286 AGRICULTUKK OF MAINE. 



A number of years study of the aphids or plant lice of Elaine 



by Miss Patch and upon Diptera by Dr. Johannsen has resulted 



in an accumulation of data some of which have been published 



in Buls. 1/2, 173, 180, 181, 182, 196, and in other papers; but 



.much of which still remains to be worked up for the State. 



The present work of the department of Entomology may be 

 classified as follows : 



I. Investigations of insects affecting special plants, (a) In- 

 jurious to fruit and fruit trees; (b) affecting corn, potatoes and 

 garden crops; (c) injurious to forest and shade trees. 



li. Studies on special groups of insects. ((\) Beneficial 

 parasitic insects; (e) plant lice and jumping plant lice: (f) 

 fungus gnats, and life history studies of various other species of 

 flies, particularly those of economic importance. 



I. INSECTS AEFECTING SPECIAI, PI,ANTS OR CROPS. 



Among the insects injurious to fruit and fruit trees which 

 bave been noted this year the more important are the apple 

 maggot, tent caterpillar, the apple leaf Bucculatrix, the plum 

 curculio, the San Jose Scale, the plum Eulecanium, the cigar 

 case bearer, the bud moth, the red hump caterpillar, and the 

 brown-tail moth. 



The apple maggot or railroad worm has claimed especial 

 attention because of its relation to one of the most important 

 industries of Maine. A closely related insect injuring fruit in 

 Europe and South Africa has been successfully fought by 

 means of a sweetened poisoned bait. The announcement of 

 this discover}' has led several entomologists in this country to 

 experiment along these lines upon the fly whose larva causes 

 so much damage to our apple crop. While, as yet, no definite 

 directions for this method of control can be recommended for 

 Maine, continued experiments may yield a hopeful outlook 

 along this line. 



The need of combating the brown-tail moth in ]\Iainc con- 

 tinues. A remarkable circumstance in the development of the 

 insect this season should be recorded. The caterpillars have 

 not previously been recorded in this State as feeding to a very 

 troublesome extent in the fall and they have been apparently 

 uniform in hibernating early in the third instar when about 



