162 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



mild contact insecticide, such as extra dilute lime-sulfur solution, 

 soap solution, or kerosene emulsion, etc. This, in general, occurs 

 during the early part of June in this State, but may vary with sea- 

 sons, and the only way this is to be determined with accuracy is by 

 observing their transformations under normal conditions. 



During the past year we kept thirty-nine breeding cages, 'watch- 

 ing them carefully, and keeping records of the insects they contained. 

 We should have kept many times this many, but Ave are handicapped 

 for lack of facilities for containing the breeding cages and making 

 observations of the insects in normal conditions. These cages at 

 present must be kept in a room that is artificially lighted and heated. 

 Observations of transformations on a natural basis can not thus be 

 made, as the dates of changes in these cages are abnormal. There is 

 nothing that this Bureau needs more than a small outdoor room, 

 perhaps in connection with the greenhouse here, where insects could 

 be reared and studied under normal conditions of temperature, 

 moisture and light, and Avhere their dates of transformation would 

 thus be the same as those in fields, orchards, gardens and forests, 

 so that we could notify the people of this State as to the time when 

 they coirld e-xpect these pests to appear in their respective destructive 

 stages, and, consequently, save a considerable amount of loss by 

 being fully prepared to meet them. Such a room is called an "in- 

 sectary," and is in use by most of the leading entomologists of the 

 world. We urgently request that such be provided, if possible, in 

 connection with the greenhouses in Capitol Park. 



Insects of the Tear. In our observations and correspondence our 

 attention was called to some unusual features of insects during the 

 year 1911, which should here be recorded. Among these are the 

 following: 



There was a serious outbreak of the Flea beetle, Crepidodera 

 rufipes, in this State during the last spring and summer, especially 

 in the counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland and Dauphin. Speci- 

 mens were received during the entire summer from all parts of the 

 State. We recommended spraying with one ounce of arsenate of lead 

 in each gallon of water or in the Brodeaux mixture, and have many 

 reports of highly satisfactory results, while the vines not treated 

 were unproductive. 



The Hessian fly, Maifetiola destructor, was received from a great 

 many localities throughout the State, and was especially bad during 

 May, as the spring brood were the immediate descendants of those of 

 the previous fall, which were far worse than usual in this State. 

 However, in the fall of 1911, the Hessian fly did not appear nearly 

 as destructive as a year ago. This is probable, partially, because of 

 the development of its parasitic enemies, but chiefly because the 

 growers took the lesson given by us and planted late. It is worthy 

 of record that many fields of wheat throughout the southern and 

 eastern portions of Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1911, were 

 so badly injured by the Hessian fly that they did not produce more 

 than two or three bushels to the acre. 



Unusual outbreaks of the Chinch bug, Blisfnis lencopterus, were 

 reported from a number of localities in Pennsylvania, especially 

 doing considerable damage to corn. It is not often that this particular 

 pest is found so abundantly in Pennsylvania, although it is one of 

 the common destructive insects of the Mississippi Valley. 



