EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 193 



REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Director R, S. Shaw: 



Dear Sir — Following is a brief report of the work of the Division of 

 Entomology for the year ending June 30, 1912. 



The season thus far has been rather an exceptional one, from the 

 standpoint of the entomologist. The cold, wet spring has brought on 

 very serions outbreaks of cut-worms and plant-lice. The reason being 

 that the cold weather in early spring has held back the parasites that 

 ordinarily hold these insects in check and the pests themselves obtained 

 such a start that it is likely to last all summer. All sorts of plant-lice 

 are very abundant, but Avorse than the rest, perhaps, is the rosy plant- 

 louse of the apple. This pest does not migrate to any extent during 

 the summer and its effect on the apple crop is likely to be serious. 



As usual, a number of unknown pests have been sent in and so far as 

 possible, these have been bred and their identity determined. The cor- 

 respondence constantly grows in volume, and replies to queries concern- 

 ing pests consume more and more time every year. 



During the year a revised edition of the Spray and Practice Outline 

 was prepared by Professor Eustace and the writer, and published as 

 Special Bulletin' No. 57. 



Dr. G. D. Shafer is 'still Avorking on some problems concerning how 

 contact insecticides kill insects and he expects to prepare another bul- 

 letin on the subject in the near future. 



The experiment started last year in the attempt to introduce the 

 European parasites of the Tamarack saw-fly, is still in progress, but 

 the exceptionally hard winter just passed has no doubt killed off many 

 of the friendly insects. We think, however, that some came through 

 successfully. 



A new pest, which curls the tips of the box-elders and buckeyes has 

 appeared and several complaints have been received from the cities 

 where parks are maintained. It is being studied and no doubt control 

 measures will be discovered. 



A trip was made in June to Boston and New Haven in order to study 

 the brown-tail and gipsy moths as well as the leopard-moth and the 

 elm-leaf beetle, and to see in operation the methods in use for their con- 

 trol, since it is unlikely that our state Avill long escape some one of these 

 pests. 



/ Respectfullv submitted, 



R. H. PETTIT, 



Entomologist. 



East Lansing. June 30, 1912. 

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