ISTew York Agricultural Experiment Station. 35 



department of entomology. 



The collection of insects. — This collection, which is steadily 

 growing, has been reclassified under the direction of the Entomolo- 

 gist, bj Miss Alice M. Beach, whose work deserves special mention 

 as it was exceptionally well done. The block system is used. 

 Supplementary to this collection a collection of plants and por- 

 tions of plants is being made showing the injury to the plants 

 caused by noxious insects. 



Experiments to determine the effects of hydrocyanic acid gas 

 upon the eggs of insects. — These experiments have not been com- 

 pleted. A large number of eggs, especially of certain common 

 species of plant lice, have been fumigated, however, the time of 

 exposure to the gas varying from ten minutes to one hour. The 

 results so far indicate that the eggs of such insects as plant lice can 

 be destroyed by fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas, a matter of 

 importance to the nurserymen. 



The grapevine flea beetle.- — Investigations into the life history 

 and habits of this insect have been begun with the result that 

 new facts relating to its life history have been ascertained. 

 Preparations have been made for more extended experiments 

 another season than there was opportunity for during the past 

 summer. 



Spraying experiments with arsenite of lime against the canker 

 worm.— These are a continuation of the experiments of last year. 

 Excellent results were obtained with the arsenite of lime made 

 after the Kedzie formula. The experiments were made in an 

 apple orchard at Rushville owned by Mr. O. L. Jackson. Three 

 applications of the poison were made with the result that the 

 infested trees were practically freed from the canker worms. 



The apple-tree tent-caterpillar. — The life history of this insect 

 has been studied during the past season and observations made as 

 to its natural enemies. Nearly 80 per cent of a large number 

 of cocoons collected were parasitized. Six species of parasites 

 were reared in the laboratory from these cocoons. 



