206 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



It is also probable that during winter the egg masses will be de- 

 stroyed by birds. 



The best artificial remedies are to rub the branches of small 

 trees with a stiff broom, and wash or syringe the tree thoroughly 

 with strong whale oil soap suds, or with a kerosine emulsion formed 

 of one part coal oil to ten of water — the oil to be first thoroughly 

 mixed by rapid stirring or shaking, with an equal part of milk or 

 soap suds, and then thoroughly mixed with the requisite quantity of 

 water. A tree syringe or fountain pump afford the heal means of 

 applying it. Where one has but few trees to treat, it can be applied 

 from a common sprinkler or white-wash brush. The best time for 

 the application of these remedies is during the latter part of May 

 and early in June, while the young lice are migrating. 



THE GKAPE VINE SAW FLY [Selandria vitis, HARRIS). 



There is no section of the country where the grape vine has so 

 great a variety of insect enemies as within the borders of our own 

 State. Prof. Riley in his successive reports described no less than 

 nineteen different species, which, either exclusively or occasionally, 

 prey upon this valuable plant. I now have to record the advent 

 into our vineyards of still another voracious leaf-feeder. This is an 

 insect belonging in the same family as the notorious rose slug, 

 currant worm, pine tree slug, etc. It has long been known in the 

 east, but, so far as I am aware, has never before been reported in 

 Missouri. 



The perfect insect is a four-winged fly, about the size of the 

 common house-fly. The body is glossy black, with the exception 

 of the top of the thorax, which is dull red. The wings are dimly 

 transparent with dark veinings, and the legs are pale clay yellow. 



This fly emerges from the ground in the spring, and lays its 

 eggs on the under sides of the leaves as soon as they are expanded. 

 The larva?, as soon as hatched, arranged themselves side by side 

 and feed in ranks like the larva? of Procris, gnawing the leaf from 

 the edge backwards, devouring every part except a few of the prin- 

 cipal veins. In this way they take leaf after leaf, and, when num- 

 erous, cause serious defoliation and injury to the vine. 



The full grown larva? measure a little over half an inch in 

 length, and are thickest through the thoracic segments. The head 

 is small, round, and jet black. The color of the body is green 

 with two traverse rows, of short, black, pointed tubercles on each 

 joint. After the last moult, which takes place when they have 

 done feeding, the color changes to a dull yellow, ^he larva? then 



