21 



REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE 



YEAR 1887-1888. 



To the Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists^ Clah : 



The past season has probably been the most active fur the Ento- 

 mological Brancli since the oi-ganizatioa of the Club. Special efforts 

 were maJe by the Leaders to bring this important study before the 

 members and to gain their assistance and sympathy, Every exertion 

 was made to have at least one Laader present at each Excursion or 

 Sub-Excursion, so that beginners might always have someone to con- 

 sult with reference to any insects captured or observed during the 

 outing. 



No opportunity was lost on such occasions to give information 

 both by means of conversation during the outing, and by elementary 

 addresses when the party had re-assembled preparatory to the return 

 home. Tlie activity thus forced u[)on the Leaders in striving to carry 

 out the wishes of the Cjuncil lielped them materially in building up 

 their collectionii, and combined with their work at other times, resulted, 

 as in former years, in adding largely to the knowledge of our local 

 in.sect In una. 



Particular attention was given to the study of gall-forming insects 

 and of the small Hymenoi)tera belonging to the families Cynipidt^, 

 Chalcididie and Proctotrui)ida', regarding the Canadian species of which 

 but little was previously known. The results have been very satis- 

 factory, but show that very much woric will be yet required before our 

 knowledge of these interesting forms will be in any degree complete. 



In last year's report mention was made of the fact that this locality 

 had already yielded 100 new species of Hymenoptera, and it can now 

 bo recorded that the number has been raised to fully 200, while 

 undoubtedly many others are still in our ccllections awailiug study and 

 de3crii)tion. Jn addition, very nuiny rare species not hitherto recorded 

 from Canada have been captured. 



AtQong injurious insects the only ones demanding special attention 

 were the two s|)ecies of Clisiocampa, or Tent-uaterpiilars, which appeared 

 in greater numbcr.'s than for many years previously ; f(ji'est trees for 



