The Pear Tree Psylla. 



Fsylla pyricola. — Okdek Hp:mipteba; Family Psyllidae. 



Tke pear tree has heretofore sulfered less from tke attacks 

 of insects than other extensively grown fraits like the apple, 

 plum and others. Recently, however, a minute insect known as 

 the pear-tree psylla, Pyslla pyricola, has inHicted such severe 

 losses upon pear growers that it threatened to seriously interfere 

 with the successful cultivation of this fruit. 



During 1891, pear growers, in restricted localities in quite 

 widely separated portions of this and of neighboring States, lost 

 thousands of dollars worth of fruit and many valuable trees 

 through the ravages of this pest which suddenly appeared in 

 enormous numbers early in the season. The pear orchard of Dr. 

 Jabez Fisher, Fitchburg, Mass., was seriously injured; and Coe 

 Brothers, Meriden, Conn., had two orchai'ds devastated by the 

 pest. In jSfew York State, orchards in the eastern, central and 

 western portions suffered. On West Hill, near Ithaca, Tompkins 

 county, several orchards were severely attacked, some of the trees 

 ultimately dying; Mr. H. S. Wright's orchard promised 600 bushels 

 of fruit, but less than fifty bushels matured, and but few trees 

 made any growth. A severe attack prevailed at Menands, Albany 

 county. Mr. Gr. T. Powell, an extensive fruit grower in Ghent, 

 Columbia county, states that the insects reduced his pear crop 

 from an estimated yield of 1,200 bai'rels to an actual yield oi 

 less than 100 barrels of mai'ketable fruit; the trees made but 

 little growth and several were killed; his trees have been notice- 

 ably losing vitality for two or three years due, no doubt, to the 

 unsuspected attacks of this pest. These facts must convince 

 the pear growers, of New York State especially, where the insect 

 seems to have obtained the strongest foothold, that they have to 

 fear a very serious pest. Although very insignificant individually, 



