EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 277 



on fly-free dates, coiiscqneutly much of the wheat was sown early, some 

 of it very early with the result that the advance of the fiy in the south- 

 ern third of the State was not checked. Examinations of such fields 

 last fall and this Spring showed an abundance of the puparia in the 

 plants and, now the wheat in the extreme southern part of the State is 

 beginning to lodge so that the loss is apparent to any one. This condi- 

 tion will become apparent farther north as the grain nears maturity. 



Tip-burn of potatoes was very bad in 1911), and it is beginning to show 

 now in 1920. The cause is a small leaf-hopper, whose winter quarters 

 are still somew^hat of a mystery. This trouble has only recently been 

 traced to its real cause and thus far all attemj)ts to control it have been 

 disappointing rather than otherwise. 



The following new pests have appeared in our State during the season 

 of 1919 and 1920, Anametis griseus, a snout beetle on apple which at- 

 tacks the bark and buds. It is also recorded on peach. 



The spruce tortrix, Argyropliora aMetana, a small green "worm" that 

 attacks the buds and tips of the twigs and binds them up with webbing. 

 It was quite serious among ornamentals in Detroit and vicinity. The 

 spruce budworm, Tortrix ftwiiferana, a pest with a very bad record in 

 the East, especially in New England and Canada where it was very de- 

 structive to spruce, balsam, fir, larch, hemlock, and white-pine, about 

 ten or twelve years ago. 



The Oriental fruit-moth appeared in its larval form in quantities, in 

 shipments of peaches from the south. It is almost certain to have gained 

 a lodgement in our State, since carloads of infested fruit were scattered 

 pretty well over Michigan. This pest has a bad record in other parts 

 of the United States and the worst feature about it is that it is very 

 difficult, if not impossible, to control. 'No efficient measure has as 

 yet been found. 



Among our old standbys several destructive pests stand out con- 

 spicuously as troublesome. The Chrysanthemum midge has been plenti- 

 ful. 



Flea-beetles, especially the potato flea-beetle and the pale striped flea- 

 beetle have been and are now very troublesome. 



Cabbage-maggots, and onion-maggots have been plentiful but fortu- 

 nately the bean-maggot has not made itself felt so much as usual. 



The clover leaf-beetle was pretty wdde spread during the late summer 

 of 1919. 



A slight touch of army-worm occurred in the "thumb" in August and 

 strawberries, cherries and raspberries have suffered from their respec- 

 tive sawflies quite severely. 



The joint-worm attack of 1018 has practically subsided as was to be 

 expected from the multitude of parasites that developed and which 

 were discussed in our last report. 



Respectfully submitted, 

 R. H. PETTIT, 



Entomologist. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1920, 



