1912 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 27 



Our studies of the parasites of the Larch Sawfly were again continued^ and 

 observations on the life-liistory of the useful Chalcid, Ccelopisthia nematicida, 

 Pack., were recently published in " The Canadian Entomologist." 



An attempt was made to introduce the useful European parasite Mesoleius 

 aulicus which appeared to have been so effective in England. During a visit 

 which I am shortly about to make to England, arrangements will be made, if 

 possible, for the importation of the parasitized cocoons of the Sawfly, with a view 

 to establishing the European parasite in Manitoba, from which Province we have 

 had reports during the past years of serious depredations by this insect, and it 

 appears to be spreading westward. 



During the past year the work under the Destructive Insect and Pest Act has 

 increased considerably. At the end of the last importation season, which closed 

 about May, we had inspected over four million plants for the winter nests of the 

 Brown-tail Moth and evidences of the Gipsy Moth. It might be of interest to 

 mention that during the present season we have found dead pupse of the Gipsy 

 Moth on Azaleas imported by an Ottawa firm from Belgium, showing the possi- 

 bility of the carriage of these insects in a living condition and the importance of 

 this inspection work. A very systematic inspection of the whole of the territory 

 in Kova Scotia infested by the Brown-tail moth was made last winter, and it was 

 found that the insect occurred in Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis and Kings counties. 

 A considerable infestation was discovered at Weymouth, where some very large 

 winter nests were found. Mr. Sanders counted over 1,800 caterpilliars in one of 

 these nests, which indicates how essential it is to collect even single nests. This 

 large infestation at Weymouth was undoubtedly due to the fact that the insect 

 had been allowed to increase during one or two seasons. In my address to you 

 last year I mentioned to you the fact that a single egg mass of the Brown-tail 

 Moth had been found in New Brunswick, indicating that this insect was at last- 

 breeding in that Province. During the last winter season nests were found at 

 Pomeroy Eidge, in Charlotte County, K.B., and a survey of that region was made 

 under Mr. Sanders' direction, when nests were found throughout the south-western 

 section of Charlotte County, indicating that the insect has at last arrived in force 

 in New Brunswick. We are increasing the number of inspectors in both these 

 Provinces during the present winter, when the whole infested area will be care- 

 fully scouted. 



I have only indicated to you very briefly a few of what I think are 

 tlie more interesting lines of work which we have been carrying on. Mr 

 Treherne has indicated in his report some of the work which has been carried on 

 in Ontario, and, had time permitted, I might refer more particularly to a nnmber 

 of t^e more interesting pests which have been reported to us during the past sea- 

 son. But the programme is a long one, and these will be described as usual in my 

 annual report. I might refer, however, in closing to the fact that we have had a 

 combined insectary and work-room erected at Ottawa for experimental work, the 

 insectary being of the open-air type ; that is, instead of glass, fine wire screens 

 have heen used, by means of which a more even and normal temperature can be 

 obtained. 



