80 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



The same day Dr. Fletcher collected a small noctuid larva about half an inch in length in 

 the wet moss at the base of a small taraarac tree. This looks very much like the caterpillar of 

 Semiophora Youngii, Smith. It is still alive and is hibernating out of doors. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO ONTARIO CROPS IN 1902. 

 By Dr. James Fletcher, Dominion Entomologist. 



The season of 1902 has been a rather unusual one in all parts of Canada. Exceptional 

 rain fall has been recorded during the summer at almost all localities, and this has had a per- 

 ceptible effect upon the abundance, or the reverse, of many of the well-known pests of the farm 

 and garden, as well as upon the development of some of the staple crops. Late spring frosts 

 were answerable for a considerable injury to grape and other fruit crops, including an affection 

 of the leaves of apple trees generally referred to by correspondents under the term " yellowing 

 of apple leaves," and also probably for a curious premature ripening of potatoes, which could 

 not be referred to any of the known fungous diseases. 



Cereal Crops. 



In the Province of Ontario cereal crops were little injured by insects, the chief 

 damage complained of being due to heavy rains. Rust was prevalent in many places, and 

 complaints of lodging on account of heavy straw were frequent. Peas, which once formed 

 such an important crop in Ontario, were little sown this season, owing particularly to the dep- 

 redations of the Pea Weevil. The Pea Moth was less destructive than usual, and the Destruc- 

 tive Pea Aphis was only mentioned from a few localities, upon late peas and the grass pea. 

 The grass pea, Lathyrvs sativus, L., a pea-like plant belonging to the beau family, is not a true 

 pea, but the seed resembles peas so much that it was hoped that, as this plant is entirely free 

 from the attacks of the Pea Weevil, it might prove a valuable substitute for peas in those dis- 

 tricts where the Pea Weevil is destructive. These hopes, however, during the past season 

 have been disappointed, probably on account of the season ; the grass pea, being of tropical 

 origin, seems to require more heat than we have had during the summer of 1902. The seeds 

 ripened unevenly, and the plants continued growing and flowering right up to frost. Late in 

 the season in some places it was attacked by the Pea Aphis. However, in some seasons during 

 the many years it has been grown, it has been known to give excellent crops, of from 10 to 30 

 bushels to the acre, of excellent peas, which can be used for most of the same purposes as real 

 peas. Field peas, where sown late, were injured by mildew, and in the southern counties were 

 seriously affected by the Pea Weevil. Beans were much injured by the weather. Late frosts 

 in spring and heavy rains made re-planting necessary in a great many places. Fodder crops 

 with the exception of corn, yielded heavily, but wet weather at haying time made it sometimes 

 difficult to save the crop. There was a general complaint that clover did not form seed, even 

 where there was no midge. Wheat and oats, our most important cereal crops, were of good 

 (juality and yielded heavily. A most satisfactory and unexpected condition prevailed through- 

 out the whole province, as far as the Hessian Fly is concerned. This is largely due to farmers 

 having followed the advice given by specialists as to the best means of avoiding injury from the 

 attacks of this insect. Most farmers speak of its absence as "a most remarkable disappear- 

 ance." The only serious injury by the Hessian Fly recorded in Canada this year was in 

 Manitoba, where, however, as only spring grain is sown and as there is there only one brood of 

 the insect in the year, as far as we know, the Hessian Fly can be kept in check with comparative 

 ease. Grasshoppers were troublesome in some parts of western Ontario, where they also 

 occurred last year They appeared again in destructive numbers in Manitoba, but wherever 



