1910 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 11 



6th, I was present in a field when the potatoes were being harvested, and was sur- 

 prised to see the crop so poor. I was told that the above insects were largely 

 responsible for the small crop. On the 14th of September, when examining some 

 potatoes, I noticed many of the nymphs of the Apple Leaf Hopper, and on the 

 same day in an orchard close by, the adults were flying in thousands around apple 

 trees. On July 14th some of the mature insects were noticed on potatoes on the 

 Experimental Farm. Up to tliis date I had not heard of any damage in the Ottawa 

 district by this insect. 



The Potato Flea Beetle (Epitrix cucumeris, Harr.), besides injuring potatoes, 

 as above mentioned, attacked to a very noticeable extent a number of plants of 

 the Wonderberry which were growing a short distance away. The Flea Beetle M^as 

 not present in the district in such numbers this year as it was in 1908. As a rule 

 it is more numerous in hot dry summers. 



Eoot Maggots were not much complained of in the district during 1909. They 

 were present, of course, as they always are, but as far as I can learn, not much 

 damage has been done by them. On the Experimental Farm, for instance, hardly 

 an onion was destroyed by these larvis. On September 14th I saw them working to 

 some extent in an experimental row of winter radishes. 



Cutworms were present, as usual, m injurious numbers. At Carp, about 30 

 miles from Ottawa, an outbreak occurred towards the end of June. Mr. Sirett, the 

 resident representative of the Ontario Department of Agriculture, reported the 

 matter to me, but unfortunately specimens of the larvae were not received. Mr. 

 Sirett thought, however, that the species was the Variegated Cutworm, Peridroma 

 saucia, Hbn. Injury was done to field crops, but just what these crops were, I 

 did not hear. About the middle of July the Eed-backed Cutworm was present in 

 fair numbers in a large field of mangels on the Experimental Farm. The larvae 

 on the 15th July were about full-grown. An application of poisoned bran soon 

 stopped any further injury. 



The Striped Cucumber Beetle (Diahrotica vitfata, Fab.) was particularly 

 numerous during the past season. It appeared on some cucumbers in my garden 

 on June 15th, just as the plants were up nicely. On July 3rd I saw many in copu- 

 lation. At Billings Bridge, near Ottawa, it was particularly reported to be injur- 

 ing squashes. It also to some extent attacked melons, and was complained of 

 by many of our market gardeners. As this beetle is very active, any application 

 of poison must be frequently renewed. The leaves should be dusted with Paris 

 green mixed with land plaster or lime in the proportion of one pound of the 

 poison to fifty of the diluent, if necessary every second day. Bordeaux mixture 

 is also a useful remedy for this insect as well as for the Cucumber Flea Beetle 

 which often does serious injury. 



The Black Blister Beetle (Epicauta pennsylvanica, DeG.) appeared suddenly 

 at several places in the district, and did locally noticeable damage, particularly to 

 potatoes and tomatoes. Plants in flower gardens were also attacked, and in some 

 instances the foliage completely eaten. In one garden near Ottawa 100 splendid 

 Clematis plants were defoliated, the beetles appearing on the 23rd June. On 

 June 28, they were present in conspicuous numbers in the Arboretum of the 

 Central Experimental Farm and were attacking plants of the genus Thalictrum, 

 in the perennial border. As is well known, these beetles in their larval form are 

 predaceous on the eggs of grasshoppers, so generally speaking' it is not advisable to 

 destroy them with arsenical sprays. They can often be driven from a crop by 

 several boys walking across it and waving from side to side a bough of spruce or 

 other conspicuous branch. As these beetles are easily disturbed they will fly 

 ahead, and on reaching the edge of the crop will disperse and as a rule not return 



