512 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



from the attacks, and no cases of fatal injury have been discovered which could be 

 ascribed to this insect, which is still under investigation. 



Various species of scale insects have been recorded as injurious and are under 

 observation, Chermes similis Gillette and C abietis Choi, have been destructive to 

 shade trees and are very common locally in spruce forests. C. pinicorticis Fitch is 

 common and destructive throughout eastern Canada. U. stroibildbius Kalt, was par- 

 ticularly abundant at Ottawa on both European and American larches. Gossyparia 

 spuria Mod. is proving injurious to elms at Ottawa. 



In Nova Scotia, the Larch Case-bearer, Coleopfiora laricella, is still very abundant; 

 at Ottawa it was particularly prevalent on American and European larches. 



Among other insects affecting forest and shade trees which were more noticeably 

 abundant, and reported during the year of 1912, were the following: Galerucclla 

 decora, stripping willow and poplar in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British 

 Columbia; Podosesia syrmgce Harris destroyed stems of lilac at Ottawa; Gyliene 

 robinioe Eorst. was destructive to acacias in Southern Ontario; Elaphidion villosum 

 was responsible for extensive injuries to oaks in some of the St. Lawrence Island 

 parks. Superda spp., including 8. calca<rata, a vary destructive enemy of poplar, 

 were responsible for numerous complaints from Ontario and Manitoba. Agrilus 

 anxius still continues to be a very destructive enemy to imported white birches 

 around Ottawa, and in certain other eastern cities, where it is gradually killing the 

 finest trees. 



V.— INSECTS AFFECTING DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND MAN. 



rocky mountain spotted fever tick, Dermacentor Venustus Banks. 



The occurrence of this tick in the Western States of the Union just south of the 

 international boundary, and an isolated record of its capture at Kaslo, B.C., made 

 it extremely desirable that a study of its distribution in Canada should be made, in 

 view of the fact that it is the potential carrier of the fatal disease, from which it 

 takes its name, especially prevalent in the Bitter Boot valley, Montana. Accordingly, 

 in November, 1911, through the co-operation of the Veterinary Director General, a 

 letter was addressed to all the western veterinary inspectors, to the Farmer's Insti- 

 tutes, to local entomologists, and others, requesting the collection of ticks. Mr. J. 

 W. Cockle, of Kaslo, B.C., was particularly active on our behalf, and rendered valu- 

 able assistance. As a result of this inquiry an excellent quantity of material was 

 received from southern British Columbia, and also from Pincher Creek, Alta. The 

 chief area of distribution of this species appears to be the Kootenay region, where 

 they are found on the mountain sides; specimens received were taken from horses, 

 grizzly bears, and man; they were also found on forest undergrowth, on which 

 account they have no doubt received the popular name " wood ticks," which name also 

 includes t). albipktus. Evidence collected indicates that this species may be respon- 

 sible for paralytic symptoms in children and somewhat obscure petechial outbreaks. 

 Observations were made in the laboratory on the oviposition, but attempts to get the 

 ticks to feed on chipmunk and guinea pigs failed, and my absence in England resulted 

 in the death of the seed ticks. The fact that the bites of these ticks undoubtedly 

 have serious results, points to the necessity of avoiding their bites in the infested 



region. 



the stable fly, Stomoxys Calcitraiis. 



On account of the passible relation of this biting fly to poliomyelitis, or infantile 

 paralysis, which the experiments of Drs. Rosenau, Brues, Anderson and Frost have 

 recently indicated, and also its character as an occasional pest of domestic animals, 



