10^ NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



most conspicuous enemy of the ash during the biennium of 1908-1909, 

 y;as the ash pemphigus (remphigns fraxinifolii), a small aphis which 

 attacks the leaves and causes them to curl badly and die. Instances 

 of rather serious prevelance of this pest were reported from Gage, 

 Adams and Sherman counties during July and August of both seasons. 

 The ash borer (Trochilium fraxini) injured this tree in several localities, 

 notably about Hastings and Alliance. The black locust trees in certain 

 parts of southwestern Nebraska were injured by a borer, probably 

 Cyllene robiniae, during 1908. 



Among the insect enemies of garden flowers one of the most de- 

 structive was the pea louse (Nectarophora destructor), which during both 

 years greatly Injured the sweet peas in several localities in eastern 

 Nebraska. Red spider proved another prolific source of injury on sweet 

 peas. Snow-ball bushes in northern Nebraska were injured by the snow- 

 ball louse (Aphis Tirbnmi) while during July 1908 the sumac louse 

 (Rhopalosiplmm rhois) occurred in destructive abundance upon that plant 

 in the vicinity of Lincoln. There were instances of asparagus ferns 

 being injured by the asparagus scale (Aspidiotus hederae). The verbenas 

 at the University Farm were severely injured during latter August of 1909 

 by a small lepidopterous larva working in the tips of the stems. This 

 larva was reared, but its species has not been determnied nor has its 

 life-history been worked out. 



The Peach-Tree Borer — (Sanmina exitosa Say). 



This insect is one of the most important of our Nebraska horticultural 

 pests, and, next to the plum curculio, is probably the most injurious 

 insect enemy of the stone fruits in this state. The pest is one indiginous 

 to the American continent and has been counted as a formidable enemy 

 of the peach for over a century. Originally it worked upon the 

 various kinds of wild cherries and plums in its habitat, but at the 

 present time is thought of almost entirely in connection with its attack 

 on cultivated varieties. It occurs at the present time over all of the 

 eastern United States west of the Rocky Mountians. 



The workings of the larvae of this insect just below the bark about 

 the bases of peach, cherry and plum trees causes the exudation of a 

 dark colored gum, which enables the ready detection of the injury. 

 The larvae mine about just below the bark, often girdling the trees, and 

 it they are present in numbers will quickly cause their death. Quite 

 frequently, too, the larvae may be found burrowing about the bases of the 

 larger branches, especially of the older trees. 



The peach tree borer is a single brooded insect. Its parent is a very 

 handsome, dark blue, slender-bodied moth which in the female has a 

 broad orange band on the middle of the abdomen. This moth belongs 

 to the family of clear-winged moths (Sessiidae) which are remarkable 

 for the fact that the wings are more or less denuded of the customary 

 covering of colored scales, so that they appear transparent. The female 

 moth has only the hind wings thus clear, and is about an inch and a 



