84 THE REPORT OF THE 



and also sent specimens whicli had attacked potatoes and Canada Thistles. 

 Moths were reared from these, and also some parasites. Later in the season 

 the corn crop outgrew the injury, as there were sufficient plants left, and a 

 good crop was reaped. 



"Silver Top" in timothy and other grasses was not so much noticed 

 as usual, although it caused some anxiety in Middlesex county early in July. 

 The cause of this whitening of the head is the work of a very small insect 

 belonging to the Thripidae, probably Phloeothrips poaphagus, Comstock, 

 Avhich attacks the soft growing base of the top joint, inside the uppermost 

 sheath. The same, or a similar injury, occurs in oats in which not the 

 whole panicle but the lowest flowers while in the sheath are attacked and 

 blighted, so that they turn white and never develop. The injury of the 

 Grass Thrips is of an intermittent nature, but is always much worse in mea- 

 dows which have been down to grass for many years, and particularly when 

 the land is exhausted or of low fertility. There is no remedy which can be 

 applied to grass lands; but a short rotation by which the land is ploughed 

 up at short intervals and used for other crops, has been of great advantage. 

 The presence of the Grass Thrips was noticeable in almost all localities 

 through the province, wherever looked for, and the only reason it was not 

 more complained of, was the abundant growth of all grass from the fre- 

 quent and well timed rains. 



The Clover Seed Midge (Cecidomyia leguminicola, Lintner), although 

 perhaps not quite so destructive as in 1904, was still terribly abundant and 

 its presence could be detected by the appearance of the clover fields at the 

 end of June and early in July in all parts of the province. It was more 

 abundant at Ottawa than it has ever been before. No better remedy has 

 been discovered than that one which has given such good results wherever 

 tried, of feeding off seed clover fields up to the 20th June and then leaving 

 the second crop for seed. 



The Clover-leaf Weevil (Phytonomus punctatus, Fab.) occurred this 

 year for the first time at Ottawa. No injury was noticed on the clover 

 crop, a few specimens only of the mature beetle being taken. Although 

 loss from this insect is seldom extensive, owing to the prevalence of the 

 parasitic fungus, Entomophthora sphcerosperma, Fres., which destroys the 

 larvae in enormous numbers. It will be well for clover growers in the dis- 

 trict to be on guard against an outbreak next June, 



The Green Clover "Weevil (Phytonomus nigrirostris, Fab.), as is usually 

 the case, was far more abundant and destructive than its larger and more 

 formidable looking relative. The newly emerged perfect beetles appear 

 in July and in autumn, and pass the winter as beetles, hidden away beneath 

 leaves, moss, etc. The slender slug-like grubs feed upon the leaves, parti- 

 cularly those surrounding the forming flower heads of which they eat the 

 stipules; they also burrow into the heads, where they destroy many of the 

 flowers during June. When full grown, they spin pretty white lace-like 

 cocoons inside the bracts of the clover heads. The summer brood appears 

 early in July. When clover fields show the presence of this or the Clover 

 leaf Weevil in large numbers, they should at once be fed off or cut. If the 

 beetles are noticed very early in the season, it may be found desirable to 

 plough down the clover in May and use the field for corn or for some other 

 crop. 



The Clover-seed Caterpillar (Grapholitha inter stinctana, Clem.) was 

 noticed in many places, the pretty little silvery moths being seen on the 

 foliage and flying about the flowers. The injury from this insect is, as a 

 rule, small in extent, and the same remedies will answer for it and the 

 clover weevils. 



