1917 EXTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Ill 



THREE IMPORTANT GREENHOUSE PESTS RECENTLY INTRODUCED 



INTO CANADA. 



IfiTiii-K Gibson, Chief Assistant Entomologist, Depautment of Agriculture, 



Ottawa. 



It is important that attention be directed at this meeting to three serious 

 greenhouse pests which have recently been introduced into Canada, namely, the 

 Florida Fern Caterpillar, the Chrysanthemum Midge, and the Rose Midge. 



The Florida Fern Caterpillar, Callopistria {Eriopus) floridensis Gn. 



This southern insect which was described from Florida in 1852 has occasion- 

 ally been recorded as a serious greenhouse pest. In the Year Book of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture for 1008, the Bureau of Entomology records 

 important losses in greenhouses in Washington, D.C., one florist reporting damage 

 to ferns to the extent of $4,000. This is apparevitly the first record oE this insect 

 as an economic pest. In addition to ])ein,<3 destructive in the District of Columbia, 

 this insect has since been recorded as doing serious damage to ferns in the States 

 of Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia and Ohio. The caterpillar is also believed 

 to have occurred on ferns in Louisiana. Hampson' records the species from 

 Florida, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Sta. 

 Lucia, St. A'incent, Vene:^uela, Br. Guiana, Brazil and S. Trinidad. 



The first occurrence of the Florida Fern Caterpillar in Canada was noted in 

 September, 1915, in the greenhouse of Mr. A. M. Barton, Weston, Ont. The 

 caterpillars were found on some ferns imported from Chicago, and the insect had 

 doubtless been introduced with such shipment. During the winter of 1915-16 we 

 had an opportunity of studying the life-history of the insect and observing its 

 habits. Recently Mr. llnll, of Messrs. trail and Robinson, forwarded to us speci- 

 mens" of the larvae from their Montreal West greenhouses, where they were first 

 observed in September, 1916. 



Life-history. 



The Egg. 



We have been unable to secure eggs of the moth, either by searcliing in the 

 greenhouse referred to or from living moths kept under observation in captivitv. 

 Mr, C. E. Petch, Field Officer of the Branch, and the writer have both examined 

 ferns which Avere being destroyed, as has also Mr. Barton, without any eggs being 

 detected. Davis* describes the eg^ (laid in confinement) as "circular in section, 

 about one-fiftieth of an inch in diameter, slightly flattened, ribbed longitudinallv 

 and transversely," and states that in color it "is pale greenish with a fnint 

 yellowish tint, much resem])ling the color of the new fern fronds.'* The same 

 author states that in confinement the moths deposited their o(rg?< singly on the unrler 

 surface of the new leaves. Weiss' records an incuiiation period of from five to 

 seven days. 



'Cat. Lep. Phalaenae In the Brit. Museum, Vol. VII., p. 549. 

 -27th Report State Entomologist of Illinois. 

 'Can. Ent . XLVII. 23. 



