Experiment station reports. 271 



For several j^ears grasshoppers have been very bad in Antrim, Benzie, 

 Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, 

 Manistee, IMissaiikee and Roscommon counties. At the present time a 

 crusade is being carried on by our extension expert, in cooperation with 

 the county agent in these respective counties. A poisoned sawdust bait 

 is being used. This sawdust bait is a substitute for the bran bait which, 

 it is hoped, will cut down the expense and still do the work. It is made as 

 follows : 



1 bu. of hardwood sawdust 



1 lb. white arsenic 



1 lb. (scant) salt 



3^ pt. molasses 



Water to make a stiff mash 



Apparently this is proving successful at the present time. An encourag- 

 ing feature of the outlook is that many of the grasshoppers are being at- 

 tacked by a parasitic red mite, Trombidium. 



The appearance of the European Corn-borer in the United States has 

 naturally put the entomologists of all the states on guard to prevent 

 the further spread of this most threatening of all pests. Thus far none 

 of the real imported borers have been found, but many samples of other 

 insects and of their work, closely resembling the work of the imported 

 pest, have been sent in. They include the common stalk borer, papaipema 

 nitela, some Crambids, and Hadena fractilinea. These latter borers have 

 attracted more attention than usual, no doubt, due to their resemblance 

 to their dreaded, imported relative. 



The 17-year cicada made its appearance on schedule time but, as 

 was to be expected, in smaller numbers than ever before and although 

 manj^ reports of damage were sent in it is likely that the danuige was 

 done hj other insects working in the same trees, whose work was blamed 

 on the cicadas. 



The pale-striped flea-beetle did some damage to potatoes, beets and 

 beans during the dry spell, but the coming of wet weather usualh^ puts 

 a stop to their ravages. 



Cherry slugs, the larvae of sawflies, on cherries and pears, were also 

 very numerous this season. They are usually killed by a spray of an arseni- 

 cal but, unfortunately, the first generation comes while cherries are ripen- 

 ing and is, therefore, allowed to escape because one hates to apply arseni- 

 cals to ripening fruits. The second generation, however, appears in 

 August and should ho disposed of in order that the trees may be safe 

 the year following. 



At the present moment the Hessian fly is on the increase in Michigan. 



The lower half of the State is well seeded down with the flaxseeds at the 

 present time and while little loss has as yet resulted, the insects are 

 widely scattered. This is due to early seeding in the attempt to avoid 

 winter killing. Two years ago the wheat showed little fly, and much wheat 

 had died the previous winter owing to the severe cold weather while the 

 wheat was thinly covered with snow. A year ago last fall a repetition of 

 this loss was feared and farmers were advised to sow earlier than usual, 

 since the fly was not very plentiful at that time and the need for grain was 

 most urgent. The advice proved to be good, since a good crop resulted, 

 but last fall when the attempt was made to get back to fly-free sowing 



