antennw., Antenne filiform, simple. Labial palpi, do 
not exceed the face, are curved, smooth, rather slender, expanded toward the tip, the apical joint 
scarcely perceptible, except in front. (Clemens.) 

My reasons for thinking this insect an intruder on the rightful 
gall-maker, are: Ist, because if it were a true gall-maker we should 


* Proc. Ent. Soc., Phil., V., p. 141. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135 


naturally expect to find its gall more common; 2d, because on sey- 
eral occasions I have found within the Gelechia gall, a pale worm 
very different from the true gray gall-making larva. But until more 
decided proof can be obtained, and until the fact is settled by further 
experience and experiment, we must, from such evidence as we have, 
consider the Misnamed Gall-moth, a true gall-maker. 

Thus we have three different and distinct gall-moths in this 
country, belonging to two distinct families and three distinct genera ; 
while a fourth (Cochylis hilarana) belonging to still another genus is 
known toforma gall on the stems of Artemistain Europe. Itis very 
manifest that all of these galls are formed by the irritating gnawings 
of the larva after it is hatched, and not induced by any poisonous fluid 
injected with the egg by the ovipositor of the*parent, as is demon- 
strably the case with those galls which are produced by gall-flies 
( Cynips family), and with such as are produced by some gall-making 
Saw-flies. It is not at allimprobable, however, that these moth larve 
do in reality secrete from the mouth some peculiar fluid which tends 
to produce the gall; for we know that very many other moth larvae 
burrow in the stems of different plants without producing any 
abnormal swelling. 


|e aN cane Wil ap 2 Ge 


Page 13, line 25, for ‘‘cupable”’ read ‘culpable.”’ 

Page 16, line 13, for “‘lava’’ read “larva’”’ 

Page 23, line 6 from bottom, for “‘hole’’ read “‘holes.”’ 

Page 32, line 17, for ‘‘insect’’ read ‘cinsects.’” 

Page 50, line 4 from bottom, for ‘“‘leucaie’’ read ‘‘leucania.”’ 


A 


ADDU Pit Masensccasccctaccessccscesccsacscccesseccseccccesespescscersecsaeeecrsccenctecsoesesnedearsnvsecstssuxscccestnteas tua 
PACHEMMOMG SPUNK er seracetsessersceceserescacececcssaccceses ceedscncecacccsvaceeeiearesciscdsasotsevensecnsnuci=ssccetsanena cessed: 
Acoloithus falsarius. Sotrsane ceScroce 86 
Acronycta populi... Seeders 119 


“ ONES 0: BAC ECEPD RODEO ECBELE CEL LOCEP DEORE DEES COLL EEE EE DLT ROEEERCEEES PECL CLCEEPLCAP ET PRET EER CRORE Ceo cretion Oat 


ee TEPOTUNUsenccrenebrancecstscactocaniccstaccerenieoreclenscornancsscsantcnccccasccrssnscesdaetaccatteneaateescereienelaal! 
oe DUCHIDE ING Besecliarcecccee ce cenvesecceceare rc ecucerc ener eeu isueorsectt! sesereneoscuteoncserssenscesscarsverscteemicl 
ae ROMMECIEIUE sete tnercuncecccecererccensnecrtecereccenenese haceeneen tna cecteauuancknscreveceuscnescecnsetensareseinniel 


121 
121 


PAGNOLTS TTLETNIES cee cn cca coeesteneosnercecesncresasesteceseccccceacntectipasesatasnecenarecatercccssecesuscsl escsseaades<seetoemmrol, 


os interrupla.... cooccceccete 
te Americana... 


Pe eeeeerenenee 


Oe eceeesese cesses Deore e eres e reo Dee era sees eees® 


PALUTONOULOITACIEE ATE eters coeateccsne renner cr chccen coccnccnee a cecandcectercectnsesctesesccrsventanisccscsscecananavecensceetmroul 
PAT ETIC MIAO CIIAN: seecerteneectncatsarocnaconccccencccsercesdtans carcoreresccanccitebctececoresesser lessccerensccavecnsaasmmr cil 
Amount of damage done by the Chinch Bug............ccssssesssssssscccestccssccccasscsecesceeceecscsscsssoes 2S 
ANACKGTIS CONTMCTSTS ceccecvescrecccccccecectcccesecsescsccresccvenceecscees eecserse 


Anisopleryx vernata.... Sewaecetes nveansiescoset ioc 
ce 


tedesesnsnesseer ttl 


LNT EREH YLT LOSER RARER RCS HEC CRRA CEIECARCELREREREECECEECCOCTCECEC CETL EDTELLEPE ODE DEPTH IOORECRC ELC IOC cee cul 
PATAETLOCOTUG TN SUOLOSICE none cas cece cree coer eee eee eTOCs OO acannon csceteasensanascausse igh Gee 
VATED ON TEM COPUT UM Wedesteatcreceitecseceresteessses-seseecotaeces chur cers cossvestetseese lesa rtnc cece tac secuna sdk eamudeessiei (ee 


Aphis brassic@..... 
ST DO IS ia cawaseles 


RALLY: RSS PPPRES BOSSE CECE PS EOCCOLECCCL EO SESE ICSES SCH SS OGLE HCE SE EEE CUSED cL COR SESE COCECEerr OF 
HCI aat iia erties ek Rena ah A A lool nas Gh yaad A ban ana HAn nob, ener e Sa eoC EO HOR tals 


Apple-WOr.........scsccesscsersccccccccsrccsscccacsevoccccns seeeseveneersccesteccccccsssescoenes sevccceseesesccnecsoueeesens 


Le icencececctanvencse Miele 


LATINY INV OlliUeccstcsesanteccorssecrscoencesretss 
és «¢  —Past history of..... 
a9 ‘© Its sudden appearance and disappearance........scssecsrsssrssssnsccersecerseseerereeseseres 45 


ce 6¢ Natural History Of......cccccccscsssssssssceesscsosssscccesosccsscccccecsseserssseccscsosscssscsssoscce AE 
ce “e 


PITT TIVE 


—PALASILES OF... .cccccccsce ccccccscccvccccccccscccccccesccscccscsovcececsorcnescccsecccucscasercocrecweseee 


“ce ce 


fsa gs PS ad se ee ee ee eae ee 32 
121 


123 
16 
9 


SUE eR ecesvcccavsses's 
Se CTLCEUS tcccnccaccsecectcectettnce pss heayedescsyekses bens sore nes ise sc ccaccenceddusencevcssecedesvsce’. 
ASDidiorus  CONCHIPONMIS siren eee eee OO NEE ii cepa ceseeeeriess6 9) 
ce 


TION ISIs sacacccossvecccococcavecccnatccacrcccgcaccuccnsstncoecevcsscccssepesuadsacevebsbeerececcseconensesseocease 


bo 


INDEX. 


B 


Bo aMtitulsWiOOdeNiyimphiccscsssceiscccsssencaececcceseaseventaceeess saneseecdassercercsesnareuntesseausesarsereenanititntees 
Black Breeze-fly.....cscscocsessereee eayacuvecessusoseuauwentrereccsceccecucechsatasereertessetccesacacarsactnonieaecdertttten 
Black-les mod Montorse-UCGtleseson|sssccesvsssensancscsccsresseceslscocactlsccscssecatseccusesccucscedesscecbecestcarcrite 
IIL OVOVRENEULLSxececdcinsocvncnaccusvoncvscscrslsnesegesesseccrnceneesescauresuanscarascdsessserecassdreessscesesvareenetaree 
Blepharida rhois..... secccccorecccenesccces seaceeacresue Gusesceesccvccccesdvevicncesconsocsccassecccneussatacos'’ eecceecoesene 
BluerCatherpillansiOn tho WINE sseccceccascnenessasaunarecceeneccgcadsuumasevartcsrenecauscccescessroesccers secmbnsss cevee 
BOP aS CHIN CAMB UPS tracscnscosscnelscecenasetetascsctoasscceeesctsescceseteaccecsacenenessanearcereasnsadsekecesuacaetaeses 
Bordered Soldier-bug............ seeastactsaaebisacdeculesccesceesscesunscVersGnetassrsrasdsecesscnecnetacaccnessearseeseers 
Broad-necked Prionus......... Sussclsassacestdruesacessasecececerscercsecasecorsecerncscseceusassreseneneaseseetesaretane 
Bruchus pist ...00.. sesancarssnsss sevceues ee ncecrcececscec ences ec eeseeeeeeees covcccseeaceescsces Sesves eveccccccssececese coos 


SRM OCICUMULG slaw sn sate vactacsessedenacevers ace oeececcrcvecescccoes oeneeeccesecccesccsceses ccerccccccccceccccncsccccese 
C 


WARS OBWOUMS csascsoceeecsoussNpesscedevoc\iocetenecanccccssecossceovecsctecdeucarsscncsdocescastsessessnenacecaceradetens 
pe £¢_ —Southern)| Cabbage Buttertly......tscescarecacesseccrsossaceccnasssareseocecsesssccssensseossaes 


“a Gia HOLD OK yDULLOT Verecccsccescccescencercsaseccheesetececvescerocsandssacse-cesseesterseaeesaceomanne 


“ie ste RO POm BULL \eaenslossscccecescecsasasscestsccessccavesccaecescssessscreateccescasanescdccemactacnes 


aa eSNG OCICS LOMneccscsvuscoacteesscesersecsecccucteststencccnscuscesucesdeccsececsoisscsntaseemieenentoee 


- SAO DTA CRLT DI Alcossceccoctccecserecccsstaccccassaceseaeesrii¢ansectes CCORECOOLESSEceonY Scercnas oo. 


CALOSOME SCTAULELON x swocscocdscccoscccussctecccase see evacecccccesesesercecccadeccscaccescsccoscosccesccoscssseccssessssnaaes 


ce 


CULVEUTiraccusscecsascesssrses aabsesesavuccesssuesssierecsessseranteusceresisscnacss sss Vencustsaesatuawaceses sen 


Cannibal foes) of, the Chin ch iBugrs.sivecscsccccccsesssssssnseescsesvaccedsacsvadeseussucscvecess seesevececucansecsdesder 


SU SIUICOL VOL can anecsnercoveas nas soesdoceseccscuvsoanccetececosuas aueteeeeoeeaedaeseanessacceseniessonsescueneteareeest iter seen 
ce sh —— (RISEN VOL tue caisacass causes asleoess sesisa saseclsocnssbuscoeseesiss cagesueevaseesedesscsepecencarescacses seouele 
ce ce 


——-OMedysaPANStasacesasesscdeandsoscorsveccsedssasesssscccesssaceesecesscncenvesteddacccabtaactadesee ste 


es «« —Destroyed by plowing....... senaescessanssccsesccccdescccencdadcsucdessctscsescacunestasttcsssesuan 
6e 6é 


FIM OMICS OLecessskeccentesesess sosceeass Neudivedawovsuocvescedecscccetcccectarecosuscces teccccaccccevensanoe 
CUEDOLONSE DOMONMELCitvcaccseesccccsecscesarcccsecsocvees scocdosccesocisadscesssececcsdcaucctscvccuacesoosscsscesencteteada 
Capsus oblineatus POOP OOOH eee ee REE EEE Ore ee eH eSEE OEE EEOSEETOOEHEEEEEES HEEDOOEOESE OSHS EEE OOE SEES OSES HH SESH ET EEG EH STOR HED 


MGESECIOMORLELILE Dawe co cacaleccencesenccaccacddacecucesdcbeccveccecnecovs-cucseccecscense RdulvasteoddseeseenesteseanssescsumnsO Oe 
ce 


DEDUEALL Gunsevudcacesccdsocssiacesseccccatcscedeveccescecedescsseeasesvarcseevedanenclysssesscwacceansharcchetsesanssae 


SUMMCLIUILCLCLCE Weccceseseccrcecsccsccsasacsdscccatsoceveressscischescensedessieestsceransrscucecensrarvesccsenusceusssaene 
SMENDILIILD Lana penacecectacectccacncaderesececedccucetunecesacoscrndesecescacesnapsasucescceccesmnauscctessnnsedstuacenta 
SDMLGLUQ TIDES sccuncecdsesesacusensccevscccuoatesucecectcousccesceceveccesoesssacancsaceaseconcacecencacvecccarssesnqane 
66 CTUCtOLcc0e ec onesspenleccceceecoccsunlsocsovnsersceccsaperssecansocscescecpecccasncecsaceacsnanvoctssnagesesacnecls 
SeMMMLSTOMULS Clevacadasnssvcicesssecusasscacestecccnnsesstceccccsestarcessses sence Saciicsteccueseescasanaca caawes neceeueene 
OG CUMUCH LG accececseucnssuersesees qodtoog senccencancensneeseniion~ecentecncaceloncecedscosccesecersansaadaccucursse cssaee 


DELEON EDI ESEIUCLON: scevscacveevscucsiscscasevecsvesiéetentsecosecdessesesecsccsteceseressesssccessccanacanmusesnaccent Us 
RERINCHUED UP rasecerseccasccsaseccnsascces/sssccseusecessestccecctuettersesacessctsscess)icccensectacnsesccncsecusesscccnemnematly 

SRE Clim HG EELS CODY: Ol cccsevocnccensscsseevcusseontcccesccceasessonccorscescseseccncsccersslarenccesinsseassneqss 
6¢ © —Naturral History Of......:cccccscosscssevecsccccesssscsevecccccencrersecasessussancconascasescesesenseees 
(£ © __Pestructive POWETS Of....scscececcesseevscsressscacsseesesecenscsecsessesccssecccsseccensesesssnecceeees 
6¢  &€ __Fleavy rains destructive t0.....cccssscsessecscsccsscscseccceccerceecescecscccenscecssuccsesenesess sees 
€6 SE ——Cammibal £0eS Of..cccccocescrccsrcovcccccorscscosccscsscscccssccovsccessccscescnsceccsesovcesccscsccocesecs 
© © Amount of damage done Dy....csccccccccrsccecnvccescensecessscescsecessccesereeeeereenesss soacosele 
ce —- £F —“RemedieS aAg@inst......cccccccccccsersscsescses secscnceseeneecssassacnnscen cecseescecandasusucccucsennssle 
66 SE BOLUS secsceseccccscceseccsacssascercess cocseccecacecccsscnccessecsecesecdssenenessoceseceuscassesesscessease 

Ko). S£5——OCAPIUULAGLON co cacasenecesadensrseecsscarscccnssese ie spsicdesesdesassecarcressdsocwandudensueusccceesceune 
CHLLOCAMPAYN PAMPINAtris cesceececrerccsees ovcesevcrecceccccscrsscecssecevcsccsvascrareaesscosssrecsessecsssceseesseceess 
Chrysopa plovravunda...scrccccecccccecccsvsccccscccscsccccesscscascsccccccrsccccsccscssccecsccssesscccssecscce oeseeseseese 

LG TIVINOLENSIS. ccececeacecsccssoucccscteesesseccesencsesscsncsedeccsecccdacescvedecsesemscccsncevenacsucessseeessssss 
CHrySOPS Vitlatus..ccccrcccscerscecceccecees cecercccccccscesoceccscescceescccoesesanccccsocencessccsecesccccevecceccsceeesess 
CHGUCTS GLOLFT ONS... .0ca0sc0 secovoescsccendecssevvesccvscsttscr|svercesss ecooscoesscansncacensunencussussssslaavssseanunessls 
Ghelymorpha cribronia..r.ccrrccccoreccsercacscescscnvacoesssesecccsscccesese cocerecccccsccscaasscesssaccseccscccesensessse 
MISCO GG LUBE CECI. ..ccessccccccdecsecidencanssacnvereaeeanannateenascncsasars cease ccennenenatn ss snsneescanmanineepsnesseases 


ce 


SENECM AECL ss csecactacscesasccenssececsnnccensunenseesentes PUTTITITITITT TTT 


83 
128 
63 
10 
58 
79 
31 
34 
87 
Ut 
11 


104 
104 
105 
107 
109 
112 
103 
103 
25 
94 
96 
98 
100 
102 
10 
113 
63 
61 
62 
62 
63 
63 
63 
63 
19 
15 
17 
18 
22 
24 
25 
28 
28 
31 
36 
71 
26 
26 
129 
52 
58 
19 
19 


INDEX. 


CUSIOCAMDA AMETICANG ccsesveseveracsvesscsbondsrccsscossces sescedocsocbovucncbueraubbscccosscecsasessccseniavessancsese 


Cs SYUU CMC Mrcerackrarvstendenravenededdatededidededsacarcdidiscuddaisatcarcusseccacececstencca se eccecnaddsceonalls 
LOSLERGIPAMCTICON Gecccceccccrsvedsuddedadasdescddeversdcdul secdcwersdeddsedsctesesusceccccdeeceesersvecuress seecceccsssccnen, 
COCCTNETIC NUMA Odecacevcvicccscsckevccuvshwaresacsekbvscieccestcevssttbovoctucesaccaccescacacecenecuccceutsccss seeceeeticccess 


COCKYLIS RALAT ANA raccccrcvccenccncecdescedenasicesseosccess eveceevececcsscvscccevccccccccocesccscvsssccescseccccccsccsecscecs 


COPTMELENA: PULICATIG.ccrcoceccevocnucwerdurecsvaesociesevvee seisse'eree>sese eacces Sonedsdsasccasuncesasmseebeinslisvhescecsalis 
Oy LOL ALS cdcasssvevcveucsduseceuctaedsensadccvedesdsesddddedsJncdcddedclitsceceatuscedascenvesauecssseesenssessnses 
eS UNICOLON s.eseeeevee cavceccdscbucctanbasresebeneyoccevelldolssessuccvescascecsenetisscssercevecaessacnesvowscseeue 


MIGLEOMWOOCUD AMEN cectes <vcdccvsesdosccraccssusercesnesiveecvecedcisdeiceeddueveaverseseucorencsaevsis(veecectsresacosie 
Cotton-worms..... sccdsasldacsetssceeesscacdacsuccenetieddssstavesdsssucaesevaestneccesdeedcusstcrcscrdesse shaveutscpusicete “5 
Crioceris merdigerda....... waaachncecscnvadedee sabceasbsucevedvasessivecueseses ss aeensusclisvisauscvicons sciasvanber ene acicciainsis 


3 ASDONAGUecsacesesoccss! sexes ueeslaveusevel saatesupauietexscsswsesecenesdusssesasessuctes/elsres sneccseeanecanass 10, 


Deloyala ciavata.......006 Sassevisscesencsessseaseccdsevecsinarscsens Dsuseaetduegecrncceeevabecncsanncccuestcrsscnsussssnken 
Derimuctivepowers of the Chinch Bul s.ccscccccccdosescesshoscccsssseasccnssesnvesseecssrepresectcccass Bacsess Poco 
Diabrotica vittatd.....r.s00. ausemesacsesseeccecss cocepeeccccconccecesccenceoeccesensesccecseconncsnasasceercosnsenee Saeee tee 

a4 UA-DUNCUALD .cscenenesssssrcusssccaissancacsveceedasscnadoeersgeseserassestaronsavesseesstaces Senendesunmeenasei 


Diminished Pesomachus......ccc..soccsscccsseces icvakeiass ceinenatecseseccecvecseseas sca keWeeetecceceestescecceseccess oe 


iE 


FXCLODUG GELMANICH orvereccvccsvecreorcnccccer s00ccsenccuscecececoccescecscecescnsccaserseecaaceseceousveuse fonseeucsescecesss 


PNeoteH NO ULC OO HONCSLENsacecuacscaresccesscue) stacacettesavsttuascsnseqcassocceccscenusnseusssoesedaudedsacenuciatesrccateante 


Evraz Bastardi........ aiassnhesctslepevasascaneesscascunenquscnssccescuscucansucesvocscnesspenscssusccceseauseucs*euendcnyscvemen 
EVigervon CANGHENSE....ss0rereeee dan pesos vnleceasassiees deeensesnencceveccousascrsceccesececscosaceccorseesosse eceneaes selsasee ee 
EEUAVYAS GTAtd..ccerseccsccees ae ceccccscccccccesscecesces Ssccaaqagcessetvceesacsescsosscsacccutsececvess|saeaciaudusecccsesecsle 

SPRUE Oeacenisccnverriea® SRRGRMantecedasdunesavaceese deca tarscusunccassscanvccdaceccusmenncalecceihvedcess aneessessasscsss 


Eumenes fraternd....... Seanamannscneheepesicea secemacoesns aacvosesicacodescecacksesedasesesececnucedercesseweresaececestesee 
PUP EC LLCS CLIO MEO Wevcrmsdcapencenseessasevsvuscesusisesvasessiseas) ccrssversceenciubssesicnss= awannaliuncnirsitasec ness sass 
IV ORISEOICU COILED nash oatnatessencansncscccdcccedcectuscvcusesonssesitareddccesesedarsceurederccesscalsledesscasceaceearaa casas 

SMMC ILELUL CIES cen saaneatunecreedenteensensusclossarcscecdtcevasesausadsessshsecsnensescaverss CEBBASS coca bcc Resaaasea A 
CONE CIM SCOMEIU cn crcanceecsccesscescanncacadaccesessecuucnccesanncens Saekeduuecsaserdcchencaeseerartaens nance 


ce 


PLU LCINLE Me cecenvacnacheccsstssaceacrevcvasedursacdecesceecsneucccesscesencsecesnscsesenssaceissvcsnlscsucreseeaees 


F 


Halsopingncwo Gia llmOothycesddenccucsssscsesessesccscccecescsscesevcstcceseascesscrs) snavceevesnustccescsscasssscasncantes 
Hi EreyEGrOUNA=WeOtlOrecssrccattcncscecceccneesneccenesesncecestencessnvecccuccartovencscsacscoeevavueravaccnnsecenseterente of 
Flea-like Negro-bug......... Ravesacsacscnvenuisscssccaudcasconsaccasencenscatalicasslescxcsscesesstuscssncsneacscuncnterens 
MrastormalMleotler-Waspserercssccresccscoscescscesescccscecssensersclincselececstrccccscecscaveseusstecencceseeetecunennnecsns 


G 


CF OULCT CONCET EAT renee apeeteta’ aliccctcccestcccecccercvevcsarcactccceuccconstecsoserecescccccese jaeccceveceeses) sbecceswencssnse 


Gall-moth—False Indigo...... Seasaeecssscssesedsscncadsecasecacsesestacessacevessessepevecsesectsctslecssstrbscssersenes 
ce “e 


VIN SMP G dtaseaneaswuartaseasasdesseccacccusercdcrcccus sensesliacesdeneneccestacasees's sscceccerssatnercanemratae 
Gallopnia des ym Mo thisudernessnesecttecesteecsceteccssebesacseateaicccocstesectascesvesss) osvessesnsencaenpeueeeneeaavad “ 
Gelecii ai Galicesolidiginisesssewckatueeusatcnteret ecesisececeacesecoessoesseseséssctoos ceesevscccecesassessnesen4 Uso Dy 
GlashyMesechorusesentescuessacseetceccssetaes sascccasccuterocs cece coves socsesacvecescscsesseessdespecee| canenleecstunes 
Glyphe Viridascens...ccrsecscenscccssecsccccsraccassssccerenscecscuscsseesseseeseecassseceesseeesievaaessecsseceescessssoenes 
ontameedubuttertivaccccsscccecadesceesercseestseresnececcssereveusseccssusccvecsessdsceuvstenacssosersuudlecsetetsscentess 
GOVMON UL OTLOISC-DEOblCrvesencecdeanccsrereecesiteesseccdccccsansasressesedeeeesscvsa(esedeeseduavssauttesencesmstalarsasce 
Grape-vine—InsectsrinjurloushbOrsssseretsssuscarsresseccsetcsussscecosenseesasacensnsvenscocacanesseidecsnearesccavecse 

£¢ €€ —“Hop-caterpillar Of. ....ccsesccsssscssccsnsccsscveccsccescsccsscscctoncscccesesvcccenseceeerccaceascsesacaees 

aa GEA CHEMON: PHU Keon revise dsessauseccertersiesctsscecced snestecssccdtcesdcesecetaesssecnsiscuneusiscaunas date 


ge “ —_ Satellite PLUK ees ce voverveccas eGevessvets cecedcevenerasmessesvetnuvescess Daeeceeavceaseeretersasecorreee 


57 
22 
64 
66 
52 
10 


10 
86 
124 
11 
83 
83 
103 
134 
50 
50 
51 
51 


33 
103 


10 
132 
134 
132 
134 

52 

53 
125 

62 

71 

71 

74 

76 


4 * INDEX. 


Grane-vine —AbDbot Sphinx,..rsercoossreseos sovsvosossopercensecsannssvenspencnseneeosecnessesssenvadevsvecs sdeegtedcuas 
ee “* —-Biue Citerpillarg Of ,...cnscccanenaseaqnonssencannqacesnan sana cnsanaceannonnasaauctbaneneonbie sss cosesttes 


gO <— Hie ht-spotted Forester, .neseesmaspere: posers: sorssarspeceppananearsscenegnsascedMeewesdteehees suse 
AS ‘Beautiful WooOd-NympyeccsacerssssececnscessossavesssnvessnrsstuesacssccuancdsvconeeesateceReeeenacte 
a (SSE ORT! VOOR NYINPUs..spccscnssppssscenseesscasasacasha mcansnnneadassnsaceamarecsenate sense eee eee 
ce ce 


ATHENICAN' PYOCTIS\...2n n-cocnesies,esencceasceppp pose cpnuasvarpuerpebesaneasnencnes att eel cena SH ete 
Be <0 —— NG WEG ape-NOOL BOLGl..cccccsussssasacsscassnarsnsaanaeenansasacasnarascanarnenensehenstvacs tesccesstees 
é¢ €¢ — BYOAA-NECKED PriONUB.scesssasnspcnunvecseccescsacesceseuecedsesaccescececesdcance amecsentaeermedessertns 
—— PP1E=-HOFNED, PIONUSsscsesecossssnosnyspoascniceceucsasaecrsiancansaancarceecacedger cankeneneet cs Maseeetneee 


sé ‘ 


n~ 


H 


EF AETELONCUCIUIMENIS cccoscccsessttosatecscasesdacsersessesoesasegsscobacacaesceess ssavecavcucecansanceveievecuancendersaerecen 


Heavy rains destructive to the Chinch’ Bug......ccco«ssccssscoscsconconasecosesencosacnsscasecccocssesesssesansaes 


ETRY ON GINA TRECULALG:cascccenconsscacsvacececasassbecovsessiccscsca sad obetdeesccsacssascsesesetarsscecosedssnalsianaiearee 


HTOCK CRUG POND UIC) Cessssancassincvercesseccarssoactecvsctecscvccerancccesascsnccesacescccencsssvesecesssareegdrsnasusssnsssnia 


EP OOMMOMLUS Clr swnsuansanecsnccsocsccedcvedsassssessccxeesrcaciiveccesssscuceclancsesecvcacnecessecdseresdesssarssaeeanaeee 


TERMECUNIOM LEUCONRIBrcscesccccoceshsucstcecesescuce cceedecceceewsoeectceeee 


ate: EO Oa ian ton taeeacesteeeen 
IMMOXVOUS MINSCCUSs ssecchecovescaccst sbasssccossesetecstus sausecacsess osecssseseucesecssacecesieessuetsssereaes onto eemennaeee 


Insects—Imported and Native American...cc..sscccsseecereeseeees 
ce 


PORTO eta w meee eee e ee ete Tet en um eneaeeee 


infesting the Sweet-potato........ccc.ccossscocsccsgesonsesse cecocseuserceccesassssscesas*sasccsena-sassacranas 
ENJUMIOUS LOMtHe® Grape-Vineracnrsseece ioccccccescsss sacceseserovvesceoassecccessssecdscessbiscvscsercssasssel 


MMBTANOUS MLO WErMDNO~ sss hsnceerceuceccstelcorcesscacescossseeestsessocesscssscresssecsssens cecdaceentecnenesocdadsnailly 


“cc 


BERGSOILUUUL Sts stncacatisccccdvenedcaccccdcesccceenss doses secensscusdcesstcacscseccvetasvesurerastheaneraseen ses eeiesantareans 


L 


EACH NOSTEV NA -QUETCINT ocverccccvacccocuscovecccococccessersocesocvescvececsssceccacascheascccescscceucccsessesccsnaseesees 
Dit IORI A LLCO, O0OL FLL URC e CORE CROCBOCEOCOEOCCECORT COCO BSHSUCE SER COSUOE DOG KO SOCEE EOL EECUABUID COCALO SOLUccBne eanerS sec is0e C 
Lema trilinecta....... 


PORE O Oe ewer ee ee HHFe FERS OEE eee eeeEe HH SeSeee HUF OEee 


Le PRTHTIR ES OWN UICLELC To SOc CLEC CRCODEEEC COLE EE CCECLOOEE LOCH ECECDELCCLCLU ICTR CRC eee Aly 


M 


MMGMESITE PiCtd...ccccccrccccccccccccceccccraccvcstcvccccccccscoucceaceeccceetenccrccseteeenesccenes Cnreuecsecsonesceseoscces 


AEST CLIO OEE REET EECORE CEE PE CEEP EO RECEEEEEEE ES SPE REECBEEY BALLADE EERE eC BO OLG core 


Micropus LEUCOPterus.ccveccrscccccacercrccrrorcccccccerccccrcccsccrcccccsserseeraccenccencsenaccsecesrecesssoccccces ssccese 


MIGCHOUCSTEMMIRULICONE yccccccccsccccccsccscccccccccscasvce-coccccessccresscccoereccceccece 


Wy BIEMOTL Cli Cnnccccvcercoccascssveccveccocessccccscsocuseucovcceseccsanatcescaaacureicssssrocis] sasasinssuee eielss canis 


Military, Microgaster.....<cccscscscccsscccccccseococccosccessccccoscos. =. cnccssncce-sveveccsssesssassccersecesecccsconsase 
MMi CMTE aT O Lense cacecscssses cts cesuneccosecccveasescsccboseseasevacsecdsovsnsescssuerccnscenne Veecscsneserns 

MASSOUMIMECC=IMILOI . srcsescccncacchaccscessescseee Sd EAE Once a's sue tore carterteressatctensons 
Io iblormntmbanse NCCU ce contoteterctectis cose cesssesccccerssccrousasesssescsessceseecresssuccscrcess nebctarvevensne Seema 


RY TUE CMP CRE udecuncra cleus esses seacunissieseoscsseeessesecesreece Sesisawssasaccuscsnsesssascebesesceisssecilenscuucsesansnin 


N 


Natural history of the Chinch  Bugy....sssecccsstevseccscsvcovosecsveccooess svocecncccesousccesotecstecsrcoceeanasseee 
“cc ‘e “e 


ATINV WONT sc ctseneunsesstncnsessasscsososcsccsetssecss) swsrssscsecassens 


Noth us Ovtvors cseecccce sts 2 NO EOE sii dastunirtvcteensesessssias sss 
NG TPC CLES * LAStp Ua scat sce LetS SRNR? ARLE his ARERR ee ene eee ee eed tabu tabenipecsacnosssccisnsacessoans 


Nebraska Bee-killeriasscssccesscacdsssissce aes eeeeee tee ee ceaae banca ese seen se Solano cb hbaee ne veecsclaseareuecsescassceensaus 
W 


78 
79 
80 
83 
83 
85 
87 
87 
89 


57 
24 
25 
53 
10 


112 
52 
15 
52 

120 
52 

134 


Agel IPA 


, 63 
106 
i 


18 
47 
102 
125 
122 


INDEX. 


O 


Ophion purgatus...... dean e nce nveccececasereetaeeacsccesesenesasserenseeanoeececceseseeeeeenecceccesaseseccncocssescessecsceses 


Ortalis Arcwatd.....ccccs0ee DiseeieserncqadacuatvsCeuvensscceecsscadsssvsdccvcetedeccacecevacccusWcccnieesdsceses ceecemeentic 


Why ster-shellvbark=lOUsOs-cccsssnsuscsnsscuacasnosesevecsnoaieiseseacescsteroccccvacerstcacctesccasseteccs scene cce 
ig 


Pale-thishedaLOnLOIse-DGCtO..osccceesserrsccesssssnossvecesccedveccaenscecssonveccorsscencconsuacenictetrcnecesasececcore 
Pastehistony OLeve -ATMYy—WOLM ss cccvecahcoesscacacterccrsecacceceaucs auaepeueneaseestseccnaes Sto -pokeseceetecda * 

ce GG OS Chinch Bug......... Scacnesescesneser: Gesegusednstisearecaessseaustesttortes aseeecsesss yt Pa 
Papilio philenor....e..0sceere Enssteceniens seseoes asiosieg (nesinasoodenn csevecacencsacns csaseeeucsiens| vsasescsecscssonervs sass a 
Parasites of the ArMy-WOrM....ccccsseeeees mete vescentaseses conceesaaas Bectaedentoss posseaneaiesscee rate BP Besusénorc 
Pearl wood Nymph ............sesescseeee pececaarebestecscsentessursuccscqsacecccdecaccsencqcnersee= ale alawencees adocecccic 
Pempelia grossularia...... aeausactents did aneaueceractens eecnveeece seunesave Seessccesuae sasasecncas cine sbetciasieceneetenel cise a 


TREVURMTOUTILORG -ceeveessesesecescsenceveveussceevess caiewescisinclscuecnseccunethasassuacsiddcnedusceeysenainacactceceivaceeaintest: 
PeSOMACHUS MINTMUS...000006 paaeniee © eneesavsceecieus/sciceacsevsasedscsiecosisapeceuacccelinesel'yesencesgneceed mpielaclays ilveees : 
PAECEMAUN LUE AGLI Sse econ stocecestcescrccucaserccausinasaveciesancecstiqule asausienuceinespeencecaccecasel arescnaaeccnn Races 
Philampelus ACNhEMON, cssececererereee Saeed seascegoseseseces dpeenrsireeslevceveseuadsecesniucowsipereliiac dss cnccoscus seems 

cu SAECLIUEUG. .ereesevee GnOOs5 aeeoneds SApocadaicosscs Sovsccvccseccesess vecacecanesmenecasauarercccaanetenes asedesee 
Philenor Swallow-tail..ccccorsessscsscsessese aeapeceraces Sracdcdocconone apasessceecasccoseasasreerescneamsmeteeentoets Pebc 
PLY LOCOVIS TUNE DIS 5 cxvsseaseecccevseresscacassssesececenssesies cecovceccecsccccecccencccveveesusecscecscesssenseses époncis ar 


Phyllovera Viti foli@....crccccore SgaSSHOONORAOOAGOOOENC HOS ccdnacbocosdgadcbe Sacceke epckpasaenavarnuciaydee=cnecsessarsnccinet 
Phylloptera oblongifolid.....ccccceeeeree susesceossencecseeses Scoecnotoce mabeoeaneataelsancas sadceineanacnavinanenedaaey sae é 
PRYSONOLA QUINQUEPUNCLALA...cecvecceareeeeee casenemaaaine aocatscoss sect secssecenecsawstaas eesapeacs snes popecenedane cael 
Bickle) Worm <.....<...0 OCR RBEDOdAccOneAC EER RRanoHOo ImaceES saresescnaseveesbyopscssseresatcesnstaapsossorcacseatesrsceelp 


Pieris protodice...... seceetesece scescerscvsccsecccccocccss Sencecesancenseves wt 0cc0e, vocgecceseccecesavescesscctecseersconcce . 
SSIOLCT UCC Ose ce¢secavessase Sevecmees Sonvscchigsabuaaseeeseus seveesrsuasibnaseatsecsstrsssucmactesatscen@ecsstaessetecneieetn 6 
DAMM ear cenanstcstsanescsassscaceeres neoocacatasanceonace Rosedudgacechuuascnecvaverccevededsdeascihiessssdeaerscenecerttls 

PUCSMNG CUINCTEA...c00cereecreere paveccsecacescescnass Saasmesmespeiesicn Reamer neen ssspael) ansncasessssnsenssncsapiaicdsteseeecicn 

ERD DNTIANCOSCL slndsdssspeccsesespccsesaspacescseccarncepsnsnsennsacacceosnssassscecsseyeeanvacstssasesinessaces Apdodsénnoceds ene 

Plutella cruciferarum..reesseaee ives sinaishe aevenee seus seastolerd(ssssavavenseststcecvmeugreis@eracpenesiesis scl iaesmiitedtert 

Plum Curculio......... panecuewauceses Rvececcavececvardeuscenascsantssrasiescavalialecascecesenade-cnmeadeanenssvucenaesasaaets 

PUUSIG DV ASSICA....eerccrereerccee we teccccescccescnese ce eceeceensceentecoecsscovccsace cecccccccesccccccceccccescces = Sorceenoet 
Cb Wit CCOLLUM ha ssecanteassunacencesuascees equeueacacaadsecistaeecscsautasccacucasndaesthacsacousbonteaceiencatedantett 4 

ODLarED AC POG vesccenccnceanceciacrderssscavercessaccuchascsohecsessccasascnsaneacsascerrensaeasthenacestcsensdeeeseeenedane! 


Potherb Butterfly.......... Spndefancnicarandcostasehoacunodaranor ssccsascesessacneusctunesctes ceuaactalencdescctoowecdenactes aaa 
PT ONUSHUCLLCON Bc cccniensevcccasacicccas ocnnaccoacaaoneda Mvcucewecssiecestensctnsesrens Mesenes aes soacene Une ccenaiiscctecen siomeues 


66) GMDTICOTNIS. .ceveoee aeecenesuidesnervancsiaeaenasne Seeaeeus poctvacesenerals savheslsccseucnalies aneucussaves eitiielcerontie 
PYLOCVis AMEVICANG....ccccvcee eoccees Rawat aieeaisne aslcnslasasehivieaaanallne ss sieuiasinnasuacicialsdaisiaclssaeisemtcelt stents aiescaces aaa 
MSE UDLISMcclewcas tes cae SEER OALCHCOLAOReDS cancocor necceod cron; anon ROcAbcecondsscne Agroncheéashocacaccad 5 pcocosscceaeac ae 
PPOMACKUS BASlAU AIL, .ccccocseccencecsvaccassccscsscscerscaseesessenscoss Sioa callenesiele ipawectdcssisveinsescessteswcareeliesiass 8 
cf WORLEU LU Unasaenucaseretccdananscesstravscsdscanestessacescacccsuccskeens exes sescincats awaceexactsiivencan eviaiee as 


R 


Rape Butterfly........ aksaaasanencedceconcenshinidecresretsreatedeanansesdene svspdactecesacsesesarconslennccsesssccsan<somssuand 
ea ratlede haehin aH ilivscass scescccsesccevecccseccserscneeecesdascsecesdscesonsiscveseneudoresscsssenssvecssscnnseonss east 
Remedies against the Chinch Bug.........sssssccsssscsee cossseceves dasneaescesaemtaccnsaccceaaceveneehee Seon apes = 
Report of Committee on Entomology, read before the State Horticultural Society.......-.....0. 
EMEZORMETLLUMUSUL Waneancncdveuscacucrertccetecsissescunescuceucescesecccesedececcauecdcevscce enrestncsecsasane AgcbocHAcencE. 
Rummaging Ground-heetle.......cccsscccccssssssscncsssverecsececssccccccccsccscesesssereesneneevecececscsssescsosses 


8 


Saperda DLUILLTLC ccacsucseusutvarcatevsncdetssosracersenccciselnaccasscsusectecesncsestecensesesvessesusarscciessmenta tists oeeoee 


Satellite PLUK agacansacversesbicnateseceaucsserecstaretcsuavecds peeecn se oreeecnecnnereeeosanseeeresaresenes onsevesannsens > 


53 


76 
116 
113 

27 


19 
76 


6 INDEX. | 


Sela ANG 9082)... sonsssssevscan sass lovosdvendsvcacedvuvepeogpenncaecadasdcancuustesdensaenstansubandarneseavanane: vessesce eta ian 
“é 


CAV ASL <siccacessccavsccdudsuadescnhaccadscanusentvecupatancecadscswadedsuesepetous cOaCREDaLEEretidoras curr scvacesnaniin 


Billkky Asilus....clesresestcenstnonecsencesccnsevvoognoabvenseoncavndoosoeccuacocessacusscucssbotacsesscupenvieas saxebacascess IEE 


Southern Cabbage Butterfly.......s0..csse ccoocecsecssccesceoee elo cacuascassoseesbeusaebeacues¥aacbedanenelinte Ge dstane sy Siam 
SPMD MAYPON. oc, Cerca iccrserocvscesevossensercgcapesssessaeevescesns benny cnepegnecnesvesapinesscsesasslnesupesenetynnssesevawemaiinl 
ECD CROMMED aes veviseds sa au taCussadandcevecRseninteenenica tenes + ans obaenecsnes tuedees apsenscelstsannsd Ch aaicepemes: <p) anna 
fy TYOMMEs a. +ccuceseccscvesvocesorcseve RbadatunEsnebeescseatasscessesasmanecernastcauaransachrgeessaihecensnn int nant ee amis 


Spined Soldier Bug.......... Gacevhseaesscneestsendanasces dontchosvecubertasecsenvedsber pesacnarduspncrancememan ss soneeet aman 
Spotted Ladybird............. mevocssed<eauseineianesenssasvonssacsncaee vasasacnnes 
Striped Cucumber-beetle..........+0. Raadugasaacvarsccensoasenastcccnsdnecesssesusancse coashasesnansseuuspasscabereseo\ serie 
Sudden appearance and disappearance of the Avy WOTM ccocsrcscossvcescesstocseeves ceaseccnccersssere eee 45 
Sweet-potato—Insects injurious tO........seeee sacevesesoesnculssccdsnsereoerantscasd¢unsecstunessseraunceen ast taeimtam 


sins coawebeivrexsesretvusrereneu eran ds ocane ee 


Mf 


BAHT TAtLS DGERIULB Es cadre fea ddi'eceasivelvsedfeecetevcdestdaceedeecdveusediceddecevededesc¥ededdenucteccee dab e's denen teccnel te een ean 


as GEV GEUBS.cconereosecr Webets Ni'eis’se seiavoubrcheacdi erosceasonsdeleseb’ | Seleseecenethiere cesses hbrsel secmmenamameae 128, 130 
66 CORLOLER ee occcco \acacticcdssconccccccducdcccedeucsescccacte cbsdsticeescedelendedeesdadlovascslescceadseenenectas thee mem 
Cy TIPO Lanes ie vcvecs cuwehacaciuevescueseverseveveeccevssesceatssebeccaccososccscsssnsetsoatabssaresteseterst seta ten nme 


BarmIghed Plant) Bugy ..ccccccsecéedscsesescosscesesicacse 
Tenebrio MOlitor.cecevessvenes 
“6 DUBCUTUS tactsescsessecctsssesiscoccascaes disccsscesecsddorcactessslecedéasconsisssesesescoeseteonslccunaesteeeanaa 9, il 
Tent-caterpillar of the Apple....c. ssscseceesees sddesesndcccdecesecededadscccndasaudcaccnsaecietteeeuaanea tenet ete PEM | 
“ “ GE GHG MOLELG esse awuvceusdsndecoutdeveeesussersiedsvuevevi's ieiswaswaceetevedees 
IEPIDCRD TONUZILG haveceidaces | steeceesossscosvssesescccdssscseesesssnecssusesacbsesseens! anes vsteessdarcudessvessrssdacseaatni nmin 
Thyreus Abbotii........ Sracsietaravascscatensscatetccascsenssnerercanctencssceas socedcedsdsesscboosesesesvocetectceCsaendumeeenmimin 
BTESHODMCAVETIONUS. ccssessessssssstcoevscsscobacésccess Se evadsconassetes bsondorbscscesenncceacceheaaebesee® Bobeoneee eoene 89 
PPMOM LAP CLTELLO <ccccisccccaccecsccccsscssecssiarcscsssccesics bee 
RRMA MERTRITICIUE =o cccduscasasdqdaccecsoeeces adadssdeccidescdeesses Gcinecdecosasecee deacadentessene aetesaes Saksecuseeens oe tell, 
DMMINMIELIZOMECL GC sencadcaceue svdvullsewcedccddcdecvecasedescdddcccadeceodscdstsccseseseuses 
SPUTAGION PUT diacueassatacsesacccsscosbasacceckecasssbeescuscsicssess tetesecevechsbsoscedsecensldsnstcavaresssccseeucenn covoeetase rOee 
Tortoise-beetles ....... Baesncasehsagcesscesteas ste Sstabeettss Suecsesunstusacmekcesenehers 


sccedecdncsuvalecddduscsescen) Cectelseuadensdecseseescuete™ ookebeu Siice 


seuisueans'dccasesasedarsascvessotssvosssbecseccsevosssosbensekces | a ced'vecned tarbwovvccessewens A: 


ececcesoccceces seleceaactonsebeacgas sodetpdassecsscascentectannmear 


‘¢ peetle—the Golden...... iectascesad edccccebassnsdesddcccévcascedededndccéccsdeccecdas cdsvcsveessecetvalnaeeeds Prab :)- 
“6 Othe wPalo-thiv hed :.jecc.ccssssccassssevescvensetsccedssoeetesddecscccssevadeccascccccseosbuscesdsarsedaimmnnas 
ce eee THOM MOLLE. vaccctbors'eares vob eses'eesslesececaaeves avecediesvob'elstencceveon ves cca bee lessee cucentoese tse seman 


« “© —the Black-legged....... woldchseecsleseseesesnauvecsesvrcsuceedasccs cules sales 
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ON THE 


NOXIOUS, 


PMN rOCrAm AN Dp oTHER 


‘ 


PSUS. 


OF THE 
Se AnH) On “NMiSsOouUns 


MADE TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, PURSUANT TO 
AN APPROPRIATION FOR THIS PURPOSE FROM THE 
LEGISUATURE OF THE STATE. 


BY CHARLES V..RILEY, 


State Entomologist. 


JEFFERSON CITY, MO.: 
HORACE WILCOX, PUBLIC PRINTER. 


Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1871, by CHartes V. Rivey, in the 


office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


Ph ACE, 


To the Members of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture? 


GENTLEMEN: I herewith submit for publication, my Third Annual 
Report on the Noxious, Beneficial and other Insects of the State of 
Missouri. 

No particular action seems to have followed the suggestions 
thrown out in my last year’s prefaces, as to the procuring of a better 
quality of paper and ink for these Reports. The impressions of the 
cuts which illustrate the text, are consequently quite inferior in my 
second Report, and fail to do justice to the engravings. 

As will be seen from the following pages, many important discov- 
eries in Kconomic Entomology have been made during the year, and 
some few insects have been very abundant. On the whole, however, 
we have enjoyed more than the usual immunity from insect depreda- 
tions throughout the State. Complaints have been numerous, and 
articles giving extravagant accounts of the increase of noxious in- 
sects are continually appearing in our agricultural papers. But 
while some insects are on the increase, others are on the decrease, 
and the cause for alarm isina great measure imaginary. More is now 
said and written about insects in the industrial journals of the State 
than formerly, because, through the agency of these Reports, the peo- 
ple bave had their eyes opened to the importance of the subject; and 
the impression that insects generally are on the increase must be, in 
a great measure, attributed to this fact rather than to any real in- 
crease that has occurred. 

The American Entomologist, in the columns of which some of 
the observations contained in this Report have already appeared, was 
continued during the year, and a botanical department, edited by 
Dr. George Vasey, of Normal, Illinois, was added to it. The charge 
of such a journal, together with my State duties, kept me too much 
confined, and for these and other reasons given, the magazine has been 
suspended during the coming year, 1871. 

This suspension will enable me to spend more time in the field, 
and as these annual Reports have but a limited circulation, and as 
very many cultivators of the soil must in consequence, fail to get the 


4 PREFACE. 


information contained in them, I have concluded to devote more 
time the coming year to lecturing; and have already prepared for 
that purpose a number of large, colored illustrations. 

I am satisfied that by this means I can materially add to the good 
effected by these Reports, and I shall endeavor to fill any engage- 
ments which the officers of our county agricultural and horticultural 
societies may desire to make, providing they give me notification a 
suflicient time beforehand. 

In the following pages the same rules are complhed with as were 
laid down in my first Report. When the insects treated of are new, 
or the existing descriptions of them are imperfect, or in a foreign 
language, I have added a full description, which is, however, always 
printed in smaller type, so that it can be skipped by the non-inter- 
ested reader. The popular name of each insect is accompanied by 
the scientific name, and the latter is always printed in ¢talies and 
mostly in parenthesis, so that it may be skipped by the practical 
man without interfering with the text. The Order and Family to 
which each insect belongs, is also given under each heading. The 
dimensions are expressed in inches and the fractional parts of an inch, 
and the sign d wherever used, is an abbreviation for the word “male,” 
the sign? for “female,” and the the sign ? for neuter. It must also 
be recollected that many of the figures are magnified, and that the 
hair line at the side of such gives the natural size. 

The scientific reader will notice that some of the insects are 
referred to the old instead of the more modern genera, and this course 
has been pursued because the generic nomenclature is constantly 
changing, and because the old name has often become thoroughly 
associated with the insect in the mind of the practical man, who 
would be confused by, and is not interested in, the nice changes 
taking place in classification. 

All the illustrations in this, as in the previous Reports, have been 
drawn from life by myself, or under my direct care, unless otherwise 
stated. 

Ihave secured a pleasant office, connected with that of your 
Secretary, at Room 29, Insurance Building, Southeast corner of Fifth 
and Olive streets, St. Louis, and all letters sent to me should be thus 
addressed. 

My acknowledgments are due to the Superintendents of the fol- 
lowing railroads, for free passes over their respective routes: The 
Pacific Railroad of Missouri, Atlantic and Pacific, St. Louis and Iron 
Mountain, Hannibal and St. Joseph, North Missouri, Chicago and 
St. Louis, Illinois Central, and the Rockford, Rock Island and St. 
Louis. 

All which is respectfully submitted by 

CHARLES VY. RILEY, 
State Entomologist. 

Sz. Louis, Mo., December 2, 1870. 


NOXIOUS INSECTS. 


SNOUT-BEETLES. 


(Coleoptera Curculionide). 


AN ACCOUNT OF SOME OF THOSE SPECIES WHICH ARE INJURIOUS TO FRUITS 
AND VEGETABLES. 


In my First Annual Report I gave an account of the common 
Plum Curculio, which was as complete as our knowledge of the insect 
would then permit. Since the publication of that Report many new 
and most important facts, relating to this insect, have been brought 
to light, and I deem it wise in this review of some of our more inju- 
rious snout-beetles. to lay these facts before the reader. Many of 
them were embodied in an essay read by myself at the Fifteenth An- 
nual Meeting of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, recently 
held at Galesburg, in that State, and therefore, with some impor- 
tant additions, I reproduce that essay, which embraces the first five 
insects here treated of. 

Insects, like other animals, derive their nourishment from the 
vegetable and animal kingdoms; but a glance is sufficient to show 
that they possess a far greater field of operations than all the other 
animals combined. Indeed, the food of insectsis a theme so large 
that I might occupy page after page by dwelling upon it alone. The 
other animals use as food but a very small portion of the inexhausti- 
ble treasures of the vegetable kingdom, and the remainder is unpala- 
table or even poisonous to them. Not so with insects, for, from the 
gigantic Banyan which covers acres with its shade, or the majestic 
Oak, to the invisible fungus, the vegetable creation is one vast ban- 
quet, to which they sit down as guests. The larger plant-feeding ani- 
mals are also generally confined, in their diet, to the leaves, seeds or 
stalks, being either foliaceous or farinaceous; butinsects make every 
possible part of a plant yield them valuable provender. We have an 
excellent illustration of this omnipresent character of insects in those 
species which are well known to attack the common apple tree. 
Thus, beginning at the root, we findit rendered knotty and unhealthy 
on the outside by the common Root-louse (Erivsoma pyri, Fitch), 
while the heart is often entirely destroyed by one or the other of two 


6 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


gigantic Root-borers (Prionus imbricornis, Linn, and P. Jaticollis, 
Drury). The trunk is riddled by the larvae of several Long-horn 
beetles, and pre-eminently by the Two-striped Saperda (Saperda 
bivittata, Say), as well as by other smaller beetles; the liber and 
alburnum are destroyed by the Flat-headed borer (Chrysobothris 
femorata, Fabr.), the outer bark eaten by bark beetles (Seolytus 
family) and sucked by Bark-lice peculiar toit. "he branches and 
twigs are bexed along the axis and pruned by the larvee of the com- 
mon Pruner (Llaphidion villosum, Fabr.), and by that of the Paral- 
lel Pruner (Z. parallelum, Lec.), girdled by the Twig-girdler ( Onc7- 
deres cingulatus, Say*), sawed and rasped by the Periodical Cicadas 
(Cicada septemdecim, Linn, and C. tredecim, Riley), otherwise 
known as Seyenteen-year Locusts, by tree-hoppers and a dozen other 
Homopterous insects; bored into from the side by the Twig-borer 
(Bostrichus bicaudatus, Say.), wounded by the bites of such beetles 
as the New York Weevil (/thycerus noveboracensis, Forster), or 
pierced as by a red-hot wire by small boring beetles (Scolytide). 
The buds before they expand are infested with the larve of the 
Apple Bud-moth ( Grapholitha oculana, Harr.), or entirely devoured 
by voracious cut-worms (Agrolis scandens, Riley, etc.). The blos- 
som has no sooner unfolded its delicate and beautiful petals than it 
is devoured entirely either by the Brazen Blister Beetle ( Lytta ened, 
Say), the Striped Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica vittata, Fabr.), the 
Rose bug, or by a great many other insects that might be mentioned, 
some, as the different bees, confining themselves to the pollen or honey 
from the nectaries, while others again prefer other parts. The young 
fruit is either eaten partly or entirely by Snapping beetles (J/elano- 
tus communis and M. incertus), or punctured by either the Plum or 
Apple Curculios, and afterwards bored through and through by their 
larve, or by that ubiquitous Apple Worm (Carpocapsa pomonella); 
as it matures it is eaten into by the larvee of the Plum Moth + ( Sema- 
sia prunivora, Walsh), rendered putrid by the Apple Maggot ( 7ry- 
peta pomonella, Walsh), and by the Apple Midge ( Molobrus mali, 
Fitch); as itripens it is gouged by the Flower Beetles (Huryomia inda 
and /. melancholica), and disfigured by a variety of other insects, 
while the skin is often gnawed off and corroded by the larve of the 
Rose Leaf-roller (Lowotewnia rosaceana, Uarr.);and even the seed, 
if it should be preserved, will be attacked by the Grain Sylvanus 
(Silvanus surinamensis, Linn. ), the Dwarf Trogosita (7? nana, Melsh.) 
and the larvze of one or two small moths. And as to the leaves, they 
are not only sapped and curled by the Apple Plant-louse (Aphis mali, 
Fabr.), and by leaf hoppers; rolled by several leaf-rollers; folded at 
the edges by a small pale, undescribed worm which I shall soon de- 
scribe; blistered by the Rosa Hispa (Uroplata rosa, Weber); 


*T have bred specimens of this insect from apple twigs. 
{Inappropriately so called by Mr. Walsh, as I shal] presently show. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. % 


erumpled by the Leaf Crumpler (Phycita nebulo, Walsh), mined by 
the Apple Micropteryx (Micropteryx pomivorella, Pack.); skeleton- 
ized and tied together by another undescribed worm, which I shall 
some day name Acrobasis Hammondii; but they are greedily de- 
voured by a whole horde of caterpillars, from the tiny dficropteryx 
to the immense Cecropia worm, some of which confine themselves 
to the parenchyma, some to the epidermis, some to the tender parts, 
without touching the veins, while others bodily devour the whole 
leaf. The sap forms the sole food of some insects, and even when the 
poor apple tree dies, a host of different insects revel in its dead and 
decaying parts,and hasten its dissolution, so that it may the more 
quickly be resolved into the mold from which it had, while living, de- 
rived most of its support, and through which it is to give nourishment 
for the young trees which are to take its place. 

Thus we perceive that there is not a single part of the apple tree 
which is not made to cradle, or to give nourishment to some particu- 
lar insect, and the same might be said of almost every plant that 
grows on the face of the earth, even those which produce resinous 
or gummy substances, or which are pithy in the center, having spe- 
cial insects which feed upon these parts and on nothing else. There are 
insects— the gall makers, for instance—which, not satisfied with any 
existing part of the plants, as such, cause abnormal growths, in which 
their young are reared. 

Nor are insects confined to vegetables in their recent state. The 
block of hickory wood, fifty years after it is made up into wagon 
wheels, is as palatable to the Banded Borer (Cerasphorus cinctus, 
Drury), which causes “ powder-post,” as it was to the Painted Borer 
(Clytus pictus, Drury) while green and growing; and a beam of 
oak, when it has supported the roof of a building for centuries, is as 
much to the taste of an Anobiwm as the same tree was while grow- 
ing, to the American Timber Beetle (Hylewctus Americanus, Harr.) 
Some, to use the words of Spence, “ would sooner feast on the herba- 
rium of Brunfelsius, than on the greenest herbs that grow,” and 
others, “to whom 


6 a river and a sea 


Areadish of tea, 
And a kingdom bread and butter,’ 


would prefer the geographical treasures of Saxton or Speed, in spite 
of their ink and alum, to the freshest rind of the flax plant.” 

Indeed, it would be difficult to mention a substance, whether ani- 
mal or vegetable, on which insects do not subsist. They revel and 
grow fat on such innutritious substances as cork, hair, wool and 
feathers; and “with powers of stomach which the dyspeptic sufferer 
may envy, will live luxuriously on horn;” they insinuate themselves 
into the dead carcasses of their own class; they are at home in the 
hottest and strongest spices, in the foulest filth, in the most putrid 
carrion ; they can live and thrive upon, or within the living bodies of 
the larger animals, or of those of their own class; they are at home in 


8 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the intestial heat of many large animals, reveling in the horse’s 
stomach, ina bath of chyme of 102° Fahr., or in the bowels of man, 
in an equally high temperature. Some have even been supposed to 
feed on minerals, and, not to dwell upon Barchewitz’s tale of East 
India ants, which eat iron, certain it is that the larve of our May flies 
(Ephemere) do eat earth, and I have known the larve of the common 
May Beetle to feed for three months upon nothing but pure soil; but 
in both these cases the insects undoubtedly derive nourishment from 
the vegetable matter which is extracted from the earth by the action 
of the stomach. 

These facts will serve to show that, seek where we may, 
we cannot find a place or a substance in which or on which, 
some insect does not feed. They people the atmosphere around us, 
swim at ease in the water, and penetrate the solid earth beneath our 
feet; while some of them inhabit indifferently all three of these ele- 
ments at different epochs of their lives. 

Now when we reflect that there are at least half a million—if not 
a full million—distinct species of insects in this sublunary world of 
ours, and that their habits and habitations are so diversified, it would 
really seem as though entomology was a subject too vast for any one 
man to shoulder; and indeed it is in all conscience extensive enough. 
The science of entomology is, however, so perfect in itself, and its 
classification so-beautiful and simple that a particular species is re- 
ferred to its Order, its Family, its Genus, and finally separated from 
the other species of that genus, with the greatest ease, and witha 
feeling of true satisfaction and triumph, by those who have mastered 
the rudiments of the science. And, very fortunately, it is not neces- 
sary for the practical fruit-grower to enter into the minutiz of species 
or even of genera in order to learn the habits of the insects which in- 
terest him in one way or another. These minutiz must be left to the 
professed entomologist. 

There is not an insect on the face of the globe which cannot be 
placed in one or the other of seven, or more properly speaking, eight 
great Orders; so that, unlike the botanist, the entomologist is not 
bewildered by an innumerable array of these Orders, though he has 
five times as many species to deal with. These Orders comprise 
about two hundred families, many of which may, for practical pur- 
poses, be grouped into one family—as, for instance, the seven families 
of Digger-wasps and the five large families which have all the same 
habits as the true or genuine Ichneumon-flies. Many more may be 
neglected as small, rare, or unimportant; so that practically 
there will remain about a hundred family types to be learned. Each 
family, as Agassiz, has well remarked, may, with a little practice, be 
distinguished ata glance by its general appearance, just as every child 
with a little practice, learns to distinguish the family of A’s from the 
family of B’s, and these from the family of C’s in the alphabet. 
There is the old English A, the German text A, and a host of orna- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 9 


mental A’s, both in the capital letter and the small or “ lower-case ” 
letter, as the printers call it; but the family likenessruns through all, 
and it is astonishing how quick a child learns to distinguish each 
family type. Itis true there are a few abnormal or eccentric insects 
—there were some which deceived even Linnzeus—which put on the 
habit of strange families, just as an eel, which is a true fish with fins, 
puts on the habit of a snake—a reptile without fins. But these are 
the exceptions and not the rule. 

Now it is wisely ordained thatevery family, as a general rule, has 
not only a distinctive family appearance, but also distinct family 
manners. For example, nobody ever saw an Ichneumon-fly construct 
anest and provisionit with insects, as does a Digger-wasp; and nobody 
ever saw a Digger-wasp deposit its eggs in the body of a living in- 
sect at large in the woods as an Ichneumon-fly does. But each fam- 
ily maintains its peculiar family habits, and cannot be induced to de- 
viate from them. 

So universally is this the case, that if an insect is brought me 
which I never saw in my life, I willtell half its history at a glance. 
It is this “Unity of Habits,” this beautiful provision of nature—defi- 
nite family likeness, accompanied by definite family habits—-which so 
simplifies the task of the practical man; for, instead of having to 
study the diversified habits of half a million species, he has but to 
acquaint himself with the appearance and characteristics of one hun- 
dred families; and if the rudiments of Entomology had been taught 
in the schools of this country, so that the farmer had become familiar 
with these hundred family types, he would now be much better able 
to cope with his insect enemies. When I think that it would take a 
child no longer to learn these one hundred family types than it does 
to learn the one hundred different types which compose the four al- 
phabets—-the Roman capital and small alphabet and the writing cap- 
ital and small aiphabet—I fully expect, and sincerely hope, that in the 
public schools of this country we shall soon have text-books intro- 
duced which will cover the ground as well, and occupy the same 
place as do those useful works of Leunis, and Troschel and Ruthe, in 
the public schools of Germany. 

With these few remarks, which are intended to show that the 
practical man may easily obtain a general knowledge of his insect 
friends and enemies, notwithstanding the wide field of their opera- 
tions and the immense number of species which exist, we will now 
dwell for a while on one of these families, which deeply interest us 
as fruit-growers, namely: 


THE CURCULIONIDA OR SNOUT-BEETLES. 


This is one of the very largest and most conspicuous families in 
the Order of Beetles ( Coleoptera), comprising, as it does, over 10,000 
distinct and described species. It is at once distinguished from all the 


10 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 


other families of beetles by the front of the head being produced into 
a more or less elongated snout or rostrum, at the extremity of which 
the mouth is situated. This snout is sometimes very long and as fine 
as a hair (genus Lalaninus), and sometimes as broad as the head 
(genus Brenthus); batit always forms part and parcel of the head, 
and does not articulate on it as does the snout or proboscis of the true 
Bugs (Hemiptera), or the tongue of Moths and Butterflies. The other 
chief characteristics of the family are an apparently four jointed 
tarsus or foot (though in reality there are more generally five joints), 
an ovoid form narrowing in front, the sides pressed by the convex ely- 
tra or wing-covers, the antennz or feelers attached to the snout, and 
either elbowed or straight, and composed of nine, ten, eleven or twelve 
joints—the first of which is always long, and the terminal three gen- 
erally united in a club or knob; and finally stout legs with swollen 
thighs, sometimes bearing spines. 

The larvee of these snout-beetles are whitish or yellowish and 
fleshy grubs, usually without legs or having only inthe place of them 
fleshy tubercles, which in a measure perform the functions of legs;* 
the body is oblong, with the back generally arched but sometimes 
straight. With these characteristics in mind, the farmer eannot fail to 
recognize a snout-beetle when he sees one. Now there is hardly one 
of the one hundred families that I have referred to from which so 
many injurious species can be enumerated, for with the exception of 
an Huropean species (Anthribus varius) whose larva was found by 
Ratzeburg to destroy bark-lice, they are all vegetarians, the larvee 
inhabiting either the roots, stems, leaves or fruits of plants; and the 
beetles feeding on the same. So whenever you find an insect with 
the characters just given, you may rest morally certain that it is in- 
jurious, and should be destroyed without mercy. This family is not 
only one of the most injurious, but, on account of the secretive habits 
of the larvee, the insects comprising it are the most difficult to con- 
trol. When a worm is openly and above board denuding our trees, 
we at least readily become aware of the fact, and can, if we choose, 
apply the remedy; but when it surreptitiously, and always under 
cover, gnaws away at the heart of our grains and fruits, we become 
in a measure helpless to defend ourselves. But even here where the 
enemy is so well ambushed and hidden, the proper tactics, based on 
thorough knowledge, wili frequently enable us to penetrate the de- 
fenses and conquer the foe. 

Before leaving this subject of families, let me impress upon the 
mind another important fact,namely, that the family is not peculiar 
to any one country, and that while species vary, the family has the 
same habits and characteristics all over the world. Thus in Europe 


*It is generally unqualifiedly stated by authors that Curculionid larve are apodous; but there 
are exceptions to the rule, and I may cite as an example the larva of Cratoparis lunatus, Fabr., 
which I have found in fungi, and have bred to the perfect state, and which has six conspicuous 
thoracic legs, 


OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. AN) 


we find the snout-beetles as injurious, and as difficult to manage—if 
not more so—-than they are in this country. One species ( /éhynchites 
conicus, Herbst.,) deposits eggs in the twigs of Pear, Plum, Cherry 
and Apricot, and girdles the twig to make it fall; another, (/hyn- 
chites bacchus, Schoen.) infests the fruit, and still another ( Anthono- 
mus pyri, Scheen.) the flower bud of the Pear. One, (Rhynehites 
betuleti, F.,) rolls up grape leaves and partly cuts the stems, so that 
they perish, while another, (Anthonomus pomorum, Scheen.,) infests 
the blossom bud of the Apple, and renders it unfertile. Still another 
inhabits the blossom bud of the Cherry. Balaninus nucum is found 
in their common Hazel-nut, and B. cerasorum in Cherry pits; Apion 
apricans devours the seed of Clover; Otiorhynchus sulcatus,Schen., 
infests the crown of strawberries and two different species (Baris 
chlorizans, Schoen., and Ceutorhynchus napi, Scheen.,) infest the 
stems of cabbages and turnips. 

But after all, a single species—the “little Turk,” for instance— 
sometimes causes more loss of fruit in this country than all the above 
enumerated species do to the Kuropean cultivator, and though much 
of this comparative incapacity for harm, on the part of their insects, 
may be in a measure due to the better knowledge of his foes which 
the transatlantic cultivator possesses; to the more careful culture 
which he pursues, and the usually limited extent of his orchard, com- 
pared with ours; yet it greatly depends on other causes, which it 
is not necessary now to dwell upon. So I will at once proceed to 
say a few words about those of our own Snout-beetles, which more 
particularly interest us, 


THE COMMON PLUM CURCULIO—(onotrachelus nenuphar, 
Herbst. 


IT 15 SINGLE BROODED, AND HIBERNATES AS A BEETLE. 


I shall not here repeat what has already been published about 
[Fig. 1.] this insect; but shall confine my remarks 

x principally to the unsettled and mooted 
points in its natural history, and to the new 
discoveries that have been made since the 
appearance of my first Report. I am glad 
to be able to say that I have forever set- 
tled the principal question, namely, as to 
its being single or double brooded. Authors 
have, from the beginning, held different 
views on this subject, and this fact should 
not surprise us, when we bear in mind that 


12 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


they reasoned simply from conjecture; nor will it surprise us when we 
understand the facts in the case. The facts that fresh and soft Curcu- 
lios are found in this latitude as early as the last of June, and 
that they still come out of the ground in August, or as late as Sep- 
tember, and even October in more northerly latitudes, are well cal- 
culated to mislead; while it was difficult to imagine an insect living 
ten months before ovipositing, without dwindling away through the 
action of its enemies. But in the beetle state, the Curculio has few, 
if any enemies, and in my former writings on this subject, I have 
shown that the other facts do not in the least prove the insect to be 
double-brooded. Among those whose opinions commanded respect, 
from their profound entomological knowledge and general accuracy, 
was Mr. Walsh, who, during his last years, strenuously contended that 
this insect was double-brooded. For several years I have entertained 
a different opinion, believing that it was single brooded, as arule, and 
only exceptionally double-brooded; and the facts so fully bear me 
out in this opinion, that were my late associate living to-day, I should 
bring forth the testimony with a feeling of triumph, for he was not 
often in the wrong! It is worthy of remark, however, that Mr. 
Walsh’s first impression, as given by him in the year 1867*, was that 
this insect is single brooded; his first opinion thus coinciding with 
what I have now proved to be the facts in the case. In my first Re- 
port I have reviewed the experiments which led him to change his 
opinion, and have shown that they did not warrant his final conclu- 
sion. 

The many words that have been penned in the discussion of this 
question would fill a volume; but one stern fact, one thorough exper- 
iment, is worth more than all the theories that were ever conceived, 
or the phrases that were ever written on the subject. At firstitseems 
to be a very simple question to settle, but the fact that it remained 
unsettled so long would indicate the reverse. Judge A. M. Brown of 
Villa Ridge, at my suggestion, endeavored in the summer of 1869 to 
solve the problem by imprisoning the first bred beetles and furnish- 
ing them with plucked fruit. Dr. Hull partially performed a like ex- 
periment, and I did the same myself; but we were met by the advo- 
cates of the two-brooded theory with the objection that such a test 
was of no value, as the Curculio would not deposit on plucked fruit or 
in confinement; and to add weight to their argument they could cite 
us to numerous instances among butterflies to prove that many insects 
really will not deposit in confinement. But, as we shall see, they 
placed too much confidence in the instinct of Mrs. Turk when, from 
such premises, they made these deductions apply to her. 

As I proved over and over again, the question could not be solved 
with any more certainty, by confining beetles to living boughs con- 
taining fruit, as the boughs could not well be covered with any sub- 


* Practical Entomologist, Vol. IL., No. 7. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13 


stance through which the beetles would not gnaw their way out. So 
I determined last spring to build a frame over a large tree and entire- 
ly enclose it in stout gauze, that would neither let a flea in or out, 
much less a Curculio. Having accomplished this before the blossoms 
had fallen off the tree, I awaited with pleasurable interest the result 
from day to day, from week to week, and from month to month; en- 
gaging a competent person to watch, when, from necessity, I was 
obliged to be away. It were worse than waste of time to detail here 
the many interesting observations made on this tree which I had un-— 
der control, or to enumerate the many other experiments which I 
conducted in other ways, or theinnumerable facts obtained; and 
it will suffice to give in a summary manner the results—premising 
only that every precaution was taken, and no expense spared, to pre- 
vent failure; that the experiments were satisfactory beyond my ex- 
pectations, the results conclusive beyond all peradventure, and that 
I can prove every statement I make. To sum up then:—Zhe Plum 
Curculio is single-brooded, and | have anumber now alive which were 
bred during the latter part of June trom the first stung peaches. (At 
the time the printer is ready for this Report the beetles are still alive 
and flourishing—February 24th, 1871.) But, as there seem to be ex- 
ceptions to all rules, so there are to this; yet the exceptions are only 
just about sufficient to prove the rule, for as far south as St. Louis not 
more than one per cent. of the beetles lay any eggs at all, until they 
have lived through one winter; or in other words, where one female 
will pair and deposit a few eggs the same summer she was bred, 
ninety-nine will live on for nearly ten months and not deposit till the 
following spring. In more northern latitudes I doubt if any excep- 
tions to the rule will be found. 

As to the other mooted point, namely, whether this insect ever 
nibernates under ground in the larva state, 1am perfectly satisfied 
that it never does, but that it passes the winter invariably asa beetle, 
under all sorts of shelterin the woods; generally, however, near thesur- 
iace of the ground. Indeed, it often makes for itself a hole in the ground, 
seldom however deep enough to more than barely cover its own body. 
In short, there is very little to alter or modify in the established facts 
inits natural history, which I have already published. Theegg,instead 
of being “ oval,” as there stated, would be better described as “ ob- 
Jong-oval,” measuring exactly 0.03 inch in length, and being nearly 
ihree times aslong as wide. It should also be remarked here, that 
when depositing the eggs in apples, the female often neglects the 
sual symbol of Mohammedanism, which she so invariably inscribes 
..von stone fruit; and that where this mark is made on apples, it more 
easily becomes obliterated. 

During their beetle life, these insects feed continually, just as 
long as the weather is mild enough to make them active. While fruit 
lasts, they gouge holes init, and after peaches have gone, apples are 


14 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


badly attacked. They also gnaw large holes in the leaves, and when 
nothing else presents, will feed on the bark of the tender twigs. 

The beetles often make a peculiar creaking noise (a fact not 
mentioned before of this species) by rubbing the tip of the abdomen 
up and down against the wing-covers.* 

Let us be thankful, therefore, that there can no longer reasonably 
be difference of opinion, or discussion on these questions, which, 
though of no very great practical importance, were yet of great 
interest to us all. 


IT IS NOCTUNRAL RATHER THAN DIURNAL, 


Before leaving this little Turk, however, I have some other facts 
to mention which were first brought to light the present year, and 
which have a most important practical bearing. The people of the 
West have been repeatedly told, and with so much assurance that 
they no doubt have all come to believe it as gospel, that Curculios 
fly only during the heat of the day, and that it is useless to endeavor 
to catch them after say 10 o’clock in the morning. What I am about 
to utter will no doubt astonish many, but I know whereof I speak. 
The Curculio is a nocturnal rather than a diurnal insect; is far 
more active at night than at day, and ties readily at night into the 
bargain. If any one doubts this assertion, let him go into his peach 
or plum orchard at midnight with a lantern and sheet, and he will 
catch more than he could during the day, and will also find, to his 
sorrow, that they are then much more nimble and much bolder— 


*A oreat many different beetles belonging to widely different families have the power of mak+ 
ing a stridulating creaking noise, and though the instrument is found upon different parts of the 
body in different species, yet it is always made after one plan, namely, a file-like rasp anda 
scraper. In Darwin’s new book (Descent of Man, pp. 366-73) an interesting account of the dif- 
ferent methods employed will be found. Every entomologist knows how commonly this creaking 
noise occurs inthe Long-horn beetles, and that the rasp is situated on the mesothorax and is 
rubbed against the prothorax. In the Burying beetles (NECRoPHORID®) these rasps are situated on 
the fifth abdominal joint, and are scraped by the posterior margin of the elytra. In the Dung- 
beetles again it is variously situated upon different portions of the body. Dr. Fitch (10th Ann. 
Rep. p. 12) has noticed the creaking noise made by the Three-lined Leaf-beetle (Lema trilineata) 
which is produced by the same motions as those witnessed in our Curculio; but in this instance, as 
in all other stridulating Chrysomelide, the rasp is situated on the dorsal apex of the abdomen 
known as the pygidium, and is scraped by the wing-covers ; while in the closely allied Curculionidee 
which have this power the parts are completely reversed in position. Any one who will take the 
trouble to carefully examine the wing-covers of our Plum Curculio will find on the lower apical 
edge of each, a horny, slightly raised plate, about a third as long as the whole wing-cover, and 
transversely and obliquely ribbed by numerous parallel ridges. ‘There is also a longer cord or carina 
near the sutural edge which may help to intensify the noise. The dorsal apex of the abdomen or 
pygidium forms a yellowish and roughened plate, with the sides horny and emarginate, so that 
when the abdomen plays up and down, these horny edges grate or scrape at right angles against 
the rasp. 

In some instances the stridulation is possessed principally by one sex and serves no doubt as 
a sexual call; but with our Curculio as with most otber stridulating beetles, both sexes seem to 
share alike in the power, and it then no doubt serves asa mutual call, or is used under the in- 
fluence of distress, fear, or even pleasure; for I haye always more particularly noticed the noise 
of an evening when the Curculios were most active and preparing for their active night work. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 


scarcely feigning death at all. Indeed, with the exception of such 
females as are busily occupied in depositing eggs, most of the Cur- 
eulios rest during the day, sheltered either by the foliage or branches 
of the tree, or by any extraneous substance on the ground near by. 
They are also more active in the evening than in the morning, and 
these facts lead us to the important question, whether the morning 
or the evening is the best time to jar the trees. My experiments so 
far are not conclusive, for I have some days caught more in the morn- 
ing, and at others more inthe evening. All other things being equal, 
the evening will prove preferable to the morning, from there being 
less dew at that time; and I particularly draw attention to this mat- 
ter now, that the proper experiments may be instituted during the 
eoming year by more than one individual. 


THE RANSOM CHIP-TRAP PROCESS. 


Another grand and successful mode of fighting the little Turk 
was also brought to light again, and to a great extent practiced the 
past summer. I allude to the Ransom chip process for entrapping 
this insect. About the middle of May the Horticultural world was 
-startled by a somewhat sensational article, which was the burden of 
an extra to the St. Joseph (Michigan) Hera/d, headed :—“Great Dis- 
covery—Curculio Extermination Possible.” The process consists in 
laying close around the butt of the tree pieces of chips or bark, under 
which, according to their instinct,a great many of the Curculios se- 
crete themselves during the day, and may thus be easily destroyed. 
Now-that we better understand this insect’s habits, we also better 
comprehend the philosophy of this process. Being noctural in their 
habits, the beetles naturally seek shelter during the day, and espe- 
cially is this the case early in the season, when the days are chilly, 
aud before the females are too much engaged in egg depositing. Nu- 
merous opinions were expressed as to the value and efficiency of this 
method; but I will here repeat my own, as given to the readers of 
the American Entomologist and Botanist; first, because I endeavored 
to be candid and truthful, and secondly, because the opinions ex- 
pressed have been so far fully corroborated by subsequent experience. 
Letit be distinctly understood that in recording what I believe to be 
the facts in the case,‘ |have no wish to detract one particle from the 
credit due Mr. Ransom, for bringing this method prominently before 
the people, and demonstrating its practical applicability ; for to him 
undoubtedly belongs the honor of the re-discovery and of the proper 
application of the method: 


“Weare really sorry to damp the ardor and enthusiasm of any 
person or persons, when enlisted in such a good cause, but truth ob- 
liges us to do so, nevertheless. Of course Curculio extermination is 
possible! but notby the above method alone, as our Michigan friends 
will find to their sorrow. For a short time, early in the season, when 
the days are sometimes warm and the nights cold, and before the 


16 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


peach blossoms have withered away, we have succeeded in capturing 
Curculios under chips of wood and in other such sheltered situations ; 
but we have never been able to do so after the fruit was as large as a 
hazlenut, and the little Turk had got fairly to work. Our Michigan 
friends will, we fear, find this to be too truly the case. 

“This process, furthermore, cannot well be called anew discovery, 
because it was discovered several years ago, as the following item 
from Moore’s Rural New Yorker of January 28th, 1865, will show: 

“TIow To catcn Curcutro.—In May last we had occasion to use some lumber. It was laid 
down in the vicinity of the plum yard, and on taking up a piece of it one cold morning, we dis- 
covered a number of curenlios huddled together on the underside. On examining other boards 
we found more, so we spread if out to see if we could catch more, and we continued to find more 
or less every day, for two weeks. We caughtin all one hundred and sixty-one. So I think if 
people w ould take alittle pains they might: destroy a great many such pests. These were caught 
before the plum trees were in flower. W ‘hat is mostsingular is, that we never found a curculio on 
a piece of old lumber, although we put several pieces down to try them. They seemed to come 


out of the ground, as we could find them several times a day by turning over the boards. 
Johnsonville, New York. Mrs. H. Wier. 


“But though Mr. Ransom cannot properly claim to have made a 
new discovery, and although this mode of fighting will not prove 
sufficient to exterminate the Cureulio, yet we greatly admire the 
earnestness and perseverance which he has exhibited. In demon- 
strating that so great a number of the little pests can be entrapped in 
the manner described, Mr. It. has laid the fruit growers of the country 
under lasting obligations torham: jeelitsissa erand movement towards 
the defeat of the foe, and one which, {rom its simplicity, should be 
universally adopted early inthe season. But we must not relinquish 
the other methods of jarring during the summer, and of destroying the 
tallen fruit; for we repeat that the Plum Curculio will breed in the 
forest.” 

I subsequently visited St. Joseph, for the express purpose of ex- 
amining more closely into Mr. Ransom’s Cureulio remedy. I found 
that so few Curculios had beén caught under the chips after the first 
week in June, that nearly everybody, except Mr. Ransom, had for 
some time abandoned the method, and were jarring their trees by one 
process or another. Mr. Ransom himself, by dint of unusual persever- 
ance and great care in setting his traps, had much better success 
than 1 had expected he would. On the 15th June he caught 78; on 
the 16th, 97; and on the 17th, 71. For about a week after this he 
scarcely caught any, but from the 24th to the 27th inclusive, he caught 
about 300. On the 6th of July I accompanied him around the outside 
rows of his orchard and caught five under the traps. We had no op- 
portunity to use the sheet, but lam satisfied that more could have 
been jarred down. Mr. R. had a very fair crop of peaches, and—for- 
getting that crops have often been grown before with very little care, 
and that others around him who did not bug so persistently had 
fruit also this year—is very sanguine of his new method, and too 
much inclined, perhaps, to attribute his crop solely to this remedy. 
Nevertheless, contrary to the impression made by his published views, 
he was candid enough to admit that it might be found necessary to 
resort to the jarring process, after a certain season of the year; and 
indeed the number of stung peaches on the ground showed too plain- 
ly that there is no hope of extermination by the chip plan alone. The 
soil around St. Joseph is, for the most part, a light sandy loam, never 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. V7 


packing, and very easily kept in good cultivation. To this character 
of the soil must be attributed much of the success with the Ransom 
method ; for I am satisfied, after full experiment, that in the warmer 
climate and heavier soil of St. Louis, it is of no practical use after the 
middle of May, or at the farthest, after the first of June. The few 
specimens that } have captured by this method at St. Louis were 
found under small pieces of new shingle; and Mr. W. T. Durry, who 
has 2,300 trees in his orchard at St. Joseph, also found this the best 
kind of trap. Mr. Ransom, however, prefers small pieces of oak bark, 
which he places close around the tree, with the inner or concave side 
pressed to the ground. Stones do not answer well, and corn cobs are 
objectionable because it requires so much time to discover and de- 
stroy the Curculios, which hide in their deep cavities. 

The best time of day to take the Curculios from under the chips is 
undoubtedly in the afternoon; but it must not be left too long, as they 
_ begin to leave and scatter over the trees as soon as the sun approaches 
the horizon. The chips should be laid around the trees as soon as the 
frost is out of the ground, or at least by the time the blossoms begin to 
expand; for more beetles will be caught under them during a few 
weeks thus early in the season than throughout the rest of the year. 

Before concluding this branch of the subject, I earnestly urge 
upon fruit-growers throughout the State te give this process a good 
trial during the coming season, and to report the results tome. The 
observations of a hundred persons ‘in as many different parts of the 
State must necessarily be of more value than those of a single indi- 
vidual in any one locality; and as the process was not prominently 
brought before the public last year, until it was too late to make 
thorough experiments, it is very desirable to have the true value of 
the method in Missouri definitely ascertained in 1871. To arrive at 
such definite knowledge of its value, I need the co-operation of intel- 
ligent fruit-growers, and for this reason I hope that notes and experi- 
ments will be made and sent to me at my office, any time during the 
summer. The number of trees experimented on, number of beetles 
captured, time of year, hour of day, character of soil, and all other 
facts connected with the experiments should be noted; as they all 
help us to a more thorough knowledge of the true value of the process 


KEEPING IT IN CHECK BY THE OFFER OF PREMIUMS. 


After visiting St. Joseph and vicinity, I passed into Ontario, where 
I found the trees overloaded with fine unblemished fruit. I found my 
friend, Mr. Wm. Saunders, of London, also much occupied with, and 
interested in, the Curculio question. He was, infact, carefully count- 
ing different lots of this insect which had been received from different 
parts of the Dominion; for be it known, that the enterprising Fruit- 
Growers’ Association of Ontario, in its praiseworthy efforts to check 


the increase of the Curculio, offered a cent per head for every one 
S E—2 


is THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


which should be sent to our friend, who happens to be secretary of 
that body. What would our own people think if the Legislature or 
the State Horticultural Society should offer an equally liberal pre- 
mium per capita for every little Turk captured? Wouldn’t they set 
about capturing them in earnest, though! The Legislature might 
stand it,and I am not sure but that some such inducement, held out 
by the State to its fruit-growing citizens, would pay, and prove the 
most effective way of subduing the enemy. But the Horticultural 
Society that should undertake it, would have to be pretty liberally 
endowed. Just think of it; ye who catch from three to five thousand 
per day. The bugs would pay a good deal better than the peaches. 
However, very fortunately for the Ontario Fruit-Growers’ Associa- 
tion, their good offer did not get noised abroad as much as it might 
have been, and the little Turk occurs there in such comparatively smal] 
numbers, that up to the time I left only 10,751 had been received. 


PARIS GREEN AS A REMEDY. 


Mr. G. M. Smith, of Berlin, Wisconsin, in an article written last 
fall to the St. Joseph (Mich.) Horticultural Society, recommends Paris 
Green for the Plum Curculio. Even if the uniform application of 
such a poisonous drug on large trees were practicable, it would never 
succeed in killing one Curculio in a hundred. Paris Green kills the 
leaf-eating beetles by being taken internally with the leaves; but 
the Curculio, with its snout, prefers to gouge under the skin of the 
fruit, and only exceptionally devours the leaves. Yet, notwithstand- 
ing the palpable absurdity of the remedy, it has very generally passed 
from one journal to another without comment. 


JARRING BY MACHINERY. 


Of coursé there isno more expeditious way of jarring down the 
Curculio than by the Hull Curculio-catcher (Fig.2.) Yet I confess 
that after extensive observations in many different parts of the coun- 
try I am forced to the conclusion that this machine does not give the 
satisfaction one could wish. I have already shown that where it was 
constantly used the trees suffered serious injury from bruising, and it 
is a rather significant fact that in most orchards where it has been in- 
troduced, some modification has soon followed, or else it has been 
entirely abandoned; while in the Kast they still adhere to the im- 
proved stretchers and mallet. It seems to me that the machine, as made 
by Dr. Hull, two years ago; was not only too heavy and unwieldy, but 
incapable of giving the requisite sharp jarring rap to the branches of 
a large tree without causing too much injury to the trunk; and that if 
a modification of it could be made to satisfy the peach-grower, there 
would soon be a greater demand for such a machine, 


19 


THE SLATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 


90 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT GF 


As a stepin the right direction I will briefly describe a machine 
which I have herewith illustrated, (Fig. 3, back view; Fig. 4, front 
view), and which I found in quite eneeal use around St. Joseph and 
Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was gotten up by Mr. L. M. Ward of the 
latter place, and proves, in the orchard, to have decided advantages 
over the Hull machine, of which it is a modification. It is a much 
lighter machine, and, as the diagrams indicate, instead of running on 
a single wheel it is ferned and balanced by two, (Fig. 3, ¢ ¢) and sup- 

[Fig. 3.] ported with fees on the han- 
—~ dles, (Fig. 3, b 6), when not 
running. The Curculios and 
stung fruit are brushed 
through a hole in the centre 
(Fig. 3, 7d), and as the oper- 
ator passes from one tree to 
another he closes this hole, to 
prevent the beetles from es- 
caping, by means of a slide, 
(Fig. 3,a@), which he has under 
control. Bags previously pre- 
pared, by being fastened ona 
square piece of wood witha 
hole inthe centre correspond- 
ing to a hole in the side of the 
bag, are snugly buttoned be- 
low (Fig. 3, e and 7), so as to 
secure everything that falls 
é through from above, and when 
one bag is full it is easily replaced by another, and its contents de- 
stroyed by scalding, or otherwise, and emptied out. In most of the 
orchards where this machine was being used, the jarring was per- 
formed by a separate mallet, which is easily hung, as is also the brush, 
on the shafts when the machine is being operated by one person, or, 
which I think a better way, where help is not scarce, it can, with the 
brush, be carried by a second person (an intelligent boy will answer, )} 
who performs the jarring and brushing while the first person wheels 
the machine. 

The machine is simple in construction, and any one with ordinary 
mechanical ability can build it—modifying, of course, the diameter 
of the wheels and the inclination of the sheet to suit the character of 
his trees or of his ground. Mr. Ward has taken no patent out for it, 
and the machine is, therefore, public property. The platform may be 
made narrower than shown in the illustration, for the nearer the 
wheels approach and the lighter the machine, the better. It has been 
argued in favor of the one-wheel machine, that it can be more easily 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 


{Fig. 4.] run on rough ground and more 

| readily turned, which, in a 
great measure, is true; but 
the Ward machine might be 
so made that it could easily 
be tilted on one wheel in 
turning, and our Benton Har- 
bor friends have so far found 
no difficulty in operating it. 
The two wheels have the ad- 
ditional advantage that the 
machine is not rendered un- 
wieldy by strong wind. It 
also stands firm when left by 
the operator, who is thereby 
better enabled to usea mallet 
if he prefers it, the mallet 
being hung to the shafts, and 
taken down after the machine 
is wheeled into position. Hither machine can be used with a bumper, 
or with a mallet, and there are certain rules which should be adopted 
in jarring for the Curculio, no matter whether a one-wheel or a two- 
wheel machine is used. These rules are: First. In jarring with a 
mallet, it is best to prepare each tree by squarely sawing off some 
particular limb, or else the mallet must be well protected with rubber 
to prevent bruising of the tender bark. The former custom is by far 
the best, as we are enabled to give the tree a sharp, vibrating rap 
with the bare, hard wood. Secondly. If the mallet is dispensed with, 
and the tree is bumped with the machine—a method which certainly 
has the advantage of expedition—it will be found altogether more 
profitable to drive a shouldered spike or to insert a shouldered screw 
in the trunk at the right distance from the ground, and the jarring 
can then always be done on this spike without injury to the tree. 

If the trees are headed high enough to admit of a sufficient in- 
clination of the canvas, the beetles will naturally roll to the centre 
and fallinto whatever receptacle there may be for them below; but 
such an inclination is not often practicable, and the brush or broom 
is almost always needed. 

The orchardist must also be guided in his choice of machines by 
the character of his land, for the two-wheel machine doubtless owes 
much of its success around St. Joseph, Michigan, to the smoothness 
of their land. No machine will work well on rough, cloddy soil. 

There are various improvements that might be made in the above 
machine by any ingenious person, and at my suggestion Mr. J. E. 
Porter of the Eagle Agricultural Works, Ottawa, Illinois, has com- 
menced building these two-wheel machines with adjustable arms. 
The canvas also is to be so made that it can be fastened on and taken 


anor ae 


22 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


off again so that the whole may be more compactly packed for ship- 
ping, and for storing away out of the wet. Exclusive of the canvas, 
the whole can be made ready for shipment for from $16,00 to $18,00, 
and the machine will no doubt be advertised the coming season. 

It is gratifying to know also that the inventive genius of some of 
our Western men is being applied to the improvement of this imple- 
ment. Thus Messrs. Claxton & Stevens of the Insane Asylum, St. 
Louis county, have just applied for a patent on a one-wheel machine, 
the principle feature of whichis a bumper which works with a spring. 

[Fig. 5.] I have seen the model, but am not favorably impressed 
with the machine as one having any great practical 
value. The spring bumper is an expensive and unneces- 
sary addition, and in other respects the machine is in- 
ferior in utility to that I have just described. One good 
feature, however, is an arrangement for closing up the 
tree-way where the bumper touches the tree. It con- 
sists simply of two long strips of sheeting fastened to a 
light frame, each one of which is so attached to the 
sides of the tree-way that when dropped they forma 
roof as at Figure 5. The tree easily separates these two 
pieces when the machine is worked. The frame of this 
machine is quite flat with an upturned rim, but each 
half-circle is so arranged that it can be raised on 
hinges. 

Dr. M. M. Hooten, of Centralia, Illinois, patented last 
summer a machine made very much after Dr. Hull’s plan, but he 
has since made several improvements and changes and has made appli- 
cation for another patent for the improved machine which I herewith 
illustrate from a model with which he has kindly furnished me. 

He first constructs a long narrow wheel-barrow with a level and 
smooth platform (lig. 6, @,) made of 4 inch pine or other light mate- 
rial, firmly nailed down to two arms (d, },) and covering them from 
the front end to within twenty inches of the rear end. These rear ends 
servefor handles (c, c). The anterior ends, at a point one foot from 
the extremity, rest upon the axlesof the wheel, which is two feet in 
diameter. He then attaches a half circle (d, d) to each outer side of 
the forward ends of the arms of the platform. These half circles 
are ten inches in diameter, and are so placed as to be about two- 
thirds of their width in advance of the platform, which at the for- 
ward end is from ten to twelve inches wide. Thus enough room is 
left for the tree to be admitted between the flat sides of the halt 
circles. 

There are now to be five or six movable arms (e, ¢) placed on 
each side of these iron half circles, and a single half-inch bolt (/) 
passed through a hole in the inner ends of them, and through the 
straight bar next to the tree-way. The arms are now permitted to 
rest on the half circles, and are held down to the circle by a hook 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 93 
ae which is attached to the 
E Jower side of the arm 
+ F336 bu and curves over the out- 

a) side of, and under, the 


circle (9, 9). 
These movable arms 


E 
: are now arranged at 
equal distances on the 


\ circles, and fastened with 


twine, while the canvas 

\ 4 is being tacked on, be- 
\ ginning first by tacking 
\ it to the sides of the plat- 
\ form of the barrow and 
\ thentothearms. At the 
2 \ inner end of each of 
\ these movable arms is 

\ \ a raised finger (A, A), 


\ \ \ which holds the canvas 
\ \ up so as to keep any in- 


_sects from being thrown 

‘ over into the tree-way. 
a A semi-circular cog- 

wheel (2, 7), which works 

by its centre, is now 

placed on the lower end 

of the same bolt that 

passes through the inner 
ends of the movable arms. The forward arm on each side is firm 
ly attached to this cog-wheel, which works under the canvas. 
When made to revolve backwards or forwards on the bolt, this cog- 
wheel carries the outside arm around on the iron half circle, and the 
sheet-covered frame is thus easily stretched and opened, as at j, /, OF 
closed as at k, k. 

This motion is quickly accomplished by means of a lever (2); 
which works on a hinge at the rear of the platform, and which moves 
a rod armed on one side at the forward end with cogs (m,m), which 
tread in the cogs of the semi-circular cog-wheel before described, to 
which it is held by a keeper (x). The handle of the lever lies on the 
platform when the machine is folded, and stands upright when it is 
extended; so that by a single motion of one hand of the operator, the 
machine may be folded into a very small compass, or as quickly ex- 
tended. The hinder part of the machine is supported by two swing- 
ing legs (0, 0). These may swing back to the handles, but cannot go 
forward beyond aright angle. The machine is very light, and works 
so easily that, according to the inventor, a boy of fourteen years can 


24 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


easily run one of them. The whole machine does not weigh over 
forty pounds. 

The above figure represents a back view of the machine, with 
one side open and the other closed. The principle advantage of the 
machine lies in this folding apparatus, which enables the operator to 
defy the wind which on some days renders the original Hull machine 
almost useless as it plays powerfully against the stretched canvas. 
This feature also enables the owner to store the machine away with 
less trouble. I have my doubts, however, whether the advantage 
gained sufficiently compensates for the extra machinery. Another 
advantage which Mr. Hooton claims for the machine is that it is so 
low that it will swing its broad folds under low-headed trees. That 
portion of the wheel which rises above the platform is protected by 
a circular box, and it is found that every time the canvass is ex- 
panded, there is a slight jerk, which casts everything that has fallen 
upon it to the centre, where the bugs and fruit consequently remain 
untit removed. The raised fingers to which the canvas is attached 
at the centre, and similarly raised pieces along each side of the tree- 
way, prevent the insects and fallen fruit from escaping; and there is 
no receptacle below into which they can be brushed. The machine 
is therefore built with the idea that it is as easy to pick up and re- 
move the fallen beetles and fruit as it is to brush them into a recep- 
tacle below. 

In operating the machine it is wheeled up to the tree while 
closed, then expanded and drawn back a little so as to give the tree 
a jar, and then closed and wheeled away to the next tree. Mr. Hoo- 
ton has had a full sized machine in operation, and it seems to give 
very good satisfaction. As there is considerable casting needed, the 
ordinary fruit-grower will not be able to manufacture it as easily as 
he can the Ward machine; but as all these machines will doubtless 
be put upon the market the coming season, the reader must choose 
for himself which he prefers. 

I have been urged to take an interest in two of these machines, 
and even to take out a patent for certain improvements suggested ; 
but as a public officer I have refused to do either. My object is to 
give a disinterested and candid account of what I conceive to be the 
merits or demerits of any machine that may appear, in the hope that 
ere long we shall have something in the market, so cheap and efli- 
cient that no peach-grower will have any excuse for not jarring his 
trees. 


TWO TRUE PARASITES OF THE PLUM CURCULIO. 


THE SIGALPHUS CURCULIO PARASITE. 


Just 10 years ago, in his “Address on the Curculio,” delivered at the 
annual meeting of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, Dr. Fitch 
gave an account, accompanied with a figure, of a small Ichneumon- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 


fly which he named Sigalphus curculionis, and which he believed was 

ie Sp parasitic on the Curculio. Be- 

j Ee fore that time no parasite had 

\/ this pestilent little weevil, 

WY ie Awe c)and even up tothe present 

ZS = 7 time it is currently believed 

a NL for unfortunately the evidence 

given by Dr. Fitch was not suf- 

ficient to satisfy some of our 

by him from Mr. D. W. Beadle of St. Catherines, C. W., who had bred 

them from Black-knot, from which he bred at the same time a certain 

number of Curculios; but as other worms besides those of the Cur- 

this fly was parasitic on the insect in question. Consequently we find 

that Mr. Walsh, in his Report as Acting State Entomologist of Illi- 

nois, rather ridicules the idea of its being a Curculio parasite and en- 

Moth (Semasia prunivora). But lhave this year not only proved 

that poor Walsh was himself wrong in this particular inference, but 

that he was equally wrong in supposing his little Plum-moth, so 

cus frondosa, Bassett); from haws, from crab apples and abundantly 
from tame apples. 

To be brief, Dr. Fitch’s Sigalphus is a true parasite on the Plum 
The first bred specimens gave me much pleasure, for as soon as I saw 
they belonged to the same genus as Dr. Fitch’s fly, I felt assured that 
another disputed question was settled. But to make assurance 
sifted so that no living animal remained in it. Into these jars I placed 
Curculio larve from day to day as they issued from peaches that 
were thrown into another vessel, and in due time the parasitic flies 
more than this, I soon learned to distinguish such Curculio larve as 
were parasitised, and after they had worried themselves under the 
ground—seldom more than half an inch—I would uncover them, and 
worm within reduce its victim until finely nothing was left of him. 

[Fig. 8.] __ As soon as the Curculio larva is de- 

os s“stroyed by the parasite, the latter 

yj tle yellowish cocoon of silk (Fig. 8, 4), 

i then gradually assumes the pupa state 

4 (Fig. 8, c) and at the end of about the 


ever been known to attack 

—- that no such parasite exists; 

most eminent entomologists. These parasites were in fact received 
culio are likewise found in Black-knot, we had no absolute proof that 
deavors to prove that it is parasitic instead on the larva of his Plum 
called, to be confined to plums; for I have bred it from Galls ( Quer- 
Curculio and I have bred hundreds of the flies from Curculio larve. 
doubly sure, I repeatedly half filled large jars with pure earth, finely 
began to issue from the ground along with the perfect Curculios. Nay 
on several occasions had the satisfaction of watching the gnawing 
SN S (Fig. 8, a) encloses itself in a tough lit- 

& same length of time that the Curculio 


26 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


requires to undergo ¢fs transformations and issue as a beetle, this, its 
deadly foe, gnaws a hole through its cocoon and issues to the light of 
day asa black four-winged fly (Fig. 7, @ male; 6 female). In the 
vicinity of St. Louis, this fly was so common the past season that af- 
ter very careful estimates, I am satisfied three-fourths of all the more 
early developed Curculio larve were destroyed by it. On the 17th 
and 18th of April, in that locality a severe frost killed the peach buds 
on all but a few of the young and most vigorous trees of Hale’s Karly 
and Crawford, so that instead of a large and abundant crop of peaches 
to depredate on, the little Turk had to concentrate its attacks on the 
few peaches that were left: and no one expected that any fruit would 
be saved. Yet the work of this little parasite was so effectual that, 
wherever fruit set, a fair crop was gathered even by those who made 
no effort at all to protect their trees ! 

While visiting Dr. Fitch last August, at his house in Salem, N. Y., 
I compared my bred specimens with his species, and found them 
identically the same; but a full description of it will be found below, 
and it is not necessary at present to dwell upon its characters. 

As Mr. Walsh bred this same parasite from the larve of his little 
Plum Moth, it doubtless attacks other soft-bodied larvze and does not 
confine itself to the Plum Curculio. This is the more likely as it would 
scarcely pass the winter in the fly state. The female, with that won- 
derful instinct which is exhibited in such a surpassing degree in the 
insect world, knows as well as we great Lords of Creation what the 
little crescent mark upon a peach or plum indicates; and can doubt- 
less tell with more surity, though she never received a lesson from 
her parents, whether or not a Curculo larva is drilling its way through 
the fruit. When she has once ascertained the presence of such a 
larva by aid of her antennee—which she deftly applies to different 
parts of the fruit, and which doubtless possess some occult and deli- 
cate sense of perception, which, with our comparatively dull senses, 
we are unable to comprehend—then she pierces the fruit, and with 
unerring precision, deposits a single egg in her victim, by means of 
her ovipositor. 

Now there is, asI shall show in the description, a variety (rufus) 
of this parasite, with the ovipositor nearly one-fifth of an inch long, 
but in the normal form the ovipositor is only twelve-hundredths of 
ap inch long, and the Curculio larva must therefore be reached soon 
after it hatches, or while yet very young. Consequently we find that 
the earliest Curculio larvae, or those which hatch while the fruit is 
yet small, are the most subject to be parasitised, and while from larva 
obtained early in the season, I bred more parasites than Curculios, 
this order of things was reversed a little later in the year. Some 
persons will no doubt wonder how such a large fly can be developed 
from a Curculio larva which is stung while so young; but we do not 
know how long the parasitic egg remains unhatched, and it must be re- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 27 


membered that it is a rule, wisely ordained and long known to exist 
in insect life, that the parasitic larva does not at first kill outright, 
but subsists, without retarding growth, upon the fatty portions of its 
victim, until its own growth is attained. Thus the first worm derives 
its nourishment from the juicy fruit, and grows on regardless of the 
parasite which is consuming its adipose substance, until the latter is 
sufficiently developed, and the appointed time arrives for it to de- 
stroy its prey by attacking those parts more vital. 

This parasite, which I will now proceed to describe, belongs to 
the second sub-family (Braconides) of the Ichneumon-flies ( /chneu- 
monide), and the venation of its wings, and 3-jointed abdomen, place 
it in the genus Sigalphus. Westwood (Synopsis, p. 63) gives three 
cubital panes or areolets in the front wings as characteristic of the 
genus; but Brullé (p. 510) and, as Mr. Cresson informs me, Westmael 
in his Braconides de Belgique, give only two, which is the number in 
our insect. 


SIGALPHUS CURCULIONIS, Fitch—Imago—(Fig. 7, a male; b female). Head black, sub-polished 
and sparsely covered on the face with short whitish hairs; ocelli touching each other; labrum 
and jaws brown; palpipale yellow; antenne (Fig. 7, c) 27-jointed, filiform, reaching, when turned 
back, to middle joint of abdomen or beyond, the bulbus and small second joint rufous and gla- 
brous, the rest black or dark brown, though 3-10 in many specimens are more or less tinged with 
rufous; 3-l4 very gradually diminishing in size; 14-27 sub-equal. Thorax black, polished, the 
metathorax distinctly and broadly punctate, and the rest more or less distinctly punctate or 
rugose, with the sides sparsely pubescent. Abdomen pitchy-black, flattened, the dorsum convex, 
the venter concave, and the sides narrow-edged and slightly carinated ; the three joints distinctly 
separated and of aboutequal length; the first joint having two dorsal longitudinal carine down 
the middle; all densely marked with very fine longitudinally impressed lines, and sparsely pubescent; 
(Dr. Fitch in his description published in the Country Gentleman, under date of September, 1859, 
states that these lines leave ‘‘a smooth stripe along the middle of its second segment and a large 
smooth space on the base of the third ;’’ which is true of a few specimens, but not of the majority, 
in which tke impressed lines generally cover the whole abdomen.) Ovipositor longer than abdo- 
men, but when stretched in a line with it, projecting backwards about the same length beyond ; 
rufous, with the sheaths black. Legs pale rufous, with the upper part of hind tibie aud tarsi, and 
sometimes the hind femora, dusky. Wings subhyaline and iridescent, the veins pale rufous, and 
the stigma black. Length Q, 0.15-0.16 inch, expanse 0.30; © differs only in his some- 
what smaller size and in lacking the ovipositor. In many specimens the mesothorax and the eyes 
are more or less distinctly rufous. 

Described from 50 9 9,10 J, bred June 23d-July 29th, 1870, from larvee of Conotrachelus 
nenuphar, and 2 9 Q obtained from Dr. Fitch. 

Larva (Pig. 8, a)—White, with translucent yellowish mottlings. 

Pupa (Fig. 8,¢ Q)—0.17, inch long; whitish, the members all distinct, the antennzx touch- 
ing hind tarsi, the ovipositor curved round behind, reaching and touching with its tip the 
third abdominal joint, which afterwards forms the apical joint of imago; five ventral joints, 
which in the imago become much absorbed and hidden, being strongly developed. 

Cocoon (Fig. ¢, b)—Composed of one layer of closely woven yellowish silk. 

VARIETY RUFUS—Head, thorax and most of first abdominal joint entirely rufous, with the 
middle and hind tibiee dusky, and the ovipositor three times as long as abdomen and projecting 
more than twice the length of the same beyond its tip. 

Described from three QQ bred promiscuously with the others. This variety is slightly 
larger and differs so remarkably from the normal form that, were it not for the absolute corres- 
pondence in all the sculpturing of the thorax and body, and in the venation of the wings, it might 
be considered distinct. The greater length of the ovipositor is very characteristic, and accompa- 
nies the other variation in all three of the specimens. 


28 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE PORIZON CURCULIO PARASITE. 


The other parasite works in very much the same manner, but 
[Fig. 9.] 


instead of issuing the same summer asa 
fly, it remains inits somewhat tougher 
and more yellowish cocoon all through 
RK the fall and winter, and does not issue 
j“_,in the winged state till the following 
spring. ‘This parasite was first discov- 
ered by Dr. Trimble, who sent me the 
cocoons from which I subsequently 
bred the perfect fly. It belongs to the 
first sub-family (/ehneumonides) of 
the Ichneumon-flies, and apparently to the genus Porizon* of which 
it forms anew species. It is only necessary here to state that it 
differs from the other species in its reddish-brown abdomen, as well as 
in form, as may be readily seen by referring to the figures (Fig. 9, a 
female; 6 male; ¢ antenna). 


PorIzoN conoTRACHELI, N. Sp.—Head pitchy-black, opaque, the ocelli triangularly placed and 
close together; eyes oval, polished, and black; face covered with a silvery-white pubescence ; 
labrum rufous, with yellowish hairs; mandibles and palpi, pale yellowish-brown; antennz in- 
serted in Gepressions between the eyes, reaching to metathorax when turned back, filiform, 
24-jointed; black with basal joints 6-1 becoming more and more rufous, the bulbus always dis- 
tinctly rufous; bulbus rather longer and twice as thick as joint 3; joint 2 about one-third as long. 
Thoraz pitchy-black, opaque, the sides slightly pubescent with whitish hairs, the mesothorax 
rounded and bulging anteriorly, the scutellum slightly excavated and sharply defined by a carina 
each side; metathorax with the elevated lines well defined and running parallel and close together 
from scutellum to about one-fourth their length, then suddenly diverging and each forking about 
the middle. Abdomen glabrous, polished, very slender at base, gradually broader and much com- 
pressed from the sides at the apex which is truncated; peduncle uniform in diameter and as long 
as joints 2 and 3 together; joints 2-5 subequal in length; color rufous with the peduncle wholly, 
dorsum of joint 2, a lateral shade on joint 3, and more or less of the two apical joints superiorly, 
especially at their anterior edges, black; venter more yellowish: ovipositor about as long as ab- 
domen, porrect when in use, curved upwards when ut rest, rufous, with the sheaths longer and 
black. Legs, including trochanters and cox uniformly pale yellowish-brown with the tips of 
tarsi dusky. Wings subhyaline and iridescent, with veins and stigma dark brown, the stigma 
quite large, and the two discoidal cells subequal and, as usual in this genus, joining end to end, 
but with the upper veins which separate them from the radial cell, slightly elbowed instead of 
being straight, thus giving the radial cell a quadrangular rather than a triangular appearance. 
O differs from Q only in his somewhat smaller size and unarmed abdomen. Expanse Q 0.32 
inch, length of body, exclusive of ovipositor 0.22; expanse 4‘ 0.28, length 0.18. 

Described from 3 Q 9,1 bred May 26th-28th, 1870, from cocoons received from Dr. I. P. 
Trimble, of New Jersey, and 1 Q subsequently received from the same gentleman—all ob- 
tained from larvex of Conotrachelus nenuphar. 


“ But of what use are these parasites?” say you! Well, they can 
not, it is true, be turned to very practical account, because they are 
not sufficiently under our control; but it is a source of great satisfac- 
tion to those who have been looking for many years for some natural 
aid to help them in the artificial warfare waged against the Curculio, 


* As I am informed by Mr. EH. T. Cresson, of Philadelphia, who pays especial attention to the 
classification of the Ichneumonidae, it might more properly be referred to Holmgre:’s genus Ther- 


silochus, which differs from Porizon in the greater distance between the antenn at base, and in 
the venation of the wing. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 


to know that besides its several cannibal foes, there are at last two 
true parasites which attack it. Indeed, with the knowledge of the 
Curculio enemies figured and described two years agoin the Amero- 
can Entomologist, and of the egg-destroying Thrips which I men- 
tioned last year in a paper published in the Illinois State Horticul- 
tural Transactions for 1869 (p.90), and these two parasites, the grower 
of our luscious stone-fruits may with good reason begin to hope for 
better days, for the prospect brightens. There is no philosophy in 
the statement of Mr. W. B. Ransom,* that we can never hope for 
assistance from parasites, because, as he confidently expresses it, 
“there are none at present but what have always existed!” Such ar- 
gument will do for the believers in the old-school doctrine, that every 
thing was created just as we findit; but not for those who rightly 
comprehend the Darwinian hypothesis of development, and who 
believe that life is slowly undergoing change and modification to-day 
just as it ever has since it had an existence on this Earth. For my 
own part, nothing has ever appeared more absurd than the direct 
creation of something out of nothing, and I would as soon believe 
that we all dropped full grown from the clouds—instead of being 
brought into the world by natural means and gradually developing 
into manhood and womanhood—or that we have the same habits as 
our barbarous ancestors had; as to believe that the animal life about 
us is now as it was inthe beginning! Therefore, though these Curcu- 
lio parasites may have existed in this country long ere the white man 
first beheld its shores, yet they may only have acquired the habit of 
preying upon the Curculio within the last comparatively few years. 
Moreover, much benefit may be derived from their artificial propaga- 
tion and dissemination, and—utopian as the scheme may appear 
—I intend next year, Deo volente, to breed enough of the first 
mentioned species to send at least a dozen to every county seat in the 
State, and have them liberated into some one’s peach orchard. 


THE APPLE CURCULIO.—Anthonomus quadrigibbus, Say. 


“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good !” 

This injunction of St. Paul applies with just as much force to us 
to-day, as it did in centuries past to the Thessalonians. In what has 
been said above about the Plum Curculio, we have had abundant op- 
portunity of testing the soundness of the old proverb, and in ascer- 
taining the history of the Apple Curculio, which I am abotit to give, 
it was very necessary to bear the advice in mind. It often takes years 
to undo the assertions of men who are in the habit of talking glibly of 


* Prairie Farmer, June 4th, 1870. 


30 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


that which they really know nothing about, and I ought to comment 
severely on what has been said about this insect; but I refrain from 
doing so, in this case, lest it be said that my words are prompted from 
personal considerations.* I shall therefore content myself with a 
plain narrative of this insect’s habits. 

First then, let us explain the differences between the perfect 
states of this insect and the Plum Curculio, that any one may distin- 
guish between them. 

The snout of the Plum Curculio hangs down like the trunk of . 
an elephant; it is short, stout, and does not admit of being stretched 
out horizontally forwards; and as may be seen by referring to the 
figure (Fig. 1, c) is scarcely as long as the head and thorax together, 
and can be folded back between the legs, where there is a groove to 
receive it. The Plum Curculio is broadest across the shoulders and 
narrows behind, and moreover, the black sealing-wax-like, knife-edged 
elevations on the back, with the pale band behind them, characterize 
it at once from all our other fruit boring snout-beetles. 


iHig-:10.] The Apple, or Four-humped Curculio 
(Fig. 10, a, natural size; 6, side view; e, 
back view,) isa smaller insect with a snout 
‘ which sticks out more or less horizontally 
and can not be folded under, and which in 
the male is about half as long, and in the 
female is fuily as long as the whole body. 
This insect has narrow shoulders and broad- 
5 ens behind, where it is furnished with four 
very conspicuous humps, from which it takes its name. It has nei- 
ther the polished black elevations nor the pale band of the Plum Cur- 
culio. In short, it differs generically, and never attacks stone fruit. 

The size varies from 1-20th to nearly 1-12th of an inch, but the col- 
ors are quite uniform, the body being ferruginous or rusty-brown 
often with the thorax and anterior third of the wing-covers ash-gray 
—the thorax having three more or less distinct pale lines. 


ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 


This beetle like the Plum-weevil is a native American insect, and 
has from time immemorial fed on, and bred in, our wild crabs. It is 
also commonly met with on the Thorn, and Mr. Wm. Saunders, of 
London, C.W.., tells me that though abundant on the last named tree, it 
has not yet learned to attack the apple in his locality. It eventually 
learned to like our cultivated apples and pears, and is also found on 
quinces. At present it does considerable damage to the cropin some 
localities, though it yet prefers the wild to the cultivated fruit. Like 


*® My views on this subject, with comments on what has heen said about this insect, may be 
found in a controversy, in articles published in the American Entomologist and Botanist, Vol. II, 
pp. 225-7 and 268-71; the Prairie Farmer, July 6th, 25d and Aug. 27th, 1870; and the Journal of 
Agriculture, Oct. 13th, and Nov. 10th and 17th, 1870. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. ad 


the Plum-weevil also, it is single-brooded, and winters over in the 
beetle state, though I was led to believe differently a yearago. With 
its long thin snout it drills holes into the fruit, much resembling the 
puncture of a hot needle, the hole being round, with a more or less 
intense black annulation. and an ash-gray centre. Those holes made 
for food are about one-tenth of an inch deep and generally scooped 
out broadly at the bottom in the shape of a gourd. Those which the 
female makes for her eggs are scooped out still more broadly and the 
egg at the bottom is often found larger than the puncture at the orifice 
—thus indicating that it swells from absorption, by a sort of endos- 
mosis, of nutritive fluid from the surrounding fruit, just as the eggs of 
many saw-flies and of some other snout-beetles are known to do. 

The egg is fully 0.04 of an inch long, nearly oval, not quite three 
times as long as wide, and of a yellowish color, with one end dark 
and empty when the embryo larva is well formed. The egg-shell is 
so very fine that the larva seems to gradually develop from it 
instead of crawling out of it; and by taking a matured egg and gently 
rolling it between the thumb and finger, the young larva presents 
itself, and at this early age its two little light brown mandibles show 
distinctly on the head. As soon as this larva hatches it generally 
goes right to the heart of the fruit and it feeds there around the core, 
producing much rust-red excrement, and acquiring a tint of the same 
color. Itfeeds for nearly a month, and when full grown presents the 
appearance of Figure 11, 0. 

It differs so remarkably from that of 
the Plum Curculio that the two insects 
Mm, can be distinguished at a glance even in 
J this masked form. It is softer, the chi- 
Z¥* tinous covering being thinner and much 
—; whiter. It cannot stretch straight and 
“ travel fast as can that of the Plum Cur- 


3 yy culio, but curls round with an arched 
back, joints 4-7 being larger than the preceding. It is more crink- 
led, each joint being divided into three principal folds much as in the 
common White Grub. The space between the folds is frequently blu- 
ish-black, and there is a very distinct, continuous, vascular, dorsal 
line of a bluish color. It has no bristles like nenuphar except a few 
weak ones on the first joint, arising from some ventral tubercles 
which remind one of feet. The head is yellowish-brown with the 
jaws somewhat darker, and the breathing pores, except that in the fold 
of the first joint, are not easily seen. 


IT TRANSFORMS IN THE FRUIT. 


The fruit of the wild crab containing this larva never falls, and 
the fruit of our cultivated apples seldom; and in this respect the 
effect of its work differs remarkably from that of the Plum Carculio, 


$2 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


or even of the Codling Moth. Why such is the case it would be diffi- 
cult to explain! It is one of those incomprehensible facts which at 
every turn confront the student of Nature’s works. We might with 
equal reason ask why it is that of the two stone fruits, the plum and 
the cherry, the larger falls and perishes and the smaller hangs on and 
lives, when infested with the Plum Curculio; and of the two poma- 
ceous fruits, the apple and the haw, the larger likewise falls and 
perishes and the smaller hangs on and lives, when infested with sim- 
ilar larvee? Most persons would naturally infer that the larger in- 
stead of the smaller fruits would best resist the injurious gnawings of 
the worm within; and though we may explain away the paradox by 
supposing that the longer stem of the smaller fruits prevents the in- 
jury from reaching its juncture with the branch, so readily as it does 
through the shorter stem of the larger fruits; or that the greater 
weight of the larger fruit causes it to fall so readily; yet this is only 
assuming, and I doubt whether the vegetable pathologist will ever be 
able to show the peculiarities of the fruits which cause the different 
effects. 

The larva of the Apple Curculio has no legs and is so hump- 
backed that it cannot stretch out, and would cut avery sorry figure 
in attempting to descend the tree. Therefore, as the fruit containing 
it mostly hangs on the tree, the insect is effectually imprisoned. But 
Nature’s ways are always ways of wisdom and her resources are inex- 
haustible! Consequently we find that instead of having to go under 
ground to transform, as does the Plum Curculio, the normal habit of 
our Apple Curculio is to transform within the fruit. The larva, after 
becoming full fed, settles down in a neat cavity, and soon throws off 
its skin and assumes the pupa state, when it appears as at Figure 11, 
qa. After remaining in this state from two to three weeks it under- 
zoes another moult and the perfect beetle state is assumed. We thus 
see that the Apple Curculio is cradled in the fruit in which it was 
born tillit is a perfect beetle, fully fledged, and ready to carry out 
the different functions and objects of its life. In other words, it never 
leaves the fruit, after hatching, till it has become a perfect beetle. 
This fact I have fully tested by breeding a number myself both from 
infested crabs which I collected, and from cultivated apples, also in- 
fested, that were kindly forwarded to me by Mr. J. B. Miller, of Anna, 
Illinois. I learn also from Mr. George Parmelee of Old Mission, 
Michigan, that he has satisfied himself of the same trait in the natural 
history of this insect, and I fully convinced myself that such was the 
normal habit, by repeatedly removing the full grown larva from the 
fruit and placing it on the surface of the ground, when, in every in- 
stance, it would make no attempt to bury itself, but would always 
transform on the surface. 


& 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. oo! 
THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IT DOES. 


The observations that I have been able to make on this insect’s 
work in our cultivated orchards are limited, but I think that it attacks 
with equal relish both summer and winter capled Whenever a beetle 
has perfected in the fruit, it cuts quite a large hole for its escape, and 
these holes are sufficiently characteristic to enable one who has paid 
attention to the matter to tell with tolerable certainty whether an 
apple has been infested with Apple-worm, Plum Curculio, or Apple 
Curculio—even after the depredator has left. 

In the southern portion of Illinois and in some parts of Missouri 
this insect is very abundant and does much damage to the apple crop; 
it occurs in greater or less numbers in most States of the Union, but 
in other localities again its work is scarcely ever seen, and I am satis- 
fied that the damage it does has been much overrated. We can only 
judge of the future by the past,and though we may expect this insect 
to increase somewhat with the increase of our orchards, it is folly to 
suppose that it can go on increasing in geometrical ratio; and the pretty 
mathematical calculations which are intended to alarm the cultivator 
at the gloomy prospects of the future, are never made by those who 
understand the complicated net-work in which every animal organism 
is entangled, or who rightly understand the numerous influences at 
work to keep each species within due bounds. Such figures look well 
on paper, but, like air-castles, there is nothing real about them. 

Our apples suffer much more, in many localities, from the goug- 
ings of the perfect beetle and the burrowings of the larva of the Plum 
Curculio, than they do from the work of this Apple Curculio; and 
this was so much the case in my own locality the past summer, that 
I found a dozen larvee of the former in apples, where I found one of 
the latter. 

At the late meeting of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, 
Mr. EK. Daggy, of Tuscola, Illinois, had on exhibition some pears that 
were very much deformed and gnarled. This injury had been caused 
by the Apple Curculio, which Mr. Daggy recognized from figures and 
specimens which I had with me. Upon examining the pears I found 
a little dark circular spot which indicated distinctly where the snout 
of the beetle had been inserted. This spot was the center of a hard 
and irregular but generally rounded knot or swelling, which was sunk 
in a depression of the softer parts of the pear, thus indicating that 
the growth, by some property of the puncture, was checked and 
hardened, while the other parts went on growing and swelling. Some 
of the fruit was so badly disfigured that it could no longer be recog- 
nized, and Mr. Daggy informed me that his Vicar of Winkfield, Berga- 
mott say “ Sugar” pears were most affected in 1 this way, and that his 
Duchesse pears were unblemished. 

While the fruit is growing these punctures, in almost every in 
stance, cause just such calloused spots and deformities as those des 

s E—3 


34 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


cribed above, but when the fruit is ripe they havea far more perni- 
cious effect, for they generally cause the fruit to rot. It is now a well 
established fact that the common Plum Curculio causes the dreaded 
rot in peaches, plums, etc., to spread at a fearful rate by the punctures 
and gouging’s which it makes on the ripening fruit; and that where 
this predisposing influence is guarded against, such rot is generally 
confined to comparative narrow limits or does not occurat all. Many 
varieties of apples are disposed to rot in a similar manner, and to falb 
from the tree just as they areripening. This rot in apples, asmay be 
seen from the transactions of our State Horticultwral Society, was 
very prevalent last fall—the Rawles Janet being especially predis- 
posed to it—and there can be no doubt but that the punctures and 
enawings of the little Turk, combined with those of the Apple Cur- 
culio are likewise the pricipal agents in producing it; for I have over 
and over again noticed the rot to spread in a circle from these punc- 

tures, not only on hanging fruit but just as invariably upon fruit 

punctured after it was plucked. Whether we believe that the fungus 

growths, often noticeable on such rotting fruit, are the direct result of 
the punctures, or that the latter only act indirectly by fwrnishing a 
proper nidus for the infectious fungus-spores which are supposed to 
be ever floating in the atmosphere, is a question which I shall not 
now stop to consider, though I have my own views which are some- 
what heterodox. In either case, the Curculios are just as much to 
blame, and this should be an additional incentive to a general war- 
fare uponthem. Judge A. M. Brown,of Villa Ridge, has noticed that 
some varieties of apples are much more subject to rot and also more 
subject to the attacks of Curculios than others,* and it is to be hoped 
that he will make further observations and give us a reliable list of 
such varieties, and that other fruit-growers will do the same. 


THE SEASON OF THE YEAR DURING WHICH IT WORKS. 


The beetles come from their winter quarters and begin to work on 
the fruit at about the same time as does the Plum Curculio—if any- 
thing, a little later. They have generally got fully to work, and larvee 
may be found already hatched by the first of June, and they may be 
found in the fruit,in one stage or another, all along through the 
months of June and July and the greater part of August. 


REMEDIES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 


Notwithstanding we have had reports, published in the columns of 
our agricultural papers, of the relative number of Apple and Plum Cur- 
eculios captured from peach trees by jarring with the Curculio-catch- 
er, [am fully convinced that such reports were not based on facts, and 
that we may never expect to subdue this insect by the jarring pro- 
cess. Itis not as timid or as much inclined to drop as the Plum Cur- 


*Prairie Farmer, January 28, 1871. _ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 


culio, and though it can occasionally be brought down, it generally 
remains defiantly on the fruit or on the bough, through the gentlest 
as well as the severest jarring of the tree. Indeed, its habit of trans- 
forming in the fruit, places it in a great measure beyond our control, 
and I fear that this is one of the few insects with which we can do 
but little by artificial means. But we have only just commenced to 
understand this foe, and there is much yet to learn about it. Isin- 
cerely hope that the few facts which have been here given, will in- 
crease the reader’s interestin this insect and enable him to carry on fu- 
ture observations and experiments with a better understanding; so 
that they will at lastresult in making us masters of this rather difficult 
situation. Mr. H. Lewelling, of High Hill, Montgomery county, Mis 
souri, who has had much of his fruit injured by this insect, informs me 
that Tallman’s Sweet is preferred by it to all other varieties, and our 
observations should, as much as possible, tend in the direction of de- 
ciding which varieties are most subject to, and which most exempt 
from its attacks; and which varieties fall most readily when infested 
by it. Foritis obvious that with our present knowledge, the only 
real remedy which yet exists, is the destruction of the infested fruit, 
whether upon or off the tree; and it may turn out that although we 
cannot jar down the beetles, we can jar down much of the infested 
fruit, which would, without jarring, remain on the trees. 


ANTHONONUS QUADRIGIBBUS, Say—Larva (Fig. 11, 6)—Average dorsal iength when full grown 
0.45 inch; soft and white, witha very few sparse soft hairs; arched and wrinkled Lamellicorn- 
fashion, the space between the wrinkles, and a distinct dorsal vascular line, bluish-black. Iead 
free and almost perpendicular, yellowish-brown with the mandibles darker. A pair of polished 
ventral tubercles on each of the three thoracic joints, and each bearing a distinct bristle. 

Pupa (Fig. 11, a)—Average length 0.40 inch. Whitish, the snout of Q reaching beyond 
tip of wing-cases, that of @‘ not much beyond the efbow of middle femora and tibix. Thorax 
with a few short stiff hairs springing from slight conical elevations. Wing-cases showing the 
strie and humps of future beetle, the tip of the upper case usually terminating inathorn. The 
nine abdominal joints deeply ana distinctly separated, the first showing a rounded scuttellar tur- 
bercle; the sides angular, couically ridged and armed on each joint with two brown thorns or 
bristles, which become stouter towards apex; a transverse dorsal row of about eight similar bris- 
tles on the posterior sub-margin of each joint, also becoming larger towards apex: Terminal sub- 


segment ending in one steut, slightly curved, thorn. 


THE QUINCE CURCULIO— Conotrachelus crategi, Walsh. 
HOW IT DIFFERS FROM THE OTHERS. 


This insect has been called the Quince Curculio by Dr. Trimble, 
and though it breeds in other fruits, the name is a good one as it will 
enable us to distinguish it at once from our other fruit snout-beetles. 
I have had the beetle in my cabinet for several years, but knew noth- 
ing of its larval history till a year ago last fall. It breeds very abund- 
antly in our common haws, and I raised a number of them the prese 


35 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


ent season from the fruit of the Pear or Black Thorn ( Crategus to- 
mentosa) obtained from Mr. Walsh. 

[Fig. 12.] Though belonging to the same genus as our 
“Plum Curculio, and having very much the same 
form, as may be seen by referring to the figure, 
f (ig. 12, a side view; 6 back view), yet it differs 

7}, remarkably in its habits from both of the preced- 
rt ming weevils. It is, like them, an indigenous spe- 
W” || cies, and its original fruit was evidently the wild 
« § 6 %tHaw, which in the West it yet seems to prefer to 
the cultivated fruits. Butin the Kast it has become very injurious 
to the Quince and, as we might naturally expect, also attacks the 
Pear, and especially the Lawrence and other late varieties. In Sep- 
tember, 1868, I received specimens from W. W. Sweet, of Highstown, 
N.J., with the statement that they were found on pears, and Dr. 
Trimble at a late meeting of the New York Farmers’ Club (Oct. 22, 
1870), gave the following account of its injuries in New Jersey the 
present year: 

“Yesterday five or six hundred were taken from the bottoms ot 
two barrels of quinces, although those quinces had only been gath- 
ered four days before. <A friend of mine has a quince orchard of 286 
trees. These trees this season should average seventy or eighty 
quinces to a tree, making more than twenty thousand. Upon a most 
careful search I was unable to find one specimen perfect, or clear of 
one or more blemishes caused by the punctures of this insect. Fre- 
quently four, five, or six grubs will be found in a single quince. Mr. 
Goldsmith, the owner, keeps this orchard in first-rate order; he has 
faithfully kept out the borers, so fatal to the quince trees; has fertil- 
ized very freely, and the cultivation is perfect. He told me yester- 
day, that his crop this year is thirty barrels, which will yield him 
about $125. Had this insect let him alone he should have had at least 
100 barrels, worth $800 to $1,000. Many of his later pears, including 
the Seckel and Lawrence, have suffered greatly, though not to the 
same extent as his quinces. A few days ago he emptied a barrel of 
cullings, chiefly Lawrence pears, and in and near the bottom of that 
barrel were found at least 400 of these grubs. A month ago I visited 
the orchards attached to one of the best nurseries in Pennsylvania, 
and I found the sad evidence of the presence of this enemy. Even 
the Seckel pears. though very abundant, were almost worthless; 
later varieties still worse. Mr. Fuller tells me that he has seen this 
season, in Western New York, the same condition of fruit at a well 
known nursery, even the Duchesse pears almost totally destroyed. 
This fruit enemy seems yet confined to localities; but is spreading 
rapidly.” 

This beetle was first very briefly described by Mr. Walsh in a note 
in the Prarie Farmer for July 18th, 1863, p. 37, from specimens found 
by him on the hawthorn, but until I bred it this spring, nothing was 
known of its larval history. It isa somewhat larger insect than the 
Plum Curculio, has a comparatively longer snout, and is very broad- 
Shouldered; thus tapering just the opposite way to the Apple Curcu- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. on 


lio. Its general color is a tolerably uniform ash-gray, mottled more 
or less with ochre-yellow, dusky and whitish, and it has a dusky 
somewhat triangular spot at the base of the thorax above, and seven 
distinct narrow longitudinal elevations on the wing-covers, with two 
rows of punctures between each. 

This beetle differs further from the others, in the fact that it does 
not appear, even in the latitude of St. Louis, till about the first of 
June, and I have had its larve of the previous year in the groundin 
May, when the newly hatched larvze of the Plum Curculio were 
already working destruction in the fruit. In some of the more north- 
ern States it would not appear till the middle of July. 


ITS TRANSFORMATIONS AND HABITS. 


This snout-beetle does not make a crescent like the Plum Cur- 
culio; but, like the Apple Curculio, makes a direct puncture for the 
reception of its egg, the hole being somewhat larger than that of the 
latter, and the buttom of the cavity similarly enlarged and gnawed, 
so as to form a neat bed for the egg. The egg is very similar to that 
of the Plum Curculio, and hatches in a few days after being depos- 
ited. In all probability it also swells and enlarges somewhat before 
hatching. The larva works for the most part near the surface of the 
fruit, and does not enter to the heart. It is of the general form of 
that of the Plum Curculio, and differs principally in being somewhat 
larger, more opaque-white, and in having a narrow dusky dorsal line 
and a distinct lateral tubercle on each joint. When full grown, which 
isin a month or more from the time of hatching, it leaves the fruit 
through a smooth cylindrical hole and burrows two or three inches 
into the ground. Here, singularly enough, it remains all through the 
fall, winter and spring months without changing—no matter whether 
it left the fruit as early as the first of August or as late as the first of 
October. This is the peculiar feature of the insect, namely, that it 
invariably passes the winter in the Jarva state, and does not even 
assume the pupa state till the fore part of May, or a few days before 
issuing as a beetle. In this respect it resembles the nut-weevils 
which infest our hickory-nuts, hazel-nuts and acorns. In higher lat- 
itudes than that of St. Louis, there is evidence that some of the late 
hatched larvee do not leave the haws they infest till frost overtakes 
them, but pass the winter within the fruit as it lies on the frozen 
ground. The pupa differs only from that of the Plum Curculio in the 
greater length of the proboscis. 

I have already referred to the fact that Dr. Fitch supposed the 
Plum Curculio to be two-brooded, and those who have read his ‘“Ad- 
dress” on this insect will readily perceive that he based his opinion 
on finding what he took to be its larve in the tender bark of a pear 
twig late in the fall, and on finding what he similarly mistook for 
such larvee in haws in winter. Of course, we know positively now 


38 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


that the Plum Curculio does not so breed in pear twigs, and itis very 
evident that what Dr. Fitch took to be Plum Curculio larve in such a 
twig, were the young of some other insect, or perhaps even the eggs 
of some leaf-hopper ( Zettigonia), which are generally placed in the 
position described by him. But, though this first error of Dr. Fitch’s 
has been explained away, the second never has till now, when we may 
assume, with great reason, that the larva which misled the Doctor, 
and which were found in haws in winter time, were in reality the 
larvee of our Quince Curculio. How easily are fallacies exploded, 
and errors corrected, even years after they are committed, by a few 
well tested facts ! 

The two former Curculios which we have been considering have 
a beetle existence of between nine and ten months, during most of 
which time, or as long as the weather is sufficiently mild, they feed in 
the manner described. The present species has a beetle existence of 
not more than two months, and as though aware of the short term 
allotted to it for enjoyment, it endeavors to make the best use of its 
time. Consequently we find it more ravenous than either of the 
other species, and it is really astonishing how much this insect eats. 
It excavates immense holes for food, often burying itself in them com- 
pletely, and I have known apples furnished to these beetles in con- 
finemeut, to have their substances so completely devoured that noth- 
ing but the rind was left. Two years ago last fall there was scarcely 
a quince that came into the St. Louis market that was not marred by 
numbers of large gougings, and though I was then inclined to attrib- 
ute such holes to the gnawings of grasshoppers, I feel pretty well 
convinced at present that the work might with more justice have 
been attributed to this Quince Curculio. 

The question will naturally arise, since this insect breeds in the 
Haw, the Quince and the Pear, whether it will also breed in the 
closely allied Apple? So faras my experiments go, they indicate 
clearly that it will not; for although the beetle will eat and greatly 
disfigure apples, when no other nourishment is at hand, yet a number 
which I confined toa large branch of an apple tree on the 14th of 
June last, absolutely refused to deposit eggs, and died three weeks 
afterwards. 


REMEDIES. 


Very fortunately this insect drops as readily when alarmed as 
does the Plum Curculio, and the jarring process will be found just as 
effectual in catching it, with the additional advantage that the jar- 
ring need only be carried onfor about ten weeks of the year, namely, 
from about the first of June to the middle of August in this latitude. 
Moreover, in accordance with its late appearance, we find that. 
according to Dr. Trimble, whenever it attacks pears, it prefers the 
late ripening varieties. Again, itis, like the Plum Curculio, nocturnal 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3) 


in its habits, and secretive during the day, so that the Ransom pro- 
cess will undoubtedly prove effectual with it, if used at the right 
season. All fruit that falls should be destroyed, and as we know that 
the larva hibernates in the ground, many of them will be injured and 


destroyed by late stirring of the soil. 

CoNOTRACHELUS CRATEZGI, Walsh—Larva—Average length when full grown 0.32 inch; 4% times 
as long as wide, and straight. Opaque whitish, with a narrow dusky dorsal line, generally obso- 
lete on thorax, and a few very short hairs. Distinct lateral tubercles on all the joints. Head 
rufous with mandibles black, except at base, and distinctly two-toothed at tip. 

Pupa—Average length 0.28 inch. Snout reaching a little beyond elbow of middle tibie and’ 
tarsi, with two stout rufous thorns near the origin of antennz, two more at base and sometimes 
others more toward the tip. Head and thorax also armed with such thorns, and also two to each 
elbow of the femora amd tibi#. Wing cases with rows of short rufous bristles along the elevations 
between the stria. Abdomen cylindrical, the basal joint with a central scutellar bristleless 
tubercle and two others, one each side of it, each bearing a bristle; the other joints conically 
tubercled,laterally, each tubercle bearing a stout bristle, and each joint bearing dorsally about four 
other bristles on its posterior sub-margin. Terminal sub-segment squarely cut off and bearing two 
stout inwardly-curved brown thorns. 


THE PLUM GOUGER.—Anthonomus prunicida, Waish. 
ITS CHARACTER, DISTRIBUTION, AND FOOD. 


This name was given by Mr. Walsh to another indigenous weevil 
which is represented enlarged in the accompanying illustration (Fig. 
[Fig. 13.] 13). Itis easily distinguished from either of the pre- 
ceding weevils, by its ochre-yellow thorax and legs, 

and its darker wing-covers, which are dun-colored, 
| or brown with a leaden-gray tint, and have no 


humps at all. Its snout is not much longer than the 
thorax, but asin the Apple Curculio, projects for- 

. Y wards, or downwards but cannot be bent under as 
in the Plum Curculio. This insect was first described in the Prairie 
Harmer for June 13th, 1863, and the description was afterwards repub- 
lished in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History for 
February, 1864. 

Mr. Walsh gave such a good account of it in his report as Acting 
State Entomologist of [llinois, that it is unnecessary for me to go into 
detail, and I will therefore only briefly allude to those traits in its his- 
tory which are well established. 

The Plum Gouger seems to be unknown in the Eastern States, or 
at least is not common there; but itis very generally distributed 
throughout the Valley of the Mississippi. As a rule it is much less 
common and does much less injury than the little Turk, though in 
some few districts it is found equally abundant, and I received speci- 
mens on the first of June last, from my esteemed correspondent Mr. 


' 40 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Huron Burt, of Williamsburg, Callaway county, Mo., with the state 
ment that it was doing great damage to the plums in that locality, 
though the little Turk was scarcely met with. There is a plum known 
there as “Missouri Nonsuch” which, though said to be Curculio proof, 
is worked upon very badly by the Gouger. 

The Plum Gouger is often found on wild crab trees, and may, like 
the Plum Curculio, occasionally deposit and breed in pip fruit; but 
it is partial to smooth-skinned stone-fruit such as prunes, plums, and 
nectarines, and it does not even seem to relish the rough skinned 
‘peach, 


OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR SHE PLUM CURCULIO. 


Tt has often been confounded with the Plum Cureulio, and was 
once supposed by my friend L. C. Francis, of Springfield, Ills., to be 
the male of that species. We all have aright to suppose what we 
please, and as long as our suppositions are not thrust on the public 
for ascertained facts, they can do no possible harm. But Mr. J. P. 
Williamson, of Des Moines county, Iowa, is not satisfied with suppos- 
ing this or some other straight-snouted weevil, to be the femaie of the 
Plum Curculio, but, in a last summer’s issue of the Prairie Farmer, 
not only emphatically speaks of it as such, but, finding that these 
supposed females frequent the trees two weeks earlier than the males, 
(?) he concludes for some unexplained reason, that the sole object of 
visiting the fruitis for the deposition of eggs; and straightway hatches 
the theory that the Plum Curculio can do no harm till the males ap- 
pear! Consequently, instead of jarring our trees as long as fruit re- 
mains on thein, we are informed by Mr. Williamson that it is only 
necessary to jar them about six weeks. 

And thusit always is with men who do not sufficiently understand 
the absolute importance of care and caution in reading Nature’s 
secrets: from supposition to assumption ; from assumption to theory; 
from theory to advice, which—it is unnecessary here to say—is of a 
most pernicious character. 


ITS TIME OF APPEARANCE. 


This beetle appears in the spring about the same time as the Plum 
Curculio, but as mo eggs are deposited after the stone of the fruit 
becomes hard, and asits larva requires a longer peried to mature 
than that of the latter, its time of depositing is shorter, and the old 
beetles generally die off and disappear before the new ones eat their 
way out of the fruit, which they do during August, September, and 
October, according to the latitude. 


ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 


Though we have no absolute proof of the fact, analogy would 
lead us to believe, and in my own mind there is no doubt, that this 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 41 


insect passes the winter in the beetle state, and that it is, like the 
other species, single-brooded. Both sexes bore cylindrical holes in 
the fruit for food, and these holes are of the exact diameter of the 
snout, and consequently somewhat larger than those of the Apple 
Curculio. These holes are broadened at the bottom, or gouged out 
in the shape of a gourd; and especially is this the case with those in- 
tended by the female for the reception of an egg. The egg,in this 
case also, enlarges from endosmosis, and it is probable that all wee- 
vils that make a puncture for the reception of their eggs, gnaw and 
enlarge the bottom, not only to give the egg room to swell, but to 
deaden the surrounding fruit, and prevent its crushing such egg—the 
same object being attained by the deadened flap made by the cres- 
cent of the little Turk. Wherever this insect abounds, plums will be 
found covered with its holes, the great majority of them, however, 
made for feeding purposes. The gum exudes from each puncture, and 

the fruit either drops or becomes knotty and worthless. ; 

The young larva which hatches from the egg, instead of rioting in 
the flesh of the plum, or remaining around the outside of the kernel, 
makes an almost straight course for that kernel, through the yet soft 
shell of which it penetrates. Here it remains until it has become full- 
fed, when by a wise instinct it cuts a round hole through the now 
hard stone, and retires inside again to change to the pupa and finally 
to the beetle state. When once the several parts of the beetle are 
sufficiently hard and strong, it ventures through the hole which it 
had already providently prepared for exit with its stronger larval 
jaws, and then easily bores its way through the flesh and escapes. 

It must not be forgotten that, while the kernel of the fruit is yet 
soft, the larva of the little Turk often penetrates and devours it; but 
in this case the soft stone is more or less reduced to reddish powder, 
whereas the larva of the Plum Gouger enters the stone and feeds on 
the inside while the outside hardens. The normal habit. of the for- 
mer is to feed on the outside; that of the latter on the inside of the 
stone. 


REMEDIES. 


This Plum Gouger is about as hard to deal with as the Apple 
Curculio. It drops almost as reluctantly and we therefore cannot do 
much by the jarring process to diminish its numbers. Moreover it 
takes wing much more readily than the other weevils we have men- 
tioned; and though fruit that is badly punctured for food, often falls 
prematurely to the ground, yet, according to Mr. Walsh, that infested 
with the larva generally hangs on the tree until the stone ‘s hard and 
premature ripening setsin. In all probability the stunte! and pre- 
maturely ripened fruit containing this insect will jar downy w.uch more 
readily than the healthy fruit, but I have so far had no opyxwtunity of 
making any practical observations myself, and must conclude by 


42 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


hoping that our plum-growing members will make the proper experi- 
ments and give us the results. 


TH STRAWBERRY CROWN-BORER—Analeis fragarie N. sp. 


This is another indigenous insect, which seems to be confined to 
our Mississippi Valley, for I have heard no complaints in any of the 
Peale Atlantic States, of injuries that 
“ could be attributed to this weevil. 
Inthe laine Farmer for July 25th, 
1867, we find a brief reference, 
j | made by Mr. G. EK. Brackett of Bel- 
f/\* fast, Me., in answer to a certain 
, “H. B.,” of a “worm that eats into 
b Zé \ the crown of the plant and kills 
it.” The worm referred to was, in all probability, the Crown-borer 
under consideration, but as no postoflice address of the questioner is 
given, the paragraph might just as well never have been written, for 
any light that it throws on the distribution of the insect. However, 
no such insect has ever been mentioned by our Eastern writers on 
the Strawberry, and we must necessarily conclude that it does not 
exist in the Atlantic States. 

This insect has done considerable damage to the strawberry crop 
in the southern portion of Illinois, especially along the line 
of the [hnois Central Railroad; and I have seen evidence of its 
work in St. Louis county, Mo. At the meeting of the Southern Illi- 
nois Fruit Growers’ Association, held at South Pass, in November, 
1867, several complaints were made by parties from Anna and Makan- 
da, of a-white worm which worked in the roots of their strawberries 
and in 1868, the greater portion of the plants of a ten-acre field at 
Anna, belonging to Mr. Parker Earle, was destroyed by it. 

In the fall of 1869 I had some correspondence with Mr. Walsh on 
this insect, and learned that he had succeeded in breeding it to the 
perfe.. state; and had it not been for his untimely death, its history 
would 24 doubt have been publishedayearago. Through the kindness 
of Jos. “. Wilson, of Sterling, Whiteside county, and of J. B. Miller, 
of Anza, Union county, Ills., Ireceived during the past year speci- 
mens vt the larvae, from which I succeeded in rearing the perfect 
beetle. It is therefore by the aid of these gentlemen, and especially 
from the experience of Mr. Miller, that Iam enabled to give the 
above iliastrations (Fig. 14) of the Strawberry Crown-borer, and the 
followiis necessarily imperfect account of its mode of working. I 
give {iemin the hope that they will prompt further investigation, and 
serve as a clue to enable others who have opportunity, to in- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 43 


crease our knowledge of this pest; forthere is much yet to learn of 
its habits, and consequently of the best means of fighting it. 

From the middle of June to the middle of July in Southern Illi- 
nois, and later further north, the larva hatches from an egg which, in 
all probability, is deposited in the crown of the plant, and it imme- 
diately commences to bore its way downwards, into the pith. Here 
it remains till it has acquired its full size, working in the thick bul- 
bous root and often eating through the more woody portions; so that 
when frost sets in, the plant easily breaks off and is heaved out of the 
ground. When full grown it presents the appearance of Figure 14, a, 
being a white grub with arched back and tawny-yellow head, and 
measuring about one-fifth of an inch when stretched out. It under- 
goes its transformations to the pupa and perfect beetle states within 
the root, and the latter makes its appearance above ground during the 
month of August. 

The beetle (Fig. 14, 6 side view; ¢ back view) is about 1-6th of an 
inch in length, of a chestnut-brown color, and marked and punctured 
as in the figure. 

From analogy we may infer that the beetle feeds on the leaves of 
the strawberry, for itisavery general rule with snout-beetles, that 
the perfect insects feed on theleaves of such plants as they infest in 
the larva state. But whether it lives on through the winter asa 
beetle and does not commence depositing eggs again till the follow- 
ing June; or whether it is double-brooded and produces a second lot 
of larvee which pass the winter in the roots, are questions which are 
not yet decided; and until we get a more comprehensive knowledge 
of this insect’s ways and doings, we shall be in a measure powerless 
before it. From all the facts that can be obtained, the first hypothesis 
is the correct one, and in that event we can, in an emergency, easily 
get rid of this pest by plowing up and destroying the plants soon 
after they have done bearing, or say about the latter part of Junein 
the latitude of St. Louis. By doing this the whole brood of borers 
will perish with the plants. Most strawberry-growers renew 
their plants, in some way or another, about every three years, and 
where this insect abounds, it will be best subdued by destroying the 
whole bed at the time already suggested and afterwards planting a 
new one; rather than by annually thinning out the old and leaving 
the new plants in the same bed. Here we have an effectual means of 
extirpating the little pest, if, as I believe, the first hypothesis is the 
correct one; but if the second hypothesis be correct—i. e.,if the insect 
be double-brooded—then it will avail nothing to carry out the above 
suggestions, and we thus see how important it is to thoroughly under- 
stand an insect’s habits in order to properly cope with it. Though we 
may occasionally hit upon some plan of remedying or of preventing an 
insect’s injuries without knowing its habits, yet as a general rule we 
but grope in the dark until we have learned its natural history! 

According to Mr. Miller, all plants infested with this larva are 


44 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


sure to perish, and he has also noticed that old beds are more apt to 
be injured by it than new ones. 

In one of the roots received from him, I found a parasitic cocoon, 
so that there is every reason to believe that, as ig so very eenenaiia 
the case with insects, this noxious species has at least one natural 
enemy which will aid us in keeping itindue bounds. Indeed, Mr, 
Miller so often found this parasitic cocoon, that he at first surmised 
that the Crown-borerspunit. But no snout-beetle larvee spin cocoons. 

This Crown-borer must not be confounded with another white 
worm of about the same size which lives in the ground and subsists 
on the roots by devouring them from the outside. This last may 
always be distinguished by having six distinct legs near the head, and 
its habits are quite different. It occurs earlier in the season, and, as 
I have proved the past summer, is the larva of the little clay-yellow 
beetle, known as the Grape-vine Colaspis (Colaspis flavida, Say). 
A full account of this last insect, with illustrations, will be given in a 
later portion of this Report. 

The Crown-borer belongs to the genus Analeis which is distingu- 
ished by its sub-cylindrical oblong-oval body, its short robust snout 
which fits into a deep grove, its 10-jointed antenna, and its simple or 
unarmed thighs. As itis anew species I subjoin a description Be it 
for the scientific reader :— 


ANALCIS FRAGARIE, N. Sp.—Imago, (Fig 14, b, c)\—Color deep chestnut-brown, sub-polished, 
the elytra somewhat lighter. Head and rostrum dark, finely and densely punctate and with short 
coarse fulvous hairs, longest at tip of rostrum; antennex rather lighter towards base, 10-jointed, 
the scape much thickened at apex, join 2 longest and robust, 3 moderately long, 4-7 short, 8-10 
connate and forming a stout club. Thorax dark, cylindrical, slightly swollen across the middle 
and uniformly covered with large thimble-like punctures, and with a few short coarse fulvous hairs, 
unusually arranged in three more or less distinct longitudinal lines ; pectoral groove ending 
between front legs. Abdomen with small remote punctures and hairs vhich are denser towards 
apex. Legs of equal stoutness, and with shallow dilated punctures and uniform very short hairs 
Elytra more yellowish-brown, dilated at the lower sides anteriorly, and with about 9 deeplys 
punctured striz, the stria themselves sometimes obsolete; more or less covered with coarse and 
short pale yellow hairs which form by their greater density, three more or less conspicuous trans- 
verse bands, the first of which is at base ; between the second and third band, in the middle of the 
elytron, isa smooth dark-brown or black spot, with a less distinct spot of the same color below 
the third, and a still less distinct one above the second band. Length 0.16 inch. 

Described from four specimens bred from strawberry-boring larva. The black spots on the 
elytra are quite distinct and conspicuous on two specimens, less so on one, and entirely obsolete on 
the other. 


Larva, (Fig. 14 a)—White with back arched Lamellicorn-fashion. Head gamboge-yellow, 
glabrous, with some faint transverse striations above mouth ; mandibles rufous tipped with black; 
labrum emarginate, and with palpi, pale. A faint narrow dorsal vascular line. Legs replaced 
by fleshy tubercles. Length 0.20 inch when stretched out. 


THE PEA-WEEVIL—Bruchus pis?, Linn. 


Our common garden pea has not many insect enemies, for with 
the exception of the Striped Flea-beetle (Haltica striolata), which 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 


gnaws numerous small holes in the leaves, and the Corn-worm alias 
Boll-worm (Heliothis armigera), which eats into the pod, there are 
very few others besides the Pea-weevil under consideration. This 
species alone is so numerous, however, as to be aserious drawback 


to pea culture in this part of the country. 
[Fig, 15.] 


The term Bruchus, meaning a devourer, 
was given by the celebrated Linnzus to a 
genus of beetles which at first appear to 
have very little resemblance to the Snout- 
. beetles. They form, however, at present, a 
\sub-family (Bruchides) of the great Snout- 
ae beetle family, though they posses nearly as 

P o~ ™% close affinities tothe great Chrysomela fam- 
ily, and really form a ~ econnecting-link between the two. They are 
characterized by a depressed head and very short snout, by the an- 
tenne being 11jointed, straight and but slightly diiekened towards 
the end, by the wing-covers being shorter than the abdomen, and by 
the rather long hind legs and much swollen thighs. Their ive are 
short, arched, and swollen in the middle, with a comparatively small 
head; and their depredations are confined all over the world, to le- 
guminous or pod-bearing plants—another beautiful illustration of the 
“Unity of Habits” referred to on page 9. 

They are far more abundant inthe tropics than in more tempe- 
rate climes, and in North America we have not many species to con- 
tend with. With the exception of the Honey-locust seed-weevil 
(Spermophagus robinie, Fabr.), which I have bred from the seeds of 
that tree, there are only two species, namely: the Pea and the Bean 
weevils that are really injurious in our State, though Bruchus dis- 
coideus, Say, often badly infests the seeds of Jpomea. A third species 
however, namely, the Grain Bruchus of Europe, has lately been intro. 
duced into this country, and may some day become unduly multi- 
plied in our midst. 

The Pea-weevil is very generally dubbed “Pea-bug,” but this 
latter term is not nearly so appropriate as the former, to which it 
should give way. Though everybody may notknow by sight the per- 
fect beetle, yet every one has most assuredly seen the work of the 
worm, and though knowledge of the fact may not add to our enjoy- 
ment of a mess of green peas, yet the fact nevertheless remains, that 
those of usin the Mississippi Valley who indulge in this delicious 
esculent, necessarily devour a young worm with nearly every pea 
that we eat. Gray’s oft quoted lines, 


—‘‘Where ignorance is bliss, 
Tis folly to he wise,’’ 


Would seem to apply here with great force; but when we reflect that 
the diminutive and almost imperceptible worm, nourished so to 
speak in the very marrow of the pea, really has no flavor and pro- 
duces no injurious effects on the human system; we can chuckle in 


46 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


our sleeves and console ourselves with the thought that, notwith- 
standing the above truism, “wisdom is justified of her children.” 
Neither this nor any other of the true weevils mentioned in this pa- 
per, can do harm when taken as food in the larva state, but there 
is good testimony that the hard-shell beetles are injurious when fed 
in a ground or unground condition, along with the seeds they infest, 
either to man or to other animals. 

The Pea-weevil which is here well illustrated, Figure 15, a show- 
ing a back view, and 17, 6 a side view, the small outlines at the sides 
showing the natural size, is easily distinguished from all other species 
of the genus with which we are troubled, by its larger size, and by 
having on the tip of the abdomen projecting from the wing-covers; 
two dark oval spots which cause the remaining white portion to look 
something like the letter T. It is about 0.18—0.20 inch long, and its 
general color is rusty-black, with more or less white on the wing- 
covers, and a distinct white spot on the hinder part of the tho- 
rax near the scutel. There is a notch on each lateral edge of the 
thorax, and a spine on the under side of the hind thighs near the 
apex. The four basal joints of the antenne and the front and middle 
shanks and feet are more or less tawny. It is supposed to be an in- 
digenous N. A. insect, and was first noticed many years ago around 
Philadelphia, from whence it has spread over most uf the States where 
the pea is cultivated. This supposition is probably the correct one 
though we have no means at present of proving it to be so, and cer- 
tain it is that, as the cultivated pea was introduced into this country, 
our Pea-weevil must have originally fed on some other indigenous 
plant of the Pulse family. It is at present foundin the more southern 
parts of Europe and in England, and is one of the few injurious insects 
which have found their way there from this country; but in accord- 
ance with the facts given in my last Report, under the head of “Im- 
ported Insects and Native American Insects,” which clearly prove 
that our native plants and insects do not become naturalized in the 
Old World with anything like the facility with which those of the Old 
World are every day being naturalized here, this Pea-weevil does not 
begin to be as destructive there as it is at home. 


THE FEMALE DEPOSITS HER EGGS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE POD. 


It is a very general remark that peas are “stung by the bug,” 
and the impression prevails almost universally, not only among gard- 
eners but with many entomologists, that the female weevil punctures 
and deposits her eggs zz the pea in which the larva is to be nour- 
ished. Itis alittle singular that so many writers should have fallen 
into this error, for it is not only the accepted view amongst writers 
for the agricultural press, but has been adopted by many eminent 
entomologists, Taschenberg, Harris, and Dr. Boisduval being about 
the only authors who have rightly comprehended the true manner of 
egg-depositing. All this comes of course from one man’s palming off 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 


the opinions of another as his own, and by his adopting such opin- 
ions, whether good or bad, without due credit. Even Noerdlinger in 
his “ Kleinen Feunde der Landwirtschaft,” though he cites the excel- 
lent and original observations of Taschenberg, feels himself called 
upon to doubt their correctness, and himself inclines to believe that 
the female may put her eggs in the pea. In Packard’s Guide, the 
eggs are erroneously said to be laid on the blossoms. 

The true natural history of the Pea-weevil may be thus briefiy 
told. The beetles begin to appear as soon as our peas are in 
bloom, and when the young pods form, the female beetles gather 
upon them and deposit their eggs on any part whatever of the sur- 
face without attempting to insert the eggs within the pod. 

The eggs, (Fig. 16,) are deep yellow, 0.035 inch long, three times 
as long as wide, fusiform, pointed in front, blunt behind, but larger 
bee 18 °-Janteriorly than ay eon They are fastened to the pod 
||| by some viscid fluid which dries white and glistens like silk. 
As the operation of depositing is only occasionally noticed 
during cloudy weather, we may safely assume that it takes 
place for the most part by night. If pea vines are carefully 
examined in this latitude any time during the month of June, 
hy the pods will often be found to have from one to fifteen or 
nT twenty such eggs upon them, and the black head of the future 
larva may frequently be noticed through the delicate shell. 

As already stated, the eggs are deposited on all parts of the pod, 
and the mother beetle displays no particular sagacity in the number 
which she consigns to each, for I have often counted twice as many 
eggs as there were young peas, and the larve from some of these eggs 
would of course have to perish, as only one can be fully developed 
in each pea. The newly hatched larva is of a deep yellow color with 
a black head, and it makes a direct cut through the pod into the near- 
est pea, the hole soon filling up in the pod, and leaving but a mere 
speck, not so large as a pin-hole,in the pea. The larva feeds and 
grows apace and generally avoids the germ of the future sprout, per- 
haps because it is distasteful, so that most of the buggy peas will 
germinate as readily as those that have been untouched. When full 

@ ea tl grown this larva presents the 
appearance of Figure 17, «, 
(after Curtis) and with won- 
derful precognition of its fu- 
ture wants, eats a circular hole 
on one side of the pea, and 
leaves only the thin hull asa 

Se, covering. It then retires and 

' a lines its cell with a thin and 

Peat. layer of Dae pushing aside and entirely excluding all ex- 
crement, and in this cell it assumes the pupa state (Fig. 17, d, after 
Curtis,) and eventually becomes a beetle, which, when ready to issue, 


48 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


has only to eat its way through the thin piece of the hull which the 
larva had left covering the hole. It has been proved that the beetle 
would die if it had not during its larval life prepared this passage way, 
for Ernest Menault asserts* that the beetle dies when the hole is 
pasted over with a piece of paper even thinner than the hull itself. 


REMEDIES AND PREVENTIVES. 


Sometimes, and especially when the summer has been hot and 
prolonged, many of the beetles will issue from the peas in the fall of 
the same year that they were born, but as a more general rule they 
remain in the peas during the winter and do not issue till new vines 
are growing. Thus many yet remain in the seed peas until they are 
planted and especially is this apt to be the case with such as are 
planted early. We see, therefore, how easily this insect may be in- 
troduced into districts previously free from it by the careless planting 
of buggy peas, for it has been demonstrated that the beetle issues as 
readily from peas planted in the earth as it does from those stored 
away in the bin. All peas intended for seed should be examined and 
it can very soon be determined whether or not they are infested. The 
thin covering over the hole of the peas that contain weevils, and 
which may be called the eye-spot, is generally somewhat discolored, 
and by this eye-spot those peas which ought not to be planted can 
soon be distinguished. Where this covering is off and the pea pre- 
sents the appearance of Figure 15, 6, there is little danger, for in that 
case the weevil has either left, or, if still within the pea, is usually 
dead. It would of course be tedious to carefully examine a large lot 
of peas, one by one, in order to separate those that are buggy, and 
the most expeditious way of separating the sound from the unsound, 
is to throw them into water, when the sound ones will mostly sink 
and the unsound swim. 

There are, however, other and more certain means of preventing 
the injuries of this insect, and whenever agriculture shall have pro- 
gressed to that point where by proper and thorough organization all 
the farmers of a county or of a district can, by vote, mutually agree 
to carry out a measure with determination and in unison, then this 
insect can soon be exterminated ; for it is easy to perceive that such 
a result would be accomplished by combinedly ceasing to cultivate 
any peas at all for one single year! Until some such united action 
can be brought about, we shall never become entirely exempt from 
this insect’s depredations, for no matter how sound the peas may be 
that I plant, my vines are sure to be more or less visited by the 
beetles as long asI have slovenly neighbors. Yet comparatively, my 
peas will always be enough better to well pay for the trouble, even 
under these circumstances. 


*Insectes Nuisibles a U Agriculture, 


oa nm ne a 


A : Sage ay 
THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 


As already hinted the Pea-weevil prefers a warm to a cold climate, 
‘and its devastations are scarcely known in high latitudes. On this 
account the impression prevails that it does not occur in certain parts 
‘of Canada, and few persons are aware thatit is nearly as bad, éspe- 
cially in’ Ontario, asit.is with us. We are in the habit of sending to 
‘Canada for our seed peas, because we get them free from bugs; but 
the reason that their seedsmen have such a reputation is to be traced 
to their greater care in destroying the weevil und in‘sorting their seed 
gather than to any immunity from its ravages which their peas possess 
The following extract from a letter from Mr. Wm. Saunders, of london, 
‘Ontario, who, as secretary of the Ontario Fruit Growers’ Association 
and as a prominent member of the Canadian Entomological Society, 
is as well posted, perhaps, asany one ‘in the Dominion, will give some 
idea of its occurrence there: 

The Pea-weevil I find prevails in all patts of Canada to a greater 
‘or lesser extent, from the ‘Red River settlement to Quebec. In some 
places it isso numerous as to discourage farmers from attempting to 
grow peas at all, while other localities are but littletroubled. About 
the neighborhood of Windsor (opposite Detroit) there are no peas. 
grown worth speaking of; but 60 or 70 miles further east, towards 
London, they are an important crop, and about London, say within 30 
or 4' miles, and as far east as Guelph and Hamilton, will include the 
chief district from which your western supplies are drawn.. 

During 18691 grew a field of peas on my own farm. They pro- 
duced a good crop, and although we have some of them on hand yet 
I have never observed a buggy one amongst them, although I have 
examined them several times. But itis rare to find them so free as 
that and something depends on the season. Last season the weather 
was very wet and the crop very light, and the dealers tell me now 
that there are scarcely any peas fit to ship in the country on account 
of the quantity of bugs they contain. They say that they always 
have to select for shipping, and while sending them as clean as pos- 
sible they do not profess to send them entirely free from bugs. 

Our farmers here are perhaps a little more particular than yours 
about their seed. They will sometimes keep it over till the second 
year or else scald it before planting so as to. destroy a large propor- 
tion of the bugs. The general opinion seems to be that if peas are 
sown late, say about the first of June, they will be almost free from 
bugs in any season, and some adopt this method, but it is not by any 
means a general thing, for should the weather set in very hot, as it 
sometimes does about that time, they would become somewhat 


dwarfed and the crop lessened. I have not heard of any one growing 
two crops in one season. 


Many eminent seedsmen—Mr. Langdon for instance as I have been 
eredibly informed —effectually kill the weevils by enclosing the peas 
in tight vessels along with eamphor. The same object is attained by 
keeping peas two years, and taking care that the beetles do not es- 
cape before they die. Peas will grow well when kept for two years 
or even longer, but they should always be well dried so as not to 
mould. <A good plan is to tie them up in bags and hang them in an 
airy place from the time they are gathered till about Christmas, and 


then in ea that they may not become too dry, to put them into 
Sk 


50 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


tighter vessels. To a certain extent sound peas may be obtained by 
planting late, for the period of egg-depositing is limited to about a 
month. Peas, as Mr. I. A. Nitchy of Jefferson City has demonstrated, 
may be planted in the central part of the State as late as the first of 
June, and by the time the plants from such late planted seed begin 
to bear pods, all the weevils will have died and disappeared. Wher- 
ever asecond crop of peas can be grown the same year, this second 
crop will be entirely free from weevils, and though there seems to be 
some difficulty in producing a second crop in our State, on account 
of mildew, it is often done in higher latitudes. Choice lots of seed, if 
found to beinfested when received from the seedsman, may be thrown 
into hot water for a minute or two, and the sprouting of the peas will 
be quickened, and most of the weevils, but not all, be kited. But 
whatever plan be adopted to obtain sound seed, it should be every 
man’s aim, in duty to himself and to his neighbors, to plant none but 
bugless peas! 

As natural checks, the Crow Black-bird is said to devour great 
numbers of the beetles in the spring, and according to Harris the 
Baltimore Oriole splits open the pods to get at the grubs contained in 
them. 


THE GRAIN BRUCHUS—Bruchus granarius, Linn. 


Le ee There is a weevil in Europe which is very 
ae V2 f common, attacking peas there as badly as our 
Ar ya own Pea-weevil does in this country. It also in- 

if fests beans and several other grains and seeds. 
It has on several occasions been imported with 
| > foreign seeds into this country, but very fortu- 
* nately dues not seem so far to have obtained a 
‘strong foothold. There is nothing to prevent its 
doing so, however, exceptthe utmost vigilance on the part of those 
who import seeds, and it may at any time get scattered over the 
country by the distribution of infested seed from the Department of 
Agriculture, unless the authorities are ever watchful to prevent such 
acatastrophe. To enable a ready recognition of this weevil, I present 
an enlarged portrait of it at Figure 18. As will be noticed by that 
figure it bears a tolerably close resemblance to our own Pea-weevil, 
butit may always be distinguished from the latter species by the fol- 
lowing characters as given by Curtis :— 

It isin the first place a smaller insect, averaging but 0.14 inch 
while pis? averages nearly 0.20inch. It is rather darker, there are two 
small white spots on the disk of the thorax, and the tooth at each side 
of the thorax is indistinct; the suture of the wing-covers forms a 
brown stripe, and the apical joint of the abdomen which protrudes 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 


beyond the wing-covers and which is otherwise known as the py- 
gidium, is densely clothed with grayish pubescence, and shows in cer- 
tain lights four minute dark dots, but no indication of the two large 
oval spots so characteristic of our Pea-weevil. The four basal joints 
of the autenne and the front legs are reddish, and the inner spine of 
the hind shanks is prolonged. ; 

It would be a sad misfortune to have this insect added to our list 
of injurious species, and itis no wonder that upon discovering speci- 
mens of our own Pea-weevil just disclosed in a parcel of peas which 
he had taken with him from America, the Swedish traveler Kalm 
was thrown into such a trepidation Jest he should be the instrument 
of introducing so fatal an evil into his beloved country. 

To give some idea of the habits of the Grain Bruchus, I quote the 
following account from Curtis’s Farm Insects :— 


“This species, which is everywhere abundant as early as Febru- 
ary on the furze when it is in blossom, inhabiting also the flowers of 
various other plants in the beetle state, as the Rhubarb, Meadow- 
sweet (Spirwa ulmaria), etc., is a most destructive insect in our pea 
and bean fields, the larvae feeding in the seeds and sometimes destroy- 
ing more than haif the crop. They are exceedingly abundant in some 
parts of Kent, where they often swarm at the end of May, and are oc- 
casionally found as late as August; indeed I killed one in November, 
imported with Russian beans, which had been alive since the end of 
September. It attempted to fly away in October; it then became 
torpid, but on warming it by a fire in the middle of November, it was 
as lively and active as in the height of summer, and I dare say would 
have lived through the winter. 

“It is said that the female beetles select the finest peas to deposit 
their eggs in, and sometimes they infest crops to such an extent that 
they are eaten up by them, little more than the husk being left. The 
various kinds of beans are equally subject to their inroads; besides 
the long-pods I have alluded to, I have had broad Windsor beans sent 
to me containing these Bruchi; and Mr. C. Parsons transmitted me 
some horse-beans in the beginning of August, 1842, which were en- 
tirely destroyed by them. Mr. F. J. Graham showed me some seed 
beans which were inoculated by these beetles to a great extent, and 
some of them were alive in the seeds; yet to any one ignorant of the 
economy of this pest, there would not appear the slightest external 
indication of their operations. Ialso received from a gentleman resid- 
ing in Norfolk a sample of seed beans from Russia, for winter sowing, 
a large proportion of which was perforated by this Bruchacs. 

“Tt has already been intimated that as the beetles generally leave 
the germ uninjured, the vitality of infested seeds is not destroyed. I 
doubt, however, if they produce strong healthy plants; and from my 
own experience I have no doubt if peas and beans be sown contain- 
ing the Bruchus granarius, that the beetles will hatchin the ground, 
and thus the cultivator will entail upon himself a succession of dis- 
eased pea and bean crops. Now to avoid this loss, the seed should be 
examined before sowing, when to an experienced eye the presence of 
these beetles will be discernible, where to a common observer they 
would appear sound and good. The maggots, when atrived at their 
full size, gnaw a circular hole to the husk or skin of the seed, whether 
pea or bean, and even cut around the inner surface which cevers the 
aperture, so that a slight pressure from within will force this lid off; 


5Y THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


these spots are of a different color to the rest of the seed, generally 
having a less opaque appearance, and often are of a duller tint; on 
picking off this little lid, a cavity will be found beneath containing 
either a maggot, pupa, or beetle.” 


THE AMERICAN BEAN-WEEVIL—Bruchus fabe, N. sp. 


This is another Bruehus which bids fair to out-do the celebrated 
Pea-weevil in its injurious work, and since it has but just made its 
[Fig. 19.] appearance in our State as a bean destroyer, 
‘ff “and is yet confined, so far as I am aware, to 
one single locality, I hope that the following 
account of it will have the effect to prevent 
its introduction into neighborhoods where it 
is now unknown, and thus keep it from spread- 
ing over the State. It appears to be a native 
American insect and doubtless fed originally 
on some kind of wild bean (Phaseolus or Lathyrus,) but it was first 
noticed in our cultivated beans about ten years ago, in Rhode Island, 
and has since at different times suddenly made its appearance in sev- 
eral other parts of the country. Maj. J. R. Muhleman, of Woodburn, 
Ills., informs me that while in South Carolina in 1863, some kind of 
weevil was often so common in the beans used by the army that be- 
fore using such beans the men had to soak them, and afterwards lay 
them out to dry, in order to allow the beetles to escape. The weevil 
was doubtless the species under consideration, but there is no means 
of ascertaining from which part of the country the beans came. 
Though already pretty well distributed in some of the Hastern 
States, especially in New York, it appears to be yet confined to cer- 
tain localilies in the Mississippi Valley. It has for instance, been 
quite troublesome of late years in Madison county, Ils., for I re- 
ceived last spring numerous specimens from Mr. Geo. W. Copley, of 
Alton, and am informed by Mr. J. F. Wielandy, of Jefferson City, Mo., 
that his father who is a resident of that county has been much troub- 
led with it; yet it has never been heard of in other parts of the State. 
The only place in which I have, so far, found it in Missouri, is around 
Eureka, in St. Louis county, where it was first noticed in 1869, but 
where it occurred the present year in great numbers in two different 
fields of a white pole bean. It occurs in some parts of Pennsylvania, 
and is quite common in New York, and to illustrate the amount of 
damage it is capable of doing, I make room for the following letter, 
which was received in November, 1870, from Mr. James Angus, of 
West Farms, N. Y., and which refers to this insect: 
‘T enclose you a sample of beans to show you how thoroughly and 
effectually this liitle vagabondis plying his time immemorial avoca- 


tions in the bean-patches in this quarter. Five or six years ago I had 
occasion to call on a neighbor, and in passing through the barn he 


~ 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 53 


pointed out to me a heap of threshed beans, on the floor, of the Early 
Mohawk variety, which he said had been destroyed by bugs getting 
into them since they were threshed. (?) A casual inspection showed 
that they were destroyed sure enough. At least one-half of them 
were as badly infested as the sample Isend you, but as I pointed out 
to him, the damage which was now an accomplished fact, had been 
commenced during the growing season, and the “bugs” were now 
leaving the beans instead of entering them. 

Next season I found a few among my own beans, and they have 
been on the increase ever since; and this year my Yellow Six Week 
variety are nearly as bad as my neighbors referred to above. They 
are nearly as bad this year ona pole variety, the “Dutch Case Knife,” 
as they are on the low growing ones. The small black bush variety, 
however seems to have escaped them. HH some check is not put to 
their ravages soon, the culture of beans will have to be given up 
here. 

In a short article on this weevil, published by Mr. S.S. Rathvon, 
in the American Entomologist, (Vol.1I, pages 118-119,) that gentle- 
man gives the following account of its appearance in his neighbor- 
hood: 

My specimens evolved in the months of June, July, August and 
September, from three varieties of the domestic bean (Phaseolus,) 
commonly called “Oranberry,” the “Agricultural,” and the “Wrens- 
ege” beans, obtained from Mrs. P. C. Gibbons, Enterprise, Lancaster 
county, ba. * ~ we Se I have not yet heard of this insect 
being found in any other locality in Lancaster county than the one 
abovenamed. The tenant from whom Mrs. Gibbons received these 
infested beans has been engaged in the bean culture for twenty-five 
years on the same farm, and never noticed these weevils until within 
the last two or three years, and only last year did their destructive 
character become conspicuously apparent; for out of a small sack of 
seed-beans hung away, containing less than two quarts, she gathered 
nearly a teacup-full of the weevils at planting time, in the early part 
of June, and had all been infested as those were which she brought to 
me, she could have easily doubled the quantity. About five years 
ago Mrs. Gibbons received some seed-beans of the “Cranberry” va- 
riety, from Nantucket, Mass ,and prior to that, she also received some 
from the Agricultural Departmentof the Patent Office, and with the 
one or the other of these, the impression is that the weevils must 
have been received. 

If, as I have supposed (and by perusing what is printed below in 
small type, the reader will see that no other conclusion can be drawn), 
this weevil is indigenous; it may possibly occur over large tracts of 
our country, though the fact that, till a few years ago, it had never 
been collected by any American entomologist, would strongly inti- 
mate that,in what may be termed its wild state, if was quite rare and 
hadalimitedrange. But evenif itshould occur in this wild state more 
generally through the country than the facts would lead us to believe, 
there is nevertheless more danger of its being introduced into a bean 
field hitherto exempt by the planting of infested cultivated beans, 
than by its spreading from the wild food. Andif once a few bugg 
beans are planted, they will ina few years contaminate the other 
beans cultivated in the neighborhood, so that the man who year after 


54 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


year grows his own seed will suffer as much as the man who origin- 
ally introduces the weevils from afar. 

Except in being smaller, the larva and pupa of this weevil have 
a close resemblance to those of the Pea-weevil, and its habits are 
very similar, with the exception that the female deposits a greater 
number of eggs on a single pod, so that sometimes over a dozen lar- 
vee enter a single bean. I have counted as many as fourteen in one 
small bean, and the space required: for each individual to develop is 
not much more than sufficient to snugly contain the beetle. The 
little spot where the Pea-weevil entered can always be deteeted even 
in the dry pea, but in the bean these points of entrance become al- 
most entirely obliterated. The cell in which the transformations take 
place is more perfect and smooth, and the lining is easily distin- 
guished from the meat of the bean by its being more white and 
opaque. Phe excrement is yellow or darker than the meat, and even 
where a bean is so badly infested that the inside is entirely reduced 
to this excrementitious powder, each larva, before transforming, man- 
ages to form for itself a complete cell, which separates it from the 
rest of its brethren. The eye-spot, as in the pea, is perfectly circular 
and quite transparent in white-skinned varieties, so that infested 
beans of this kind are easily distinguished by the bluish-black spots 
which they exhibit (Fig. 19,5). Dark beans when infested are not so 
easily distinguished. 

I have always found the germ either untouched or but partially 
devoured even in the worst infested beans, so that when but two or 
three weevils inhabit a bean, it would doubtless grow; but where the 
meat is entirely destroyed, as it often is, the bean would hardly grow 
though the germ remained intact, and it would certainly not produce 
a vigorous plant. 

Many of the beetles are perfected in the fall, but many of them 
not till the following spring, so that there is the same danger of in- 
troducing them in seed-beans, as in the case of the Pea-weevil. The 
remedies and preventives given in the former case will of course ap- 
ply equally well in this, and I hope that every bean-grower in Mis- 
souri who reads this article will make some effort to keep the scourge 
out of his own neighborhood, by urging upon others, at the Farmers’ 
Club, or at the meetings of any local societies, the necessity of sow- 
ing only sound seed, and of thoroughly destroying any that may be 
received from abroad and found bugg 

Regarding the proper nomenclature of our Bean-weevil, there 
has been some confusion, and though it has heretofore been consid- 
ered by several eminent entomologists as the Bruchus obsoletus 
of Say, and I have heretofore, upon insufficient grounds, referred it to 
that species myself, it nevertheless turns out to be undescribed. In 
Europe, besides the Grain Bruchus which I just treated of, there are 
several other species belonging to the same genus which attack 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 


beans; but our insect differs from all of them and especially from the 
Grain Bruchus, to which it has been erroneously referred by Dr. A. 
S. Packard, Jr.* If it were the imported Grain Bruchus, our peas 
and some other grains would probably suffer as much from its attacks 
as our beans, because that species infests peas and other seeds in Ku- 
rope; but in reality we have no more reason to believe that our Bean- 
weevil will attack our peas than that the Pea-weevil will attack our 
beans. 

The general color of our Bean-weevil is tawny-gray, the ground- 
color being dark and the whole body covered with a grayish pubes- 
cence which inclines to yellow or fulvous, or wears a slight moss- 
green hue, and is shaded as in Figure 19, a. It is but half the size of 
the Pea-weevil and has the four or five basal joints and the terminal 
joint of the antennz, and the legs, with the exception of the lower 
and inner part of the hind thighs, reddish-brown. 


Brucaus rasa N. Sp. (Fig. 19,)—General color tawny-gray with more or less dull yellowish. 
Body black tinged with brown and with dull yellowish pubescence, the pygidium and sides of abdo- 
men almost always brownish. Head dull yellowish-gray with tke jaws dark brown and palpi 
black ; antenne not deeply serrate in 2, more so in 3‘; dark brown or black with usually 5, some- 
times only 4, sometimes 4 and part of 5 basal joints, and with the terminal joint, more or less 
distinctly rufous, or testaceous, the color being so slight in some specimens as scarcely to contrast 
at all with the darker joints. Thoraw narrowed before, immaculate, but with the pubescence 
almost always exhibiting a single pale medio-dorsal line, sometimes three dorsal lines, more 
rarely a transverse line in addition, and still more rarely (two specimens) forming a 
large dark, almost black patch each side, leaving a median stripe and the extreme 
borders pale and thus approaching closely to erythrocerus Dej.; base with the edges 
almost angulated; central lobe almost truncate and witha short longitudinal deeply impressed 
median line; no lateral notch; scutel concolorous and quadrate with the hind edge more 
or less notched. Elytra with the interstitial lines having a slight appearance of alternating 
transversely with dull yellowish and dusky; so slight however that in most of the specimens it can 
hardly be traced : the dark shadings form aspot on each shoulder and three transverse bands 
tolerably distinct in some, almost obsolete in others, the intermediate row being the most persistent 
and conspicuous: between these dark transverse rows the interstices are alternately more or less 
pale, especially on the middle of the 3rd interstitial lines. Legs covered with grayish pubescence, 
and with the tibia and tarsi, especially of first and second pair, reddish-brown ; the hind thighs 
usually somewhat darker, becoming black below and inside, and with a tolerably long black spine 
followed by two very minute ones. Length 0.09—0.14 inch. Described from 40 specimens all 
bred from different kinds of beans. Hundreds of others examined. 

This insect has been for several years ticketed in some of the Eastern collections by the name 
of B. faba, or else, what is worse, the corruption of it, fabi. The former name has been disseminated 
by my friend F. G. Sanborn of Boston, Massachusetts, who says that he received the weevil thus 
named, together with beans attacked by it, inthe year 1862 from Rhode Island. The name was 
credited to Fabricius, but I can find no notice in any of the works I possess of any European 
Bruchus faba, and several of my Hastern correspondents who have access to large libraries have 
been unable to find any description or allusion to a species by thatname. Dr LeConte has given it 
the MS name of varicornis but as his description will notappear perhaps for years to come and 
as no comprehensive description has yet been published, Ihave deemed it advisable to dispel ina 
measure the confusion that surrounds the nomenclature of the species. There is need of a descrip- 
tion of so injurious an insect, and as faba is not preoccupied I adopt the name because it is entirely 
appropriate and because it is more easily rendered into terse popular language that varicornis. T 


* Tnjurious insects new and little known, pp. 19-21. 


+ No one can have a greater regard than I have, for the work of our great Coleopterist, Dr. 
LeConte, who is justly looked up to as our authority in his specialty ; and for no other reason 
than the one given above would 1 venture to disregard even one of his manuscript names. Were 
he now at home, I should have corresponded with him on the subject, and I feel satisfied that he 
would have sanctioned this course. These remarks are prompted by the fact that certain entomolo- 


5 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT’ OF 
It resembles most closely of any other species which I have seen, the B. erythrocerus, Dej.. 
which, however, is smaller, and differs in having a narrower thorax which has light sides and a 
dark, broad dorsal stripe divided down the middle by a pale narrow line: erythrocerus is further 
distinguished by the antennw being entirely testaceous and the hind thighs more swollen. 
From obsotetus Say, fabe differs materially : obsoletus is a smaller species, dark gray, with the 
antenne all dark, the pygidium not rufous, the thorax with a perceptibly darker dorsal shade so 
that the sides appear more cinereous, a white scutel, and each interstitial line of the elytra with a 


slight appearance of alternating whitish and dusky alung its whole length; for though there: 
is nothing in Say’s language to indicate whether it is the interstitial lines that alternate trans- 
versely, whitish and dusky, or each line that so alternates longitudinally, I find from an examina- 
tion of a specimen in the Walsh collection, that the latter is the case, and so much so that the 
insect almost appears speckled. The two species differ both in size and color, though, as Say’s 
description is short and imperfect it is not surprising that fab@ should have Heen referred to it. 

From the European bean-feeding Br. flavimanus (which is apparently either a clerical error 
for, or a synonym of Br. rujimanus, Schoenh.) as described by Curtis, it differs notably ; as it does 
Nkewise from their Br. serratus, Il., which also attacks beans. 

Dr. LeConte, according to Mr. Rathvon, was inclined to consider this insect the obsoletus of 
Say, from the fact that in specimens which the latter gentleman sent him, the antenne were not 
varied as in his MS. varicornis, but uniformly black. A few specimens which Mr. Rathvon sent 
me nearly two years ago, taken from the same lot as were those which he forwarded to Dr. Le- 
Conte, were singularly enough, all decapitated but two; and these two showed the varied antenna. 
These specimens had all been kept in aleohol, and I am greatly inclined to believe that the uni- 
formly dark appearance of the antennx that was noticed by LeConte was the effect of the alcohol 
on those which naturally had the rufous joints but faintly indicated. At all events, though Mr. 
Rathvon tells me that he found a small proportion of beetles with dark antenne, after examining, 
at my suggestion, cver two hundred specimens that had thus been kept in alcohol; yet from over 
one hundred specimens which he had the kindness to send me, I only find (after thoroughiy drying 
them) three with the terminal joint really as dark as the subterminal, and aot a single one in 
which the rufous basal joints cannot be more or less distinctly traced. 


gists have objected to isolated descriptions of insects, on the plea that they cause confusion and an 
unnecessary synonymy in our nomenclature. ‘Thereis, in fact, acertain class of persons—and they 
have been aptly termed closet-entomologists—who manifest a superlative contempt for anything 
that does not appear in the transactions or publications of some scientific society ; and they even 
claim that the descriptions which have appeared in State Entomological Reports are invalid and 
should be disregarded. The descriptions of Dr. Fitch, and many of those of the late Mr. Walsh, and 
my own, would of course come under this head. Itis a little significant, however, that the very per-- 
sons who manifest such a contempt for scientific work, whenever it is combined with the practi- 
éally useful, are the very ones who indulge in the fatal monomania for grinding out new species 
from the mere comparison of a few more or less damaged specimens of the perfect insects, ob- 
tained nobody knows how, when or where; and without even the slightest knowledge of the laryal 
and pupal history and the general habits of the so-called species. They make species out of the 
slightest individual variation, and even erect genera upon a slight individual difference in the size 
or shape of the wing. So baseless a system must necessarily be fraught with great scientific un- 
fruthfulness, and is well calculated to disgust the student who endeavors to rightly interpret the 
significances in Nature. An immense number of the published descriptions in the Class of insects 
in this country are based upon the simple examination of solitary specimens of the perfect insects, 
without the fact being mentioned, and are therefore not in any true sense of the term descriptions 
of species, but mere descriptions of individuals. The few men whose sole ambition seems to be 
to attach their names to as many of these so-called species as possible, are the ones who are most 
inclined to sneer at, and treat lightly the honest work of more practical men—forgetting that 
science does not consist of mere classification and orderly arrangement, but that she wears a 
nobler mien when applied to penetrating and comprehensive search after Nature’s truths. 

A truth is equally scientific, whether published in a plain, practical work, or in the drier 
pages of the transactions of some august scientific body ; andso far as the science of entomology 
#s concerned, it will certainly be more advanced by the full and comprehensive description of a 
species, albeit such description be clothed in plain terms and published in a popular work, than 
by a less complete and more confused description, in the transactions of an Entomological Soci- 
ety ; and provided it is published in a work essentially entomolugical, the monographer will cer- 
tainly prefer the former to the latter. In the pust, science belonged to the few, and was always 
paraded before the world in as unattractive and technical a form as possible. ‘To-day she is fast 
becoming the property of the multitude, and should be popularized as much as possible ; for it is 
folly to sunpose, as some men do, that in science ‘‘ popular’? and ‘inaccurate’? are synonymous 
terms, simply because some writers have failed to combine the scientifically accurate with the 
popular and practical. : 

‘Lhe entomologist who occupies himself with the habits of insects, cannot well become a sys- 
tematist, and would far sooner accurately describe the hitherto unknown habits and transforma- 
tions of a single common species, than describe a dozen new ones. He may have hundreds of new 
species in his cabinet; but these he prefers to turn over to the specialist, whose work he fully 
appreciates and whose aid he must often seek. When, however, in the course of his work, he is 
obliged to publish an isolated description, the specialist proper should certainly not depreciate 
his labor, providing it is well performed. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 
THE NEW YORK WEEVIL—/Jthycerus noveboracensis, Forster. 


The large gray beetle represented at c,in the accompanying 
cut often does considerable damage to fruit trees, and I con- 
tinually receive it every spring by persons 
who desire to know more of its habits. It kills 
the twig by gnawing off the tender bark, in 
the early part of the season before the buds have 
put out, and later in the year it destroys the ten- 
der shoots which start out from old wood, by 
entirely devouring them. It eats out the buds’ 
and will also frequently gnaw off the leaves at the 
base of the stem, after they have expanded. It 
attacks, by preference, the tender growth of the 
Apple, though it will also make free with that of 
Peach, Plum, Pear and Cherry, and probably of 
other fruit as well as forest trees. Itis the largest 
snout-beetle which occurs in our State. and with 
the rest of the species belonging to the same gen- 
us (/thycerus=straight-horn) it is distinguished from most of the 
other snout-beetles by the antennz or feelers being straight instead 
of elbowed or flail-shaped as they are in the common Plum Curculio> 
forinstance. The specific name noveboracensis which means “of New 
York” was given to this beetle just 100 years ago by Forster, doubt- 
less because he received his specimens from New York. But like 
many other insects which have been honored with the name of some 
Eastern State, it is far more common in the Mississippi Valley than 
itisin the the State of New York, it scarcely being known as an 
injurious insect in the Kast. It was subsequently described as Pa- 
hyrhynchus Schaenherri by Mr. Kirby. The general color of the 
beetle is ash-gray, marked with black as in the cut (Fig. 20, c), and 
with the scutel or small semi-circular space immediately behind the 
thorax, between the wings, of a yellowish color. Its larval habits 
were for along time unknown, but two years ago I ascertained that 
it breeds in the twigs and tender branches of the Bur oak, and have 
good reason to believe that it also breeds in those of the Pignut 
hickory. The female in depositing, first makes a longitudinal exca- 
vation with her jaws (Fig. 20, a) eating upwards under the bark 
towards the end of the branch, and afterwards turns round to thrust 
her egg in the excavation. The larva, (Fig. 20, 4) hatching from the 
egg is of the usual pale yellow color with a tawny head. I have 
watched the whole operation of depositing, and, returning to the 
punctured twig a few days after the operation was performed, have > 
cut out the young larva; but I do not know how long atime the larva 
needs to come to its growth, nor whether it undergoes its transforma- 
tions within the branch, or leaves it for this purpose to enter the 
ground; though the former hypothesis is the more likely. 


58 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


This insect is more active at night than during the day, and is 
often jarred down upon the sheet or the Curculio-catcher, for it falls 
about as readily as the Plum Curculio. 

The destructive pear blight, otherwise known as fire-blight, has 
been attributed to a peculiar poisonous fluid which this beetle se- 
cretes and with which it poisons the wood.* I have never noticed 
any such secretion, and feel quite convinced that it has nothing to 
do with the real pear blight (and there are more than one kind) 
which is very justly considered by the most eminent horticulturists 
of the land to be of fungoid rather than insect origin. It is quite 
probable that the beetle secretes some such fluid which causesa sort 
of blight, because several bark-boring and wood-boring beetles are 
known to produce such an effect; but this insect-blight must not be 
confounded with the far more subtle and destructive Pear Blight, so 
called. 


THE IMBRICATED SNOUT-BEETLE—/picerus imbricatus, Say. 


This is another insect, which is quite frequently met with on our 
different fruit trees, doing considerable injury te apple and cherry 
trees and gooseberry bushes, by gnawing the twigs and fruit. Its 
natural history is, however, a sealed book, and I introduce it at pres- 

[Pig. 21.] ent more to draw the attention of orchard- 
x F ists to this fact than to give any informa- 
tion with regard to it. The beetleisa 
native of the more Western States and is 
found much more commonly in the wes- 
ern part of the State, in IJowa, Kansas, and 


The general color is a dull silvery-white with brown markings as 
in the figure (Fig. 21), which are sometimes dark and distinct, and at 
others almost obsolete. Indeed the species is so variable that 
it has received no less than four distinct names, 7. e. four distinct spe- 
cies have been fabricated out of one.t 


*See a commnnicatior from H. H. Babcock, of Chicago, in the Am. Entomologist and Botanist, 
Vol. 1, p. 176. 


+There can be no doubt of this, for the range of variation is so great that specimens agreeing 
in every respect with imbricatus, fornudolosus, vadosus and fallax, are to be met with in very limi- 
ted localities ; and both Dr. LeConte and Mr. Walsh were of opinion that these four so-called 
species were but varieties. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 


THK CORN SPHENOPHORUS—Sphenophorus zew, Walsh. 


In the last number of the Practical Entomologist, Mr. Walsh gave 

the first account of a weevil which in certain years does great damage 

Br to the corn crop by puncturing the young plant 

f near the ground, and riddiing it with holes of 

about the size that an ordinary pin would make, 

They may even be found under ground attached 

firmly to the stalk, and when numerous enough 

the plant always dies. 

ae Sie The color of the beetle is brown-black or 

black, often obscured by yellowish or grayish matter adhering to, and 

filling up the hollow punctures. Figure 22 gives a good illustration 

of it, @ showing a shaded back view, 4 an outline side view, and ¢ 

showing the manner in which the wing-covers are punctured. The 
original description as given by Mr. Walsh will be found below. 

In the spring of 1:68, Mr. L. V.Smith, of Geneva, Ontario county, 
N. Y., sent me numerous specimens; and I have often found it in 
great numbers on the lake-beach at Chicago, though it does not seem 
to be common in our own State. But it is well that corn-growers be 
made familiar with its appearance. 

The larval history of this weevilis unknown, but there seems 
good reason to believe that it breeds in rotting and moist wood, 
situated in places where itis constantly washed by the water; for the 
beetles, with others belonging to the same genus are found in such 
situations and in decayed logs floating in swamps. If this supposi- 
tion be the correct one—and the fact that it has been injurious only 
in the immediate neighborhood of rivers and lakes adds great weight 
to such a supposition—then this weevil will not be likely to multiply 
unduly where there are not large bodies of water. 


‘«SPENOPHORUS ZEX, new species? Color black, often obscured by yellowish matter adhering 
to the hollow places, which, however, can be partially washed off. Head finely punctured towards 
the base, with a large dilated puncture between the eyes above. Snout one-third as long as the 
body, of uniform diameter, as fine as a stout horse-hair, and curved downwards. Before the 
middle of the thorax a polished diamond-shaped space, prolonged in a short line in front andin a 
long line behind; and on each side of this an irregularly defined polished space, somewhat in the 
form of an inverted Y ; the rest of thorax occupied by very large punctures, which fade into finer 
and sparser ones on the polished spaces. Wing-cases with rows of still larger punctures, placed 
very wide apart in the usual grooves or striw ; the sutural interstice, that between the 2nd and 3rd 
strie, and that between the 4th and Sth stria wider than the rest, elevated, and occupied by very 
fine punctures ; a small elongate-oval polished spot on the shoulder and another near the tip of the 
wing-case. Beneath, polished, and with punctures as large as those of the thorax.—Length 
about three-tenths of an inch, exclusive of the snout. Comes very near Sphenophorus truncatus 
Say, but the snout is not ‘‘attenuated at tip’? and hasno ‘‘elongated groove at base above ;”? and 
moreover, nothing is said in the description of that species of the very large and conspicuous punc- 
tures, found in the elytral strive of our species.’ 


60 THIED ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE COCKLEBUR SPHENOPHORUS—Sphenophorus pulchellus, 


Schcenherr. 


In closing this chapter on snout-beetles I intro- 
g duce this species (Fig. 23,a@ shaded back view; 
/ outline side-view,) not that it is injurious, but 
because it belongs to the same genus, and is 
closely allied to the preceding insect; and he- 
cause its larval habits, which are now given for 
‘the first time, may lead us more readily to discover 
those of its more injurious ally. 

The color of this beetle above, is of a deep 
brick-red inclining to blood-red, often with a tinge of orange, and it is 
marked with black as in the figure; the whole underside being also 
black. The larva bores the stalks of the common cocklebur (Xan- 
thium strumarium,) and differs from most other snout-beetle larva in 
having a dark mahogony-brown head, and in the anal joint being 
slantingly truncated and furnished with fuscous elevations which give 
rise to short stiff bristles. It transforms in the fall of the year within 
the stem and issues as a beetle about the end of September.* 

Ofour other N. A. snout-beetles may be mentioned as especially 
injurious the Grape Curculio (Celiodes inequalis, Say), Grape-cane 
Curculio (Baridius sesostris, Lec.) Potato-stalk weevil ( Baridius 
trinotatus, Say), the different nut-weevils (genus Balaninus), the 
Grain-weevil (Sttophilus granarius, Linn.), the White-pine weevil 
(Pissodes strobi, Peck), and the Cranberry-weevil (Anthonomus 
suturalis, Lec.) The first three have already been treated of in my 
first Report, the nut-weevils will form the subject of a future article, 
and the others have either been fully treated of instandard works or 
are not particularly injurious in Missouri. 


*This insect seems to differ from 13-punctatus, Say, in absolutely nothing but in having a 
large black patch at the tip of the elytra instead of two spots. Ihave bred four specimens from 
cocklebur, and they are all tolerably constant in the characters accorded to pulchellus. But I am 
strongly of opinion that we have to deal here with but one species, and that with a sufficiently 
large series, the dividing line could not be drawn. Atall events 13-punctatus is very variable in 
the size of its spots, and the greatest variation occurs in these two at the tip of the elytra, while 
Say describes and figures a variety of his 13-punctatus which is singularly intermediate between 
the two species. In three specimens of 13-punctatus in my cabinet, the two posterior spots are 
so large that they almost meet, while in some specimens they are notlarger than the other elytrai 
spots. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61 


INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THF, GRAPE-VINE. 


The following articles under this head are a continuation of the 
series began in my first and continued in my second Report, and I 
shall continue the series until all the insects of any note, which affect 
the Grape-vine, shall be treated of. 


THE GRAPE LEAF-FOLDER—Desmia maculalis, Westw. 


(Lepidoptera, Asopide.) 


[Fig. 24.] 


The subject of this sketch has long been known to depredate on 
the leaves of the Grape-vine in many widely separated parts of North 
America. It is not uncommon in Canada West, and is found in the 
extreme southern parts of Georgia. It appears to be far more inju- 
rious, however, in the intermediate country, or between latitude 35° 
and 40°, than in any other sections, and in Southern Illinois and Cen- 
tral Missouri proves more or less injurious every year. It was first 
described and named by Westwood,* who erected, for it, the genus 
Desmia. 

The genus is characterized by the elbowed or knotted appear- 
ance of the d¢ antenne, in contrast with the smooth, thread-like 2 
antenne; the maxillary palpi are not visible, while the compressed 
and feathery labial palpi are recurved against the eyes, and reach 
almost to their summit; the body extends beyond the hind wings. 

The moth of the Grape Leaf-folder is a very pretty little thing, 
expanding on an average almost an inch, with a length of body of 
about one-third of an inch. It is conspicuously marked, and the 
sexes differ sufficiently to have given rise to two names, the female 
having been named Botys bicolor. The color is black with an opal- 
escent reflection, and the under surface differs only from the upper 
in being less bright; all the wings are bordered with white. The 


* Mag. Zool., par M. Guérin, 1831; pl. 2. 


+ Mr. Glover, in the Agricultural Report for 1854, p. 79, says that the male has a semi-lunar 
mark of white on the outside of each spot. which in his figure, pl. 6, ibid., is very distinct. In 
dozens of specimens bred in Illinois and Missouri no such mark appears, though there is an appa- 
rent coincident shade, barely distinguished from the black ground-color, on the outside of each spot 
in both male and female. 


62 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


front wings of both sexes are each furnished with two white spots ;} 
but while in the male (Fig. 24, 3) there is but one large spot on the 
hind wings, in the female (Tig. 24, 5) this spot is invariably more or 
less constricted in the middle, especially above, and is often entirely 
divided into two distinct spots. The body of the male has but one 
distinct transverse band, and a longitudinal white dash at its extrem- 
ity superiorly, while that of the female has two white bands. The 
antennx, as already stated, are still more characteristic, those of the 
male being elbowed and thickened near the middle, while those of 
the female are simple and thread-like. 

There are two broods in this latitude—and probably three farther 
south—during the year; the first moths appearing in June, the sec- 
ond in August, and the worms produced from these last hibernating 
in the chrysalis state. The eggs are scattered in small patches over 
the vines, and the worms are found of all sizes at the same time. 
These last change to chrysalids in 24 to 30 days from hatching, and 
give forth the moths in about a week afterwards. 

The worm (Fig. 24, 1) folds rather than rolls the leaf, by fastening 
two portions together by its silken threads; and for this reason, in 
contradistinction to the many leaf-rollers, may be popularly known 
as the “Grape Leaf-folder.” It is of a glass-green color,* and very 
active, wriggling, jumping and jerking either way at every touch. 
The head and thoracic segments are marked as at Figure 24, 2. If 
let alone, these worms will soen defoliate a vine, and the best method 
of destroying them is by crushing suddenly within the leaf, with both 
hands. ‘Jo prevent their appearance, however, requires far less 
trouble. The chrysalis is formed within the fold of the leaf, and by 
going over the vineyard in October, or avy time before the leaves 
fall, and carefully plucking and destroying all those that are folded 
and crumpled, the supply for the following year will be cut off. This 
should be done collectively to be positively effectual, for the utmost 
vigilance will avail but little if one is surrounded with slovenly neigh- 
bors. 

I believe this insect shows no preference for any particular kind 
of grape-vine, having found it on well nigh all the cultivated as well 
as the wild varieties. Its natural enemies consist of spiders, wasps, 
and a small undescribed species of Zachina-fly which I have ascer- 
tained to infest it in the larva state, and to which I have given the 
MS. name of desmie. There is every reason to believe that it is also 
attacked by a small clay- LONG wells, uae ene vine Colaspis 


a I aru oin a Fite cone ‘of this worm, as first given he me in the Pr rairie eae Annual for 
1868. Average length, 0.80. Largest on abdominal joints, and tapering thence slightly each way. 
Color glass-green, always darker above than below. A narrow darker dorsal line, with each joint 
swollen into two transverse wrinkles. Laterally paler or yellowish, and a large and distinct pilif- 
erous spot on each joint, with others scarcely visible with a lens. Head fulvous, polished, hori- 
zontal, with two small eyespots and two larger dark patches. Joint 1 of the same color, and 
marked as in Figure 24, Joint 2 has wou small spots, with an intermediate larger one, on each 
side. Legs yellowis h. Acquires a carneous or pink tint before changing to chrys: ulis, which lat- 
ter is of the normal color, size and form of Figure 24, 3, and has at the ‘tail several yery minute 
curved hooks, joining and forming into a point. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 


(Colaspis Havida, Say,) which is described further on, and which, 
though a vegetable feeder, may often be found in the fold of the leaf 
in company with some shrunken, half-dead worm. 


THE GRAPE-VINE EPIMENIS.—Psychomorpha epimenis, 
Drury. 


(Lepidoptera Zygeenide.) 


Under the head of “ Blue Caterpillars of the Vine,” an account 
was given in my last Report (pp. 83-5) of the Pearl Wood Nymph, 
(Eudryas unio, Huebner), and of what I thought there was good rea- 
son to believe was its larva, namely, the smaller of the blue caterpil- 
lars (Fig. 25, a full grown caterpillar; 6 enlarged side view of one of 
the joints; ce enlarged hump on the lith joint). I have since been 
able to decide defin- [Fig. 26.] 
itely as to the charac- 
_, ter of this larva, hay- * 
“Sd ing bred numerous 
specimens to the per- 
fect state. It turns out to be an en- 
tirely different insect to what I had conjectured, and produces a beau- 
tiful little moth (Fig. 26), which may be known to the grape-grower 
as the Grape-vine Epimenis. 

This moth is most strikingly marked and bears no resemblance 
whatever to the Pearl Wood Nymph. Its coloris deep velvety-black 
with a broad irregularly lunate white patch across the outer third of 
the front wings, and a somewhat larger, more regular patch of orange- 
red or brick-red on the hind wings. The underside is similarly 
marked, but that of the front wings is less velvety with two additional 
white spots inside near the costa, the outer one generally, and some- 
times both of them, connected with the broad white patch. Espe- 
cially is this the case in the males; the wing appearing to havea 
large triangular white patch with two quadrate black spots in it con- 
nected with the costa. The wings are beautifully tinselled with steel- 
blue, or purplish scales, which form a narrow band near the outer 
margin of each and appear more or less distinctly on the basal half of 
the front wings. On the under side the steel-blue is especially con- 
spicuous on the costa and hind border of the hind wings. In old spe- 
cimens the scales get much rubbed off and the general color appears 
duller and more brown. The antenns of the female are thread-like 
and with alternate black and white scales. Those of the male are 
beautifully and broadly toothed on two sides, or bi-pectinate, and he 
is furthermore distinguished from the female by the more uniform 


64 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


diameter of his abdomen which is slightly tufted and squarely cut off 
at the apex. | 

A full account was given of the larvain the article already re- 
ferred to, and the proper, remedy for its injuries suggested, so that I 
shall simply add below a technical description of it. Its habit of bor- 
ing into some substances to prepare for the change to pupa,is invete- 
rate, and it always neatly covers up the orifice so that it is difficult to 
detect. I have had over a dozen of them enter a single cork but 14 
inches in diameter and about an inch deep; and such a cork, if given 
during May of one year to an uninitiated person, with instructions to 
keep it in a glass vessel, will cause much surprise and interest the 
following March when the moths will begin to issue from it. 

Dr. Melsheimer* wrote to Dr. Harris on the 28th of February, 
1840, that he had bred this moth from the larva, and rightly states 
that recent specimens are not brown, and that the larva is a half 
looper; but he does not mention its food-plant. Dr. Packard,+ who 
does not mention the sexual differences, quotes Harris as stating on 
the authority of Abbott, thatthe larva feeds on the wild Trumpet- 
creeper (Bignonio radicans) in Georgia. But no onehas heretofore 
mentioned its Grape-vine feeding propensities, and itis consequently 
now adde ‘or the first time to our list of Grape-vine depredators, 
and there are four instead of three bluish caterpillars, all bearing a 
close general resemblance, which feed upon that plant. They all 
occur in Missuvsi, but the present species is far more numerous and 
destructive than the other three put together. I have now described 
three of them, and shown wherein they differ from one another, and 
the fourth, namely, the larva of the Pearl Wood Nympk, is said by 
Dr. Fitch to so closly resemble that of the Beautiful Wood Nymph 
that we know not yet whether there are any distinguishing charac- 
teristics between them. 

PsYCHOMORPHA EPIMENIS, Drury—Larva.—General appearance bluish. The ground-color is 
however pure white, and the apparent bluish cast is entirely owing to the ocular delusion pro- 
duced by the white with the transverse black bands asin Alypia octomaculata. Transversely 
banded with four black stripes to each joint, the third and fourth being usually rather wider apart - 
than the other two, and diverging at the lower sides where they make room for two more or less 
conspicuous dark spots placed one below the other; the third on some of the middle joints is fre= 
quently broken, with an anterior curve, justabove stigmata, and on joints 2and 3 it is twice as thick 
as the rest. Cervical shield, hump on joint 11, anal piate, legs and venter, dull pale orange. 
Joint 1 with about 14 large shiny piliferous black spots, 8 of which form two rows on the cer- 
vical shield (those in the anterior row being largest and farthest apart,) and six of which are late- 
ral, namely, three each side, with more or less distinct dusky marks between and in fronf of them. 
The spots on the hump are usually placed as at Figure 26, c, but vary very much, though the four 
principal ones on the top are generally placed in a square. The anal plate is marked with 8 such 
spots, very much as in the cervical shield, butsmaller. The tips of the thoracic legs are black 
and the other legs and venter are also spotted. Head gamboge-yellow, inclining to orange, with 
8 principal and other minor black piliferous spots. The ordinary piliferous spots are small, and 


except two dorsal ones which are in the white space between the second and third band, they are 
not easily detected. The stigmata are also quite small and round. The abdominal prolegs de- 


EPH ATO Orrsy Pelli. 
T Guide, etc., p. 281. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65. 


‘crease in size from the last to the first pair, and the larva curves the thoracic joints and is a half- 
looper, especially when young. Average length about one inch. Described from numerous 
Specimens. 

Chrysalis. —Average length 0.37 inch; reddish-brown; rugose, especially on dorsum of ab- 
‘dominal joints, but distinguished principally by the truncated apex, which hasa large horizontally 
cumpressed ear-like horny projection at-each upper and outer edge. 


THE GRAPE-VINE PLUME—Peerophorus periscelidactylus, Fitch. 


(Lepidoptera, Alucitide.) 


In my first Report a shorf account has already been given of this: 


insect, but as it was very numerous last spring, and asI had good op- 


[Fig 27.] portunities of making further observations, . 


I have concluded, by aid of the accompany- 


of it. 


name being given to them. Husmann,in 
his “Grapes and Wine,” (p. 80) mentions 
similar worms, and I have little doubt but 


/ we are now considering. 
Just about the time that the third bunch 
“Lof grapes, ona given shoot, is developing, 


the extremity of the shoot, are found fas- 


tened together more or less closely, but generally so as to form a hol- 
low ball. These leaves are fastened by a fine white silk, and upon 


opening the mass and separating the leaves, one of two caterpillars . 


will generally be found in the retreat. I say one of two, because the 


retreat made by the smallest of the Blue Caterpillars of the Vine, . 


many of the leaves, and especially those at: 


ing figure, to give a more complete account . 


In the earlier published Proceedings of» 
our State Horticultural Society reference is - 
occasionally made to “small grey or green 
worms which feed on the young leaves be-- 
fore blossoming,” * without any definite - 


that the insect referred to is the little Plume: 


namely, the larva of the Grape-vine Epimenis (Fig. 26, a) which we- 
have just treated of, so closely resembles that of the Grape-vine - 
Plume under consideration, that until the leaves are separated it is - 


almost impossible to tell which larva will be found. Both occur at. 


the same time of year, and both were more destructive than usual. 


the past season in the vicinity of St. Louis. In an ordinary season 


they do not draw together the tips of the shoots till after the third | 


bunch of grapes is formed, and in devouring the terminal bud and 


leaves, they do little more than assist the vineyardist in the pruning : 


* Proceedings for 1860, p. 58, and 1861-2, p. 77. 
S_E—Dd 


66 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


which he would soon have to give. They act, indeed, as Nature’s 
pruning-knives. But the late and severe frost which killed the first 
buds last April, so retarded the growth of the vines that the worms 
were out in force before the third bunch had fully formed, and 
this bunch was consequently included in the fold made by these 
‘worms, and destroyed. 

‘The larva of the Grape-vine Plume invariably hatches soon after 
the leaves begin to expand; and though it is very generally called 
the Leaf-folder, it must not be confounded with the true Leaf-folder, 
which was just now described, and which does its principal damage 
later in the season. At first the larva of our Plume is smooth and 
almost destitute of hairs, but after each moult the hairs become more 
perceptible, and when full grown the larva appears as at Figure 27, a, 
the hairs arising froma transverse row of warts, each joint having 
four above and six below the breathing-pores * (see Fig. 27,¢). After 
feeding for about three weeks, our little worm fastens itself securely 
by the hind legs to the underside of some leaf or other object, and, 
casting its hairy skin, transforms to the pupa state. This pupa (Fig. 
27, b), with the lower part of the three or four terminal joints attached 
to a little silk previously spun by the worm, hangs at aslant of about 
40°. It is of peculiar and characteristic form, being ridged and angu- 
lar, with numerous projections, and having remnants of the larval 
warts; it is obliquely truncated at the head, but is chiefly distin- 
guished by two compressed sharp-pointed horns, one of which is en- 
larged at Figure 27, ¢, projecting from the middle of the back; it 
measures, on an average, rather more than one-third inch, and varies 
in color from light green with darker green shadings, to pale straw- 
color with light brown shadings. 

The philosophie student of insect life cannot fail to be strack 
with the wonderful disguises which these little animals often assume, 
the better to escape detection from their enemies. The instances of 
protective mimicry are more numerous among insects than among 
any other Class of animals, and in the last part of this Report, I shall 
have occasion to refer to this subject more fully. [had often won- 
dered why the pupa of the Grape-vine Plume was seldom noticed in 
the open vineyard, and I very well recollect, when three years ago, 
this worm was abundant in the vineyard of the Rev. Charles Pea- 
body of Glenwood, I. M. R. R., that he one day expressed great aston- 
ishment at their total and sudden disappearance. I told him that 


* As Dr. Fitch’s description of this larva is the only one I know of, and is rather incomplete, 
T subjoin the foliowing for the scientific reader : 

Mature Larva of PreropHorus PeRISCELIDACTYLUS.—Average length 0.50 inch. Color pale 
greenish-yellow. Joints separated by deep constrictions. Each joint with a transverse row of 
large cream-colored warts, giving rise to soft white hairs, many of which are slightly clubbed at 
tip. Four of these warts above, and six below stigmata, the four lower smaller than the six upper 
ones. ‘Une hairs from warts above stigmata diverging in all directions and straizht, those from 
the row immediately below stigmata decurving. Other short and more minute club-tipped hairs 
spring from the general surface of the body between the warts. Head yellow, with labrum 
slightly tawny. Legs also yellow, immaculate and very long and slender. Described from rmu- 
merous living specimens. 


THE STAT" ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 


‘they had changed to the pupa state and were more thoroughly hid- 
den among the leaves; but he did not succeed in feeding any of the 
pupe, and I did not then suspect that we have here a case of mimicry. 
From some interesting facts communicated to me by Mr. M. C. Read 
of Hudson, Ohio, Iam _ atisfied, however, that we have here a clear 
case of protective disguise. Hesays: ‘Of a large number raised in 
jars by me, there were two well defined colors, one a reddish-brown 
resembling closely the bark of ripe grape wood, the other a light green, 
or exactly the color of the leaves and young wood. Without an ex- 
ception the green ones were attached to the green leaves and green 
wood, or to the sides of the glass jar of very similar color; while all 
of the brown ones were attached to stems of the ripened grape-wood.” 
Having noted this fact he put large numbers of larvee in a jar with 
sticks and material of various colors, but he obtained only the two 
‘varieties of pupse and each was invariably attached te an article of 
the same color as itself. 

So far as I recollect the facts noticed in my own breeding of this 
insect, they accord with the observations of Mr. Read, and there is no 
reason to doubt that in a state of nature the green variety confines 
itself to the leaves, and the brown variety to the wood ef the vine. 
Upon the theory of Natural Selection, 7. ¢., in this case, the preserva- 
tion of the best disguised specimens, these facts become significant, 
and it is easy to understand how the two distinct forms would in time 
inevitably be produced; but whether these singular disguises be ex- 
plained on that theory or on any other, they are equally interesting 
and afford good food for the reflective mind, 

The moth (Fig. 27, ¢@) escapes from this pu ain about one week, 
and, like all the species belonging to the genus, it has a very active 
and impetuous flight, and rests withthe wings closed and stretched at 
right angles from the body, so as to recall the letter T. It is ofa 
tawny yellow color, the front wings marked with white and dark 
brown as in the figure, the hind wings appearin » like burnished cop- 
per, and the legs being alternately banded with white and tawny yel- 
low. 

All the moths of the family (Aucrt1p#) to whichit belongs have 
the wings spit up into narrow feather-like lobes, and for this reason 
they have very appropriately been called Plumes in popular lan- 
guage. In the genus Pterophorus the front wings are divided into two, 
and the hind wings into three lobes. As Ihave shown in my first 
Report we havea somewhat larger species (P. carduidactylus, Riley) 
which occurs on the Thistle, and which, though bearins a close re- 
semblance to the Grape-vine Plume in color and markings, yet dif- 
fers very remarkably in the larva and pupa states. 

From analogy we mav infer that there are two broods of these 
worms each year, and that the last broed passes the winter in the 
moth state. Ihave, however, never noticed any second appearance 
of them, and whether this is from the fact that the vines are covered 


68 THIKD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


with a denser foliage in the summer than in the spring, or whether 
there is really but one brood, are points in the history of our little 
Plume which yet have to be settled by further observation. 

On account of its spinning habit, which enables us to detect it, 
this insect is easily keptin check by band picking. 


THE COMMON YELLOW BEAR—Spilosoma virginica, Fabr. 


(Lepidoptera, Arctiidx.) 


[Fig. 28.] 


This is one of the most 


' sects. The moth (Fig. 28, c) 
which is very generally dub- 
bed “the Miller,” frequently 
flies into our rooms at night ; 
and there are quite a number 
of our farmers who, somehow 
or other, have got the idea 
= => that this “ ‘Miller 7218 the 1n- 


7 : hives—that it is, in short, the 
Bee-moth. Of qannee no such ridiculous idea could for a momena pre- 
vail amoung those who read these Reports. 

Though the moth is so common, how few persons ever think of it 
as the parent of that most troublesome of caterpillars, which Harris 
has so aptly termed the Yellow Bear (Fig. 28, a). These caterpillars 
are quite frequently found on the Grape-vine, and when about one- 
fourth grown bear a considerable resemblance to the mature 
larva of the Grape-vine Plume which we have just described. They 
seldom appear, however, till that species has disappeared, and may 
always be distinguished from it by their semi-gregarious habit at this 
time of their life, and by living exposed on the leaf (generally the 
under side) instead of forming a retreat within which to hide them- 
selves, as does the Plume. 

The Yellow Bear is found of all sizes from June to October; and 
though quite fond of the vine, is by no means confined to that plant. 
It is, in fact, a very general feeder, being found on a great variety of 
herbaceous plants, both wild and cultivated, as butternut, lilac, beans, 
peas, convolvulus, corn, currant, gooseberry, cotton, sunflower, plan- 
tain, smart-weed, verbenas, geraniums, and ‘almost any plant with 
soft, tender leaves. ‘lhese caterpillars are indeed so indifferent as to 
their diet, that Ihave actually known one to subsist entirely, from 
the time it cast its last skin till it spun up, om dead bodies of the 
Camel Cricket (Mantis carolina). 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 69 


When young they are invariably bluish-white, but when full- 
gzrown they may be found either of a pale cream-color, yellow, light 
brown or very dark brown, the different colors often appearing in the 
same brood of worms, as I have proved by experiment. Yellow is the 
most common color, and in all the varieties the venter is dark, and 
there is a characteristic longitudinal black line, more or less inter- 
rupted, along each side of the body, and a transverse line of the same 
color (sometimes faint) between each of the joints: the head and 
feet are ochre-yellow, and the hairs spring from dark yellow warts, of 
which there are 10 on each joint, those on joint 1 being scarcely dis- 
tinguishable, and those on joint 12 coalescing. There aretwo broods 
of these worms each year, the broods intermixing, and the last pass- 
ing the winter in the chrysalis state. The chrysalis (Fig. 48, 6) is 
formed in a trivial cocoon, constructed almost entirely of the cater- 
pillar’s hairs, which, though held in position by a few very fine silken 
threads, are fastened together mainly by the interlocking of their 
minute barbs, and the manner in which the caterpillar interweaves 
them. 

The moth makes its appearance as early as the first of May in the 
latitude of St. Louis, but may often be found much earlier in stove- 
warmed rooms. It is easily recognized by its pure white color, by its 
abdomen being orange above, with three rows of black spots, and by 
the black dots on its wings. These dots vary in number, there being 
usually two on each of the front and three on each of the hind wings, 
though sometimes they are all more or less obsolete, except that en 
the disk of the front wings. 

It is fortunate for us that this caterpillar is attacked by a large 
number of insect parasites; for, were this not the case, it would soon 
multiply to such a degree as to be beyond our control]. I know of ne 
less than five distinct parasites which attackit—some living singly in 
the body of the caterpillar, and issuing from the chrysalis without 
spinning any cocoon of their own; others living singly in the body, 
but forming a cocoon of their own inside the chrysalis of their vic- 
tim, and still ethers infesting the caterpillar in great numbers, and 
completely filling the chrysalis with their pupze.* 

The best time to destroy these worms is soon after they hatch 
from their little round yellow eggs, which are deposited in elusters 5 
for, as already intimated, they then feed together. 


* For the benefit of the scientific reader I enumerate the five parasites which L have ascer- 
¢ained to infest this caterpillar: 1. Anomaton flavicorne (Brullé Hym IV, p. 171). 2. Ichneu- 
mon sebcyaneus, Cress. (Proc. Ent. Soc., Phila., [{I, p. 148), and Ich. pullatus, Cress. (Pro. EH. 8. 
P.. III, p. 146), described as adistinct species, but pudlatus is evidently the male, and subeyaneus the 
female of the same species, as I have bred from Spilosoma virginica three males all answering to 
the description of the former, and two females both answering to the description of the latter. 3. 
Ichneumon signatipes, Cress. (rans. Amer. Ent. Soc,, I, p. 508). 4. Ophion bilinvatus, Say, (Ent. 
of N. A., I, p. 379). 5. A small undetermined, and probably undescribed Dipteron belonging to 
the Muscap%. y pis 


TO THIRD ANNUAL KEPORT OF 


THE SMEARED DAGGER—Aecronyeta oblinita, Sm. & Abb. 


(Lepidoptera, Acronyctidz.) 


This is another insect which is occasionally found upon the Grape- 
[Fig. 29.] 


vine, but never in sufficient 
numbers to do any considerable 
harm. It is one of our most 
common insects, and a very 
g al ced-r -ccurring on a 
great variety of herbaceous. 
plants, among others asparagus 
and cotton, and being especially 
Oo: / partial to the common smart- 
Ww? weed (Polygonum hydropiper). 
It also feeds on some shrubs 
= trees, eccasionaly proving 
jurious, for Mr. F. A. 
Niteby, of efemen City, sent 
me specimens last summer with 
the statement that they were 
very numerous on his peach trees, and I have known it to denude 
both apple and willow trees. 

The larva (Fig. 29, a) is easily recognized by the distinct wavy 
bright yellow band at the side, and the transverse row of crimson-red 
warts and stiff yellowish or rust-red bristles across each joint, in con-~ 
trast with the black color of the body. When full grown it draws a 
few leaves or stems together, or retreats into some fence corner, and 
spins a narrow elongated cocoon (Fig. 29, 6) generally white, Lut oc- 
casionally inclining to ochre-yellow, some which I have found on 
Willow being of this last color. The chrysalis is very dark browa, 
and, with the exception of a smooth shiny band on the posterior bor- 
der of each abdominal joint, is rough or shagreened. It has the 
power of violently turning round and round in its cocoon when dis- 
turbed, thereby causing arustling noise. The moth (Fig. 29,c) has 
the front wings of an ash-gray color, caused by innumerable dark 
atoms scattered over a white ground, and there is a distinet row of 
black dots along the posterior border, a more or less distinet black 
zigzag line across the outer fourth, and some dusky spots Just above 
the middle of the wing. The hind wings are pure white. 

There are two broods each year, the first brood of worms appear- 
ing for the most part during June, and giving out the moths in July, 
and the second brood occurring in the fall, passing the winter in the 
chrysalis state, and producing moths the following May. 

Handpicking is the only remedy that it has been found necessary 
to adopt with this caterpillar whenever it becomes troublesame. 


THE STATE ENTOMULOGIST. ria! 


There are at least three natural enemies which serve to keep it 
in check. The largest of these is the Uni-banded Ichneumon-fly 
(Ichneumon unitasciatorius, Say), a large black fly, 0.60 inch long, 
and characterized by a white annulus about the middle of the an- 
tenna, a large white spot about the middle of the thorax, and a white 
band on the first joint of the abdomen. 

This fly oviposits in the larvaof the Smeared Dagger, but the latter 
never succumbs till after it has spun up and become a chrysalis, for I 
have always obtained the Ichneumon from the chrysalis. The other 
parasites are smaller and work differently. They each cause the larva 
of the Smeared Dagger to die when about full grown, and its contracted 
and hardened skin, which may often be seen during the winter, with 
the head attached (Fig. 30, a), fastened to the twigs of apple and wil- 
[Fis-30llow trees, forms a snug little house where the parasite under- 
i goes its transformations and through which it gnaws a round 
hole (Fig. 30, 6), to escape the latter part of April. One of 
these flies (Alevodes Rileyt, Cresson,) is described on page 
382, of Volume II, of the Transactions of the American Ento- 
4 mological Society, and is of a uniform reddish-yellow color: 
\ The other is a black fly of about the same size, but belonging 
to an entirely different genus, Polysphincta. It has two prom- 
inent carine on the dorsum of the basal joint of the abdomen, and 
the legs, except the hind tarsi and last half of hind tibia are rufous. 
It is marked dbicarinata in my MS., but I omit the description as lL 
do not possess the female. The first of these parasites is in its turn 
preyed upon by aminute Chalcis fly of a steel-blue color with honey- 
yellow legs, which issues in great numbers through a very minute 


hole, from the dried caterpillar skins. 

As I know of no description of oblinitain the English language, and as that of Guenée is 
rather summary, I subjoin the following : 

ACRONYCTA OBLINITA, Sm. and Abb.—Imago—Front wings oblong ; apex more or less prolonged ; 
posterior margin sometimes rounded, sometimes straight; color ash-gray, caused by numerous 
dark brown atoms more or less suffused on a white ground, from which the ordinary lines are. 
barely discernible in the better marked individuals; a row of distinct black dots along posterior- 
border ; the ordinary spots represented by blurred marks or entirely obsolete ; the undulate line. 
across posterior fourth of wing distinct, and relieved inside by a pale coincident shade, with the- 
teeth quite aciculate and with the psi-spot so characteristic of the genus, but rarely traceable ;. 
fringe narrow-and generally entire. Hind wings pure white, with a faint rowof dark spots around 
posterior border. Under side of both wings white with faint fulvous tint and faint irrorations ; 
each wing showing the brown discal spot and the row of points at posterior border. Head and tho-- 
rax speckled gray ; abdomen whitish-gray; antenne short, simple in bota sexes, gray above and 
brown below ; palpi small. Two specimens with the front wings very dark, showing the ordinary 
lines and spots conspicuously, and with the antenna brown above as well as below. Average. 
length, 0.75; expanse, 1.75 inches. 

Described from numerous bred specimens. 

Larva—Prevailing color black. Each joint with a transverse dorsal crimson-red band across. 
the middle from stigmata to stigmata, and containing six warts, each furnishing 10 or 12 or more 
stiff yellow or fulvous bristles, and the two dorsal ones being farthest apart. A sub dorsal longitu-. 
dinal yellow line interrupted by this transverse band andat incisures, in such a manner that the black 
dorsum appears somewhat diamond-shaped on each joint. A broad, wavy, bright-yellow stigmatal, 
line, containing a yellow bristle-bearing wart in middle of each joint. Lateral space occupied with, 
different sized pale yellow spots, largest towards dorsum. Head chesnut-brown. Venter crimson-- 


72 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


black, with bristle-bearing warts of same color. Stigmataoblong-oval and pale. Thoracic legs blacks 
prolegs with black extremities. Such is the normal appearance.of this larva, but it is very varia- 
ble. In some the yellow seems to predominate over the black, and there is a more or less distinct 
dorsal line. In some this dorsal line forms a mere speck at the incisures of the middle joints. 
The transverse crimson band is often entirely obsolete, and the warts distinctly separated, while 
in others where this band is distinct, the warts frequently coalesce. 

Pupa—Almost black, and shagreened with the exception of a smooth and polished rim, at pos- 
terior border of joints, which becomes reddish, especially ventrally, on the three joints immediately 
below wing-sheaths. Terminal joint horizontally compressed, squarely cut off, and furnished with 
a little brush of short evenly-shorn, stiff rufous bristles. 


THE PYRAMIDAL GRAPE-VINE WORM.—Amphipyra pyrami- 
doides, Guen. 


(Lepidoptera, Amphipyridze.} 


Another worm, never hitherto mentioned as injurious to the 
‘Grape-vine, is often found resting upon it in the posture shown in 
[Fig. 31.] Figure 32, and may be at once distin- 
guished from all others that are known 
, to attack it, by having a pyramidal 
‘hump near the end of its body. This 
worm I have also found upon the Red 
Bud (Cercis canadensis), the Rasp- 
berry and the Poplar, butit is only asa 
4 vine-feeder that it can be considered 
injurious. Itwas more abundant in the summer of 1859 than it has 
been since. According to the experience of Mr. G. Pauls, of Kureka, 
it takes the ‘Hartford, Israella and Iona first, and the Concord and 
North Carolina next, and devours the blossoms as well as the 
leaves. Itis of the form shown in the figure and of a delicate green 
color, marked with pale yellow or cream-colored lines and spots, as 
there indicated. It is found on the vines during the month of May 
with us, and during the forepart of June descends to the surface of the 
ground, where it spins a loose cocoon of whitish silk, generally con- 
‘structed between some fallen leaves. Within this cocoon it remains 
some time in the larva state, but eventually becomes a shiny mahog- 
-ony-brown chrysalis from which emerges a moth (Fig. 51), with the 
front wings bark brown and [Fig. 32.] 
glossy and marked with dark Me 
brown and pale grayish-brown 
eas in the cut; and with the hind 
wings of a lustrous copper color, ce = 
‘from which character it may be called in popular language the Amer- 
iican. Copper Underwing. In Chicago, Illinois, this insect is single- 


2 
' THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 73 


brooded, for a poplar-feeding larva found the latter part of May, and 
which spun up onthe 14th of June, did not produce the moth till the 
following April; but specimens obtained near St. Louis often produce 
the moth during July of the same year that they are found as worms. 
In this last case a second brood is doubtless produced the same year 
though it is barely possible that the moths winter over and do not 
deposit till spring; for they are characterized by having very flat 
bodies, and with their wings folded flatly on their backs they are 
often found hiding in narrow cracks and crevices where they seem to 
love to shelter. 

There is an insect (Amphipyra pyramidea, Linn.) very common 
throughout the continent of Europe, on Elm, Poplar, Oak, and other 
trees, and known in England as the Copper Underwing, which our 
pyramidoides, as its name implies, so very closely resembles in all its 
stages, that it is difficult for one who has become acquainted with 
both insects in the field, to bring himself to believe that they are 
really distinct species. No one can behold the two moths and specu- 
late on their great similarity, without feeling that such close resem- 
blance dDetween the insects of two continents is hard to account for 
on any other theory than that of community of descent; or without 
questioning whether there really are differences enough to make two 
species, when he reflects that far greater variations often occur in the 
particular species of a given continent! The most constant differ- 
ence seems to occur in the larve which, though they agree in almost 
every other detail, differ in the EKuropean species having the pyra- 
midal hump more strongly developed and capped with ared horn-like 
point which curves backwards, while in our species this point is more 
or less obsolete and not red. 

Remepres.—This worm is easily kept in check by hand-picking, 
and though its mothis attracted by sweets, it has never been numer- 
ous enough in the past to warrant this mode of capturing it. We 
have no good description of this insect in the English language, so I 
subjoin one. 


AMPHIPYRA PYRAMIDOIDES, Guen.—Larva, (Fig. 32.)—Length when full grown 1.20-1.30 
inch. Smallest at joint 1, largest at joint 11 which rises pyramidally above the others. Color 
pale bluish-green inclining to whitish dorsally, and rather darker at each end than in the middle 
of body. A continuous narrow cream-colored medio-dorsal line extending from the head to ex- 
tremity of anal shield; a subdorsal line of the same color or somewhat more yellow, wavy and 
broken into 4 or 5 uneqnal spots on each of joints 1-10, more or less distinct, ascending continu- 
ously on joint 11 to the summit of pyramid, descending in a curve and vanishing in the anal shield; 
a broader stigmatal line, bright sulphur-yellow, except where intercepted by stigmata where it is 
white, distinct on joints 1 and 2, less so on 3 and 4, and running straight to the extremity of ana] 
shield. Looking downwards from the top of the pyramid, six lines seem to radiate from it in as 
many different directions. Besides these lines, each joint has about ten cream-colored piliferous 
spots, namely, 4 in dorsal space—the, anterior ones nearest together—one in the middle of each 
joint in subdorsal space, and 2 smaller substigmatal ones. These spots are more or less obsolete 
on the thoracic and anal joints ; they are arranged transversely on the former, and the hairs arising 
from them are so insignificant that they are scarcely visible. Stigmata white, with a black annala- 
tion. Head free, smaller than joint 1, concolorous with body. Venter darker green with cream- 


‘ 
Tt THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


colored points. Legs of the same color, the thoracic with three brown, or black spots outside, the- 
prolegs with purplish clingers. Described from two grape-feeding, two poplar-feeding specimens.. 

Pupa.—Highly polished mahogony-brown, rather short and thick, impunctate, and with two 
small short spines and several fine curled bristles at the extremity. 

Imago.—Front Wings, with the costal margin more or less arched and the posterior margin: 
more or less scalloped or dentate ; general color brown, being variegated with a pale glossy gray, 
with more or less fulvous, glossy purple-brown and unpolished purple-black; the transverse an- 
terior nearly obsolete or tolerably well defined, in strong zigzag, pale with a dark shade each side; 
reniform spot entirely obsolete, or well indicated and pale; orbicular small and illy defined, or 
large and forming a pale ring with the centre sometimes concolorous, sometimes lighter than me- 
dian space, and with the basal side sometimes, not always, extended into a beak or point; trans- 
verse posterior well relieved inside but not outside, except at costa; itstarts distinctly about the 
middle or a little outside the middle of costa, runs outwardly at right angles along costal nerve, 
either its own width or twice its width, thence obliquely outwards towards the middle of the wing, 
with a more or less conspicuous inward jog or curve in discoidal cell; thence across the wing in 4 
undulations : in some specimens it makes an obtuse angle, so that the inner half runs parallel with 
the posterior margin, in others it runs almost straight across the wing, so asnot to be parallel with 
the margin at any point; in some it traverses the wing so as to leave a full third, in others so as to 
leave only a fourth of the wing outside; subterminal line pale and broken, scarcely distinguisha- 
ble, or well defined, especially at costa, where the apical space is pale and blends with it, or as 
brown as the restof wing and relieves it; aseries of 8 more or less distinct pale terminal dots, often 
relieved by an outer black shade, fringes concolorous : sometimes with a pale middle line often 
broken and appearing like a second series of dots; the posterior median space is the darkest, and 
the subterminal space the lightest portion of the wing, though the contrast is often very slight. 
In one dark specimen the sagittate spots and a longitudinal shade in the discoidal celland another 
below the sub-median nerve—the two dividing the wing in three equal parts longitudinally—are very 
conspicuous from their being very dark and without gloss; in two specimens these marks are en- 
tirely obsolete ; under surface smoky-gray, more or less suffused with fulvous, and with a dark 
shade below transverse posterior. Hind wings bright glossy cupreous, or with but a very faint tint 
of this color, and more or less distinctly grayish-brown along the costa to the third superior nerve 
and the upper posterior border ; fringe scalloped, grayish-brown, with an inner paler hue; under 
surface more or less concolorous, with the lunule indicated and with a broad line, half black, half 
cupreous. Thorax, with the scales large and mixed fulvous and brown. Abdomen, with the sides 
dark, intercepted by the fulvous margins of joints; anal tuft more or less rufous. Legs witk the 
tibiw and tarsi alternately fulvous and brown. Expanse 1.65-1.90 inches. 

Described from four bred and four captured specimens. 

The differences between tne European py) amidea and this species, as given by Guenée, are: First, 
In pyramidea the transverse posterior curves outward near the costa, so as to produce an inward sinus 
in the discoidal cell, while in pyramidoides it runs nearly straight and obliquely ; Secondly, in pyra- 
midoides this line is said to border a median space almost always darker than the rest of wing and 
absorbing the darker longitudinal lines, while the light lines are given as narrower than in pyremidea, 
and the subterminal more continued to costa, where it borders, or cuts, as Guenée has it, a light 
apical space. While the difference mentioned in the transverse posterior is tolerably constant in 
the elebt specimens of pyramidoides in my possession, I have seen two in cther collections where this 
line was almost a fac-simile of the same line in pyramidea; and the other characters, as will be seen 
from the above dezcription are quite variable, sometimes approaching the typical pyramidea and some- 
times the typical pyramidoides. The same variations doubtless occur in the European species, for if 
we Can rely on Mr. Edward Newman's figure (British Moths, p. 457,) the median space is sometimes 
as much darker than the subterminal in theirinsect as it is said, by Guenée, to be in ours Upon 
critically examining two European specimens of pyramidex in the collection of my friend, Mr. A. 
Bolter, of Chicago, I find this shade very distinct on the posterior portion of the median space, 
but instead of closely bordering and relieving the transverse posterior it fades somewhat before 
reaching it. The transverse posterior crosses the wing nearer the middle than in our species, leay- 
ing, in one of the specimens, more than one-third of the wing ontside. But the distinguishing 
features which struck me as less subject to variation than those mentioned by Guenée, are the 
somewhat more elongate wings aud the broader, more distinct, subterminal line of pyramidea. I 
have little doubt, however, but that from a hundred specimens of each species at least one pyrami- 
dea and one pyramidoides could be found that were undistinguishable in themselyes, The under- 
sides of the two species agree entirely, 


“THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 

There is but one other described, N. A. Amphipyra, namely, the A, inornata of Grote—(Pro 
Ent. Soc, Phil., III, p. 86,) which upon the very face of it, seems to be but a small variety of 
pyramidoides, as will be seen by comparing his description with that found above. The species 
was described from a single specimen belonging to Mr. Wm. Saunders, of London, Ont., who 
agrees with me in believing it to be but a variety of pyramidoides. 

Thave a unique in my cabinet which differs sovemarkably in the front wings from pyramidoides 
that I feel constrained to briefly describe it, and yet in all other characters it so closely resem-~ 
bles that species that I should hesitate to do so, had I not bred it from the larva. Itlooks exactly 
as though something had been sprinkled uniformily over the front wings and had eaten the dark 
color away in spots and splashes, but the specimen is in reality perfect, with not a scale rufiled- 
It may be called the Spattered Copper Underwing :— 

AMPHIPYRA conspeRsA, N, Sp.—Larva.—Found full grown July 2nd, 1867 on Hazel. No pyra- 
mindal hump, and of a uniform emerald-green, the dorsal palpitations visible and the stigmata pale 
with a black annulation, but with no other markings either on the head, body or legs. 

Imago—Like pyramidoides in every particular except that the brown of front wings is almost 
uniformily spattered over, more or less suffusely with pale grayish spots so that noregular marks 
appear. ‘The costal marks are however tolerably distinct as in pyramidoides and by careful exami~ 
nation and comparison, traces of the more conspicuous marks of that species may he discerned, 

Described from one @ bred July 31st. 


THE GRAPE-ROOT BORER~—Ageria polistiformis, Harr. 
(Lepidoptera, Ageridx.) 


The most common root-borers of the Grape-vine in this State are 
those which Ihave termed Gigantic Root-borers, namely, the larva 
of two large beetles (Prionus laticollis and P.imbricornis) which 
were treated of in my previous Reports. The insect now under con- 
sideration is a moth and nota beetle and has fora number of years 


been known as THE Grape-root Borer. It bears a very close resem- 
[Fig. 33.] 


Ul 


if 


blance to the common Peach Borer, both in habit, and in the size and 
general appearance of the larva, but itis asomewhat larger insect 
and the moths differ mater ally. 

It has usually been considered a Southern insect and certain it is 
that it isnot as destructive in the vinevards of Missourias the Gigantic 
borers. ButI captured specimens of the moth and found the larva 
in St. Louis county last summer, and it has long been known to be 
destructive throughout Kentucky. It was also reported around Cin- 


76 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


cinnati in 1867, though there is no evidence that the insects attacking 
vine roots there were this species and not the Gigantic borers. 

The larva can easily be distinguished from the Gigantic root- 
borers, by having 16 legs as in all normal Lepidopterous larve, 
namely, six true horny legs head near the and ten false or membranous 
legs, eight of which are in the middle and two at the end of the body. 
When full grown it measures from an inch to an inch and three-quar- 
ters, and it then forms a pod-like cocoon of a gummy sort of silk cov- 
ered with little bits of wood-bark and dirt, within or adjacent to the 
injured root. Within this cocoon it becomes a chrysalis which, in due 
time, by aid of rows of minute teeth with which it is farnished, works 
its way out of the cocoon to the surface of the ground, and gives forth 
the moth. As with the Peach Borer, this insect requires a year to 
develop and is found in its different states of larva, chrysalis and moth, 


throughout the summer months, and it doubtless also passes the 
winter asa larva. 


The moth looks very much like a wasp and especially like some 
belonging to the genus Polistes—whence its specific name—and the 
resemblance becomes still more striking when flying, for its flight is 
accompanied by a buzzing wasp-like noise. The sexes differ consid- 
erably though not as much asin the case of the Peach Borer. The 
colors are dark brown and tawny-orange, and the male is well repre- 
sented at Figure 33, a, and the female at 4, but as the description 
which was published seventeen years ago by Harris, and copied by 
Mr. Walsh in his Report, is brief and defective, I subjoin one which 
is more complete :— 


ZUGERIA POLISTIFORMIS, Harris,—Inago 9 —Head, including the palpi, orange-tawny. An- 
tenn simple, blue black ; orange-tawny above at their extreme base and tip and below for their 
entireleneth. Thorax black; varied with orange-tawny and bright yellow on the Jateral and 
posterior surface above, and below for its entire surface. Abdomen generally with the four basal 
joints black and the rest orange-tawny; sometimes almost entirely orange-tawny; sometimes 
almost entirely black; always with a narrow yellow ring at the tip of the second joint above 
and generally with another such ring at the tip of the fourth joint; venter mostly black with 
the tip of all the joints more or less edged with orange-tawny, and with a short lateral pencil 
of orange-tawny hairs springing from the tip of the penultimate joint below, and reaching a 
little beyond anus. Legs orange-tawny above, mostly black below but with a yellow patch at the 
origin of the middle spurs on the hind tibia. All the spurs and tarsi more or less tinged with yel- 
low. Front wings brown-black with a more or less distinct clear space at base, longitudinally tra- 
versed by anervure; hind wings hyaline, with the veins, the terminal edge and the fringe, brown- 
black. Length 0.66—0.85 inch ; expanse 1.15—1.50. 

The 4 differs from the Q as follows:—ist. he antenne are bipectinate four-fifths of the way 
to the tip, which is strongly clavate and, as in the Q, bears a few hairs at its apex. The bipec- 
tinations are fully one-fourth as long as the head is wide, and, as well as the entire basal half of 
the antenne are orange-tawny. 2nd. Both thorax and abdomen are darker, an‘ in addition to the 
pair cf short anal pencils below, there is a pair nearly twiceas long above. 3rd. The short hyaline 
space straddling a black nervure at base is more distinct. Length 0.68 inch; expanse 1.10 inch. 

Described from 1 381 Q bred July 8th—16th, from grape roots, and others captured during 
Aucust at Kirkwood, Mo. It is remarkable that although Dr. Harris chronicles in his correspond- 
dence with Dr. LeBaron, as a notable event, his having captured an Ageria with pectinate anten- 
nz in New England in 1850, * in 1854, when for the first time he described the moth of our Grape- 


*Marris correspondence, p. 262. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. Th 


root borer, he did not say a single word about the ¢' antenne being bipectinate, if we are to judge 
from the account he gives ina Report made to the American Pomological Society in 1854 (p 10.) 
Hither his Q' specimens had lost their antennz, or the pectinations were rubbed off, the former 
being the more likely occurrence. Certain it is that the males received by Dr. Harris once had 
pectinated antenne, for though Mr. Glover, copying after Harris, likewise fails to mention this 
sexual character in his account published in the Patent Office Report for 1854 (p. 80), he neverthe-~ 
less plainly figures the pectinations (Ibid, Pl. 6, lower right hand figure) and the specimens from 
which he made the figure were received from the very same person who furnished Dr. Harris with 
his specimens. 


Unlike the Peach Borer which makes its abode quite near the 
surface, this borer lives exclusively under ground, and unlike the 
Gigantic root-borers which hollow out and bore up along the heart of 
the roots, it confines itself almost entirely to bark and sap-wood, and 
the effects of its work are consequently more fatal to the vine. Roots 
attacked by it, to use one of Mr. Walsh’s expressions, look “asif a 
drunken carpenter had been diligently scooping away the sap-wood 
with a quarter-inch gouge.” It must, however, sometimes hide under 
the bark of the roots, as Mr. H. J. Kron of Albemarle, North Carolina, 
in the Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture for 1867, (p. 
329), describes it as being shielded by the bark. 


RemepDiges—It has been ascertained by observation and experi- 
ment that the Scuppernong grape-vine—which, according to Gray, is 
a cultivated variety of the Southern Fox Grape (witis vulpina)—is 
never attacked by this borer, and consequently that other varieties 
grafted on to the Scuppernong share its immunity from attack. This 
is a very easy mode of preventing its ravages in the more Southern 
States where the Scuppernong flourishes; and if this borer should ever 
become very numerous with us,it may be deemed advisable to in- 
troduce that stock here. At present we have no other preventive 
than mounding, and the insect is so comparatively scarce that I have 
not yet had an opportunity of testing whether such mounding would 
work as well as it does with the Peach Borer. When it is once ascer- 
tained that the borers are at work on a vine, they may be destroyed 
by clearing away the earth and applying hot water to the roots. 


THE SPOTTED PELIDNOTA—Pelidnota punctata, Linn. 


(Coleoptera, Scarabxid.) 


This is the largest and most conspicuous beetle that attacks the 
foliage of the Grape-vine, and in the beetle state it seems to sub- 
sist entirely on the leaves of this plant, and of the closely allied 
Virginia Creeper. Though some years it becomes so abundant 
as to badly riddle the foliage of our vineyards, yet such instan- 


7S THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


[Fig.34.] _ ces are exceptional: and it usu 

ally occurs in such small num- 
bers, and is so large and clumsy, 
that it can not be considered a 
very redoubtable ere ny. 

Its larva has, for anumber of 
years been known to feed on 
the decaying roots of different 
trees, but was first described by 
me inet September.* It is a 
large clumsy grub (Fig. 34, a) 
bearing a close resemblance to 
the common White Grub of 
our meadows, and it difters 
from that species principally 
in being less wrinkled, and in 
having the chitinous covering (or skin, so-called) more polished and 
of a pure white color, and in the distinet heart-shaped swelling 
above the anus (Fig. 34, d). Towards the latter part of June I 
have found this larva in abundance, in company with the pupa 
(Fig. 34, 5), in rotten stumps and roots of the Pear. In pre- 
paring for the pupa state, the larva forms a rather unsubstantial 
cocoon of its own excrement, mixed with the surrounding wood. ‘The 
pupa state lasts but from eight to ten days, and the beetle (Fig. 34, ¢) 
is found on our vines during the months of July, August and Septem- 
ber. It is not yet known how long a time is required for the develop 
ment of the larva, but from analogy we may infer that the insect 
lives in that state upwards of three years. 

This beetle was named about a century ago by Linnzeus who met 
with aspecimen in the magnificent collection of shells and insects 
belonging to Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden. It occurs throughout 
the States and Upper Canada, and is even met with in the West 
Indies. It flies and feeds by day, and is most abundant during the 
months of July and August. The wing-covers are of aslightly metal- 
lic clay-vellow color, with three distinct black spots on each, and the 
wings themselves are dark-brown inclining to black; the thorax is 
usually a little darker than the wing-covers, with one spot each side; 
the abdomen beneath, and legs, are of a bronzed-green. It is easily 
kept in check by hand-picking. 

PeLipNota punctata, hinn.—Larva (Fig. 34, a)—Length 2 inches; clumsy, moving on the 
side. Head, bright chestnut-brown, smooth, rounded, with a short, impressed, longitudinal line 
on the top, and three shallow impressions in front; epistoma trapezoidal and darker; Jabrum 
rough, irregularly punctate, and heset on the margin with a few stiff rufous hairs; antennx (Fig. 
34, e) as long as epistoma and labrum together, 4-jointed exclusive of bulbus or tubercle in which 
they are inserted ; joints cylindrical, proportioned in length as 2, 6, 4, 1, the terminal joint being 
often a mere bud; mandibles strong and black, with three denticulations at tip, and a very slight 


tocth at inner basal portion; maxilla brown and subcylindricai on outside, angulated on inside, 
bearing two lobes, each termin: iting in an iInwardly-curved corneous tooth, and each furnished 


- Sst 


* See American Entomologist and Botanist, Vol. I, p. 299. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1) 


on their inner narrow edge with stiff bristles, the outside one arising close by base of palpus, the 
inside one extending lower down, and recalling by its form, the terminal joint of the front leg of 
a scorpion; maxillary palpi 4-jointed, joints cylindrical, short, very gradually longer and longer 
from 1 to 4, the terminal joint more pointed and narrower than the others; labium qttadrangular, 
labial palpi 2-jointed, the palpigerous piece strongly beset with bristles, Body, smooth with but a 
few wrinkles at thorax ; polished translucent white, with faint bluish marblings on all but thoraci¢ 
joints which are slightly narrower than the rest; a narrow vascular dorsal lire, and a very slight 
yellowish horny plate in a depression on joint 1; a very slight pubescence observable, and a trans- 
verse tergal row of sparse but tolerably long hairs on posterior part of each joint; more dense and 
conspicuous hairs on lower sides of anal joint, which joint is short, cut offsquarely, with a heart» 
shaped swelling [Fig. 34, d) sunk into a circular depression, each lobe of the heart with a darker 
oval corneous elevation; spiracles sub-elliptical, dark chestnut-brown, placed on a prominent 
swelling, the lateral openings all facing the head, the Ist on joint 1, the rest on joints 4, 5, 6, 7, &, 
9, 10 and 11, gradually becoming smaller and smaller from first to last. Legs (Fig. 34, f) horny, 
light-brown and covered sparsely with hairs ; cox long ard stout, with a rounded swelling at low- 
er anterior edge; femora cylindrical, sometimes, distinctly, at others indistinctly, separated from 
tibia, sometimes prolonged into a thorn below, with a distinct carina along the inside, at others 
not; tibia cylindrical, incrassated anteriorly, especially below; tarsi -cylindrical and terminating 
in a distinct claw. 


Pupa (Fig. 34, b) of the form of Lachnosterna. 
Described from 12 living specimens. 


THE GRAPE VINE FLEA-BEETLE—//altica chalydea, Niger. 


(Coleoptera, Chrysomelide.) 


[Fig. 35.] 


Is there a grape-grower in 
the State of Missouri who does 
not know, to his sorrow, what 
the Grape-vine Flea-beetle is ? 
Hardly one! And yethow few 
ever connect it with its dis- 
gusting little shiny brown lar- 
vee, which generally prove still 
more injurious than tne beetle, 
by riddling the leaves in the 
middle of the summer. 

The Grape-vine Flea-beetle 
(Fig. 35, d )often goes by the 
eognomon of “Steel-blue Bee- 
tle,” and) is: even ‘du bie 
Thrips” by some vineyardists. 

The Jatter term, however, is 
entirely inapplicable.* The former name is not sufficiently charac- 


es 


* The term Thrips is confined to an anomalous group of insects—mostly cannibal, but excep- 
tionally vegetable feeding—of which Halliday made a separate Order (Thysan ptera), but which are 
to-day included in the Homoptera, or Whole-winged Bugs, by most authors, though they seem te 
have close affinities to the Ordhoptera, and to the Pseudoncuroptera. 


80 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


teristic, because the color varies from steel-blue to metallic-green and 
purple, and because there are many other flea beetles to which it 
would equally apply. 

The Grape-vine Flea-beetle is found in all parts of the United 
States and in the Canadas, and it habitually feeds on the Alder (A/- 
nus serrulata), as well as upon the wild and cultivated Grape-vine. 
Its depredations seem first to have been noticed in 1831, by Judge 
Darling, of Connecticut, and in 1834 Mr. David Thomas, of New York, 
published an account of it in the 26th volume of Silliman’s American 
Journal of Science. Its transformations were, however, unknown till 
some time after Dr. Harris wrote his excellent work on Injurious In- 
sects, and the figure of the larva was first published by myself last 
fall. 

The beetles hibernate in a torpid state under any shelter which 
is afforded them in the vineyard, such as the loose bark and crevices 
of stakes, etc., etc., and they are roused to activity quite early in the 
spring. The greatest damage is done by them at this early season. 
for they often bore into and scoop out the unopened buds, and thus 
blight the grape-grower’s bright expectations. As the leaves expand, 
the little jumping rascals feed on the leaves, and soon pair and de- 
posit their small orange eggs in clusters, very much asin the case of 
the Colorado Potato-beetle. These eggs soon hatch into dark-col- 
ored larvee, which may be found of all sizes during the latter part of 
May and early part of June. They are generally found on the upper 
surface of the leaf, which they so riddle and devour as to give it the 
appearance represented at Figure 35, a. When very numerous they 
devour all but the very largest leaf-ribs, and I have seen the wild 
vines throughout whole strips of country rendered most unsightly by 
the utter denudation which these insects had wrought. The larve 
feed for nearly a month, and when full grown present the appearance 
of Figure 35, }, the hair line at the side showing the natural size. 
They then descend trom the vine and bury themselves a short dis- 
tance in the earth, where, after each forming a little earthen cell (Fig. 
35, c), they change to pup of a deep dull yellow color, and in about 
three weeks more issue as beetles. hese beetles leave the ground 
from the middle of June to the middle of July, and, so far as I am 
aware, do not breed again tiil the following spring—there being but 
one brood each year. They subsist on the leaves during the fall, but 
the damage they inflict is trifling compared to that which they cause 
in spring. 

[Fig. 36.] Like all other Flea-beetles, this species has very stout, 
swollen hind thighs, which, though hidden in Figure 35, d, 
are well represented in the accompanying cut (Fig. 36). By 
means of these strong thighs they are enabled to jump 
about very energetically, and are consequently very diffi- 

* cult to manage during the summer months. In the winter 
time, however, they can be destroyed in great numbers while hidden 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 81 


in a torpid state in their retreats, for Dr. E.S. Hull, of Alton, [linois, 
iells us* that they were once so numerous in a small vineyard of his 
that in the spring of 1867 he burnt them out by surrounding them 
with fire, and letting the fire run through the dry grass in the vine- 
yard. “It was a rough remedy, but as his crop was destroyed, he let 
the beetles follow suit.” Clean culture and general cleanliness in a 
vineyard will, to a great extent, prevent this insect’sincrease. Hspe- 
cially should the stakes be clean and free from old bark. 

_ The larvee can be more easily destroyed by an application of dry 
lime, used with a common sand-blower or bellows. This has been 
found to be more effectual than either lye or soap-suds, and is withal 
the safest, as lye, if used too strong, will injure the leaves. 

This insect, like so many others, will one year swarm prodigiously, 
and then again be scarcely noticed; and such changes in its numbers 
depend mainly on conditions of the weather, as no parasite is known 
to attackit. In the spring of 1868, though they were at first out in 
full force, yet after some subsequent severe and cold weather, they 
had mostly disappeared. They are apt to be most troublesome where 
Alder abounds in the woods. 


HALricaA CHALYBEA, Ilig.—Full-grown Larva.—Length, 0.35 inch. Head polished black. 
Body livid-brown above, paler beneath; subcylindrical, the joints bulging, especially at sides, and 
each divided superiorly into two transverse folds ; on each fold a row of six shiny-black elevated 
spots, the dorsal ones larger than the others, and often (especially the posterior two) confluent, or 
divided only by a very narrow dorsal line; each spot giving rise to a single short stiff hair; one 
such substigmatal black spot placed in middle of joint, and more elongated than the rest, being 
apparently composed of two confluent ones, as it gives rise to two hairs. Three ventral spots, one 
anteriorly, which is large, transversely-elongate, central, and without hairs; and two posteriorly 
(one each side) which are small and piliferous. Six black thoracic legs, and one anal orange pro- 
leg. 

Pupa.—Length, 0.14 inch. Of the normal Chrysomelid form. Deep dull yellow, and covered 
more or less above with short black bristles arranged in a transverse row across each joint, and each 
arising from a slight elevation: two stouter anal bristles or thorns. Eyes brown. Tips of jaws 
brown. 

Described from numerous living specimens. 


THE GRAPE-VINE COLASPIS—(Oodlaspis Havida, Say. 
(Coleoptera, Chrysomelidz.) 
There is alittle clay-yellow beetle (Fig. 37, magnified, natural 
size), which does great injury to the Grape-vine by riddling the 


[Fig. 37.] leaves. It is more or less abundant with us. every 
: A year, but judging from recorded accounts is still more 


_injurious in the Eastern States, ard especially in New 

f York. Inthe Country Gentleman for August 80th, 

» 1866, occurs the following account of it by Dr. Fitch, 

‘2>in answer toa correspondent who wrote that they 
were destroying grape-vines by the wholesale: 


* Proc. Alton Hort. Soc. for May, 1867. 
S E—6 


£9 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


“The rascals alluded to are a beetle of the Chrysomela family, 
and are the Brown Colaspis,* Colaspis brunnea, Fab. It is an oval, 
drab-colored beetle, nearly twice as long as broad, and nearly two- 
tenths of an inch in length, having the outer edge of his wing covers 
black, and also the under side of its body and the tip of its antenna. 
It is rather a common insect throughout the United States, appearing 
in the latter part of June, each year, and continuing through the 
month of July. Ihave frequently gathered it from the wild grape- 
vine, the Cinguefoil or Potentilla,and some other plants, but have 
never known it to invade the cultivated grape until this year. 

It has this season been the worst enemy that has attacked the 
vine in my neighborhood—riddling the leaves with sinall round holes, 
interspersed with large irregular ones—and I hear of it in several 
other parts of the country. x % * 

Wherever the Leaf-folder(Fig.24) abounds, this beetle will almost 
invariably be found in conjunction with it in the fold of the leaf. On 
finding it so invariably in this fold, I at first supposed that it merely 
took advantage of the -position for shelter, little ‘suspecting that it 
would feed upon the worm, since the family to which it belongs is 
essentially herbivorous, and the Leaf folder is so very active ; but from 
having found numbers of the shrunken and half-dead worms, I was 
led to conjecture that it does actually prey upon them; just as 
many true bugs ( Hemiptera) though living naturally on the juices 
of plants, will still appropriate and relish those of certain caterpillars. 
‘Thus may one great pest serve to check another! 

Of the natural histcry of this beetle nothing has hitherto been 
‘Known. As the beetle was often found upon and greedily devours 
the leaves of the Strawberry, and as a white worm was known to in- 
jure the roots of that plant, I inferred several years ago (Prairie 
Farmer Annual 1868, p. 56), that this worm was the larva of the Co- 
laspis. From the facts, however, that the larva of the European (o- 
laspis barbara was described as a hexapod, blackish, glabrous grub 


* Dr. Fitch referred this insect to brunnea, Fabr., and Mr. Walsh (Practical Entomologist, I, 
p- 68) criticised his course, and referred the species to flavida, Say. JI adopt Say’s name simply 
because it best indicates the general appearance of the insect, and not because I think Mr. Walsh 
was right in his strictures. Ihave kindly been allowed to examine Dr. Fitch’s specimens; have 
examined specimens in other large Eastern collections, and those in the Walsh collection, andam 
convinced that the difficulty between the above two authors arises from the confounding of varie- 
ties with species. It is here, asin almost every other genus and Family, the closet systematist 
divides up and arranges with insufficient knowledge of the variation which species are subject to, 
and this was especially the case in years gone by, when every little colorational difference was 
generally supposed to be immutable. The naturalist, therefore, who studies insects for other and 
more laudable purposes than the mere naming and classifying of them, though fully aware of the 
importance and necessity of good and clear nomenclature, may well despair of bringing order out 
of the confusion which often exists, and which the miserably short and incomplete descriptions of 
older authors have had much to do in causing. The economist can spend his time more profitably, 
and so long as he always adds the authority to the name he uses, there wil! be no danger of causing 
more confusion, and he can coolly disregard the interminable disputes between different authors as 
to the proper technical name by which an insect should be known. In the present case, I simply give 
itasmy opinion that brunnea, Fabr., suilla, Fabr., and flavida, Say, are all varieties of one species, 
because specimens according with each are found in the same vineyard, and because Say himself 
olives a variation in favida, which differs much more from his description than does either brunnea 
tor suilla. Mr. Walsh gives the antenna of flavida as having the last joint or two, and the tip of 
the last joint but four, brown-black, but there is variation here, and the dark color on the Jast joint 
but four is often obsolete. The exterior edges of the elytra are either concolorous or of all shades 
of brown to black, and the same may be said of the sutural edges. There is also a somewhat 
Jarger form, which must certainly be referred to the same species, which has the punctures so 
muuch less profound as to give it 2 much smoother and more highly polished appearance. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83 


living unprotected upon the leaves of lucern and clover,* and that 
such was the character of the larvz of most other insects belonging 
to the great Chrysomela family, I had little confidence that my ref: 
erence would prove the correct one. Yet it so proved to be, and I 
have bred the beetle from larve infesting strawberry roots that were 
kindly sent to me by Mr. J. B. Miller, of Anna, Ils. Just asin the 
European Turnip Flea-beetle (PAyllotreta nemorum), the larva mines 
the leaves above ground, while in our very closely allied Striped 
Flea-beetle (Phyllotreta striolata, Illig.), it feeds upon the roots be- 
low ground; so there seems to be the same difference of habit in the 
genus Colaspis. In this last case the difference is not only of habit, 
but the structure is modified in accordance with the habit, and we 
have in our Grave-vine Colaspis a Chrysomelid larva bearing a very 
close resemblance to that of a Lamellicorn. 

It is indeed a most singular larva, and differs from all others with 
whichI am acquainted, in having on the underside of the legless 
joints a pair of curious fieshy projections reminding one of legs, and 
terminating in about two stiff hairs (Fig. 38, @). The office of these 
appendages it is difficult to conjecture, for they seem to impede rather 

[Fig. 38.] than aid in locomotion on a flat surface, though, 
when the habits of the larva are more critically 
studied, these appendages will doubtless be found to 
subserve some useful purpose. The color of this larva 

eee 5/18 yellowish or grayish-white with a gamboge-yel- 
{esmasre low head. The pupa is formed in the ground and ex- 
Noes hibits no unusual characters. 
{h We are now only treating of this insect as a 
Grape-vine pest; but it is difficult to say whether the 
Crown-borer (Fig. 14) or this root-eater is the most 
psa injurious to the Strawberry. ‘lhe work of the two is 
essentially different, the white Crown-borer confining itself to the 
crown, and its more dingy ally devouring the fibrous roots and work- 
ing into the more woody parts from the outside. At this work sev- 
eral of them may frequently be seen with their heads stuck into differ- 
ent parts of one root. They may be found upon the roots all through 
the fall, winter and spring months, and do not begin to change to 
pupz in this latitude till about the month of June, the beetles ap- 
pearing during that month and continuing to issue from the ground 
till towards fall. As soon as they issue from the ground they com- 
mence to feed upon the tender leaves, and in a measure injure the 
plants by riddling them with holes. After feeding for a while on 
strawberry leaves, and depositing their eggs, they spread on to other 
plants and are generally found most numerous in the vineyard dur- 
ing the latter part of July and during August, where, according to 
Mr. Miller, they show a partiality for the leaves of the Delaware. 


*Notice sur les Devastations de la Larve du Colaspis barbara, par M. Leon Dufour—Annales de 
Ja Soc. Ent. de France, 1836, pp. 371—372. 


St THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Such, in brief, is the history of this common beetle, as far as Ihave 
been able to trace it. It doubtless has natural enemies, and ants are 
so fond of the helpless pup that the Colaspis never occurs on the 
roots where they abound. The evil effects of its work are more ap- 
parent on young and newly set plants than on older ones, and the 
only way to prevent the ravages of the worm, which we yet know of, 
is to so protect newly set plants that the beetles will not get access 
to them. I have had no opportunity to make experiments, but it may 
turn out that some application to the ground or to the plant, such as 
ashes, soot, lime, or salt, will ward off the perfect beetle, and I shall 
be glad to hear reports from those who are troubled with the pest. 
The same remedies used in killing the Colorado Potato-beetle would 
also kill this species. 

CoLASPIS FLAVIDA, Say—Larva, (Fig. 38)—Color dingy yellowish; uniformly covered with 
sparse stiff yellowish hairs. Having the general appearance of a Lamellicorn larva. Slightly 
arched but capable of stretching out tolerably straight. Narrowest in middle of body, the tho- 
racic and anal joints being slightly swollen. The joints with about three dorsal wrinkles to each. 
Head honey-yellow, rounded, flattenedin front; epistoma and labrum of same color; jaws darker. 
Legs pale, setous, and terminating ina brown claw. Spiracles scarcely perceptible, the first 
sub-vyentral between joints 1 and 2, the others placed on a lateral series of swellings commencing 
with joint 4. Joints 4-11 inclusive, each with a pair of soft ventral leg-like appendages, ending 


in two or more stiff hairs. Anal joint somewhat horny below (Fig. 38, b) but with no trace of 
prolegs. Length 0.25—0.30 inch. Described from two rather poor alcoholic specimens. 


THE GRAPE-LEAF GALL-LOUSE—Piyllovera vitifolie, Fitch. 


(Homoptera, Aphide.) 


Here we have an insect, the life-history of which is as interesting 
to the entomologist as its devastations are alarming to the grape- 
[Fig. 39-] grower. I have given it consid- 
erable attention the past summer, 
and though it is a difficult task 
to present definite and satisfac- 
re tory information from the muiti- 
x e tude of facts obtained, yet Ishall 
pau ©endeavor to give a comprehen- 
Mm Fy ive account of this little louse, 
* se far as my present enowledee 
of it will permit. In doing so I 
1 fully aware that 
we . am made painfully aw 
5 there is much room left for fur- 
ther observations, and he who 
will patiently and persistently 
devote his time for a few years to 
its study, and ill with candor and accuracy give to the world the re- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. &5 


sults, will doubtless be rewarded by new and important discoveries, 
and will render valuable service to the cause of science and of econ- 
omic entomology. 

The first reference to this insect was briefly made by Dr. Fitch, of 
New York, in the year 1856,** and he subsequently described it in a 
very insufficient manner, under the name of Pemphigus vitifolie ;* 
but though the specific name must be retained, the insect was wrongly 
referred to the genus Pemphigus, as we shall presently see. Ten 
years afterwards this louse was again referred to by myself in the 
Prairie Farmer for August 3, 1866, and during the fall of the same 
year articles were written upon it by Dr. Shimer,t and by my late as- 
sociate, Mr. Walsht—the former claiming that it was a true Plant- 
louse (Aphis family), and the latter that it was.a Bark-louse ( Coccus 
family). In this Dr. Shimer was evidently right, and Mr. Walsh 
wrong. In January, 1867, Dr. Shimer proposed for this insect a new 
family (DactyLospumrip#),§ which, in my opinion, cannot stand. 

But not to weary the general reader with purely scientific ques- 
tions, I shall give the reasons for my opinion on this point, together 
with some other details, in smaller type at the close. 

This louse was subsequently treated of by Mr. Walsh in his report 
as Acting State Entomologist of Illinois (pp. 21-24), where he still 
felt inclined to place it with the Bark-lice, though Ihave good reason 
to believe that he afterwards changed his mind. During all this time 
a serious disease of the roots of the Grape-vine began to attract at- 
tention in the south of France, and it finally caused such alarm that 
the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in France offered a prize 
of 20,000 francs for the discovery of an efficacious and practical rem- 
edy. 

A special commission was also appointed to draw up a programme 
of conditions, examine memoirs submitted "to it, settle the experi- 
ments to be made, collect evidence from local commissions, and if 
they saw reason for so doing, to award the prize offered by govern- 
ment. The commission consisted of M. Dumas, M. Milne Edwards 
and M. Duchartre, of the Paris Academy of Sciences; M. Gervais, M. 
Planchon, M. Henri Mares and M. Louis Vialla, of Montpellier; the 
Comte de Vergue, of Gironde; M. Bedel, of Vaucluse, and three 
members of the Ministry of Agriculture. 

The disease is known as pourridie, or rotting. Itis in the form 
of little cankerous spots, which cut off the supply of nourishment 
and cause the roots to rot, and these spots were ascertained by 
‘MM. Planchon and Lichtenstein, of Montpellier, to be caused by a 
louse (Phylloxera vastatriz, Planchon,) which bears a close resem- 


* Rep. 3, 2 117. 

} Prairie Farmer, Noy. 3 and Dec. 8, 1866. 

t Pract. Ent., Vol. I, p. 111; Vol. II, p. 19; and Proc. Ent. Soc., Phil., VI, pp. 283-4, notes. 
@ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., Jan. 1867. 


S6 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


blance to our gall-insect. This is not all, for a leaf-gall absolutely 
identical with ours also occurs there, and the identity of the gall-in- 
habiting with the root-inhabiting insect was demonstrated by “J. O. 
W.,” in the Gardener’s Chronicle, of England, for January 30, 1869, 
and M. J. Lichtenstein even contended that their European species 
was identical with ours, and imported from this country, in which 
opinion he was supported by A. Combe-Dalmas.* 

Of course these views expressed in Hurope gave increased inter- 
est to our own gall-louse, and I determined to make every effort to 
decide the question of identity, together with some other questions 
which presented themselves. To this end I opened correspondence 
with M. V. Signoret and M. J. Lichtenstein, who were making experi- 
ments in France while I was doing the same here. But the blighting 
effects of the war have not only entailed untold misery and woe to 
millions in France, but have either paralyzed or effectually balked 
scientific investigation within her borders, so that at last accounts M. 
Lichtenstein was in Spain, and M. Signoret shut up in Paris.+ I was, 
however, fortunate enough to receive from the latter gentleman, a 
few days previous to the investment of Paris, a letter stating that 
upon examination of specimens of our gall-lice, which I had expressed 
to him, he was convinced of their identity with the European species. 
This was indeed satisfactory, and coupled with the fact that I have 
discovered that our gall-insect likewise attacks the roots of our vines 
in precisely the same manner as does the European species, and that 
the winged specimens found in this country by Dr. Shimer agree in 
having the characteristic dusky band around the middle of the tho- 
rax described in the winged female of Europe, it leaves no doubt in 
my mind that the insects of the two continents are really identical. 

As already stated, the war put a stop to investigations in Irance, 
and we do not know that any effectual remedy was discovered, or that 
the premium was disposed of. Carbolic acid, and two other sub- 
stances, namely, sulphuret of lime dissolved in water, and an empy- 
reumatical oil, known among veterinary surgeons by the name of “oil 
of cade,” dissolved in water, were found to be the best specifics ; but 
neither of them have been tried on a sufficiently extensive scale, and 
I have little faith in any medicinal remedy. 

The two parties who have written most upon the disease, namely, 
Mr. Signoret and M. Lichtenstein, took entirely opposite grounds as 
to its cause. The former claimed that it had a botanical rather than 
an entomological cause, that it was principally due to drouth, bad 
culture and poor soil, and that the Phyllowera was therefore inci- 
dental; and acting upon this view, suggested that water, with manure 


* Insectologie Agricole, 1869, p. 189. ; 

| Since the above was written, I have heard from M. Signoret through M. Lichtenstein. 
Nothing daunted by the siege, the former carried on his studies of this little louse, and wrote by 
balloon, that though he himself was reduced to cats, dogs and horse-flesh, the Phylloxera, which 
he had in boxes, kept well and in good health. No doubt our enthusiastic friend finds much solace 
in thus pursing knowledge under difficulties. 


TRE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. Sv 


and good cultivation, would do away with it; while the latter main- 
tained that the PAyllozera was the sole cause of the trouble. There 
are, doubtless, certain conditions of soil which will prove favorable to 
the increase of the louse, and it may also be influenced by the sea- 
sons and by good or poor cultivation; but that this insect should be 
found only on such roots as are already diseased is highly improbable, 
and there can be no reasonable doubt that M. Lichtenstein is right in’ 
attributing the disease directly to the Phyllowera. The appearance 
of mites is the almost inevitable consequence of diseased and rotting 
vegetation, but Plant-lice cannot live on such vegetation, and inva- 
riably leave it as soon as they have, by their punctures, reduced the 
healthy tissues to such a state. Moreover, the history of our louse, 
which I shall now proceed to give, corroborates M. Lichtenstein’s 
views. 

In Missouri this insect has proved very injurious to the Clinton 
vine for several years past—at least as far back as 1864, when the fo- 
liage of the Clinton was reported, in the proceedings of our State Hor- 
ticultural Society, as“very bad”—and Mr. Geo. Husmann informed me 
that in 1869, it actually defoliated three-fourths of an acre of Clin- 
tons and Taylors on bottom land at Bluffton, though it did not appear 
te do much injury on the hills. It was quite bad around Kirkwood 
the present year, and, judging from reports, of correspondents and 
from my own observations, it was more than usually abundant in most 
of the Eastern States. 

In this latitude the first galls are noticed by about the middle of 
May, and by the middle of June they begin to be quite common. It 
occurs most abundantly on the Clinton and Taylor, but is also found 
on the wild Frost Grape( V. cordifolia), and such other cultivated 
varieties of it as Golden Clinton and Huntington; also on the Dela- 
aware, and early in the year I even found a few large galls on the 
Concord. According to Dr. Morse it also occurs on the Iona, which is 
a variety of the Northern Fox Grape ( V. /abrusca). The galls vary 
somewhat in appearance, according to the vine upon which they 
occur, those Ihave noticed en the wild Frost Grape being more 
hirsute than those on the cultivated Clinton, and these again rougher 
than on the Taylor. 

The few individuals which start the race early in the year station 
themselves upon the upper side of the leaves, and by constant suc- 
tion and irritation soon cause the leaf to swell irregularly on the op- 
posite side, while the upper part of the leaf gradually becomes fuzzy 
and closes, so that the louse at last sinks from view, and is snugly sat- 
tled in her gall. Here she commences depositing, her bulk increasing 
during pregnancy. Eventually she grows to be very plump and 
swollen, acquires a deep yellow or orange tint, and crowds the space 
within the gall with her small yellow eggs, numbering from fifty to 
four or five hundred, according to the size of the gall. The young 
lice are pale yellow, and appear as at Figure 40, d,e. As soon as 


88 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


they are hatched they escape from the gall through the orifice on the 
upper surface of the leaf, which was never entirely closed; and, ta- 
king up their abode on the young and tender leaves, in their turn 
form galls. The mother-louse, after completing her deposit, dies, and 
the gall which she occupied dries up. There are several generations 
during the year, and this process goes on as long as the vines put 
forth fresh leaves. As the galls multiply and the growth of the vine 
becomes less vigorous, the young lice sometimes so completely cover 
the upper surface of the newly expanded leaves as not to leave room 
for them all to form galls. In this event the leaf soon perishes, and 
the lice perish with it. When two or more lice are stationed closely 
together they often form but one gall, which accounts for the pres- 
ence of the several females that are sometimes observed in a single 
gall. Those leaves which have been badly attacked turn brown or 
black, and sooner or later fall to the ground, so that the vine may be- 
come entirely denuded. 

By August the insects generally become so prodigiously multi- 
plied that they often settle on the tendrils, leaf-stalks, and tender 
branches, where they form excrescences and gall-like growths, differ- 
ing only from those on the leavesin such manner as one would natu- 
rally expect from the difference in the plant tissues. By this time 
the many natural enemies of the lice begin to play sad havoc with 
them; and after the vine has finished its growth, the young lice, find- 
ing no more succulent and suitable leaves, begin to wander and to seek 
the roots, so that by the end of September the galls are deserted, and 
those few remaining on the vines generally become mildewy, and 
finally turn brown and dry up. Upon the roots the lice attach them- 
selves singly, or in little groups, and cause by their punctures little 
swellingsand knots, which eventually become rotten. Where vines 
have been badly affected with the gall, it is difficult to find a perfectly 
healthy ‘fibrous root. Strange enough, these lice not only change 
their residence as winter approaches, from the leaf above ground to 
the root below ground, just like the: Moor, who, having passed the 
summer on his roof, gets into his house in the winter; but, Proteus- 
like, they change their appearance in shedding their skins, and at the 
present writing (Nov. 6th) have all become tubercled, as represented 
at Figure 40, g. 

No doubt the insect passes the winter on the roots in this tuber- 
cled state, but whether in the spring these tubercled individuals pro- 
duce winged males and females, which rise in the air, pair, and by de- 
positing eggs give birth to the apterous females which found the gall- 
producing colonies; or whether, as spring opens, they lay eggs on 
the roots, and the young hatching from these eggs crawl up on to the 
leaves and found those gall-producing colonies, are questions yet to 
be settled in the life-history of our Grape leaf-louse. The former hy- 
pothesis is, however, by far the most probable, for analogy would lead 
us to infer that winged males and females must be developed at some 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. §9 


time during its annual course, and winged males are so rare in the 
galls that I have never been able to find them, though I have opened 
thousands upon thousands of the galls during the ‘summer and fall 
months. Dr. Shimer, indeed, is the only fortunate individual who has 
found the winged insect in the galls, and, as he himself tells us, he 
only succeeded in finding four specimens in the fall of the year, after 
cutting open ten thousand galls; and he has really given us no proof 
that his winged specimens were really males, and not females. Let 
us hope, however, that by pointing out the gapsin the biological his- 
tory of this insect, attention will be drawn to them, so that they may 
be the more readily filled. 

These discoveries lead us to some most important practical con- 
siderations. It now becomes evident that this insect can be trans- 
ported from one place to another on the roots, either upon trans- 
planted vines or inearth containing fibrous roots. Doubtless it was 
by some such mode as this that the insect was introduced into France 
from this country. It may be in this manner likewise that it has in 
part spread from one portion of our country to another, though as it 
is found indigenously on the wild Frost Grape, the greater probabili- 
ties are that it exists wherever this wild grape is found, and has grad- 
ually spread from it on to the cultivated varieties. These probabili- 
ties are strengthened by the fact that new grape wood is always rooted 
in the spring, when the lice, according to my views, are leaving the 
roots. But the important fact remains, that the insect winters on the 
roots, and that to exterminate it from a vineyard we have but to root 
up and destroy, late in the fall, such vines as were affected with the 
galls. From the poor success that has attended the experiments 
made abroad to destroy the lice on the roots, and from the fact that it 
is so difficult to reach them, I have little hope that any other remedy 
will be found than that of extermination by the means indicated, or 
by plucking and destroying the gall-infested leaves as fast as they ap- 
pear in the spring. 

Another very important practical lesson may be derived from the 
facts here mentioned, namely, that no variety of the Frost Grape 
(V. cordifolia) should be cultivated and encouraged where those of 
the Fox Grape ( V. labrusca) or of the Summer Grape (V. estivalis) 
are known to beas good. Some of our best grape-growers, especially 
in the Mississippi Valley, already discard the Clinton and its nearest 
relatives as worthless, and, considering its liability to this disease, we 
heartily commend their conduct. 

At the 15th annual meeting of the Hlinois State Horticultural 
Society, at Galesburg, the Clinton was highly recommended by Mr. 
D. B. Wier, of Lacon, Ills., principally for its vinous and medicinal 
qualities; but in this recommendation he did not meet with much 
support except from Dr. Hull the State Horticulturist, who also, in 
the course of his remarks sustained Mr. Wier in his recommendation 
of the Clinton, though in our own State Horticultural Report for 1864 


90 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


(p. 66.) he is reported as being much inclined to discard it, his objec- 
tion being thatitis “troubled by the apple-worm”—by which is doubt- 
less intended, the Grape-berry Moth. 

There is some difference of opinion among botanists and expe- 
rienced grape-growers as to the number of indigenous species of the 
Grape-vine, and as to the true character of some of the cultivated 
varieties. Some botanists are inclined to the opinion that we have 
but two, or even but one, species; and certain it is that the fertile 
character of the hybrids would lead to such an opinion, if infertility 
of hybrids is to be taken as a test of specific character. But it is 
more generally accepted that we have four distinct species ( V. labrus- 
ca, estivalis, cordifolia and vulpina) and this view is held by most 
western men,* and is perhaps warranted when we reflect that the 
very term species is but arbitrary, and that fertility of hybrids is not 
valued so much as an indication of specific identity among plants 
and some of the lower animals, as it is among more highly organized 
beings. 

As already stated, our Grape leaf-louse is now principally con- 
fined to varieties of the Frost Grape;+ but as it has been found in 
limited numbers on Iona and Concord, which are considered as varie- 
ties of the Northern Fox, and on the Delaware, which is considered 
either asa Summer Grape or as ahybrid between the Summer and 
the Northern Fox, I fear it may yet spread and become injurious to 
these species. Morever, now that we know that our insect is identi- 
cal with that of Europe, there is also great danger that it will attack 
all hybrids with the European Vinifera, some of which, as the 
“Goethe,” now promise well. Thus the reasons for discarding the 
Clinton and other Frost grapes become multiplied, for their cultiva- 
tion may endanger the whole grape-growing interest of the country. 
On entomological grounds, I say emphatically to western men, do not 
plant any more Clintons, and get rid of those you now haveas quickly 
as possible. 

At the recent meeting of our State Horticultural Society at St. 
Joseph, some little discussion followed a paper which I read on this 
gall-louse and I was pleased to find that Dr. C. W. Spaulding, well 
known as a successful and experienced grape-grower, together with 
many other members, fully concurred in the advice here given. He 
had examined many of his vines, after his attention had been called 
to the matter, and found that the lice were found principally on the 
roots of old vines, and not on those of young ones. At this meet- 
ing it was almost unanimously agreed that the Clinton was compara- 
tively worthless and should be done away with, but a few of the more 


* See Husmann, ‘‘Grapes and Wine’’; Flagg, Hearth and Home, Sept. 3, 1870; Spaulding, Lec- 
ture delivered at the Illinois State Fair, 1870. 


{ Though Gray considers the Clinton a variety of the #stivalis, it is more generally con- 
sidered as belonging to Cordifolia, which its great liability to the gall-louse would indicate. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 91 


conservative members, hesitated about discarding it for fear that such 
action would bring about the very result which it was intended to 
avoid, ¢ ¢., the spread of the insect on to other and more valuable 
varieties. In other words they feared that by taking away the Clin- 
ton, the lice which now prefer this variety and flourish and multiply 
upon it, would be forced to attack other varieties. They looked upon . 
the Clinton, as a protector to the better kinds, by drawing the lice 
away from them, arguing, to parady the words of Shakespeare, that 

‘¢?Tis better far, to bear those ills we have 

Than fly to others that we know not of.”’ 

Now while I admire the cautious spirit manifested in such an 
argument and admit that it seems plausible, Icannot believe there 
is any logicinit. The argument presupposes that the louse, asa species, 
can suddenly change its habits and tastes when forced to do so; but 
to my mind, a new habit is not generally acquired in a species by the 
simultaneous change of all the individuals composing it, but by some 
aberrant individual first taking on the new habit, and transmitting 
that habit to its descendants until a new race isin time produced. A 
single Clinton vine may stand in the midst of a vineyard of Concords 
for years, and, as we know to be the case, may be badly infested with 
this louse without its spreading on to the surrounding Concords. The 
lice may, and perhaps do, year after year spread on to and settle on 
the comparatively tougher leaves of such Concords, but year after 
year they perish from incapacity to sustain themselves. Some day, 
however, one or more aberrant individuals, may, by some slight consti- 
tutional difference from the normal type, be enabled to sustain them- 
selves on the Concord leaves, and, by the laws of inheritance, trans- 
mit their characteristics to their descendants until, by the survival of 
those from each generation best fitted to flourish on these leaves, a 
new Concord-feeding race will be produced. Therefore, as already 
stated, I believe that there is danger of this louse spreading on to 
other varieties, and especially on to such as are more closely allied to 
the Cordifolia, or, to use a common but inexact expression, that have 
Cordifolia “blood” in them. But it must not be forgotten that we are 
here only supposing, from analogy, what may occur, because we know 
not positively that it w7/2 occur, and it is very obvious that even if 
there is this danger the chances of such an occurrence will be far 
greater as long as the Clinton is allowed to grow in the vineyard, than 
when it is uprooted and banished; and so far as all experience goes, 
we can safely conclude that to destroy all those vines ina vineyard 
that are infested with this louse, is to banish it from such a vineyard 
so that it will in future confine its attacks to the wild frost, as it did in 
the beginning. 

The Apple-maggot (Trypeta pomonella, Walsh), as Mr. Walsh has 
demonstrated,* is an indigenous American insect and breeds in our 


*Report as Acting State Entomologist of Illinois, pp. 29-30. 


92 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


wild haws, occurring abundantly in the West, as wellasin the East. Of 
late years it has acquired an appetite for the cultivated apples in 
some of the Eastern States, where it already does much damage to the 
apple crop. Yet, strange to say, it hasnot yet, and may never attack 
the cultivated apples in the West, and there is more danger that in 
process of time the more civilized Apple-maggots of the East will 
spread to the West, than that our haw-feeding maggots which are now 
among us, will acquire that habit, as arace of them once did in the 
Kast. Now no one will argue that if the Apple-maggots of the East 
were to be exterminated, the maggots in the wild haws would any the 
sooner attack our cultivated apples; and in like manner the exter- 
mination of the lice on our Clinton vines will not cause those on the 
Wild Frost to any the sooner attack our Concords. 

To give another illustration :—Our White pines have for years 
been greatly injured by the Pine-leaf Scale (Aspidiotus [ Wytilaspis| 
pinifolie, Fitch) and I know that this same scale occurs to a slight 
extent on several other species of the genus, and have good reason 
to believe that it (or a race of it) is becoming more and more numer- 
ous on the Scotch pine around St. Louis. Yet to get rid of this scale 
I would not hesitate to destroy such White pines as were infested with 
it, for fear that by such a procedure I should drive the scales on to 
any other pines; because I believe that the scales on the Scotch pine 
for instance, multiply among themselves rather than by the annual 
transportation of individuals from the White pine, and because the 
experience of the past teaches that the latter is the only pine which 
has really suffered injury from this scale. 

Other similar illustrations might be given, but I close by reiter- 
ating the opinion that there is nothing in the past history of the Grape- 
leaf Gall-louse to warrant the belief that by destroying the Clinton 
we shall force it on to those more valuable varieties which it has not 
hitherto attacked, and that whenever,as is admitted to be the case in 
the central portion of our State, the Clinton can be replaced by other 
and better varieties, it will be most wise and judicious to discard it. 
Ihave no idea that we shall ever exterminate this louse from our 
vineyards, because we can never obtain concert of action all over the 
country, and because it will flourish ina measure on other cultivated 
varieties of the Cordifolia group. But let each individual act for 
himself, and I feel satisfied that so far as he follows the advice here 
given, just so far will he be benefited. 

There are several cannibal and parasitic insects which attack 
this Gall-louse, but forlack of time to make the proper illustrations, I 
shall have to leave their consideration to a future Report. 

Figure 39, at the head of this article, represents a leaf covered with 
galls. Figure 40, (a) represents the winged female; (0) her foot or 
tarsus—after Signoret; (c) an enlarged egg; (d) the newly hatched 
gall-inhabiting type, ventral view; (¢) same, dorsal view; (/) 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. oF 


a section ofa gall; (g) the 
tubercled root -inhabiting 
form; (/) the mother gall- 
louse at the heighth of her 
fertility, ventral view; (¢) 
same, dorsal view—all from 
nature; (j and #) differently 
veined wings of the Oak 
Phyllocera of Europe. All 
these figures are greatly 
enlarged, and the natural 
size is approximately shown 
by hair-lines. 

The following discus- 
sion of this insect’s proper 
place in our classification, 
and of its characters, may 
be passed over by the 
practical reader, as it is in- 
tended for those only who 
take an interest in such 
questions. Lappendit with 
but very slight alteration, as 
I wrote it for the last num- 
ber of the second volume 


os of the American Entomol- 
‘ ¢g ogist ¢ 

It will be remembered that in what was said about this insect on page 248 of our first volume 
we criticized the founding of the Family Dactylospharid@ by Dr. Shimer. In anessay read before 
the Illinois State Horticultural Society, at Ottawa, last winter, Dr. Shimer took exception to our 
remarks, and called upon us to give a reason for the faith that isin us. Not considering a horti- 
cultural meeting the proper place to enter into the discussion of purely entomological questions, 
we declined to waste the precious time of the members, but intimated that we should be glad to 
answer the Doctor whenever a favorable occasion presented. The opportunity did not offer till 
now, as the Transactions of the Society, containing the essay in question, have but recently been 
published, but as we ourselves wrote the strictures, we will briefly give our reasons for so doing. 
In order to lay the question clearly before those interested, it will be necessary to quote that por- 
tion of our former article which so exercised friend Shimer. It runs as follows: 

The louse which forms the gall was firstdescribel as Pemphigus vitifolie by Dr. Fitch, of New 
York, though it does not belong to that genus, Dr. Shimer, of Mt. Carroll, made some interest- 
ing observations on the habits of this insect, and made it the type of anew family (Dactylospha- 
rid@) and of a new genus (Dactylosphara.) The distinguishing features of this supposed family 
are certain appendages attached to the legs which Dr. Shimer calls digitult, though the characters 
of the wings point unmistakably to the genus Phyllozera of the true Plant-lice. We shall not now 
discuss the validity or propriety of this new family, as we intend to give a more complete account 
of this louse in our future articles on Grape insects; but we will say here that Dr. Shimer is un- 
fortunate in grinding out new genera and new families, for he has proposed a new family and 
genus (Lepidosaphes) for the common Apple-tree Bark-louse (Aspidiotus) [Mytilaspis] conchiformis, 
Gmél.) based upon similar appendages, which he found on its legs ; whereas, if he had been better 
posted he would have known that these appendages are characteristic of almost all Bark-lice. 

And here is Dr. Shimer’s appeal : 

Here they would like to make the public belive that these appendages, digituli, are the charac- 
ters out of which I have proposed two families in Entomology; whereas, the leading character 
upon whichI propose my family Dactylospherida, is two claws on a one-jointed tarsus, and the 
leading characters in Lepidosaphide are a tarsus without a claw, and a scale-making, not a scale- 
like insect. The digituli from their globe-ended extremities I consider of some importance, but 


94 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


by no means of primary weight in the first named family, and in the second family I give them no 
more than secondary importance. What reasons the junior editor, for he alone now becomes res- 
ponsible, can assign for so gross a misrepresentation I am not able to anticipate. He certainly, 
however, will beable to give some reason for the faith within him. a 3 a ne me i 
I have not the slightest personal feeling in the matter, and I hope that my much respected friend, 
Mr. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, will be free to defend the position he has taken against 
me. 


as oo 


Now, we believe Dr. Shimer is sincere in stating that he has no personal feeling in the matter, 
else we should not even notice his request. We hope, therefore, that he will believe us when we 
state that in the few words we are about to pen we are governed by no personal considerations 
whatever, but by a love of truth for truth’s sake. As Dr. Shimer becomes more familiar (and we 
hope he will so become) with the minute and interesting insects to which he has more especially 
turned his attention, he will no doubt regret that he ever proposed those two families without lon- 
ger pondering and considering. 

Regarding the Bark-louse, we will dismiss the subject in a few words, as it is foreign to the 
topic under consideration. Dr. Shimer, it is true, deserves severe handling for the cool and skep- 
tical manner in which he refers to the work of all preceding entomologists, and the laughable way 
in which he arrogates to himself the power of correct observation; 
accede to his request, as follows: 

Weconfess thatin stating that Dr. Shimer had based his new family, LerrposApHip©, upon 
the occurrence of digituli, we should have qualified our language by inserting ‘‘partly’’ before 
“upon,’’ since the characters as given by him are, ‘‘Four digituli terminated by pulvilli or arolia, 
and no claw, and the female living beneath a scale or shell-like habitation of her own construct- 
ing.’’** But we insist that the proposition of afamily on such grounds was not only unfortunate, 
but unwarranted, for the following reasons: First, the so-called digituli are not even of generic, 
much less of family value, as they are nothing but modified hairs, and occur in a more or less per- 
fect form in all young Coccide and Aphide which we have examined, and are acknowledged by the 
best authorities to be common to both these families. Secondly, the insect in question really has a 
more or less perfect claw, as we have abundantly demonstrated the present year. Thirdly, the as- 
sumptionf that the scale in all Coccrp& should be part and parcel of the insect itself, is a purely 
gratuitous one, since there are many other species which live separate from their scales, and since 
the genus Aspidiotus was especially erected by Bouché for those species which thus live uxder and 
seperate from them. Consequently there remains not a single character mentioned by our 
author but what is weil known to belong to the Coccr®, and there is not even the slightest excuse 
imaginable for seperating it from Costa’s genus Diaspis, to whichit is now correctly referred by 
Signoret—our highest authority on this family. 

Now let us return to our Grape-leaf louse. We have no trouble in proving by Dr. Shimer’s 
ewn words that we were perfectly justified in saying that the ‘‘ digituli’’ were the ‘¢ distinguishing 
features ’’ of his sepposed family Dactylospheride. The very meaning of the word (globe-fingered) 
given to the family indicates such to have been the case, and he himself expressly says:{ ‘‘ Yhe 
wing neuration of Dactylosphera is synonymous with that of Phyllovera; it is, therefore, upon the 
other characters that I found this genus.’’ Now what are the other characters? Turning to the 
family characters given, we find: ‘Wings four, carried flat on the back in repose. Antenne few- 
jointed. Tarsi composed of one joint terminated by two claws, and from two to six digitult 
Honey tubes none; otherwise resembling Aphide.’’? The only other character given which is not 
Aphidian is the one-jointed tarsus, which, as we shall presently show, cannot, strictly speaking, be 
considered a character of our Gall-louse, and which, even if it were, would scarcely warrant the 
making of a new family. Every other character, including the ‘‘digituli,’’ is common to dozens of 
plant-lice, and the neuration of the insect’s wing|| places it beyond any doubt in the genus Pyllow- 


but at present we will simply 


*Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. I, pp. 371-2. 
* Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., I, p. 372. 
+ Ibid, p. 371. 


{ Characters for a supposed new family, p. 5, note; from the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., 


Jan., 1867. 
2 Ibid, p. 1. 


| The neuration of the wing differs slightly from the typical European Phyllowera quercus, in 
the two discoidal veins of the front wing uniting in a fork instead of being perfectly separated. 
On this account Mr. Walsh proposed for our insect, and for certain other species found in hickory 
galls, which have the same neuration, the generic name of Xerophylla. But it seems to us that the 
polymorphism of Apnrp.» has not yet been sufficiently investigated to allow of making even differ- 
ent species, much less different genera, upon a forked or unforked nervure, for there is frequently 
much greater difference in specimens coming from the same parents; and, as we are informed by 
M. Lichtenstein, the European Phyllowera of the Oak actually presents both kinds of neuration ; 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 
éra, which has long been ready to receive it, and which, with the genera Vacuna and Chermes, 
form the sixth Tribe, Chermesina, of the Arup, according to Passerini’s latest revision of this 
family. 

We can commend the earefulness with which Dr. Shimer made the interesting observations 
which he has given us on this insect, but no man should undertake to found new families without 
first informing himself more thoroughly of what has already been done by others. 

It was by no very easy means that we arrived at the conclusion that our Gall-louse is identica, 
with the European species, but now that the fact seems sufficiently proved, Planchon’s specific name 
vastatrix will have to give way to Fitch’s vitifolie,* or at the most be retained as a variety. 

At first there seemed to be many reasons for considering the two insects distinct. Tirst, the 
European root-louse was exceedingly destructive, and their gall-louse of only exceptional occur- 
rence; while our gall-louse was very common and destructive, and no root-lice were known to exist 
here at all. Secondly, the insect found in the galls was smooth, while that on the roots was dis- 
tinctly ornamented with piliferous tubercles, and the two were sufficiently unlike to cause M. 
Lichtenstein, who believed in their identity, to propose the term gall-inhabiting (gallicole) for the 
one race, and root-inhabiting (radiciole) for the other. Thirdly, our insect was described as having 
a one-jointed tarsus, whereas M. Signoret described and figured the tarsus of the winged root. 
inhabiting form as two-jointed. Fourthly, there seemed to be adifference even in the form o 
our gall-inhabiting louse and theirs, as ours appeared much more obese and globular than theirs, as 
represented in their figures. AJ] these apparent differences were rather calculated to give rise to 
doubts as to the identity of the two insects; but by careful observation and persistency we have 
been enabled to dispel them all. 

First, we might naturally expect—and those who believe in the Darwinian hypothesis certainly 
would—that, presuming our insect to have been imported into Europe, it would undergo some 
modification in its habits, not only because of change of climate, but because of its having to live 
on another species of the Grape-vine—all the European species belongs to Vitis vinifera. Hence 
its normal habits there, of feeding on the roots, may have been gradually acquired. We believe 
a parallel case presents itselfin our Apple Root-louse (Eriosoma pyri, Fitch) and the Wooly Aphis, 
or so-called ‘American Blight’? (Zriosoma lanigera, Hausm). It is conceded on almost all sidesf 
that the last insect was imported into Europe from this country, and there is now every reason to 
believe that the two insects are identical, or thatat furthest they can only be considered as varieties 
of one species. Yet while in this country our root-louse is very injurious in the West, and only 
exceptionally found on the limbs above ground (though more often so found in the Eastern States); 
all authors that we are acquainted with have spoken of it as occurring solely on the limbs in Europe; 
though M. Lichtenstein informs us that he has found it on the roots also, and that in those cases it 
caused just such swellings of the roots as our root-louse does here. We know in St. Louis of an old 
apple-tree, standing in a yard where the ground is trodden hard, the limbs of which have been for 
the past three years more or less affected with this insect, though none can be found on the roots. 
But where the ground is more porous, and not so closely pressed to the roots, it seldom occurs on 
the branches, but often on the roots, even in the immediate neighborhood. Upon the closest 
examination we cannot find the slightest difference between the root and branch-inhabiting lice, 


there being red specimens with unforked nerves (Fig 40, 7) and yellow specimens with forked nerves 
(Fig. 40, %). Ihave in my possession the-very drawing made by Mr. Cresson from Dr. Shimer’s 
specimen of vitifolig, which Mr. Walsh refers to in his Report, and which led Mr. W. erroneously 
to place our louse with the Coccids. ‘The drawing is rough, evidently imperfect, and well calcu- 
lated tu mislead, for the discoidal nerve of the front wing is represented more as a fold, the forks 
are omitted, and the costa of hind wing is represented perfectly straight. The drawing is also ac- 
companied by Mr. Cresson’s statement that he could not give any decided opinion as t» the neura- 
tion, as the wings on the specimen were not spread out. 

* M. J. Lichtenstein has objected to Fitch’s specific name ‘‘vitifoliz’’ on the score of its beine 
ungrammatical, and has substituted the term ‘‘vitis-folii’’ in his published reports. Now Dr. Bitch 
has given the termination ‘‘folig’’ to a number of his specific names, and though ‘‘folii’’? would of 
course be more grammatically correct, one would suppose the Doctor had some reason for his con- 
duct. At all events I believe it is perfectly proper to drop the middle s in compounding the two 
words, and certain it is that Fitch’s term has been adopted by all subsequent writers in speaking of 
the insect. Irregularities in entomological nomenclature seem to be allowable, or at least are 
very frequently and purposely perpetrated for the soke of euphony. ‘‘Whatever is, is rieht,’? 
is as true in language as it is in religion, and if we alter vitifolie we must alter a thousand other 
entomological names that are not, strictly speaking, grammatically correct. It is quite proper to 
correct a faulty name, but after showing that it is faulty it seems best, to prevent endless confu- 


sion, to adopt the faulty name, and thus make its author shoulder the blame, until he himself cor- 
rects it. 


{ M. Eudes-Deslongchamps and M. Blot are the only authors, according to Amyot and 


Ree Noa ray Serville 
who believe it is indigenous to Europe. Z 


6 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


and no doubt their habitat is governed somewhat by the character of the soil, though in this country 
their normal habit is to attack theroots, and to appear above ground only occasionly in the fall. 

Secondly, we have proved, by transferring on to roots the young grape-lice hatched from galls, 
and by successfully feeding them on those roots, that our smooth gall-inhabiting type gives birth 
to the tubercled root-inhabiting type; and we have discovered that our gall insects take to the roots 
in the fall, on which they cause the same cankerous spots and swellings as does the vwastatrix of 
Europe, and on which they evidently hibernate just as vastatriv is known to do. 

Thirdly, although in the gall-inhabiting type, in both countries, the tarsus seems to be one- 
jointed, yet in the root inhabiting type it is really two-jointed ; for though the basal joint is small, 
and not visible from above, itis plainly visible from the side or from below (See Fig. 40, b). We 
have here what certain speculative entomologists would consider an excellent illustration of the 
inferiority of Coccide compared with the Aphid, namely, a true Aphidian, exhibiting in its larval 
and agamic stage the one-jointed tarsus of a Coccid, and only showing the two-jointed tarsus of its 
family in the more perfected tubercled form, and in the winged state. And this Coccid-affinity in 
the less perfect gall-producing state is sometimes carried still farther, as we have often been unable 
to discern but a single claw to the tarsi of some of the young gall-inhabiting individuals. 

Fourthly, the fact that M. Signoret, who alone has compared actual specimens from both 
countries, decides them to be identical, would sufficiently indicate that the difference noticeable in 
the form depends on the observer, and on the stage of growth at which observations are made. 

Tt was the one-jointed tarsus in the gall insect which no doubt in part led Dr. Shimer to pro- 
pose a new family for it, and it was this character—coupled with the facts that it is oviparous, that 

does not secrete any sugary or flocculent substance (as do most gall-inhabiting Plant-lice), and 
that the young forsake the gall and scatter over the leaves as soon as hatched—which led Mr. 
Walsh to consider it as an anomalous and aberrant Coccid. The genus Phylloxera seems also, ac- 
cording to Westwood, to have been doubtingly introduced into this family by Curtis in his Guide. 
We have already shown that, in the root-inhabiting form, the two joints of the tarsus are plainly 
to be seen; and Dr. Shimer himself admits* that, in the winged insect which he found in galls, he 
noticed a constriction on the under side of the tarsus, though he is unwilling to allow that it was 
a joint, because there was no motion. Butevenif the 2-jointed character of the more perfect 
ouse were not demonstrated, all the other characters are so unmistakably Aphidian that thereis, 
we think, no warrant in making anew family. In such degraded insects, where the antennal 
joints are so variable, we might naturally expect to find variation in the joints of the legs. The 
more familiar we become with the biological secrets of Nature, the more do we find, not only spe- 
cies but genera, and even families, approaching each other through modifications found in indi- 
viduals; and these aberrant gall-lice only help to give us a better idea of the close connection be- 
tween the Coccide and Aphide. Our Phyllowera brings the two families close together, by its affin- 
ities on the one side with Chermes of Linnaeus, which, though looked upon as a Coccid by Ratze- 
burg, is generally considered an Aphidian, and on the other with the Coccidan genus Dactylopius 
which contains Linnzus’s Coccus adonidum. The oviparous nature of these gall-lice will also have 
less significance when we reflect that there is a sort of gradation in this process, and that many 
Plant-lice which are considered viviparous or ovoviparous do in reality bring forth their young 
enveloped in a more or less distinct egg-like film or covering, from which they have to free them- 
selves by a process analogous to that of hatching. This has not only been observed by Curtis, in 
the case of an Aphis found on the turnip,} but by Dr. Wm. Manlius Smith, of Manlius, N. Y.,{ in 
the case of Pemphigus; but we have, the present year, assured ourselves of the accuracy of Dr. 
Manlius’s observation as to Pemphigus, and witnessed the same thing in Eriosoma, namely in E. 
pyri, Fitch. In this last case the newly deposited louse (or egg) remains motionless for a conside- 
rable time; and the covering, after the young louse has extricated itself from it, may be as dis- 
tinctly seen attached to the end of its body as the covering or egg-shell of our Grape gall-louse, 
and was fizured by Fitch, who mistook it for the cotton-like matter, which, however, is not secre- 
ted till the louse fastens itself and begins to grow.? Moreover those Aphidians which are vivipa- 
yous through the spring and summer months, generally lay eggs in the fall; and though agamous 
and viviparous multiplication can be prolonged by submitting the lice to a continued artificially 
warm temperature, there is doubtless a limit to this prolongation; and it may be laid down as a 
rule that, with most Aphidians, the ¢ element and the production uf eggs are, at some time or 
other, indispensable to the continuance of the species. 


“Characters of a Supposed New Family, p. 3. 
+Farm Insects, p. 64, 

tAuctore Walsh, P. E. &. P. VI, p. 282, note. 
@N. ¥. Rep. I, p. 9. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 97 


THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE AGAIN. 
THE BEST MEANS OF FIGHTING IT—A WORD TO OUR CANADIAN NEIGHBORS. 


To give some idea of the onward march of this destructive insect, 
and to lay before the reader the experience that has been gained since 
the publication of my first Report, I transmit the following article 
from the American Entomologist of last September. 

Last July, while spending a few days in Ontario, we ascertained 
that this most destructive insect had just invaded the Dominion at 
two different points, namely, near Point Edward, at the extreme south 
of Lake Huron, and opposite Detroit, near Windsor, at the south- 
western corner of Lake St. Clair. These are precisely the two points 
at which we should naturally expect to first meet with it on the Can- 
adian border; for all such beetles as fly into either of the lakes from 
the Michigan side would naturally be drifted to these points. As we- 
know from experience, many insects that are either quite rare, or en- 
tirely unknown on the western side of Lake Michigan, are frequently 
washed up along the Lake shore at Chicago; and these are so often. 
alive and in good condition, and so often in great numbers, that the 
Lake shore is considered excellent collecting ground by entomol- 
ogists. In like manner grasshoppers are often washed up on the 
shores of Salt Lake, in Utah, in such countless numbers that the stench. 
from their decomposing bodies pollutes the atmosphere for miles 
around. We have not the least doubt, therefore, in view of these 
facts, that the Colorado Potato Beetle could survive a sufficient 
length of time to be drifted alive to Point Edward, if driven into Lake 
Huron anywhere within twenty or thirty miles of that place, or if 
beaten down anywhere within the same distance while attempting to 
cross the lake.* 

How truly is Mr. Walsh’s prophecy being fulfilled, that the north- 
ern columns of this great army would spread far more rapidly than 
the lagging southern columns.t 

Now, what will our Canadian brethren do? Will they stand by 
and listlessly see this pernicious insect spread over their territory 
like a devouring flame, as it has done over the Western and Central 
States; or will they make some determined and united effort to pre- 
vent such a catastrophe? Of one thing our friends across the border 
may rest assured—they have not here a sham and braggart Fenian 
army to deal with, but an army which knows no retreat, and whose 


*The following item which was clipped from the St. Joseph (Mich.) Herald, after the above 
was written, attests the accuracy of the inference :—‘‘Whoever has walked on this shore of Lake 
Michigan has observed large numbers of the Colorado potato beetle, crawling from the water. 
Many have doubted the source whence they came. It would seem from the following that they fly, 
and swim from the western shore of Lake Michigan. Capt. John Boyne of the Lizzie Doak, re- 
ports finding his deck and sails infested with potato bugs when half way from Chicago to St.. 
Joseph at night. Nota bug was on deck when the schooner left Chicago.” 


{Practical Entomologist, I, p. 14. 


S E—T7 


98 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


embers, though of small and insignificant stature, will fully make 
‘up in number what they lack in size. 

When we calculate the immense loss, amounting to millions of 
dollars, which this insect has cost the Western States during the past 
nine or ten years—when we contrast the healthful and thrifty aspect 
of the potato fields in Ontario and in those States to which this potato 
plague has not yet spread, with the sickly, denuded, or Paris-green- 
besmeared fields at home—but above all when we reflect that, noth- 
ing preventing, it will infest the whole of Ontario within, perhaps, the 
next two, and at farthest within the next three years—we feel that it 
is high time to make some effort to prevent its onward march through 
Ontario, if ever such an effort is to be made. The warnings and in- 
structions given by the Agricultural press, and through our own col- 
umnsg, will avail but little, as they reach the few only. It may be, and 
doubtless is, true that successful culture, as our country becomes 
more thickly settled, will be confined to the intelligent and well-in- 
formed; yet the fact nevertheless remains, that the masses will do 
nothing to ward off an evil until they are forced to it from necessity. 
The plodding, non-reading farmer will take no notice of the few bugs 
he first sees in his potato field, because they do him no material in- 
jury ; but when the bugs have increased so as to make it a question of 
“potatoes or no potatoes” with him, then his energies will be aroused. 
But alas! his best efforts, at this time, often prove unavailing, and he 
has to spend days to accomplish that which a few minutes would have 
accomplished before. We therefore fully expect to see this great 
army of bugs continue its eastward march without hindrance, unless 
other preventive measures are taken than those already employed. 
A standing premium offered by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. 
Carding, for a given number of beetles, or for the greatest number 
collected and killed in one season, or for the cleanest and best field 
of potatoes, of a given number of acres, within the infested districts 
along the eastern shores of the lakes mentioned and those of the St. 
Clair river; might, and undoubtedly would, be the best means of 
stamping it out, and of keeping it out of the Dominion.* 

No doubt that, in suggesting any expenditure of money for such 
purposes, our Canadian brethren will deem us over-enthusiastic about 
* small things,” and over-anxious for their welfare. Well, be that as 
it may, we don’t forget that there is considerable of Uncle Sam’s ter- 
ritory beyond Niagara. It is a mere matter of dollars and cents, and 
we venture to say that, when once this insect shall have spread over 
Ontario, a million dollars would be freely spent to accomplish that 
which will then be almost impossible, and which a very few thou- 
sands would effectually accomplish now—na‘mely, its extermination 
from the Dominion. 

An excellent chance is now afforded in Ontario—almost sur- 
rounded as it is by lakes—to keep this destructive enemy at bay. In 
the summer of 1869, reports of this insect’s ravages, and of its prog- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 99 


ress eastward, came thick from Wisconsin and Indiana; but no or- 
ganized effort was made to check it, and indeed there was very little 
chance of doing so. It is fast spreading through Ohio; and accord- 
ing to Dr. Trimble of New Jersey, has already reached Pennsylvania. 
Uncle Sam cannot Well prevent its spread around the southern shore 
of Lake Krie, through Pennsylvania and eastward; but, if it can be 
effectually resisted between Point Edward and the Detroit river, 
there wil! be little difficulty in preventing its crossing at Niagara. 
A victory would indeed be gained if, by intelligent effort, this griev- 
‘ous pest could be kept out of Upper Canada, while it is devastating 
the potato fields on all sides in the States; and Minister Carding 
would add to his well-deserved popularity by making the effort, 
whether it succeeds or not. 


PARIS GREEN A REMEDY. 


While on this subject it may be well to say a few words about the 
use of Paris green. This substance ‘has now become THE remedy 
for the Colorado Potato Beetle, andit is the best yet discovered. 
Having thoroughly tested it ourselves, and having seen it exten- 
sively used, we can freely say that, when applied judiciously, it is effi- 
cient and harmless. If used pure and too abundantly, it will kill the 
vines as effectually as would the bugs, for it is nothing but arsenite of 
copper (often called ‘““Scheele’s green” by druggists), and contains a 
varied proportion of arsenious acid, according to its quality—often as 
much as fifty-nine per cent.,according to Brande & Taylor. But when 
used with six to twelve parts, either of flour, ashes, plaster or slacked 
lime, it causes no serious injury to the foliage, and just as effectually 
kills the bugs. The varied success attending its use, as reported 
through our many agricultural papers, must be attributed to the dif- 
ference in the quality of the drug. 

We hear many fears expressed that this poison may be washed 
into the soil, absorbed by the rootlets, and thus poison the tubers; 
but persons who entertain such fears forget that they themselves 
eften apply to the ground, as neurishment for the vines, either ani- 
mal, vegetable or mineral substances that are nauseous, or even poi- 
sonous to us. Animal and vegetable substances, of whatsoever na- 
ture, must be essentially changed in character and rendered harmless 
before they can be converted into healthy tubers, and a mineral poi- 
son could only do harm by being taken with the potatoes to the ta- 
ble. That any substance, sprinkled either on the vines or on the 
ground, would ever accompany te the table a vegetable which de- 
velops underground, and which is always well cooked before use, is 


* The Rey. C. J.S. Beenie! in the Canada Farmer for October 15th, 1870, also recommended 
ae mi aes off of a tract ef country about ten miles in width, all-along the border line betwcen 
the foot of "Lake Huron and the head of Lake Erie, with the exception, possibly, of a portion of 
the eastern shore of Lake St. Olair, and stopping the culture of the ee ae that whole 
tract during the prevalence of the pest in the neighboring State of Michig 


400 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


rendered highly improbable. There can be no danger in the use of 
sound tubers. But the wise and well-informed cultivator will seldom 
need to have recourse to Paris green, as he will find it more profitable 
to use the different preventive measures that have from time to time 
been recommended in these colums. 

The poison may do harm, however, by being carelessly used, and 
it is most safely applied when attached to the end of a stick several 
feet long, and should not be used where children are likely to play. 


NATURAL CHECKS INCREASING. 


In many parts of the West this insect is being kept in due check by 
fig. 41] its cannibal and parasitic enemies, which are still increasing. 
Thus we learn from many sources that in Iowa and Kansas it 
is not nearly so injurious as it formerly was, while in some 
parts of Illinois and Missouri it has also become less trou- 
blesome. Last year Mr. T. Glover published the fact that 
! the Great Lebia (Lebia grandis, Hentz, Fig. 41) was found 
devouring its larvee,* and though hitherto considered rare this Lebia 
has suddely fallen upon it the present year in many parts of Missouri. 
During a recent trip along the Missouri Bottom we found this canni- 
bal very abundant in some potato fields belonging to Mr. Wm. Cole- 
man, where it was actively engaged in destroying both the eggs and 
larvee of the Potato Beetles. The head, thorax and legs of this canni- 
bal are yellowish-brown, in high contrast with its dark-blue wing- 
covers. 

This makes fourteen conspicuous enemies of our Colorado Potato 
Beetle which we have figured, and a dozen more, mostly of small size 
and inconspicuous markings, sarelie easily be added to the list. More- 
over, chickens have ieanned to relish the eggs, and have even 
acquired a taste for the young larve. So we need not wonder that 
the army is being decimated in those States first invaded by it. 


BOGUS EXPERIMENTS. 


It was recently reported to us that a neighbor had succeeded in 
driving away all his Potato bugs by strewing Elder branches among 
the vines. We went to examine the field and found our friend enthu- 
siastic over his discovery; and indeed though the vines were nearly 
devoured, there were but a few full grown larve to be found. but, as 
he could not tell us what had become of the “slugs,” we undertook to 
show him where they had gone, and after digging a few moments with 
a trowel, unearthed dozens of them,the majority in the pupa, but a 
few yetin the larva state. Our neighbor had, in fact, been misled by 
appearances, for want of better knowledge of his enemy. The larva 
as they acquired their growth suddenly became so destructive, that 
to save his vines he was obliged to try some means of killing them, 


* Dept. of Agr. Rep, 1868, p. 81. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 


and as an experiment he tried the Elder. The larve were just ready 
to disappear of theiz own accord, and as the great bulk of them did 
really disappear in two or three days after the application, the appar- 
ently logical inference was made that they had been driven away by 
the smell of the Elder. 

How many of the published remedies that flood the country owe 
their origin to just such defective proof! The sun-scorching remedy, 
which consists of knocking the bugs off the vines on to the heated 
ground between the rows, and which has been so often recommended 
the present year, partakes a good deal of this character; for it can 
only be of benefit in a very dry season, and at a time of year when 
the bugs have done most of their damage. A goodly proportion of 
the larvee that are thus knocked off will always manage to burrow 
into the ground and transform, or to get back upon the vines; and 


THE TRUE REMEDY 


consists in preventing them from becoming numerous so late in the 
season. Watch for the beetles in early spring, when the vines are 
just peeping out of the ground. Ensnare as many of them as you can 
before they get a chance to pair, by making a few small heaps of po- 
tatoes in the field planted : to these the beeties will be attracted for 
food, and you can easily kill them in the morning. Keep an eagle 
eye for the eggs which are first deposited. Cultivate well, by fre- 
quently stirring the soil. Plant early varieties in preference to late 
ones because the bugs are always more numerous late in the season 
than they are during the spring and early summer. Give the prefer- 
ence to the Peach Blow, Early Rose and such other varieties as have 
been found most exempt from attack,* and surround your fields on 
the outside by rows of such tender-leaved varieties as the Mercer; 
Shaker, Russet, Pink-eye and Early Goodrich; but, above all, isolate 
your potato field as much as possible, either by using land surrounded 
with timber, or by planting in the centre of a cornfield. Carry out 
these suggestions thoroughly and you will not have much use for 
Paris green and stil) less for the scorching remedy. 


THE CODLING MOTH AGAIN.—Carpocapsa pomonella, Linn. 
HAY-BANDS VS. RAGS—ALWAYS TWO-BROODED IN MISSOURI. 


After a series of experiments, instituted the past summer, I have 
proved that, after all, the hay-band around the trunk of the tree is a 


* After experimenting last summer with eighty-one varieties of potatoes, the Superintendent 
of the garden of the Towa Agricultural College reports the varieties of the Peach Blow, the 
Peerless and Chili No. 2, as most exempt from the ravages of this insect, the last named variety 
not being worked upon at all. 


102 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


more effectual trap for the Apple-worm than the rags placed in the 
fork of the tree. There is no superiority in the rags over the hay- 
band, unless the former are made to encirele the tree as thoroughly 
as the latter. Where rags are placed simply in the forks, many of the 
worms pass down the tree from the outside of the branches. If the 
rag is tied around the trunk, it will impede almost every worm that 
crawls down the tree from the fruit which hangs on, or that crawls up 
the trunk from the fruit which alls; and it then has adecided advan- 
tage over the hay band, because it can either be passed througha 
roller or scalded, and used again. 

It has been very generally accepted in this country that the Cod- 
ling Moth is double-brooded, and in all my writings on the subject I 
have stated it to be so, though no one, so far as I am aware, ever 
proved such to be the case beyond a doubt. Mr. P. C. Zeller, of Stet- 
tin, Prussia, informed me last winter that it is only single-brooded in 
that part of the world, and Harris gives it as his opinion that it is 
mostly so in Massachusetts. Now, such may not improbably he the 
ease in northern Prussia, and the more northern of the United States, 
though I incline to believe otherwise. At all events, this insect is 
invariably double-brooded in the latitude of St. Louis, and its naturat 
history may be briefly told as follows: The first moths appear, and 
begin to lay their eggs, soon after the voung apples begin to form. 
The great bulk of the worms which hatch from these eggs leave the 
fruit from the middle of May to the middle of June. These spin up, 
and in from two to three weeks produce moths, which pair and in their 
turn commence, in a few days, to lay eggsagain. The worms (second 
brood) from these eggs leave the fruit, some of them as early as the 
first of September, others as late as Christmas. In either case they 
spin their cocoons as soon as they have left the apples, but do not as- 
sume the pupa state till towards spring—the moths from the late ma- 
tured worms appearing almost as early as those from the earlier ma- 
tured ones. The two broods interloc< so that in July worms of both 
may be found in the fruit of one and the same tree. I have repeat- 
edly taken worms of the first brood, bred the moths from them, and 
obtained from these m ths the second brood of worms; and I have 
done this both on enclosed fruit hanging on the tree in the open air, 
and on plucked fruit in-doors. In the latter experiments the moths. 
would often cover an apple with eggs, so that when the worms 
hatched they would enter from all sides, and soon so thoroughly per- 
forate and devour the fruit as to die of starvation. This is a clear 
case of misdirected instinct in the parent, caused doubtless by con- 
finement. 

From the foregoing facts, it becomes obvious that the rags or the 
hay-band should be kept around the tree, say from the first of May 
till the fruit is all off; and to be thoroughly effectual, the insects. col- 
lected in or under them should be destroyed regularly every fortnight 
during that time. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 


There is a fact connected with the Codling Moth which, though of 
interest to entomologists is not generally known, and has never been 
published in this country. It has always been difficult to distinguish 
the sexes of this moth, but there is an infallible index recently pointed 
out by Mr. Zeller in his “Lepidopterologische Beobachtungen im jahre 
1870.” It consists of a black pencil or tuft of hairs of considerable 
length on the upper surface of the hind wings. lt springs from a 
point close to the base of the wing and by the side of the median 
nervure, and lies in a groove running alongside of that nervure to 
about half the width of the wing, the groove forming a distinct carina 
on the under surface. The tuft when closely fitted into this groove is 
not easily noticed, but since my attention has been drawn to it, I 
have readily detected it on all my cabinet specimens, and it can easily 
be raised by the point of a needle. 

Thus we find that important features are often revealed upon 
close scrutiny of our commonest insects, and the fact that this fea- 
ture was so long overlooked in our Codling Moth should teach us to 
be all the more careful and cautious in our examinations and descrip- 
tions. Two similar instances of general oversight of common features 
in common insects were pointed out to me last fall by that excellent 
observer, Mr. J. A. Lintner, of the Agricultural Rooms, Albany, N.Y» 
who ascertained the facts that in the Butterfly genus Argynnis the 
males have invariably a beautiful fringe of hair on the sub-costa of 
the hind wings, while the females have not; and that in the genus 
Grapta the males have hairy front legs while the females have not.* 

In my first Report (p. 65) I mentioned as an exceptional occur- 
rence that this insect had been found quite injurious to plums around 
London, Ontario; but it has not hitherto been recorded as infesting 
peaches. Mr. Huron Burt, of Williamsburg, Callaway county, in- 
forms me, however, that three-fourths of the peaches in his vicinity 
were infested with this worm, and that it was more abundant in this 
stone-fruit than in apples, though its gnawings in the former are not 
followed by the same serious consequences as they are in the latter. 
In the peach the worm always lives near the stone, and bores no 
other holes through the flesh than the one required for egress, and 
the excrement is packed close to the stone, so that the fruit is gener- 
ally but little injured for eating, cooking, drying or other purposes. 
Mr. Burt did not actually breed the moths from these peach-inhahbit- 
ing worms, but as he is one of my most valued correspondents and an 
excellent observer and has paid considerable attention to insects, I 
have little doubt but that he is correct in concluding that they were 
the larvee of the Coddling Moth, the more especially as he has fur- 


* The first mentioned feature, as asecondary sexual character, has long since been pointed 
out, and according to Mr. H. W. Bates (Trans. Linn. Ent. Soc., Vol. XXIII, p. 502, 1861) is com- 
mon to all the tropical genera but two (Lycorea and Ifwna) composing the Danoid Heliconide. Yet 
Mr. Lintner’s observation is certainly original in this country, for, striking and useful as the 
feature is as a sexual characteristic, it is never given in the beautiful plates of Mr. Edwards’s. 
‘Butterflies of North America.” 


104 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


nished me, in detail, his reasons for this conclusion; but until the 
matter is settled beyond all doubt it would be premature to speculate 
farther on such a new and remarkable habit in such a common and 
well known insect. 


THE CORN-WORM alias BOLL-WORM—/feliothis armigera, Hib- 


ner. 
(Lepidoptera, Noctuide.) 


This is a worm which is every year more or less destructive to our 
corn in the ear, and which was this year very injurious in many sec- 
tions. 

It has a very wide range, and a Mr. Bond, at the meeting of the 
London (England) Entomological Society, on March 1st, 186), exhib- 
ited specimens of the moth from the Isle of Wight, from Japan, and 
from Australia; and, as might be expected from its extended habitat, 
the insect is a very general feeder. The “ Boll-worm” has become a 
by-word in all the Southern cotton-growing States, and the “ Corn- 
worm” is a like familiar term in those States, as well asin many other 
parts of the Union; but few persons suspect that these two worms— 
the one feeding on the corn, the other on the cotton-boll—are identi- 
cally the same insect, producing exactly the same species of moth. 
But such is the fact, as I myself first experimentally proved in 1864. 
It attacks corn in the ear, at first feeding on the “silk,” but afterwards 
devouring the kernels at the terminal end; being securely sheltered 
the while within the husk. I have seen whole fields of corn nearly 
ruined in this way, in the State of Kentucky, but nowhere have I 
known it to be so destructive as in Southern [linois. Here,as in our 
own State, there are two broods of the worms during the year, and very 
early and very late corn fare the worst; moderately late and moder- 
ately early varieties usually escaping. I was formerly of the opinion 
that this worm* could not live on hard corn, and it certainly does 
generally disappear before the corn fully ripens, but last fall Mr. 
James Harkness, of St. Louis, brought me, as late as the latter part of 
October, from a corn field on the Illinois bottom, a number of large 
and well ripened ears, each containing from one to five worms of dif- 
ferent sizes, subsisting and flourishing on the hard kernels. This is, 
however, an exceptional occurrence, brought about, no doubt, by the 
long protracted warm weather which we had, and the worms were in 
‘all probability a third brood. 


= = —— 


* Am. Ent. I, p. 212. 


TUE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 


This glutton is not even satisfied with ravaging these two great 
staples of the country—cotton and corn—but, as I discovered in 1867, 
it voraciously attacks the tomato in South Illinois, eating into the 
green fruit, (Fig. 42), and thereby causing such fruit to rot. In this 

[Fig. 42.] manner it often causes 

ZZ serious loss to the tomato- 
grower, and it may justly 
be considered the worst 
enemy to the tomato in 
that section of the country. 
Mr. Glover also found it 
=—— feeding ina young pump- 
- kin, and ithas been ascer- 
tained by Mrs. Mary Treat 
of Vineland, New Jersey, 
not only to feed upon the 
; undeveloped tassels of 
corn and upon green peas, butt to tos into the stems of the garden flower 
known as Gladiolus, and in confinement to eat ripe tomatoes. Last 
summer it was also found by Miss M. E. Murtfeldt in common string 
beans, around Kirkwood, and in Europe it is recorded by M. Ch. Gou- 
reau* as not only infesting the ears of Indian corn, but as devouring 
the heads of hemp, and leaves of tobacco, and of lucern. The fact of 
its attacking a kind of pea, namely, the chick-pea or coffee-pea ( Cicer 
arietinum) hasalso been recorded by M. J. Fallou (See Znseciologie 
Agricole, 1869, p. 205) in certain parts of France, the young worms 
feeding on the leaves but the larger individuals boring through the 
pods and devouring the peas. 

Thusit seems to be almost as promiscuous in its tastes as the 
Stalk-borer ( Gortyna nitela, Guen.), which burrows in the stalks of 
the Potato, of the Tomato, of the Dahlia, of the Aster and other garden 
flowers, of the common Cocklebur and of Indian corn, besides boring 
into green corn-cobs and eating into green tomatoes and ripe straw- 
berries, and in a single instance in Missouri eating into peach twigs, 
and in Illinois inhabiting the twigs of the Black Currant.t 

But for the present we will consider this insect only in the two 
roles of Boll-worm and Corn-worm, because it is as such that it inter- 
ests the practical man most deeply. — 

The egg from which the worm hatches (Fig. 43, a side view; 3}, 
top view magnified) is ribbed in a somewhat similar manner to that 
of the Cotton-worm, figured in my Second Report (p. 88) but may 
readily be distinguished by being less flattened, and of a pale straw 
color instead of green. It is usually deposited singly on the outside 


* Insectes Nuisibles, 2nd supplement, 1865, p. 132 
fF See Am. Ent. I. p. 206; II. p. 18. 


106 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


of the involucel or outer calyx of the flower or young boll, and each 
[Fig. 43.] 


female moth is capable of 
thus consigning to their 
proper places, upwards of five 
hundred eggs. Mr. Glover, in 
his account of the Boll-worm, 
i.e\* published in the Monthly Re- 
ae oe of the Department. of 
we griculture for July, 1866, 
says: “Some eggs of the 
Boll-worm moth hatched in 
three or four days after being 
_ brought in from the field, the 
‘enclosed worms gnawing a 
Jjhole through the shell of 
the egg and then escaping. 
They soon commenced feed- 
ing upon the tender fleshy 
substance of the calyx, near 
the place where the egg had been deposited. When they had 
gained strength, some of the worms pierced through the calyx, 
and others through the petals of the closed flower-bud, or even pene- 
trated into the young and tender boll itself. The pistils and stamens 
of the open flower, are frequently found to be distorted and injured 
without any apparent cause. This has been done by the young Boll- 
worm; when hidden in the unopened bud, it has eaten one side only of 
the pistils and stamens, so that when the flower is open the parts in- 
jured are distorted and maimed, and very frequently the flower falls 
without forming any boll whatever. In many cases, however, the 
young worm bores through the bottom of the flower into the imma- 
ture boll before the old flower falls, thus leaving the boll and involu- 
cel or envelope still adhering to the foot-stalk, with the worm safely 
lodged in the growing boll. The number of buds destroyed by this 
worm is very great, as they fall off when quite small, and are scarcely 
observed as they lie brown and withering on the ground beneath the 
plant. The instinet of the Boll-worm, however, teaches it to forsake 
a bud or boll about to fall, and either to seek another healthy boll, or 
to fasten itself to a leaf,on which it remains until at length it ac- 
quires size and strength sufficient to enable it to bore into the nearly 
matured bolls, the interior of which is nearly destroyed by its at- 
tacks, as, should it not be completely devoured, rain penetrates 
through the hole made by the worm, and the cotton soon becomes 
rotten and will not ripen. * z og ‘ < # * 
One thing is worthy of observation, and that is, whenever a young 
boll or bud is seen with the involucre spread open, and of a sickly 
yellow color, it may be safely concluded that it has been attacked by 
the Boll-worm, and will soon perish and fall tothe ground. * * #* 


THE SLATE ENTOMOLOGIST. Ge 


he budsinjured by the wormmay be readily distinguished by a minute 
hole where it has entered, and which, when eut open, will be found 
partially filled with small black grains, something like coarse gun 
powder, which isnothing but the digested food after having passed 
through the body of the worm.” 

This insect is very variable in the larva state, the young worms 
varying in color from pale green to dark brown. When full grown 
there is more uniformity in this respect, though tle difference is often 
sufficiently great to cause them to look like distinct insects. Yet the 
same pattern is observabie, no matter what may be the general 
color; the body being marked as in the above figures with longitudinal 
light and dark lines, and covered with black spots which give rise to 
soft hairs. Those worms which Mrs. Treat found in green peas and 
upon corn tassels had these lines and dots so obscurely represented 
that they seemed to be of a uniform green or brown color, and the spe- 
cimens which Isaw last summer in string beans were also ofa dark 
glass-green color with the spots inconspicuous, but with the stripe be- 
low the breathing pores quite conspicuousand yellow. Thehead, how- 
ever, remains quite constant and characteristic. Figure 42 may be 
taken as a specimen of the light variety, and Figure 45, c, as illustra- 
ting the dark variety. When full grown, the worm descends into the 
ground, and there forms an oval cocoon of earth interwoven with silk, 
wherein it changes to a bright chestnut-brown chrysalis (Fig. 45, d), 
with four thorns at the extremity of its body, the two middle ones 
being stouter than the others. After remaining in the chrysalis state 
from three to four weeks, the moth makes it escape. In this last and 
perfect stage, the insectis also quite variable in depth of shading, 
but the more eommon color of the front wings is pale clay-yellow, 
with a faint greenish tint, and they are marked and varigated with 
pale olive and rufous, as in Figure 43, (eshowing the wings expanded, 
and /# representing them closed), a dark spot near the middle of each 
wing being very conspicuous. The hind wings are paler than the 
front wings, and invariably have along the outer margina dark brown 
band, interrupted about the middle by a large pale spot. 

Mr. Glover says that there are at least three broods each year in 
Georgia, the last brood issuing as moths as lateas November. With 
us there are usually but two, though,as already hinted, there may be 
exceptionally three. Most of the moths issue in the fall, and hiber- 
nate as such, but some of them pass the winter in the chrysalis 
state and do not issue till the following spring. I have known them 
to issue, in this latitude, after the Ist of November, whenno frost had 
previously occurred. 

In 1860—the year of the great drought in Kansas—the corn crop 
in that State was almost entirely ruined by the Corn-worm. Accord- 
ing to the Prairie Farmer, of January 31,1861, one county there 
which raised 436,000 bushels of corn in 1859, only produced 5,000 bush- 
elsof poor wormy stuff in $860; and this, we are told, was a fairsample 


1038 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


of most of the counties in Kansas. The damage done was not by any — 
means confined to the grain actually eaten by the worm; but “ the 
ends of the ears of corn, when partially devoured and left by this 
worm, afforded a secure retreat for hundreds of small insects, which, 
under cover of the husk, finished the work of destruction commenced 
by the worm eating holes in the grain or loosening them from the 
cob. A species of greenish-brown mould or fungus grew likewise in 
such situations, it appearing that the dampness from the exuded sap 
favored such a growth. Thus decay and destruction rapidly pro- 
gressed, hidden by the husk from the eye of the unsuspecting farmer.” 
It appears also that many horses in Kansas subsequently died from 
disease, occasioned by having this half-rotten wormy corn fed out to 
them. 

temepties.—It is the general experience that this worm does more 
injury to very early and very late corn than to that which ripens in- 
termediately, for though the broods connect by late individuals of the 
first and early individuals of the second, there is nevertheless a pe- 
riod about the time the bulk of our corn is ripening, when the worms 
are quite scarce. I have never yet observed their work on the green 
tassel, asit has been observed in New Jersey, and do not believe 
that they do so work with us. Consequently it would avail nothing 
as a preventive measure, to break off and destroy the tassel, and the 
only remedy when they infest corn is to kill them by hand. By 
going over a field when the ears are in silk, the presence of the 
worms can be detected by the silk being prematurely dry or by its 
being partially eaten. 

In the South various plans have been adopted to head off the 
Boll-werm, but I believe none have proved very successful. The 
following experiment with vinegar and molasses, was made by B. A. 
Sorsby, of Columbus, Ga., as quoted by Mr. Glover: 

“We procured eighteen common-sized dinner plates, into each 
of which we put half a gill of vinegar and molasses, previously pre- 
pared in the proportion of four parts of the former to one of the lat- 
ter. These plates were set on small stakes or poles driven into the 
ground into the cotton field, one to about each three acres, and 
reaching a little above the cotton plant, with a six-inch square board 
tavked on the top to receive the plate. These arrangements were 
made in the evening, soon after the flies had made their appearance; 
the next morning we found eighteen to thirty-five moths to each 
plate. The experiment was continued for five or six days, distribu- 
ting the plates over the entire field; each day’s success increasing 
until the numbers were reduced to two or three moths to each plate, 
when it was abandoned as being no longer worthy of the trouble. 
The crop that year was but very little injured by the Boll-worm. The 
flies were caught in their eagerness to feed upon the mixture by 
alighting into it and being unable to escape. They were probably 
attracted by the odor of the preparation, the vinegar probably being 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 


an important agent in the matter. As the flies feed only at night, the 
plates should be visited late every evening, the insects taken out, and 
the vessels replenished as circumstances may require. I have tried 
the experiment with results equally satisfactory, and shall con- 
tinue it until a better one is adopted.” 

Mr. J. M. Heard, of Monroe county, Wisconsin, patented in 1860, 
a device for trapping the moth, which consists of a tin plate placed 
on a funnel, which is connected with a bait-pan made of the same 
material, and which is to be partially filled with molasses mixed with 
a little anise, fennel or other essential oil. From one summer’s test 
of the trap, I do not think much of it as a decoy for the moth, and it 
would be altogether too expensive, when the great number required 
to properly protect a large cotton field is taken into consideration. 


THE FALL ARMY-WORM—Prodenia anitumnalis, Riley. 
[Lepidoptera, Noctuide.] 


In 1868 the true Army-worm appeared in certain portions of the 
State and I gave a full account of it in my second Report. Last fall 
another worm very generally mistaken for thatinsect made its appear- 
ance very generally over the State, and caused considerable alarm. 
Specimens were sent to me from Moniteau, Jefferson, Pulaski and 
Cole counties, while it was common throughout the greater portion of 
the county of St. Louis. 

The first notice I received of it was from the following item which 
appeared in the Journal of Agricuiture of St. Louis: 

Army worm.—Ziditors Journal Agriculture: Since Friday (26th 
August), the Army-worm has made its appearance in distressingly 
large numbers almost everywhere in this (Cole) county. They have 
destroyed for me more than an acre of turnips, a good deal of my late 
soiling corn, and are still on the march for more. Farther in the 
country they have eaten up the buckwheat, which is just coming into 
bloom. Could our esteemed friend Ritey give us an article in the 
next Journal ?—F. A. Nitchy. 

J#KFFERSON City, Mo., August 29th, 1870. 

The following published paragraphs, which all refer to this same 
worm, and which chanced to meet my eye, will give some idea of the 
extent of country through which it ranged. 

Fatt ARMy-worm.—We have received specimens of the Fall 
Army-worm from several persons. The complaints of its ravages are 
quite numerous almost all over the State ; they are very bad in north- 
east Missouri. Threatening at Tipton, from which place we have 
samples, and in St. Louis and Jefferson counties they are quite bad. 
This pest only returns at intervals, perhaps on account of parasitic 


110 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


and other enemies gaining the ascendancy over them.— Rurai Werid, 
Sept. 2nd, 1870. 


ARMY-WoORM IN CALLAWay County.—I have found that the Army- 
worm has been more or less on almost every farm, and have been ex- 
amining some of the meadows over which they have passed, and have 
come to the conclusion they are about ruined. From my examina: 
tion I think that nineteen-twentieths of the grass is entirely killed; 
at least there is not more than one bulk in twenty that shows any 
signs of vitality. Why should this insect make its appearance at this 
season? Mr. Riley, 1 believe claims that it makes its advent in the 
spring. But now we have it appearing at the end of summer and be- 
ginning of fall, and in numbers as great and as destructive as ever it 
did i in spring. Could it be that the extreme heat of this season, with 
favorable conditions of moisture, has brought them forth pr ematurely ¢ 
I noticed that some plum trees, cherry trees, smoke trees, summer 
roses and strawberries are biossoming freely from premature develop- 
ment.—//. B., Journal of Agriculture, Oct. 15th, 1870. 


The Army-worm, on the 28th of August, appeared in force in my 
neighbor’s wheat stuuble, moving south towards a piece of land that 
Thad planted in corn, and then sown inrye that was up nicely. When. 
they reached the fence (which they did on the 28th of August), I scat- 
tered salt thickly on the rich blue grass on my side of the fence, all 
along it, while the dew wason. ‘They came no further. AsI was 
obliged to be away from home, I cannot say whether the salt checked 
them or not—at any rate, it caused the grass to wilt and die. 

A very small dark worm about halt an inch long, has been doing 
seme damage to the young grain of late —J. LZ. Hrwin, Fulton, Cal- 
daway County, Mo. 

Toe ArMy-worM—A SLANDER oN THE BirpS—fd2tor Farmer: 
Feeling it a duty, as well asa privilege, to contribute all good, or 
even really bad news for the farmers, through your truly valuable 
and very much improved and highly esteemed Farmers’ journal, en- 
closed (in a small phial) please ‘find some specimens of Army-worm, 
many millions of which infest our county. They are everywhere. It 
is said they are brought by a small, yellow bird, which goes in covies 
of twenty-five to two hundred—that wherever they alight, the worms 
first appear. Itis said that each petaled portion of the feathers is 
covered with nits, and their number is legion. 

We would be pleased to hear from some of our scientific men on 
the subject, as we are very much interested. They take a twenty- 
acre wheat field in two days. 

These pestiferous little pests are rapidly arriving at maturity. In 
traveling, their course seems westward. They last appeared here in 
1865, but too late in the season to do any great damage, as a cold rain 
sent them the way of all the earth. That being in October, nothing 
of the kind can be expected at this time; and if they are to remain 
here until October, woe to our wheat fields in this vicinity! 

MINERAL Pont, Kansas, Aug. 29th, 1870. 


[The above letter came to us too late for insertion last month. 
Our friends are doing great injustice to our little harmless “ Prairie- 
birds,” in supposing that they have anything to do with bringing the 
Army-worm—Eprror|.—ansas Harmer, October, 1870. 


Army-worm.—Late rains are keeping corn too green. Too muddy 
to plow for wheat. The Hessian-flyand Army-worm are too numer: 
ous to allow farmers toseed much this fall, The early sown wheat 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 111 


and much of the meadows are eaten up by the Army-worm. Dr. © 
W. Thornton, of Warrensburg, Kansas, in Kansas Farmer. 


ArMY-wormM.—We have received from S. 8. Tipton, of Mineral 
Point, a specimen of the above genius, but alittle the worst demora- 
lized specimen we ever saw. The bottle was broken, and, as well as we 
can determine, by the aid of a powerful magnifving glass, the worm 
is in about sixty thousand pieces. We shall refer to the subject in 
our next; butin the mean time, we advise our friends to plow and 
scrape out ditches, in which to spread dry straw. Then muster your 
force armed with brushes, drive them into the ditches, and set fire 
to the straw. We have seen them very successfully treated in this 
way. Kansas Farmer. 

Thus in all the above accounts this worm was supposed to bea 
fall brood of the true Army-worm, and in the following letter, we 
shall see that it was also mistaken for the Corn-worm treated in the 
last article—a mistake not at all surprising considering the close 
resemblance between the two worms, 

C. V. Riley, Dear Sir—I herewith send you a box of what I 
believe to be the Boll-worm although its actions here were similar 
to the true Army-worm. At my father’s andin the neighborhood they 
complain too of the Army-worm eating up the young oats and timo- 
thy. With me they commenced about two weeks ago in afield of young 
oats, or rather oat stubble which had been plowed under and sown to 
buck-wheat. Theoats had got to be about six inches high and were 
eaten first, next the worm took what little crab grass they could find 
and they are now scattered, eating grass, corn silks, soft corn, ruta- 
baga leaves and whatever in the grass line comes before them. They 
have not entered my meadow yet, nor a piece of wheat stubble which 
is plowed under. Gi PAviis: 

Eureka, Mo., Sep., 7, 1870. 

On the farm of Jno. J. Squires at DeSoto, this worm at first ate off 
allthe grass, then completely stripped the Jeaves from some corn- 
fodder, injured his corn, ate into his tomatoes and ruined his turnips 
—injuring his crops to the amount of nearly $1,000. 

In some cases the worm acted strangely, and I have know it to 
take a whole field of rye in preference to wheat. Judge Wielandy, of 
Cole county informs me that it was abundant on his potatoes, cutting 
off the lateral stems. It invaded a large cucumber field and entirely 
cleaned out the crab grass, and would have injured his cucumbers 
had he not applied slacked lime. Insome parts of Jefferson county 
it was very abundant and destructive, and Senator J. H. Morse, of 
Morse’s Mills had twenty acres badly injured by it. Ihave also been 
informed that in some vineyards it did great damage by gnawing 
around the stems and causing the bunches to drop off and fall to 
pieces so that the grapes would scatter onthe ground. But I cannot 
vouch for the correctness of the observation. With me it did more 
injury to corn than to anything else. Itnotonly greedily devours the 
leaves and stems, but bores large holes through the ears, burrowing in 
them in all directions. On late corn it is frequently found in the same 
ear with the Corn-worm, alias Cotton Boll worm. The Boll-worm is, 


112 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


however, rougher, generally paler, striped differently (see Figs. 42 and 
43,c,),and always readily distinguished by having a larger gamboge- 
yellow or reddish head, which invariably lacks the distinct white in- 
verted Y-shaped mark, and the darker shadings of the head of the 
Fall Army-worm. 

Now, until the present year nothing was absolutely known of the 
natural history of this worm, and though I knew that it was not the 
true Army-worm, and suspected, from comparing it with the descrip- 
tion of certain corn-feeding worms received in 1868 from Mr. E. 
Daggy, of Tuscola, Illinois, that it would produce a certain moth 
which I bred from Mr. Daggy’s worms—yet I could not feel positive 
without breeding the Fall Army-worm to the perfect state. This I 
very luckily did, and I am therefore able to give its complete history, 

In the fall of 1868 I received a few specimens from Mr. T. R. 
Allen, of Allenton, with an account of their injuring newly sown 
wheat on oat stubble, and on page SS8of my first Report it was briefly 
described by the name of Wheat Cut-worm. The popular term of 
* Fall Army-worm” is, however, altogether more indicative than that 
of “Wheat Cul-worm,” since the species does not confine its attacks 
to wheat, and not only very closely resembles the Army-worm in 
appearance but has many habits in common. 


HOW IT DIFFERS FROM THE TRUE ARMY-WORM. 


The two insects need never be confounded, however. The true 


Army-worm never appears in the fall of the year, but always about 
[Fig. 45.] 


[Fig. 44] the time when wheat is getting 
-‘|beyond the milk state; and it sg 
||generally disappears, in the lat- & 
‘Jitude of St. Louis, by the first 3 
jof June. It confines its attacks 
| entirely to the grasses and ce- py 
reals, whereas the species under (#4 
consideration isa much more “St 
general feeder, devouring with 
equal relish most succulent 
plants, such as wheat, oats, 
corn, barley, grasses, purslane, 
| turnips, and, as Mr. J. M. Jor- 
dan of St. Louis informs me, even spruces. Moreover, when critically 
examined, the two worms show many characteristic differences, as 
will be seen by comparing Figure 44, which represents the true 
Army-worm, with Figure 45, which represents at a@ the Fall Army- 
worm natural size, at 6its head magnified, at ca magnified dorsal 
view of one of the joints,and at d a magnified side view of same. 
Our Fall Army-worm moth is a most variable one—so variable, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 113 


indeed, that at least three species might easily be fabricated by any 
[Fig. 46.] species-grinder who happened to capture at 
large the three most distinct varieties, without 
i knowing anything of their transformations. 
7 | have bred 51 specimens, all from larvze found 
on corn, and have others which were captured 
at large, and though half a dozen sufficiently 
distinct varieties might easily be picked out 
from among them, and though searcely any 
two are precisely alike, yet they may all be 
divided into three distinct sets or varieties. 
The first of these, which is the more common, 
is represented at Figure 46, a, the second at 8, 
and the third at ¢. For those who are more curious in such matters 
Iappend, at the end of this article, a more elaborate description of 
this new moth. Not only do I find this great variation in this particu- 
lar species, but all: the species of the genus to which it belongs are 
variable; and Guenée has truly remarked that they resemble each 
other so closely, and their modifications are so complicated, that it is 
next to impossible to properly separate them. By comparing the 
annexed Figures 46 a, 6 and c, with that of the true Army-worm moth 
(Fig. 47) the two insects will be found to differ widely. 

We have in this country a very common moth ( Prodenia comme- 
ine, Abb.) which may be popularly called the Spiderwort Owlet 
moth, some of the varieties of which ap- 
proach so nearly to some of the more 
= strongly marked varieties of our Fall Ar- 
; my-worm moth that it is necessary to 
show the very great difference which 
really exists between them, in order that 
the cultivator may not be unnecessarily 
alarmed when he observes the former, 
by courant it with the latter, and erroneously inferring that he 
will be overrun with Fall Army-worms when there is no real danger, 

[Fig. 48.] The Spiderwort Owlet moth, (Fig. 48,4 and 

ee : c) is a handsomer and more distinctly 

*y 4 marked species, the front wings inclining 
e <a) more to vinous-gray, or purplish-gray, and 
; yy) the ordinary lines being more clearly de- 
fined by very deep brown, than in the Fall 
Army-worm moth. But, however much 

} these characters may vary—and they are 
quite variable—there are yet two others 
which will be readily noticed upon com- 
paring the figures of the two species, and 
by which the Spiderwort moth may always 


114 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


be distinguished from its close ally, namely, by the tip of the wing 
besag more prolonged and acuminate, and by the three-forked nerve in 
the middle of the wing being much more conspicuous. Its larva never 
congregates in multitudes as does the Fall Army-worm, and differs so 
materially from that worm, and is withalso characteristically marked, 
that it may be recognized at once by the above illustration (Fig. 48, a). 
Contrary to what its name would indicate, it is a very general feed- 
er, as] have found it on all sorts of succulent plants, both wild and 
cultivated, This insect is more or less numerous every year, but has 
never been known to multiply so prodigiously as the Fall Army-worm, 
which we have under consideration. It passes the winter either in 
the larva, pupa or perfect state, but more generally in the former. 


REMEDIES. 


Now that I have sufficiently dwelt on the characteristics of the 
Fall Army-worm to enable any one to distinguish it, even from its 
nearest relative, let us consider for a moment what can be done to 
prevent its great injuries to grains and to vegetables. I have proved 
that there are at least two, and probably as many as three or even 
four broods during the course of the year; for those worms which 
appeared in such multitudes in August and the forepart of Septem- 
ber, in due time produced moths, and these gave birth to a new gen- 
eration of worms, which began to make their presence manifest 
towards the end of October. In 1868, also, I bred the moth as early 
as July, from worms received from Mr. Daggy. In this prolificacy the 
Fall Army-worm differs remarkably from the true Army-worm, as 
well as from most of its close allies, which generally produce but one, 
and seldom more than two, broods each year. 

The moths were so numerons during the latter part of September 
and the forepart of October, that I not only found them common at 
Decatur, Vandalia and other parts of Central Illinois, and wherever I 
traveled in our own State, but I captured a goodly number in the 
very heart of St. Louis, and even caught some while riding by rail. 

The eggs are deposited in small clusters, often in two or three lay- 
ers one above the other, and the whole cluster is covered sparsely 
with the yellowish hairs from the 2 abdomen. Each egg is nearly 
spherical, of a pale fulvous color, and differs only from that of the 
Unarmed Rustic (Agrotis inermis, Fig. 49, a, showing one magni- 
fied, and 4, a batch of natural size,) in being less compressed 
and less distinctly ribbed. The clusters were found abundantly, not 
only on the under side of peach and apple leaves, which the worms 
readily devour, but on the leaves of such trees as sycamore, which, 
so far as we at, present know, they do not feed upon. Under these 
last circumstances the young worms, upon hatching, would soon 
descend the tree to feed upon the more succulent herbage below; 
and the more I learn of the habits of our different Owlet moths, 


THE STATE ENTOMULOGIST. 115 


iFig. 49.] the more I become convinced that the long-accepted 
| theory of their eggs being deposited on the ground 
is’ a false one, and that most of our cut-worms 
though fat, lazy and groveling in the ground when 
we find them, have been bornin more elevated and 
exalted positions. 

In the fall of 1868 this worm proved very des- 
tructive to the newly sown wheat in many parts of 
Franklin and St. Louis counties, Mo., and seemed to 
be confined to such wheat as was sown on oats stub- 
ble. I then accounted for this singular state of things 
by supposing that the scattering oats which were left 
after harvest had sprouted before the wheat, and had 
thus attracted the parent moths*; and, acting 
upon this supposition, I suggested that the attacks of the worm might 
effectually be prevented by plowing the land early and keeping the 
ground clear of all vegetation until the wheat was planted. This 
inference proves to be well warranted by the facts; and in future, 
when the Fall Army-worm is heard of during the months of August 
or September, as it was the present year, it will be wise for those who 
live in the immediate neighborhood, either to sow no fall grain at all 
or to endeavor, in doing so, to carry out the above suggestions. The 
last brood of worms, which at this writing (Nov. 7th) are not yet quite 
full grown, must evidently pass the winter in the ground, either in 
the larva or the pupa state. In either case a great many of them 
would be killed by late fall plowing which should be used, when prac- 
ticable, as a remedial measure in fields where this insect has been 
numerous. When the worms are overrunning a field of fall grain, 
most of them could be destroyed by means of a heavy roller, with- 
out injury to the grain. 

The question has been repeatediy asked: ‘“ Will this worm be as 
numerous next year as ithas been this; or will it go on increasing in 
geometrical ratio, and be still more numerous?’ Now, although I 
greatly dislike to weaken the confidence that some people seem to 
place in the oracular power of an entomologist to peer into the future, 
yet I must meekly confess my inability to give any definite answer to 
such questions. 

Byron has truly said that, “the best of prophets of the future is 
the past;” and we may reasonably draw the inference that this worm 
will not be so abundant next year, because in the past it has only 
occasionally been so troublesome, and never, so far as the record 
shows, during two consecutive years. And we may rest tolerably 
well assured that it will not increase in geometrical ratio, because 
most vegetable feeding insects are preyed upon by more predaceous 


*Report I, p. 88. 


116 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


species and by parasites,* and because such continued increase of one 
species is inconsistent with the harmony we find everywhere in Na- 
ture. But we may not venture beyond the inference, as the happen- 
ings of the future are not for mortals to know. Some persons may 
also be curious to learn why this worm increases so much more in 
late summer and fall than in spring, since there are so many broods 
during the year; or why it isonly noticed in certain years? Such ques- 
tions, likewise, can receive no definite answer, 


‘« Till old experience do attain 
To something like prophetic strain.’’ 


For though, to meet the first, we may assume that the winter decim- 
ates their numbers, or that the spring weather is not favorable to their 
increase; and to meet the last we may conjure up a hundred reasons 
yet assuming is not knowing, and we must content ourselves with the ° 


facts as they occur. 

In conclusion, it will afford a grain of comfort to those who have 
had wheat fields cleaned off by this worm, to know that their wheat 
is not necessarily ruined; for, as I personally ascertained, wheat that 
had been thus cut off in the fal! of 1868 madea good stand the follow- 
ing spring; and in one instance, where part of a field had been in- 
vaded and the rest left untouched, it really appeared that the part 
which had been eaten off yielded the heaviest. Mr. Huron Burt, of 
Callaway county, Mo., also informs me that this insect always leaves 
blue-grass untouched. 


PRopDENIA AUTUMNALIS, Riley.—Imago (Fig. 46, a, b and c.)—Front wings narrow with the 
apex usually well rounded, and with the middle of the hind margin sometimes, but not often, ex- 
tending beyond apex: general color mouse-gray variegated with smoky-brown, fulvous and pearly 
or bluish-white ; apical patch bluish-white and never extending beyond nerve 5: the subterminal 
line—which is pale and bends like a bow, approaching nearest the terminal line between nerves 3 
and 4—generally blends with this patch so as to appear to start from its lower edge, but is some- 
times well separated from it so as to be traced further towards apex: dark space preceding subter- 
minal line, confined between nerves 3 and 5, blending gradually with the rest of the wing, barely 
showing two darker sagittate spots: transverse anterior and transverse posterior either subobsolete 
or tolerably well defined, each by a geminate dark line: basal area divided longitudinally by an 
irregular dark line, the wing below it quite light-colored: orbicular spot large and elongated, a 
little lighter than surrounding surface, and well defined by a fulyous annulation, the pale oblique 
shade which generally encloses it in this genus confined toa fulvous shade above, and either amore 
distinct fulvous line behind or none at all: reniform spot generally dark, but sometimes lighter 
than space preceding ; not well defined, the small pale spot at top being generally distinct, and 
either partaking of the same form, or resembling the small letter e [left wing]; the lower edge oc- 
cupied by a distinct white dash, which however never extends beyond it and but seldom shows any 
tendency to furcate with the nerves: four tolerably distinct equidistant pale costal spots from 
reniform spot to apical patch: terminal line pale, even, parallel with posterior margin: terminal 
space dark, except near apex and anal angle, divided into subquadrate spots by the pale nerves: 
fringe either broad or narrow, of same color as wing, with a narrow darker inner line, relieved by 
two very fine paler ones which are barely distinguishable: under surface smoky, but paler inte- 


* Many of the Fall Army-worms had the thoracic joints of the body more or less covered with 
the eggs of a Tachina fly, and I haye bred from the worms the same parasite (Eworista leucania, 
Kirk; 2d Kep. ig. 17) which infests the true Army-worm, and still another allied species (Tachina 
archippivora) which infests the larve of the Archippus butterfly, and will be referred to on a fu- 
fure page. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. Buy 


riorly and terminally, and fulvous along costa; the whole with a nacreous lustre and more or less 
irrorate with brown, and often with a flesh-colored tint near apex; fringes dark. Hind wings white 
with a faint fulvous tint; semi-transparent and slightly irridescent. with extremities of nerves and 
borders, especially above, brown; fringes dusky, especially at apex, and with a paler inner line ; 
under surface similar. Thorax, abdomen and legs of same general color as front wings, being 
paler below; the longer lateral and anal abdominal hairs more fulvous. Sexes with difficulty dis- 
tinguished, the size and shape of the abdomen not even being asafe criterion, Maximum expanse 
1.40; minimum expanse 1.05 inches. Described from 18 specimens, bred Sept. 20th—Oct. 10th, 
from corn-fed larve. 

Variety Fuvosa, (Fig. 46, b.)—Front wings greatly suffused with fulvous, especially in the 
lower median space, which often inclines to ochraceous ; apical space more or less defined; oblique 
median band distinct to median nerve, and orbicular spot with an ochre-colored centre. Described 
from 5 specimens, bred Sept. 25th—Oct. 3rd, from corn-fed larve. 

Variety Onscura, (Fig. 46, ¢.)—Front wings of amuch more uniform and darker color, either 
grayish-brown with a slight vinous tint, or deep smoky brown inclining to black, or a deep warm 
brown with but little gray; apical space either entirely obsolete or but very faintly indicated ; ob- 
lique fulvous band across upper middle of wing also obsolete; the ordinary lines either entirely 
obsolete [one specimen only] or distinctly marked; the ordinary spots sometimes obsolete, but 
more generally indicated by fulvous lines. Described from 8 specimens, bred Sept. 21st—Oct. 2d, 
from corn-fed laryee. 

Larva, (Fig. 45, a.)—Ground-color very variable, generally dark and pitchy-black when young, 
but varying after the last moult from pale brown to pale dirty green, with more or less pink or 
yellow admixed—all the markings produced by fine, more or less intense, brown, crimson and yel- 
low mottlings. Dorsum brownish with a narrow line down the middle, rendered conspicuous by a 
darker shade each side of it. A dark, subdorsal band one-third as wide as each joint is long; 
darkest at its upper edge, where it is bordered and distinctly separated from dorsum by a yellow 
line which, except on joint 11 where it deflects a little upwards, is quite straight; paler in the mid- 
dle of each joint. A pale, either buff or flesh-colored, substigmatal band, bordered above and be- 
low by a narrow, yellow and wavy line. Venter pale. Head pale yellowish-brown, with sometimes 
a tinge of green or pink; the triangular piece yellowish, the Y-mark distinct and white, the cheeks 
with four more or less distinct lateral brown lines and with dark brown mottlings and nettings, 
which become confluent and form a dark curved mark at the submargin behind the prongs and each 
side of the stem of the Y. Stigmata large, brown, witha pale annulation, and just within the 
lower edge of the dark subdorsal band. Legs either light or dark. Cervical shield darker than 
body, with the narrow dorsal and subdorsal lines extending conspicuously through it: anal plate 
also dark, narrow and margined by the pale subdorsal lines—both plates furnishing stiff hairs, but 
without tubercles. Piliferous tubercles on joints 2 and 3, arranged in a transverse row, ane quite 
large, especially on joint 2; on joints 4-10 inclusive the superior eight are arranged as follows : 
4 in a trapezoid in dorsal space, the posterior two as far again from each other as the anterior two, 
and two near stigmata, one above and one behind; on joint 11 the dorsal 4 are in a square, and on 
joint 12in a trapezoid, with the posterior and not the anterior ones nearest together: the thoracic 
joints have eachalarge subventral tubercle just above the legs. Length 1.10-1.50 inch. Described 
from numerons specimens. 

Pupa.—¥ormed in the ground, without cocoon; of normal form, bright mahogany-brown, and 
with a distinct forked point at extremity. 


THE APPLE-TREE TENT-CATERPILLAR, OR AMERICAN 
LACKEY MOTH.—(Clisiocampa Americana, Harr. 


(Lepidoptera, Bombycide.) 


What orchardist in the older States of the Union is not familiat 
with the white web-nests of this caterpillar? As they glisten in the 
rays of the spring sun, before the trees have put on their full summer 


TiS THIRD ANNUAL RETORT OF 


dress, these nests, which are then small, speak volumes of the negli- 


gence and slovenliness of the owner of the orchard, and tell more 
[Fig. 50.] 


truly than almost anything else 
why it is that he fails and has 
bad luck with his apple crop. 
Wherever these nests abound 
one feels morally certain that 
the borers, the Codling-moth, 
and the many other enemies of 
the good old apple tree, men- 
tioned in the beginning of this 
Report, have full play to do as 
they please, unmolested and un- 
noticed by him whom they are 
ruining; and when I pass through 
an orchard with two, three or 
more “tents” on every tree, I 
never pity the owner, because 
there is no insect more easily 
kept in check. 

The small, bright and glist- 
ening web, if unmolested, is 
soon enlarged until it spreads 

- % over whole branches, and the 
caterpillars which were the architects, in time become moths, and 
lay their eggs for an increased supply of nests another year. 

This insect isso well known throughout the country, and has 
been so well treated of by Harris and Fitch, that it is only necessary 
to give here the most prominent and important points in its history, 
the more especially as the figures alone which are given herewith 
will enable the novice to recognize it the moment it appears in a 
young orchard. Though some years quite abundant,it is not as com- 
mon with us as in some of the Hastern States. 

The eggs (Fig. 50, ¢) from which these caterpillars hatch are de- 
posited mostly during the month of June, in oval rings, upon the 
smaller twigs, and this peculiar mode of deposition renders them 
conspicuous objects during the winter time, when by a little practice 
they can easily be distinguished from the buds, knots or swellings of 
the naked twigs. Each cluster consists of from two to three hundred 
eggs, and is covered and protected from the weather by a coating of 
glutinous matter, which dries into a sort of net-work. The little em- 
bryonic larvee are fully formed in the egg by the commencement of 
winter, and the same temperature which causes the apple-buds to 
swell and burst, quickens the vital energies of these larvee and causes 
them to eat their way out of their eggs. Very often they hatch dur- 
ing a prematurely warm spell and before there is any green leaf for 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIS‘Y. 119 


them to feed uy on, but they are so tough and hardy that they cav 
fast for many days with impunity, and the glutinous substance on 
the outside of their eggs furnishes good sustenance and gives them 
strength at first. It is even asserted by Mr. H. C. Raymond, of Coun- 
cil Bluffs, lowa, that the eggs often hatch in the fall and that in these 
cases the larvee withstand the severity of the winter with impunity. 

The young caterpillars commence spinning the moment they are 
born, and indeed they never move without extending their thread 
wherever they go. All the individuals hatched from the same batch 
of eggs work together in harmony, and each performs its share of 
building the common tent, under which they shelter when not feed- 
ing and during inclement weather. They usually feed twice each 
day, namely, once in the forenoon and once in the afternoon. After 
feeding for five or six weeks, duritg which time they change 
their skins four times, these caterpillars acquire their full growth, 
when they appear as at Figure 50 (a side view, } back view) the col- 
ors being black, white, blue and rufous or reddish. They then scat- 
ter in all directions in search of some cozy and sheltered nook, such 
as the crevice or angle of a fence, and having finally decided on the 
spot, each one spins an oblong-cval yellow cocoon (Fig. 50, d@) the silk 
composing which is intermixed with a yellow fluid or paste, which 
dries into a powder looking something like sulphur. A few individ- 
uals almost always remain and spin up in the tent, and these co- 
coons will be found intermixed with the black excrement long after 
the old tent is deserted. 

Within this cocoon the caterpillar soon assumes the chrysalis 
es ore state, and from it, at the end of about 
‘three weeks, the perfect insect issues as 
a dull yellowish-brown or reddish-brown 
moth (Fig. 51), characterized chiefly by 
the front wings being divided into three 
nearly equal parts by two transverse 
whitish, or pale yellowish lines, and by the middle space between 
these lines being paler thanin the rest of the wing in the males, 
though it is more often of the same color, or even darker in the fe- 
males. The species is, however, very variable.* 

The moths do not feed, and thesole aim of their lives seems to be 
the perpetuation of their kind; for as soon as they have paired and 
each female has carefully consigned her eggs to some twig, they die, 


* Dr. Fitch, in the very excellent and detailed account of this insect in his second Report, 
shows how very variable the moth is, and from a large series of bred and captured specimens, I 
can fully corroborate the fact. Ihave specimens which are of an almost uniform pale tawny-yel- 
low, while others are very dark, being what might be termed a bay-brown with the pale markings 
conspicuous, while others have a pale hand across the hind wings so conspicuous as to very closely 
resemble the European neustria. Dr. Fitch in referring to his figures must certainly have made a 
mistake, for he calls Figure 4 the female and Figure 3 the male, while the reverse is apparent from 
the figures themselves. My own figure is intended to represent the female, but the middle space of 
the upper wings seldom if ever appears so light in this sex, as the engraver has erroneously repre- 
sented. 


120 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


and when the proper time comes around again the eggs will hatch, 
and the same cycle of changes takes place each year. 

This insect in all probability extends wherever the wild black 
cherry (Cerasus serotina) is found, as it prefers this tree to all others ; 
and this is probably the reason why the young so often hatch out be- 
fore the apple bads burst, because, as is well known, the cherry leafs 
out much earlier. Besides the Cherry and Apple, both wild and cul- 
tivated, the Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar will feed upon Plum, Thorn, 
Rose and perhaps on most plants belonging to the Rose family, 
though the Peach is not congenial to it, and it never attacks the Pear, 
upon which, according to Dr. Trimble, it will starve. It does well on 
Willow and Poplar and even on White Oak, according to Fitch, who 
also found it on Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) and Beech. 


REMEDIES. 


Cut off and burn the egg-clusters during winter, and examine the 
trees carefully in the spring for the nests from such clusters that may 
have eluded the winter search. The eggs are best cut off in the man- 
ner presently to be described for the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest. 
Though to kill the caterpillars numerous methods have been resorted 
to, such as burning, and swabbing with oil, soap-suds, lye, etc., they 
are all unnecessary, for the nests should not be allowed to get large, 
and if taken when small are most easily and effectually destroyed by 
going over the orchard with the fruit-ladder, and by the use of gloved 
hands. As the caterpillars feed about twice each day, once in the 
forenoon and once in the afternoon, and as they are almost always in 
their nests till after 9 A. M., and late in the evening, the early and late 
hours of the day are the best in which to perform the operation. As 
a means of facilitating this operation, it would be a good plan, as Dr. 
Fitch has suggested, to plant a few wild cherry trees in the vicinity 
of the orchard, and as the moths will mostly be attracted to such 
trees to deposit their eggs, and as a hundred clusters on a single tree 
are destroyed more easily than if they were scattered over a hundred 
trees, these trees will well repay the trouble wherever the Tent-cat- 
erpillar is known to be a grievous pest. 

The chrysalids of this caterpillar are often found filled with little 
maggots, which produce minute Chalcididan 4-winged flies of metallic 
green and black colors,* and belonging to the very same genus as 
the celebrated Hessian-fly parasite. This parasite, with other canni- 
bal insects, and perhaps more or less favorable seasons, tend to pro- 
duce a fluctuation in the numbers of these caterpillars, so that they 
are more numerous some years than others, and they were more nu- 
merous in 1868 than they have been since. It has also been noticed 
that dry summers are injurious to them. According to Dr. LeBaron, 


* Described as Cleonymus clisiocampe by Dr. Fitch (Rep., vol. I, p. 200), but subsequently 
more properly referred to the genus Semiotellus (Rep., Vol. III, p. 141. 


- THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 121 


the Baltimore Oriole occasionally pecks at the nests, but does not 
make a common article of diet of the caterpillars, and the only birds 
that devour them greedily are the American Cuckoos (Coccyzus 
Americanus and erythrophthalmus). 


THE TENT-CATERPILLAR OF THE FOREST—Clisiocampa syl- 
vatica, Harr. 


(Lepidoptera, Bombycide.) 


There is another insect which in all its stages so closely resem- 
bles the Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar as to be very generally confoun- 
ded with it. This insect was first described by the great Massachu- 
setts entomologist, Dr. Harris, and very appropriately named the 
Tent-Caterpillar of the Forest, the better to distinguish it from the 
other species which is more common in our orchards. He, however, 
unqualifiedly states that it lives in communities under a common web 
or tent; but with this exception gives a very clear and truthful ac- 
count of it.* It has been quite destructive in many parts of Missouri 
during the past two summers, and as Ihave had good opportunities 
of studying its habits I shall endeavor to dispel the confusion and 
uncertainty about them which have hitherto existed in the minds of 
most of our farmers. 


ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 


The egg-mass from which the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest 
hatches (Fig. 52, a, showing it after the young larve have escaped) 
may at once be distinguished from that of the common Tent-caterpil- 
lar by its being of a uniform diameter, and docked off squarely at 
each end. It is usually composed of about 400 eggs, the number in 
five masses which I counted ranging from 380 to 416. Each of the eggs 
composing this mass is of a cream-white color, 0.04 inch long and 0.025 
inch wide, narrow and rounded at the attached end or base, gradually 
enlarging towards the top, where it becomes slightly smaller (Fig. 52 
d), and abruptly terminates with a prominent circular rim on the out- 
side, and asunken spot in the centre (c). These eggs are deposited 
in circles, the female moth stationing herself, for this purpose, ina 
transverse position across the twig. With abdomencurved she gradu- 
ally moves as the deposition goes on, and when one circle is com- 


* Inj. Ins. p. 376. 


129 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


pleted, she commences another— 
and not before. With each egg is 
secreted a brown varnish which 
} firmly fastens it to the twig and 
’ to its neighbor, and which, upon 
becoming dry, forms a carinated 
net-work of brown over the pale 
egg-shell. These eggs aresoregu- 
larly laid and so closely glued to 
each other, and the sides are often 
so appressed, that the moth econo- 
mizes space almost as effectually as does the Honey-bee in the forma- 
tion of its hexagonal cells. In confinement the moth very seldom 
succeeds in forming a perfect ring, but in her abortive attempts, 
deposits them in different sized patches; and as I have found such 
unfinished patches attached to an oak leaf out-of-doors, we may con- 
clude that either from injury or debility of some kind, the parent’s 
instinct sometimes fails it even when all the conditions are normal 
and natural. 

The eggs are deposited, in the latitude of St. Louis, during the 
latter part of June. The embryo develops during the hot summer 
weather, and the yet unborn larva is fully formed by the time winter 
comeson. The young hatch with the first warm weather in spring— 
generally from the middle to the last of March—and though the buds 
of their food-plant may not have opened at the time, and thoughit may 
freeze severely afterwards, yet these little creatures are wonderfully 
hardy, and can fast for three whole weeks, if need be, and with- 
stand any amount of inclement weather. The very moment these 
little larve are born, they commence spinning a web wherever 
they go. At this time they are black with pale hairs, and are 
always found either huddled together or traveling in file along 
the silken paths which they form when in search of food. In about 

(Vig. 53.1] two weeks from the time they commence feeding they go 
\Y WY, through their first moult, having first grown paler or of a 
Z| light yellowish brown, with the extremities rather darker 


rise to the hairs quite pete and a conspicuous dark inter- 
=rupted line each side of the back. After the first moult, 


-line above described. After the second moult, which takes 
Se in about a week from the first, the characteristic 

=pale spots on the back appear, the upper pale line becomes 
yellow, the lower one white, and the space between them 
aN bluish: indeed, the characters of the mature larva are from 
yy aN this period Speen’ Very soon they undergo a third moult, 
after which the colors all become more distinct and fresh 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123 


the head and anal plate havea soft bluish velvety appearance, and 
the hairs seem more dense. After undergoing a fourth moult with- 
out material change in appearance, they acquire their full growth in 
about six weeks from the time of first feeding. At this time they ap- 
pear as at Figure 53, and for those who are interested in such mat- 
ters, I quote below Dr. Fitch’s description of the full-grown larva, as it 
is the first accurate and detailed description that was published, and 
as I have occasion to refer to it further on: 


‘<The caterpillar, as seen after it has forsaken its nest and is wandering about, is am 
inch and a half long and 0.20 thick. It is cylindrical and of a pale blue color, tinged low 
down on each side with greenish gray, and’ is everywhere sprinkled over with black points and dots. 
Along its back isa row of ten or eleven oval or diamond-shaped white spots which are similarly 
sprinkled with black points and dots, and are placed one on the fore part of each segment. Behind 
each of these spots, is a much smaller white spot, occupying the middle of each segment. The- 
intervening space is black, which color also forms a border surrounding each of the spots, and on 
each side is an elevated black dot from which arises usually four long black hairs. The hind part 
of each segment is occupied by three crinkled and more or less interrupted pale orange-yellow 
lines, which are edged with black. And on each side is acontinuous and somewhat broader stripe: 
of the same yellow color, similarly edged on each of its sides with black. Lower down upon each 
side is a paler yellow or cream-colored stripe, the edges of which are more jagged and irregular 
than those of the one above it, and this stripe also is bordered with black, broadly and unevenly on 
its upper side and very narrowly on its lower side. The back is clothed with numerous fine fox-- 
colored hairs, and low down on each side are numerous coarser whitish ones. On the under side is 
a large oval black spot on each segment except the anterior ones. The legs and prolegs are black 
and clothed with short whitish hairs. The head is of a dark bluish color freckled with numerous 
black dots and clothed with short blackish and fox-colored hairs. The second segment* or neck is 
edged anteriorly with cream white, which color is more broad upon the sides. The third and fourth 
segments have each a large black spot on each side. The instant itis immersed in spirits the blue: 
color of this caterpillar vanishes and it becomes black. 


At this stage of its growth the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest may 
be seen wandering singly over different trees, along roads, on the tops 
of fences, etc., in search of a suitable place toform its cocoon. It 
usually contents itself with folding a leaf or drawing several together 


* Tt is necessary to remark here that in the above description, Dr. Fitch reckons the head as 
the first segment and the first leg-bearing segment of the body, which he calls the neck, as the sec- 
ond segment. If Lepidopterists could be induced to adopt some uniform rule in describing larva, 
it would prevent much confusion and error. 

It is astonishing how loosely these segments are referred to by most authors. Thus Dr. Fitch, 
after calling the head the first segment in the above description, excludes it in the descriptions of 
the larvae of Dryocampa senatoria and Dryocampa stigma which immediately follow (Reports 38, 4 
and 5, 72 322 and 323), and speaks of the long anterior horns as proceeding from the second seg- 
ment, whereas, to be consistent, he should have made them proceed from the third segment, as Mr. 
Wm. Saunders has done with Dryocampa rubicunda (Can. Entomologist II, p. 76). Dr. Packard 
(Guide etc, p. 271) speaks of the caudal horn of the larvee of Sphingide as proceeding from the last 
seement, which it certainly doesnot, whichever custom be adopted. Westwood (Intr., II,) though 
his language on page 319 would lead one to suppose that he included the head as the first segment, 
more often adopts the other rule, as for instance when he refers to the 11th segment in Mamestra, 
etc., (p. 344). Burmeister in his Manual of Entomology evidently excluded the head as a segment, 
for he refers (p. 35) to the “three first segments of the body following the head,’’ and afterwards 
(p- 41) speaks in more precise terms of the body consisting of 12 segments. : 

Strictly speaking, the normal insect larva is composed of 13 segments, and a more or less dis- 
tinct terminal sub-segment ; but in all those larve in which the anterior segment is covered by a 
horny case, so as to form a distinct head, it seems more appropriate to consider this as the head in 
contradistinction to the twelve articulations of the body. specially is this the case with Lepidopte- 
rous larve, which are so plainly marked with a horny head, 12 soft joints anda terminal sub- 
joint; and this plan has been adopted by most of the leading entomologists, including Boisduval, 
Guenée, Harris, etc. 

In my own descriptions I have always adopted this course, so that when I speak of the first 
joint I mean that immediately following the head. Of late I have adopted the term joint because 
it is shorter and perhaps more strictly accurate than segment. I also discard the term feet, as often 
applied to the horny articulate legs, for they are not feet in any sense of the word, but are the 
true legs of the insect, and the simple term legs or thoracic legs will at once distinguish them from 
the abdominal an anal] prolegs or false legs. 


124 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


for this purpose, though it frequently spins up under fence boards and 
in other sheltered situations. The cocoonis very much like that ofthe 
common Tent-caterpillar, being formed ofa loose exterior covering of 
white silk with the hairs of the larva interwoven, and by a more com- 
pact oval inner pod that is made stiff by the meshes being filled with 
a thin yellowish paste from the mouth of the larva, which paste, 
when dried, gives the cocoon the appearance of being dusted with 
powdered sulphur exactly as in that ofthe otherspecies. Three days 
after the cocoon is completed the caterpillar casts its skin for the last 
time and becomes a chrysalis of areddish brown color, slightly dusted 
with a pale powder, and densely clothed with short pale yellow hairs, 
which at the blunt and rounded extremity are somewhat larger and 
darker. In a couple of weeks more, or during the forepart of June, 
the moths commence to issue, and fly aboutat night. This moth (Fig. 
52,62) bears a considerable resemblance to that of the Common Tent- 
caterpillar (Fig. 51), being of a brownish-yellow or rusty-brown, and 
having two oblique transverse lines across the front wings. It 
differs, however, in the color being paler or more yellowish, especi- 
ally on the thorax; in the space between the oblique line being, even 
in the males, usually darker instead of lighter than that on either 
side; but principally in the oblique lines themselves being always 
dark instead of light, andin a transverse shade, often quite distinct, 
across the hind wings. Asin Americana, the male is smaller than 
the female, with the wings shorter and cut off more squarely. Con: 
siderable variation may be found ina given number of moths, but 
principally in the space between the oblique lines on the front wings 
being either of the same shade as the rest of the wing, or in its being 
much darker; but asI have found these variationsin different indi- 
viduals of the same brood, bred either from Oak, Hickory, Apple and 
Rose, they evidently have nothing to do with the food-plant. The 
scales on the wings are very loosely attached, and rub off so readily 
that good specimens of the moth are seldom captured at large. So 
much for the natural history of our Forest Tent-caterpillar. 


THE LARVA SPINS A WEB. 


From the very moment it is born till after the fourth or last moult, 
this caterpillar spins a web and lives more or less in company; but 
from the fact that this webis always attached close to the branches 
and trunks of the trees infested, it is often overlooked, and several 
writers have falsely declared that it does not spin. At each succes- 
sive moult all the individuals ofa batch collect and huddle together 
upon a common web for two or three days, and during these periods 
—though more active than most other caterpillars in this so-called 
sickness—they are quite sluggish. During the last or fourth moult 
they very frequently come low down on the trunk of the tree, and, as 
in the case of the gregarious larve of the Hand-maid Moth (Datana 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. | 125° 


ministra), which often entirely denude our Black Walnuts, they 
unwittingly court destruction by collecting in such masses within | 
man’s reach. 


IT FEEDS BOTH ON ORCHARD AND FOREST TREES. 


In the summer of 1867 this insect did great damage in Western 
New York, where it is falsely called THE “Army-worm.” From the 
fact that Mr. Peter Ferris, of Millville, Orleans county, N. Y., was 
greatly troubled with it that year in his apple orchard, and that he 
did not notice any of the same worms on the Oak and Walnut timber 
of that section, he concluded that his Apple-feeding worms must be 
difterent from those feeding on forest trees. In an article signed “F., 
Orleans county, N. Y.,” which appeared in the Country Gentleman 
of July 23d, 1868, the same writer endeavors to prove his Apple-feed- 
ing worms distinct by sundry minute characters, as may be seen from 
the following extract: 


Now Lam not an entomologist, but still must be allowed to be- 
lieve that there are several points, if not “distinctive characters,” in 
which our caterpillar differs from the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest, 
as described by Dr. Fitch. Hislarva is of a pale blue color, tinged 
lower down on each side with greenish-gray. In ours the prevailing 
color on the back is black; there is a sky-blue stripe on each side but 
no greenish-gray. Both have the white spots on the back much 
alike, though perhaps ours are more club shaped, looking to the naked 
eye nearly the shape of ten-pins. Both have these spots surrounded 
with black; in ours there is quite a broad black stripe on each side 
of the spots. This black stripe is more or less filled with fine, crin- 
kled, bright orange lines. In some, these orange lines are so plenty 
as to be seen plainly without the glass; in others the color to the 
naked eye is a fine velvet-black. In the larvadescribed by Dr. Fitch 
there is much less of black and of the fine crinkled lines, which are 
pale orange yellow. There is a somewhat broader stripe of the same 
yellow color, in place of a narrow orange one in ours. The lower 
yellow stripe may be much alike in both, but what is sky-blue in one 
1s greenish-gray in the other. In both, the head is of a dark bluish 
color, but in his itis freckled with numerous black dots; in ours, both 
to the naked eye and under a glass, itis plain. In his “the second 
segment or neck is edged anteriorly with cream-white, which color is 
more broad on the sides. The third and fourth segments have each a 
large black spot on each side.” Both the cream white edge and black 
spots are entirely wanting in our caterpillars. 

The habits of the larvee also appear to be different. According 
to Harris and Fitch, the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest lives in large 
societies, under a tent or cob-web-like nest placed against the side 
of the tree, and comes out to feed.on the leaves. Others, as well as 
myself, have watched our caterpillars and entirely fail to discover 
that they lived in communities, or in any one place that they went 
from and returned to. While small, they remain scattered over the 
smaller branches and on the leaves, and are first seen to begin to get 
together when about half grown, on some of the higher limbs in the 
sun. They only collect in large bunches on the trunk and lower 
limbs; when nearly full grown, and the weather is hot, they get in 
the shade; and then they never have any web or particular place 


126 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


they return to, or show any uniformity in the size of the bunches. 
But they only manage in this way while the leaves last. As soon as 
one tree is stripped they go to another, and when one orchard is used 
up leave for another. They are great travelers; on a smooth track, 
like a hard road or a fence cap- board, they get along quite fast. They 
do not try to keep together, but each one goes on his own hook. 
There is very little said about the Tent- caterpillar of the Forest 
traveling in this way. 

Then our larvee appear decidedly to prefer the leaves of the Ap- 
ple-tree, and only feed on the leaves of other trees when the former 
are not to be had. Though Iam not prepared to say that they will 
not feed on Oak, Walnut or Hickory trees, under any circumstances, 
I have repeatedly found these trees in full leaf when not only Apple 
trees, but Ash and Basswood trees near by, were entirely stripped. 
The eggs are sometimes laid on Hard Maple shade trees, but the cat- 
erpillars leave these trees as soon as they get much size, evidently 
in search of food more suitable to their taste. This may be the case 
in regard to Oak and Walnut trees. 

They also select different places for their cocoons. Dr. Fitch says 
the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest selects a sheltered spot for its co- 
coon, such as the corner or angle formed by the meeting of two or 
three sides. In this the cocoon is suspended. Our larva selects one 
or more leaves on any tree that is convenient. The edges of the 
leaves are drawn together, forming a shelter in which there is gen- 
erally one cocoon; though when the space is large, and they are very 
numerous, there are often two or three cocoons together. The co- 
coon is not suspended, but fastened to the leat. They spin their co- 
coons in the forepart of July, and the moths appear in the latter part 
of the month. The Tent-caterpillar of the Forest spins its cocoon 
about the 20th of June, and the moth appears in the forepart of July. 

Now I think enough has been given to show that two distinct in- 
sects are under consideration, but, being only a farmer, I may be mis- 
taken. I would like to see Dr. Fitch’s views on this question. Un- 
doubtedly he has read Dr. Walsh’s article on “The Three so-called 
Army-worms,” inthe Practical Entomologist, and can tell whether 
our caterpillar is a distinct insect, or only shows the variations that 
may be expected in the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest. 

Now since Dr. Fitch has not, to my knowledge, complied with 
Mr. Ferris’s courteous wish, the labor has devolved upon me. I have 

, p 

taken upwards of 200 specimens from the same batch of Oak-feeding 
worms, and upon critically examining them, find that Dr. Fitch’s 
description is accurate, and that the differences or variations men- 
tioned by Mr. Ferris arise in every case, either from a misapprehen- 
sion of Dr. Fitch’s meaning, or from variations which may be found 
in the same brood. The only real difference between the two writers 
lies in the statement of Dr. Fitch that the worms live under a large 
cob-web-like nest, and that of Mr. Ferris that they do no such thing. 
Both statements should have been qualified, and were made without 
sufficient observation; for though the normal habit of the worms is 
to collect outside of their nests, I have seen exceptional instances of 
their collecting within or underneath it, especially when young. 

Nowitis just barely possible that in Western New York there 
may be a race of these worms that has taken to feeding on Apple and 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 197 


has lost all appetite or become incapacitated for feeding on forest 
trees; in other words, that there is a phytophagic variety, or a phyto- 
phagic species in process of formation. I could mention several 
similar occurrences among insects,* and to those who believe in the 
immutability of species these occurrences are incomprehensible 
enough; but to those who accept the more modern Darwinian views, 
and believe that species are slowly being formed to-day, just as they 
have been for long ages and ages in the past, they are most signifi- 
cant, and exactly what we should expect. But that such a race has 
yet been formed is rendered highly improbable from the following 
facts: Ist. Itis spoken of both by Dr. Fitch and Dr. Harris as oc- 
curring on Oak, and by the latter as also occurring on Walnut, 
Apple and Cherry in the New England States. Mr. George E. 
Brackett of Belfast, Maine,t in referring to its ravages in the 
orchard, states that it also ravaged the forests in the summer of 1867, 
eating the leaves of most kinds of deciduous trees, though Poplar and 
Ash seemed to be their favorites. 2nd. I have,in our own State, 
successfully transferred them from Oak to Apple, and from Apple to 
Oak, and now have a suite of moths bred from larvee which were fed 
half the time on the one and half the time on the other. Given 
an equal quantity of Oak, Apple, Plum, Peach, Cherry, Wal- 
nut, Hickory, Rose, they have invariably seemed to prefer and thrive 
best on the Apple. 


IS IT EVER VERY DESTRUCTIVE ? 


This question is raised by Dr. Fitch, who, on insufficient grounds, 
discredited the previons assertion of Abbot, that it “is sometimes so 
plentiful in Virginia as to strip the oak trees bare.” The destruction 
it caused in some of the Eastern States in 1866 and in 1867, is suffi- 
cient to decide this question; but there is every reason to believe 
that in the South and West its injuries are of still vaster extent. From 
Mr. John H. Evans of Des Arc, Ark., [learn that it last summer com- 
pletely stripped the over-cup timber in the overflowed bottoms of 
that country, and for the past two years it has been quite destructive 
both to forest and orchard trees,in many parts of Missouri. In the 
Oak timber these worms prefer trees of the Black Oak group, and will 
seldom touch the White Oak in bodies, though when scattered among 
the other kinds, they attack it also. 


*For an account of such insects as are known to have phytophagic varieties or phytophagic 
species I must refer the reader to Mr. Walsh’s papers on the subject in the proceedings of the 
Entomological Society of Philadelphia for 1864 and 1865. But, as the most familiar and striking 
examples I will mention, first—the polyphagous black-pencilled larva of Halesidota tassellata, 
Sm. and Abb., found feeding on Oak, Hickory, Elm, Plum and other trees, and the monophagous 
orange-pencilled larva of H. Harrisii, Walsh, found exclusively on Sycamore ; the moths from the 
two being absolutely undistinguishable. Second—the yellow-necked larva of Datana ministra, 
Drury, found on Apple ana other trees, and the black-necked larva of the same moth found on 
Black-walnut and Hickory. Third—the large Butternut and Walnut-feeding form of the common 
Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst.) 


yAmer. Journal of Hort., Sept., 1867. 


128 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 
ARTIFICIAL REMEDIES. 


From the time they are born till after the third moult these worms 
will drop and suspend themselves mid-air, if the branch upon which 
they are feeding be suddenly jarred. Therefore when they have been 
allowed to multiply in an orchard this habit will suggest various 
modes of destroying them. Again, as already stated, they can often 
be slaughtered en masse when collected on the trunks during the last 
moulting period. They will more generally be found on the leeward 
side of the tree if the wind has been blowing in the same direction for 
afew days. The cocoons may also be searched for, and many of the 
moths caught by attracting them towards the hight. But pre-eminently 
the most effective artificial mode of preventing this insect’s injuries 
is to search for and destroy the egg-masses in the winter time when 
the trees are leafless. Not only is this course the more efficient be- 
cause it is more easily pursued, and nips the evil in the bud, but for 
the reason that, in destroying the eggs only, we in a great measure 
evade killing, and consequently co-operate with, the natural parasites 
presently to be mentioned, which infest the worms themselves. A 
pair of pruning shears attached to the end of a pole, and operated by 
a cord, will be found very useful in clipping off the eggs; or, as recom- 
mended by Mr. Ferris, a more simple instrument ay be made by 
fastening a piece of an old scythe toa pole. If the scythe is kept 
sharp, the twigs may very handily be clipped with this instrument. 
Tarred bandages, or any of the many remedies used to prevent the 
female Canker-worm from ascending trees, can only be useful with 
the Forest Tent-caterpillar when it is intended to temporarily protect 
an uninfested tree frum the straggling worms which may travel from 


surrounding trees. 
NATURAL REMEDIES, 


It is always wise to co-operate, whenever we can, with our little 
friends among the Bugs, and it is consequently very necessary to be 
acquainted with them. It happens, fortunately, that we have several 
which aid us in keeping the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest in check, 
and in the natural forest we must trust entirely to these auxiliaries, 
as the mechanical means that can profitably be employed in a moder- 
ate sized orchard are impracticable in broad extents of timber. In- 
deed, these cannibals and parasites do their work so effectually that 
this caterpillar is seldom exceedingly numerous for more than two 
successive yearsin one locality, It prevails suddenly in great num- 
bers, and again is scarcely noticed for years, very much as is the case 
with the true Army-worm. Thus, after attracting such general at- 
tention in 1867 in many parts of the East, it has scarcely been noticed 
since. This is its history everywhere, and we may reasonably hope 
that in those parts of the West where it has been cutting such a figure 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 


the present summer, it will suddenly be so subdued as not to be 
noticed for some years to come. Its undue increase but combines the 
assaults of its enemies, until they multiply so as to gain the ascend- 
ency. Then, from insufficiency of food these enemies suddenly de- 
crease in numbers, and their natural prey has a chance to increase 
again. And so it goes on in the “Struggle for Life,” and in the great 
complicated net-work in which every animal organism is involved: 
a check here and a check there, and no one of all the myriad 
forms allowed to keep the ascendency beyond a limited time. The 
most efficient cannibal insects in checking the increase of this Forest 
Caterpillar, are the larger Ground-beetles belonging to the genus. 

[Fig. 54.] Colosoma. These beetles will pounce: 
upon the worms with astonishing greed, 
and are especially prone to attack them 
when helplessly collected together during 
the moulting periods. The Rummaging 
Ground-beetle (Colosoma  scrutator,. 
Fabr.), which every one will recognize 
from the figure (54), is especially fond of 
them. The most common parasite which 
occurs abundantly in the West, as well 
asin the East, and which I have bred 
from several other caterpillars, is a mag- 
got producing a Tachina-fly, which differs. 
only from the Red-tailed Tachina-fly (/zorista leucanie, Kirk.), 
which infests the Army-worm, in lacking the red tail.* The other 
parasite which infests itin the East, but which I have not yet met 
with, is a species of Pimpla very closely allied to P. melanocephala,, 
Brullé, but differing from that species in the head being red and not 
black.t 


SUMMARY. 


The Tent caterpillar of the Forest differs from the common Orchard 
Tent-caterpillar principally in its egg-mass being docked off squarely 
instead of being rounded at each end; in its larva having a row of 
spots along the back instead of a continuous narrow line, and in its 
moth having the color between the oblique lines on the front wings. 
as dark or else darker, instead of lighter than the rest of the wing. It 
feeds on a variety of both forest and orchard trees; makes a web 
which from its being usually fastened close to the tree is often over- 
looked; is often very destructive, and is most easily fought in the egg. 
state. 


*Exorista leucanie, Kirkpatrick =. militaris, Walsh. I have bred the variety lacking the 
red at tip of abdomen from larve of Attacus cecropia, Linn., Datana ministra, Drury, Agrofis ; 
inermis, Riley, and of two undetermined Agrotidians. 


} Practical Entomologist, II, p. 114. 


S E--9 


130 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


THE FALL WEB-WORM—JZyphantria texlor, Harris. 
(Lepidoptera, Arctiidae.) 


With the two preceding caterpillars is often confounded a third 
(Fig. 55.] which in reality has nothing in 
common with them, except that it 
spinsa web. The insect I refer to 
is known by the appropriate name 
of Fall Web-worm, and whenever 
we hear accounts of the Tent-cater- 
pillars taking possession of trees 
and doing great injuryin the fall of 
the year (and we do hear such ae- 
Z counts quite often), we may rest 
assured that the Fall Web-worm is 
ihe eulprié and has been mistaken for the Tent-caterpillars, which 
never appear at that season of the year. 

I do not know how injurious this insect is in the more Southern 
St» es, but he who travels in the fall of the year, with an eye to the 
beauties of the landscape, through any of the Northernand Middle 
States, especially towards the Atlantic sea-board, will find the beauty 
fearfully marred by the innumerable webs or nests of this worm. If 
they are as common as they were last fall, he will very naturally de- 
plore the unsightly appearance of the forests, and ‘eel amazed at the 
number of these signs of carelessness and slovenliness which occur 
in the cultivated orchards! The Web-worm is found on a great many 
kinds of trees, though on some more abundantly than others; but 
with the exception of the different grape-vines, the evergreens, the 
‘ssumachs and the Ailanthus, scarcely any tree or shrub seems to come 
amiss to its voracious appetite. This insect passes the winter in the 
pupa state under ground and the moth emerges during the month of 
May or as late as the fore part of June. The female deposits her eggs 
in a cluster on a leaf, generally near the end of a branch, and these 
eggs hatch during the months of June, July and August, earlier or 
later, according to the Jatitude. Each worm begins spinning the 
moment it is born, and by their united effort they soon cover the leaf 
with a web, under which they feed in company, devouring only the 
pulpy portions of the leaf. As they increase in size they extend 
their web, but always remain and feed underneath it. When young 
the worn s are pale-yellow with the hairs quite sparse and with two 
rows of black marks along the body and a black head. When full 
grown they generally appear pale-yellowish or greenish with a broad 
dusky stripe along the back anda yellow stripe along the sides, and 
they are covered with whitish hairs which spring from black and 
orange-yellow warts. Figure 55, a, gives a very good idea of a full 
grown worm, but the species is very variable both as to depth of color- 
ing and markings. 


WHE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 


Both Dr. Harris and Dr. Fitch state that this worm spins its thin 
eocoon in crevices of bark and similarly sheltered places above 
ground, but a great many of the specimens which I have reared (and 
I have bred specimens three different years) buried themselves and 
formed their cocoons just under the surface of the ground—thus giv- 
ing evidence that the same insect will sometimes variously spin up 
above ov below the ground. The chrysalis (Fig. 55,6) is of a very 
dark brown color, glabrous and polished and faintly punctured, and is 
characterized by swelling or bulging about the middle. The moth 
(Fig. 55, ¢) is white with a very slight fulvous shade: it has immacu- 
late wings, but the front thighs are tawny-yellow and the feet black 
ish: in some the tawny thighs have a large black spot, while the 
shanks on the upper surface are rufous; in many all the thighs are 
tawny-yellow, while in others they have scarcely any color. One bred 
specimen in my cabinet even has two tolerably distinct spots on each 
front wing—one at base of fork on the costal nerve, and one just 
Within the second furcation of the median nerve. 

During the summer and fall of 1870 this worm was unprecedently 
numerous, not only in our own State but all over the country, and, as 
was remarked by others as well as myself,it hatched out much earlier 
than usual; for the first webs were noticed around St. Louis by the 
middle ef June. It has always been supposed to be single-breoded, 
and in the New England States it never does perhaps produce more 
than one breod each year; but though such may be its normal habit, 
even in the latitude of St. Louis, yet there is good evidence that it 
sometimes produces two broods in that latitude, and in all probability 
does so constantly still further south. There appeared to be two 
broods with us the present year, and Mr. J. R. Muhleman, of Wood- 
burn, Illinois, infermed me that on August 5th, he had a second brood 
of worms, the first brood having appeared in June on Pear and Osage 
‘Orange. He did not, however, breed one generation from the other, 
and until this is done during the same year, we cannot say with abso- 
lute certainty that the species is two-brooded, for the disparity in 
time of appearance can be accounted for in other ways. The climate 
of the Central portion of our State is intermediate between that of 
the more Northern and the more Southern States, but the fauno par- 
takes more of the character of the latter; and our summers are so 
variable in their éuration andin their general intensity, that eur in- 
sects show a great variability in their habits. It is for this reason 
that I find it very difficult to draw the rigid lines that many of our 
New England writers have done when treating of a particular insect, 
and itis for this reason that we frequently find insects, normally 
single-brooded there, often producing two broods a year here. 

With us the Fall Web-worm appears to be most partial to the 
hickories and to the Black walnut, and least so to.the oaks; but i 
have found scarcely any tree or shrub exempt from its attacks except 
those already mentioned, and it is even said to feed on the Hep- 
Plantain, Bean, Sunflower, and many other herbaceous plants. 


132 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


From the foregoing account it will at once be seen how widely 
this Fall Web-worm really differs from the Tent-caterpillars. It hi- 
bernates in the pupa state, they in the egg state; it appears mostly 
in the fall, they mostly in the spring; its moth is pure white, theirs 
reddish brown; its eggs are deposited on a leaf, and hatch before the 
leaf falls, theirs are deposited around a twig, because they have to 
pass the winter and would get lost with the leaves if deposited upon 
them; it feeds solely on the parenchyma of the leaf under its web, 
they devour the whole leaf outside of their tent; and on account of 
these differences, we cannot employ the preventive measures against 
it which we take against them. 


REMEDEES. 


As, therefore, nothing can be done to materially affect this insect 
during the winter, we must do all the fighting when the worms first 
hatch. Their web soon betrays them, and the twig or branch con- 
taining it may be pruned off in the same manner described for the 
Fent-caterpillars. As the worms are always under the tent, the ope- 
ration in this case can be performed at any time of the day without 


the risk of missing any wanderers. 

HyYpHANTRIA TEXTOR—Larva—(Fig. 55, a) Ground-color greenish-yellow. Dorsum yelvety- 
black, with a narrow median pale line on thoracic joints. Sides speckled with black, except along 
subdorsal and stigmatal lines, where longitudinal yellow patches are left clear. Venter dusky or 
smoky-brown. Head shiny black with labrum and antennz white. Thoracic legs black; prolegs 
long and narrow, smoky-black with faint orange extremities. Covered with long straight hairs, 
longest on joints 2, 3, 11 and 12. These hairs are either dirty white with a few black ones inter~ 
apersed, or of a more uniform reddish-brown. They sprmg m bundles from around large warts 
situated as follows on each joint ; 4 which are black and dorsal, arramged in a trapezoid, the ante- 
rior pair being the smaller ; and four which are orange on each side, and arranged in a transverse 
row in the middle of the joint. Stigmata light yellow. Average length, 1.10 inches. 

Varies considerably, in some the black predominating, im others the yellow. Those found on 
hickories are usually the darkest. When newly hatched it is pale yellow with two longitudinal 
rows of black marks and a black head. 

Described from numerous: specimens. 


THE BLUE-SPANGLED PEACH WORM—Callimorpha fulvicosta, 
Clem. 

(Lepidoptera, Arctiide.) 
In examining apple trees, but more especially peach trees, dur: 
[Fig. 56.] ing winter or early spring, we 
often come across little black 
worms, covered with short, 
stiff, sprangling hairs, and stud- 
ded with minute blue spots, 
sheltering under the loose 
Sa bark. As soon as the leaves 
we BAINES put out, these worms issue 
\i-// from their winter retreat and 
Ce commence feeding. They 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. too 


grow apace and by the end of April have usually acquired their full 
size, when they present the appearance of Figure 56, a; c showing 
an enlarged side section of one of the principal joints, and d a back 
view of the same. The color is now velvety black above, and pale 
bluish, speckled with black below; there is a deep orange line along 
the back, and a more distinct wavy and broken one along each side: 
the warts, illustrated in the enlarged sections are steel-blue and gran- 
ulated, and their irregularities, as they catch and reflect the light, 
look like minute pale blue diamonds, the whole body, upon casually 
glancing at it, appearing studded with these blue points. This worna 
spins a slight cocoon of white silk in any sheltered place it can find, 
and changes to a chrysalis of a purple-brown color, finely and thinly 
punctured and terminating in a horizontally flattened plate, which is 
furnished with numerous yellowish-brown curled bristles. The moth 
(Fig. 56, b) issues from this chrysalis during the fore part of June. It 
isa very plainly marked species, being either milk-white or cream- 
colored, with the head, collar, basal and apical joints of the abdomen 
above, and the whole body, legs, and anterior margins of the wings 
fuivous or dull orange.* It was described in 1860 by Dr. Brackenridge 
Clemens under the name of Hypercompa fulvicostat but is now prop- 
erly referred to the genus Callimorpha. It may be knownin English as 
the Cream Callimorpha asit is disguished from all other moths by its 
unspotted creamy appearance.{ This worm is found more commonly on 


* Cailimorpha vestalés, Packard (Proc. Ent. Sec. Phil. I1f, p. 108), must be considered as a sy- 
nonym of fulvicosta, for Dr. Packard has certainly given no characters that should be considered 
specific. To show on what grounds thenew species is founded I will quote in full the original de- 
scription of fulvicosta and afterwards that of the so-called vestalis: 


C. fulvicosta, Clem.—‘‘ White. Palpi yellow orange, tips blackish. Head prothorax, the 
anterior edge of the fore wings, especially beneath, yellow-orange; sometimes the costa of the 
fore wings is dark brownish. Breast and legs yellow orange, the middle and fore tibie and tarsi 
thlackish. Abdomen tipped with yellowish orange. 

“Tilinois. From ‘Robt. Kennicott.” 

C. vestalis, Pack.—‘‘¢ and Q pure immaculate milk-white, Qwhite. ‘Tips of the palpi brown. 
Head and prothorax, basal half of the patagia and costa of both wings above and beneath yel- 
Gowish. The legs are also yellow beneath. The abdomen is white and unspotted. Antenna brown. 
Body & .65, 9 .65. Exp. wings (1.70, 9 1.70 inch. 

“< Middle Atlantic States (Coll. Ent. Soc. Phil., through A. R. Grote.” 


Now, comparing the descriptions, vestalis differs in no other respect from fulvicosta, than in 
the legs being yellow beneath instead of having the middle and fore tibizx blackish as described by 
‘Clemens. Three bred. specimens in my possession differ in this trifling character, and though Dr. 
Packard says that his species differs remarkably [!!] from the other in being pure white and of small- 
ver size, yet Dr. Clemens gives no measurements and there are specimens in my own cabinet and in 
Mr. Walsh’s of all shades of white to cream color and some of them fully as small as the measure- 
ments abowe-quoted. Moreover I have a specimen marked westadis, kindly sent me‘by my friend 
Cresson of the Am. Entomological Society, and while in Philadelphia last fall I examined all the 
-specimens marked or said to be vestalis without finding any distinguishing characters atall. If.a 
mew species is to be made out of such trifling characters inthe face of the fact that the species 
-of the genus Cailimorpha are very prone to vary, and that twenty times as much variation is found 
rin hundreds of other species of Lepidoptera, what is the science of entomology to come to? 

TProc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1860, p. 536. 

{The only insect which very closely resembles itis a pale variety of a moth known as the Egle 
“(Euchetes egle, Harr.) whose beautiful larva is tolerably common on our milkweeds. This last 
hhowever may-dlways be distinguished by the feathered antenna of ‘the male, the different shaped 
wings and the deep orange and black spotted abdomen. 


33t THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


the Peach than on any other tree, and as it appears very early in the 
season and commences to feed on the young leaves before they are 
fully expanded, it does considerable damage when numerous. | have 
been acquainted with the worm for several years past but its natura} 
history was unknown till last summer when Dr. LeBaron and myself 
simultaneously bred the moth from peach-leaf feeding larvae, so that 
its history is now given for the first time. Pigures of the larva were 
given in the Prairie Farmer last sammer by Dr. LeBaron who was. 
misled by Dr. Hull into the belief that they were the Tent-caterpillar 
of the Forest already described. Two yearsago I found this Blue- 
spangled worm tolerably common in the peach orchard of Mr. EK. J. 
Ayres of Villa Ridge, Hls., and hesays that he destroyed over a thou- 
sand ef them last spring. In this State I have frequently met with 
it but it is by no means common. Hand picking will easily keep it 
in check. 


CALLIMORPHA FuLvicosTa, Clem.—Larva (Fig. 56, 24)—Color velvety-black above, pale bluish- 
gray speckled with black below. A deep orange medio-dorsat line (usually obsolete towards each 
end) and a more distinct, wavy, broken, yellow stigmatal line, with a less distinct coincident pale- 
line below it. Covered with large highly polished, roughened, deep steel-blue: warts, the irregu- 
larities of which as they catch and reflect the light, look like pale blue diamonds. Closely ex- 
amined these warts are found to be covered with small elevations each of which furnishes a short 
stiff yellow hair, these hairs radiating in all directions around the warts, which are placed as fol- 
lows :—Joint 1 with an anterior transverse row of 8 and a posterior dorsal row of 43. joints 2 and 
® each with a transverse row of 8 across the middle ;. joints 4—11 inclusive, each with 4 circular 
ones anteriorly, and 2 irregular ones posteriorly on dorsum (Fig. 56 @, each of the last evidentiy 
formed by the blending of two), and 2 en each side near the middle of joint (Fig. 56 ¢). Joint 12 
with 2 that are irregular, on the back, and 1 that is circular, oneach side. Anal shield formed of 
one large irregular wart. In addition to these there is a narrow subventral wart each side, and 2 
small ventral ones on the legless joints. Head polished black with a few black hairs. Thoracic: 
legs polished black, but pale at the joints inside: prolegs black outside, flesh-colored within and’ 
at extremities. Stigmata not perceptible. Largest in the middle of body. Average length 0.90, 
greatest diameter 9.15 inch. 

Described from 6 peach-feeding specimens. Alcoholic specimens do not reflect the paie blue. 
points. 

The larve of our different Caltimorphas seem to beara very closeresemblance toeach other. I 
have bred C. clymene, Hubner, from a larva found full grown on oak (tho’ whether it fed on oak I 
did not ascertain) which so resembled that of fulvicosta that I fully expected it would produce- 
nothing else. The only difference noticeabie was that it was very bright colored, with the medio- 
dorsal line very clear and distinct. Mr. Wm. Saunders has reared C. LeContei from larve feeding: 
on Horse Gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum), and from his description of the iarva* it differs prin— 
cipally from the aliove in tacking the blue refiections and in having a pale dotted subdorsal line. 


THE ASH-GRAY PINION—YXylina cinerea, N. sp. 
(Lepidoptera, Xylinidee). 


There is a pale green worm with cream-colored spots and a broad 
cream-colored lateral band, which I have for several years known to 


* Canadian Entomologist I, p. 20. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 185 


4 [Fig. 57.] be commoy: on the Apple, 
‘ Pop!tar. Hickory and some 
other trees, the leaves of 
which it devours, but 
which last summer at- 
tracted unusual attention 
xy its being frequently 
found bo dng into apples 
ard peaches, and as I also 
commonly found it hiding 
in and feeding upon one of our large oak-apples (the spongifica) we 
may conclude that it isa very general feeder and that it is fon of 
boring. 

This worm (Fig. 57, a) is fourd during the months of May and 
June and when full grown burrows beneath the surface of the ground 
where it forms a very thin cocoon of filmy silk with the earth adher- 
ing to it on the outside. It changes to a mahogony-brown chrysalis 
and generally issues as a moth during the September or October ‘ol- 
lowing, though in northern Illinois I have known it to remain in the 
chrysalis state through the winter and not issue as a moth till April. 

The moth (Fig 57, a) varies considerably in its appearance, but 
is characterized by the cold ash-gray appearance of the front wings 
which are variegated with darker gray asin the figure. It is an un- 
decribed species and belongs te a genus (XYylina) which is easily 
recognized by the long narrow almost rectangular wings, the very 
square thorax which is often furnished behind the collar with a bifid 
crest, and the rectangular and flattened abdom-n. The wings are 
folded in repose and appear almost parallel and Jike a flattened roof— 
giving the insect an elongate appearance. 


XYLINA CINEREA, N. Sp.—Larva (Fig. 57, a.) Length when full grown 1.20—1.30 inches, color 
shiny silvery-green on the back, darker below. A medio-dorsal cream-colored stripe ; a subdorsal 
one represented by 3 or4 irregularly shaped spots on each joint. A broad deep cream-colored stig- 
matal line, with a few green dints in it, extending toanal prolegs. Four slightly elevated cream- 
colored spots, encircled by a ring of rather darker green than the body, in the dorsal space, and in 
the subdorsal space there are four or more similar but smaller spots. Venter glaucous-gray. 
Head as large as joint 1, free, glassy-green with white mottlings at sides and top, and pearly-white. 


lips. Thoracic legs whitish. Prolegs concolorous with venter. When young the body is darker 
and the markings paler. —Described from two living specimens. 

Imago (Fig. 57, b)—Front wings, with the ground-color pale cinereous shaded and marked either 
with light brown, having a faint purplish tint, or with darker brown, having a similar reflection, 
or with a colder grayish-brown with the faintest moss-green reflection: in the first two cases the 
dark color either blends and suffuses with the ground-color so as to give the wing a nearly uniform 
and smooth appearance, or else contrasts sufficiently to bring out all the marks distinct; in the lat~ 
ter case (two specimens) the markings are very distinct and the ground color is whiter and more 
irrorate. In the well marked specimens the usual lines are readily distinguished, the basal half line, 
transverse anterior and transverse posterior being quite wavy, pale, and bordered each side with a 
dark shade, the median shade dark and well defined and the subterminal line, though sometimes 
pale near costa, forming a series of dark angular spots: in the more uniform specimens these lines. 
are barely distinguishable and perhaps the most constant is the sub terminal which most often takes. 
the form of a series of dark angular spots: the ordinary spots have a pale inner and a more or: 
less distinct dark outer annulation ; the orbicular is larger than the reniform and is sufficiently: 
double to take on the form of an 8, the upper part of which is always largest and with the interior 


136 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 


space paler than the general surface, while that of the lower part is either concolorous or darker; . 
the form is, however, quite irregular and differs sometimes in the two wings of the same species : 
the reniform spot is generally well defined, and is either darker, or has a tinge of reddish-brown, 
interiorly: at the base of the wing is a more or less distinct pale space occupying the upper half, 
and bordered below by a brown line which is straight about half its length and then extends up~ 
wards and outwards towards transverse anterior. A tolerably distinct terminal line, with the fringes 
dark. In taking a general view of the varying specimens this pale basal space, the pale upper 
part of the orbicular and the dark subterminal line, seem to be the most constant characters of the 
species. Hind wings gray-brown inclining to cinnamon-brown, with the posterior border but slightly 
darker and the fringe paler. Under surface quite uniform, that of front wings being nacreous 
gray with a faint discal spot and with a narrow costal and broad terminal border of pale fulvous, 
dusted with purple-gray ; the hind wings of this last color with the lunule and line distinct. Head 
nearly entire, though the quadrifid arrangement of the hairs is traceable ; palpi hairy throughout. 
Thorax quite square, of same color as primaries and with the collar bordered behind with brown 
and sometimes the edges of the tegulx similarly bordered. Abdomen of same color as hind wings 
with lateral tufts, and cut off squarely at apex. Expanse 1.32—1.82 inches. 

Described ‘from 3 specimens fed on grape-vine, 2 on peaches and 1 on Cercis canadensis. 
Other captured specimens examined. 

This species is the analogue of, and very closely resembles the European Xylina conformis, 
which is known under various synonyms. A specimen sent to Mr. P. C. Zeller of Stettin, Prussia, 
was, however, pronounced distinct. The well-marked irrorate form still more closely resembles 
Guente’s cinerosa found in Switzerland, and which he himself thinks may prove to be a variety of 
conformis. 'Themore I study the species of the Nocroip# as they occur in nature, the more I am 
struck with their great variability, and there can be no doubt that many of the so-called species 
will turn out to be but varieties when we better understand them. In this large family none but 
the more strikingly marked species should ever be described without an accompanying description of 
their preparatory states and of their principal variations. I am unacquainted with any of Walker’s 
species except subcostalis which is very different, and if this should prove to be a synonym of .any 
of them, the fault must be laid to the difficulty under which the naturalist in the Western States 
labors for want of proper libraries to refer to. It differs essentially from Grote’s Bethunei and 
capax as described and illustrated in VolumeI of the Transactions of the American Entomological 
Society. Iam informed by Mr. A. Lintner of Albany, N. Y., that Dr. A. Speyer of Rhoden, 
Furtsenthum Walldeck, Prussia, who gives much attention to the Noctuide, has it marked Celena 
oblenga in his MS., but the insect evidently dees not belong to that genus, and as the German pro- 
nunciation of Xylina much resembles the English pronunciation of Cela@na, the reference to the lat- 
ter, is doubtless due to a verbal misunderstanding. 


BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 


It is not often that there will be much to say in this Department, 
as most of the beneficial insects are treated of in connection with the 
injurious species upon which they prey. But the following little 
fellow is soimportant to the grape-grower that itshould be recognized 
by every vineyardist in the State, and cherished as the very apple of 
his eye: 


THE GLASSY-WINGED SOLDIER-BUG—Campyloneura vitri- 


pennis, Say. 
A NEW FRIEND TO THE GRAPE-GROWER. 


This is the bug; and a pretty little thing it is too! Take a good 
[Fig- 58.] ook at the figure and remember that the hair-line at 
the side represents the natural size. 

There are perhaps no insects more dreaded by the 
grape-grower than the different species of leaf-hoppers 
which sap up the substance of the leaves of the Vine; 
but as they will be treated of, in all probability, in my 
next Report, we will pass them over for the present. 

No parasitic or cannibal insect has ever been known 
to prey upon these leaf-hoppers before, but last September, while in 
the vineyard of Dr. CO. W. Spaulding, at Rose Hill, on the Pacific rail- 
road, I discovered that this Glassy-winged Soldier-bug was preying 
upon them. The leaves were actually covered on the underside with 
the dead carcasses of the leaf-hoppers, which, in their death-struggle, 
had firmly attached themselves, and hung thickly, with wings ex- 
tended and body sucked dry—dead proof of the surprising thorough- 
ness with which their mortal foe had done its work of slaughter. On 
a single leaf not so large asa man’s hand a half hundred of these 
skeleton leaf-hoppers could be counted, and though this number was 
above the average, there were few leaves that did not show quite a 
number. To use Dr. Spaulding’s language, “ the sight was enough to 


138 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


gladden the heart of any grape-grower, who had long looked upon the 
leaf-hopper as a permanent evil against which he could not success- 
fully contend.” 

Moving about among the leaves our little Soldier-bug* was often 
seen inits pretty full dress uniform, but far more commonly disguised 
in its larval or pupal coat; forit is only when full grown and full 
fledged that it presents the appearance of the first figure. The larva and 
pupa both have an opaque, mealy, bluish-white appearance, and the 

[Fig. 59.] latter differs only from the former in the more conspicuous 

\ ( wing stubs, which project so as to give it a somewhat 

“1/7 > diamond shaped outline (Fig. 59.) It is during these im- 

YA 

_ pos— mature, and less conspicuous stages that this insect doubt- 

=x \_less does most of its work, for in common with the rest of 

4 \ the true Bugs (//eteroptera) it is active and feeds during 

its whole life, from the time it hatches from the egg till it 
dies of old age. 

When I first saw the hosts of leaf-hoppers so mercilessly stabbed, 
I was at considerable loss to understand what animal could be so wary 
and dexterous as to surprise insects so shy and active, and with such 
wonderful jumping powers as the leaf-hoppers possess, and I could 
not rest sure thatit was our little Glassy-winged Soldier-bug till I had 
enclosed specimens in a bottle with living leaf-hoprers, and found 
the latter dead next day. Like many other animals of prey, it can 
move actively when necessary, but no doubt prefers to surprise its 
victims by stealth, assisted perhaps by its colors which resemble those 
of the leaf-hoppers themselves. 

The more common color of this insect is pale greenish-yellow. 
The antennz are brown with the basal joint and sometimes part of 
the second joint blood-red. The head and thorax are pale yellow 
with a slight tinge of pink, and the eyes, neck, and front part of the 
thorax, except a pale line on the back, are jet black in high contrast. 
The scutel is pale yellow or white, and black at base, and the upper 
wings (hemelytra) are beautifully transparent with a rose-colored cross 
band and a dusky curved line. The speciesis a very variable one, 
however, being dichromous or double-colored, some varieties pos- 
sessing much more brown than others, and having no rose-color at 
all. In avariety kindly sent me by Mr. P. R. Uhler, of Baltimore, 
Maryland, the antenna are pale, and there is no black on the thorax 
in front, but a large brown patch behind; there is also a large brown 
patch each side of the scutel, and the rosy transverse band on the 
wings is quite brown. 

Now this insect is commonly found by collectors in the fall of the 
sae on different kinds of Oak, but no one ever a Delon of its 


s 


=T have referred to apply this nopulae term to this species, because its black, white on red 
marks, and its war-like propensities suggest something of the sort; and though the term is more 
strictly and correctly applied to larger cannibal bugs belonging to the genus Arma, yet it is not in- 
appropriate here, and will appeal to the popular mind far more readily “than the generic name Cam- 
pyloneura, or the English rendition of it, curyed-nerye. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 


attacking the leaf-hoppers of the Grape-vine, and it certainly could 
not have done so in past years to the extent thatit did at Rose Hil) 
last fall, without its work having been noticed. I have been through 
vineyards by the hundred in the fall of the year, and never before 
noticed such work. How are we then to account for its sudden ap- 
pearance in such force in the vineyard of Dr. Spaulding? To my. 
mind it is an excellent illustration of an insect acquiring a new habit. 
Some individual or individuals wandering from the oaks and from 
whatever food they there subsisted upon, came upon Dr. Spaulding’s 
vineyard and found the leaf-hoppers of the Vine to their taste. Their 
food being abundant, they soon multiplied, so as to make their work 
appreciable, and commenced ta spread from one vineyard to another. 
The facts in the case would support such a theory, for the bugs and 
their slaughtered victims were found in diminishing numbers in the 
vineyards in the immediate neighborhood until at the distance of 
three miles, no sign of eithercould be found. Consequently, though 
our little cannibal friend occurs sparingly throughout the country in 
the native timber, it is found in the cultivated vineyard in a limited 
district only, so far as we now know. But there is no reason why the 
field of its operations in the vineyard should not in time become co- 
extensive with that of the trowblesome leaf-hoppers; and with our 
present mail facilities we can materially help to make it so by arti- 
ficially introducing a few dozen of the living bugs from one vineyard 
to another. 


This species was first described by Say as Capsus vitripennis. The Phytocoride, as the name 
indicates, have all been hitherto considered as plant-feeders, and at first the species above con~ 
sidered would appear to be an exception to the unity of habit in the family. But Mr. Uhler in-~ 
forms me that his investigations of the elongated formsof many of the recently established genera 
have taught him that the affinities of many of them are largely with the Reduwviide through An-~ 
thocoride ; for he has often found them in places where small caterpillars were numerous ; among 
the larvee of Tingide, and has even caught them in the act of sucking the juices of plant-lice. 


INNOXIOUS INSECTS. 


THE WHITE-LINED MORNING SPHINX—Deilephila lineata, 
Fabr. 


(epidoptera, Sphingidz.) 


The beautiful moth which heads this chapter is quite common in 
the State of Missouri, and has upon several occasions been sent to 
me for identification. Almost every one must have been struck 
with the great resemblance which it bears to a humming bird, as, of 
asummer’s evening, it flits rapidly from plant to plant in the garden, 
and ever and anon hovers noiselessly over some particular flower, 
and stretches forth its long tongue to sip the sweet nectar which that 
flower contains. 

Few persons are, however, aware what this beautiful moth looks 
like, or what it feeds upon, in the caterpillar state; wherefore this — 
brief account of it. 

The very great diversity of form and habits to be found amongst 
the larvee of our butterflies and moths, has much to do with the inter- 
est which attaches to the study of these masked forms. I am moved 
to admiration and wonder as thoreughly to-day as in early boyhood, 


THIRD ANNUAL -REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 141 


every time I contemplate that within each of these varied and fan- 
tastic caterpillars—these creeping and groveling “worms ”—1s locked 
up the future butterfly, or moth, which is destined, fairy-like, to ride 
the air on its gauzy wings, so totally unlike its former self. Verily 
the metamorphoses of the lower animals must prove a never-failing 
source of joy and felicity to those who have learned to open the pages 
of the great Book of Nature! 

But beyond the general satisfaction experienced in studying 
these transient forms, there will be found ample food for the philo- 
sophic mind in the larval variations to be met with in the same species. 
Some vary according to the character of their food-plant, and the 
study of these variations—of phytophagic varieties and phytophagic 
species—-must ever prove interesting as well as important, by throw- 
ing light on the question of the origin of species. Some (e. g. the 
eommon Yellow Bear, Fig. 28, a, p.68) vary very much without regard 
to food-plant. Our Sphinx larvae, more particularly, are subject to 
these variations, and it is for this reason that larval characters alone, 
unaccompanied by those of the perfect insect, are of so little value 
in classification. 

The White-lined Morning Sphinx (Fig. 60) presents one of the 
most striking cases of larval variation, as may be seen by comparing; 
the light form of Figure 61 with the dark form of Figure 62. In the 
summer of 1863 I took both these forms on the same plant, and have 
repeatedly met with them since; but the moths bred from them show 
no differences whatever. 

This beautiful moth is called by Harris the White-lined Morning 
Sphinx, though its generic name means “ Evening Friend.” It is dis- 
tinguished principally by its roseate under-wings, and by a broad, 
pale band running from the apex to the base of the dark-olive front 
wings. 


[Fig. 61] 


The larva feeds upon purslane, turnip, buckwheat, watermelon, 
and even apple and grape leaves, upon any of which it may be found 
in the month of July. It descends into the ground and, within a 
smooth cavity, changes into a light brown chrysalis, from which the 
moth emerges during the month of September. 

The most common form of this larva is that given at Figure 61; 
its color is yellowish-green, with a prominent subdorsal row of ellip- 


142 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


tical spots, each spot consisting of two curved black lines, inclosing 
superiorly a bright crimson space, and inferiorly a pale yellow line—- 
the whole row of spots connected by a pale yellow stripe, edged 
above with black. In some specimens these eye-like spots are dis- 
connected, and the space between the black crescents is of a uniform 
cream-yellow. The breathing-holes are either surrounded with black, 
or with black edged with yellow. The other form is black, and char- 
acterized chiefly by a yellow line aiong the back, and a series of pale 
yellow spots and darker yellow dots, as represented in the illustra- 


(Fig. 62.] 


tion (Fig. 62). Even this dark form is subject to great variation, some 
specimens entirely lacking the line along the back, and having the 
spots of different shape. 

This insect has a wide range, as it occurs in the West Indies, Mex- 
ico and Canada, as well as throughout the United States. Feeding, 
as it does, rincipally on plants of but little value, and being very 
commonly attacked by the larva of a Tachina-fly, this insect has never 
become sufliciently commen to be classed as injurious. The Tachina- 
fly which so commonly infests it, is readily distinguished from the 
other more common form by the abdomen, which is bright rufous with 
the exception of a broad dorsal stripe which is dark, 


ene re ee ee) 


TWO OF OUR COMMON BUTTERFLIES. 


THEIR NATURAL HISTORY ; WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS ON TRANSFORM™* 
ATION AND PROTECTIVE IMITATION AS ILLUSTRATED BY THEM. 


In the following pages £ propose to give the complete natural 
history of two of our commonest butterflies, and to close with such 
philosophical thoughts as the subject warrants. I do so the more 
willingly as many of the facts are published for the first time; for 
notwithstanding the butterflies are so common, their complete natu- 
ral history has hitherto been unknown, 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 
THE ARCHIPPUS BUTTERFLY—Danais archippus,* Fabr. 
(Lepidoptera, Danaide.) 


ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 


[Fig. 63.] 


‘What more felicitie can fall to creature 
Than to enjoy delight with libertie, 
And to be lord of all the workes of Nature, 
To raine in th’ aire from earth to highest skie, 
To feed on flowres and weeds of glorious feature.” 
The Fate of the Butterfly—Spenser. 


This beautiful butterfly, like most of the species of the family 
to which it belongs, enjoys a wide range, occurring in the more north- 
ern of the States and in Upper Canada and extending into South 
America, where, according to Mr. Bates, it is common throughout 
the region of the Lower Amazons.t In the Mississippi Valley it is 
one of our most common species. The family to which it belongs is 
distinguished by the front legs being spurious or abortive; by the 
large cell in the centre of each wing being closed, and by the exist- 
ence of asmall nervule originating at the base of the front wing just 
below the lower or sub-median nerve, and joining that nerve a short 
distance from its base.t This nervule is so covered with scales that 
it is hardly visible tillthey areremoved. Inthe genus Danais the 
sexes are readily distinguished by the male having a small horny 


* Some late writers use the specific name erippus of Cramer, because it seems to have the pri- 
ority. I have not all the works of the old authors to refer to, but Mr. Sanborn, of Boston, has 
been kind enough to refer to them for me, and he writes that erippus was first applied by Cramer 
to the Q in 1775, and plexippus to the 3 by the same author in 1780. Fabricius published his name of 
archippus in 1793, and the name had already been applied by Cramer to the Disippus butterfly. Ac- 
cordingly Cramer’s erippus has the priority ; but as this insect has been very generally known by 
the name which Fabricius gave it, among entomological writers, and as it has become familiar to 
the popular ear, I prefer to retain it—especially since it is no longer applied to the Disippus but- 
terfly. 
fTrans. Linnzan Soc., Vol. XXIII, p. 516. 


{Mr. Bates in a note to the paper already referred to, (p. 497,) gives this as a constant and ex- 
eellent character discovered by Dr. C. Felder, of Vienna, and describes it as ‘‘a small nervule at 
the base of the fore-wing median nervure which anastomoses with the median ashort distance from 

ts origin.’’ [have no means of referring to Dr. Felder’s original article, and cannot say whether 
e is correctly quoted ; but in the two N. A. species of the genus (D. archippus and berenice) this 


hervule originates below and anastomoses with sub-median nerve. 
n 


144 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


excrescence near the disk of the hind wing, close to, or upon the fourth 
nerve. Thisexcrescence or tubercle is faintly shown in the above fig- 
ure, which represents the male, and it is entirely lacking in the 
female. The color of the Archippus butterfly is of a bright orange- 
red, marked with black and cream-color as in the figure—the underside 
being similarly marked but paler, that of the hind wings being bright 
fulvous. The species feeds upon most of the different kinds of Milk- 
weed or Silk-weed (Asclepias), and also upon Dogbane ( Apocynum), 
according to some authors. It shows a wonderful dislike, however, to 
the Poke Milk-weed (Asclepias phytolaccoidcs), and I was surprised 
to find that larvee furnished with this plant would wander about their 
breeding cages day after day, and would eventually die rather than 
touch it, though they would eagerly commence devouring the leaves 
of either A. tuwberosa, curassavica, cornult or purpurascens as soon as 
offered to them. 

The butterflies hibernate, though whether any but the impregna- 
ted females survive until the Milk-weeds commence to grow is not 
definitely ascertained. They commence depositing eggs in the lati- 
tude of St. Louis during the fore part of May. Some of the earliest 
developed butterflies from these eggs begin to appear about the mid- 
dle of June and others continue to appear for several weeks. These 
lay eggs again, and the butterflies abound asecond time in October. 
Thus there are two broods each year, and though the first brood of 
larvee are hatched more uniformly and within a more limited time 
than the second, the two broods yet connect by late individuals of the 
first and early individuals of the second, and the caterpillars may be 
found at almost any time from May to October, but are especially 
abundant during late summer and early fall. 

The egg (Fig. 64, a, magni- 


AS 3S NA a . . . . 
3e\“\fied; c,natural size) is invari- 
BOBol : 

223%) ably deposited on the under 


fal 
5353 


side of a leaf,andis conical and 
delicately reticulate with longi- 
/ tudinal ribs, and fine transverse 
striz. Itis yellowish when first 
deposited but becomes gray as 
the embryo within develops. 


29989: 
19993329 


=) 


ag9qan: 
ages 


RS /sI: 


Description or Eca.—Length 0.05; greatest diameter 0.03 inches. Conical, slightly narrower at 
base than in middle, and generally slightly contracted towards apex. Color pale cream-yellow; 
opaque, smooth; the shell but slightly polished and rather soft. About 22 longitudinal narrow car- 
inate ribs, usually regular and single, though oceasionally one gives forth a branch; interstices 
crossed hy about 30 very fine transverse striae, often subobsolete. Apex smooth. Slightly and singly 
attached to the underside of leaf. 

Described from numerous specimens. 

It is a little singular that this egg has not previously been des- 
eribed. It is very easily found, and I had no difficulty in obtaining great 
numbers last summer, though I owe the first one ever obtained to the 
sharp eyes of Miss M. E. Murtfeldt, of Kirkwood, a lady who takes much 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 


interest in Entomology, and is anexcellent observer. It were greatly 
to be wished that more of our ladies would interest themselves in 
such studies, for we have altogether too few Madam Merians. 

In about five days after deposition, the egg hatches, and the young 
larva as soon as hatched usually turns round and devours its egg- 
shell; a custom very prevalent with young caterpillars. At this stage 
it differs considerably from the mature larva; it is perfectly cylindri- 
cal, about 0.12 inch long and much of a thickness throughout. The 
head is jet black and polished; the color of the body is pale green- 
ish-white with the anterior and posterior horns showing as mere 
black conical points, and with two transverse-oval black warts, nearer 
together, on the first joint. It is covered with minute black bristles, 
arising from still more minute warts, six on the back and placed four in 
arow on the anterior portion and one each side on the posterior por- 
tion of each joint, (Vig. 64, 7); and three on each side, one in the 
middle of the joint, and two which are substigmatal, pos- 
teriorly, (Fig. 64, ¢.) There is a sub-triangular black spot on 
the anal flap, the legs are alternately black and white and the stig- 
mata are made plainly visible by a pale shade surrounding them. 
When the young worm is three or four days old,a dusky band ap- 
pears across the middle of each joint; and by the fifth or sixth day 
it spins a carpet of silk upon the leaf, and prepares for its first moult. 
After the first moult the anterior horns are as long as the thoracic 
legs, the posterior ones being somewhat shorter; the characteristic 
black stripes show quite distinctly, but the white and yellow stripes 
more faintly. After this it undergoes but slight change in appear- 
ance, except that the colors become brighter and that at each suc- 
cessive moult the horns become relatively longer. There are but 
three moults.* and the intervals between them are short, as the worms 
frequently acquire their full growth within three weeks from hatch- 
ing. 

Some persons may be curious to know how the larva acquires 
longer horns at each moult. The explanation is simple. During 
each period of growth the skin which is to serve for the next period 
is forming and perfecting under that which at the the time serves 
the worm. Upon this inner skin and beneath the outer one, the horns 
are also developing, and when the outer skin has become useless and 
the worm, after a short period of rest and fasting, bursts it near the 
head and works it off, the old horns go with the old skin and the new 
ones appear as mere stubs. The new skin is now very fresh and 
moist, and no sooner is the old skin off than these soft stubs begin 
to swell, and itis then easily seen how wonderfully the long horns 


*I do not include the last moult by which the larva is transformed to the chrysalis. Some 
persons in counting the different moults that larve pass through, are content with counting the 
heads that are shed. Whenever this method is relied on it should be borne in mind that the heads 
really increase in size between each moult, though not in proportion to the increase of body. Thus, 
in the present species the first head is considerably larger when shed than it was when ‘the larva 
hatched, and though appearing uniformly black when hatched, it shows the usual white marks 
more or less distinctly when shed. 


s E—L1O 


146 . THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


have been folded up and curled over and between the wrinkles of the 
body so as not to impede the casting of the skin. At Figure 64, }, I 
have given a somewhat enlarged view of a worm just in the act of 
casting its last skin in order to show (at d@) how the flexible horns 
were folded. They unbend of their own accord, though the worm 
often helps to straighten 
them out by cunningly 
.turning its head and 
drawing them over the 
VALIEE AM Hele’ NS surface of the leaf. 

ep (i , When full grown the 
ae worm presents the ap- 


pearance of Figure 65, the colors being black, white and yellow. 


HOW THE LARVA BECOMES A CHRYSALIS. 


The metamorphoses of insects will ever prove a source of won- 
der and admiration. If a naturalist were to announce to the world 
the discovery of an animal which, for a short term of its life, existed 
in the form of a serpent; which then, after performing its own inter- 
ment and weaving itself a shroud of pure silk, changed to something 
like an Egyptian mummy; and which after remaining thus buried 
without food or motion, for a much longer term, should at length 
struggle through its shroud and start into day a winged bird—every 
one would be interested in the history of such a marvelous creature! 
Yet the transformation of insects are scarcely less startling than such 
an occurrence would be, and it is only by drawing such a picture, 
that we are made to fully appreciate these changes. The methods of 
transformation are varied, as the reader who has perused these 
Reports is wellaware. A good illustration is often needed in our 
schools, and as the present species furnishes an excellent illustration 
of the process in those butterflies which are suspended in the chrysa- 
lis state from the tail, and is withal so common that those who desire 

[Fig. 66.]* {to witness the process will 
have no difficulty in doing 
so, I will give some ac- 
count of it; for the person 
who had never witnessed 
the true method employed, 
might gaze a long time at 
the full grown larva (Fig. 
65,) and the chrysalis (Fig. 
67) without divining how 
the latter was produced by the former. We have on the one hand 
a crawling worm, and on the other a legless body hanging securely by 


Wy 
Sy 


*These figures are drawn from memory and are perhaps a little ideal and inaccurate. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 147 


its tail. What has become of the larval appurtenances and how did 
the chrysalis attach itself? Let us see. 

As soon as the larva is full grown it spins a little tuft of silk to 
the underside of whatever object it may be resting upon,and after 
entangling the hooks of its hind legs in this silk, it lets go the hold of 
its other legs and hangs down with the head and anterior joints of the 
body curved as at Figure 66, a. In this position it hangs for about 
twenty-four hours, during which the fluids of the body naturally gravi- 
tate towards the up-turned joints, until the latter become so swollen 
thatat last,by a little effort on the part of the larva,the skin bursts along 
the back behind the head. Through the rent thus made the anterior 
portion of the pupa is protruded and by constant stretching and con- 
tracting the larval skin is slipped and crowded backwards until there 
is but a small shriveled mass gathered around the tail (Vig. 56,d). 
Now comes the critical period—the culminating point. 

The soft and supple chrysalis, yet showing the elongate larval form 
with distinct traces of its prolegs, hangs heavily from the shrunken 
skin. From this skin it is to be ecoceared and firmly attached to 
the silk outside. It has neither legs nor arms, and we should suppose 
that it would inevitably fall while endeavoring to accomplish this 
object. But the task is performed with the utmost surety, though 
appearing so perilous to us. The supple and contractile joints of the 
abdomen are made to subserve the purpose of legs, and by suddenly 
grasping the shrunken larval skin between the folds of two of these 
joints as with a pair of pincers, the chrysalis disengages the tip of 
its body and hangs for a moment suspended as at Figure 66, ec. 
Then with a few earnest, vigorous, jerking movements it suc- 
ceeds in sticking the horny point of its tail into the silk, and 
firmly fastening it by means of a rasp of minute claws with which that 
pointis furnished. Sometimes severe effort is needed before the point is 
properly fastened, and the chrysalis frequently has to climb by stretch- 
ing the two joints above those by which it is suspended, and clinging 
hold of the shriveled skin further up. The moment the point is 
fastened the chrysalis commences, by a series of violent jerkings, and 
whirlings to dislodge the larval skin, after which it rests from its efforts 
and gradually contracts and hardens until it presents the appearance 

Bee: eee _ of Figure 67. The really active work lasts but a few 

= S25 ninntes, and the insect rarely fails to go through with 
it snecesstully. The chrysalis is a beautiful object and 
as it hangs pendant from some old fence board or from — 
the underside of an Asclepias leaf, it reminds one of 
some large ear-drop; but though the jeweller could 
successfully imitate the form, he might well despair of 
ever reproducing the clear pale green, and the ivory 
black and golden marks which so characterize it. 

This chrysalis state lasts but a short time, as isthe case with all 
those which are known to suspend themselves ;nakedly by the tail. 


148 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


At the end of about the tenth day the dark colors of the future butter- 
fly begin to show through the delicate and transparent skin, and sud- 
denly this skin bursts open near the head and the new-born butterfly 
gradually extricates itself, and, stretching forth its legs and clamber- 
ing on to some surrounding object, allows its moist, thickened and 
contracted wings to hang listlessly from the body. Under the direct 
influence of the air, the circulation quickens so that the fluids of the 
body are driven into every portion of these wings, and they visibly 
expand under the eye, while the other parts of the body gain in 
strength and firmness. In less than an hour, and often within half an 
hour, the wings are ready to perform their intended work and our 
gay Archippus takes his first lessonin wronautics. Ah! what an 


enviable fellow is he, 


Lazily flying 
Over the flower-decked prairies, West ; 
Basking in sunshine till day-light is dying, 
And resting all night on Asclepias’ breast ; 
Joyously dancing, 
Merrily prancing, 
Chasing his lady-love highin the air, 
Fluttering gaily, 
Frolicking daily, 
Free from anxiety, sorrow and care ! 


THE LARVA ENJOYS GREATIMMUNITY FROM THE ATTACKS OF BIRDS AND OTHER 
PREDACEOUS ANIMALS. 


Many of our insects, from one cause or another, enjoy a wonderful 
immunity from the attacks of predaceous and parasitic animals and 
there exists a curious relation between color and edibility. Itisa 
very general rule that those which have such an immunity from the 
attacks of enemies, are conspicuously colored and feed openly upon 
the plants they attack; while those which are persecuted are generally 
of sombre and evasive colors, and often possess some protective 
resemblance to the objects upon which they occur, or hide themselves 
in one way oranother. For several years past Mr. J. Jenner Weir, of 
London, England,—a gentleman whom I had the pleasure of meeting 
some eleven years ago—has made numerous experiments with the 
direct view of ascertaining what species of insects are eaten by birds 
and what species are rejected; and the results of these interesting 
experiments are recorded in the Transactions of the London Ento- 
mological Society (1869, pp. 21-26 and 1870 pp. 337-9). They point 
conclusively to the facts above given, and Mr. A. G. Butler of the 
British Museum made corroborating experiments, with, lizards, frogs 
and spiders. Prompted by these experiments made in England, I was 
led to make similar ones with our gaily colored Archippus larva, and 
the result fully accords with that obtained by Mr. Weir; for neither 
turkeys, chickens, toads or snakes would touch it. The reason why 
predaceous animals refuse these gaily colored larve is not always 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 119 


so easy to explain, but in the present case itis undoubtedly owing to an 
odor which the larva possesses. This odor is hardly appreciable, when 
the larvee are in the open air; but by confining a few of them for a 
short time inatight box, it soon becomes apparent, and is pungent 
and nauseous in the extreme even to our sense of smell, and it is 
doubtless more intensely so to the keener sense of birds and other 
animals. 

Mr. A. R. Wallace believes that the gay colors of such larve are 
really protective, because if by more sombre colors they were undis- 
tinguishable from edible species, they would be seized by birds, and 
though rejected afterwards, would be so much injured that the prob- 
ability of their producing butterflies would be very remote, even if 
they were not killed outright. 

The same immunity is enjoyed by our Archippus butterfly in all its 
stages, and especially in the perfect state, in which the peculiar odor 
is still stronger, as I have abundantly proved. 

The larva does not however enjoy entire immunity from parasites 
as has been hitherto supposed, for though after extensive experience 
I have never found any of the numerous Hymenopterous parasites 
attacking it, it is nevertheless often killed by a Dipterous Tachina- 
fly. I have never noticed any such parasite in the first brood of 
larvee, but last year in the immediate vicinity of St. Louis, not one in 
fifty of the second brood escaped its fatal work; and this same para- 
site was by no means confined to one locality, as I received it from 
Mr. 8. S. Rathvon, of Lancaster, Pa., who found the Archippus larvee 
and chrysalids badly infested. The eggs of the Tachina-fly must be 
deposited for the most part while the larvee are young, for specimens 
of larve taken at the first moult and confined in cages where no flies 
could get access to them, were frequently parasitised. These victim- 
ized larvze usually succumb a day or two before they are full grown, 
though occasionally one succeeds in effecting the change to the chry- 
salis. They grow sickly and, hanging by the hind legs, become flaccid 
and discolored, while the parasitic maggots pierce the skin and fall to 
the ground, which they enter to transform. A silky liquid escapes 
from the breathing pores and from the holes made by these maggots, 
which, when dry, forms long white semi-elastic threads; and as the 
discolored larvae hang by hundreds from the milkweeds, with these 
glistening filaments, one might at first imagine they had been smitten 
with some epidemic disease. 

The Tachina maggotis not specially distinguishable from the 
many other larve of this kind which are known to infest the bodies 
of other insects, but the spiracles are encircled by a very distinct dark 
brown ring.* 


* The larva of this Tachina-fly, after it enters the ground, contracts very rapidly to the pupa 
state, and if retained on a hard surface, one may watch with interest how, as the chitinous cover- 
ing thickens and hardens, the dark head is vigorously kept at work underneath it, gnawing or 
abrading the thickening skin in a constant circle, so as to partially sever that portion which serves 
as a lid to be easily pushed open by the future fly. I have often wondered how this lid in so many 


150 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


Our Tachina-flies generally very closely resemble each other, and 
very little attention has been paid to them in this country. The present 
species seems to be new to science, but I forbear to describe it for the 
simple reason that it varies so much in itself and so closely resembles 
many others, that it would be next to impossible to characterize it 
sufficiently. It may be provisionally known, for purposes of reference, 
as the Archippus Tachina-fly— Zachina* archippivora. It may be at 
once distinguished from the two flies described in my second Report 
(p. 51), and which attack the true Army-worm, not only by the differ- 
ent form and smaller size, but by being of a paler gray, and by lacking 
the reddish or yellowish tail. The eyes are perfectly smooth. An 
interesting fact connected with this fly is that it likewise attacked 
the Fall Army-worm (as already mentioned on page 116, note,) 
which was so abundant at the same time of year. I have also bred it 
undescribed cut-worm. 


The Tachinarie can only be satisfactorily studied in connection with their habits, and even 
then they must prove a most difficult Division to work up. Thespecies are very apt to grease in the 
cabinet and where they do not grease, the colors, especially of the face, lose their brilliancy. I am 
satisfied that the same species often attacks indifferently many widely distinct larvee and that there 
are, in consequence, entomophagic varieties. I have a score of different lots, bred from as many 
distinct species of Lepidopterous and even Coleopterous larye; and the individuals of each lot, 
often bred from asolitary specimen of some particular species of larva, differ more among them- 
selves than from individuals of some other lot, bred from a distinct species of larva. Indeed, 
unless there are striking characters, it would be folly for any but the specialist to attempt to 
describe them. These Tachina-flies, indeed, form such an extensive Division that in order to facil- 
itate study, authors have inclined to erect genera upon characters most trivial and such as would 
certainly not be looked upon as of more than specific value in other groups. Sixteen specimens 
bred from Danais archippus vary from 0.18—0.30 inch in length and from 0.33—0.60 inch in ex- 
panse: some haye a rufous spot on the side of the second abdominal joint, while others show no 
signs of any suchspot. From among them two somewhat distinct forms occur in about equal 
numbers. Inthe one, which is on an average the largest, the abdomen is rather broader, and when 
dry shrinks so as to become flat, while the antennz have the third joint from four to five times as 
long as the second. In the other the abdomen is rather narrower, remains more cylindrical when 
dry, and the antenne have the third joint from five to six times as long as the second. These dif- 
ferences are, I believe, sufficient to cause the specialist to make distinct species or even genera; 
but as the same two forms occur in those bred from other species of larva, and as all the other 


coarctate pupx was so regularly and smoothly opened by the nascent fly; but am now satisfied 
from observations made on this particular species, that it is previously prepared by the larva while 
contracting, in the manner described above. This will be more especially the case where the con- 
tracted skin is thick as in Cuterebra, @strus, etc., while in those where the skin is thin and delicate 
asin Anthomyia and many of the smaller Muscid@, the habit probably does not obtain, as the fly 
can crowd itself out, and the opening is quite irregular, sometimes transverse, at others forming a 
simple longitudinal slit. I have witnessed the same wonderful forethought in the larva of Chry- 
sopa, after spinning its small cocoon. In this case the sharp sickle-like jaws of the larva enable it 
to cut very finely and smoothly, and the edge of the severed parts show plainly, under the lens, a sight 
discoloration. The circle inscribed is often, but not always, slightly spiral so that when pushed 
open the lid hangs as ona hinge. The same habit no doubt prevails in the Lepidopterous genus 
Limacodes and its allies; for I have experimentally proved, by opening several cocoons of Callo- 
chlora viridis, Reakirt, both while the inmate was yet in the larva or pupa state, that the lid opens 
with the slightest pressure, and just as regularly as if pushed from within. ‘There is, however, a 
marked difference in the working in these last two cases and that of our Dipterous lJarve. The 
former enclose themselves in cocoons, in which they have abundant room to turn round and par- 
tially cut their lid, while-the Tachina larva performs the work on its own skin while it is harden- 
ing and before it has become separated from the transforming body within. 


* T forwarded specimens of this fly to Dr. LeBaron, the State Entomologist of Illinois, who is 
better posted as to the minute generic differences between these flies, than any one else in the West, 
and he refers it to the genus Masicera, Macq., in speaking of which Macquart says: ‘‘they are the 
only Tachine which have the third joint of the antennz very long without at the same time having 
the front very prominent.’’ This and other minor genera of Macquart and Meigen have been dis- 
carded by some modern authors, such as Walker and Zetterstedt, and referred to Tachina. 


tf 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 


details of structure, coloration, etc. are precisely similar, and as these differences themselves grad- 
“uate, I cannot consider them specific. I have bred the same fly from larve of Prodenia autumnalis 
as stated above; also from larve of an undescribed Noctuan, closely resembling Agrotis subgothica, 
Haw. These specimens differ only in the rather smaller average size and more slender body, from 
specimens bred from several other distinct larvee, and from the pupa of Cynthiacardui. Itis also 
an interesting fact that the largest specimens of what appear to be but one species are these bred 
from the largest larve, as for instance that of Citheronia regalis. 


THE BUTTERFLY OFTEN CONGREGATES IN IMMENSE SWARMS OR BEVIES. 


Various butterflies have long been known in Europe, to swarm 
prodigiously at certain periods; but in this country no other butter- 
fly congregates in such swarms as our Archippus, though the Painted 
Lady (Cnythia cardui), an insect found in all four quarters of the 
globe, and often seen in swarms in Europe, has been known also to 
swarm in Canada. 

The Archippus butterfly appears in large bevies or flocks almost 
every year in some part or other of the West. In September, 1868, I 
received accounts of their sudden appearance in different parts of 
the city of Madison, Wisconsin, and at Manteno, Ills.; while on the 
19th of that month Mr. P. B. Sibley of St. Joseph, Mo., sent me speci- 
mens with the statement that he saw millions of them filling the air 
to the height of three or four hundred feet, for several hours flying 
from north to south, and quite as numerous as the grasshoppers had 
been the year before. 

In the spring of 1870 I received the following account of such a 
swarm from L. J. Stroop of Waxahachie, Ellis Co., Texas : 


During my ramble this morning (March 31st) I happened upon a 
flock or bevy of butterflies known as Danais archippus, Fabr., con- 
taining thirty individuals, four of which I captured for the purpose of 
identification, only two of which, however, I pinned down. I find 
them to be of the genuine archippus, identical in every respect with 
specimens bred from the caterpillar by myself last summer, except 
in that of color, which is somewhat paler in these captured this morn- 
ing than it was in those bred by me in the summer. They have the 
appearance of having been on the wing some days. 


A little later the same spring similar swarms were noticed in dif- 
ferent parts of Kansas, the most remarkable of which was one which 
occurred at Manhattan about th» middle of April, and whict, as I 
learn from Mr. Thos. Wells of that place, came rapidly with a strong 
wind from the N. W. and filled the atmosphere all around for more 
than an hour, sometimes so as to eclipse the light. Again, large. 
flocks passed over the same place in a southerly direction, on the 
evening of the 27th and morning of the 28th September, while at 
Alton, Illinois, great numbers of them were seen passing in aS. W. 
direction on the last day of October of the same year. 

It would be difficult to give any satisfactory reason for this as- 
semb:ing together of such immense swarms of butterflies. Insects 
otherwise solitary in their habits sometimes congregate thus for pur- 
poses of emigration; but this can hardly be the object of our butter- 


4 


152 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


fly bevies. They certainly do not travel very long distances or we 
should hear more numerous accounts of them. There are two signifi- 
cant facts connected with them from which some corollary might be 
deduced, namely, that only those species which have a very extended 
range are known to form such flocks, and that they always travel, 
under these conditions, in a southerly or south-westerly direction. 
Mr, Bates* gives an interesting account of the uninterrupted pro- 
cessions of butterflies belonging to the genus Callidryas, which 
passed fiom morning to nightin a southerly direction across the 
Amazons; and as far as he could ascertain these migrating hordes 
were composed entirely of males. 

If our Archippus flocks should turn out to be all males, this fact 
may lead to some solution of the cause of their congregating; but I 
incline to believe the flocks are composed of both sexes. Again, if 
the swarms occurred during the egg-depositing season, we might even 
then venture to solve the problem. For it is evident that a species 
which enjoys such immunity from predaceous animals and which is 
confined in its diet toa single family of plants, must occasionally 
multiply in particular districts beyond the capability of the plants to 
sustain them; and as most female butterflies instinctively refuse to 
deposit eggs on a plant that has already been abundantly supplied 
by some other individual, the females of our Archippus would natur- 
ally roam in vain for fresh plants when once the latter had all been 
stocked; and would thus congregate together, and, followed by the 
males, form migrating bevies. Or we might suppose that after the 
larvee had eaten up all the milk-weeds in a district, the butterflies 
they produced, finding no plants upon which to lay their eggs, would 
be forced to migrate in swarms. But neither of these suppositions 
can have much weight from the fact that the swarms occur either late 
in the fall or early in spring; and the most plausible solution under 
the circumstances is that, as these are the seasons when the milk- 
weeds are either destroyed or have not yet started to grow, the but- 
terflies, having nothing to confine their attention and keep them iso- 
lated, naturally congregate together, and that when in motion, the 
low temperature of the seasons instinctively prompts them to wend 
their way southwards. The probabilities are that these swarms are 
eventually destroyed, for no species can multiply beyond a certain 
limit, and when there is not check to increase in one direction, there 
will be in another. Of course this is as yet all theory and hypothesis, 
but hypotheses in such cases are necessary, for they are threads 
on which to string and combine the known parts of a case so as ulti- 
mately to arrive at the real truth in the matter. 


* Naturalist on the River Amazons, J, p, 249. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 


THE DISIPPUS BUTTERFLY—Zimenitis disippus, Godt. 
(Lepidoptera, Nymphalide). 


This is another butterfly (Fig. 68) which is well known in the 
Mississippi Valley. Ii belongs to a family which agrees with that to 
[Fig. 68.] which the previous insect 
_ belongs, in the front pair 
oe of legs being more or less 
‘functionally impotent, but 
differs remarkably from 
it in the large cell in the 
centre of each wing never 
being closed externally 
rae by a distinct tubular vein, 
aS a and in its being generally 
open towards the outer margin of the wing: also in lacking the small 
nervule at the base of the front wing, spoken of on page 143. 

The food-plants of the Disippus butterfly are Willow, Poplar and 
Plum, and though not as numerous as the Archippus, it is yet toler- 
ably common in the Mississippi Valley and occurs sparingly all over 
the United States and in the West Indies. As will be seen by re- 
ferring to the figure*, though belonging to an entirely distinct family, 
it nevertheless bears a great general resemblance to the Archippus 
butterfly, and this resemblance is rendered more striking by the col- 
ors of the two insects being identically the same. 

The natural history of this species is fully as interesting as that 
of the Archippus butterfly—if not more so. The egg which, so far 

[Fig. 69.] ___asI am aware, has never be- 
ARES G3 744Ne fore been described and 


Sige 3 77, butterfly and is well repre- 
Ze IPSs Bao: es sented at Figure 69, a show- 
5 °* ing it greatly magnified, ¢ of 
Z =<, the natural size and d giving 
a greatly magnified view of 
one of the cells with the filamentous processes from each angle of 
the hexagon. The color is at first pale yellow but soon becomes gray 
as the embryo within develops. It is usually deposited singly near 
the tip of the leaf, generally on the underside but often on the upper 
side; and I have exceptionally found as many as three together, and 
sometimes one on either side of the leaf, opposed to each other. 


* In Figure 68, which represents the Disippus butterfly, the left wings represent the upper sur- 
face, and the right wings, which are detached from the body, represent the lower surface. The 
difference in the coloration of the two surfaces is but slight in this species, neither does it amount 
to much in the Archippus butterfly; but in some butterflies and in others belonging to the same 
genus, if is very considerable. 


154 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


DESCRIPTION OF THE Eaa.—Length 0.38 inch. Diameter at base about the same. Globular, 
with the top often slightly depressed. Hexagonally reticulate, the cells more or less regular, 
sunken so as to give the egg athimble-like, pitted appearance, and about 10 of them in the longi- 
tudinal row and 30 in the circumference. Covered with translucent filamentous spines, one aris- 
ing from every reticulate angle and giving the egg a pubescent appearance. Lach spine about as 
long as the cell is wide, those on the top being longest. 


The young larva differs materially from its more mature self, as 
will be seen from the description which follows. It grows apace, 
casting offits old coat and devouring the same three times during its 
growth, and eventually suspending itself by the hind legs and trans- 
forming to the chrysalis, frequently within a month from the time of 

[Fig. 70.] say hatching. The mature larva 
K (Fig. 70, a) presents a 
roughened tubercled ap- 
pearance and varies much 
in color,the predominan 
colors being moss-green, 
brown and creamy-white; 
the moss-green parts being 
studded with beautiful light 
blue points. The pupa 
oN Fig. 70, 6) is marked with 
burnt-umber brown, ash-gray, flesh-color and silvery white, and is 
characterized like that of the other species of the genus, by a curious 
thin almost circular projection which has been likened to a Roman 
nose, growing out of the middle ofits back. 


DEscripTION OF MATURE LARvA.—Length 1.20, diameter 0.25 inch. General color either 
whitish or olive-green. Body thickly granulated. Head dull olive, with dense minute prickles ; 
its vertex bifid and terminating in a pair of prickly cylindrical horns, transversely arranged and 
each about 0.03 inch long. Back speckled and mottled with olive of different shades above the 
line of the spiracles, except joints 2and 8 and the upper part of 7 and 9, but with a continuous pure 
white line below the spiracles, beneath which white line on joints 4-10 is a large olive patch ex- 
tending on joints 6-9 to the external tip of the prolegs. A pair of black transversely-arranged 
dorsal dots in the suture behind joint 2, and a more or less obvious lateral one just above and be- 
hind the 5th and 7th pair of stigmata surmounting the lateral white line. Joints 3-7 and 9-11 
with more or less, shining, elevated, blue dots. On joint 2a pair of prickly cylindrical black horns, 
transversely arranged and 0.16 inch long. Onjoints 3,10 and 11a pair of large dorsal tubercles 
transversely arranged, each crowned by a little bunch of 8-12 robust prickles. On joint 5a pair of 
similar tubercles, but still larger, of a yellowish color, and mamma-like. On joints 4, 6, 7 and 9 
tubercles similar to those on joints 3,10 and 11, but smaller. Onjoint 12four black prickly dorsal 
horns, quadrangularly arranged and each about 0.03 inch long. Stigmata and legs blackish. 

Described from many specimens. Such are the prominent and more constant traits of this 
larva, but it is so variable in the general depth of coloring and in the proportion of the lighter 
and darker shades that it is next to impossible to frame a description which shall alike agree with 
half a dozen specimens. 

The newly hatched larva presents a quite different appearance. Itis 0.09 inch long with a 
yellowish-brown head twice as large as the first joint and distinctly bilobed. The first joint is also 
larger than the others. Hach joint is divided by a transverse impressed line, and upon the dorsum 
of each fold thus made are 4 pale elevated spots, the anterior outer ones larger than the rest, as 
shown at Fig. 69, b, especially on joints 2, 3, 5 and 11 where they appear conical with a darker an- 
nulation at base. There is a subdorsal and a sub-stigmatal row of similar rounded warts, and they 
all give rise to little pale bristles or spines. The general color is pale yellowish-brown, mottled 
with dark streaks, especially below the stigmata. The second period scarcely differs from the first 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 155 


except in the somewhat greater length of the horns. In the third period the horns acquire their 
mature proportions, and the whole larva becomes more granulated. In the fourth or last the blue 
points appear and the lateral rows of tubercles lose their conspicuousness to a great extent. 


ITS WINTER QUARTERS. 


One of the most interesting features in the life-history of our 
Disippus butterfly is its mode of hibernating. A great many moth 
larvee pass the winter in the larva state sheltered in one way or 
another; but no other-American butterfly has hitherto been recorded 
as hibernating in this state, except the closely related Ursula butter- 
fly,* though no doubt the few other species belonging to the same 
genus possess a similar habit. Misled, perhaps, by the fact that the 
butterfly is seen flying about so early in the spring that it could not 
have had sufficient time to hatch out from the egg and acquire its full 
larval growth the same season. and with its wings so bright and un- 
worn that it could not have hibernated as a butterfly as some other 
closely allied species are known to do; Dr. Harris, in his work on In- 
jurious Insects (p. 282) asserts that it hibernates in the pupa state, 
though he subsequently, in the year 1850, became aware of the facts 
in the case.+ 

In reality the larve of the autumnal brood, when about one- 
fourth or one-third grown, build for themselves curious little houses 
(Fig. 70, ¢), in which they pass the winter. First and foremost—with 
wise forethought, and being well aware through its natural instincts, 
that the leaf which it has selected for its house will fall to the ground 
when the cold weather sets in, unless it takes measures to prevent 
this—the larva fastens the stem of the leaf with silken cables securely 
to the twig from which it grows. It then gnaws off the blade of the 
leaf at its tip end, leaving little else but the mid-rib, as shown in Fig- 
ure 70, d. Finally, it rolls the remaining part of the blade of the leaf 
into a cylinder, sewing the edges together withsilk.{ The basal por- 
tion of the cylinder is of course tapered to a point, as the edges of 
the leaf are merely drawn together, not overlapped; and invariably 
the lower side of the leaf forms the outside of the house, so as to 
have its projecting mid-rib out of the way of the larva, as it reposes 
snugly in the inside. The whole when finished (Fig. 70, c) has 
somewhat the appearance of the leaf of a miniature pitcher-plant 
(Sarracenia), its length being 0.50-0.65 inch, and its diameter 0.11- 
0.14 inch. 


*There is good reason to believe, however, that some of those butterfly larvee which habitually 
protect themselves by a sort of loose cocoon, made by drawing together or rolling up the leaves of 
their food-plant; likewise pass the winter in the larval state. At least I have known an oak-feed- 
ing larva of Nisoniades juvenalis, Sm. and Abb., kept by a lady friend of mine, to remain in the 
larva state nearly all winter before transforming to the chrysalis. But there is not strict analogy 
between such a case and that of the hibernation of the immature Disippus. 


+ Harris Correspondence, p. 249. 


{ In the article in the Am. Entomologist—which was the greater part of it written by Mr. Walsh, 
with my own facts and experience inserted here and there—it is stated that the ‘‘gnawed portion of 
the leaf forming the flap, is bent down and fastened by silken cords, so as to act as a door to the 
house.’’ After fuller experience, I find that this is very seldom the case, but that the orifice is 
more often left open. 


156 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


These curious little cases may be commonly found upon our wil- 
lows or poplars in the winter time. I have examined hundreds of 
them, and although they are invariably built upon the same plan, 
they vary greatly in the degree of perfection which the architect at- 
tained; and this is especially the case when they have been built in 
confinement. The blade on the tip piece is sometimes gnawed off 
right down to the rib; at others it is left almost as broad as the tube. 
Sometimes it is bent over the orifice; at others not. They are also 

[Fig. 71.] much more irregular and ungainly when made from 
broad leaves such as those of the Silver poplar, 
than when made from the more narrow leaves of 
the Willow. These autumnal larve have also an- 
other peculiar habit not heretofore recorded, and 
which was first pointed out to me by Mr. J. A. Lint- 
ner, of Albany, N. Y. They exhibit a tendency to 
build from the time they are born, and will always 


and cutting along the sides of the mid-rib, as at 
Fegure 71, a. They commence at the tip and as they 
work downwards towards the base, they collect the 
debris into a little bunch, which they fasten with 
silk to the mid-rib. When the hibernaculum is fin- 
ished the seam is perfectly smooth and the whole 
inside is lined with silk. The larva, after completing its work, com- 
poses itself for the winter, with the tail towards the orifice.’ Here it 
remains till the catkins are in bloom the next spring, when it retreats 
from its house and commences feeding. Not the least wonderful part 
of the phenomenon is, that itis only the autumnal brood of larvze 
that form pitcher-like houses to live in during the inclement season 
of the year, the summer brood having no occasion to shelter them- 
selves from the cold. We thus have an instance of a curious archi- 
tectural instinct being only developed in alternate generations; 
which is much the same thing as if, with a certain race of men, the 
great-grandfathers, the fathers and the grandchildren ran wild in the 
woods, and the grandfathers, the sons and the great-grandchildren 
lived in houses and led the life of civilized human beings. 

When we duly consider this peculiarity in our Disippus larva, we 
may well pause and ask— 


What wondrous power enables it so well, 

The coming cold of winter to foretell, 

And to provide for its long torpid rest, 

A house, from means at hand, the very best ? 


We can but admire the beautiful adaptation of means to an end 
—no matter how we choose to explain it! There can be little doubt 
but that many of the phenomena in animal life which we so summa- 
rily dispose of by the ready use of that rather blind term “instinct,” 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. LOT 


might be explained in a more natural way. The term is justly applied 
to those actions which are prompted by exterior influences or pecu- 
liarity of organization, and which are performed unconsciously; but 
by its too general application, most people have acquired a deep-set 
idea that all animals act under its power, and have nothing akin to 
our reason; whereas there is hardly anything more certain than that 
true reason of degree exists very generally in the animal kingdom; 
or that what we know as pure instinct may have been developed by 
natural law, 2. ¢., first acquired by experience and afterwards fixed as 
a habit by heredity. 

The subtle influences of the late fall which seem to convey 
through every pulse of nature, intelligence of the approaching win- 
ter, and which cause all animals to prepare for their hyperborean 
sleep, no doubt originally induced the young larva of the ancestral 
type from which our Disippus and the other species of the genus 
sprung, to prepare for itself some shelter. The gradually increasing 
cold and the decrease of nourishment in the leaf, would act as physi- 
cal prompters, and the pitcher-like house, which at first strikes us as 
so remarkable, is the simplest structure that could be made with the 
materials at command. The characteristic smoothness of its food- 
plant—forbidding as it does the shelter under loose bark which many 
larve seek—would also tend to develop such a trait. That this trait 
—this instinct—should only be developed under similar conditions to 
those which gave birth to it, is not so remarkable; and that it does 
only so develop, seems certain, for I have every reason to believe 
that while the insect is two-brooded further north, it is sometimes 
three-brooded with us, and consequently that this peculiar instinct 
obtains either in the second or third generation, according to circum: 
stances. 


ITS PARASITES. 


Though not generally known to entomologists, our Disippus 
butterfly is very subject to the attacks of parasites, at least three 
distinct species infesting it in the preparatory states. One of these 
is a Zachina-fly, of which I have often noticed the eggs fastened 
transversely on the back of the neck of the larva, but of which I 
have not obtained the fly. In all probability it does not destroy the 
larva till the latter is nearly full grown. The other twoI will ne 
describe as no mention has heretofore been made of them. 

Tue Distppus Eaa-parasitE.—The eggs already described were 
[Fig. 72.] very abundant last fallona certain clump 

\ Sie” of willows near Kirkwood, and of about 
two hundred obtained, fully one-half of 


ig them were parasitised. Instead of hatch- 
a . ing out into larvee, as they would have 


done if they had been unmolested, these 
_Nlast produced little dark-colored four- 
winged flies, from four to six of which 


ta 


158 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


would gnaw their way through the shell of each egg. This little fly 
belongs to the great Chalcis family, and though scarcely more than 
0.02 inch long, it can jump to the distance of several inches. Its 
wings, especially the hind ones, are beautifully fringed with hairs. It 
is inconspicuously marked, the body being dark brown with the an- 
tenn and legs pale, and the wings iridescent. The highly magnified 
outlines at Figure 72 will convey a good idea of its appearance, a 
showing the fly with wings folded on the back, d one of the front 
wings, ¢ one of the hind wings, d one of the legs, and ¢ one of the 
antenne. 

I shall leave the preper determination of this insect to those who pay more particular attention 
to the CuHatcipip#. It comes nearest the genus Trichogramma, Westw., and may be provisionally 
called Trichogramma(?) minuta. It differs from that genus and from all other Chalcididan 
genera with which I am acquainted, in the antenne being but 5-jointed (scape, plus 4 joints), the 
scape stout and as long, or longer, than joints 2,3 and 4 together ; joints 5 and 4 small and to- 
gether as long as juint 2; 5 very stout, fusiform and as longas 2, 3 and4 together. The legs have 
the trochanters stout and long, the tibiz not quite solong nor so stout as the femora, and with a 
long tooth; the tarsi are 3-jointed, with the joints of equal length and with the claws and pulvilli sub- 
obsolete. The abdomen is apparently 6-jointed, the basal joint wide, the 2nd narrower, 2—5 in- 


creasing in width till 5 isas wideas 1. The ovipositor of Q extends a little beyond the apex, and 
starts from the anterior edge of the 5th joint. 


Tur Disippus Microgaster.—The third parasite which also very 
[Fig. 73.1] commonly infests the last brood of larva, and kills its 
victim during the second period, is a little black four- 
winged fly belonging to the genus Microgaster. The para- 


gets ready to build its winter tenement, and spins a pale 
yellowish cocoon of silk, either upon the back of its victim 
or upon the leaf close by; and from this cocoon the fly soon after- 
wards issues. Figure 73, which represents the Army-worm J/icro- 
gaster enlarged, will convey a good idea of its Disippus relative. 

The genus J/icrogaster is a very extensive one, and the species 
have not yet been well studied in this country. They are all of small 
size, and in many instances resemble each other so closely that they 
can only be satisfactorily studied in connection with their habits and 
the particular larvze which they infest. Some appear to confine their 
attacks to one particular kind of caterpillar, while others infest alike 
many different species. Thus the one under consideration not only 
infests the Disippus larva, but Ihave also bred it from that of the 
Golden-rod Gall-moth (@elechia gallesolidaginis, Riley) obtained 
from Canada; which indicates it to be a widely distributed species. 


MicroGAster Limenitipos, N. §p.—d' @. Length 0.09 inch. Color pitchy-black. Antenne 
black, about as long as body; palpi whitish. Thorax minutely punctured. Abdomen with the two 
or three basal joints emarginate and rugose, the terminal joints smooth and polished, Legs dusky ; 
front and middle femora yellowish, hind femora black; front and middle tibiw yellowish, hind 
tibize with terminal half dusky, but the spur pale; front and middle tarsi yellowish tipped w h 
dusky, hind tarsi dusky above, paler below. JWVings hyaline, iridescent, the nervures and sti a 
black or dark-brown, the radial nervule, the cubital nervules and the exterior nervule of the . s 
coidal cell, sub-obsolete. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 


Described from 6 Q, 1 3, bred from larve of Limenitis disippus, 3 9 bred from larve of Ge- 
lechia gallesolidaginis. In the latter the nervures of wings are paler and less distinct than in the 
former. Most of our N. A. species of this genus have been described by Mr. Cresson who has seen 
this and considers it new. It certainly differs from the other described species. 


MIMICRY AS ILLUSTRATED BY THESE TWO BUTTERFLIES, WITH SOME REMARKS 
ON THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION. 


The means by which animals are enabled to escape from their 
enemies and obtain their food, or in other words to sustain them- 
selves in the great struggle for existence that is continually going on 
between each species, are as varied as they are wonderful. There is 
generally a conformity of tint between all animals and their surround- 
ing, and in the higher classes Mr. A. R. Wallace has shown* that in 
general terms it may be stated that desert animals are desert colored, 
arctic animals white, and nocturnal animals gray, 7. ¢., of such colors 
as best to accord with the surroundings. Animals, birds, fishes and 
reptiles come under this rule to a great extent, and the reader will be 
amply rewarded by perusing the details given in the valuable and 
interesting work referred to. Butin no Class of animals does this 
principle of adaptation to environment occur so generally andinsuch a 
striking manner as in insects. With themmimicry and other protec- 
tive resemblances are almost universal, and it may be givenas a rule 
that all insects living above ground, when not naturally protected by 
odor, luminosity or defensive covering such as hairs, spines, hard 
shelly wings, etc., or by armor such as stings, beaks, ete., either 
cover themselves with one substance or another, or similate their sur- 
roundings, or mimic either other animals, plants, or even inorganic 
substances. With insects in their larval states, will this rule especi- 
ally hold good. 

What entomologist has not been deceived by the close resemblance 
of the beetles belonging tothe genus Chlamys to the dung of cater- 
pillars; or is not familiar with the quaint and close resemblance of 
the Walking-sticks and Walking-leaves to the objects from which they 
take theirnames? Chapter after chapter might be written on these 
wonderful imitations which deceive the best trained eyes; and there 
are many most striking instances among our American insects which 
have never yet been published and which Ihope some day to illus- 
trate. But my present purpose is simply to draw attention to the 
illustration afforded by the two butterflies which we have been con- 
sidering. 

These striking resemblances were formerly looked upon, for the 


most part, as curious analogies in nature, intended to carry out the 
senso Ee Es ee ee eal 
*Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection. 


160 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


general plan of the Creator; but viewed in the light of modern science, 
and especially by that of the Darwinian development hypothesis, 
they have acquired animmense significance. One of the most interest- 
ing phases of this mimicry, and one which has only within the last few 
years been brought to light, is the imitation by an otherwise defenseless 
butterfly, of one whose great numbers and wide distribution indicate 
that it enjoyspeculiar advantages. This specific imitation of one but- 
terfly by another is precisely of the same nature as the mimicking of a 
vegetable orinorganic substance, and may consequently bejust as prop- 
erly termed mimicry. Some authors seem to make a distinction between 
this so-called mimicry and what is known as “protective resemb- 
lance,” while others again misconceive the true import of the word 
“mimicry” as used in this connection. Thus, Maj. J. R. Muhleman in 
an essay on “Mimicry in Insects,” read before the Central Illinois Hor- 
ticultural Society this winter, gave the word so broad an interpretation 
as to apply it to the possum-playing ofsome insects, and even to the sup- 
posed and far-fetched resemblances suchas that of the female Canker- 
worm to a plant-louse, and of the female Bag-worm to a Dipterous 
maggot. True mimicry can only occur where itis of benefit to the 
species, no matter whether the benefit be derived by enabling harm- 
less species to avoid their enemies in one way or another; or by enab- 
ling predaceous species to deceive their prey by assimilating the form 
and colors of the latter. 

As already stated, the particular group to which our Archippus 
butterfly belongs is a large one, and the species comprising it are 
very numerous. They are especially abundantin South America, and 
like our own species, they all possess a pungent odor which seems to 
pervade all the juices of their system. So much is this the case that 
according to Mr. Wallace,* when an entomologist “squeezes the 
breast of one of them between his fingers to kill it, a yellow liquid 
exudes which stains the skin, and the smell of which can only be got 
rid of by time and repeated washings.” The wings of these butter- 
fiies, as may be seen by referring to Figure 63, are rather longer than 
usual, but their flight is comparatively slow, and they do not dodge 
and zig-zag about with sudden skips and jerks as the “Skippers,” 
(Hesprrip#,) are knownto do. They furthermore possess no adap- 
tive coloring to protect them during repose, for they take no pains to 
hide themselves, and their colors are bright, and those of the under- 
side as conspicuous as those of the upper. 

Hence we cannot assume that they are enabled, by their pecu- 
liar mode of flying, to escape to a great extent those cannibal 
animals that would otherwise catch and devour them; and if we pro- 
pose to account for their prodigious abundance at all, we are driven 
to have recourse to someother hypothesis. Indeed, so far is it from 
being the case that it is their mode of flight which enables them to 


* Contributions, etc., p. 73. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 161. 


escape from their cannibal foes, that Mr. H. W. Bates, the English 
naturalist, who spent eleven years in the Valley of the Amazon River, 
studying the natural history of the insects of that region, where this 
particular group of butterflies is very copiously represented, declares 
that he never saw a single one of them attacked by any cannibal foe 
whatever, whether bird, or Dragon-fly, or lizard, or Aszlus-fly. 

It is therefore reasonable to assume that their peculiar odor ren- 
ders them unpalatable to animals of prey. We have seen that the Arch- 
ippus butterfly enjoys an almost perfectimmunity from the attacks. 
- of predaceous animals, consequent, in all probability, upon this pecu- 
liar odor which attaches to it both in the larval and perfect states. 
In this case the supposition is even strengthened by the fact that the 
only parasite known to attack itis a Zachina-fly, belonging to afami- 
ly which is notoriously defiant of strong odors, the larve often rioting 
in filth and the flies many of them known to be especially attracted 
to such odors. 

Now there is another large group of butterflies, known as the 
Pieris family, to which the white cabbage butterflies belong, which 
were mentioned in my last Report (pp. 104-110.) This group differs 
widely in structure from the Danais group, and is represented by 
many species in the Valley of the Amazons; but instead of the spe- 
cies being exceedingly abundant in individuals, as in the case of these: 
belonging to the Danais family, it is quite the contrary; the propor- 
tion between the number of individuals belonging respectively to 
two of the commonest genera of either group (Zeptalis and Jihomia)' 
being only 1 to 1000. Hence, it is reasonable to infer that this group 
must be much persecuted by cannibal foes, and such has been found 
to be the case.* 

The colors found in the species of the Danazs family are red, 
yellow, orange, white and black; while only the last two colors obtain 
in the Pieris family, the white being sometimes tinged with green- 
ish yellow. So farso good. We see flitting about in the great Val- 
ley of the Amazons, vast swarms of long-winged butterflies, gorgeous- 
ly dressed in red, orange, yellow, white and black; and certain short- 
winged butterflies, in very much smallernumbers, whose proper livy-- 
ery is but the plain black and white that befits a funeral. We see 
the former enjoy an entire immunity from the attacks of all preda- 
ceous animals, and the latter snapped up by every hungry bird, Dra- 
gon-fly or Aszlus-fly that happens to come across them. Will it be 
believed, now, that there are certain particular species of the homely, 
much persecuted, short-winged group, that assume the livery worn by: 
certain particular species of their gaily dressed compatriots, and ae- 
tually even copy their elongated wings? Yet such is the indubitable 
fact. In the Memoir of Mr. Bates, already referred to, will be found 


*These facts were first brought to light about nine years ago, by Mr. Bates, in a most inter-- 
esting and valuable Memoir, published in the Transactions of the Linnzan Society, (Vol. XXIII,. 


p. 495 
s £—I1 


162 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


beautiful colored figures, in the highest style of art, both of the 
species that mimic and of those that are mimicked; andno one that 
looks at those figures with an unprejudiced eye can believe for a mo- 
ment that the resemblance is merely accidental. 

Even the practiced eye of the entomologist is sometimes deceived 
‘by these close resemblances, and to illustrate, I cannot do better than 
to quote Mr. Bates’s own language: 

These imitative resemblances, of which hundreds of instances 
could be cited, are full of interest, and fill us with the greater aston- 
ishment the closer we investigate them; for some show a minute and 
palpably intentional likeness which is perfectly staggering. I have 
found that those features of the portrait are most attended to by na- 
‘ture, which produce the most effective deception when the insects are 
seen in nature. The faithfulness of the resemblance, in many cases, 
is not so striking when they are seen inthe cabinet. Although I had 
‘daily practice in insect-collecting for many years, and was always on 
my guard, I was constantly deceived by them when in the woods. (p. 
507). 

Mr. Bates accounts for these singular cases of mimicry by sup- 
posing that, ages and ages ago, certain individuals of this plainly- 
dressed and much-persecuted Pers family happened to vary slightly- 
so as to resemble slightly some species or other belonging to the gaily- 
dressed and unpalatable Danazs family ; that, in consequence of this 
‘slight resemblance, they were sometimes mistaken for their more for- 
tunate compatriots by cannibal animals, which would otherwise have 
preyed upon them forthwith; and consequently that they survived 
long enough to propagate their species, while almost all the individuals 
that had not varied in this particular manner perished prematurely 
by a violent death. Now, we know that, in the language of breeders 
-and stock-raisers, “like produces like,” which is what naturalists ex- 
press by the well-known term of the “ Law of Inheritance.” Hence 
the descendents of this primordial race of imitative butterflies would 
naturally, most of them, vary in the same manner as did their ances- 
tors from the normal type; and some of them would probably vary in 
a still more marked manner andin the same direction. These last in- 
dividuals, as they would bear a still closer resemblance to the unpal- 
atable butterflies, would of course stand a still better chance of sur- 
viving and propagating their species, in the course of that great 
Struggle for Existence, which we see going on all around us, not only 
among the inferior animals, but among the human species itself. By 
the perpetual repetition of this process, during indefinite ages, that 
perfect imitation of the imitated butterfly would at length be formed, 
which at first view appears so utterly inexplicable. And when it had 
once been formed, the very same process that originally formed it 
would afterwards keepit up to the standard of perfection. For all in- 
dividuals, that varied in a backward direction towards the primordial 
type, would be more liable than the rest to be devoured in early life 
by cannibals, and would therefore be less likely than the rest to pro- 
pagate their own image in succeeding generations. The whole pro- 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. . 163 


sess, indeed, is so beautifully simple and intelligible, that, but for cer- 
tain prepossessions and prejudices, it would at once command the as- 
sent of every logical mind. In fact,it is strictly analogous to the com- 
mon operation of “rogueing” a bed of seedlings, which every gardener 
is familiar with. The only difference is that, when the gardener pulls 
up what he calls the “rogues” out of a thousand seedling tulips, 2. e., 
those which deviate from the standard of perfection which he is aim- 
ing to attain, heacts with the definite object of preventing the further 
propagation of those so-called “ rogues;” whereas, when cannibal an- 
imals destroy the “rogues” among the imitative butterflies, they are 
of course perfectly ignorant of the consequences likely to follow, and 
act wholly and solely for the gratification of their own carnal appe- 
tites. In short, the whole phenomenon is explained on the theory 
of Natural Selection as expounded by Darwin. 

Since the publication of Mr. Bates’s paper, a great many addition- 
al cases of similar mimicry among butterflies have been observed by 
Mr. Wallace* in the Malayan region of South America, and by Mr, 
Trimen in South Africa.t But though most of these wonderful cases 
of mimicry occur in the tropics, where insect development is so rapid 
and species are so abundant, we also have a striking instance of sim- 
ilar mimicry in our two N. A. butterflies, Archippus and Disippus. 
‘The resemblance between them must long ago have been noticed, for 
itis so servile that Prof. Jaegerin his Life of North American In- 
sects, has actually favored his readers with a figure of the Disippus 
and gravely informs them that it is the Archippus butterfly. Indeed 
it is far more striking than my figures would indicate, and in astate 
of nature the twe insects could hardly be distinguished at a short 
distance by the sharpest eyes. The fact that these two species offer 
an illustration of similar mimicry to that observed so frequently in 
the tropics, was first made clear by Mr. Walsh and myself in the 
American Entomologist for June, 1869; and the facts which have 
since come to my knowledge all tend to confirm the opinion. 

The only other species belonging to the same genus as our Disip- 
pus butterfly, which occurs in the Mississippi Valley, is the Ursula 
‘butterflyt (Limenitis wrsula, Fabr.), an insect which differs remark- 
ably from our Disippus in being of asombre blue-black color, with its 
wings bordered both above and below with blue, and below with a 
series of dull orange spots inside the blue border. Its larva feeds on 
Willow, Scrub-oak, Whortleberry, Cherry and Plum, and as already 
stated, has the same habits as that of Disippus, which it resembles se 
closely as scarcely to be distinguishable. The pupx of the two spe- 


+ See his paper on ‘‘Mimetic Analogies among African Butterflies,”’ in the Transactions of the 
Linnzan Society for 1868. 


{ There are seven described species of N. A. Limenitis, but with the exception of the two above 
named they are all confined to the more eastern or western portions of the Continent. 


164 , THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


If this Ursula butterfly were placed side by side with the Archip- 
pus butterfly, everybody would say at once that no two species could 
possibly be more unlike in the general style of their coloration. 
Clearly, therefore, it cannot be considered as in any wise mimicking 
the latter. Now, the Ursula butterfly is found everywhere through- 
out the Northern States wherever the Disippus butterfly is met with : 
and yet, while the latter is a common and abundant species, the 
former is quite rare. This is certainly the case imthe Mississippi Val- 
ley, and will, according to my own experience, and that of others* 
very generally hold true all over the country. 

To what are we to attribute this fact? It can scarcely be owing 
to structural differences in the external organization of the two spe- 
cies; for the two belong to one and the same genus. Itsurely cannot 
be because the larvee of the former are more exposed to the attacks 
of predaceous animals than those of the latter; for they inhabit the 
same, or very nearly the same trees, andin size, shape and general 
coloration the two are almost exactly alike. Certainly it can not be 
because the pupze of one species are more subject to be devoured by 
birds, insects, etc., than those of the other species; for it is impossible 
to tell one pupa from another when placed side by side. The only 
cause to which we can reasonably attribute the great abundance of 
the Disippus butterfly and the comparative rarity of the Ursula but- 
terfly is, that the former mimicks the Archippus butterfly, as has been 
shown above, and is consequently often mistaken by birds, tree-frogs, 
Dragon-flies, Aszlus-flies and other beasts of prey for its unsavory 
prototype and allowed to escape with impunity, while the latter, hav- 
ing no such disguise, is ruthlessly devoured by every insect-eating 
animal that can get hold of it. 

All the facts lead to such a conclusion. The mimicked species 
enjoys an almost perfect immunity from the attacks of enemies in alk 
its stages, while the mimicker is persecuted by several. The mim- 
icker is often found in company with the mimicked, as I have myself, 
and as others have witnessed.f But what is still more conclusive is 
the fact observed by Mr. 8. H. Scudder} that in the extreme Southern 
States where the Disippus butterfly occurs, and Archippus is replaced 


* According to Mr. J. A. Lintner, Ursula is “rare’’ and Disippus is found abundantly in New 
York. (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., II1., pp. 63-4.) According to Mr. J. Kirkpatrick Ursula is ‘‘rather 
rare’? and Disippus ‘‘common in the fall’’ in Ohio. (Jbid., p. 329.) According to Mr. Sam H. 
Scudder, Ursula is “‘vather rare’’ and Disippus is ‘‘common’’ in New England. (Proc. Essex Inst., 
ILl., p. 165.) According to Mr. Billings, who does not seem tu have met with any Ursula at all, 
Disip;us is “very common from July to October’? in Canada West. (Canad. Entom., I.,p. 45.) 
There appear to be some exceptions to this rule, however, for Mr. Thos. W Higginson, of New- 
port, R. L., declares (Am. Entomologist, Il., p. 177.) that Ursula is one of the commonest of the 
large butterflies there and decidedly more so than Disippus. I was also informed while at Troy 
last fall, that the former outnumbered the latter in the vicinity of New York City in the year 1868, 
though the previous years it had been quite rare. ‘hese exceptions to the rule may be owing toe 
one cause or another, but I shall attempt to explain them when I come to consider the objections 
to the theory which I espouse. 

+ Mrs. Mary Treat, of Vineland, N. J., writes that Archippus was unusually abundant there last 
fall, and that she found Disippus in company with it. 


{ Mature, Vol. III, p. 147. 


"THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 


iby the Berenice butterfly—a species of the same genus and of similar 
appearance but of darker color—the color of the mimetic Disippus 
deepens nearly or quite to the tint of the Southern Danais. Thus it 
is that facts before unintelligible are explained by Darwinism! 

In a discussion on the difficulties of Natural Selection, which took 
place in late numbers of the London journal Vature, some ingenious ° 
objections have been urged. As many of them have especial refer- 
ence to the mimicry we have been noticing, a brief summary of these 
objections will prove interesting in this connection, the more espe- 
cially as all objections must in the end only serve to strengthen a 
theory, if that theory is sound. 

Mr. Alfred W. Bennett* undertakes to show upon mathematical 
considerations, that Natural Selection could not produce these mim- 
etic forms. He assumes that it would take 1000 steps to enable the 
normal form of a Leptalis for instance, to pass into the protective 
form of an /thomia; that no change less than one-fiftieth of the whele 
alteration—z. e. 20 steps—would be of any use to the insect, and that 
the alterations in the early stages, being useless to the animal, would 
not be preserved, and evenif they were, could not be attributed to 
Natural Selection, but te an accumulation of chances. He reiterates 
what has already been well shown and acknowledged by Darwinians, 
namely, that Natural Selection cannot produce the first change, and 
asks with geod reason why the same principle that works the first 
change should not also work the subsequent changes? He does not 
dispute the secendary power of Natural Selection, but believes in an 
unconscious organizing intelligence which co-operates with it to pro- 
duce the mimetie results. He endeavors to strengthen his position 
by showing that there is a close connection between instinct and 
mimicry, and ventures the theory that “the power of mimetism, sc far 
asis known at present, runs almost part passu with the development 
of the nervous system.” 

The essay is an able and interesting one, and the arguments are 
skillful andingenious. It pays due and just respect to Darwinism 
and forcibly presents the fact, which no one has denied, that some 
other power than natural selection actsin producing first change 
The mathematical argument, however, will have little weight with 
those who fully appreciate the changes in Lepidoptera that take 
place in nature. No entomologist who has had any experience in 
rearing Lepidoptera will admit with Mr. Bennett that 1000 steps are 
necessary to produce mimetic resemblance, and when this foundation 
stone of his objection is taken away, much of his other reasoning 
which is built upon it becomes weak. Instances of great and sudden 
variation among butterflies and more particularly among moths are by 


* Nature, Vol. LI, pp. 50-33. 


166 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


no means rare. In this Report instances of great variation in species 
have been given, and hundreds of others might be cited.* 

Mr. Bennett furthermore, as Mr. Wallace subsequently pointed 
out.t fails to take into consideration the fact that each butterfly 
produces not only one, but numerous offspring, that the right varia- 
tion has, by the hypothesis which he combats, a greater chance of 
surviving than the rest, and that at each succeeding generation, the 
influence of heredity becomes more and more powerful, causing the 
chance of the right variation to beeome greaterand greater. He also 
appears to forget that this imitation in butterflies is of comparatively 
rare occurrence, and that the mimickers generally belong to genera 
which naturally show a tendency to depart from the normal coloring 
of their own family and to approach that of the mimicked, so that the 
first steps are greatly facilitated. I consider therefore that the math- 
ematical objection utterly falls to the ground; but that there is some- 
thing in the closing ideas which Mr. Bennett throws out, which may 
yet lead to important discoveries, I can very well conceive. Indeed 
it must be rash to deny some such influence as he deseribes when we 
reflect upon the extraordinary power which the mind of the mother ex- 
erts, during pregnancy, on her offspring ;and when we further consider 
that Mr. Wallace himself admits that man’s present mental and physi- 
cal condition could not have been brought about by natural selection 
alone. It must be obvious to every one, however, that such an admis- 
sion is no argument against the theory of Natural Selection. All oth- 
er modifying influences though they may lessen her poteney simply 
assist her in her grand work. 

The next objector we find in Mr. Sam]. H. Scudder of Boston, 
Mass.,} who, while admitting that there ean be no possible doubt of 
the fact of mimicry, questions its advantage among butterflies, since 
the greatest destruction occurs in their preparatory states. But as 
he refers especially to the two butterflies we have been treating of 
and as from the context it appears that he is also aware of the exis- 
tence of some of the parasites which I have described, I will quote 
the greater portion of his letter which was written from Cairo, Egypt, 
under date of November 9th, 1870; and, will afterwards reply to his 
objections: 

“« But of how much actual benefit to the mimetic species is this so-called ‘‘protective’’ resem- 
blance? It seems to occur where it can be of the Jeast possible advantage to the species. The great 
sources of destruction here, as in all groups of animals, are in early life. How large a proportion 
of the eggs that are laid by butterflies ever finally produce imagines ? Let those answer who have 


attempted to follow their history in their native haunts. My experience leads me to believe that 
at the very least, nine-tenths—perhaps ninety-nine hundredths--never reach maturity. Hymenop~ 


*A most remarkable case came under my notice the past summer. From a single batch of 
flattened and ribbed eggs, overlapping each other under a piece of Hickory bark, I succeeded in 
raising eighteen imagines of Cutocala phalangea, Guen. ‘the upper wings vary greatly in the indi- 
viduals, and in one specimen the ground-color and markings are so very aberrant, that there is more 
difference between it.and some of the others belonging to the same batch, than there is hetween the 
latter and a dozen distinct species. 

TNature, ILI, p. 49. 


fIbid, Vol. III, p. 147. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 


terous and Dipterous parasites beset them at every step. The eggs, although so smail and often so 
heavily ridged, cannot escape the ovipositors of the tiny Pteromali, while in attempting to breed 
caterpillars taken in the field, the chance is so greatly against the evolution of a butterfly, that 
Hymenopterists actually choose this method of supplying their cabinets. ‘ Of two hundred larva 
of Pieris brassice,’ Mr. Drewsen, of Denmark, writes to me, ‘I obtained only twenty pups, all the 
rest were attacked by Microgaster glomeratus, and my own attempts with the larva: of Pyrameis Ata- 
lanta, both in America and Europe, have been even more unavailing. These caterpillars seem to 
be peripatetic banqueting halls of Microgasters and Tachine. 

‘‘Now it is a curious fact that while the globular egg of Limenitis Misippus,* with its deeply-pitted 
shell, defended by long filamentous spines, is constantly attacked by parasites; and the gro- 
tesque hump-backed, strangely-colored caterpillar of the same species is likewise infested to an 
extraordinary degree, I have been unable to discover by very careful search any evidence that the 
ege or larva of Danais Archippus is ever pierced by a parasite; yet the egg is not small and only 
lightly ribbed, and the caterpillar large, fleshy, smooth-skinned, and gaily banded, living on the 
widely-separated leaves of Asclepias, with no attempt at concealment. The abundance of the ima- 
go of the Danais is then due quite as much to the immunity of the egg and larva from the attacks 
of parasites, as to any freedom it may itself enjoy from pursuit by insectivorous birds. [1.] 

“ Although I have hunted butterflies for fifteen years, [ confess I have never seen oneina bird’ § 
bill, and my faith in that method of lessening their numbers is very slight. Birds, too, must be 
their greater foes in earlier life; and the chances of living, which are certainly against them 
before they take wing, seem afterwards rather in their favour, at least, until they have accom- 
plished their mission. [2.] 

“Tf, then, such an extraordinary element as Mimicry is to be summoned to the aid of Natural 
Selection, and can perform its task in such a masterly manner, why has it been made to waste its 
energies upon unimportant material? If the object of the resemblance be protection, why does not 
the unfortunate caterpillar of the Limenitis mimic the more favoured larva of the Danais? [3.] 

“‘T cannot now consult the writings of Messrs. Wallace and Bates, nor do I remember their 
statements respecting the abundance of the mimetic species compared to that of its normal congen- 
ers. In my own country Limenitis Misppusis, as a general rule, more common than L. Ursula, but 
the difference in their numbers is not very marked. It isby no means as great as one would expect 
had Mimicry in the imago state so strong a protective power as has been assumed. [4.] Two close- 
ly allied species occupying the same geographical area, do not often occur inthe same abundance, 
whatever be the cause, and the disparity in numbers in these two species of Limenitis is no greate 
than occurs in many instances where mimicry plays no part. [5.] ’’ 


[1.] No one will deny the facts, after what I have already set 
forth. 

[z.] Such an experience from a butterfly hunter surprises me 
Individually Ihave on several occasions seen butterflies captured by 
birds, and have seen Dragon-flies dart after them. Any amount of 
evidence might be collected on this head, and Mr. Scudder has already 
been answered by Mr. Arthur G. Butler+ of the British Museum, 
who mentions often having seen birds catch and devour the. 
unprotected species upon the wing, while he has _ received 
abundant evidence respecting the immunity of the Danais. 
group. “T. G. B.” of St Johns College, Cambridge, has also 
often seen the common English sparrow capture Vanessa urtice 
and Pieris rapet; while Mr. Wallace has shown that great numbers. 
of butterflies are destroyed on the wing by insectivorous birds such 
as jacamars, trogons and puff-birds, and gives conclusive evidence 
that while our Disippus congeners, the Vymphal/da, suffer such per- 
secution, the Archippus congeners do not.§ Thus, though there 


*The reader must bear in mind that Misippus is but a synonym for Disippus. 
} Nature III, p. 165. 

{ Ibid, p. 166. 

3 Contributions, etc., p. 7%, 


168 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


seems to be no record of any person having actually seen a bird or 
other animal attack the species of Zimenitis in this country, there 
is every reason to believe that they will do so. This fact once being 
admitted, it must also be admitted that the resemblance of Disippus 
to Archippus serves the former as a protection. I freely grant how: 
ever, that. the species of Zimenitis are kept under by enemies far 
more in the preparatory states than in the perfect state; but this fact 
only adds importance to the mimicry of Disippus as throwing light 
upon its greater numbers. The larve and pup of Ursula and Dz- 
sippus so closely resemble each other that it is not likely their ene- 
mies would make any discrimination between them; andif ina given 
district where Archippus is abundant, the two former species, by the 
undue multiplication of their enemies in some particular year, should 
be so thinned out while in‘the immature states, that only a dozen 
imagines of each were perfected in an area of say 100 square miles; 
it becomes obvious that by deceiving the birds, or by associating with 
Archippus, the twelve specimens of Disippus would stand a much 
better chance of escape than those of Wrsu/a, and that consequently 
more would succeed in perpetuating the species. 

|3.] Natural Selection does not, therefore,waste its energies upon 
unimportant material, in giving protection to the perfect insect; and 
any one, with a little reflection, will perceive that there are the best 
of reasons why the unfortunate caterpillar of ZLimenitis cannot 
mimic the more favored larva of Danais. They never come in con- 
tact’ The perfect insects are enabled by flight to associate together; 
but their larvee—the one being confined to plants of the Willow and 
Poplar families, the other strictly to those of the Milkweed family— 
can never so associate. That there is, however, an effort at protec- 
tion in the preparatory stages of Zimenzi’s, no entomologist who has 
studied them in the field will deny. The egg,as Mr. Scudder has 
admitted, isin a measure protected by the long filamentous spines, 
which may protect it from the attacks of some of the very numerous 
parasites that might otherwise aid in exterminating it. The larva is 
very variable, and wears a remarkable protective resemblance to its 
‘surroundings. I have often noticed that in the mature specimens 
found on the dark Scrub willow the dark colors predominate; that 
those found on Golden willow are much brighter and greener, and 
the palest specimen I ever saw was found upon Silver poplar. Only 
those who have diligently searched for these larva can fully appre- 
‘ciate the protection which their appearance affords. In one instance 
Ichanced to espy a large full grown specimen of Disippus ona Golden 
willow not more than seven feet high. Thespecimen on accountof its 
brightness and greenness struck meas reinarkable, and 1 searched 
for others. In taking a casual glance I could detect none, but after 
a diligent search I succeeded in finding seven specimens, and then 
left, fully convinced that | had espied every one upon the tree. The 
mext day, however, my confidence in the sharpness of my eyes was 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 169 


considerably shaken, for upon returning to the same small tree I suc- 
ceeded in finding three more, all of them more than half grown. 

As to the chrysalis, it bears a very strongresemblance to a bit of 
bird dung, and for the first few hours of its being, while the parts are 
yet soft and elongated this resemblance is truly striking. 

[4.] I have shown that the disparity in numbers between Disip- 
pus and Ursulais very marked in the Mississippi Valley, and there 
is every reason to believe that the former is most abundant wherever 
its protector, the Archippus butterfly, abounds. I have Mr. Scudder’s 
own authority for the statement that the latter is comparatively rare 
in the northeastern States, and my own experience would indicate 
such to be the case. Now it is extremely probable that where Arch- 
tppus abounds, birds and other natural enemies are continually re- 
minded of its nauseous qualities both by smell and taste.* 

It would very naturally follow therefore, that where Archippus is 
rare, birds would notbe so continually warned of its evil properties, 
and the deceptive resemblance in Disippus would lose much of its 
protective power in sucha case. This explanation of the fact that 
Ursula is in some districts more common than Disippus will acquire 
greater force, if we find that such a state of things occurs only where 
Archippus is rare, and the facts as they at present stand indicate such 
to be the case. 

Mr. Wallace} is inclined to account for the fact that Ursula is in 
some districts as numerous, or moreso than Disippus, on the supposi- 
tionthat Ursula is also a mimicker, resembling the Philenor swallow- 
tail (Papilio philenor, Druryt) especially on the underside, whichis 
exposed when the insects are at rest. We must, however, be very cau- 
tious in accepting such resemblances as cases of mimicry, without first 
ascertaining whether there can be any real cause for mimicry or whether 
the two butterflies ever associate together. Under the circumstances I 
incline to believe that the markings on the underside of Ursula are ofa 
generic character since they oLtain in other N.A., species of Lim- 
initis; and that the resemblance to P. philenor is merely casual and 
bears no more relation to mimicry than does the close resemblance 
of certain plants belonging to different continents. P. philenor is 
itself arare insect where Ursula iscommon, and must always be so 
on account of the searcity of its food-plant; and, ifanything, Ursula 
bears a greater general resemblance to P. trodlus, Linn, and P. aste- 
rias, Drury, which are both more common species. Italso bears a 
greater resemblance upon the upper surface to the female of Argyn- 
nis Diana, Cramer. 


*A singular fact bearing on this point has been communicated to me by Mr. Otto Lugger of 
Chicago, a gent(eman who takes much interest in entomology andis a good collector. While 
employed on the U. S. Lake Survey he once saw a bird dart after an Archippus butterfly, seize it 
and immediately drop it without devouring the body. The butterfly dropped close by his side and 
he picked it up and examined it, and had no means at the time of accounting for the singular 
action of the bird. 

t Nature III, p. 166. 

{See my 2nd Rep. Fig. 86. 


170 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


[5] This in no wise alters the fact, however, of the existence of 
wnimicry in Disippus, which Mr. Scudder fully admits. It is, there- 
fore no argument against Natural Selection having produced such 
mimicry. Because we are able to explain the principle power work- 
ing to produce the relative abundance of one species, compared with 
another that is closely allied, it does not follow that we must also give 
the varied influences which cause the relative abundance or rarity of 
other species in other groups! 

The third objector is Mr. A. Murray, who undertakes to show that 
these mimetic resemblances have nothing to do with Nnaural Selee- 
tion.* He takes it upon himself to assert that every inch of ground 
which Mr. Bates has gone overis“ mined and unsound ”—that the 
“bad smell has not been observed in North America where similar 
mimicry occurs”; and that “birds and insects of prey hunt by sight and 
not by smell.” Any one who will take the trouble to carefully read 
the paper in which these assertions occur, will, I have little doubt- 
come to the conclusion that it is the author’s ground which is “mined 
and unsound.” The second assertion, as I have already shown, is false} 
and even ifthe third is admitted, it does not in the least affect the 
argument in favor of Natural Selection, because the fact nevertheless 
remains that some groups do enjoy immunity from the attacks of 
birds while others do not. The manner in which Mr. Murray would 
account for this mimicry is by hybridization, and he endeavors to drawa 
parallel betweenthe phenomenon and hybridization in plants. He car- 
ries little weight in his arguments, which were in a measure anticipated 
by Mr. Bates himself, and have since been refuted by Mr. Butler and 
Mr. Wallace.t He forgets that hybridization cannot play any part 
in the mimicry of insects to the vegetable kingdom, or to backgrounds 
generally. It has never been known to occur between insects of dif- 
ferent Orders, families, or even genera, and produce fertile offspring,t 
while mimicry does occur even between insects of distinct Orders ; 
and though he of course supposes the hybridizationto have taken 
place at avery remote date, when the structural characters of the 
mimickers and mimicked were less specialized, yet had such been 
the case, these structural characters would not now remain so distinct 
between them, because it is quite fair to suppose that the hybrids 
would partake of the characters of each parent. Indeed the assump- 
tion of the theory is unsupported by facts. He ignores in a measure 
the great difference in the affinities of species belonging to the natural 
Orders of plants, and those belonging to the Orders of insects, and 
depreciates the importance of the latter by comparing the Orders 


* Nature Tt, pp. 154-6. 
ft Ibid., IIL, p. 165. 


{Cases of hybridization even between species of the same genus are very rare, and it is doubt- 
ful if the hybrids would ever be fertile; and as to hybrids between genera I do not think a case 
has ever been recorded. In 1865 I succeeded in obtaining thorough coitus between a <! Affacus 
cynthia, Hubn., and Q Attacus cecropia, Linn., but for some reason the eggs resulting from this in- 
tercourse did not hatch. Last year [ succeeded in producing an equally thorough coitus between 
a S$ Attacus cecropia, Linn., and a Q Attacus polyphemus, Linn., but the eggs subsequently deposited 
by the latter were likewise infertile. 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 171 


simply to familiesin other animals—thus showing that he has nota 
due appreciation of the true affinities of insects. 

It must not be forgotten that Natural Selection is not the only 
power at work producing this mimicry. This we do not claim. There 
is an inherent tendency in all things to vary—a fact universally ad- 
mitted. We may not be able to fully comprehend the causes producing 
{his first variation, for they are complicated, and depend on numerous 
external conditions, and physical and mental influences. But our 
ignorance in this respect does not affect the theory, because “spon- 
taneous” change is the material out of which Natural Selection has 
fixed and perfected the mimicry and adaptation; and it is not neces- 
sary to know how the “spontaneous” change is produced to learn the 
origin of the mimicry. Whatever be the causes of variation, and 
whether or not thev continue to act after the first change takes place, 
Natural Selection is still potent, for the change would be perfectly in- 
operative in producing specific character without it. 

There may be a hundred different influences that have led Disip- 
pus to mimic Archippus. The resemblance being purely colora- 
tional, there may have been a tendency from the first in the color 
of the former to approach that of the latter, and this is ren- 
dered very probable from the fact that the red-brown color oc- 
curs more or less in all the N. A. species of the genus.* 

The very smell! which protects Archippus may have had, and 
may still have, attractions for its mimicker, for Mr. Henry Edwards. 
found that a Californian species of the same genus (Limenitis Bre- 
dowit) was greatly attracted by any offensive odor.¢ Again, when 
we reflect that we owe so many of our flowers and fruits to what are 
called “sports,” which are simply instances of great and sudden va- 
riation; it is not dificult to imagine that the mimicry of Disippus 
may be due in a measure to some such sudden original variation—an 
idea that is greatly strengthened by the fact that instances of such 
great variation are common with butterflies and moths, and that one 
is known to occur in the very genus Zimenitis.t 

We may give due weight to the somewhat Lamarckian theory 
advanced by Mr. Bennett; we may attach the greatest importance to 
the influence of physical conditions—and we know that similar habi- 
tat sometimes produces modification of allied forms in a similar direc- 


*? Tn the seven described N. A. species of Limenitis, namely, L. disippus, Godt., Ursula, Fabr.* 
Proserpina, Edw., Weidemeyerii, Edw., Arthemis, Drury, Lorquani, Boisd. and Bredowii, Hubn- 
the red color obtains more or less in all of them, especially on the under side, and this is more pan- 
ticularly the case in the last two. I also possess specimens of Ursula in which a very distinct 
shade of red blends with the blue-black and spreads over the upper surface of the primaries, and 
is in two individuals quite marked towards the apices. That the blue and black is closely connec- 
ted with, and shows a tendency to affiliate with the brick-red and black, or vice verse, we may also. 
reasonably infer from the wonderful contrast existing between the g' and Q Argynnis Diana, Cram.,, 
the former colors obtaining in the Q and the latter in the @. 

+ Butterflies of North America, by Wm. Hl. Edwards. It is impossible to make any explicit 
reference to this beautiful work as it is not paged: this, to my mind, is a deplorable oversight. 


{ Limenitis Siby/la figured in ‘‘Newman’s English Butterflies,’’ and neferred to by 8S. N. Gar~ 
yalho, Jr., in Mature, Vol. IIT, p. 66. 


172 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


tion—but all these agencies will not produce specific imitation of one 
species by another, fer they only prepare the way forit. It is there- 
fore quite evident that such imitation can only be brought about to 
use Mr. Bennett’s own words, “by the continuous preservation, 
through countless generations of those individuals which sponta- 
neously approach most nearly to the ultimate forms;” and Natural 
Selection is the Preserver. 

I have thus endeavored to frankly consider the objections raised 
against the theory of Natural Selection, as it applies to the mimicry 
of ourtwo N. A. butterflies. It would be out of placehere,and might 
justly be considered a work of supererogation on my part to undertake 
to defend it on more general grounds. It has been so well developed 
by Darwin, Wallace, Bates, and many other writers, both English, 
French and German, that it only asks a hearing to be understood and 
appreciated. The rapid increase of organisms is demonstrable, and 
the consequent struggle for existence, since, all organisms considered, 
there are asmany deaths as births,is manifest. The result of this 
struggle is the survival of the fittest, by which organic forms are con- 
stantly changing to keep in harmony with the changed conditions 
which it is demonstrable have taken place, and are still taking place, 
in the inerganic world. And, to use Wallace’s language, “as the 
changes of conditions are permanent changes in the sense of not re- 
verting back to identical previous conditions, the changes of organic 
forms must be in the same sense permanent, and thus originate 
species.” 

That its influence and importance has been overrated by some 
writers isnot at all unlikely, for Mr. Darwin himself now believes that 
he at first attributed too much to its action; and certain it is that it 
eould have had no influence in producing many purely ornamental 
features of certain animals, that are of no use to the species thus or- 
namented. No theory was ever yet propounded, however, which has 
so well stood the test of scientific investigation in all departments of 
research, or that has such a power of absorbing new facts; and no 
theory has in such a short time .been so very generally accepted by 
the leading scientific minds. 

A two-fold reason has led me to give it prominencein this Report. 
First, I believe that when well understood it must prove of the utmost 
importance to the husbandman, by giving him an intelligent concep- 
tion of the growth and development of animal and plant life about 
him, and by adding zest and interest to his efforts to produce superior 
varieties and breeds. Secondly, my studies of insect life led me sev- 
eral years ago to appreciate the hypothesis, and the more I become 
acquainted with these tiny beings in the field, the more [ become con- 
winced of its truth and importance. It is not to be wondered at that 
the entomologist who treats the different varieties in any group as inde- 
pendent species, should have implicit faith in the absolute distinctness 
and immutability of species; but whenever he pays more attention to 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 


the biological part of his science, and studies insects more in the field, 
his views must necessarily change. Indeed, next to plants, insects 
offer, perhaps, the best’'material for the inquiring mind to work upon. 
Their rapid multiplication, the rapid manner in which one generation 
is often followed by another, the wonderful manner in which they are 
often affected by elimate and food, especially during the preparatory 
or adolescent stages—ail tend to furnish variation for Natural Selection 
to work upon, in a profusion unknown in the higher animals. Though 
the formation of a species in the other Classes of animals may never 
be in man’s power to trace, on account of the great lapse of time re- 
quired; it seems highly probable that the process may some day be 
traced in insects, and Mr. Bates gives strong proof of the derivation 
of one butterfly (/Teliconius thelziope) from another (Heliconius 
melpomene) and a clear insight into the manner in which the gradual 
modifications take place, till at last the two forms cease to interbreed, 
and are in every sense of the word true species.” 

After all, the great objection to the theory of Natural Selection, 
in the minds of many, is, that it involves belief in the broader doc- 
trine of Development—of Evolution. Very trne! But, no matter 
how much importance be attached to Natural Selection, the funda- 
mental truth of the development of species is now almost universally 
accepted by scientific men best able to judge of its merits; and those 
who have not considered the subject may be excused from judging of 
it. Indeed it can hardly any longer be considered a hypothesis: it is 
in reality established as a law, and as eminent a naturalist as Car} 
Vogt has even ventured the assertion that “no one in Europe dares. 
any longer sustain the independent and direct creation of species.” 
Development is a fact in nature, and the revelations of science 
strengthen faith in the universality of her laws and principles. No 
one can study well the facts in natural scienée, or the truths of phil- 
ology, which point to corresponding results, without feeling more: 
strongly than ever words can express, the general truth of the doc- 
trine. Our own Agassiz is about the only great naturalist who op- 
poses it, though it is rather significant that many of his leading pu- 
pils have, within the last few years, boldly proclaimed their faith in 
Darwinism. If there is one error in Agassiz’ life, I take it to be the 
authority which he has lent to that popular prejudice which has al- 
ways opposed inguiry into the order of nature, and which has ignor- 
antly accused Darwin of atheism. 

A theory which is so opposed to deep-set tradition and to present 
theological interpretations, must necessarily at first meet with 
very great objection. Such has been the history of all great sci- 
entific truths, for we have Agassiz’? own words that “the his- 
tory of the sciences is present to tell us that there are few of 
the great truths now recognized which have not been treated 


#Naturalist on the River Amazons, Vol. 1, pp. 255-265. 


174 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 


as chimerical and blasphemous before they were demonstrated? 
Truth must, however, in the end prevail! 

Science and theology have little in common, and will, perhaps, 
always ve at variance, but science and true religion are twin-sisters, 
and will ever go hand in hand. In the present question, theology af: 
firms supernatural causes beyond man’s investigation, and conse- 
quently sets an embargo on inquiry} while science affirms natural 
causes within the limits of investigation: the one appeals to man’s 
senses, the other appeals to man’s reason, whose throne should never 
be abdicated, and whose power to trace effects to antecedent causes 
ds unlimited. 

The belief that Darwinism is irreligious and atheistic, is wide- 
spread; but this belief is the direct result of prejudging and 
anfounded prejudice. For no one who understands the theory 
can entertain such an idea for a moment. The individual is not 
created by aspecial miracle, but develops by natural means. Yetno 
one would claim that the individual was any the less a creation. And 
sso when it is argued that species also develop by natural means—ac- 
cording to natural law; they are none the less therefore creations! 
It is only a question as to the method which the Almighty employs; 
for not only does the development hypothesis imply an Infinite cause, 
but to use Prof. E. L. Youman’s language “its conception is as much 
grander than the common theological idea, as the conception of the 
Cosmos which science has revealed, transcends the petty ideas of the 
world which were entertained in the grovelling infancy of the race!” 
Creation by a process of development is tangible and conceivable, 
whereas we can have no knowledge and no conception of creation 
without any process. 

Haeckel, one of Darwin’s strongest supporters, says: ‘‘In recog: 
nizing the unity of nature and the efficacy of the Divine Spirit in 
everything, we may perhaps lose the hypothesis of a personal Creator, 
but we evidently gain the idea of a Divine Spirit, which pervades the 
whole universe. God is the highest, the most living, the most active 
unit through all things which only appear as sensuous representa- 
tives for sensuous creatures.” Can such men be called atheists or 
materialists ¢ 

The supposition that the creative mind produced all things as we 
now find them, bya single act of unstinted power, requiring only such 
time as can be reckoned by ourselves, is the direct outgrowth of our 
own comparatively feeble minds—is to gauge the power of the Al- 
mighty by our own. The supposition that he works through natural 
law, originally ordained, and by a constant exercise of his preroga- 
tive, is a far higher and more comprehensive conception; for it helps 
to broaden our views and enables us to grasp something more than 
we have hitherto done. It carries us back wons in the past, and shows 
us that creation has not only been continuous but still endures, and it 


THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 175 


helps us to rise to sublimest contemplation of that unknown Infinity 
which pervades all. 

Von Baer has truly remarked that ‘‘the scientific investigation of 
Nature strives to learn everything in detail, in order to get nearer to 
the cause of everything,” and though we may not always reach the 
goal we aim at, we should not therefore cease to try. The law of the 
age is progress, and the point we reach to-day will form our starting 
point to-morrow. Every step which enables us to more truly inter- 
pret the workings of the Divine Mind in nature, necessarily brings 
us nearer to, and gives us a more intelligent idea, of a Creator. Hach 
new insight into the significances and harmonies around us, helps us 
to lift the mystic veil and behold with awe and wonder the might ard 
majesty of God—to converse with him as flesh with unknown Infinity; 
and I look forward to the day when the development of species will 
not only be universally recognized as a law, among naturalists; but 
when the liberal-minded theologian will revere the names of men 
like Darwin, who help to a higher conception of creation—instead 
of anathematizing them and ignorantly charging to their doctrines 
those atheistic tendencies which in times past have been vainly 
thrown up to those of so many other great, clear-thinking, discover- 
ing minds! 


BERRA TA: 


Page 7, line 18 from bottom, for ‘‘ Hylewctus,’’ read ‘ Hylecetus.” 


Page 57, line 18, add ‘‘c’’ before the first ‘‘h.’’ 
Page 58, line 2 from bottom, for ‘‘fornudolosus’’ read ‘‘formidolosus.’* 


ERRATA OMITTED IN THE FIRST REPORT. 


Page 14, line 16 from bottom, for ‘‘females’’ read ‘‘males.”’ Page 30, note, for “‘—F'”’ read 
“«T.”’ Page 32, line 14 from bottom, for ‘‘I[L’’ read “‘V;’’ same page, line 7 from bottom, for 
“XII” read ‘‘VIIL.’’ Page 38, line 5, for ‘‘Tredeim’’ real “‘Tredecim.”’ Page 53, line 19 from 
bottom, for “‘laid’’ read ‘‘lain.’’? Page 54, line 4 from bottom, for ‘“‘hatch’’ read ‘‘are deposi- 
ted.’’ Page 87, line 11 from bottom, for ‘“‘F’”’ read “°T.’’ Page 132, line 16, for ‘‘ampelopsis’’ read 
“<ampelopsidos.’? Page 150, line 6, for ‘‘ruddy’’ read ‘‘vigorous ;’’ same page, line 26, for ‘‘thy- 
ridopteryx read ‘‘thyridopterygis.’’ Page 154, in the heading, for ‘‘zeas’’ read ‘‘ze@.’’ Page 155, 


line 13 from bottom, for ‘‘zeas’’ read “‘zew.’’ Page 173, line 3 from bottom, for ‘‘it’’ read ‘‘the 
Page 174, 


more liquid parts;’’ same page, under the heading, read (‘‘Lepidoptera, Tineide.’’) 
line3 from bottom, for ‘‘Solidaga’’ read ‘‘Solidago.’”’ Paze 175, line 32, add ‘‘front’’ before 
“wing.’’ Page 178, lines 2 and 3; for ‘‘gelechia’’ read “‘gelechia.”” 


INDEX. 


A 


ACHONY CEA ODLiNiLd..c005 veovecsessscreccerenernecesrsereecsccrsesrsceeseeesessenessnsenssesunseesseesessa nesses ses sneecnenes 
Higeria polistifor mis. .eorcecessssssccsrerssosce svenssscceesssressccecsaverscssssstecsssscsssssssssasssssvscssscseoeeel Op 
AGrotis inerMis..cccccce-cerccserssscccscccsososseccccssccssrscesvesnsasaccssssesssesssssssesossccencussectsvcovevcecossseLDy 


Aleiodes Rileyi..scrccccrcoscocrvoscsscecccccerecseserscscscnrsses soerscsassesser.eoeseescss sovseusecsevensenes eeens oeee 


Amphipyra pyr amMidoides..cessecoecessssscssccevessnccercssenrseccenarsoversessssscseesssevsassessmneaneseessereseanel Dy 


G6 PYTAMAAEA. veceessessrrsersecsssscracersccseccs coossseescrsecsnssensseossscerecscscconsecsvenssnsese cosesl ay 
a3 CONSPET8Ossscecesessernrssecceeecceesvoveceneerscccnssscscnssssssonssseanecscseaeessesenacassanesecsseneesnanses 
ia 


INOYRALG. ccovccveee covrvccccccccvsccscccvecssecsccescasceeceeeeanesceeseseseseneessaesssennereneseseeeese ornee 


American Bean-wWeevil....cs.ccccccceccscscscsscvecee srecseccecsccscceccscssesscceccesacoensesssscesssseeesssensesecceeens 


ANAICTS FFAGATIA. .cerocererervrersvereece 


ANOMAION lAVIiCOYNE..ccccecrecceccersvcevscscessecsecsarecerssessssesessacesscssenssecesees ssasooseussasesssseseresees 


Anthenomus QUAGTIGibDUS....eseccseesecsscensecescansnsscestsosssesccusesscenseessesevanecseussasssnsseoeaceseseeessaOy 
ce 


PTUNICIAA.. .cocsrcaccrccecccrercssccccscrecssoscvesesccsvscaarcessceececcerscscaccsccsanseee sesesesereaeeeeeees 


Apple insects.........erccsssesesccnnsecscessnsccansssetasenssnecscccsencesaceceees 


66 QUICULIO...s.esscceesecececescesccecsceceesen soseees secsccveecssencence seaneaesaseseserecsseneaneaecens sensenecenes 
<4 66 ——--__Ttg natural history ......cccrscoccsccesecccetsrrenccnsssecnssscnscosenecseressssassvanssssesssaseune 
oS 6 ——-*_ Tt transforms in the fruit ......ccccccccscsscrcscescenccncsnsssererestscscvenccsscensecen see senes 
OY & ——-«_The amount of damage it Coes. ....0 seccorecrcessseovvsenscrerersersesacceersesccncsscasesees 
oc (6 Season during which it WorkS......ssescccscssrcrsesessesccesssseversrssssccssessuannsssesees 
Es os — Remedies. .ccccsssccesscssssscsnecscsscsscencceserscnecscerscsscsscnsssvenecscescencereneracessenseness 
“ce 


-tree Tent-caterpillar . sss seeccscescnsecsncecccsasscensccnseressecenensnsssasennansvansecesees en essssecssones 


Archippus Butterfly......ccccssssssccsscsesreessssecnsesscecssccccccscacsesseeees ceseanen ovscsessnccsseaceunesesevecsnnce 


«6 a -—Itg natural history .....ccsssscccsessecesersrersressscsenecsenvenseesseceresseverceeeeessnves 
cs 66 __ Flow the larva becomes & Chrysalis. ... s.cccsssesevesrerecereemrevceentorsenessouses 
ae «© _The larva enjoys immunity from the attacks of predaceous animais....... 
6c ce 


—It often congregates in iMMENSE SWATMS.++++eererereesere vvennnesceserenseeveeerees 
ALGYNNIS GiANA siseveccesessccsscvavsssccesensen Sensvaserssscnssncarensaessenenaasanccsesssereacensssencaeesaseneeseaesseeeee 
Ash-gray Pinion .........ssssscccesecccsesesecevesscescescnsevcccocooarececuccsucesssenscvccacsarevenvansucconaacasgea anaes 
ASPEdiOlUS PiNifOli@ veeve vesavvecrencevnrsessesssoesussssvrvecreaccroccacacesonsesssusvconuvsasnovsaauanneuseaesenvease cess 
Attacus COCYOPiG. sseseevesesessssenenesecssneassnsnsncvessesasensenesenensenevenenessnsenssnenssenenesnenenssecsessneres L2Q, 


66 


POLY PREMUS ..secrevvcvrersevessececevvevesenssecccssererreccguscnvercercnseneccccensenaevevsevacoonavevelyeseeyeuees 


. 
“ cynthia SOOPEOH HHH HH OAH THO RDA HODS DO HOOE DENTS PHTHH HoH Hetessres seston ceeees POSORHTERASA THREAD ra HOD ACHHTS TS onveneoerese 


Ss E—12 


129 


34 
117 
143 
143 
146 
148 
151 
169 
134 

92 
170 
170 
170 


2 INDEX. 


IBGAN=WOCVIL siscsteisesscevercrates We sdcseelcevetevarevecievetaese 


HOO ewe eeereweeees POPP ETOCS eee eeeeee 


Beneficial Insects ........068 Uiaccnececisaccctene 


Blue-spangled Peach-worm .......cserecsceceeees 


Penner e ee eeeeereeeee SOOO O FOR ee meee ee ee ee ee ee Ee eG HEHE EE Eee HHO EEee 


Boll-worm..... cectelscactacnsusvercacecencecdacreccen Reamrensecec 


Pee re eee rere eereeereseeseses eteweee SOR rere ereeeee er eeeeeerere 


Bruchus pisi..... Salicsvactasdaciacccsscerssscedabhecaes 
CO IGISCOLECUS . vaccocscacceccoucetvecdtrestveevetasees 


SIO HOILUNUUB ainvecccsascctucccrectevaccnecees 


shes cucctasscecsedeccasiocccocs seaneersrsoccs Gocseeweres Rastecnsccsens exes 
COUPES ADE siccsecatdcoseceascesnccsanccokscsoscescevccoscusesecccasesescluceseesetenecsdes: coscescetseere Aononerad Scooter 52, 


66 erythrocerus. sores 


POOP OES rere rere ress eee HOES ESOS HEE EEEEEEEEreee See Pee eseararessareseeresere See eeeeeeeeee weeeee 


6¢  obsoletus..... Gasaocooodo 


ce 


POMOC eee eer re es HH ereeHOr eer eee Hes EeeEeereeer Prec eeerer ere rere errr eee eee 


MULUMANUSiancescsvescecsnavcessnccoscecssaseocess secu lsodcessasdcccsosarsossecsens vss panoncoas nvesecooliecces les seeit 


OEPEISEUTOTILS .osocceveascoescevetclctaceshecacteecuceese 


Callimorpha fuUlvicostd...eorseccoersccvecee 


Racwees auscessttsestuceccncenceaciincaceetecceccracmseeadnencneseattntsnsessccasna 
Cbs MESTAIIS, coccecccccecces aalesioseadecsuetsicuhofaiesecisseiseccce nOQ00E0 Pecunia elclseisns sieaictee anoaco Spsacqnaanocdacc 
WS CLUMEVClaccnascrceretecscestcccededece Ane Sh000 COCA Rencicccvoceetenccesnecscence AnecooneoS setesclncceecs a 
Oh UGC CONE. vseccecsrseuseseurcecee Raleseancccce nacconle tees Secu seevesesiorcecs Seecacsss’ dessseede Sudadccssst ee 


Calosoma SCHUM LOMehaccssccdctesscencns 


Pore ee ee reese O eee i) OO SHEER eee eeeeeerevonee COO Pema ee eer e ree es ese esses FHFEOee 


Campyloneura, VitripenMis....cosrcorsssserscoverccessccasee © 


Carpocapsa pomonella..... eteaiasseesserscess 


ieisees Scauseeessetevecsesavesseserartecesstorscesccvessuerseiaccccssenctcasre 
Clisiocampa AmMericand..sseccccerecenees 


OG SULVALLC Tee cceceuvcaeieoscesecisescivacecesuherieewee 


Cocklebur! Sphenophorus:....:ecesosssssscseeoccasesse-neess 
Bodline Moth\.c.coissseosssnsvssessshees 


PORE O OOO OOOOH HEHEHE OTH EHED SHOE HETET ET EHED COOH eee e mere eeeteeseeee eereereeresion 
MEOT BSD IS LODE Ss scssshasis, «sceesessenssavesccoassestososenssesscoacsecosessnatssz ducts Mane oee audsteunster ceeenteeemees 
SMMENUTIUIUIC Dascascestctceccccunsoseecscsustssorcecesccstoccastecsecnsacascontceval noesescecocsassanmaecenccleesninennacts 
CMD SIUULIG Woilcsccusostes sdeteoveesfeacecslecseesiscucaeeetatocsconsscescecstberbaveceeeseracatecsccceustnece serbcocscoeess 

ce 


DOPDON Gi acscesesecscesesscascvesesccdcecarcccsesdedectevesaccdcercscecceceuecces/canccnaceresacrssscncecssesbecencans 


‘Common Yellow Bear hadacsscacesceccosceccescesnoasesens 
Colorado Potato Beetle. ...sscscseeee 


eee eroeeee tees ee eesene OOo Here ee scree s esses seers ee sseeee sense 


POPC OOOH O OOO TESORO EEO O REESE OOOH SEH OHEOE SHOE SESS EDSEDESOTE EEE ES eonteeees eovreeee 


Ob Oi S¢ —Best means Of fighting: 1. ......secsscssssccsssccensssscccenes vecvescceuscesnscesces 
ee se £6 —Paris Green & TEMEAY v..scecserevecneee sovsccorsvscconssocccrar seees, sonsetveccovens 
“s Mu 6€ —Natural checks increasing.......cssccsssccccscecssscesevscrscsrsasas teense eeeeeees 
Ob AG (6 —-BOguS CXpPeriMents..coccccccssreceee secseccee sovccssesvecvcrsssscresssscenscsecsssouss 
é é ‘ec 


wor [TLE EINECY! scececssescetecssescocccescacecceeseasecsasse less sereecessecerecssanssssecsnscs 


Conotrachelirmenun hanna cterssceccsvsoteesecdiasteceecnosnseassseccavediiaveeaccessercasecaclvercucsess<asescereoesaaablin 
“e 


CHAELOL ecccsscesccuctescreetincesnneciseuacedvanescoccsvasnescetisrevecsesscasecs conccorsenesnccesissstOOn 
COLM=WOLM ii ceccccccencesccavavecececcocuensocustiesmn sevececasenanathanen’, aousisuscessvetesainanestacsceevisecentcudsvecescce 


é 


Sphenophorus’...csscacccsacrccousscavsscccecsecrectretscsnrcanssatenccssresnessecssssccassrcuavseesueetoonceestaerecs 
Curculionidss-or Snout-bootles. ....cvsscasterstesnssastecossases coeescseoses caccnacacsasneectenseaceronercaspersntmere' 


Carculio—Tho: Plum .sisssossssrcssssevessvesanoaszoseereesaventl ceaepases domes secvinecsecesnartenpteceeentnarescesaecmet ome 


(G7 vie LAO ADple:isecnesscassscndiestccerecnnneantantomecnersenieaes conavercuswbesscceee tnen rene aeeepece ene sooRe save 
OO —The ainces one ete ee oes Nn CO oe eee nee rae eees sere nse ee renee 
oe 


-catcher—Hull’ esissvwepagusccatacevceessGdtt Ce TeRCRR CIN See oa NESTE Proeeeeeeerene eoreeee 


Curculio-catcheL—W ard’s)...ccccccorsscccsescoscveccses 


fe 


DaNais AY CHIipPPuUs . ...ccereecceecerseoee eeerccccercccs ance 
Datana ministra..... AECCOGO eccireecs osasens 00 coccccce 


Deilephila lineat ....00+.cee.ceercceee esorqcccceceree 


INDEX. 


se eseerecere Pee eee meee ee OOF O EOS EOE eeOeee sores roeeeesDaesesesses 


COMER OLCTIaNUcieecesieeenacenceesadsuanecsewssecase 


Pero Odeo ee eeee Fe eeeeeeerreaes COR n ere esesoreresereeoersa® 


Oe eeeereceserere COROT O OOOO eee e eee eee EET EE SEES OSES ETT EEOOSOS 


Bes BR Ne NS ee eee ra ocr ee en Oe 


eeeecerercee CoCr creeee OO SOO eOCO rere eeeee seers eeerevesesoereeseere 


Desinid MACULAILS. .ceeve-crseres eseoese Sverencccccerarcvcccerecsecsed 2 6 ce cascccvoecs:tbeveetecaceee vesces Sevecdeeces cose’ 
Disippus Butterfly....... =p ectioost Steceecerelsscasersscens Selseasons aieress Reeeecece Givectasscatesees seoveressccncereceasen= Q 
GG CG —Description of mature larva......ccccoceseseseesereones cbeisessessovceus Ann: GHagdanaisoposase 
“ “e — 66 KCSEMPNCL OT oneccusdantsenenscersiccessescssrececessereerel teevaneascnenentececsesaees 
‘ ‘ce —-Its winter quarters..... Recavenccscteticteccceccevecestrcsceucettarcsees Seseaece setsewsscencniece 
MG a Iii OANASLUCS soceelideccudscwsrseessceserscssrerecoscsecove REE OOOHU NOOO sas iteracesssnrectsenelsesee 
‘o> Microg:aster..... Graaboeresscecesessisee oC HECHEOECCOIOCORDSEOOCEOC eecteasosrecnsces eiscoreiesesssecastteors Ceeseets 
K 
Epicerus imbricatus...... Seeleacsics soetianiecu@neccadensveccherracaincesesescocccveicecuses\isanccsssssesss sevcees cecescvescoce 
OG FOP MIAOLOSUS .. .cececseveve eovecrecacerssceosoens andoond Baubeiescleciscselecesinaire sos seerevsrsceesevesecens ances 
SE VAGOSUS »+00+ Vewceccccewecaent sponveccescoroerseesescrsicccsoese eiiaseessives everccvcsecesccece. oe eveecerscccesecens 
Ch Pi QULColereleae ach sie seisio! 5050505 Ato oscebodasicocdacd cSsonsSboooscosssode coscoocusdadoodeiccadocooscdsan Kovonaoudb008e 
Euche@les egle...... Ratehcisencobeiousesabapensesessiiaisnsiotcicses aca coste Sect sesseahisscebicessssince cases seen eeies . 
EUdrY AS UNIO. .cceverererescersoee cove neeeee seeteceeceeteenceceassaseveseerescsees epecees seereees tees eecerccccsececescepore 
Exzorista leucani@...... Saverio Seaconaerendas agopotece Recrcacoconconecd peadtic Sacacbonsaseac5c9 aehecemsttasoniseste ResneeiliGs 
F 
Fall’ Army-WOrMm....2c. .cescssosccsscccessoccosseceseees Bacsececevccieeese SSRERODOCECOL ScLOROCCONDEEOOEDONG BdnosdoADoco. 
“ 35 —How it differs from the true ArMy-WOrMm. .....sscseceserscereseveccercerceccces Seceaces +e 
“ cg —Remedies....... seen seene sateslenen vaiececties Candace CpsecCICSOGRECODU CONG cacnepaceonqandce Seaciiaoac0 
Ball Web-worm.......,.coccoccsees ataie selects soagcgosacagsaqodacd paposea onneOReDOGBOROCOSCACORAG A0cCOCOD Sectueeeneccsereses 
“ GG —Remedies.........e00 Sodidogcdo. Decoded socecacag cpnopconde Sipoo00R0C Srgocodananoosoaccdco05 soncendsc oo 
Forest Tent-caterpillar . ...scsssccocccccccvessecccsserscoscesercasreacerssesssecees 005. coocinaggokoooicconcengUaADaNSonsIeN 
G 
Grape-Vine—Insects INjUrLOUS bO...csrecersccerccsscrerscereccesrsesee seseeessaeececssceesss cedeasesee-coeessscoscese 
a6 SIUC Di LOlDCTepassscccesersceseqsusecsvassecthosessscsress sasalissidescssusdeaenecesssoncceseces “00 eeeee 
o =H MIME MI Sieetesenaccesssstnesceseessnensnsdcasencteercnres Sconbanog0oor Seonectenescs 5.60000 coorcoceancne eae 
is —Plume...... pestesadel sora cecaicesentcerscercsescestsrecccs Bee saadescoocboocconaces pasate seeetecens speceeeee : 
5 —Common Yellow Bear..........+ spanned) eso opodeodas Massecccstopssserccstrcn tacoccscessehenus siseeeree = 
ff —Smeared Dagger. ..cccc.coccscccccccorccscccce sasverssessescsnce eelesesleniesies Secedseebo SEADOO HS HEKIOSCOO 
66 Pyramidal WOLrMl....0..ccccerecccecsavesrceseccnsncsssscers resect vicene acbatacoo. Nod Ceacooonsccom cee 5 
GG I OOt=DOLEMtetesercrccesevresessesesccncense csesvesccobecssleslecsclecbinsseardrotesssiecssesciassss eaieorotiaeelt 
G6 — Spotted Pelidnota ..sreessssccecersceceesererersscnsersscasarsecseresecseesseveesnes Gus sensaeledecesses 
Gs —Flea-hbeetle....... ECHO CUE do SOCUSEOROCU SCOR COUCCOACOGOGCH SU OROD ROOD ULCCOD IACONO Respasvesssnesesce 
OG —Colaspis ....... suansiustvesdevlesseessccssececesstcestesccnsssccesevadsecccesinsvetsivas SOOO LONCDCCODONSOOSROS 
ce 


— Leak Gall-louUse...ecrrccrsvcceccccevcecssercccveccesscovecnssevvetcscccccccscrevescsvescoescsvovescecercsoss 


145 
129 
140 

61 
l5¢ 
154 
154 
155 
157 
158 


58 
58 
58 
58 
133 
63 
129 


109 
112 
114 
130 
132 
121 


61 
61 
63 
65 
68 
70 
72 
75 
17 
79 
81 
84 


4 INDEX. 


Grape-grower—A new friend to the.. ssccccsresrrrecesecsesseessreresesteretrasssersersn sassesrawanssssssssssvevsss LOT 
Glassy-winged Soldier-bug ..scscccccrsscereresseceseeenceeserssssesseesssssrevsssasssssssosssssesessssececsevveessseee LOT 


GOrtYyNd Nileld. crceccecececerercescececcecescessensssecsevacsvcsessnsssereesessrseseessinnenes MabscaveceneveseccseosscerecremlUby 


CePAINMPETUCHIUS tacsescaccccccccccrccecccs sececececniabtcaas carves tetarecescassnedsovestsvccsencessstenscasaecossss reser aeenes, OM 


Jal 


Halesidota tesselatd.....ccccccceves Wacdcasuncsuencon npeccdedcccececersotossescrecsencscnccascecess trensnoamsecececceccererseMlonl 


se ssesen ly 


FLAtica Str i0lata..crcrcccccccccccccvccccccscccsecccscoccccsensescccssvcccecsecccccecscenccccesssesnecseens cocvencccosccces ww. 44 


TT OPT ASUbete cnucccacecccensccccesesastccransscoosrocssncdocnncapesecceksncessnsnacsnansRiCaseusesueansieescss 


66 CRATYDEG.....cercerccccacceccrcssccvers 


Heliconius thelxiope...... BCBKOCEORSOCEO COOSOCASCACO.C) COO DOIGSOCICO EIDOCOO Sacercaes sussanecaveusecescuevavescscsacconatreetoMldics 

6 MUEIPOMVETIErcavescaseseoacsesses) cccosnsesececeseroatscerosessnscopasantccescsesurseesseecccsessssosrsasesesesssss/@lis 
Heliothis armigerd......cccrccrsconasccrsreccccesseseesccsscssseeccsscecesscssessessetessessncneeescssssnossc reese +0045, 104 
Eig otenzei CurcUllO=CALCHON-sccscecneccarccceccceincscnscuactearecccescsseasnencaccaasneescarcacasesasssiicsseccanccotsesssestMeac 
EIGlCAICUICULIO-CALCHEL« casrtccesccsscassrtccstcnsessocecsvacerscstnedsscccesecenteccsereosecascveccesteccecucsscsssss acme 


Hyphantria textorssrerrcccrsrcccccccesccsssessseassccees BcacctavestonecnostecsesssorsicestssrscocsescssesosseusesiersessseanMelotl 


I 


ICHMEUMON SUUCYATEUS savsce)scceeasessccenrettesatecasssessosentessscuececasesscnsoscestscotavel -ceseesseccerecsensesceneesmmOS 


66 MULLOLUS cecccneccsovseecleccecsencecceoceccsssesstnsisecsae (ssevascacecssessevecsclosecescucanevsstecsssessens-emGo 
6 SIGMGLUPCEsscssusscocvassdeseccaceresccescssoccencecsesceccccsedseceacecnsesseerscaccasslescectsvasssnccsasssretes OO 
“ MUNAPASCLALOTIUS..000.000c-vrersesececeroccanenocesscoassosvenas oorsosactesnnavesssanssnsecsrasvoescessssseccerse CL 


Mmbricatedisnoutebeetlorcssecsecerccersecccenconceccnccsevcarscesenscnersroreuseesltcccsrcecrsorstnccccsecsacessssecns ons 
AMNOXTOUSTINSCCESssccesvscoeccorreccccnccstecccsccees vende ceed cctecece ceetcccesecececsccsecostececestesieldssercecceocossiemmeee 
Insects injurious to the Grape-Vine..erceccsccrresreserers eillratcesestantacusssccctessancecsccssscccnceseceses acess OLE 


TERY CETUS NOVEDOTACENSIS ..seeerenen sesersseereecesserenneseees Naesecesasdecttuss cusssumancaveseuascestrcascesensacassees mail 


Limenitis disippus...ccccocsessesres seneanseasnsacsnsssecsassarensens Muscasceccscvecorsacsnccccssscalinecerseccoccesou tlio, MRE 


“6 RUT EU Uancoccccccccccceas oocsconcsasccccccccceccsss, cove) cccecscsecnsccssscccsoccsccuesseccdacesecdeccssenccossscess palyal 
SG PVOSETPING..corcrescrersrvecerecserscececcroscscccceseseorees SNOHOCORCC ne iaieccidoeocacecrsoceeeccecercoceccccccss mill 
CU WELCEMEY CTIi.escascesee-snvasscoccevccccscaccccacosserseecesseeeeseesaeceerescssseecnsansanececasesseseeseeweceees 171 
es GET OMIAS sense ck cvs osccecceacacversescevesenctsneecnsseceruss eshevencesecscsecss sassecesevcesecarrcaneoseeseceseasTmllLe 
of LOT QUIN .cssccrcrsvee eresceeserecceecseeceeeeleesensenseesssseeseeees Seeeeerecees concencanececceeneneen esses et? 171 
& BHedO we caossrecccsscdoveecsveassctecgacses coetscsesseececesossseseiee seusseekeccsstsssesesseseccccenesecsencessMellce: 
6s 


SED YLIG .cerenssencnrccoveverscrcacrescnssvaseccccees soerecserecers siseuseccvercocnssiccesentecssccccoencsecesrececemlupl 


M 


Microgaster limenitid0s....oncssescnsscecsssesiocsccvvcsscescocsscoscaserossesccecensesesncsecssaseceseassivsessesscossee LOO 
66 QIOMENALUS..cr0rrercnrnccecccccceresscccnccsceesrsccesenscccensseseaseessonaasenseassecnces cceee recess Ssceeae LOG 


Mimicry in Butterflies........... BROORESCOnCICOnOOTIOONONTO GoodaNdacOAorIgeACOnOD scccesclisvssannecectacscnsivccorasecverssemmL Oe 


N 


Ne WAOTKWiCCV il ccosccanncscassasntenes dec vase soil suasaeatonucdeacsesdesiceessecseclesenecensscicarteeseneesitesccciessnetnener 57 
Natural. Selection—Remarks) Onisc..,c.coscaccccasresduuveccdessseasvocctevesectecsesieleccssercuccescacensenresssresias 159 


NiSONtG eS FUVENAIIS..crcecovereseeserservarsevsesseeee seeses COeeesaseersereessensenseesensernereresassseessreeessneeseeaes 155 


INDEX. 
O 


QPhion DUTiNeAlUs...ccrierecerecserracereeecessneeaeseeaesseceseeeseeeeeerereseeeeses eases s seeks reens senses senseancre aes 


P 


Papilio Philen0r....cscvccececeseccecrerccveccses cecrecoeceseevccccccnseceseececes sousvesusios(snsesiiecusccscsiascsaceswsccenss 
(6 MOTIUS...carcorevercccarsccscnccsccraccees cevcveerssancsecsssoncnde enevoee Sass cisusn eae casas eisanssvescreascocmsaiasehta 
6é 


ASLCT AAG res eeeeectaeeseaseeessantenecsasssesasesscesascccsadsscusessionscescasenctasccarancs coratccesssnsortsesscerenser 
EP CamWeOVilecreccsessuserescsocecerdsssusrdseacsapeccnccascscsesersececbseccnessperesres Recssconsacsasaressduseessucccseacaseens 
“«  «¢ the female deposits her eggs on the outside of the pod...........sccceeees ppeconocosacsH0C0o0 
SENT KG ROMCGLCBsscccressosseccccccsvecsencca escacsecen osvonastesrsveseeseocccos Aragtoach6 copecnoncanecdsoecadaicne 
Peach-worm—Blue-spangled......ssecceccseensecsereeees ctacpeosossevensssasrcossleveserctecnssoscenssestatecnteccdns : 
PCLiGNOLA PUNCTAEG.....0000 acececearaccvescccverosvccerccsrcaceseacevesarcececscscccececracssscvsncccssscsssesssccessscoaess 


Phyllotreta striolatd.....ccoce ove voccrccce eveccee oe ecererereasceancancescesereesssseese seneeee evcceccesecoreacceteces . 


ce 


NEMOTUM, coccccvoreccees seeeeeessasesresessesessereessersererass svseens Peon vcerereesceceeesearensessevene eeecece 


Phyllovera vitifolia...... seecccenrbcoccodoacace seucseupesicasees passaaccsessnsensla Tanestaccesente BREOC EC HOHoOOOG" oa0ng0n0000 


6e 


WASLAUTAD ccccceccoccsssoecnscosvcssccecceccsscnces BOS COOO SHE COHOFOSONOLGOO OAKS Soocoonosdocsooncronoaccobasooco6 
IPLCV IST DIUIGETC Eccuccicncecontsvceseccccceddss tsracndnececcdessccetccsassenccellececsesscceccescssscesciccneclieccenneweesnessec 


6é 


TON Csserercssssssessonvcss=> Reece deniaccumsecaacesssecchorsrccatccneccccastccsesscccccusacsceecceasesusseancsceesanetoe 
Pimpla melanocepRala, ....crcoscccccsssecece cocccersvcscercccccencaanccscccsccscesascscccerescessvesenscscevesescssnsees 
Biter OUNCUllOtsessettencwsuerceran ewessccnseacasectcmcecaess <aaccanvonssasscsscscadeedscssecscosassesecsseeseccs eaecenceors 2 
6s ‘6 ~__Single-brooded and hibernates as a beetle........ssccccosesecessesee soesteccersnsececesenes 
UG ‘oe NocturnaleratherthaniGiuniallccsisc.cesencossecrsessenssacarescessscsvescsnsoventessoettoense: De 
&§ So —— The Ransom Chip-trap)ProceSs....sccs+rassseocccecssancaces sesessesesosccrovscocseceesotns on 
aG « —Keeping it in check by the offer of premiums.....cs..sseccasecnsccoovcccerecrersensccens 
a5 66 ——Parid PYEEN AS A LOMEAY.......cecessessroossaveccescce-ncccesscesssceereeserscsssssresavssccceces c 
a 66 —Jaxrring DY MACHINELY......,.2..ccecpecncccer seccncane\sescensescsassssescocszsessecoccesessescense: 
CG 667 EL? 8' Curculio=CAtCher..<...ccorccccsecssoscescnsscvccvecssescsscsnassernescarccivecssuleccocceseqe 
OS «¢ —Ward’s « CCM Mcee acencee dea cansiensceertarsececccececenteuscaceeonscccscuesensccsesesreeeys 
O ‘¢ —Hooten’s ‘* Cas cecsieconcelsnacnvanverscncsnsencesscatccseetdees-sesereveccesdassaccseeeeie 
Sb 6 Sica hus CULCHILO PAT ASIECssccncscecscsnssercarccnseseccescorssnseseeccerecdescnsecesvenssettere 
BG «¢ ~~ —Porizon ae Chie pecsocecsenstesessaesecseas:secehi senncbananareeascactiedessteaece mate 
“«  Gouger—Its character, distribution, etC...cccsccorerserreeeee ele saeteatsex estar esssckictesueed ssaeccincoita 
US «Often mistaken for the Plum Curculi0........0cccsesesossoccctevsescestsvsssrscacssersessas 


< 66 Its time Of AVPCATANCEs...2scosccesecorscevcercassorscanctvaccosseeecesscesacveacoccorcosssessoces : 


“ee “é 


manIIVOME CICS s ve aceccecccceecciocecctavacssevesccinnes seouwescecovvesccosslevossacscensavecect oor sccsentacters 


POLYSPRincta DicAvinata...ree wceveeecsecssansceroeccrensessseveeeee envcnesecesreeseesecsessssecsscaessesees oeenseesance 
POTIZONUCULCUITOVE AEE UC scccceccesecicoscarseccsnantescterasveterscssvccascssecsncscs success ceveneacscesebuecsserescene 
IP GT2Z ON CONOLTACLCliccuccovcccescsececeseescosesocessccratensrascacscciccseaveccicsssles esos. accesses asssesnesvencsuvcseses tea 
I GHACOMECOLOPscuscccsccessoverescsessvocecesascscenccsecccnacosstecscesratedascso\sesccnsesiscesesessccsvarcesescsnesmpen 
PV OMETUMUILUINNOIIS vesncesessioveasseassscuatevessenestanseshessssasscesseucerassccssscscs sabocoseslelsdseccedsseeyemeonlUus 

ce COMMELINGivsccccerscsescsece suucaeveseeesenesesscsessaersensiens satacsnsposscvecsaassassevesenccdescsecnenesereen 
ENOCOCHLVOMLIMNT CAONsercrotieccscssctanccsvetnccncdtesnccecssoscresrecseensseciecese sere BCCCECECDC does codesecencceestneensete 


PSYCHOMOMPHA CPMENTS..0.ccovercececes venseeeececese0t.recccccscrsscssscececs sangcecesecencoss sescscscccvacaserscseesOy 


Plerophorus periscelidactylus..scccresreceeeceeere 


POOP C OOO ee eee. seesenueeeee eoecrcee Seeceeene cones Pee ee erorerceesesones 


os CarduidactylUus.... srovovseres Mededecuceasernenosesucscsseciecsne meleneeliesten cases SNDOOUOCOD cesensencsps sess 


Pyramidal Grape-Vine WOLM......c.c:csccssscseesccvscsesonss) sovenree eases eenedses srsbussicensderas 


Oe Coreenscesesorees 


PYTAMES ALALANLA vesserrevnseeveccennsees evareasensesseseereerenaeeseeeres esses ees ee nnnereessrseereneerenereeeeensereeesren 


69 


169 
169 
169 


39 


116 


142 


167 


6 INDEX. 


Q 


ee OG ——Fow. Dt Gifters trO mM thovOUNCES scackececsschccceeccceteccorect cere teentccssivecuccseatascar snes 


66 “ =I GS TANS LOrM AtlONS ANG WHADILSssesscserscececdscscuraveseorsosscesuerencsedceeccanerenenereece 


“ee e 


S 


SEMIOLELIUS CLISTOCAMPA...cccccceceaccdvendcevsscccvrecssvccse secacccccce Co secenccccgeravecccnecs oveccesrecccseccoer scenes 


Smeared Dagger........ 


Oe Oem meee eee ee He eee e eee Eee EEE HERE EEE EE EEEES HEEH & TPESEHES ESSE HOH Eee EE EEEESEEEESESS 


Siealphus!CurculyvOsParasitescecc-cccseccceecsseseseree enwcses-sarecsevsscveceecscocessecsnccsennccesliaecese vesesciedencts 
STGPAIPRUS CULCULLONAS.. cocescceeesscncereccverccccccearccercedecvccesreccessccscsscscseceeseseetas caso seccessecees ecnseccees 
SMOUL-DeeCtleS 2... 2.0.0. -ccccenaascccssaccocncccscdoccsececcscccccescssnecec seers soccnssocvencerorss0spetserccysocosascceceacs 
NHOUt-heetle—the: Tmbrichtedts....ceccerecescccss socesnsevovesestoecccssecnccoscoeressesseussanel casceuccrestunccssessis 
SPErMOPRAGus TODINIA.....cccccee'secccraccercccecce occ aersesecccavrevevcccar-sescvcscessecrcccecesccssecsscsecccconsccees 
SPRCNOPIOLUS TER. ccecerecrerceccerseccesceccccccccscrccrccccerccscvecsscvccccccsccscs cvees cocceenscoescvccsecceotscccccess 


on: 


PULCHellUS...ccecrerecccerevccedsscccccssccsctscvscesceees 0000s voevessececceescsccerencsesccses seecessoeesss 


“ce 


WS=DUNCTALUSt..cocccoccscccesaesccececsccseavceedasecusesscensicsscsssrsscsceesenessuageusssvsbosuclsessosscs 


SPilOSOMA VITGUNICA. oer cereceerccceccrecenrsansessaseen sees eesesseeseeeeeseseees Seen seseee ses ees sees essenseneeesenseesenses 
Spotted Pelidnotar.............cccacsesccvse scovescccscorscscccsvcsccceccconssesccssseesesccsescuswveccsccesssscscoscoseswars 


Dtrawberry Crown -DOrer.......2<.ccvceseccccscsscscscosessascecsscosvececesersssose sececccesseseessoccessssceuscccsscasees 


ib 


SLCHI OMAR LEN BIUONOtaceseescacsescscatenccescoscstetesstenealoscdecccesees nie vecacscntccorscsbontacssossreavenscece lil Oly 
Tent-caterpillar of the Apple...........-cccccsceroccccecessonsscees erorsece cnvceestecsereacerssiecescecscssssosccesce 


ce 6“ “cc 


HM OTES tecccccliseoviss dostocdorcesstcssecrecescsseescsdecchesneelsceccssedtes cnteccsoslercceeuaees 


GG “ 56 (eel tsinaturalehtstOlynceccsasessececsesescesecadersesercscccesacsrsnccesecseasestes 
OG US LG 66 ——The Jarva SPiMs & WED...cecccc.ccoccccesvasesenesccceccacsasccccscesscscccoces 
8 a6 a “«* _Tt feeds both on orchard and forest trees...... ccscscsesesecsceceereee 
OG OS GG 66 —“Jighitii@Vier CEStLUCHIVElecccocese(cccoccenancscocenecocscsvesccessccasecseesssace 
sie UG AG 66 — Ar tifiClali rEWIC ALCS seccccscesccocsocecasenecsoellcveccesseucecsescacrcenscossassls 
OG ee 0 (6 Naturaleremedlescscecereseececesecesesscveccescccuccaucoseucsccsrcsncesssneceect= 


of ce ce ce 


Tomato—Corn-WOrm 11....cccceeccesecerereansteescccantrensecessecaesesensceeescensceasssseseseaenseneessces sessseeceses 
Transformation—Remarks OM....ccccosecece aeccsssseseeesseceessaveceeeasssseteeceeeaeesecseecceeseeneeseeeeecsen anne s 
TY YPCtd POMONELLA. seveereecevsecsrecsecccercccccsersscecnscenceevccessesenseesssseseeesssnssenes sseneseenssennteneeees sense 
My OOF OUL COMMON BULTETAICS!...0..ccccsesctocesestocsescstsvorsesveseceneescososssucontecsassiscscalscenceuvesesasels 


Trichogrammad (2) Minuldsescrerecserservcerecsccccccncsecsescseeessenseressssesssesesseesesenenseessussee seeeeseneeeaess 


V 


ViGUeCSSQ UNLUICE ceccecucccacucovcisecedesacnerscpusdveccessadebecenseeesccccvlescseiocescdsceccsersccsescsseseresensepecncesaness 


bie 


Wiard’s Curculio-Catchier: :s..ccccescsccnectnesoncveseeteeneuees sostrdvcoccens savessetetonoecoesncremeccareonseserecceentne 


Wihite-lined Morning Sphinxs..c.:.:sssiveascuescesancesbluvedvedsvossiesessosesseat dareeesbeneneestarcadsssevetseressaas 


150 
117 
121 
121 
124 
125 
127 
128 
128 
129 
105 
142 

91 
142 
158 


20 
140 


PO emma e SHE Ee Herero eH EE e He aeeeHT EH OODLE OTOH TEED & 


CONFOTMIS....00seecere0 sesesesesenevesssssevessseussesseaeecassesceenenens cessvenenenenesaanest 


BUCOSEGV Gee sserversesteteexeteee uae EAs Rane eer eae Oe Merrnarcee ose ct Ea we 
BOLUM EVescccscccceruccduccoccscercsscerererccssccaserctesces sis ener POeUUETECUOU Eee e eee eee ry) 


CAPAL serverresoeecrrvrenssornesseoeesssrnercotensrerens POPP OTe eer eerare rears ereenee  FHOt OF HOHE Oaoe oestrone 


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