THK CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 199 



moths, these insects have flocked by hundreds, and this has been observed 

 not only in Ontario, but also in the Western States, showing that this 

 moth has been unusually abundant over an extended district. Millions 

 of their eggs must have been deposited on the leaves and stems of grasses, 

 but the intense drought we have had has probably deprived the newly- 

 hatched larvae of the food necessary to their existence, and we may hope 

 that the evil we have suffered from in the way of drought has saved us to 

 a great extent from serious invasions of Army Worms next year. 



Much attention has been paid of late by Entomologists to the natural 

 conditions which favor or prevent the increase of injurious insects ; and 

 I think there is good ground for expecting, after a few more years of close 

 observation, that it will not be difficult to prognosticate, with a large 

 measure of accuracy, several months in advance, the probabilities as to 

 the insect pests likely to prevail during any year in any given district. 

 When this can be satisfactorily accomplished, much practical good may 

 be expected to result therefrom, since by avoiding the planting of such 

 crops as are likely to be especially injured by insect hosts, and growing 

 others comparatively free for the time from these troubles, a large saving 

 may be effected. 



During the summer a small moth, well known to Entomologists as a 

 common insect throughout the Northern States and Canada, but never 

 before recorded as destructive anywhere, has invaded the pastures in some 

 parts of Northern New York, and inflicted great injury. It is a species 

 of Crambus, Crambiis vidgivagellus. The Crambidse are known by the 

 common name of grass moths, from the fact that as far as is known they 

 all feed in the larval state on grass, and hence the moths are found every- 

 where in meadows, flying about in the daytime, with a short but rapid ' 

 flight. The moths are small, with narrow front wings, which are usually 

 ornamented with metallic spots and stripes. It was about the middle of 

 May that a serious invasion of what was popularly supposed to be the 

 Army Worm, occurred in St. Lawrence County, New York. The State 

 Entomologist, Prof J. A. Lintner, at once visited the scene of destruction 

 and found the injury widespread and serious, extending over eight of the 

 northern counties. Hundreds of acres of grass presented a brown 

 appearance, as if winter-killed. A pasture lot of ten acres which, ten 

 days before, offered good pasture, was so thoroughly destroyed that in 

 many places not a blade of grass could be seen to the square yard. The 

 upland pastures were first attacked and entire fields were laid waste in ten 



