DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY 507 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



pasture, with some hay land; it covered about five square miles, embracing about 

 1,800 acres. Meadow grasses suffered most, particularly timothy. Wheat, corn and 

 oats were slightly injured, but only where such crops were adjacent to a meadow or 

 pasture. The restricted nature of the infestation appeared to be due to the scarcity 

 of grain crops and the succulent uature of the grasses. The value of regular systems 

 of crop rotation was demonstrated by the scarcity of Chinch Bugs in such land com- 

 pare 1 with their abundance on the grass farms. Under the present system of grass 

 farming, which appears to he the result of economic conditions rather than desire, 

 the Chinch Bug injury is likely to increase unless the region should he favoured will; 

 an open winter or a wet summer, as heavy rains occurring during the time the hugs 

 are hatching is inimical to the progress of the pest. The season of 1912, fortunately, 

 materially reduced their numbers.' It was also found that the white fungus 

 Sporotrichum globuliferum appeared in September after the wet season and killed 

 off about twenty-five per cent of the hugs. Experiments on this fungus were carried 

 out. The most important measures to be adopted are clean farming and the adoption 

 of regular rotations. Clean farming includes the destruction of rubbish, the clean- 

 ing up of fences, etc., and the burning over of waste places as late as possible in the 

 fall to destroy the hibernating places and to expose the bugs to the rigours of winter. 

 It is intended to publish the results of the investigation as soon as may be prac- 

 ticable. 



During the year, Mr. G. E. Sanders has found the Chinch Bug sparingly in the 

 Annapolis valley in Nova Scotia, where, however, it is unlikely to become a pest. 



EEL WORMS. 



In September, 1012, injured wheat plants wore received from Raymond, Aha. 

 In these plants no sign of insect or fungus injury could be discovered. A microscopic 

 examination, however, disclosed the presence of numerous nematodes, commonly 

 called Eelworms, at the base and along the lengths of the stems of the 

 plants. So far as we are aware, this is the first record of injury to staple 

 crops by these pests in North America. While they are not insects, but belong 

 to the large family of worms, the entomologist is usually called upon to give them 

 his attention. They are microscopic, thread-like, transparent creatures measuring, 

 when full-grown, about one twenty-fifth of an inch in length. Further inquiries, 

 were made and it was found that Eelworms were present in other districts in southern 

 Alberta, their injuries having been attributed to other obscure causes such as climatic 

 or soil conditions. Winter wheat was chiefly affected. In Europe, -where the Stefm 

 Eelworm, Tylenchus devastastrix, is responsible for serious injury to crops, such as 

 wheat, oats, clover, hops and onions, when it occurs in numbers, infestation of wheat 

 is not common and spring wheat is most frequently attacked. In oats, a condition 

 known as ' tulip root ' is produced. 



As th is will undoubtedly spread, and are very difficult to control, careful 



attention is being given to their occurrence with a view to planning a detailed inves- 

 tigation as soon as practicable. In Europe, the control measures usually recom- 

 mended arc the careful selection of rotations, the sowing of a crop which appears to 

 be immune, such as barley, the planting of trap crops, tfye use of fertilizers, .such as 

 sulphate of potash and nitrate of soda, the dressing of the land with lime, salt, etc., 

 d ep ploughing and the destruction of infested crops. Many control measures prac- 

 tised in England, France and Germany arc impracticable in Alberta, and the whole 

 problem will demand careful investigation and experiment under our western con- 

 ditions.- 



