120 



THE REPORT OF THE 



No. 19 



occasions the larvae were rather abundant and noticeable injury to the foliage 

 was done. It is not likely, however, that these caterpillars will ever become 

 siifficiently numerous to require attention. Some of the cultivated Polygon- 

 ums are familiar in flower gardens and if this insect should be found doing 

 serious injury, Paris green applied to the foliage either in a spray, or a dry 

 diluent, would soon destroy any caterpillars present. Injury to the foliage of 

 such conspicuous plants as these is easily recognized, and further damage 

 can be prevented if prompt action is taken. The ordinary wild food plants 

 are various species of Rumex. 



Fig. 57. Chrysophanus thoe ; male and female butterflies. 



The Sunflov^^er "Peacock Fly," Straussia longipennis, Weid. Stems 

 of the common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, L., at Ottawa are invariably 

 infested by the maggots of this fly. These insects, or "peacock flies" so- 

 called, because of their habit of elevating the wings and strutting about 

 peacock-like, are very beautiful, the wings of many of the species being 

 prettily marked and spotted with black or brown. At Ottawa the above 

 species has been so abundant some seasons that it has been impossible to find 

 a sunflower plant of which the pith had not been almost entirely devoured. 

 Plants, however, th^ pith of which had been tunnelled from the base to the 

 very flowers grew remarkably well and kept green and vigorous up to the 

 first frosts. This insect, therefore, does not appear to injure the sunflower 

 to any practical extent. The flies may be found in early summer. 



Injury to Pinks and Carnations by an Anthomyian. Occasionally in 

 flower gardens in different parts of Canada, various kinds of pinks and car- 

 nations have been injured by Anthomyian larvse. In Dr. Fletcher's report 

 for 1885 it is stated that injury at Victoria, B. C. was first noticed about the 

 middle of May. Referring to this attack Dr. Fletcher says: "The egg ap- 

 pears to be laid at or near the base of the topmost leaves. The young maggot 

 burrows beneath the epidermis of the base of the leaves for some time and 

 then bores down the centre of the stem." Specimens of this Anthomyian 

 were bred at Victoria by Mr. J. J. Cowley. The maggots left the plants 

 about 1st June and went into the ground to pupate. The flies appeared 

 about 10 days later. During the same year Dr. Fletcher found a specimen 

 at Ottawa which was destroying Indian Pinks in exactly the same manner as 

 those in Mr. Cowley's garden. This specimen produced a fly which Dr. 

 Fletcher says, was apparently identical with those bred at Victoria by Mr. 

 Cowley. Since then the species has been found to be rather destructive to 

 the shoots of the pretty perennial Gypsophila paniculata, which also belongs 

 to the Pink family. 



The Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia, Cramer, (Fig. 9.) In 

 July last an enquiry was received at the Division, concerning a cater- 

 pillar which was destroying pansies at Baltimore, Ont. The correspondent, 

 Mr. T. M. Wood, writing to Dr. Fletcher, July 18 said : "I send herewith 

 two caterpillars which I found on a row of pansies. About a week ago there 



