424 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Fig, 4. 



band. 



It; is 2| cm. (1 incli) long, and expands 4.75 

 cm., or If inches. The color is brown, mottled 

 with darker brown and black. The head, crest, 

 center of thorax, outer or reaiform spot, and 

 (luite a wide internal border of the front wings, 

 are brown. The sides of the thorax, area about 

 the inner or rounded spot, and the base of the 

 primary wings are quite dark. A spot on the 

 costal margin, a little more than half way from 

 the reniform spot to the apex, two dashes, one- 

 third of the distance from this spot to the internal angle,a dash and 

 crescent below and within the inner or rounded spot, and a row of dots 

 near the outer margin, are black. The inner rounded spot is 

 slightly oblong, and is often nearly white, though sometimes 

 it is yellowish, and at others, lead-colored. Two wavy darker 

 lines cross the brown internal margin of the wings. The 

 secondary wings and abdomen are gray. AVithin a narrow 

 gray margin the secondary wi'igs are bordered with a dusky 

 A very common variety, of which we illustrate the wings of one 

 side at Fig. 4, is very dark. In these the brown, with the exception of the 

 reniform spot, is all replaced by a dark hue approaching lavender. 



REMEDIES. 



We found several species of ground beetles (Carabidaj) and the Soldier Bug 

 {Anna sjjinosa) worthily employed in ridding the gardens and meadows of 

 this plague. I also reared a parasitic fly, a new species which Mr. S. W. 

 Williston has kindly described under the name Scopolia sequax. We also 

 reared pupae of an ichneumon fly, but failed to get any of the images. No 

 doubt these natural enemies will greatly thin out these insects before another 

 season. I found I could readily poison the pests by the use of the arseuites; 

 but this was of no immediate service, as, if we poisoned a thousand, ten 

 thousand stood ready to take their places. Coal-tar water was found by Mr. 

 Grinnell, of Bay City, to repel the insects. I have no doubt that a liquid 

 made of soft soap one quart, crude carbolic acid one pint, and water two 

 gallons, would have the same effect. Mr. Grinnell found that his chickens 

 took to the caterpillars amazingly; and while chickens are not the best 

 helpers in a garden, Mr. Grinnell wisely concluded he would get some return 

 from this mammoth plague, if nothing more than some fat chickens. 

 Whether this insect is double-brooded or not, remains to be seen. 



Scopolia sequax, Williston, sp. nov. Figs. 5 and G. Female. Length five 



mm., deep shining black with black bris- 

 tles; wings faintly tinged with blackish, 

 a little more evident in front and on the 

 cross-veins, the first vein without bristles, 

 third vein with bristles as far as the ante- 

 ]ior cross-vein. Deep shining black ; less 

 shining on the front, the sides of which and 

 the face are thinly covered with silvery white dust. Antennae 

 black, the third joint five or six times as long as the second 

 jointjof considerable breadth, the lower anterior angle nearly 

 rectangular, the posterior one rounded ; arista distinctly 

 jointed, the second joint considerably longer than the first, 

 but both short, the third joint considerably thickened on the 



Fig 6. 



Fig. 5. 



