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Bulletin 445 July, 1941 E^
Connecticut State Entomologist
fortieth report
1940
R. B. FRIEND, Ph.D.
State Entomologist
(Ktmuecttcui
Agricultural ^fccpertmati jitfatirm
To the Director and Board of Control
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station:
I have the honor to transmit, herewith, the fortieth report of the
State Entomologist. This gives an account of the activities of the
Department of Entomology, both regulatory, as prescribed by Sta-
tute, and research, for the year ending October 31. 1940. In addi-
tion to the accounts of progress in research given in this report,
members of the Department have published several papers in journals,
bulletins, circulars, etc., a list of which is appended.
Respectfully submitted,
R. B. Friend,
State and Station Entomologist.
CONTENTS
Page
Insect Record for 1940 295
Conference of Connecticut Entomologists 297
Inspection of Nurseries, 1940 299
Number and Size of Nurseries 300
Connecticut Nursery Firms Certified in 1940 300
Other Kinds of Certificates Issued 307
Inspection of Imported Nursery Stock 307
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Activities, 1940 308
Scouting 309
Inspection and Certification 309
Inspection of Apiaries, 1940 310
Statistics of Inspection 312
Financial Statement 313
Registration of Bees 313
Report on the Gypsy Moth, 1939-1940 313
Introduction 313
New Equipment 315
Control Operations 315
Work performed by state men 315
Work performed by C.C.C. men 317
Work performed by W.P.A 317
Scouting for Brown-Tail Moth 317
Dutch Elm Disease 322
Mosquito Control in Connecticut, 1940 322
Rodent Control 324
Pine Mice 324
Meadow Mice 326
Rabbit Repellent Study 327
Report on Parasite Work for 1940 328
Oriental Fruit Moth Parasites 328
Japanese Beetle Parasites and Disease 330
Nematode Parasites 331
Continued Study of Stickers for Spray Matelials 331
Experimental Control of the Oriental Fruit Moth 336
Experimental Control of the Apple Maggot 339
Laboratory Work 339
Field Studies 340
Notes on the Codling Moth in Connecticut 347
Observations on the European Corn Borer (Pyrausta nubilalis
Hubn.) 348
^ 1
CONTENTS— Continued
Page
European Corn Borer Insecticide Investigations 357
First Generation Tests 357
Second Generation Tests 359
Control of the Cabbage Maggot 361
Seasonal Development of the Japanese Beetle and Spraying
for the Adult Insect $63
The Black Vine Weevil and Its Control 367
Notes on the Control of Mound-Building Ants 870
Control of the Hairy Chinch Bug, Blissus hirtus Montandon &72
Chemical Repellents to Bark Beetle Breeding 374
Notes on the European Earwig for 1940 875
Miscellaneous Notes 376
An Infestation of a European Sawfly, Gilpinia frutetorum L 376
Calomycterus setarius Roelofs 376
Clover Mites, Bryobia praetiosa Koch 377
Notes on the House Cricket, Gryllus domesticus L 377
A Hemlock Looper, Ellopia athasaria Walker 377
Mastophora cornigera (Hentz), a Spider New to New England .... 379
Publications, 1940 381
Index 383
Dusting corn during the evening for control of the borer.
CONNECTICUT STATE ENTOMOLOGIST
FORTIETH REPORT
1940
R. B. Friend
INSECT RECORD FOR 1940
HP HE Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newm.) is increasing in
A abundance in the State and will probably so continue for the
next few years. It is already a serious pest in certain towns and
has been very injurious to ornamental trees and shrubs, vineyards,
and at least one orchard. The insect is most abundant in and around
Hartford and in Branford, New Haven, Hamden, Bridgeport, and
Greenwich.
The gypsy moth (Porthetria, dispar L.) caused no noticeable
defoliation of trees during 1940, although present in much of the
State. The severe outbreaks in the Granby-Simsbury area and on
the Southbury-Roxbury line, where extensive control operations were
carried out in 1939, have subsided to an innocuous level.
The elm leaf beetle {Galerucella luteola Muller) was unusually
abundant and injurious to elms. Large numbers of trees were com-
pletely defoliated.
A geometrid caterpillar (Ellopia athasaria Walker) defoliated
hemlock stands in Woodbridge and Branford.
A grasshopper {Melanoplus punctulatus Uhler) defoliated num-
bers of small white pines in plantations in Rainbow and Branford.
The Dutch elm disease has continued to spread, and infected trees
were discovered in 17 new towns in Litchfield, Fairfield, and New
Haven counties, and in one town, Preston, in New London County.
Scolytus multistriatus Mars., the principal vector, has never been
found in Preston.
The apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh) was very
abundant and injurious.
A disconcertingly severe outbreak of the codling moth (Carpo-
capsa pomonella L.) occurred in an orchard in Middlefield.
Injury to the peach crop by the Oriental fruit moth (Grapholitha
molesta Busck) was somewhat greater than in 1939.
296 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
The red-banded leaf roller (Argyrotaenia velutinana Walk.)
was less abundant than in 1939.
Pears in an orchard in Fairfield County were infested with
mealybugs {Pseudococcus comstocki Kuw.). This pest has not
previously been found on fruit in the State, although it has injured
apples in Virginia in recent years.
The European corn borer (Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn.), although
not generally so abundant as in 1939, severely injured the corn crop.
Investigators of the Federal Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quar-
antine estimated the loss in Connecticut in 1940 due to this borer at
approximately $43,000 and $416,000 to grain corn and sweet corn,
respectively.
| The European earwig (Forficula auricularia L.) was fairly
common in a restricted locality in New Haven.
The pine mouse (Pitymys pinetorum) and meadow mouse
{Microtus pennsylvanicus) populations in the State were generally
rather low during the year.
During 1940, 576 samples of insects were received at this office
about which information was desired. These are classified under
th^ following economic groups:
Specimens Received — 1940
Fruit pests 31
Field, vegetable, and truck crop pests 11
5 Forest and shade tree pests 173
Pests of shrubs and vines 32
Flower and greenhouse pests 29
Household and stored food products pests 97
Timber and wood products pests 74
Soil and grassland inhabiting pests 48
Insects annoying man and domesticated animals 15
Parasitic and predaceous insects 20
Miscellaneous 46
576
This list does not show the relative abundance or economic im-
portance of the different groups in the year's survey of the insect
pests of the State. Many of these insects are sent in by residents of
the urban sections of the State who do not have direct contact with
members of the department, while many of the farmers, fruit grow-
ers, and market gardeners may obtain their information direct from
department members when examining their crops or attending local
gatherings of these various groups.
Termites or their work, as in the past six years, head the list,
having been sent in 29 times from 21 different localities. The elm
leaf beetle was received 24 times from 19 different localities. Many
of the specimens were hibernating adults from houses, indicating
Insect Record for 19 UO 297
early in the spring that the pest was widespread and would probably
cause more than the average amount of injury to elms. The black
carpet beetle, an important household pest of woolens, was next on
the list, with 22 records. Carpenter ants were sent in 15 times. The
spruce mite, which often injures the foliage of a variety of ornamental
evergreens, was received 1 1 times. Japanese beetle adults and grubs
were represented by 9 lots. There were 8 samples of euonymus
scale, an injurious pest especially of the evergreen vine, Euonymus
radicans, on which it is difficult to control.
The following insects were each received five or six times:
Calomycterus setarius Roelofs, an introduced weevil which is espe-
cially troublesome due to its habit of crawling into houses. This
insect, previously reported from Fairfield and Litchfield counties,
was received in 1940 from Farmington and West Hartford in Hart-
ford County.
The pine leaf scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae Fitch, a conspicuous pest on
the needles of various ornamental pines.
Tulip tree scale, Toumeyella liriodendri Gmel., one of our largest
scale insects, which attacks the tulip tree.
Phymatodes variabilis Fabr., a long-horned beetle often found emerg-
ing from firewood in basements.
Bladder maple gall, Phyllocoptes quadripes Shim., a conspicuous mite
gall on soft maples.
Gouty maple gall, Dasyneura communis Felt, a midge gall on sugar
maple.
Tetralopha robustella Zell., a moth, the larvae of which produce con-
spicuous frass masses on pine.
Birch leaf-mining sawfly, Fenusa pumila Klug, abundant on gray and
white birch.
Pavement ant, Tetramorium caespitum L., frequently a pest in houses.
Cicada killer, Sphecius speciosus Drury.
Chinese praying mantid, Paratenodera sinensis Sauss.
In addition to these insects, about which individuals requested
information regarding control methods, over 50 species of insects
have been identified for amateur collectors.
The Station insect collection now contains about 7,500 species.
The most important recent additions have been a number of parasitic
Hymenoptera and between 3,000 and 4,000 specimens of Connecticut
Lepidoptera. The Lepidoptera were donated by Mr. Harry L.
Johnson of South Meriden, who has so generously contributed to
our collection in the past.
CONFERENCE OF CONNECTICUT ENTOMOLOGISTS
The seventeenth annual conference of Connecticut Entomologists
was held at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station Field
Station at Waltham, Massachusetts, December 13, 1940, at the invi-
298 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
tation of Professor W. D. Whitcomb. Professor Whitcomb was
elected chairman, and 50 persons registered. The program was as
follows:
Notes on Codling Moth and Apple Maggot in Connecticut.
Philip Garman, New Haven, Conn.
Notes on the Chinch Bug. J. P. Johnson, New Haven, Conn.
The Place of Statistics in Entomological Research.
C. I. Bliss, New Haven, Conn.
Some Insect Pests of Onions in the Connecticut Valley.
A. I. Bourne, Amherst, Mass.
The Present Status of the European Spruce Sawfly in the
United States. P. B. Dowden, New Haven, Conn.
Biological Control of the Japanese Beetle.
C. H. Hadley, Moorestown, N. J.
HOMOPTERA OF NEW ENGLAND — A SUMMARY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR
Future Inquiry. C. H. Blake, Cambridge, Mass.
Cranberry Insects. H. J. Franklin, East Wareham, Mass.
The Apple Leaf-Curling Midge. W. D. Whitcomb, Waltham, Mass.
Inspection of Nurseries, 19 UO 299
INSPECTION OF NURSERIES, 1940
M. P. Zappe
' I 'HE annual inspection of nurseries started on July 1, 1940, as
A required by Section 2136 of the General Statutes. The writer,
assisted by Messrs. A. F. Clark, W. T. Rowe and R. J. Walker,
inspected all the larger nurseries during July and August. The
smaller ones were inspected in September, and Mr. L. A. Devaux
assisted for a few days during this month. All regular inspection
was completed by the end of the month. Several of the nurseries
were reinspected to check on the eradication of pests. Most of the
nurseries were in good condition but a few which do not carry on
a very active business were rather neglected.
Altogether, 96 different insect pests and 52 plant diseases were
found in the nurseries during the inspection period of 1940. Most
of them, however, were of minor importance. San Jose scale is
very scarce at the present time, perhaps due to the fact that most of
the nurseries that handle fruit stock burn up their surplus stock at
the end of the selling season rather than keep it for a number of
years. Spruce gall aphids were slightly more abundant than last
year. European pine shoot moth continues to be a troublesome pest,
especially in the southwestern part of the State. Pine leaf scale was
about as abundant as last year. The presence of "X" disease of
peach was detected in one block of peaches, and these trees were
immediately destroyed. The stringent regulations under which peach
stock is grown should completely eradicate this trouble from nur-
series.
Some of the more important pests that may be carried on nur-
sery stock, with the number of nurseries infested by each for the
past 10 years, are shown in the following table:
Table 1. Ten-Year Record of Certain Nursery Pests
Pest 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940
Oyster-shell scale 73 68 78 104 93 87 84 53 49 57
San Jose scale 11 10 13 19 17 11 8 2 1 2
Spruce gall aphids" 124 141 231 244 285 337 306 312 216 231
White pine weevil 74 70 61 67 98 82 101 97 93 70
Pine leaf scale 20 26 46 66 42 72 60 25 50 4&
European pine shoot moth .... 32 77 137 120 121 108 128 130 110 108
Poplar canker 23 40 34 39 28 28 26 20 14 15
Pine blister rust 13 12 11 7204533
Nurseries uninfested 32 24 22 21 16 26 25 32 19 33
Number of nurseries 327 351 362 381 373 380 377 402 399 376
'Includes both Adelges abietis and A. cooleyi.
(3Q0 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Number and Size of Nurseries
The list of nurserymen for 1940 contains 376 names, a decrease
of 23 since 1939. A classification of nurseries by size is given in
the following table.
• Area Number Percentage
50; acres or more ;....... .'..•■ ..„.....;.... „. 19 5
lO. acres to 49 acres ;. 47 12
.5. acres to 9 acres 34 9
2j acres to 4 acres 94 25
Vl] acre or less ....;.' 182 49
■ : . 376 • 100
Of the 376 nurseries listed for 1940, three new nurseries were
registered and inspected before the spring shipping season and again
in late summer. These are marked "(2)" after the name because
each was inspected twice and was granted two certificates during
the year.
Thirty- four nurserymen failed to register before July 1, 1940,
and, as provided by Section 2137 of the General Statutes, were
charged for the cost of inspection, a minimum of $5.00 in each case.
All but 10 have paid the inspection fee, and $120 has been turned
over to the Treasurer of the Station to be sent to the State Treasury.
The area of Connecticut nurseries receiving certificates in 1940
is 4,859 acres, an increase of 26 acres since 1939. Altogether 11
new nurseries have been added, and 34 have discontinued business
either temporarily or permanently since last year. Some of these
r4gistered late and were inspected but refused to pay the cost of in-
spection as required by the General Statutes. Therefore, they were
not issued certificates and cannot legally sell their stock. A few nur-
series listed in 1939 are on the 1940 list under different names, thus
changing the alphabetical arrangement. The nursery firms receiving
certificates in 1940 are as follows:
Connecticut Nursery Firms Certified in 1940
Name
Adamcyk, Frank
Adamec Evergreen Nursery, George
Aldrich, Edward
Aldrich, Miss Inie E.
Allen, Henry L.
Amato, Rose
Andover Gardens
Anstett Nursery, Louis
Artistree Nursery
Austin, Jr., Irving M.
Austin, Mrs. Charles
Backiel, Adolf
Bailey's Nursery, Ralph
Bikhmeteff, Boris A.
Banak Nurseries
Banigan, R. D.
Certificate
Address
Acreage
Number
Deep River
1
7155
East Haven
1
6075
Guilford
1
6024
Plymouth
1
6009
Pawcatuck
1
7152
Cromwell
2
4840
Andover
1
5934
Norfolk
2
6019
Branford
3
6031
Glenville
2
6054
Yalesville
1
6031
Southport
1
6037
West Cornwall
1
5938
Brookfield
10
6047
New Britain
4
6018
Danielson
4
4837
Inspection of Nurseries, 1940
301
i- d: i.Name ■ ■•
Barnes Bros. Nursery Co., The
Barton Nursery
Beach, Roy G.
Beattie, W. H.
Bedford Gardens
Bedini, Vincent
Beran Landscape-Developers-Florists
Berg, Fred
Berkshire Gate Nurseries
Bertolf Brothers
Biehler, Mrs. Augusta
Blue Hills Nurseries, Inc.
Boggini Nursery, L.
Bollerer, F. G., Anderson Ave. Nursery
Bonnie Brook Gardens
Booy, H. W.
Boschen, Goerge E.
Brack Nursery
Brainard Nursery & Seed Company
Branford Nurseries
Bretschneider, A.
Bridgeport Hydraulic Company
Brimfield Gardens Nursery
Bristol Nurseries, Inc.
Brookfield Nurseries, Inc.
Brooklawn Conservatories
Brooklawn Nursery
Brookside Nurseries
Brouwer's Nurseries
Brouwer Nursery, Jack
Brouwer's Nurseries, Peter
Burnett's Corners Farm, The
Burnside Avenue Greenhouse & Nursery
Burr, Morris L.
Burr & Co., Inc., C. R.
Byram Nursery
Candlewood Nursery
Cannavo, Tony
Cardarelli, E. J.
Cascio Nursery, The Peter
Case Company, Inc., The
Centerbrook Landscape Service (2)
Charlie's Stand
Cherry Hill Gardens
Cherry Hill Nursery, Inc.
Chiapperini & Sons, Michele
Child's Gardens
Chippendale Nurseries, Inc.
Choate School, The
Chudy, Peter
Clark, Arthur H.
Cleary's Gardens
Clinton Nurseries
Clyne Nursery & Florist
Coley, H. W.
Compton, Margaret
Conine Nursery Co., Inc.
Conn. Agr. Expt. Station
(W. O. Filley, Forester)
Address Acreage
Yalesville - ■ 200
Hamden • 1
Forestville 1
New Haven 1
Plainville 1
Ridgefield 3
New London 1
Stamford 4
Danbury 1
Old Greenwich 40
Plainville 1
Avon 30
Manchester 1
West Haven 1
Rowayton 2
Yalesville 4
West Haven 1
New Milford 3
Thompsonville 16
Branford 6
Danielson 1
Bridgeport 15
Wethersfleld 8
Bristol 65
Brookfield 3
Bridgeport 1
Bridgeport 1
Darien 5
New London 25
New London 10
New London 4
Groton 2
East Hartford 4
Westport 1
Manchester 500
East Port Chester 1
Danbury 1
Winsted 1
Cromwell 5
West Hartford 15
Ridgefield 1
Centerbrook 1
East Hartford 1
Waterbury 1
Rockfall 15
Groton 2
Kent l
Old Lyme 2
Wallingford 4
Danbury 1
Yalesville 1
Bethel 1
Clinton 60
Milldale 1
Westport 1
Norwalk 2
Stratford 75
New Haven 2
Certificate
Number
5922
7199
4836
7159
6034
7126
7181
7125
4842
5953
6051
4887
6042
6096
6014
6039
7142
5930
4899
7190
6030
5961
6027
4841
7189
5915
7166
4892
5964
6081
6073
4855
6000
6059
7111
7198
5949
4880
4872
5917
4869
5960
7185
4831
5987
6089
4868
7140
6044
7153
7148
7106
4867
5972
7192
7171
5967
5973
302
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Name Address
Connecticut Forestry Nurseries Deep River
Connecticut State Forestry Dept. Hartford
Connecticut State Highway Dept. Hartford
Connecticut Valley Nurseries Manchester
Cooke, C. W. Branford
Cronamere Alpine Nurseries, Inc. Greens Farms
Cylkowski, B. Simsbury
Daisy Hill Gardens Derby
Damen, Peter J. East Haven
Daniel, Joseph Bridgeport
Davis Gardens Ansonia
Daybreak Nurseries Westport
DeMars Nursery Winsted
Dewey, V. E. Groton
Dietrich Nursery, Benjamin Greenwich
Dillon, Thomas Greenwich
Dingwall, Joseph N. West Haven
Doane, David F. Haddam
Dobel, Paul Union City
Donovan, Daniel Talcottville
Donovan, John N. Rocky Hill
Drenckhahn, Ernest J. Cos Cob
Dunlap's Dollar Evergreens Cromwell
Dunn, John Danbury
Eager, Edward M. Bridgeport
East Haven Nursery East Haven
Elfgren Nurseries East Killingly
Ellington Evergreen Nursery Ellington
Elliott, Jesse M. & Grace E. Litchfield
Ellmer, Karl Cannondale
Ellsworth Nursery Newington
Elm Grove Cemetery Association Mystic
Evergreen Nursery Co., The Wilton
Fairlawn Nurseries Darien
Fairway Gardens Woodmont
Farmington Valley Nursery Avon
Ferchau, Hugo Milford
Ferruci, Joseph Bridgeport
Flower City Rose Company Manchester
Follett Nursery Westport
Forbes Street Greenhouse East Hartford
Fountain Nurseries Farmington
Foxon Park Nursery East Haven
Frank & MacArthur Ansonia
Fraser's Nurseries & Dahlia Gardens Willimantic
Frede, Wm. Frederick Danbury
Galligan, Clarence W. New Haven
Garden Exchange, The Bridgeport
Garden of Romance, The Old Savbrook
Gardner's Nurseries Rocky Hill
Geduldig's Florist & Nurseryman Norwich
George's Hill Nursery Southbury
German, Peter B. Fairfield
Giana, John F. Kensington
Giant Valley Nursery Mount Carmel
Glastonbury Gardens Glastonbury
Gledhill Landscape & Tree Service West Hartford
Glenbrook Greenhouses Glenbrook
Glen Echo Farm Bridgeport
Certificate
Acreage
Number
15
7143
8
5998
18
7119
39
7112
1
5955
5
5923
2
5944
1
4889
2
4850
1
5916
1
5900
3
7202
1
4885
2
7204
4
5978
1
7135
1
7186
1
7133
1
7196
1
5926
3
6010
10
7208
3
7164
1
6005
1
4849
1
5969
3
5925
2
7178
1
7109
5
7139
1
7151
1
5997
30
4883
8
7177
1
7120
5
7123
2
7100
1
7209
23
7113
10
6057
1
7207
10
6066
1
4886
1
7105
3
5975
1
5939
1
7145
1
7183
3
7195
300
5914
7
7124
1
7130
1
7157
1
4848
1
6098
4
4882
1
7205
1
4854
1
4830
Inspection of Nurseries, 19 W
303
Name
Glen Terrace Nurseries
Glenwood Nurseries
Godfrey, George R., Stratfield Nursery
Godfrey Tree Expert Co. & Garden
Shop
Golden Hill Nurseries
Goodwin Nurseries
Goshen Nurseries
Gosnell, Evelyn
Great Pond Nursery
Green Acre Farms, Inc.
Grillo, N
Gunn, Mrs. Charles
Haas, Florist
Hamden Nursery
Hansen's Florist £> Nursery
Hansen's Garden
Hearn, Thomas H.
Heath & Company
Henninger, Christ.
Hettinger, Joseph O.
Hildebrand's Nursery
Hilding Brothers
Hillcrest Gardens
Hilliard, H. J.
Hilltop Nurseries
Hinckley Hill Nurseries
Hiti Nurseries
Hoffmann's Nursery
Hofmann, William T.
Holcomb's Evergreen Nursery
Holdridge & Sons, S. E.
Hope Street Nursery
Horan, J. F.
Horan, Kieran W.
Horowitz, Ben
Hosking, James S.
Hotchkiss, H. L.
Hotchkiss, Sr., Wallace M.
Houston's Nurseries
Hoyt, Charles E.
Hoyt's Sons Co., Inc., Stephen
Hurlburt Nursery
Hutt, Robert F.
Hyatt, Thaddeus
Isselee's Sons, Inc., Charles
Jennings, Sereno G.
Johnson, Lincoln
Johnson, Tom
Joyosa Gardens
Kateley, Milton M.
Kelley & Son, James J.
Kellner, Arthur H.
Kennedy, Wellington
Keso Nursery
Key Rock Gardens
Knobling, Edmund
Certificate
Address
Acreage
Number
Hamden
70
4858
Clinton
2
6048
Bridgeport
50
5919
Fairfield
1
5996
Shelton
2
5948
Bloomfield
13
5937
Goshen
6
7203
Westport
1
6067
Hartford
1
4857
Waterford
1
6008
Milldale
1
4856
Kent
1
7129
Milford
1
4846
Hamden
1
7138
Fairfield
5
7167
Newington
2
7122
Washington
3
7146
Manchester
15
7114
New Britain
1
6063
Manchester
1
7117
Norwich
1
4893
Amston
1
6094
Woodbridge
4
5962
Sound View
1
5999
Orange
1
4845
Stoning ton
1
6074
Pomfret Center
11
4874
Hartford
2
7107
Cromwell
3
6056
Winsted
6
4865
Norwich
3
6023
Springdale
1
7188
Hartford
1
7104
West Hartford
1
7210
East Hampton
1
6087
Watertown
2
5947
North Haven
1
7184
Norfolk
1
6071
Mansfield Depot
5
6040
Bethel
40
6011
New Canaan
500
4864
Hamden
1
6082
Glastonbury
3
6090
Stamford
3
7213
Darien
5
5911
South port
2
6001
Stamford
15
5929
Stratford
1
6077
Cornwall Bridge
1
4863
East River
1
4862
New Canaan
6
5909
Norwalk
1
6032
Greenwich
20
7154
Clinton
1
7194
Newtown
2
6061
Danbury
3
6017
304
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Name
LaBell, Harold (2)
Lanedale Farm Nurseries
Langstroth Nurseries
Laviola & Sons
Leghorn's Evergreen Nursery
Leramon, Robert S.
Lewis & Valentine Landscape Corp.
Lewis Gardening Service
Lipari, V.
Lovely Garden
Lowescroft Gardens
Luce, Mrs. Charles L.
Luckey, Ada Mae
Luckner, Jr., William
Lynch, Mrs. John H.
Marigold Farm
Marlboro Nurseries
Mather Homestead
McCarthy, John P.
McConville's Greenhouses & Nurseries
Meier, A. R.
Melville Nurseries
Merwin Lane Nursery
Meyer Nursery, Ludwig
Middeleer
Midway Nurseries (2)
Milford Nursery
Millane Nurseries & Tree Experts, Inc.
Mill River Nursery
Millstone Garden
Montgomery Ward & Company
Moore Hill Nurseries
Moraio Bros.
Morgan, Everett E.
Morgan & Sons, Wm. F.
Mountain Grove Cemetery Association,
The
Mount Carmel Nursery
Mount Phillip Nursery
Munro, Edward A.
New England Water Lily Gardens
New Era Seed Company
New Haven Park Commission
New Haven Park Department, Bureau
of Trees
Newington Gardens & Nurseries
New London Cemetery Association
New London County Nurseries
Newton's Nursery
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad
Niantic Bouquet Shop
North-Eastern Forestry Co., The
North Greenwich Nursery
North Street Gardens
Northville Gardens
Norwalk Perennial Garden
Nyveldt's Nursery
Oakland Nurseries
Oldfield Nursery
Certificate
Address
Acreage
Number
East Haven
5
7110
New Canaan
10
6007
Danbury
New Haven
6
2
5968
7180
Cromwell
40
6095
New Canaan
1
7173
Darien
9
5991
Kensington
Bridgeport
Unionville
3
4861
7201
7127
Manchester
7102
Newington
Greens Farms
7175
6036
Stepney
Ridgefield
3
6038
5984
New Canaan
20
5983
East Hampton
Darien
2
2
6070
4859
Danbury
Manchester
2
4
5971
5908
West Hartford
1
5956
Bridgeport
East Norwalk
1
3
6002
5931
Bridgeport
Darien
5
10
5928
6076
New Haven
10
7168
Milford
2
7136
Cromwell
100
4844
Fairfield
8
4898
Terryville
Manchester
1
5
6099
7172
New London
2
6029
Old Greenwich
5
5986
Stonington
North Stonington
1
2
5924
6072
Bridgeport
Mount Carmel
1
1
4894
7141
Weatogue
New Haven
2
1
7206
5903
Manchester
1
4860
Clinton
2
5901
New Haven
6
4847
New Haven
7
6045
Hartford
1
7197
New London
1
7179
New London
10
5935
West Granby
1
7150
Stamford
3
4843
Niantic
1
7163
Cheshire
96
4895
Greenwich
1
5995
Milford
1
• 7160
New Milford
1
6092
Norwalk
4
4891
New London
3
5945
Manchester
20
7115
Stratford
1
7211
Inspection of Nurseries, 191+0
305
Name
Outpost Nurseries, Inc.
Ouwerkerk, Dirk K.
Over-the-Garden-Wall
Oxoboxo Nursery
Palmieri Nursery & Florist
Parker, Mrs. Elizabeth
Partrick Nursery
Pendleton's Flower Gardens
Pestretto, Frank
Pestretto, Salvatore
Peterson's Flower Shop
Pierson, Inc., A. N.
Pinchbeck Brothers, Inc.
Pine Hirst Gardens
Pine Plains Greenhouses
Piatt, Kenneth M. & Norman E.
Pleasure Gardens
Polen, Romuald
Polish Orphanage Farm
Pomeroy Nurseries
Prospect Nurseries, Inc.
Q Garden Farms Nursery
Rabinak Flower Farm
Race Brook Gardens
Reliable Nursery, The
Rengerman's Garden
Reveley Landscaping Service, The
Reynolds' Farms
Richmond, Gordon L.
Ridgewood Nurseries
Riese, F. K.
Riverside Farm
Robinson Estate, Seymour N.
Rockacres Nursery
Rockfall Nursery Company, The
Rose Hill Nursery
Russell Street Perennial Garden
Sage Brothers
Sakson's Nursery
Sandelli Greenhouses
Sasco Hill Nursery
Savanella Brothers Nursery
Scarano Nursery, Alphonse
Schleichert Nursery
Schmidt, Walter A.
Schneider, Adolf
Schuller, John
Schulze, Edward E.
Scott's Nurseries
Scotty's Landscape Service
Sears, Roebuck & Company
Seltsam's Pequonnock Gardens
Seymour Garden, Prudence
Sharon Valley Nursery
Silver City Nursery
Silver Lane Nursery
Simonsen, H. C.
Sipocz Arrowhead Farm
Certificate
Address
Acreage
Number
Ridgefield
700
4888
Yalesville
10
5941
West Hartford
3
6006
Montville
2
6055
New Haven
1
4839
Bridgeport
4
5982
Sandy Hook
1
7101
Norwich
1
5989
West Hartford
1
7176
Hartford
1
7170
West Hartford
1
7174
Cromwell
300
5951
Ridgefield
10
6088
Guilford
1
6043
Norwich
2
7193
Milford
1
5993
Guilford
1
4866
Southport
2
6026
New Britain
1
6062
New Milford
1
6020
Cromwell
30
5976
Milford
1
4875
Deep River
4
5940
Orange
1
4838
East Hartford
2
6021
Granby
2
5920
Clinton
1
5965
South Norwalk
2
4870
New Milford
10
4876
Milford
1
5907
Watertown
1
7134
Milford
1
6012
West Hartford
2
6093
Stamford
2
5990
Rockfall
10
5980
Gildersleeve
3
7118
South Manchester
1
5952
Woodbury
1
7137
Greenwich
1
6060
New Britain
1
5921
Fairfield
1
5988
Torrington
2
7169
Groton
1
4871
Bridgeport
4
5966
East Glastonbury
1
7200
Milford
1
6078
Higganum
4
6097
Bethel
1
7165
Bloomfleld
10
6064
Woodbury
1
6004
Manchester
10
7116
Bridgeport
I
4873
New Milford
"T
4853
Sharon
1
5932
Meriden
6
7131
East Hartford
1
7191
Plainville
2
6085
Fairfield
1
4884
306
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Name
Smith, Edward A.
Soltes Nursery, M. }.
Southbury Nursery, The
Southington Nursery
Southport Nursery
South Wilton Nurseries
Stafford Conservatories
Standish, Norman S.
Stannard, Julia
State Street Nursery
Steck, Charles A.
Steck Nursery
Steele's Nurseries, Charles
Stocking, Milton C.
Sunny Valley Nursery
Sunridge Nurseries
Sun Rise Nursery
Swendson, Hans
Sylvan Greenhouse & Nursery
Taylor, Walter G.
Thomson Company, W. W.
Tobin, Daniel J.
Tollgate Nursery
Torizzo, P. A.
Tow Path Gardens, Inc.
Tracy, B. Hammond
Triangle Nursery
Twin Pines Gardens
University of Connecticut
Valentine, William
Valley View Nursery
van der Bom, Mrs. F.
Vanderbrook & Son, C. L.
Van Horn & Harrington
Van Wilgen, Wm.
Van Wilgen Nurseries
Vasileff Nurseries
Verkade's Nurseries
Vernick's Nurseries & Landscape Service
Wagner, William H.
Wallace Nursery
Wallingford Nurseries
Ward & Son, J. F.
Watertown Nurseries
Wayside Garden
Wayside Nursery
Weinberger, William
West Cornwall Nurseries
Westerly Nurseries
West Mystic Gardens
Westover Trading Corp.
Westville Nurseries
Wethersfleld Nursery
Wheeler, Charles B.
Whipple, Earle G.
Whittemore Company, J. H.
Wildflower Nurserv, The
Wild's Nursery, Henry
Certificate
Address
Acreage
Number
Mystic
1
4833
Shelton
2
4897
Southbury
4
6028
Southington
15
6016
Southport
35
5906
Wilton
9
4877
Stafford Springs
1
5904
Hanover
1
6091
Wilton
1
7149
Hamden
5
6049
Newtown
20
5913
Bethel
4
6046
Greenwich
3
5933
Avon
1
6053
New Milford
15
4878
Greenwich
55
7156
North Haven
1
4835
Cheshire
1
5902
Bridgeport
1
6068
Wallingford
1
6050
West Hartford
4
5977
Ridgefield
2
4834
Avon
1
5942
West Hartford
5
5957
Hartford
5
5918
West Hartford
1
7214
Yalesville
2
5992
New Milford
1
6035
Storrs
1
5981
Pomfret Center
1
6033
Southington
1
6052
Bethel
5
7121
Manchester
60
4881
Suffield
1
6084
Branford
1
6025
Branford
22
5912
Greenwich
6
6079
New London
60
5974
Bridgeport
2
5994
Woodbury
1
5946
Wallingford
2
6015
Wallingford
75
5950
Windsor
1
5927
Watertown
1
7158
Canton
1
5936
Naugatuck
2
5979
Ridgefield
1
5910
West Cornwall
1
5943
Pawcatuck
2
6058
West Mystic
1
5985
Stamford
1
5954
Westville
2
4832
Wethersfleld
3
6083
Stonington
1
6086
Danielson
1
7132
Naugatuck
3
5970
Brookfleld
1
7108
Norwalk
23
4890
Inspection of Nurseries, 19 AO
307
Name
Willow Gardens
Willson, Stewart H.
Wilridge Nurseries
Wilson, M. L.
Wilson Nurseries, C. E.
Wilson Landscape Company, The
Woodbridge Nurseries
Woodcrythe Nursery (W. S. Sloan)
Woodmont Nurseries
Wyllie, David
Yale University School of Forestry
Nursery
Yale University Landscape Dept.
Young's Nurseries
Zack Company, H. J.
Total
Certificate
Address
Acreage
Number
Darien
1
6003
Thompsonville
1
7212
Ridgefield
5
7128
Litchfield
5
6013
Manchester
75
6041
Hartford
1
5958
New Haven
15
4896
New Canaan
1
7162
Woodmont
60
4879
North Haven
1
7147
New Haven
1
7161
New Haven
10
4851
Wilton
4
5963
Deep River
10
7144
376 nurseries
4,859 acres
The cost of inspecting these nurseries, including certain addi-
tional visits to make sure that the pests had been properly eradi-
cated, was approximately $1,835.65, exclusive of traveling expenses.
Other Kinds of Certificates Issued
During 1940, 208 duplicate certificates were issued to Connecti-
cut nurseries to be filed in other states. One hundred and two dealers
permits were issued to dealers, who do not grow the nursery stock
which they sell. All this stock is purchased from certified nurseries
for resale. Shippers' permits to the number of 264 were issued to
out-of-state nurserymen who wished to ship stock into Connecticut.
Also, 212 parcels of nursery stock and other plant material were
inspected and certified for shipment to accommodate individuals.
There were also issued 208 miscellaneous certificates and special
permits. 173 blister rust control area permits. 1.051 corn borer cer-
tificates, and 3.665 certificates for packages of shelled corn and other
seeds, most of which were consigned to foreign countries.
Inspection of Imported Nursery Stock
Foreign nursery stock enters the United States at designated
ports of entry under permits issued by the Federal Bureau of Ento-
mology and Plant Quarantine and is released for transit to destina-
tion points, where it is examined by State inspectors. Importation
permits are usually granted for rose stocks only. These stocks are
used almost entirely by florists for grafting purposes. The number
of shipments of imported rose stocks entering Connecticut from for-
eign countries was less during 1939-1940 than in the previous year.
Rose stocks are now being grown in larger amounts in the United
States and less foreign material is coming into the State. Six ship-
ments containing 29 cases and 239,400 rose plants, all of which were
for propagation purposes, were imported. All of them were Rosa
308 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
manetti. These plants were all imported by three commercial rose
growers who received 164,400, 40,000, and 35,000, respectively.
They came from the following sources:
Country No. shipments No. -'plants
Holland 5 199,400
England 1 40,000
The time required to inspect this rose stock was equivalent to four
days' work for one man and this, together with travel (320 miles)
and other necessary expenses, amounted to a cost of approximately
$56. Reports of the results of inspection of the six shipments were
sent to the Federal Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine.
Of the six shipments inspected, only one was found infested
with larvae of a sawfly, Emphytus cinctus Linn., which enters the
pith of the cut stems seeking a place to pupate. No crown gall, a
bacterial disease, was found.
In addition to the rose stocks mentioned above, the following
miscellaneous plants and seeds entered Connecticut after Federal
inspection at ports of entry. None of these was inspected in Con-
necticut. This material is allowed entry into the United States in
small lots under a special permit issued by the Bureau of Entomology
and Plant Quarantine, and is sent to Washington, D.C., for inspec-
tion.
7,796 orchid plants 24 rose plants
2,794 pounds of seeds 5 holly plants
46 dahlia tubers 15 English walnut trees
66 iris plants 2 spruce trees
135 perennials 2 lilac bushes
9,450 gladiolus
JAPANESE BEETLE QUARANTINE ACTIVITIES, 1940
M. P. Zappe
Since the establishment of the Japanese beetle quarantine in
Connecticut, the Department of Entomology of the Connecticut Agri-
cultural Experiment Station has cooperated with the Bureau of Ento-
mology and Plant Quarantine of the United States Department of
Agriculture in administering this quarantine. The work consists of
seasonal scouting of certain nursery and greenhouse properties and
their sources of sand, soil and manure for classification purposes;
the inspection and certification of all articles included in the quaran-
tine regulations; and other tasks necessary to the operation of the
quarantine.
The State is divided into two sections, using the gypsy moth
quarantine line as a boundary. That section of the State within the
gypsy moth quarantined area, which includes Hartford, Middlesex,
New London, Tolland and some towns in eastern Litchfield and
New Haven counties, is under the supervision of Mr. H. N. Bartley,
in charge of the Federal Japanese beetle office at Waltham, Mass.
His inspectors make the necessary inspections to comply with the
,'.;•-.; '. Japanese Quarantine Activities, 1940 309
Japanese beetle and gypsy moth quarantines, and European corn
borer inspections as required by certain states. In the rest of the
State the inspections are made from the New Haven office at the
Experiment Station. During the rush of the shipping season in the
spring, when Mr, Bartley's inspectors are very busy, the towns of
Branford and North Haven are often placed under the supervision
of the New Haven office.
Scouting
Scouting for the Japanese beetle has been conducted yearly, and
the procedure followed during the summer of 1940 to determine
whether or not adult beetles were present on classified properties
was similar to that of preceding years. Three crews were used to
carry on this work, two of which were under the supervision of the
Waltham office, each consisting of one foreman and two scouts.
They began scouting on July 9 and finished on August 31. The
third crew, consisting of one foreman and one scout, under the super-
vision of the New Haven office, began on July 15 and finished on
September 6. Each crew followed a prepared itinerary as in pre-
vious seasons. They scouted 33 nursery, greenhouse or other similar
establishments and their subdivisions, a total of 66 units, three to five
times. The minimum distance examined around each establishment
was 500 feet. A total of 887 adult beetles was found on or within
500 feet on 31 of the units scouted. The crews also scouted the
premises of 21 dealers in sand, soil and manure and found one beetle
on one of these establishments. The finding of infestations on
scouted premises resulted in 10 changes in classification and 22 estab-
lishments dropping their classified status under the quarantine regu-
lations.
Beetles were found in Orange, Middlefield and Woodbridge for
the first time. There are 83 towns now known to be infested and
probably many others that have not come to our attention.
Inspection and Certification
The district inspectors are responsible for the inspection and
certification of quarantined materials on account of the gypsy moth
and Japanese beetle quarantines. The following is a list of these
men and the towns in which they make inspections:
R. L. Emrick, Box 63, Sta. A, Manchester. Telephone Manchester 4482.
Avon Enfield Stafford
Barkhamsted Farmington Suffield
Bloomfield Granby Tolland
Bolton Hartford Torrington
Burlington Hartland Union
Canton Harwinton Vernon
Colebrook Manchester West Hartford
Coventry Mansfield Willington
East Granby New Hartford Winchester
East Hartford Simsbury Windsor
East Windsor Somers Windsor Locks
Ellington South Windsor
310
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
J. F. McDevitt, Box 45,
Andover
Berlin
Branford
Bristol
Chester
Clinton
Colchester
Columbia
Cromwell
Durham
East Haddam
East Hampton
Essex
Glastonbury
Middletown. Telephone
Guilford
Haddam
Hebron
Killingworth
Lebanon
Madison
Marlborough
Meriden
Middlefield
Middletown
New Britain
Newington
North Branford
North Haven
Middletown 1 61 3.
Old Saybrook
Plainville
Plymouth
Portland
Rocky Hill
Saybrook
Southington
Thomaston
Waterbury
Westbrook
Wethersfield
Wolcott
Daniel Harrington,
Ashford
Bozrah
Brooklyn
Canterbury
Chaplin
Eastford
East Lyme
Franklin
Griswold
Groton
Hampton
Killingly
Box 63, Westerly, R.I. Telephone Westerly 2604.
Ledyard
Lisbon
Lyme
Montville
New London
North Stonington
Norwich
Old Lyme
Plainfield
Pomfret
Preston
Putnam
Salem
Scotland
Sprague
Sterling
Stonington
Thompson
Voluntown
Waterford
Windham
Woodstock
L. A. Devaux and A. S. Beecher, Box 1106, New Haven. Telephone New Haven
5-6191. All towns not listed above.
The total number of plants inspected and certified for shipment
to other states and foreign countries was 7,308,128.
The number and kinds of certificates issued are shown in the
following table:
Table 2. Number of Certificates Issued, 1940
Kind
Farm
Pn
aducts
Cut Flowers
Nursery and
Ornamental Stock
Sand
Soil
Manure
Total
"A"
"B"
0
0
0
28
0
28
38,188
7,839
2
0
2
0
1
1
38,218
7,840
Total
46,027
46,058
As in past seasons, the district inspectors were able to make the
necessary farm products quarantine inspections in addition to their
regular duties. These were few in number and consisted of 28 boxes
of cut flowers. No inspections were made of farm products material
because the Town of Greenwich was the only town in the State
where such inspections were required and no shipments were made
therefrom.
INSPECTION OF APIARIES, 1940
M. P. Zappe
Mr. H. W. Coley, who had been the bee inspector in Fair-
field, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties, retired
Inspection of Apiaries, 1940
311
from service in 1940 and Mr. Roy Stadel of Southington was
appointed on April 15, 1940, to inspect bees in the above mentioned
parts of the State. Mr. H. W. Kelsey of Bristol inspected bees in
the four northern counties.
A total of 1,719 apiaries containing 8,552 colonies were in-
spected in 1940. These averaged 5.0 colonies per apiary, as against
5.5 in 1939. There were 366 colonies in 161 apiaries infected with
American foul brood, a considerable increase over the number found
in 1939. Most of this increase occurred in the four southern coun-
ties. Several of the apiaries were inspected twice, as in order to
burn the diseased colonies it was necessary for the inspectors to
make a second visit to these apiaries. Only one colony was found
infected with sacbrood.
Table 3. Thirty-One Year Record of Apiary Inspection
Average
Average
Number
Number
No. colonies
cost of
inspection
Year
apiaries
colonies
per apiary
per apiary
per colony
1910
208
1,595
7.6
$2.40
.28
1911
162
1,571
9.7
1.99
.21
1912
153
1,431
9.3
1.96
.21
1913
189
1,500
7.9
1.63
.21
1914
463
3,882
8.38
1.62
.19
1915
494
4,241
8.58
1.51
.175
1916
467
3,898
8.34
1.61
.19
1917
473
4,506
9.52
1.58
.166
1918
395
3,047
7.8
1.97
.25
1919
723
6,070
11.2
2.45
.29
1920
762
4.797
6.5
2.565
.41
1921
751
6,972
9.2
2.638
.24
1922
797
8,007
10.04
2.60
.257
1923
725
6.802
9.38
2.55
.27
1924
953
8,929
9.4
2.42
.25
1925
766
8,257
10.7
2.45
.22
1926
814
7,923
9.7
2.35
.24
1927
803
8,133
10.1
2.37
.234
1928
852
8,023
9.41
2.12
.225
1929
990
9,559
9.55
2.19
.227
1930
1,059
10,335
9.76
2.01
.206
1931
1,232
10,678
8.66
1.83
.212
1932
1.397
11,459
8.2
1.60
.195
1933
1,342
10,927
8.1
1.69
.208
1934
1,429
7,128
4.98
1.40
.28
1935
1,333
8,855
6.64
1.556
.234
1936
1,438
9,278
6.45
1.429
.221
1937
1,437
10,253
7.1
1.28
.18
1938
1,609
10,705
6.7
1.18
.177
1939
1,627
8,936
5.5
1.12
.204
1940
1,719
8,552
5.0
1.33
.268
Table 3 shows the number of apiaries and colonies inspected,
the average number of colonies per apiary, and the average cost of
inspecting each apiary and colony for each year since inspection
began in 1910.
312 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
In 1940 apiaries were inspected in 143 towns. No inspections
were made in the following 26 towns owing to shortage of time and
money: Bridgeport, Canaan, Chester, Columbia, Darien, Franklin,
Griswold, Groton, Killingworth, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lyme, Madison,
Manchester, New Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, Old Lyme,
Saybrook, Sprague, Stafford, Union, Voluntown, Westbrook, West
Haven, and Weston.
American foul brood was discovered in the following 76 towns:
Fairfield County: Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Greenwich, Monroe,
New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton,
Sherman, Stamford, Wilton.
New Haven County: Beacon Falls, Branford, Cheshire, Derby,
East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Meriden, Middlebury, Milford, Nau-
gatuck, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Prospect,
Seymour, Southbury, Wallingford, Woodbridge, Wolcott.
Middlesex County: Durham, East Hampton, Middlefield, Middle-
town.
New London County: East Lyme, Colchester, Lisbon, Montville,
Norwich, Preston, Stonington, Waterford.
Litchfield County: Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Harwinton, Litchfield,
Morris, Plymouth, Salisbury, Torrington, Washington, Watertown.
Hartford County: Berlin, Bloomfield, Bristol, East Hartford, East
Windsor, Farmington, New Britain, Simsbury, Southington, West
Hartford, Windsor.
Tolland County: Coventry, Ellington, Somers, Stafford, Tolland,
Vernon.
Windham County: Ashford, Windham.
Statistics of Inspection
The statistics of apiary inspection are given below.
Table 4. Inspection of Apiaries, 1940
Number of
Apiaries
Colonies
County
towns
Inspected
Diseased
(Am. f. b.)
Inspected
Diseased
(Am. f. b.)
Fairfield
18
199
45
1,121
106
New Haven
25
238
46
1,385
130
Middlesex
10
98
7
682
8
New London
11
95
16
643
44
Litchfield
25
296
16
1,321
24
Hartford
28
472
20
2,315
34
Tolland
11
169
7
467
15
Windham
15
143
152
4
161
618
5
1,719
8,552
366
Report on the Gypsy Moth, 1939-1940
Summary of Inspection
313
Apiaries Colonies
Inspected, 1940 1,719 8,552
Infected with American foul brood 161 366
Percentage infected 9.4 4.3
Colonies treated 14
Colonies destroyed 352
Average number of colonies per apiary 5.0
Average cost of inspection $1.33 $ .268
Total cost of inspection, 1940 $2,291.95
Financial Statement
January 1, 1940 — December 31, 1940
Disbursements
January 1 to June 30, 1940:
Salaries $582.00
Travel (outlying investigations) 458.60 $1,040.60
July 1 to December 31, 1940:
Salaries $702.00
Travel (outlying investigations) 549.35 1,251.35
Total disbursements for 1940 ■. $2,291.95
Registration of Bees
Section 2129 of the General Statutes provides: That each bee-
keeper shall register his bees on or before October 1 of each year
with the town clerk of the town in which the bees are kept; and
that each town clerk, on or before December 1, shall report to the
State Entomologist whether or not any bees have been registered, and
if so, shall send a list of the names and number of colonies belonging
to each. In 1940, 1,719 apiaries containing 8,552 colonies were
inspected. However, only 904 apiaries and 6,117 colonies were
registered. After checking the registrations and inspections, and
deducting duplications, the following figures were obtained show-
ing that at least this number of apiaries and colonies were kept in
Connecticut in 1940.
Apiaries
Inspected 1,719
Registered but not inspected 60
1,779
Colonies
8,552
428
8,980
REPORT ON THE GYPSY MOTH, 1939-1940
R. B. Friend, J. T. Ashworth and 0. B. Cooke
Introduction
The gypsy moth is the most serious insect pest of hardwood
trees in the State. Unfortunately it attacks some of our most use-
314 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
ful and abundant species. Although all trees attacked during an
outbreak do not die, a severe retardation of growth follows defoli-
ation, which means a decrease in the production of wood. More-
over, defoliated trees markedly lessen the attractiveness of the recre-
ational areas in the State. This insect is now firmly established
in Connecticut and occurs in greater or less abundance over much
of its area. The prospect of eliminating it from the entire State
is too remote for practical consideration, so our main concern is to
prevent serious injury to our forests and shade trees. In order
to accomplish this it is necessary to prevent the development of out-
breaks, during which the trees may be stripped of foliage for two
or more successive years. The prevention of outbreaks is based
on a knowledge of the insect and of the effect of environment factors
on its activities and abundance, a thorough understanding of the
effect of the insect on trees under various growing conditions, and
on efficient control methods.
Since control work started with the discovery of the gypsy
moth in the State in 1906, only three serious outbreaks have oc-
curred. The largest of these, involving about 1,500 acres in the
towns of Granby, Canton, and Simsbury in 1938 and 1939, has
been described in the two previous reports of this office. Although
the insect has increased in abundance in many towns during the last
few years, an attempt is being made to handle the situation without
increasing the personnel involved. Work now being carried out
by this department, by investigators in other states, and by the
Federal Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine should be
of distinct aid in increasing the efficiency of operations.
Gypsy moth control work has been carried on during the past
year (1939-1940) in much the same manner as in previous years.
During the fall, winter and early spring, trees are inspected for
egg-masses. These egg-masses are destroyed when found. During
the late spring and early summer, the larger infestations are sprayed
to reduce or possibly eradicate them. During the summer months,
areas infested with the gypsy moth are patrolled to detect gypsy
moth caterpillars. With the cooperation of the United States Bu-
reau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, and the C.C.C., control
work in one form or another was performed in 59 towns in all
sections of the State during the past year.
To the following persons the writers here express thanks for
their hearty cooperation: Mr. A. F. Burgess, who has general su-
pervision of gypsy moth and brown tail moth control for the Federal
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine; Mr. H. L. Blaisdell.
in charge of field work under Mr. Burgess; Mr. S. S. Crossman,
under whose direction gypsy moth control work was carried on in the
various C.C.C. camps in the central section of the State; and to Mr.
A. F. Hawes, State Forester, who has general supervision of the
C.C.C. camps.
Report on the Gypsy Moth, 1939-1940 315
New Equipment
Just prior to the spraying season, one length of suction hose
was purchased to replace a length that had become worn out, and
considerable repair work, which was badly needed, was done on
the two sprayer pumps, putting them in good condition. There
was no replacement of department vehicles during the past year.
The usual number of small wrenches and other tools that had become
worn out or broken were replaced.
Control Operations
Following is a brief report of gypsy moth control operations
carried on by the different agencies during the past year.
Work Performed by State Men
The regular state gypsy moth crews operated in Windham,
New London, Tolland. Hartford and Litchfield counties.
Windham County: Scouting work was performed in the
towns of Brooklyn. Killingly and Plainfield. Gypsy moth infesta-
tions were found in all towns visited. No other type of control
work was performed in this County.
New London County: The towns of Colchester, East Lyme.
Groton, Lisbon, Montville, New London, North Stonington. Old
Lyme and Stonington were visited, gypsy moth egg-masses or larvae
(caterpillars) being found in all of them. There was no spraying
work carried on in the County.
Tolland County: Two towns, Stafford and Union, were in-
spected and gypsy moth infestations were found in both. No spray-
ing or patrolling (larvae) work was carried on in this County.
Hartford County: Gypsy moth control work in the form of
scouting or patrolling for larvae was performed in the towns of
Bloomfield, East Granby, Enfield, Granby, Hartford, Manchester,
Simsbury, South Windsor and West Hartford, egg-masses being
found and larvae taken in all towns visited with the exception of
Hartford. Only a small section in the northern part of Hartford
was scouted, and this mainly because it was adjacent to infested
territory in the town of Bloomfield. Hence this does not indicate
that Hartford is free from gypsy moth infestation.
Litchfield County: Two towns were scouted during the past
season, gypsy moth infestations being found in both. There was
no spray work performed in the County by state crews this season.
There was no gypsy moth control work carried on in Middle-
sex, New Haven and Fairfield counties, by state crews in the past
year.
During the year, state men scouted 304 miles of roadside,
1,493 acres of woodland and open country, and destroyed 26,320
egg-masses and 19,722 larvae and pupae.
316 Connecticut Experiment Station . Bulletin 445
During the month of September, 1939, some of the crews were
started on a type-mapping project, and, coincidentally, a survey
to determine the density of the gypsy moth population in the towns
that were being type-mapped. The type-mapping consisted of a'
survey of the wooded and open areas of a town to determine the
percentage of favored and unfavored food plants of gypsy moth lar-
vae. This information is placed on outline maps of the towns, using
different colors to indicate the different percentages of favored food
plants in each block. These maps, together with the data received
from the survey made to determine the density of gypsy moth pop-
ulation in the same town, are filed, and it is expected that frequent
study of this information will enable us to anticipate where the
greatest increase in the gypsy moth is likely to occur, and, by peri-
odic inspection of the most dangerous areas, to prevent the gypsy
moth infestations in these areas from reaching the stage where large
areas of woodland are defoliated. It will also be the means of en-
abling a small force, such as we have at the present time, to cover,
in one season, a much larger portion of the State than has been done
previously. This work was carried on in the towns of Brooklyn,
Groton, Killingly, North Stonington, Plainfield, Pomfret, Stonington,
Thompson, and Woodstock, during the past year.
During the spraying season, state men were engaged in control
operations at a large infestation at "West Peak", Meriden, and
a large infested area, located in the towns of Granby, Simsbury
and Canton, previously reported in 1938-1939. Again this year, it
was necessary for the State to obtain the loan of spraying equip-
ment from the Federal Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quar-
antine and to secure the use of C.C.C. men to assist in the spray-
ing operations. Due to the size of the area involved at the Granby-
Simsbury-Canton infestation, and the time available to complete
the work, four power spraying machines, working two shifts a day,
were used. This operation required the use of approximately 120
C.C.C. men and all available state men each day. Smaller infested
areas in the towns of Barkhamsted, Berlin, Burlington, and Hart-
land were also sprayed. Altogether 1,574 acres of woodland were
sprayed and 43,786 pounds of arsenate of lead used.
For the first time in Connecticut, an autogiro was used to dust
two plots, 461 -acre total, in the Granby-Simsbury-Canton area
during the past spraying season. This autogiro, the property of
the U. S. D. A., Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine* is
equipped with special apparatus which enables it to fly over a
Report on the Gypsy Moth, 1939-19W 317
marked area and expel a mixture of arsenate of lead and fish
oil on the foliage much more quickly and with much less effort
than can be accomplished with a ground spraying machine. A
more complete report of the dusting by autogiro will be published
when all the data have been compiled and analyzed.
Work Performed by COG. Men
During the past season, details of men from the C.C.C. camps
located in the central part of the State performed gypsy moth con-
trol work in the following towns: Durham and Middletown in
Middlesex County; Berlin, Burlington, Canton, Granby, Hartland.
Simsbury, and Southington in Hartford County; Branford, Guilford
and Meriden in New Haven County; and Barkhamsted, New Hart-
ford and Winchester in Litchfield County. This control work con-
sisted of scouting, thinning, and spraying. During the course of the
work year they creosoted 862,299 egg-masses, destroyed 10,426 lar-
vae and pupae, scouted 129 miles of roadside and 51,494 acres of
woodland.
Work Performed by W.P.A.
A gypsy moth control project financed by funds furnished by
the Works Progress Administration and supervised by the U. S. D. A.,
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, was carried on in the
western part of the State in Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield
counties. With the exception of a small supervisory force, all the
labor employed on this project was received from the relief rolls of
the towns in the vicinity of which control work was carried on.
Control work in the form of scouting, thinning, banding and spray-
ing was performed in 23 towns in these three counties, during the
course of which 30,236 egg-masses were found and destroyed,
119,513 larvae and pupae were destroyed, and 346 miles of roadside
and 85,799 acres of open and wooded country scouted. During the
spraying season, 21 infestations were sprayed, 71,537 pounds of
arsenate of lead being used during the operations.
Scouting for Brown-Tail Moth
There was no brown-tail moth scouting project carried on in
this State during the 1939-40 season.
318
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
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Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
DUTCH ELM DISEASE
M. P. Zappe
During the past year this Station has continued its cooperation
with the United States Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
in the control of the Dutch elm disease. The Bureau of Entomology
does the actual control work and the Station carries on research
and assists in obtaining permission of the land owners when control
measures are necessary on their property. This Station also takes
samples from certain new diseased trees found by the federal scouts,
particularly in towns not previously known to be infected. Cul-
tures are made from these samples and, if found to be positive, the
trees are cut and burned. Dr. F. A. McCormick of the Department
of Plant Pathology and Botany made a total of 123 cultures in 1940.
With the increasing scarcity of W.P.A. labor, the sanitation
work has been somewhat curtailed. The ice storm in late winter
of 1940 left many elm branches broken and hanging in the trees.
All these were potential beetle breeding material and had to be re-
moved. This added to the amount of work which had to be done to
prevent an increase of bark beetles.
Three hundred seventy-eight diseased trees were found and
destroyed during 1940. This makes a total of 1,686 trees which have
been found infected with Dutch elm disease and removed since the
work first started in Connecticut in 1933. Forty-one of those
discovered in 1940 were in 17 towns in which the disease was de-
tected for the first time. They are as follows:
Town
Bethany
Bethel
Bethlehem
Brookfield
Harwinton
Middlebury
No. of
diseased
trees
2
2
10
1
1
2
Town
Morris
Naugatuck
New Haven
New Milford
Orange
No. of
diseased
trees
1
1
1
1
1
Town
Preston
Torrington
Wallingford
Waterbury
Watertown
Woodbridge
No. of
diseased
trees
1
1
3
4
2
7
None of the new towns were far from the area generally in-
fected with the exception of Preston, where one diseased tree was
discovered. This town is 25 miles from the Old Lyme area where
no diseased trees have been found since 1937. The Preston tree
was about 50 miles from the nearest diseased tree found in 1940 in
Guilford. The federal and state quarantines will probably be ex-
tended to include the towns where diseased trees were found this
year.
MOSQUITO CONTROL IN CONNECTICUT, 19401
R. C. Botsford, Field Agent
State Board of Mosquito Control
No serious mosquito nuisances were observed or reported in
the state-maintained areas during 1940.
Mosquito Control in Connecticut, 1940 323
Routine duties of maintenance comprised the principal activity
of the control crews this season. Your agent regularly inspected
key points of control and potential breeding areas, and kept in
constant touch with the crew foremen by telephone and personal
contact in the field. Thus, jammed tide gates, damage to outlets,
and complaints of mosquito nuisance, all of a minor nature, were
promptly serviced. No set plan of maintenance of the 11,000 acres
of salt marsh could be followed because the crews were moved
from place to place as the emergency required.
Your agent attended the annual convention of the New Jersey
Mosquito Extermination Association at Atlantic City, New Jersey,
March 20-22, 1940, and read a short paper on mosquito control
work in Connecticut. He also conducted a Connecticut field trip
June 27, 1940, under the auspices of the Eastern Association of
Mosquito Control Workers, showing some important W.P.A. projects
associated with mosquito control.
Mosquito breeding developed in Fairfield in the Pine Greek
Marsh, and oiling was necessary, the Town of Fairfield furnishing
the oil. Breeding also developed near the Branford River and at
East River, both of which areas were oiled. Other small breeding
places were eliminated by spur ditching. Tide gate construction
would improve areas in Branford, at Sybil Creek; in Fairfield, at
Pine Creek; and in Clinton, at Indian River.
Federal aid mosquito control projects under the W.P.A. were
reduced in number this year. Inability to secure the necessary spon-
sors' share of the cost and the reduction in numbers of relief labor
were the principal reasons for this. On December 10, 1940, the
Board was notified that the statewide projects sponsored by the
Board would no longer be operated by the Ditching, Draining and
Pest Control Project, also that no agency of the W.P.A. could ren-
der further engineering services, nor aid in obtaining releases. The
individual projects are to be administered by the local area offices
of the W.P.A. Three sub-projects of the statewide project remain
in operation under local W.P.A. administration: Canoe Harbor,
Madison; Great Harbor Dike, Guilford; and Pitkin Street, East Hart-
ford. The Pitkin Street job is 80 percent completed and the remain-
ing engineering work may be completed by the town engineers. The
Canoe Harbor and Great Harbor jobs are more complex and will
require periodical engineering services. The year 1941 will prob-
ably see the end of W.P.A. assistance in mosquito control work.
The following is a list of projects completed in 1940 or now in
operation by W.P.A. transferred from the Pest Control Project to
local area offices. All are town-sponsored excepting as noted.
Ansonia: Beaver Brook, slope paving and retaining walls. Colony
Street; completed.
The mosquito control work in Connecticut is now administered by a State
Board of Mosquito Control of which the Director of this Station is chairman. Since
the Board has no means of publication, the report of its Agent is given here.
324 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
East Hartford: Panzy's Pond and Pitkin Street, correcting drain-
age; 80 percent completed. Board sponsored by request.
Fairfield: Pine Creek Bridge; completed.
Rooster River, storm water improvements.
Groton: Benham Road and Warren Street, draining swamp.
Guilford: Great Harbor Dike, rebuilding dike damaged by hurri-
cane. Sponsored by Board.
Madison: Canoe Harbor, marsh outlet and draining swamp. Spon-
sored by Board.
New Britain: Piper Brook, corrective work.
Bass Brook; completed.
New Haven: Lawncrest Brook, drainage completed.
West River and Wilmot Brook, temporarily sus-
pended.
Little River, tide gate construction.
East Shore Meadows, improving outlet; 80 percent
completed.
North Haven: Blakeslee Road, swamp drainage; completed.
Norwalk: Lockwood Lane, swamp drainage; 75 percent completed.
Plymouth: Pequabuck River, corrective work; 60 percent com-
pleted.
Stratford: Sniffen's Meadow, new outlet; 95 percent completed.
Bruce Brook, bridge and corrective work.
West Haven: Cove River, tide gate and sea wall.
Westport: Town Dump Swamp, drainage; completed.
Pussy Willow Swamp, ditching and corrective work.
RODENT CONTROL
Howard A. Merrill, Assistant District Agent
Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of the Interior
During the year research has been continued on the ecology
and the control of pine! mice {Pity my s pinetorum); the fluctua-
tion or cyclic tendency of the population of meadow mice (Microtus
pennsylvanicus) ; and the use of repellents as a protection for trees
and shrubs against rabbits. Although a great deal is yet to be
accomplished on all of these projects, progress is being made. Obser-
vations will be required for a period of several seasons before defi-
nite conclusions can be drawn.
Pine Mice
Research in the control of pine mice has entered its "stubborn"
phase. Proper baits and poisons for control have been determined.
The proper placing of these baits in the field under varying cultural
practices has been fairly well established. However, the seasonal
activity and behavior of pine mice, their rate of breeding and rein-
Rodent Control 325
festation, and the general population cycle or fluctuation, do not
form as simple and well known pattern as in the case of meadow
mice. Upon these factors depend the time of year and number of
applications of the control method. Such information is gained prin-
cipally through long term investigations on the ecology of pine mice.
Research studies have been in progress in three widely separated
sectors of the eastern fruit belt: in New York, Pennsylvania, and
Delaware by D. A. Spencer; in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia,
by H. J. Spencer; and in Connecticut by H. A. Merrill.
In Connecticut during the early part of the winter (1939-1940)
the pine mouse population was reasonably high, as determined by
trapping in several orchards and by observations in others. During
the latter part of February and March the population was reduced
greatly. The exact cause of this reduction is not known; climatic
conditions, however, were severe.
During the first two weeks in February an examination of a
10-acre block of mature apple trees was made at South Windsor,
Connecticut. Numerous signs of pine mice were observed fairly
evenly distributed over the entire block. One row selected at ran-
dom, approximately in the center of the orchard, was trapped on
February 13 and 14, most of the traps being set in underground
burrows just below the sod. Pine mice were caught under 10 of the
17 trees in the row. A severe snow storm made it impossible to do
further trapping at that time. An attempt was made to continue the
trapping during March. However, a heavy layer of ice under
the snow made this attempt unsuccessful. A few days of warm
weather had melted some of the snow, allowing the water to run
down into the burrows where it froze into solid cylinders.
Trapping was resumed again in April, as by this time the ground
had thawed and conditions were more favorable for making under-
ground sets. However, no mice were caught after trapping the entire
block. No poisons had been used on the area. Similar conditions
were found in other orchards throughout the State, and this low
population in the spring made many of our projects difficult. The
area established to study the rate of drift or reinfestation was made
valueless because of the natural reduction in population in the sur-
rounding area.
The effectiveness of concentration stations, in the form of tar
paper squares and burlap squares, has been checked under various
conditions. Under sandy soil conditions with light vegetative cover,
pine mice were found to mound up the sand under the concentration
station, making poisoning practically impossible. Under loam condi-
tions with heavy vegetative cover, the concentration station did not
give satisfactory results even after exposure for several months.
In conjunction with the collection of pine mouse stomachs,
which are to be used in determining the general food habits and the
months when the mice are feeding on apple tree roots, certain breed-
ing data have been obtained, as indicated in Table 6.
326
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Table 6. Pine Mouse Breeding
Month
Total Males
Total Females
Juveniles'
Females
Average
Examined
Examined
Examined
Pregnant
Litter
(adult)
(adult)
April
21
23
6
6
2.00
May
21
20
12
7
2.14
June
9
12
3
4
2.50
July
11
12
1
4
1.75
August
11
10
6
5
2.20
Sept.
14
10
7
6
2.66
Oct.
14
11
5
2
2.00
Nov.
11
14
1
0
Dec.
16
13
3
0
Tine
mice weighing 20
grams or less
are classified as juveniles.
Meadow
Mice
The meadow mouse population was checked twice during the
year, once during May and again in September. This census in-
cludes the work of 1 1 investigators reporting from 13 widely sepa-
rated districts in the northeastern fruit belt. Field studies were
made on approximately 150 different Microtus habitats and inten-
sive trapping on 18 selected acre quadrats.
To standardize this Microtus population survey so that the
readings of each investigator would be comparable, the following
plan was followed: (1) In orchard areas, 50 tree bases in a block
were examined for Microtus trails. (2) In meadow areas, six
quadrats measuring 10 feet on the side and spaced at 20-foot in-
tervals were read for the linear length of Microtus trails contained
thereon. All surveys were required to be of areas representative
of at least five acres of similar cover. (3) Supporting these trail
sign surveys, each investigator trapped free an acre that he judged
above the average in Microtus infestation in his district.
Extreme Variation in Microtus Numbers. The peak in the
Microtus cycle terminated in late spring of 1939, through causes
unknown. This was followed by a summer of severe drought in
most of the Northeast that prevented any appreciable recovery
during that breeding season. The winter of 1939-1940 was severe,
the late spring replete with ice storms, and the population density
was further depressed. With three successive blows it is no wonder
that Microtus practically disappeared from many habitats. Thus,
we may consider that the breeding foci in the spring of 1940 were
not only low in numbers but scattered according to protection af-
forded by very localized habitat conditions. April, May and June
of 1940 had above normal temperature and rainfall which resulted
in excellent cover and food. Conditions then sharply reversed to
below normal rainfall during July and August, checking plant growth.
Several investigators made note of the fact that where mulching
was practiced in an orchard the Microtus populations were no-
ticeably higher. Such cultural practice aids in moisture conservation
Rodent Control 327
and improvement of plant growth. It is reasonable to suppose
that the mice on such mulched areas benefited during the July-August
dry spell. So, with (1) an uneven breeding-stock beginning, (2)
followed by variable habitat conditions, and (3) with no outside
population pressure resulting in drift, it was not surprising to find
two favorable habitats in September only a few miles apart, one
with 50 Microtus per acre, the other with three.
The high population records in May, 1940, were in northern
New York, and it is in this same region that the highest September
population of 78 Microtus per acre was recorded.
The Microtus population in September, 1940, was generally low
but exhibited extreme variations. The general mouse population had
not increased over the figures for September, 1939; however, the dis-
tribution was more variable. Infestations of 10 per acre were usual;
but in every sector very localized infestations of 75 to 150 per acre
were encountered. The 1940 breeding season was not too favorable
for increase despite the improved cover and food conditions over the
preceding year. From the investigations made, only 32 percent of
the best Microtus habitats were infested. In other words, population
pressures have not reached a point where Microtus occupy more
than half of the best habitats, thus leaving marginal areas almost
devoid of mice.
Studies from other years of rapidly expanding population indi-
cate that the number of immature mice is triple that of breeding
adults. The records for September, 1940, show that the number of
breeding adults exceeded that of immature mice by a small margin.
(Microtus below 28 grams in weight are considered immature, as it
is exceedingly uncommon to find pregnancy below that level.)
At the time of the September, 1940, census, 66.2 percent of the
adult females were found to be pregnant, the average litter size be-
ing 5.17. On the basis of no deaths, the population reported would
have doubled by October 1.
Rabbit Repellent Study
To determine the efficiency of rabbit repellents and the effect of
these materials on the cellular structure of the trees, numerous tests
have been started. The repellents being used are developed by the
Fish and Wildlife Research Laboratory.
Tests were first made under cage conditions at the University
experimental rabbit pens at Storrs, and later field applications were
made on trees in the University experimental orchard, the Hale
Orchard in Oxford, Connecticut, and Gardner's Nurseries in Rocky
Hill, Connecticut. During the coming year more extensive tests will
be made, using spray and brush applications on a variety of trees
and shrubs frequently damaged by rabbits.
During the spring of 1939, 40 apple trees (three-fourths-inch to
one-inch stock) of various varieties were planted in the University
328 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
experimental rabbit pens. Four pens were available and 10 trees
were planted in each pen. These pens are 15 feet by 30 feet and
have a heavy vegetative cover as well as considerable sprout growth.
Piles of pine boughs have been placed in each pen to provide pro-
tection during the winter months. Repellents were applied as a
paint to 22 trees and 18 trees were left untreated for checks. Fre-
quent inspections are being made regarding the effectiveness of re-
pellents as well as their effect upon the cellular structure of the
plants.
One field application was made on apple and peach trees at the
University experimental orchard during the spring when the newly
planted trees were in a growing stage. Fall applications were made
on apple trees in the Hale Orchard and Gardners Nurseries. Two
hundred fifteen trees were treated in the Hale Orchard and 50 trees
were treated in Gardner's Nurseries. In both cases severe rabbit
damage was being done at the time of application.
REPORT ON PARASITE WORK FOR 1940
Philip Garman, J. C. Schread, W. T. Brigham and G. R. Smith
During 1940, as in previous years, parasite work was carried
on in cooperation with the Connecticut Pomological Society and
the U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine.
Oriental Fruit Moth Parasites
We received 73 orders for parasites from peach growers and
placed a total of 119 colonies representing 66.185 individuals, all
Macrocentrus ancylivorus. Extensive egg, twig and band collections
were made in order to determine the degree of parasitism that
occurred throughout the State. In this work, 14,000 twigs were
collected, bands were placed in 22 orchards, and egg collections
were made in 32. Egg parasitism was low in June, increased to a
high point during July, and receded to moderate figures in August.
There was great variation from orchard to orchard. Larval parasit-
ism was likewise low in June and highest in July collections, and
showed similar variation in degree from orchard to orchard. Infesta-
tion counts continue to show correlation between size of population
combined with degree of parasitism and fruit infestation. Figures
for four orchards where complete data were obtained are shown in
Table 7. One of these orchards (Hanford) showed a very high in-
festation last year and observations indicate that it is being brought
under control by parasites. In this 300-tree orchard, a total of 1,800
parasites {Macrocentrus) were placed on the following dates dur-
ing 1940: June 14, July 8, July 10, and July 25.
Band collections made in August indicate that many parasites
were present in numerous orchards and that secondary parasites
were scarce. Table 8 gives an idea of the amount of parasitism as
determined by band collections. The method consists of placing
corrugated paper bands on the trunks about one foot from the ground
Report on Parasite Work for 19 UO 329
and removing them before the moths emerge, usually in about one
month. It is believed that orchards showing low parasitism in band
collections will need particular attention in 1941.
Table 7. Oriental Fruit Moth Parasite Work — 1940
Rating after
Percentage
Orchard
Population
deduc
ting losses
infested fruit
estimate1
from
parasites2
at harvest
Bussa
15.0
1.89
2.1
Andrews
29.5
8.6
15.2
Hanford
45.0
5.0
15.2
Musante
44.7
18.7
73.53
Estimate based on number of fruit moth eggs collected per hour on several
dates during July and adjusted to conform with collection of larvae in tips during
the same period — also on an hourly basis.
2Obtained by deducting from column headed "Population estimate" the per-
centage egg, larval and pupal parasitism as determined by laboratory breeding from
field collected tips.
3Short crop and later variety than Elberta possibly account for the high infes-
tation in part.
Table 8. Parasitism Determined by Band Collections
During August — 1940
Fruit Moth
Orchai'd and Location % parasitized
Burns — Oronoque 28.9
Farmill — Shelton .». 84.2
Hanford — Fairfield 71.8
Conyers — Greenwich 35.9
Hurlbut — Wilton 74.9
Warncke — Cannondale 62.1
Josephy — Bristol 48.2
Andrews — Glastonbury 75.6
Bussa — Glastonbury 80.8
Rogers — Southington 36.7
Root ■ — Farmington 27.5
Pero — Manchester 69.5
Peters — Hamden 92.4
Piatt — Milford 67.5
Musante — Seymour 3.7
Recoveries. A great many parasites were found during the
course of the 1940 work. Inareolata (Diodes) molestae was recov-
ered in eight orchards, and Bassus diversus in only one (Table 9).
There is some indication that Inareolata (Dioctes) molestae may
survive longer than formerly suspected, but our data are too meager
to draw conclusions at the present time. Our best results with this
parasite appear to be in the Pytka and Spicer orchards, which are
adjacent. Here the parasitism has continued at about the same level
during 1939 and 1940. Recoveries of Bossies diversus in 1940 were
disappointing compared with those in 1939.
330
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Breeding. During 1940 Mr. A. DeCaprio collected a large
quantity of strawberry leaves infested with parasitized leaf rollers in
New Jersey, and as a result we doubled the usual production of
Macrocentrus ancylivorus. Considerable credit is due Mr. DeCaprio
for the way the work was handled. Miss Mary A. Root assisted in
laboratory work during both 1939 and 1940. Her help has released
men from the laboratory, increasing the amount of field work pos-
sible.
Table 9. Foreign Parasite Recoveries
1940.
Orchard and location
Date of last
liberation
Harwig — Mill Plain 1938
Josephy — Bethel 1939
Shepard — Danbury 1938
Bassus diversus
Orkil — W. Simsbury 1939
Number of
specimens
Inareolata (Diodes) molestae
Musante — Seymour 1939
Kneuer — Guilford 1933
Farmill — Shelton none
Pytka — Deep River 1938
Spicer — Deep River 1938
males
females
male
female
male
female
males
female
males
females
male
females
male
males
1 female
Japanese Beetle Parasites and Disease
This work was carried out entirely in cooperation with the U. S.
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, on whom we have
been dependent for supplies of parasites and disease. During the
season, locations were scouted and dug to determine grub infesta-
tions. Twenty-five colonies of Tiphia vernalis were liberated.
Localities where previous liberations (with a few exceptions) had
been made were scouted. Tiphia vernalis was recovered in six lo-
calities and parasites, presumably this species, were observed in three
others. It is apparent that at least one colony has become well
established in Bridgeport and is spreading rapidly.
Investigation of the larval disease recommended for control by
the Federal Bureau was started. Inoculation work consisted of inject-
ing the disease into 15,000 to 20,000 grubs which were then sent to
Moorestown for processing and mixing with talc carrier. A total of
15 one-acre plots have now been laid out in different parts of the
State and systematic diggings are being made to determine the pro-
gress of the disease.
In addition to this work, laboratory inoculations of the Asiatic
beetle were made successfully, and several field plots laid out near
New Haven.
Outline Map
331
332
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
lliliiiiliillyillLiiJlililiiililiiiilil^s ^^M
Study of Stickers for Spray Materials 333
Nematode Parasites
Through the courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Agri-
culture we secured a quantity of nematodes for experimental lawn
treatments against Asiatic and Japanese beetles. As with the disease
work, it is too early to make any statement regarding effectiveness
of the treatment. Altogether four plots were laid out.
The outline maps (Figures 1 and 2) show the location of nema-
tode and disease plots as well as Tiphia vernalis liberations.
CONTINUED STUDY OF STICKERS FOR SPRAY MATERIALS
Philip Garman and C. E. Shepard
During the 1940 season experiments were continued with stick-
ers for lime-lead arsenate and lead arsenate alone. As in pre-
vious years oils seem to increase the amounts adhering after one
month in the case of lime-lead arsenate combinations, but aluminum
sulfate and aluminum acetate have closely approximated the results
obtained with oils. The percentages remaining are shown in Table
10, which gives comparative figures for the last three years. The
percentage gain in many cases is not large and would probably not
be reflected in readily observable increases in insect control. How-
ever, in a complete schedule of lime-lead arsenate sprays where
three or more applications are made, this difference might easily be-
come important.
In another series, "dynamite' sprays have been used with the
idea of reducing the total number of sprays applied throughout the
season. In addition, for the first time this year, we used a modified
formula containing aluminum acetate1 and a small amount of benzoic
acid. It has been found possible to emulsify white oils with this
combination in place of soaps or other agents. Results of insect
control and sticking properties have been gratifying, the new mixture
comparing favorably with "dynamite". It was noted during the sea-
son that the modified formula did not show the leaf drop that was
evident on the "dynamite" treated trees, and as a result the fruit
appeared to be larger at harvest. All trees were thinned alike dur-
ing the season to avoid discrepancies occurring from varying amounts
of fruit. The size of apples is reflected in the number per 100 pounds
(last column of Table 11).
In the "dynamite" series only three sprays were applied, whereas
the normal summer schedule calls for six and some growers apply
2The Department of Analytical Chemistry reports this to be aluminum aceto-
borate.
334
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
more than that. The situation for the experiment is an extremely
difficult one from the standpoint of both curculio and apple maggot
control. Table 1 1 gives the figures obtained from examination of
the fruit at harvest, and indicates that the modified formula is fully
as good as the straight "dynamite" sticker. The type of cover is
different, however, the poison being deposited in spots instead of
being continuous (Figure 3). Various growers examined the trees
during August and expressed satisfaction with the foliage and fruit.
Figure 3. Spray residue remaining on apple foliage
sprayed with modified dynamite on June 12.
Photograph made September 16.
It is evident, however, that much more work needs to be done with
this type of material before it can be considered of commercial value.
There is, for example, the fungicide problem, which, although partly
solved with the mixture, is not solved for situations where scab is
serious or for varieties that scab badly, such as Mcintosh. This and
other problems need attention before this promising mixture can be
released from the experimental field.
Study of Stickers for Spray Materials 335
Table 10. Comparison of Stickers for Lime-Lead Arsenate.
% AS2O3 '
% AS2O3
Year
Sticker
remaining
Year
remaining
% gain
after 1 month
after 1 month
for sticker
1940
Fish oil
25.7
1940
Check 22.8
2.9
1940
45.8
1940
45.7
.1
1939
22.0
1939
14.0
8.0
1939
51.0
1939
35.0
16.0
1938
25.4
1938
13.6
11.8
1938
47.4
1938
25.4
22.0
1939
Perilla oil
28.0
1939
14.0
14.0
1939
65.0
1939
35.0
30.0
1939
Soybean oil
21.0
1939
14.0
7.0
1939
60.0
1939
35.0
25.0
1939
Aluminum sulfate
25.0
1939
14.0
11.0
1939
61.0
1939
35.0
26.0
1940
Aluminum acetate
48.0
1940
45.7
2.3
1940
28.1
1940
22.8
5.3
^Analyses made immediately following sprays and again at the end of one month.
Table 11. Summary
of Results
with Dynamite
Sprays — 1940.
Variety,
Baldwin.
Total
Tree fruits
%
clean
%
curculio
%
codling moth
%
maggot
Apples
per 100 lbs.
Treatment
per tree
M6 3371
L6 3583
70.1
72.0
22.2
23.5
2.4
4.5
13.9
6.0
299
369
Western "dynamite"
3 sprays
Averages
71.0
22.8
3.4
9.4
334
U7 5223
L7 3950
M8 2544
L8 4636
83.2
70.2
77.5
74.6
11.5
18.5
12.9
20.3
3.5
4.0
6.1
3.9
8.0
4.0
4.0
7.8
281
275
296
297
Modified "dynamite"
3 sprays
Averages
76.3
15.8
4.3
5.7
287
L9 " 1053
8.4
72.7
29.6
70.0
Check — no spray
Treatment —
Modified "dynamite" as
Aluminum acetate
Benzoic acid
White mineral oil
Lead arsenate
Water
follows:
1 lb.
.25 lb.
1 qt.
1.5 lbs.
50 gals
(doubled at Calyx spray)
Western "dynamite":
White oil with 5% oleic acid
Monoethanolamine .7% solution
Lead arsenate
Water
Vi gal.
3 lbs.
100 gals.
(6 lbs. at
Calyx)
Sprays applied: May 17 (Pink), May 29 (Calyx), June 12 (1st Cover)
336 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Table 12. Adhesion of Arsenic in Dynamite Spray Tests — 1940.
Figures Are Micrograms As20-, per 100 One Sq. Cm. Discs.
Dates of
Examination
% AS2O31
Tree
6/16
7/16
8/16
9/16
remaining 9/16
Treatment
M6
2858
2571
1431
1612
56.4
Western "dynamite"
M7
2331
2571
2000
1725
74.0
Modified "dynamite"
N6
2369
2047
1875
1463
61.76
Western "dynamite"
N7
2124
2161
1741
1500
70.6
Modified "dynamite"
'Percentage of the amount found by analysis to be present on the foliage
June 16.
NOTES: Spray schedule given in Table 11.
Rainfall June 16 -Sept. 16, 8.66 inches.
EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL OF THE ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH
Philip Garman
Through cooperation with Mr. Walker of the General Chemi-
cal Company of New York, a quantity of an insecticide known
as "Genicide" was obtained for experiment. This material was ana-
lyzed by Doctor Fisher of the Department of Analytical Chemistry
and found to contain Xanthone. Cooperative experiments were con-
ducted, using two commercial orchards and the Experiment Station
plot at Mount Carmel. The plots at Mount Carmel and Milford
were set up so that counts could be made of fruit from adjacent
sprayed and unsprayed trees in different parts of the orchard. These
data are set forth in Tables 13 to 15. From them, it is apparent
that there was considerable gain in fruit free of new injury. While
this was not great enough to be practical in the case of the Hale
Orchards, there is considerable consistency throughout the experi-
ment. In the case of Piatt's at Milford, the fruit approached a rea-
sonably satisfactory point. The difference between treated and
checks appeared to be very significant by statistical analysis.
The orchards at Mount Carmel and Milford were sprayed with
our Experiment Station outfit. Applications at Seymour were made
by Mr. Scott of the Hale Orchards.
In order to check more fully on the field results, laboratory tests
were conducted using small green apples and infesting them arti-
ficially by placing a number of fruit moth eggs on each. Analysis of
variance indicates that the difference among treatments is significant,
and that Genicide is better than either checks or lead arsenate
(Table 16).
Experimental Control of the Oriental Fruit Moth
Table 13. Oriental Fruit Moth Control — 1940.
Platt's Orchard, Milford. Picked Fruit — Elberta.
Ou i
Sprayed
Unsprayed
Difference
Tree
Percent "new"
Tree
Percent "new"
Tree
plot
injury
plot
injury
plot
1
5.8
1
33.0
1
27.2
2
8.4
2
24.4
2
16.0
3
8.1
3
24.1
3
16.0
4
13.3
4
44.3
4
31.0
5
10.5
5
25.6
5
15.1
6
5.2
6
24.3
6
19.1
7
8.8
7
23.4
7
14.6
8
16.5
8
36.1
8
19.6
9
3.0
9
29.5
9
26.5
10
12.5
10
23.4
10
10.9
Averag*
i 9.2%
28.8%
19.6%
Control approaching satisfactory from a commercial standpoint.
-Four sprays applied as follows: August 5, August 13, August 23, and Sep-
tember 10. Genicide diluted 2 lbs. to 100 gals, water.
Table 14. Oriental Fruit Moth Control — 1940.
Experiment Station Farm, Mount Carmel. Picked Fruit — Elberta.
Unsprayed
Sprayed
Difference
Tree
Percent "new"
Tree
Percent "new"
Tree
plot
injury
plot
injury
plot
Percent
1
2.3
1
.9
1
1.4
2
7.0
2
.0
2
7.0
j
5.3
3
.8
3
4.5
t
2.2
4
1.8
4
.4
5
4.5
5
1.0
5
3.5
6
3.1
6
3.4
6
-.3
7
3.7
7
1.7
7
2.0
3
1.8
8
1.1
8
.7
9
2.1
9
1.1
9
1.0
10
4.1
10
1.1
10
3.0
11
5.1
11
2.4
11
2.7
12
.9
12
.6
12
J
13
7.8
13
3.6
13
4.2
Averages
3.8%
1.5%
2.3%
Sprays same as in preceding table.
338
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Table 15. Oriental Fruit Moth Control — 1940.
Hale Orchards, Seymour. Picked Fruit.
Percent
Percent
Tree
"new" injury-
Tree
"new" injury
Tree
Difference
Sprayed
Checks
%
1
39.9
1
52.0
1
12.1
2
29.7
2
36.6
2
6.9
3
33.9
3
58.1
3
24.2
4
15.3
4
46.6
4
31.3
5
14.1
5
67.4
5
44.3
6
32.7
6
68.4
6
36.7
7
30.5
7
53.1
7
22.6
Averages
28.0%
54.6%
25.4%
Average "new" injury from all fruit cut from
Sprayed plots 31.1% and 30.2%
Check areas 48.3% and 70.8%
Differences
17.2% and 40.6%
Notes: Control still considered unsatisfactory here because of the high infestation
in sprayed plots.
"New" injury does not include conspicuous second generation work which
would have been done before spray operations began.
Three sprays applied approximately August 5, 15 and 25.
Dilution same as in two preceding tables.
Table 16. Control of the Oriental Fruit Moth.
Laboratory, 1940.
Lead arsenate Genicide (Xanthone) Check — no
3 lbs. to 100 gals. 2 lbs. to 100 gals. treatment
Eggs Larvae Eggs Larvae Eggs Larvae
used matured % used matured % used matured %
30 5 40 4 33 20
30 14 30 2 36 19
29 23 36 2 36 12
19 7 35 0 28 28
32 16 37 3 44 17
25 17 38 1 —
36 7 37 1 177 96 54.2
37 24 39 10
40 17 33 2
38 20 39 2
316 150 47.4 368 25 6.8
General summary of the
experiment
% matured
Check — no treatment 54.2
Lead arsenate 47.4
Genicide (Xanthone) 6.8
Notes : Green apples about 1 inch in diameter were punctured with 30 holes
each, the bottoms tanglefooted and the calyces paraffined. Thirty to forty Oriental
Experimental Control of the Apple Maggot 339
fruit moth eggs were then placed on each apple and allowed to hatch. The figures
in the "eggs used" column represent only those eggs that hatched. After the larvae
had entered, the apples were each placed in an individual jar and kept in an incu-
bator until the larvae left the fruit and spun their cocoons.
Formulae: Lead arsenate 1.5 grams in 416 ml. water. Genicide 1 gm., sodium
oleate .5 gm., and zinc sulfate (monohydrate) .125 gm. in 416 ml. water.
Table 17. Oriental Fruit Moth Control — 1940.
Laboratory Experiments.
Number eggs
Number
Percent
Treatment
hatched
entered
entered
Check — no treatment
295
132
44.7
400
191
47.7
392
157
40.0
Totals and averages
1087
480
. 44.1
Genicide
228
14
6.1
282
74
26.2
230
68
29.5
1043
13
1.2
Totals and averages
1783
169
9.4
Lead arsenate
243
78
32.0
201
73
36.3
Totals and averages
444
151
34.0
Procedure — 60 holes made in small apples about 1 inch in diameter; apples
then tanglefooted below and Oriental fruit moth eggs placed on top. "Entries"
determined by digging into the fruit several days after hatching.
EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL OF THE APPLE MAGGOT
Philip Garman
Continued study of the apple maggot in 1940 gave interesting
results.
Laboratory Work
Our laboratory work consisted largely of attempts to determine
whether rotenone dusts could be improved, especially in their resist-
ance to action by light. A commercial sun lamp was obtained for
this purpose. The source of light in this apparatus is an S4 Mazda
bulb, furnishing ultra violet rays said to be considerably stronger
than sunlight. Material tested was dusted on 3.25 x 4.25-inch glass
slides and placed 12 inches from the bottom of the bulb. After the
period of exposure the slides with exposed dust were placed in small
cages where they served as windows, with the insecticide turned
inwards. Counts of dead and paralyzed flies were made after 24
and 48 hours. In some cases the slides were replaced by clean ones
after 48 hours and the reading taken two days later.
Experiments given in Table 18 were made with stabilized derris
compared with unstabilized derris from the same source, the dusts
being mixed both with and without white lubricating oil. The amount
340 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
of material on each slide was weighed carefully. The figures obtained
do not show any striking differences in favor of the stabilized derris
and the data were analyzed statistically by Dr. C. I. Bliss without
discovering significant differences.
A number of materials were then tried for reducing the effect
of light, some of which appeared promising. Dusts with 10 percent
lamp black were not destroyed as rapidly, a fact well known since
the work of Campbell. However, dusts made up with iron hydroxide
appeared to be better than those with lamp black (Table 19), and
this led to an investigation of red clays for the purpose. One of
these, known as Hall clay from the United Clay Mines of Trenton,
offers some promise. Formulae were made up with this red clay
instead of pyrophyllite and exposed to rays of the sun lamp, Tables
20 - 22. In these tests there appears to be a consistent advantage
for the red clay which increases with length of exposure to the sun
lamp within the experimental limits. Later, exposed and unexposed
slides were submitted for chemical analyses to the Department of
Chemistry. Doctor Fisher's report is given in Table 23. The re-
sults confirm our biological tests showing definitely that rotenone is
less rapidly destroyed when mixed with the red clay.
A number of new materials have been tested, some of which
show toxicity for the apple maggot fly. Perhaps the most promising
of these are pyrethrum-oil dust, two soluble antimony compounds,
and Phthalonitrile. Acetone semicarbazone also has some toxicity.
Pyrethrum-oil is not quite so efficient as rotenone dusts though it
has some repellent or deterrent action, reducing the number of egg
punctures in the fruit. The materials have not been sufficiently
studied to comment further.
Field Studies
Field experiments were conducted in two different orchards
using rotenone dusts prepared from derris by Apothecaries Hall
Company of Waterbury. These dusts, prepared to contain .5 per-
cent rotenone, were analyzed by Doctor Fisher and reported to con-
tain one and a fraction percent of rotenone, a figure probably high
because of the presence of deguelin which is not separated in the
analyses. Counts continued to show control of the apple maggot in
the Burton orchard at Mount Carmel, Tables 24 and 26, and indi-
cate fairly consistent results for the last three years. We also em-
ployed here some rotenone dust with lamp black but were forced
to discontinue it after two applications, owing to unfavorable appear-
ance of the fruit.
In the Westwoods Orchard, Cortlands, very heavily infested in
1939, were dusted six times. The infestation on dusted trees was
considerably reduced in spite of the fact that the orchard as a whole
was heavily infested and nearly all untreated fruits dropped from
the trees by September (Table 25).
It is evident that .5 percent rotenone-oil dusts may have a place
for late season work, especially since flies were seen this year in
Experimental Control of the Apple Maggot 341
various orchards until late in September. The rapidity of destruc-
tion of the insect continued to be apparent, although loss of effec-
tiveness occurred within four or five days, after which period flies
could again be seen in the trees. It is with this in mind that experi-
ments are being continued.
Table 18. Experiment to Determine Value of a "Stabilized" Derris.
Mortality of Apple Maggot Flies in Laboratory Cages — 1940.
Material Exposed to S, Sun Lamp at Uniform Distance from
Insecticide (12 inches).
Date
Expt.
number
Material
Exposure
to light
in hours
Mortality
24
hours
Mortality
48
hours
Number
flies
in cage
Weight of
material
on slide.
grams
Jan. 16- 18
D
1
2
3
4
0
0
0
0
17
17
22
19
17
17
22
19
17
17
22
19
.0052
.0041
.0059
.0055
Jan. 17- 19
F
1
2
3
4
2
2
2
2
11
8
14
10
13
11
15
13
13
18
19
16
.0049
.0046
.0048
.0054
Jan. 18-20
G
1
2
3
4
2
2
2
2
12
9
14
17
19
12
14
19
19
20
14
19
.0054
.0051
.0030
.0050
Jan. 18-20
H
1
2
3
4
2
2
2
2
13
6
9
6
18
13
14
12
20
20
22
19
.0057
.0053
.0049
.0053
Jan. 18-20
I
1
2
3
4
2
2
2
2
6
6
6
5
10
10
11
9
17
19
18
19
.0041
.0058
.0047
.0047
Jan. 16-18
E
1
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
2
0
1
4
7
2
4
5
18
19
19
19
.0045
.0043
.0047
.0041
Jan. 15- 17
C
1
2
3
4
8
8
8
8
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
1
12
15
19
21
.0041
.0045
.0033
.0044
Jan. 13-15
A
1
2
3
4
20
20
20
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
17
17
22
19
.0037
.0030
.0023
.0026
Notes : Insecticide dusted on slide with settling tower and exposed to action of
S4 Mazda bulb 12 inches from the plate. Slides so treated were used to make a
342
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
window in a small cage with the insecticide turned inwards. Data analyzed by
statistical methods show no significant differences.
Formula No. 1. Unstabilized derris, 10 gms.; pyrophyllite, 90 gms.
No. 2. Stabilized derris, 10 gms.; pyrophyllite, 90 gms.
No. 3. Unstabilized derris, 10 gms.; pyrophyllite, 86 gms.; 85 vis. white
oil, 4 gms.
No. 4. Stabilized derris, 10 gms.; pyrophyllite, 86 gms.; 85 vis. white
oil, 4 gms.
Table 19. Comparison of Three Dust Formulae for Killing
Apple Maggot Flies.
Light Exposure 20 Hours, S4 Sun Lamp.
Mortality
Mortality
Gain for
Dates
Formula
48 hrs.
%
Formula
48 hrs.
%
No. 7
over No. 12
%
Feb.
12-16,
1940
12
46
7
41
+ 6
Feb.
10-14,
1940
12
30
7
78
+ 38
Feb.
1-3.
1940
12
41
7
73
+ 32
Feb.
1-3,
1940
12
44
7
100
+ 56
Feb.
10-14,
1940
1
0
Feb.
12-16,
1940
1
0.7
Jan.
13-15,
1940
1
0
NOTES: Formula No. 7 contains (90%) Ferric hydroxide, .5% rotenone.
No. 12 contains 10% lamp black, 80% pyrophyllite, .5% rote-
none.
No. 1 contains 90% pyrophyllite, .5% rotenone.
Table 20. Comparison of Pyrophyllite (Formula 1) and Hall Clay
(Formula 15) as Carriers for Rotenone. Summer 1940.
Light1
exposure
Mortality in 48 hours
Formula 1
%
Formula 15
%
Gain for
No. 15
%
4 hours
8 hours
16 hours
24 hours
96.1
92.2
61.5
62.8
92.5
96.9
20.1
10.7
3.6
5.3
41.4
52.1
*Sun lamp, S4 bulb, 12 inches from slide with insecticide. .5% rotenone in
both formulae.
Experimental Control of the Apple Maggot
343
Table 21. Comparison of Two Dust Formulae for Killing Apple Maggot
Flies. Laboratory Tests, 1940 — .5% Rotenone in all Formulae.
Formula No.
l
Formula No. 15
Gain for
Number
Mortality
%
Number
Mortality
%
No. 15
Date
of flies
48 hrs.
kill
of flies
48 hrs.
kill
%
8
hour exposure to sun
lamp
Aug. 12
21
16
76.1
19
16
84.2
+ 8.1
Aug. 12
10
8
80.0
12
11
91.6
+ 11.6
July 26
20
20
100.0
15
15
100.0
00.0
July 26
24
22
91.6
16 hour
20
exposure
19
95.0
+ 3.4
Feb.
18
1
5.5
15
10
66.6
+ 61.1
Mar. 6
17
4
23.5
16
11
68.7
+ 45.2
Mar. 1
14
1
7.1
21
20
95.2
+ 88.1
July 29
13
4
30.7
15
9
60.0
+ 29.3
July 29
13
4
30.7
14
10
71.4
+ 40.7
Aug. 1
12
4
33.3
18
14
77.7
+ 34.4
Aug. 1
17
2
11.8
24 hour
13
exposure
10
77.9
+ 66.1
Aug. 8
20
6
30.0
20
17
85.0
+ 55.0
Aug. 8
17
2
11.7
13
8
61.5
+ 49.7
Aug. 3
15
0
0.0
28
14
50.0
+ 50.0
Notes: Formula No. 1 — Derris (5% rotenone) 10 grams, pyrophyllite 90 grams.
No. 15 — Derris (5% rotenone) 10 grams, Hall clay (red)
90 grams.
Table 22. Comparison of Different Strengths Rotenone in Red and
White Carriers, Each Exposed 24 Hours to Sj Mazda Sun Lamp.
Experiment
Number of
replicated
tests
Carrier
%
rotenone
Average
mortality
48 hrs.
1
6
Pyrophyllite
(white)
.5
49.2
2
6
"
1.0
58.2
3
5
a
2.0
89.4
5
4
Hall Clay
(red)
.25
40.7
6
5
.50
70.5
7
4
1.0
92.5
344
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Table 23. Result of Chemical Analyses1 for Light Exposed Rotenone
Dusts Compared with Unexposed.
Carrier
Color
Exposure to
sun lamp
Weight
on slides
Rotenone
found
%
rotenone
Pyrophyllite
White
None
Averages
Pyrophyllite White 24 hours
Averages 00652 gm,
Hall Clay Red None .0066 gm.
.0062
.0072
.0074
Averages 00685 gm
Hall Clay Red 24 hours .0072 gm.
" " .0072
" " .0065
" " .0064
Averages 00682 gm
.0061 gm. ■
.00016 gm.
2.5
.0053
.00011
2.0
.0069
.00019
2.8
.0057
.00019
2.9
.0060 gm.
.000156 gm.
2.5
.0065 gm.
.00005 gm.
.8
.0062
.00007
1.2
.0066
.00009
1.3
.0068
.00008
1.2
.00007 gm.
1.1
.00014 gm.
2.1
.00011
1.8
.00016
2.2
.00017
2.3
.000145 gm.
2.1
.00010 gm.
1.4
.00012
1.6
.00010
1.5
.00010
1.6
.000102 gm.
1.5
Percentage reduction of rotenone by 24-hour sun lamp exposure:
Hall Clay (red) 28.6
Pyrophyllite (white) 57.3
Difference in favor of Hall Clay 28.7%
'Chemical analyses by Dr. H. J. Fisher of the Dept. of Analytical Chemistry.
Experimental Control of the Apple Maggot
345
Table 24. Control of Apple Maggot — 1940.
Burton Orchard, Mount Carmel.
Variety — Gravenstein.
Tree
Number
cut open
Infested
%
infested
Treatment
Picked fruit
14
155
12
7
1
200
12
6
2
160
6
3
3
180
25
13
4
180
13
7
5
140
6
4
6
160
20
12
7
160
20
12 5 (
8
180
10
5
9
200
9
4 Jul
10
239
3
1
11
170
11
6
12
120
20
16
13
100
3
3
14
155
12
7
5 dusts of oil-rotenone-pyrophylliie
July 5, 15, 25, August 1, 14
Totals 2344
170
7.2
Dropped fruit
1
160
34
21
2
120
23
19
3
160
40
25
4
120
26
26
5
100
21
21
6
120
20
17
7
160
41
24
8
160
90
56 S.rr
9
160
41
31 ban
10
140
36
26
11
140
33
24
12
100
25
25
13
40
12
30
14
100
20
20
Totals
1780
462
25.9
Same as above.
Checks
120
105
Picked and Drops
87.5
None
346
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Totals
Table 25. Control of Apple Maggot — 1940.
Westwoods. Variety — Cortland.
Number
%
Tree
cut open
Infested
infested
Treatment
Picked fruits
— ■ Dusted
B 1 1
200
131
65.5
B2 2
150
130
86.6
B3 3
200
189
94.5
B5 4
200
122
61.0
B7 5
200
81
40.5
B9 6
200
140
70.0
6 dusts of .5% oil-rotenone dust
B 11 7
B 13 8
200
200
107
140
53.5
70.0
July 5, 15, 25, August 1, 8, 26
B 15 9
200
88
44.0
B17 10
200
148
74.0
B 19 11
200
96
48.0
Totals
2150
1372
63.7
Picked fruits
Gain + 35.6% in sound fruit
— Check
D 3 12
140
140
100
D 19 13
55
54
98
O20 14
300
300
100
L 15 15
L 17 16
200
200
199
199
99
99
No maggot sprays or dusts
L 21 17
200
200
100
1095
B2
2
100
B5
4
100
B9
6
100
B13
8
100
B17
10
100
1092
99.3
Infestation in dusted plot during 1939
94 94
97 97
97 97
99 99 No maggot sprays or dusts
99 99
Totals
500
486
97.2
NOTES: Treatment covered 29 trees out of approximately 180 in the orchard.
Additional sources of infestation included orchards on neighboring property only a
short distance from the dusted plot. Crop in 1940 about H tnat or 1939.
Table 26. Apple Maggot Control, 1938-1940.
Burton Orchard, Mount Carmel. Variety — Gravenstein.
Kind of
Percent injured
Treatment
Year
fruit
by maggots
.5% rotenone dust
1938
Drops
37
4 applications
1938
Picked
16
.5% rotenone-oil-pyrophyllite dust
1939
Drops
21
4 applications
1939
Picked
3
.5% rotenone-oil dust
1940
Droos1
26
5 applications
1940
Picked1
7
'Checks in this orchard during 1940 showed 87.5 percent infested fruit. All
fruit dropped from the trees before counts could be made.
Notes on the Codling Moth 347
NOTES ON THE CODLING MOTH IN CONNECTICUT
Philip Garman
Compared with other localities, the abundance of the codling
moth in Connecticut is normally low. The reason for this situation
is obscure but is probably linked in some way with climate or natural
enemies, or both. Cool temperatures at sundown probably have con-
siderable influence. Dampness and rainfall may also be important.
We learn on reviewing the literature that outbreaks threatened dur-
ing the period between 1871 and 1873. At that time P. M. Augur,
Connecticut Pomologist, reported that the "Codling moth was par-
ticularly destructive in last year's fruit. The depredations of this
insect are becoming more and more general." Since then we find
relatively few references to it in Connecticut literature though it is
mentioned in Connecticut Entomological Reports for 1903, 1904,
1917, 1920, and 1925. Experiments by Messrs. Stoddard and Zappe
in 1926 indicate that an infestation of about 26 percent developed
on check trees near a packing shed. This is the highest figure we
have seen until last summer when one of our check trees at Mount
Carmel went to 29 percent. About the only similarity in the weather
between 1871 to 1873 and 1940 is the fact that all were in periods
of abnormally high summer temperatures. The earlier period lasted
from 1860 to 1880, whereas the present period apparently began
about 1930.
Whether or not temperatures are the primary influence, it will
be noted that both records of infestation came about 10 years after
the beginning of the warmer summer averages. The worst infesta-
tion that I have yet seen in Connecticut occurred this year in Middle-
field. In the orchard mentioned, about three acres of Mcintosh were
so heavily infested that the owner put in his thinning crews and
picked off and destroyed all fruits. The trees in a block of some 10
to 15 acres were then scraped and banded, as well as dusted, to
catch any late stragglers of the second generation. How effective
this program will be remains to be seen, but the grower concerned is
energetic and resourceful and, if it is at all possible, will get control
of the situation.
The infestation occurred on a relatively high knoll near a pack-
ing shed. No signs of moths could be seen within the shed in spite
of the fact that it was filled with apple crates at the time of inspec-
tion. Alongside the shed were piled a number of cords of wood,
mainly trunks of apple trees removed from another part of the same
orchard. The stumps were two years old, however, which should
eliminate them as a source of trouble this year although they might
have concentrated the moths during 1939.
The owner admits that some of the early sprays were skipped
in 1940, and at the time of inspection little spray deposit could be
found on the trees. Possibly this may be a more serious element
tending to build up the population than any others, but it is evident
348 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
that the insect is on the increase over the entire area, 100 - 150 acres.
If the increase is due to high summer temperatures and these tem-
peratures continue, the trouble will continue. Also, if the strain of
codling moth proves to be imported from other localities where the
insect is more vigorous, trouble may be expected to continue. If,
on the other hand, it is merely due to concentration of moths and
orchard practices, we look for a decline to its original status before
long.
At least two other growers have reported codling moth damage
in 1940, and the situation will doubtless be watched with increasing
interest by many Connecticut growers during 1941.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER
(Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn.)
R. L. Beard
To achieve satisfactory control of an insect by chemical means
it is essential for the insecticide to be applied in the proper place at
the proper time. In the case of the European corn borer (Pyrausta
nubilalis Hubn.), standard procedure has been to apply dual-fixed
nicotine dust to the developing whorl and to the leaf axils at five-
day intervals, beginning soon after the eggs hatch. The application
of the dust to the whorl and to the leaf axils, particularly those in
which the ears form, is based on such observations as reported by
Neiswander, Polivka, Balduf, and Huber.1
These workers noted that although the feeding habits change
somewhat coincident with changes in the correlation between the
development of the corn and the development of the insect, in gen-
eral the young borers feed into the whorl at the base of the unroll-
ing leaves. As the tassel emerges, the young larvae feed in and
among the pollen buds. As the tassel grows away from the leafy
portions of the plant and spreads out, the larvae leave the tassel,
some of them boring directly into the stem of the plant, where they
remain. Other larvae move downward to enter the stalk at a point
under a leaf sheath or feed in the angle formed by the base of the
leaf and the stalk. Presumably these latter larvae are those which
later infest the ears, although the authors did not so specify.
In order to determine for Connecticut the feeding habits of the
corn borer with a view toward improving the effectiveness of insecti-
cidal treatment, observations on both generations of the corn borer
were made during the 1940 season.
For the first generation borer, corn of the Marcross variety was
planted on April 25 and May 1. As regards the feeding of the
borer, the difference in plant growth due to planting dates was not
sufficient to demand separate considerations of the two lots.
Three procedures were followed in tracing the activities of the
borers. In one, 70 plants were dissected in groups of 10 at five-
aIn Huber, L. L., Neiswander, C. R., and Salter, R. M. 1928. The European
Corn Borer and its Environment. Ohio Agr. Expt. Sta., Bui. 429.
Observations on the European Corn Borer 349
day intervals following the first hatching of corn borer eggs. After
the first eggs hatched, subsequent eggs deposited were removed by
frequent examination of the plants. In another series of 40 plants
on which the first eggs alone were allowed to hatch, dissections in
groups of 10 were made when the plants reached certain stages of
growth, namely, plants having early ear shoots, those in silk, at the
time of harvest, and plants with corn in the hard dough stage. In
the third series, eggs were allowed to hatch on certain plants at one
time, and on other plants at other times in such a way that through-
out the oviposition season of the insect, different groups of plants
became infested at different times. Portions of each group were
dissected at intervals in point of time rather than at particular growth
stages. At the time of dissection the stage of growth of the plant was
noted and all borers were recorded both as to stage of development
and as to position on the plant. In an effort to decrease migration
from plant to plant, plants adjacent to those under observation were
kept free from eggs except in such cases in which the infestation
coincided in time with that of the observed.
Although the plants were very carefully examined at intervals
frequent enough to observe eggs before hatching, it was found that
an occasional egg-mass was overlooked. Moreover, it was impos-
sible to distinguish individual borers which had migrated from plants
other than those under observation except in instances where age
differences were obvious. Accordingly, the data presented here show
trends and not absolute relationships, particularly when comparable
populations, rather than identical populations, are measured at differ-
ent times. One further qualification must be made. Although 325
corn plants were dissected for the first generation borer alone, so
many categories were considered that the number of plants in each
was small, and in most cases the number of borers was such that the
expression of the data in terms of percent represents an extension of
the observed figures, and must be considered as such.
Although the first eggs to be deposited must necessarily be placed
on the main portion of the plant, tillers soon develop upon which
eggs are commonly laid. The effect of this upon the ultimate distri-
bution of the borers is important in that marketable ears of corn are
produced on the main stalk. On plants observed for the first gen-
eration borer, 1,842 eggs on the main portions of the plant were
recorded. Dissections of the plants yielded a total of 484 borers,
of which 22 percent were located in the tillers, and 78 percent in the
main plant. On the other hand, 1,309 eggs were noted on the tillers
of other plants. These plants upon dissection yielded 379 borers,
of which 54 percent were located in the tillers and 46 percent in the
main portion of the plant. These figures suggest that regardless of
the position of the eggs, the borers hatching therefrom tend to dis-
tribute themselves over the whole plant, but there appears to be a
greater tendency for the borers borne on the main plant to remain
on the main plant than there is for the tiller-borne borers to remain
on the tillers. In other words, the main stalk is apparently more
attractive to the larvae. Tillers, on the other hand, appear more
350 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
attractive for oviposition, as judged from a consideration of 140
egg-masses, of which 86 were deposited on tillers and 54 on the main
plant. (Only plants possessing tillers were included for these figures.)
At the time of harvest. 100 infested ears of corn were examined,
and the position of borer entrance was noted. In only one case had
a borer reached the ear by boring from the stalk through the shank
of the ear. In three cases infestation was by way of the silk. In
39 cases, entrance to the ear was made at the area of contact be-
tween the ear and the stalk. And in the remaining 57 cases, the
borers entered through the exposed portions of the husk. These
figures show that the possibility of borers resident in the stalk itself
reaching the ear by boring through the shank is a negligible factor.
In the tabulations below, the infestation of borers in the ears
and ear shoots is that with which we are most concerned. The in-
festation of the leaf sheaths immediately surrounding the potential
ears is likewise important in that the borers are there readily avail-
able for ear attack.
Although the borers in that portion of the main stalk supporting
the potentially marketable ears are recorded separately, there is little
real need for it for the reason mentioned above: that larval migra-
tion from the central stalk to the ear is negligible. In fact, observa-
tion indicates that normally, borers have little tendency to leave the
stalk once they become established there.
All other portions of the main stalk are grouped together, and
all parts of the tillers are considered as a unit.
The following tabulation represents, at each of four stages of
plant growth, the percent infestation of these plant regions, based
on the total number of borers in 10 corn plants. Only the first eggs
deposited were permitted to hatch.
Table 27. Distribution of Borers in Plants at Different Growth
Stages. Plants Infested Early in Season.
Stage of growth
Ear Shoot Silk Time of Hard dough
harvest
Number of borers 61 114 89 41
Position of borers in plant:
Ears and ear shoots 5%
Leaf sheaths around ears
Portion of stalk supporting ears
Other portions of main stalk 79
Tillers 16
100% 100% 100% 100%
18%
33%
17%
6
2
5
1
14
34
42
12
27
33
39
17
Observations on the European Corn Borer 351
These figures show, for the first three stages of plant growth,
an increasing concentration of borers in the ears, ear shoots, adjacent
parts of the stalk, and in the tillers, with a corresponding decrease in
the other portions of the main plant.
The 70 plants dissected in groups of 10 at five-day intervals
following the first hatching had borers distributed as follows:
Table 28. Distribution of Borers in Plants at Different Times
After Initial Infestation.
Days after first hatching
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Number of borers 35 56 87 58 62 90 44
Percent borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 2% 10% 14% 36% 21% 32%
Leaf sheaths around ears .... 1 7 .... 1
Portion of stalk supporting
ears 1 8 18 26 25
Other portions of main stalk 89% 80 34 54 27 15 25
Tillers 11 18 54 17 19 37 18
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
These data show the same general tendency, though less definite
than the above, of an increasing concentration of borers in the ears.
The borer infestation in the tillers shows no definite trend. If these
same data are considered in terms of stage of plant growth at the
time dissections were made instead of units of time, the following
relationships pertain:
Table 29. Distribution of Borers in Plants at Different Growth
Stages After Initial Infestation.
Stage of growth
Early Tassel Ear shoots. Silk. No Ears
No silk real ears
Number of borers 54 70 96 212
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 6% 11% 27%
Leaf sheaths around ears .... 5
Portion of stalk supporting ears .... 5 22
Other portions of main stalk 92% 64 37 23
Tillers 8 30 42 28
100% 100% 100% 100%
This treatment of the data emphasizes the concentration of the
borer population in the ears coincident with a progressive decrease
in the proportion of borers found in the other portions of the plants
as growth occurs.
352 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
The data covering dissections of corn infested at different times
throughout the oviposition period of the borer adult are summarized
as follows:
Table 30. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited June 4-9.
Date of dissection
6/24 6/28 7/3 7/8 7/16 7/19 7/26 7/29 8/2
Number of borers 8 12 6 22 32 27 34 9 16
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 17% 23% 22% 11% 53% 56% 12%
Leaf sheaths around
ears .... .... .... .... 4 3 .... 6
Portion of stalk sup-
porting ears .... .... .... 22 7 12 22 19
Other portions of
main stalk 88% 100% 83 73 28 45 23 11 19
Tillers 12 4 28 33 9 11 44
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%, 100% 100%
Table 31. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited June 10 - 14.
Date of dissection
6/24 6/28 7/3 7/16 7/24 7/29 8/2
Number of borers 13 3 23 43 25 9 48
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 16% 24% 45% 15%
Leaf sheaths around ears .... 4%
Portion of stalk supporting ears .... .... .... 16 20 22 21
Other portions of main stalk.... 100% 100% 35 28 36 11 25
Tillers 61 40 20 22 39
100% 100%, 100% 100%, 100% 100% 100%,
Table 32. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited June 14 - 20.
Date of dissection
6/28 7/8 7/16 7/19 7/26 7/29
Number of borers 3 36 36 34 26 53
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 8% 25% 44% 11% 28%
Leaf sheaths around ears .... 3 3 4
Portion of stalk supporting ears .... 3 6 4 19
Other portions of main stalk 100% 64 2 21 27 19
Tillers 28 67 26 54 34
100% 100% 100% 100%, 100% 100%,
Observations on the European Corn Borer
353
Table 33. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited June 21 - 27.
7/13
Date of dissection
7/16 7/25
8/2
Number of borers 13
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 39%
Leaf sheaths around ears
Portion of stalk supporting ears
Other portions of main stalk 15
Tillers 46
24
34%
4
4
25
33
23
17
4
57
100% 100% 100%
32
22% 28%
31
31
10
100%,
Table 34. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited June 28 - July 1.
Date of dissection
7/8 7/20 7/29
Number of borers 26
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 19%
Leaf sheaths around ears
Portion of stalk supporting ears
Other portions of main stalk 8
Tillers 73
100%
36
36%
3
8
11
42
47
30%,
19
26
25
100% 100%
Table 35. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited July 2-5.
Date of dissection
7/15 7/25 8/2
Number of borers 43
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 23%
Leaf sheaths around ears 2
Portion of stalk supporting ears
Other portions of main stalk 12
Tillers 63
59
22%
3
9
10
56
34
17%
15
9
59
100% 100% 100%,
354
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Table 36. Distribution of Borers from Eggs Deposited July 6 - 10.
Date of dissection
7/20 7/29
Number of borers 6
Percent of borers found in:
Ears and ear shoots 50%
Leaf sheaths around ears
Portion of stalk supporting ears
Other portions of main stalk
Tillers 50
100%
30
27%
13
20
40
100%
In the above, the ears and ear shoots were considered together.
An infestation in the ears or ear shoots destined to form marketable
ears is of more serious nature than one later in the season in a rudi-
mentary ear which will never reach maturity. In the corn used in
this experiment, five ear shoots commonlv form, the first one of
which regularly develops into a marketable ear, the second one
usually does, and the third infrequently does. Inasmuch as the best
ear develops from the first ear shoot to appear, it is available for
insect attack for a somewhat longer period of time than the other ear
shoots. This results in a relatively greater infestation in the poten-
tial ears than in the other ear shoots, as can be seen from a consid-
eration of 170 corn plants on each of which were present two poten-
tial ears and from none to four additional ear shoots. The infesta-
tion of the ears and rudimentary ears is tabulated as follows:
Table 37. Borer Infestation in Ears Relative to Number of
Ear Shoots Present.
Number
Number of borers
Number of borers
of
in two ears or
in all other
plants
potential ears
ear shoots
Plants with:
Two ears, no ear shoots 46
Two ears, one ear shoot 87
Two ears, two ear shoots 27
Two ears, three ear shoots 6
Two ears, four ear shoots 4
55
83
21
9
20
25
6
10
6
Analysis of detailed data clearly shows that, in the early stages
of plant growth, the green tassel is the most attractive region of the
plant to the borers. Most of the newly hatched larvae immediately
seek that structure, in most cases penetrating the pollen buds, there
to remain embedded until the third or even fourth larval instar
is reached, when the borers migrate downward. Although, as Neis-
Observations on the European Corn Borer 355
wander (et al, I.e.) found, this migration was correlated with the
spreading out and yellowing of the tassel, it is not clear whether the
stage of plant growth, the stage of insect growth, or the exhaustion
of food is responsible for the larval movement.
A point of interest, but one difficult of estimation, is the propor-
tion of the larvae involved in this migration which reach the various
regions of the plant. The tillers appear to absorb a large proportion
of the migrating larvae. If it is assumed, in those tabulations above
in which borer eggs were deposited early in the season, that the
increase in borer population in the ears and ear shoots is due entirely
to this migration, the figures, as given, represent the proportion for
these plant structures. Certainly the chief source of the borers in
the ears of plants early infested is from the tassel buds. A certain
amount of migration from other plants may account for some of the
borers in ears, but it is reasonable to suppose that emigration from
one plant compensates for immigration from others. The possibility
of a primary infestation of the ears by borers from eggs overlooked
in routine examination of plants is minimized by the fact that the
detailed data show few larvae younger than the third instar present
in the ears.
In plants infested later in the season, when ears are developing
on the plants, a marked attraction for the borers is noted in the ear
shoots. For the corn under consideration, June 20 dated the begin-
ning of ear shoot development, and it is obvious from the tabulations
above that plants infested after this date showed a large primary
infestation in the growing ears, and that the attraction of these
structures for the borer superceded that of the tassels. That the
infestation of ears was primary and not a result of migration is evi-
denced by the fact that the larvae present at the first dissections
after attack were predominantly in the first or second instar.
It may be stated summarily, then, that in the early stages of
plant growth, the chief infestation by the corn borer occurs primarily
in the tassel and the subsequently developing ears become secondarily
infested by the migrant larvae from the tassels. If, however, ear
shoots are present at the time the corn borers hatch, they become
primarily infested and the tassels no longer are attractive to the
young borers.
According to the oviposition trend based on observations of 20
hills of corn in an adjacent plot by the Bureau of Entomology and
Plant Quarantine of the U.S.D.A., approximately 30 percent of the
corn borer eggs of the first generation presumably hatched before
ear shoots were present on the plants. Consequently, borers result-
ing from these eggs infested the developing ears only secondarily.
The bulk of the eggs hatched subsequent to June 20, the ears then
being infested directly. The peak of oviposition occurred between
June 17 and June 20.
Similar observations on the second generation of corn borer
356 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
were made on Golden Cross Bantam corn planted about June 25,
and on Carmelcross planted on July 2. By the time the borers started
feeding, the corn was well developed with ear shoots appearing.
Bearing out the observations on the first generation borer, the
corn tassels lost their attraction for the larvae coincident with the
development of ear shoots. Because of this, the ears, with minor
exceptions, showed a relatively uniform percent infestation through-
out the season, suggesting that the infestation was primary. This
is seen in the following tabulation, in which only the infestation in
the potentially marketable ears is considered:
Table 38. Second Generation Borer Infestation in Ears.
All eggs deposited allowed to hatch.
Time dissected, in days
after first infestation 10 days 15 days 20 days 25 days 30 days
Total borers present in 10 plants .... 79 56 84 115 83
Percent borers in potential ears 11% 5% 19% 10% 11%
All eggs deposited allowed to hatch.
Stage of plant at time of dissection Ear shoot Silk Harvest
Total borers present in 10 plants 90 92 128
Percent borers in potential ears 0 3% 20%
Plants infested August 5-9
Date of dissection 8/22 9/5 9/10 9/13 9/16 9/26
Total borers present in plants dissected.. 26 89 77 33 65 133
Percent borers in potential ears 12% 10% 10% 15% 12% 9%
Plants infested August 10-15
Date of dissection 9/2 9/5 9/9 9/13 9/17 9/22
Total borers present in plants dissected.. 36 27 35 53 76 89
Percent borers in potential ears 11% 44% 34% 38% 12% 26%
Plants infested August 16-22
Date of dissection 9/5 9/13 9/17 9/22 9/26
Total borers present in plants dissected.. 11 25 38 22 51
Percent borers in potential ears 18% 12% 3% 23% 16%
Plants infested August 23 - 27
Date of dissection 9/11 9/26
Total borers present in plants dissected.. 22 40
Percent borers in potential ears 32% 10%
The application of the information obtained in this study will
depend upon further observations involving the reactions of larvae
of different stages to insecticide placed in restricted regions of the
plant. But the fact that in 1940 the ears were primarily attractive
to first generation larvae, when 70 percent of the borer population
was being established, and secondarily attractive when only 30 per-
cent was being established, may explain in part the favorable results
in control obtained by Turner1 in spraying the ears alone, leaving
the rest of the plant untreated.
'See pp. 358-359.
European Corn Borer Insecticide Investigations 357
EUROPEAN CORN BORER INSECTICIDE INVESTIGATIONS
Neely Turner
A large-scale experiment in controlling the European corn
borer (Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn.) by means of dusts was carried
out on early market sweet corn. A detailed account of this test has
been submitted for publication elsewhere. In brief, it proved both
practical and profitable to dust such corn. When dual-fixed nicotine
dust (the more effective material) was used, treated corn sold for
$343.00 an acre and the cost of treatment was estimated at $42.50.
Corn from untreated plots sold at the rate of $100.00 an acre for
borer-free corn only, and infested untreated ears could be sold only
with difficulty. Grading corn as borer-free and infested was suc-
cessful because the borer-free ears brought a premium price on the
market.
The technical studies of insecticides were made on small plots
of sweet corn, in both the first and second generations. The plots
for hand application were four rows wide and 25 feet long, and
those for machine application were 50 feet long. The design was
one of randomized plots in replicated blocks. The sample for results
was 20 plants taken at random from the two inside rows of each
plot and dissected to determine the number of borers. There were
two untreated plots in each block to afford adequate numbers for
comparison with treated plots. Hand application of dusts was made
with a knapsack bellows duster. For machine application, a power,
two-row, self-propelled duster was used. Compressed air hand
sprayers were used in the spray tests.
The infestation of corn borers was lower than in previous years.
The cool spring weather retarded development somewhat. The
early emergence of moths appeared to be normal in numbers. How-
ever, exceptionally cool weather late in June prevented a large in-
festation. The second generation developed more normally but was
still fewer in numbers than usual. Rainfall was abundant but did
not interfere seriously with the schedules.
First Generation Tests
Two fields were used in these tests. In Field I dual-fixed nico-
tine dust (the commercial preparation containing not less than 3.75
percent nicotine) and derris dust (commercially prepared, containing
358
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
1 percent rotenone) were compared. Both dusts were applied by
machine and by hand to wet foliage in the early morning and to dry
foliage in late evening. The dates of application were June 11, 16,
21 and 27-28. The evening series of the last treatment was applied
June 27 and the morning series on "the following day.
A summary of the results is given in Table 39. Statistical analy-
sis of the results showed that hand application was significantly bet-
ter than machine, and that dual-fixed nicotine dust was more effec-
tive than derris dust. The difference between application to wet
and dry foliage was suggestive but not statistically significant.
Table 39. Summary of Results — Field I.
Treatment
Number larvae % reduction
in 100 plants of borers
% No. 1 ears
borer-free
Dual-fixed nicotine dust
by hand on dry leaves 98
by hand on wet leaves 141
by machine on dry leaves 134
by machine on wet leaves 173
Derris dust
by hand on dry leaves 176
by hand on wet leaves 167
by machine on dry leaves 184
by machine on wet leaves 221
No treatment 336
70.7
77.0
58.0
74.6
60.0
58.8
48.4
59.8
47.6
72.4
50.3
64.6
45.1
57.1
34.2
56.4
37.9
In Field II both dual-fixed nicotine and derris dusts were applied
by hand: (1) four applications at intervals of five days (June 13, 18,
25 and 30); and (2) three applications at intervals of seven days
(June 13, 21 and 30). Pure ground derris root (4.7 percent rote-
none) was used in the same schedules, mixed with the Ultrawet
spreader at the rate of two ounces to a pound of derris root sus-
pended in 25 gallons of water. Applications of a spray to the ears
only were made on June 28, when young ear shoots had formed;
July 8, just prior to silking; and July 15, when the ears were in full
silk. Two varieties of early corn, Spancross and Marcross, were
used, with four blocks of plots in each variety.
European Corn Borer Insecticide Investigations 359
Table 40. Summary of Results — Field II.
Number larvae % reduction % No. 1 ears
Treatment in 100 plants of borers borer-free
Spancross
Dual-fixed nicotine dust
4 applications, 5-day interval 66 82.2 76.7
3 applications, 7-day interval 121 67.5 64.4
Derris dust
4 applications, 5-day interval 141 62.2 57.9
3 applications, 7-day interval 188 49.8 60.6
Derris spray
4 applications, 5-day interval 110 70.9 64.5
3 applications, 7-day interval 196 47.5 48.5
3 applications, ears only 64.2
No treatment 374 38.6
Marcross
Dual-fixed nicotine dust
4 applications, 5-day interval 129 71.3 66.7
3 applications, 7-day interval 117 73.8 62.7
Derris dust
4 applications, 5-day interval 169 62.4 52.1
3 applications, 7-day interval 303 32.3 30.0
Derris spray
4 applications, 5-day interval 221 50.7 42.9
3 applications, 7-day interval 120 73.2 67.6
3 applications, ears only 59.7
No treatment 449 37.7
A summary of the results is given in Table 40. Statistical
analysis of the combined results from the two varieties showed that
in the dust tests four treatments at intervals of five days were more
effective than three applications at intervals of seven days. In the
spray test, the reversal of results on Spancross and Marcross was
unexpected and inconclusive. The application of spray to ears only
was surprisingly effective.
Second Generation Tests
In these tests dual-fixed nicotine dust was applied by hand in
comparison with the machine, and to wet and dry foliage on a stand-
ard schedule of five applications at intervals of five days (August 12,
360 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
17, 22, 27 and September 2). Hand applications were also made at
intervals of seven days on wet and dry foliage (August 12, 19, 26
and September 1 ) . In addition two materials were tested by hand
applications on dry foliage on the five-day schedule: ( 1 ) a dust
made of 2.5 pounds Agicide Concentrate and 7.5 pounds pyrophyl-
lite (approximately .15 percent rotenone and .5 total extractives);
and (2) a commercially prepared dust of Dry Pyrocide labelled
No. 10 (.2 percent pyrethrins).
The results are summarized in Table 41. Machine applications
were significantly better than hand, and application to wet foliage
gave better (but not statistically significant) results than to dry.
Four applications at intervals of seven days were as effective as
five applications at intervals of five days. Derris, Dry Pyrocide and
Agicide dusts were significantly less effective than dual-fixed nico-
tine dust.
Table 41. Summary of Results — Second Generation.
Number larvae % reduction % No. 1 ears
Treatment in 100 plants of borers borer-free
Dual-fixed nicotine dust
5-day schedules
by machine on dry leaves 175
by machine on wet leaves 105
by hand on dry leaves 217
by hand on wet leaves : 217
7-day schedules
by hand on dry leaves 205
by hand on wet leaves 187
By hand on dry leaves — 5-day schedules
Derris dust 337
Dry Pyrocide dust 404
Agicide dust 428
No treatment 828
Discussion. The most consistent difference was that between
dual-fixed nicotine and derris dusts, which was uniform in all tests.
In the first generation there were definite indications that the stan-
dard four applications at intervals of five days were more effective
than three applications at intervals of seven days. No such differ-
ence occurred in the second generation tests. The results regarding
application to wet and dry foliage are somewhat in conflict, but at
least it can be concluded that evening applications may be as satis-
factory as those made early in the morning.
78.8
78.4
87.3
84.0
73.7
74.4
73.7
74.9
75.2
78.0
77.3
77.7
59.3
64.3
51.2
53.7
48.2
55.8
37.6
Control of the Cabbage Maggot 361
The more effective use of the machine as compared with the
hand duster in the second generation might well be due to better
operation and adjustment of outlets. The first generation tests were
made with the new machine of a type which had not been available
previously.
One very encouraging result was the comparatively high effec-
tiveness of the spray applied to ears only. This will be investigated
further since it offers a less expensive treatment than the standard
applications of sprays or dusts.
CONTROL OF THE CABBAGE MAGGOT
Neely Turner
The cabbage maggot {Hylemyia brassicae Bouche) is by far
the most destructive insect pest of early cabbages, cauliflower and
related crops in Connecticut. In some seasons few maggots appear,
but as a general rule enough are present to justify treatment every
year. The development of the bichloride of mercury treatment has
enabled growers to control the cabbage maggot successfully. How-
ever, this material is difficult to dissolve and handle in the field,
because only wooden, glass or enameled containers can be used to
handle the solution. Furthermore, the solution injures roots of young
or newly-set plants (Glasgow, 1929). The search for other effec-
tive materials resulted in the discovery by Glasgow that calomel
(monochloride of mercury) is a satisfactory chemical. Furthermore,
calomel has been used successfully in dust form, which eliminates
the necessity of handling quantities of water.
The standard practice has been to apply a dust containing 4
percent calomel diluted with 96 percent talc, clay, or gypsum around
the stem of the plant two or three times during the egg-laying period
in May. This appears to be a simple control measure, but many
growers have not obtained satisfactory results. Application too late
to protect the plants has been the most common failure, with use of
a much too small amount of dust of almost equal importance.
Glasgow also demonstrated that pure calomel applied to the
stems of plants before setting is effective, providing the coating is
not destroyed during the planting operation. In actual practice the
coating of calomel is usually broken or destroyed during planting.
For this reason a series of tests was started, using other methods of
application.
In 1938 the roots of plants ready for setting in the field were
dipped in calomel dust just before planting. For comparison, a tea-
spoonful of calomel dust was placed around the stems of the plants
immediately after setting. Both treatments were effective, and the
application of dust around the stem after setting seemed to be more
practical from the growers' standpoint. In 1939 this method was
compared in a preliminary test with the standard treatment of two
applications of dust around the stem of the plants during the ovipo-
362 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
sition period in May. The planting time application was made by
hand and the May treatments by a small hand duster of a type used
commonly by growers. The treatment at planting time was more
effective in controlling cabbage maggots than the surface applica-
tions.
In 1940 the tests were made on a larger scale in randomized
plots. The treatments were applied to Copenhagen Market cabbage,
set April 25, as follows:
1. Four percent calomel mixed with 96 percent Bancroft clay, applied by
hand to the surface of the ground around the stem of each plant immediately
after setting. Material was used at the rate of 106 pounds to the acre.
2. A similar treatment using 8 percent calomel, at the rate of 96 pounds to
the acre.
3. Surface treatments on May 14 and 24, using 4 percent calomel dust
applied by a small hand duster. The total amount of dust used in both
applications was 66 pounds.
4. No treatment.
Each treatment was applied to six plots and a plot consisted
of two rows of 10 plants each. The heads were harvested as they
matured, and records kept of the weight per row. A summary of
the results is given in Table 42. Analysis of variance of the origi-
nal figures on which the summary is based showed highly significant
differences between treated and untreated in regard to number of
heads and total yield, and no difference between number of heads
and yield among the three treatments.
Table 42. Yield of Cabbage and Maggot Treatment.
Average weight
Treatment Number heads Total weight per head
(lbs.) (lbs.)
4% calomel — planting time 115
8% calomel — planting time 115
5% calomel — May treatment 112
No treatment 81
Discussion. The amount of calomel per acre applied by surface
application was slightly more than half that used in planting time
treatments. There is no information in this experiment to indicate
the minimum amount of calomel necessary to protect the plants. The
facts that surface treatment with a smaller amount of material was
effective, and that increasing the amount of calomel from 4 percent
to 8 percent was unnecessary, indicate that the planting time dosage
might be reduced. Regardless of this point it is evident that surface
treatments at planting time were effective. The planting time treat-
ment is highly advantageous to the grower. It avoids the always
difficult task of timing May applications during the oviposition dates
302.31
2.63
325.44
2.83
312.06
2.79
196.12
2.42
The Japanese Beetle, Seasonal Development — Sprays 363
of the maggot flies. It enables the grower to complete planting and
treatment in one operation. When the plants are small it is much
less trouble to apply the dust around the stems than when they have
grown larger. Furthermore, the month of May is perhaps the busiest
of the year for the average vegetable grower, and transfer of the
treating date for cabbage to April should be a distinct advantage.
Summary. The two preliminary tests followed by a larger scale
plot test have demonstrated that an application of 4 percent calomel
dust around the stems of newly-set cabbage plants is a satisfactory
treatment. Such an application is as effective as the standard treat-
ments usually applied in May.
Literature Cited
Glasgow, Hugh, 1929: Mercury salts as soil insecticides. Jour. Econ. Ent., 22:
335-340.
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE JAPANESE BEETLE AND
SPRAYING FOR THE ADULT INSECT
J. Peter Johnson
Several lots of immature stages of the Japanese beetle were
obtained from diggings made in Bridgeport and New Haven during
the month of June, 1940. The majority of the insects were in the
third larval instar, but prepupae and pupae also were present. The
results of the diggings are given below.
Table 43. Results of Spring Diggings, 1940.
3rd Instar
Location Date Larvae Prepupae Pupae Total
East Rock Park, North End,
New Haven June 12
East Rock Park, Rice Field,
New Haven June 19
Municipal Golf Course,
New Haven June 19
Seaside Park, Bridgeport June 19
The most advanced stages were found at the Municipal Golf
Course, and the place where the diggings were made was in a pro-
tected area having a southern exposure. None of the pupae were
in the advanced stage.
The adult beetles began to emerge from the soil approximately
two weeks later than usual in the summer of 1940. This was
probably due to adverse temperature and moisture conditions earlier
in the season. April had a mean temperature (Hamden) of 3° F.
below normal and the precipitation was about normal. The mean
temperature for May was 1° F. below normal while the precipita-
tion was about three times normal. During June the mean tempera-
46
21
4
71
29
24
6
59
18
18
34
70
66
14
4
84
364 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
ture was 1° F. below normal and the precipitation was about nor-
mal. However, the coolest period during this last month occurred
between June 20 and June 27 at the time when the adult beetles
usually emerge from the soil. During this period the daily mean
temperature rose above 59° F. only twice and on one of these days
it was 63° while three days later it was 61°.
The first beetle reported in the vicinity of New Haven was
found on July 6. For the next few days the beetles observed were
few in number but on and after July 1 1 they were becoming more
abundant. The beetles were abundant in old areas of infestation
and continued to cause defoliation until about the first week in
September. However, in localized areas beetles were numerous un-
til October, feeding on low growing plants. The last adults were
observed in the field on October 15. Freezing temperatures occurred
for the next several nights and no further observations were made.
As the beetles were late in emerging, the experimental spray
program was delayed accordingly. The areas selected for spraying
were situated in an urban section where many favorite host plants
were growing and beetle feeding had been general the preceding
season. One-half of a city block was selected as a unit for each
spray, and all host plants, together with other non-attractive plants
which were incidental in the group plantings, were sprayed.
1. Lead arsenate at the rate of 6 pounds, plus 4 pounds of
wheat flour and 1 quart of soybean oil to 100 gallons of water was
applied July 1 1 to the first unit. Among the host plants sprayed were
sweet cherry, sassafras, Norway maple, Virginia creeper, linden and
white birch. Heavy showers occurred only a few hours after the
spray was applied, and heavy rains continued throughout the night
and the next morning. Altogether 2.16 inches of rain fell within the
24 hours following the application.
2. The second unit was sprayed on July 13 with a mixture com-
posed of 4 pounds of lead arsenate, 4 pounds of wheat flour, and 1
quart of soybean oil to 100 gallons of water. Sweet cherry, Chinese
elm, white birch and mountain ash were among the host plants
treated.
3. The third unit was sprayed on July 15 with a mixture of lead
arsenate 4 pounds, wheat flour 4 pounds, water 100 gallons. Among
the host plants treated were weeping willow, apple, Norway maple,
Japanese red maple, althea and purple leaf plum.
4. The fourth unit was sprayed six times at intervals of seven
days with pure ground derris root (containing 4 percent rotenone)
at the rate of 6 pounds, plus 1 quart of rosin residue emulsion, to
100 gallons of water. The beetles were present in numbers suffi-
cient to cause defoliation for a period of approximately six weeks.
It was observed that the beetles would return in numbers to the most
favored host plants, such as Chinese elm, roses and Virginia creeper,
by the sixth and seventh day after each spray, and cause slight
The Japanese Beetle, Seasonal Development — Sprays 365
additional damage. This would indicate that if it were desirable to
obtain the best results with the derris spray, it would be necessary
to make an application every fifth or sixth day, depending upon the
degree of beetle infestation. A single application of the derris spray
leaves very little visible residue, but as only 1.35 inches of rain fell
(Hamden) during the period, the accumulated residue from the six
applications was very noticeable.
The units sprayed with the lead arsenate, flour, and soybean oil,
and with the lead arsenate and flour mixture were adequately pro-
tected and no appreciable damage occurred to treated foliage. Un-
sprayed new growth was attacked and eaten on some of the primary
host plants but this was not general. A few trees left unsprayed as
checks were partially defoliated and the beetles attacked the fruit
on unsprayed peach trees located on one of the properties. Due to
the small amount of rainfall only one spray of these materials was
applied. It would be necessary in seasons of heavy rainfall, when
the spray was washed off the foliage, to make one or two additional
applications.
A number of trees, namely sassafras and mountain ash, in East
Rock Park, New Haven, were sprayed July 15 with tetramethyl
thiuram disulfide at the rate of 2 pounds, plus 2 pounds of pheno-
thiazine, to 100 gallons of water. The sprayed sassafras foliage was
definitely protected for a period of approximately two weeks. A
small number of beetles then reinfested the foliage and the accumu-
lative light feeding was apparent by the end of August. The un-
sprayed new growth on most of the sassafras trees was attacked as
soon as it developed. The mountain ash foliage was reinfested
within a few days after being sprayed and some defoliation occurred
before the end of the season. There was a total of 2.19 inches of
rainfall (Hamden) from July 16 until September 10. Small amounts
of rain fell on 17 different days, 0.66 inches being the largest amount
on any one day.
Observations were made in a commercial vineyard in Greenwich,
where two applications of tetramethyl thiuram disulfide and pheno-
thiazine were made approximately two weeks apart on one variety,
the Delaware grape, which is very susceptible to Japanese beetle
attack. The first application was made in the first week of July
when the first adults were expected to emerge, and the second one
was applied on July 16 when the insects were becoming very num-
erous. On July 18 many beetles were observed throughout the area
in which the vineyards were located. The sprayed vines were com-
paratively free of infestation as only one beetle was observed on
them. However, as the season progressed, the beetles returned and
ate all of the new foliage and some of the older sprayed foliage.
Sufficient of the older foliage remained to enable the fruit to mature,
whereas in the preceding year it was reported that the vines were
defoliated to such an extent that the grapes failed to develop properly.
366
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Beetles were more numerous than in preceding seasons, and
defoliation occurred over larger areas. These conditions were very
noticeable in Branford, Bridgeport, East Hartford, Greenwich, Ham-
den, Hartford, New Haven and West Hartford. Nectarine and
plum trees were defoliated in one orchard in Greenwich. Ripening
peaches were eaten by the beetles in the same orchard, resulting in
a considerable loss to the grower. The derris and rosin residue emul-
sion mixture, used at the same rate as given above, was applied to a
number of the trees attacked and protected the foliage and fruit for
a period of five to six days.
Below is a list of ornamental trees and shrubs sprayed during
the season of 1940 with lead arsenate at 6 pounds, wheat flour 4
pounds, and soybean oil 1 quart to 100 gallons of water.
Azalea amoena
Bush honeysuckle
Shrub-althea
American linden
Butterfly bush
Dogwood, Flowering
Dogwood, Red flowering
Dogwood, Red osier
Deutzia, Slender
Birch, Gray
Birch, European white
Birch, Sweet
Cherry, Sweet
Crab, Flowering (white)
Crab, Flowering (pink)
Apple, Mcintosh
Coralberry
Forsythia, Border
Forsythia, Weeping
Kerria
Hugonis rose
Hawthorn, White
Elm, American
Elm, Chinese
Elm, Dwarf Asiatic
Apple, var.
Hydrangea, Peegee
Maple, Norway
Maple, Japanese red
Maple, Schwedler's
Maple, Silver
Maple, Sugar
Lilac, Hort. var.
Lilac, White
Mockorange, Big
Mockorange, Sweet
Japanese barberry
European mountain ash
Purpleleaf plum
Siberian pea tree
Silverberry
Spirea, Anthony Waterer
Spirea, Vanhoutte
Snowberry
French tamarix
Rhododendron obtusum var. amoenum
Lonicera sp.
Hibiscus syriacus (pink and white)
Tilia americana
Buddleia magnified
Cornus florida
Cornus florida rubra
Cornus stolonifera
Deutzia gracilis
Betula populifolia
Betula alba
Betula lenta
Prunus avium var.
Malus var.
Malus var.
Malus sylvestris sp.
Symphoricarpos vulgaris
Forsythia intermedia
Forsythia suspensa
Kerria japonica
Rosa hugonis
Crataegus var.
Ulmus americana
Ulmus parvifolia
Ulmus pumila
Malus sylvestris sp.
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora
Acer platanoides
Acer palmatum rubrum
Acer platanoides schwedleri
Acer dasycarpum
Acer saccharum
Syringa var.
Syringa persica alba
Philadelphus coronarius grandiflora
Philadelphus coronarius
Berberis thunbergi
Sorbus aucuparia
Prunus cerasifera pissardi
Caragana arborescens
Elaeagnus argenta
Spirea Anthony Waterer
Spirea vanhouttei
Symphoricarpus racemosa
Tamarix gallica
The Black Vine Weevil and Its Control 367
Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera
Weigela, Red flowering Weigela Eva Rathke
Weigela, Pink Weigela rosea
Willow, Weeping Salix babylonica
Willow, Laurel Salix pentandra
Winged euonymus Euonymus alatus
Rugosa rose Rosa rugosa
Flowering quince Cydonia japonica
Lancaster heart nut Juglans sieboldiana
Sassafras, Common Sassafras variifolium
The trees and shrubs are listed according to "Standard Plant
Names".
THE BLACK VINE WEEVIL AND ITS CONTROL
J. Peter Johnson
The first record of the occurrence of the black vine weevil.
Brachyrhinus sulcatus Fabr., in Connecticut is that of an adult, now
in the Station collection, found in New Canaan on September 19,
1910. During that year, a few other specimens also were found in
New Haven and one in Litchfield. Taxus plants were injured so
severely in Pomfret, in 1913, that many of them died. The injury
was caused by the weevil larvae feeding upon and cutting off the
roots. Occasional specimens of the insect were collected during the
next few years. Since 1927 there are records of the weevils occur-
ring annually, being found in nurseries and greenhouses or sent in
for identification. In 1939 they were found in five nurseries. How-
ever, in 1940, due to an intensive inspection of all commercial Taxus
plantings, weevils were found in 19 nurseries. As the insect appears
to be increasing in abundance and as it is capable of doing consid-
erable damage in localized areas, a study of its habits and methods
of control was inaugurated. Reports have been made by other
workers on the use of lead arsenate as a spray, baits containing
sodium fluosilicate or calcium arsenate for the control of the adults,
and lead arsenate as a soil insecticide for the control of the larvae,
as well as on the life history of this insect. Smith's (2) report on
the use of lead arsenate in potting soil is about the most extensive
one concerning the use of this poison as a soil insecticide for the
control of the larvae. Gambrell ( 1 ) has reported on the use of
various baits, sprays and soil treatments for the control of the straw-
berry root weevil, Brachyrhinus ovatus (L.), a closely related spe-
cies, which is often associated with the black vine weevil about the
roots of Taxus.
Fifteen diggings were made on May 27, 1940, in a block of
Taxus cuspidata capitata, which was heavily infested, removing
entire plants. There were a few spreading hemlocks and Taxus
baccata repandans growing adjacent to the block of T. capitata,
and one each of these plants was dug for examination. In each case
the entire plant was removed and the soil excavated to include
all of the root system. The results of these diggings are given in
Table 44.
368 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Table 44. Seasonal Development, May 27, 1940.
Tree
l
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
n
12
13
14
15
16
17
Total
Percent
Larvae
9
33
34
2
8
7
4
18
2
7
1
0
7
20
3
37
47
239
60.66
Pupae
7
7
11
2
16
6
9
12
3
1
0
0
0
4
4
17
51
150
38.07
Adults1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
5
1.27
Total
16
40
45
4
24
13
13
31
5
8
1
0
11
24
7
54
98
394
Collected during examination of debris under trees prior to digging.
All of the pupae collected in these diggings were white in color
and not one was in an advanced stage of development. A few of
the larvae were small but most of them were fully grown or pre-
pupae. The adults found were dissected in a few days and some of
them contained eggs. As the spring season was cool and late, con-
ditions were not conducive for early transformation from larvae to
adults. The adults collected on May 27 were not fresh and clean in
appearance, and as they were ready to deposit eggs, it is evident
that they had hibernated successfully. The hibernation of adults has
been reported from 'Pennsylvania and Oregon. Apparently only a
small number are successful in passing the winter, as the above fig-
ures indicate and as verified by the reports of other workers.
Adult emergence from the soil was well under way by June 20.
A number of observations were made during the season to note their
habits. On June 28, the debris in the crotches of the trees was
examined. There was a considerable amount in one tree, and upon
removing about one-third of it, 20 live adults were found. Adults
also were found in a similar situation in several of the other trees.
Evidently the insects prefer to hide during the daytime in locations
which do not remain damp and wet and will take shelter above the
ground in the leaves and debris in the crotches of the trees. Most
of the adults are found in the leaves and debris on the ground im-
mediately around and close to the trunks. On July 5, 32 adults
were found under one tree, and 22 of these were under a loose
clump of soil against the base. A number were found in the cracks
of the soil against the trunks. Five adults were found on September
28 in debris in two different trees and one adult in the debris under
a third tree. Upon being disturbed in the daytime, the adults will
play possum and remain immobile for some time. If exposed to light,
they will soon try to gain shelter in debris or under loose clumps of
soil.
The adults feed upon the leaves of Taxus, chewing notches in
the edges. Feeding has been observed between 6 and 7 feet above
the ground on large, upright trees, but most of it is lower. Appar-
ently a considerable amount of feeding takes place at first on the
small inner branches, close to or on the trunk or main stem. If there
are great numbers of adults present, feeding will be very general on
all parts of the plant.
The Black Vine Weevil and Its Control 369
The larvae feed upon the roots of the trees. When they are
small, they eat the finer roots, and as they approach full growth
attack the larger roots and oftentimes partially girdle the trees just
below the crown. Heavy feeding on the finer roots causes the
foliage to acquire a yellowish, unhealthy color, while severe root
damage will cause leaf drop and the tree will become shabby in
appearance. Severe root feeding kills the trees.
A series of experiments on the control of this weevil was started
during the season of 1940 to investigate the value of lead arsenate as
a spray, lead arsenate as a soil insecticide, a commercial bait con-
sisting of dried apple flakes and sodium fluosilicate, and bran baits
containing sodium fluosilicate or calcium arsenate. Lead arsenate at
the rate of 5 pounds to 100 gallons of water was used as a spray on
the foliage of Taxus cuspidata and T. cuspidata capitata. As the
weevils are apt to feed on any or all parts of the foliage and espe-
cially that near the trunk, it is necessary to spray thoroughly to
cover those portions of the plant subject to attack. Lead arsenate
was used at the rate of 3 pounds to 100 square feet as a soil poison.
This was applied to the surface of the soil under the plants over an
area slightly larger than the diameter of the entire tree and then
mixed with the upper two inches of soil. The baits were applied at
the rate of about one cupful per tree, distributed evenly. Most of
the trees treated were 24 to 36 inches in height, but there were a
few 5 to 7 feet high. The amount of bait placed under the larger
trees was increased so that the areas under the plants were ade-
quately treated.
The baits and lead arsenate soil treatment were applied on
June 20, while the lead arsenate spray was applied on June 21, as
the adults were then appearing in considerable numbers. Much rain
fell and the humidity was high during the next few days, and the
baits became moldy. Fresh bait was applied on June 28. Again
the material became moldy and one-half of the plots received another
application on July 15. The bran baits deteriorated more rapidly
than the commercial bait containing the dried apple flakes. Only one
application of the sprays was necessary during the season as the
residue persisted throughout the summer months.
The treatments were replicated four times in blocks containing
from 15 to 25 trees each. Five trees were dug in each block to
obtain a count of all larvae present. All the soil was removed from
the roots of each plant and every digging included the entire root
system. The diggings were made on September 26, 27, 30, and
October 1 and 4. The results indicated that the baits containing
sodium fluosilicate and the lead arsenate spray were more promising
than either the bait containing calcium arsenate or the soil treatment
with lead arsenate. However, all of the treatments were of merit,
but further work is necessary before conclusive comparisons may be
drawn.
370 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Literature Cited
-(1) Gambrell, F. L., 1938: The Strawberry Root Weevil as a Pest of Conifers
in Nursery Plantings. Jour. Econ. Ent, 31: 107-113.
(2) Smith, Floyd F., 1932: Biology and Control of the Black Vine Weevil. U. S
Dept. of Agr., Tech. Bui. 325.
NOTES ON THE CONTROL OF MOUND-BUILDING ANTS
J. Peter Johnson and R. B. Friend
During the summer of 1940 many active nests of the moun-
building ant, Formica exsectoides Forel., were reported in a pine
plantation of the Eli Whitney Forest, in the town of Prospect. In
one section of the plantation 17 mounds were situated between the
pine stand and a main road and in a barway leading into the pines.
They were located in areas exposed to sunlight during most of the
daylight hours. The nests varied in size, the smallest being 8 inches
in height and 18 inches in diameter, while the largest was 12 inches
in height, 8 feet in width and 12 feet in length. The latter nest was
a composite of five nests which had become contiguous. All of the
mounds were very active, evidently inhabited by strong colonies.
In another part of the plantation new colonies in small nests were
injuring and killing young plantings of pine.
The presence of these nests afforded an opportunity to check
several methods of control. Eight of the mounds were treated and
the results are given in Table 45.
The treatments were made on August 2 when the soil tempera-
ture at a depth of 3.5 inches was 72° Fahrenheit. The carbon bisul-
fide in each case was applied in equal amounts in five holes in mounds
4 and 5. Each hole was closed immediately after the insecti-
cide was applied. Equal amounts of methyl bromide were placed in
each of five holes in mound 1, while mound 2 received the fumigant
in seven holes. The top 4 inches of mound 3 was removed, the
methyl bromide was poured as evenly as possible over the exposed
surface, and the removed material was replaced immediately. Mound
6 was treated with pure ground derris root (containing at least 4
percent rotenone). This was broadcast by hand in a band about
12 inches wide, completely encircling the mound. Freshly cut pine
boughs were placed over mounds 7 and 8 to form a blanket 12 to
18 inches in depth.
Approximately six weeks after the treatments were made, the
three mounds treated with varying amounts of methyl bromide were
inactive and the ants dead. One mound that had been treated with
carbon bisulfide was very active, while in the other the ants were
dead. The large colony treated with the pure ground derris root
was all but exterminated, with only a few living ants in one end of
the mound and thousands of dead ants present in a band encircling
the mound. Many dead ants were also found in the galleries near
the exits. In both cases where the pine boughs were used to cover
mounds 7 and 8, the nests were built up through the boughs so as to
be exposed to the sunlight. Mound 7 had also been increased in size
so as to extend beyond the periphery of the boughs.
Control of the Mound-Building Ants
371
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372 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
These experiments were conducted not only to check existing
recommendations but to try new insecticides and, if possible, to find
a simple method of control which was not laborious and which could
be adapted to rough terrain. A certain amount of equipment is nec-
essary to inject or apply methyl bromide or carbon bisulfide success-
fully, and under forest conditions it is rather difficult for a man to
transport. Covering the mounds with pine boughs is an easy method,
but as it is known that ants will either overcome such a handicap
or migrate from an unfavorable location, as again demonstrated by
this experiment, the success of this method is doubtful. In view of
the size of mound 6, the possibility of re-entry of ants, the high de-
gree of control, and the simplicity of the method justify giving derris
root a further trial.
Methyl bromide is apparently more efficient than carbon bisul-
fide in controlling the ants but its application is difficult. Carbon
bisulfide presents a possible fire hazard in the quantities necessary,
while the toxic danger of methyl bromide to man is reduced to a
minimum when used in the open air. Derris root does not present
these hazards and is non-toxic to man. However, derris root is
toxic to cold-blooded animals and it would be necessary to exercise
care when using it in the vicinity of waters containing fish. As its
toxic properties are destroyed by sunlight in a week or so, the prob-
lems concerning the use of derris root can be overcome easily by
discretion in making the applications.
CONTROL OF THE HAIRY CHINCH BUG
Blissus hirtus Montandon
J. Peter Johnson
It has been customary in the past to base control recommenda-
tions to prevent lawn injury by the hairy chinch bug on calendar
dates, but this has been definitely eliminated because of the influence
of seasonal conditions upon the development of the various stages of
the insect. Egg deposition apparently extends over a month or more
under favorable conditions, but may be lengthened by cool and
adverse weather. Unfavorable weather may prolong the period of
egg incubation, resulting in a delay of the peak hatch of the insect.
There is considerable overlapping of the various stages of the chinch
bug, as it is possible to find all stages of the first generation together,
and the earlier stages of the second generation appear before the
first generation completes its cycle of transformations.
In the spring of 1939, in New Haven, the peak of the first gen-
eration nymphs occurred very early in June, and control experiments
were started on June 10. However, in the spring of 1940, the first
nymphs of the first generation were not found until June 13, and the
peak occurred in early July, three to four weeks later than the pre-
vious year. The peak of the second generation nymphs usually
occurs in August, but in 1938 it occurred in early September.
Control of the Hairy Chinch Bug 373
It has been noted that practically all of the lawns which have
been damaged by the chinch bug contained bent grasses in varying
proportions. MacLeod and Maxwell ( 1 ) have shown that bent
grasses are more susceptible to attack than other grasses. Their
more general use over the past 15 years possibly has been respon-
sible for the increase in number of lawns damaged. These grasses
are succulent in growth, forming heavy, dense lawns. After a few
years the grass clippings, debris and root growth usually form a
spongy, dense mat in which the chinch bug can hide and be free
from observation until damage from feeding occurs. When a lawn
is composed of a heavy, thick grass or is spongy in texture, it is
very difficult to apply insecticides satisfactorily. If a nicotine sul-
fate-soap spray is applied to such turf, sufficient material must be
used to penetrate to the surface of the soil to insure the wetting of
all the bugs. Dusts applied by hand or by a hand fertilizer distrib-
uting machine will not satisfactorily pass through dense grass into
the spongy mass found in many lawns, and if the air temperature is
below that at which the chinch bugs are active, results will be poor.
The insects usually are active when the temperature is around 70°
F. and very active at 85° F., or above.
Experiments have been conducted during the past two years
with tobacco dusts containing .5 percent and 1 percent nicotine ( 1 ) .
and cube or derris dusts containing .5 percent and 1 percent rote-
none, used at the rate of 25 pounds to 1,000 square feet of lawn area.
The tobacco dusts containing .5 percent nicotine gave poor results
and will not be used in further work. Good kills were obtained
when the other dusts were applied during a period of continuous
high temperature and no rainfall. An excellent kill was obtained in
the past summer when the materials were applied on a clear day
when the mean temperature was 92° F. On one occasion when an
extensive series of experimental plots had been treated, and heavy
rains followed within a few hours, the rate of kill was so small that
the results were worthless.
Results have indicated that the population of a heavy infesta-
tion in a dense turf cannot be reduced sufficiently with one treat-
ment of dust to eliminate further damage by the survivors or their
progeny. Under such conditions it is usually necessary to make a
second application or to spot-treat local areas. Good results have
been obtained when the treatment was made under favorable weather
conditions in light turf where there was very little debris. Chinch bug
populations occur as dense as 1,000 or more to one square foot and
to obtain good results the insecticide used must not only be efficient
but must be applied under the most favorable conditions.
. , , Literature Cited
(1) MacLeod, G. F. and Maxwell, K. E., 1937: Experiments to Control Hairy
Chinch Bug Infesting Turf on Long Island. Jour. Econ. Ent., 30: 432-437.
374 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
CHEMICAL REPELLENTS TO BARK BEETLE BREEDING
Philip Wallace
Tests of various chemicals applied to logs to determine their
effectiveness in preventing elm bark beetle breeding were carried
out during 1940.
On July 17 five elms were cut and divided into 5-foot lengths.
Five racks were made of seven logs each, taken at random from the
five trees and placed on 9-inch sleepers. The location was a clear-
ing in the forest where only slight shade was afforded by brush and
weeds, and certain tall trees reduced the direct sunlight by about
25 percent. The sleepers of the racks were infested with both
Hylurgopinus rufipes and Scolytus multistriatus , and a heavy
emergence also occurred from nearby down trees and cut wood.
The racks were placed 10 feet apart and none were more than 30
feet distant from the emerging beetles.
1. Creosote — a liquid coal tar creosote obtained as a by-pro-
duct in illuminating gas manufacture. This was brushed on the logs,
as it would leave an undesirable residue in a sprayer. Certain logs
in this rack were left untreated and others were treated only on the
upper side.
2. Borax — sodium borate, 3 percent dilution by weight in
water, applied with hand pressure sprayer.
3. Phinotas oil — proprietary compound, miscible in water, and
having a strong carbolic acid odor. Applied with hand pressure
sprayer, 2 percent dilution by volume with water.
4. Hycol — a miscible fraction of coal tar creosote recommended
by the manufacturer as a disinfectant and insecticide. Applied with
sprayer, 2 percent dilution by volume with water.
Approximately one gallon of each solution was required to spray
thoroughly the average bark area of 40 square feet in each rack.
The time for filling the tank, spraying, rolling logs, and rinsing the
tank was seven minutes per rack.
Table 46 is a summary of the data obtained when the logs were
barked and examined in October.
The European Earwig, 194-0
375
Table 46. Elm Log Treatments.
Av.
Total
Total
Per sq. ft.
Treatment
inches
sq. ft.
S. multistriatus
S. multistriatus
diam.
bark area
galleries
Creosote — "none"
5.0
19.63
24
1.22
Creosote — top-half
3.75
9.82
2
.204
Creosote — ■
entire surface
5.07
10.14
0
0
Borax
4.83
34.71
235
6.77
Phinotas — 2%
5.07
46.46
45
.97
Hycol —2 %
5.55
36.32
45
1.24
Control
4.16
27.15
168
6.19
Total
143.25
184.23
519
Average
4.74
2.82
Conclusion
Borax was entirely ineffective in preventing elm bark beetle
attack. A significant reduction in brood galleries resulted from treat-
ment with both miscible creosote oils but they cannot be considered
satisfactory repellents. Liquid coal tar creosote applied to the top
of logs in a rack gave good protection, but the untreated placed
among the creosoted logs were not satisfactorily protected. Elm
logs which received a complete cover of liquid coal tar creosote
were entirely free from attack by any bark or wood boring insect.
NOTES ON THE EUROPEAN EARWIG FOR 1940
J. Peter Johnson
Through the cooperation of the United States Department
of Agriculture, 86 government earwig traps were loaned to the
Experiment Station. These traps were placed in favorable locations
4 feet or more above the ground, in and around the area of known
infestation. They were suspended on the northerly side of apple,
cherry, peach, pear or birch trees, clothes poles, posts or fences on
or near lawns, flower gardens or weedy areas.
The section in which the traps were placed included that part
of Westville, New Haven, bounded by Alden Avenue and Harrison
Street on the east; West Elm Street on the south; Forest Road, Vista
Terrace and Pardee Place on the west; Fairfield Avenue and Whal-
ley Avenue on the north; covering an area of more than 10 city
blocks. The traps were visited on August 24 when 689 earwigs
were taken and on September 18 when 623 were removed.
Earwigs were found on the west side of Alden Avenue, both
sides of McKinley Avenue, both sides of Barnett Street, on the north
side of Willard Street, and on the south side of Fountain Street.
The area of infestation, as indicated by the trap captures, was con-
fined to city blocks bounded by Alden Avenue, West Elm Street,
Forest Road and Fountain Street.
376 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
An effective control for the young earwig nymphs, as recom-
mended in U. S. D. A. Bulletin No. 566, consists of a bait prepared
in the following proportions: stale white bread 1 pound, Paris green
1 ounce, water to moisten. The bread should be ground up into
fine pieces and the Paris green mixed with it while dry. Add water
slowly while stirring to make a mixture which will run through the
fingers. As the insect is nocturnal in habit, the bait should be broad-
cast immediately after dusk in gardens and on lawns near vines and
shrubs. It should be thrown with sufficient force to break it into
smaller pieces. If the infestation is heavy, three applications may
be necessary within a period of 10 days. This bait should be applied
between May 15 and June 15 on warm nights. Songbirds are more
interested in earthworms during this period and danger to them is
very slight. A severe decrease in earthworms, due to drought, would
possibly increase this danger. Caution should be exercised in expos-
ing domesticated animals and chickens to the bait.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
An infestation of a European sawfly, Gilpinia frutetorum L.,
has been found in a red pine plantation in Litchfield, according to
J. V. Schaffner, Jr., of the Federal Bureau of Entomology and Plant
Quarantine. The larvae were first discovered September 1, 1938,
but were rare at that time. In June of the following year a few
cocoons were found in the litter on the ground and on the twigs of
the trees. On August 1, 1940, over 500 larvae were collected in less
than an hour by beating small branches. The infestation appears to
be increasing in intensity.
This insect has been known to occur in the United States only
during the last few years. The specimens collected in New Jersey
July 11, 1938, were the first to be identified in this country, although
specimens found in New York State in 1931, but not then identified,
were apparently this species. The insect is known to occur in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire and in Ontario, Canada. It
may become an important pest of red pine.
The writer is indebted to Mr. Schaffner for much of the above
information.
[R. B. Friend]
Calomycterus setarius Roelofs, a Japanese weevil, has been
present in Connecticut at least since 1932, when it was found in the
Town of Salisbury. At the present time it is known to occur in the
following towns: Fairfield, Farmington, Greenwich, New Canaan,
Salisbury, Sharon, Stratford, West Hartford, and Westport. The
Stratford infestation, as far as we know, embraces the greatest area,
about one square mile. The intensity of this infestation has not
increased during the last two years. The other infestations are
smaller, being confined to a few acres or less.
Miscellaneous Insect Notes 377
This insect has not become an economic pest. In the adult stage
it feeds on a number of plants, but appears to prefer legumes. For
this reason it was at first considered a potential pest of clover and
alfalfa, but it has caused no real damage to either of these crops to
date. At the present time, because of its habit of crawling into
houses, it is more of a nuisance than an economic pest.
[M. P. ZAPPE]
Nearly every year we have several complaints of clover mites
{Bryobia praetiosa Koch) entering buildings and annoying the occu-
pants. This year was no exception, A factory office building in
Hartford became infested in the early part of March while snow
was still on the ground. The building faced the south and near it
the snow had melted and grass had begun to grow. The vegetation
close to the building, as well as the sides of the building, was literally
covered with clover mites. The basement floor was about four feet
below the grade level and was used for offices. The clover mites
were entering the basement through the large windows and were
crawling over the inside walls, desks, etc. Recommendations were
to dust sulfur on the outdoor window sills and vegetation, which
apparently eliminated the nuisance as no further complaints were
received.
[M. P. ZAPPE]
During the month of August two cases of homes infested with
the house cricket, Gryllus domesticus, were reported. The first one
was from Huntington, in the Town of Shelton. The crickets were
said to be eating holes in clothing and the wallpaper on the walls.
It was suggested that a paste consisting of two cups of flour and a
level teaspoonful of Paris green be made and distributed as a bait.
The owner reported that dead crickets were observed the next day
and that some of the paste had been eaten. It was also suggested
that the bran-Paris green bait be used in addition to the other bait,
and this was done within a few days.
On August 28 the second case was reported from West Haven,
after the owner had used sprays and fly swatters to control the
crickets. A few seemed to persist, however, and the bran-Paris
green bait was recommended.
In both cases the houses were adjacent to dumps which were
partially uncovered or not covered at all.
[J. Peter Johnson]
A small outbreak of a looper, Ellopia athasaria Walker,
occurred during 1940 in two hemlock stands, one in Woodbridge
and the other in Branford. At Woodbridge about seven acres were
involved, the trees being 6 to 18 inches in diameter. The upper
crowns of the larger trees were completely defoliated and the lower
branches were affected to a greater or less extent. Some of the
smaller trees were completely stripped. The young reproduction,
378
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
however, was not injured. Inasmuch as the survival of these trees
was doubtful, the stand was cut in the late fall. At Branford about
two acres were involved. The trees were about the same size and
the same type of injury, although slightly less pronounced, was ob-
served (Figure 4). The larvae of this species mature in Septem-
ber. It hibernates in the pupal stage, and pupae were abundant in
the undecomposed litter under the trees in the winter of 1940-1941.
A sample taken at Branford yielded 35 to 50 per square yard close
to the bases of the trees.
Figure 4. Hemlock trees at Branford partially defoliated by
Ellopia athasaria Walker in 1940.
In 1927 Houser (Jour. Econ. Ent, 20: 299-301) reported an
outbreak which occurred in 1925 near East Liverpool, Ohio. The
stand was mixed hardwood and hemlock, and although the hemlocks
were most severely injured, red oak. white oak, beech, soft maple,
and ironwood were fed upon to some extent. Many of the hem-
locks died and were later attacked by bark beetles and borers. The
outbreak lasted only one season.
In 1935 Schaffner (Insect Pest Survey, 15: 273) reported an
outbreak in a hemlock stand extending over about 10 acres in War-
wick, Mass., in 1934. This outbreak was also of brief duration.
[R. B. FRIEND]
Miscellaneous Insect Notes
379
Last October Mr. Albert Morgan, of Rocky Hill, brought in to
the Experiment Station a spider, Mastophora cornigera (Hentz),
together with its apparently recently made cocoon. Mr. Morgan's
attention was attracted by the oddness of the cocoon, a photograph
of which is given here (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Egg cocoons of Mastophora cornigera Hentz,
a spider new to New England.
This spider belongs to a genus of orb-weavers of which only
two species, both quite rare, occur in Connecticut. They are both
found in the southern and western states, though nowhere very
commonly, and Mr. Morgan's specimen represents the first authentic
record of M. cornigera, for New England. They are the only mem-
bers of the family in which the cephalothorax bears a pair of large,
horny protuberances.
The females vary considerably in size, depending upon the state
of gravidity, and southern specimens tend to be larger. M. cornigera
varies from about 6 to 15 mm. long, and M. bisaccata, the other
New England species of the genus, from about 6 to 1 1 mm. In both
380 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
species there is marked sexual dimorphism, the males measuring from
1.5 to 3 mm. in length. It has been observed that the males undergo
only a single molt after emerging from the egg sac, when they are
already recognizable as being in the penultimate instar.
In addition to this peculiarity, and that of structure, the two
species are quite remarkable in the character of their cocoons, which
are flask-shaped, having more or less elongate neck and swollen
base. The manner of attaching the cocoons to the surroundings dif-
fers in the two species. One of the cocoons brought in by Mr. Mor-
gan has a base about 8 mm. in diameter and a "neck" about 6 mm.
high. The cocoon is lashed at the base to a twig by a number of
glossy, silken threads, which are attached to one side, carried around
the twig and fastened to the other side. These threads are drawn
so tightly that the cocoon sits quite firmly on the twig. The outer
covering is of grayish brown color, and quite tough. McCook states
that when cut open "the bowl is found to contain a ball of white
silken floss, within which the eggs are deposited. This ball is fast-
ened to a very tough twisted cord, that passes up through the neck,
and which was the line by which the egg ball was suspended before
the outer flask was spun around it." In all probability the tough
texture of the outer covering is due to the action of a salivary
secretion (as has been demonstrated by Montgomery for other
spiders), and is not simply the result of spinning alone.
In M. bisaccata (Emerton) the cocoon is not fastened to a twig
at the base, but rather by a long thread extending from the neck,
so that the base hangs free. Emerton had found his at New Haven
in 1880 on beech and oak trees; and one was brought in to the
Experiment Station in April, 1935, by Mr. A. B. Brockett, who had
seen it hanging from an apple tree on his farm in Clintonville. The
base was 10 mm. in diameter and the suspension thread 55 mm. long.
In color and texture this closely resembles the egg sac of cornigera,
and from the fact that Emerton had taken his in October with the
spider holding on to the sac it seems that the cocooning season also
is the same as in that species. Besides differing in method of attach-
ment, this cocoon differs from that of cornigera in that the lower
portion of the bowl has a scalloped fringe with blunt points or pro-
cesses. The whole resembles, at first glance, a young apple, of which
the dried-up sepals are represented by the scalloped fringe.
[B. J. KASTON]
Brenau College,
Gainesville, Ga.
Publications 381
PUBLICATIONS, 1940
R. B. Friend
Connecticut State Entomologist.1 Thirty-Ninth Report. Bui. 434, 111 pp., 7
figs., with index. June, 1940. (Issued July, 1940).
R. B. Friend and M. P. Zappe
Laws and Regulations Concerning the Inspection of Nurseries in Connecticut
and Transportation of Nursery Stock. Circ. 141, 34 pp. April, 1940.
(Issued May, 1940).
Philip Garman
Tetranychidae of Connecticut. Bui. 431, 22 pp., 23 figs. January, 1940.
(Issued February, 1940).
The Outlook for Insects. The Rural New-Yorker, Vol. XCIX, No. 5472, p.
164. March 9, 1940.
Oriental Fruit Moth Parasites. Circ. 140, 19 pp., 11 figs. March, 1940.
(Issued April, 1940).
Report on Parasite Work for 1939. Proc. 49th Annual Meeting, Conn. Pomol.
Soc, p. 94 (2 pp.). April, 1940.
Seasonal Notes on Insects and Sprays. Pomological Pointers for Conn. Fruit
Growers, No. 126 (2 columns). April, 1940.
Control of Apple Maggot. Spec. Bui. (mimeographed), 1 p. October, 1940.
Philip Garman and M. P. Zappe
Report of Committee on Injurious Insects. Proc. 49th Annual Meeting, Conn.
Pomol. Soc, p. 86 (3 pp.). April, 1940.
Neely Turner
Some Observations on Commercial Termite Control Operations. Pests, Vol.
8, No. 1, pp. 10-11. January, 1940.
Control of Ants. Spec. Bui. (mimeographed), 2 pp. June, 1940.
Termites and Carpenter Ants. Tree Pest Leaflet No. 47. Mass. Forest and
Park Assoc, 4 pp., 3 figs. July, 1940.
Raimon L. Beard
Parasitic Castration of Anasa tristis DeG. by Trichopoda pennipes Fab.,
and Its Effect on Reproduction. Jour. Econ. Ent., Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 269-
272. April, 1940.
R. C. BOTSFORD
Mosquito Control in Connecticut, 1939. Proc. 27th Annual Meeting, N. J.
Mosq. Exterm. Assoc, p. 101 (2 pp.). March, 1940.
D. S. Lacroix
Thrips and Flea Beetle Control Experiments. Report of Tobacco Substation
at Windsor for 1939. Bui. 433, p. 191 (2 pp.) March, 1940.
A. W. Morrill, Jr.,2 and D. S. Lacroix
Report on Insect Investigations for the 1939 Season. Report of Tobacco Sub-
station at Windsor for 1939. Bui. 433, p. 186 (6 pp., 3 figs.). March, 1940.
inasmuch as the articles in this Report written by members of the Department
all bear the authors' names, they are not listed here.
2Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, U.S.D.A.
Index
583
INDEX
Acetone semicarbazone, 340
Adelges abietis, 299
cooleyi, 299
Agicide Concentrate, 360
Aluminum acetate, 331, 335
aceto-borate, 331
sulfate, 331, 335
American foul brood, 311-313
Apple flakes, dried, 369
leaf-curling midge, 298
maggot, 295, 298, 334, 335,
339-346
scab, 334
Argyrotaenia velutinana, 296
Asiatic beetle, 330, 331
Bassus diversus, 329, 330
Benzoic acid, 331, 335
Bichloride of mercury, 361
Birch leaf-mining sawfly, 297
Black carpet beetle, 297
vine weevil, 367-370
Bladder maple gall, 297
Blissus hirtus, 298, 372, 373
Borax, 374, 375
Brachyrhinus ovatus, 367
sulcatus, 367-370
Bran baits, 369, 377
Brown-tail moth, 314, 317
Bryobia pradiosa, 377
Cabbage maggot control, 361-363
Calcium arsenate, 367, 369
Calomel, 361-363
Calomycterus setarius, 297, 376, 377
Carbolic acid, 374
Carbon bisulfide, 370-372
Carpenter ant, 297
Carpocapsa pomonella, 295, 298
Chinch bug, 298, 372, 373
Chinese praying mantid, 297
Chionaspis pinifoliae, 297, 299
Cicada killer, 297
Clay, 340, 342-344, 361, 362
Clover mites, 377
Codling moth, 295, 298, 335, 347, 348
Creosote, coal tar, 374, 375
Cube, 373
Curculio, 334, 335
Dasyneura communis, 297
Deguelin, 340
Derris, 339-343, 357-360, 364-366,
370-373
Dual-fixed nicotine dust, 348, 357-360
Dutch elm disease, 295, 322
Ellopia athasaria, 295, 377, 378
Elm bark beetle, 374
leaf beetle, 295, 296
Emphytus ductus, 308
Euonymus scale, 297
European corn borer, 296, 348-361
earwig, 296, 375, 376
elm bark beetle, 295, 374, 375
pine shoot moth, 299
sawfly, 376
spruce sawfly, 298
Fenusa pumila, 297
Ferric hydroxide, 342
Fish oil, 317, 335
Forficula auricularia, 296, 375, 376
Formica exsectoides, 370-372
Galerucella luteola, 295, 296
"Genicide", 336-339
Gilpinia frutetorum, 376
Gouty maple gall, 297
Grapholitha molesta, 295, 328-330,
336-339
Gryllus domesticus, 377
Gypsum, 361
Gypsy moth, 295, 313-321
Hall clay, 340, 342-344
House cricket, 377
Hycol, 374, 375
Hylemyia brassicae, 361-363
Hylurgopinus rufipes, 374
Inareolata (Diodes) molestae, 329,
330
Inspection of apiaries, 310-313
imported nursery stock, 307
nurseries, 299-308
Iron hydroxide, 340
Japanese beetle, 295, 297, 298, 363-367
parasites and disease, 330
quarantine activities, 308-310
Lamp black, 340, 342
Lead arsenate, 316-321, 331, 335, 336,
338, 339, 364-367, 369
Lime, 331, 335
Lubricating oil, 339
Macrocentrus ancylivorus, 328, 330
Mastophora bisaccata, 379, 380
cornigera, 379, 380
Meadow mice, 296, 324, 326, 327
Mealybugs, 296
384
Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 445
Melanoplus punctulatus, 295
Methyl bromide, 370-372
Microtas pennsylvanicus, 296, 324,
326 327
Milky disease, 330, 333
Monochloride of mercury, 361
Monoethanolamine, 335
Mosquito control, 322-324
Mound-building ants, 370-372
Nematodes, 331, 333
Nicotine, 357, 373
sulfate, 373
Oriental fruit moth, 295, 336-339
parasites, 328-330
Oyster shell scale, 299
Paratenodera sinensis, 297
Paris green, 376, 377
Pavement ant, 297
Perilla oil, 335
Phenothiazine, 365
Phinotas oil, 374, 375
Phthalonitrile, 340
Phyllocoptes quadripes, 297
Phymatodes variabilis, 297
Pine blister rust, 299
leaf scale, 297, 299
mice, 296, 324-326
Pitymys pinetorum, 296, 324-326
Popillia japonica, 295, 297, 298,
308-310, 330, 363-367
Poplar canker, 299
Porthetria dispar, 295, 313-321
Pseudococcus comstocki, 296
Pyrausta nubilalis, 296, 348-361
Pyrethrins, 360
Pyrethrum oil, 340
Pyrocide, Dry, 360
Pyrophyllite, 342-346, 360
Rabbits, 324, 327, 328
Red-banded leaf roller, 296
clays, 340
Rhagoletis pomonella, 295, 298, 334,
335, 339-346
Rodent control, 324-328
Rosin residue emulsion, 364, 366
Rotenone, 339, 340, 342-346, 358, 360,
364, 373
Sacbrood, 311
San Jose scale, 299
Scolytus multistriatus, 295, 374, 375
Soap, 331, 373
Sodium borate, 374
fluosilicate, 367, 369
oleate, 339
Soybean oil, 335, 364-366
Sphecius speciosus, 297
Spruce gall aphids, 299
mite, 297
Strawberry root weevil, 367
Sulfur, 377
Talc, 330, 361
Termites, 296
Tetralopha robustella, 297
Tetramethyl thiuram disulfide, 365
Tetramorium caespitum, 297
Tiphia vernalis, 330-332
Tobacco dusts, 373
Toumeyella liriodendri, 297
Tulip tree scale, 297
Ultrawet, 358
Wheat flour, 364-366, 377
White oil, 331, 335, 339, 342
pine weevil, 299
Xanthone, 336, 338
"X" disease, 299
Zinc sulfate, 339
J
3
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