102 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



by insect invasion as now, and it is of the utmost importance that the 

 Station should have at its disposition at all times the services of an 

 expert entomologist who can give his entire time if necessary to the 

 solution of the important problems which are ever presenting them- 

 selves. 



Besides the San Jos6 Scale several formidable insect pests have at- 

 tracted attention during the year, at least two — the Pear Psylla and 

 the Black Peach Aphis — appearing in injurious numbers for the first 

 time in the history of the State, while one, the Asparagus Beetle, 

 Crioceris aspm-agi, seems to have been introduced within the year and to 

 threaten serious damage to asparagus growers in the southwestern part 

 of the State unless energetic measures for its repression are taken at 

 once. The Wooly Aphis, ScMzoneura lanigera, also proves to be alarm- 

 ingly common in young apple orchards and nurseries in some sections 

 of the State and is likely to prove an insidious and dangerous foe. Speci- 

 mens of all these insects, as well as of scores of others have been re- 

 ceived for identification and the senders have been fully informed on the 

 questions raised. 



Other insects which have demanded more or less attention are the 

 various species of plant-lice, scale-insects, cut-worms, and grass-hoppers, 

 the white-pine saw-fly, the true army-worm {Leucania unipuncta), the 

 erratic army-worm {Noctua fennica), the bud-moth {Tmetocera ocellana)^ 

 the apple leaf-tyer {Teras minuta), and such common and well-known pests 

 as the tent-caterpillar, canker-worm, pear slug, and many others. The 

 more important of these will be treated in a bulletin on the insects of 

 the year, now in preparation. 



Aside from entomological subjects, the zoologist has been called on 

 during the year for information in regard to many species of birds, both 

 beneficial and supposedly harmful, and has been able to collect some 

 interesting facts as to the food-habits of some of our most common birds, 

 together with notes of interest on the distribution and life histories of a 

 few of the little known species of the State. 



Queries have been received also and information furnished relating 

 to damage by field-mice, moles, rabbits, woodchucks, squirrels, skunks, 

 and minks, and the best methods of combating these animals when desir- 

 able. 



We have also identified for the Veterinary Department a few species of 

 internal parasites, thread-worms, tape-worms, etc., and have received a 

 few additional specimens of such parasites from other parts of the State. 

 I might add that we desire to increase the College collection of parasitic 

 worms, and would be glad to receive specimens from any source. 



Respectfully, 



WALTER B. BARROWS, 



Consulting Zoologist. 

 Agricultueal College, Mich., ) 

 Dec. 80, 1897. \ 



