Proceedings at Semi-Anmial Meeting. 31 



the cherry just as the latter begins to swell, producing a large dis- 

 colored spot and causing it to fall, which this fruit seldom does 

 from the punctures of thecurculio. Itma}^ prove to be Grapliolitha 

 prunivora, Walsh, but at present I do not recognize it as that 

 species. Should it prove seriously injurious its numbers can be 

 reduced by gathering and burning the fallen fruit. 



It is commonly believed that the plum or peach curculio does 

 not attack the wild goose plum, but in the scarcity of other stone 

 fruits this year I find the fruit of this variety badly affected and 

 considerable of it already fallen. Were it not for the adaptable 

 appetite of this insect we might hope that the failure of the peach 

 crop in this locality for two successive years and the scarcity of 

 other stone fruits would practically exterminate it, but if stone fruits 

 should utterly fail it would find some substitute so as to insure the 

 perpetuation of the species. I once reared several specimens from 

 gooseberries. 



The new growth of blackberries and raspberries is being injured 

 to some extent by the common stalk-borer ( Gortyna nitela^). Its 

 presence is easily detected by the shriveling and drooping of the 

 stalk. 



This very polypliagus moth larva is becoming more and more of a 

 pest. Last year I found it in Illinois, doing extensive damage in 

 rhubarb (pie plant ) beds. In some of the latter fully one-third of 

 the leaf stalks were bored by it. The only practicable remedy is to 

 pull out and crush or burn the infected stalks. Aphididce have 

 abounded this spring, as is usually the case during wet seasons, and 

 although their injuries amount, thus far, to but little more than dis- 

 figuration of the foliage of the trees and plants affected yet even 

 this is very annoying. 



A large species which gives me much concern has appeared in 

 considerable numbers on the Balsam Firs in Kirkwood. Its attacks 

 are limited to the new growth on which it causes distortion and 

 dropping of the needles. The young lice are of a salmon pink color 

 with considerable bluish vfhite floecule?ice. The nectaries are want- 

 ing or very minute. The winged forms are about one-fifth inch in 

 length, of a drab gray color powdered with white, with conspicuous 

 brown veining and costal stripes on the glossy wings. They fly 

 readily on the least disturbance, so that it is somewhat difficult to 

 collect specimens in the perfect state. I have tried the effect of 

 the Pyrethrum powder upon them and find it satisfactory, but it 

 would be a rather costly remedy to apply to a large number of large 

 trees. I am glad to report that the Aphis under consideration is 



