REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I917 61 



Mr J. James de Vyver. Through the kindness of Dr L. O. Howard, 

 chief of the United States bureau of entomology, Mr Harold Morri- 

 son determined the mealy bug, after comparison with specimens 

 which in turn had been compared by Mr Ferris with cotypes of 

 Pseudococcus comstocki Kuwana in the entomological 

 collection of Stanford University, and as a result he feels fairly 

 safe in the above identification. Mr Morrison adds that there are 

 at present in the collection upon a number of hosts and previously 

 unnamed, specimens of this mealy bug from various points between 

 Washington and New York City. It is reported from Japan on 

 both mulberry trees and maples. The approximate date of its 

 introduction is not known. 



The material received from Mr de Vyver indicated an extreme 

 abundance, since both photographs and specimens showed masses 

 of the insects in the forks of the limbs, one mass being several inches 

 long and composed of white, indistinct, waxy fibers and debris. This 

 indicates great prolificacy under American conditions and as it lives 

 upon a variety of food plants, we may find in this recent intro- 

 duction another serious insect pest. It is probable that control 

 measures recommended for the common mealy bugs of the green- 

 house would be equally successful in checking this species. 



European earwig (Forficula auricularia Linn.). This 

 well-known European insect has become established in numbers 

 at East Aurora, N. Y., according to a report, accompanied by 

 niunerous specimens, received the latter part of August from Miss 

 Hattie C. Wallenwein. The earwigs appear to be abundant and to 

 have established themselves over a considerable area. This insect 

 was first noted in America at Newport, R. I., in igii and is said to 

 occur there now in vast numbers. 



The earwig is a rich reddish brown, apparently wingless insect 

 about three-fourths of an inch long and most easily recognized by the 

 conspicuous cur\^ed forceps of the male. The adults feed almost 

 entirely on the petals and stamens of flowers, although many other 

 kinds of food, such as clover, grass, terminal buds of chrysanthemums 

 and other fall flowers, are eaten. They congregate in large numbers 

 in crevices or behind vines near a good food supply and are very 

 annoying on account of their invading porches, establishing them- 

 selves under cushions and even entering houses, to the terror of the 

 occupants. They are harmless though not agreeable. 



Experiments conducted by Mr D. W. Jones of the United States 

 bureau of entomology show that a poisoned bread bait (consisting of 



