174 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



found in the stems of hollyhocks, sunflowers and other succulent herbaceous plants 

 as well as of tomatoes. 



Some imported fruit of early tomatoes was sent in from Mr. W. E. Saunders, of 

 London, Ont., containing specimens of the larv» of the Corn or Bull-worm (Helio- 

 this armiger, Hbn.). These had been imported from the United States by Mr. E. 

 West, florist of London, who stated that he had found over a dozen in each crate of 

 tomatoes. Although Heliothis armiger occurs in Canada, I have never in this 

 country seen this injury to tomatoes in the field, which is well known in the States. 



The Tomato Sphinx (^Protoparce celeus, Hbn.) was reported as rather abundant 

 in centi-al Ontario, but the actual damage by this large conspicuous insect was slight. 

 A few inquiries were as usual made as to any danger from being stung by the cater- 

 pillar when hand-picking it. This, of course, as can easily be ascertained, is utterly 

 impossible; the caterpillar is perfectly harmless. 



Early planted tomatoes were somewhat injured by the Colorado Potato beetle, 

 before the potatoes came up. This beetle also is so much attracted by the egg-plant, 

 us to render it almost impossible to grow this vegetable in many parts of Ontario 

 without covering the plants. 



ANOTHEE VEGETARIAN CAREION BEETLE 



{Silpha bituherosa, Lee). 



Attack. — Shining black, very active, grubs, f-inch in length, like wood lice, 

 which devour the leaves of pumpkins, squashes and plants of the Spinach family. 



A new attack of some interest recorded this year for the first time is that of 

 the larvse of one of the native carrion beetles upon plants of the Grourd and Goose- 

 foot families in the North-west Territories. In Europe a very similar insect belong- 

 ing to the same genus is sometimes a serious pest in mangel and beet-root fields. 

 As these last-named plants also belong to the same large family, the Chenopodiacece 

 or Spinach famil}^, it is not impossible that as the North-west is settled up, this 

 new pest may become troublesome, and it is fortunate that its habits have been 

 found out before it does so. My esteemed correspondent, Mr. Thomas Copland, who 

 has assisted me frequently with his careful and reliable observations, when on the 

 look-out during the past summer for the larvae of the Eed Turnip beetle, found 

 larvae of the Carrion beetle mentioned. He writes from Saskatoon, N.W.T. : — 



" June 5th. — I inclose you a few larvae which I suppose may be those of 

 Entomoscelis adonidis, and. as I am not acquainted with the weed on which they 

 were feeding, I inclose some with the larvae for them to feed upon on the way and 

 for you to identify. These insects are very active in hunting for their food if they 

 happen to be where weeds are few and cultivated food has not yet been supplied in 

 the gardens and fields. It is possible I may be wrong in the identity of the larvte." 



" June 17. — I send 5^ou two more plants of the weed on which 1 first found the 

 larvaB of the Carrion beetle (which I thought might be those of the Eed turnip- 

 beetle when I sent them). The plants sent were the favourite food of the larvae : 

 but they by no means confined themselves to these. The common lamb's quarters 

 or pig-weed (Chenopodium album, L.) and several other weeds were eaten, but not 

 quite so freely as the specimens sent. The larvae are remarkably active and drop from 

 the food-plants when disturbed, hiding under them or seeking crevices in the ground. 

 I will let you know if they attack any cultivated plants. I have heard of similar, 

 probably identical, larvae attacking the young squash vines ; but, as our vines are 

 inclosed, I cannot say whether they are liable to attack or not." 



The weeds sent were the wild North-west plant Monolepis chenopodioides, Moq., 

 which also belongs, like the lamb's quarters, to the Ohenopodiacece. 



Eefen-ing to the above letters, Mr. Copland wrote on July 6th : — " Yours of the 

 28th June is to hand. I have, since receiving it, recognized and captured a speci- 

 men of the Silphaheetle. I have not found the larvae on any cultivated plants, but 

 did observe that they were rather indiscriminate feeders, and the succulent condi- 

 tion of the plant seemed to have everything to do with the choice, except in the 

 case of the Monolepis chenopodioides, which is their favourite ; they have not yet 

 touched my beets. I will keep a look out for a second brood." 



