ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



A considerable number of rare specimens have been added to the collections, and the 

 Council have pleasure in again acknowledging the careful and painstaking services of the 

 Curator, Mr. J. Alston Moffat, who has at all times shown his readiness to assist the 

 members, and particularly beginners, in the identification of specimens and the prosecution 

 of their studies. 



Interest in the various sections engaged in the study of the allied sciences of Botany, 

 Microscopy, Geology and Ornithology, has not flagged, a number of new members having 

 been added to the Society through this channel, and good work accomplished in each 

 branch. Reports from the sections are submitted herewith and will be found to give an 

 outline of the work undertaken. 



The annual report of the Treasurer shows a present balance of $457.54, which 

 amount will be scarcely sufficient to meet the expenses of the Society during the winter 

 session, but by careful economy it is hoped that the expenditure will not exceed the 

 balance in hand to any great extent. 



The Society was represented at the meeting of the Royal Society of Canada, which 

 was held at Ottawa in May last, by your President, Mr. Harrington, whose report is 

 presented herewith. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



(Signed) W. E. Saunders, Secretary. 



In the absence of the President, Mr. James Fletcher, Dominion Entomologist, gave 

 a highly interesting address upon the chief insect attacks of the year, which was listened 

 to with great attention. 



INJURIOUS INSECTS OF THE YEAR. 



By James Fletcher, Ottawa. 



I regret that the President has bean prevented from being here to day to deliver his 

 annual address. I am sure that some very important business in connection with his 

 office has caused his absence, as I know that he fully intended to be present. I am glad 

 to be able to report that no serious new pests of the farm have made their appearance 

 during the past season, and* with the exception of the Horn-fly and three species of 

 Locusts, generally known under the collective name of "Grasshoppers," none of the old 

 enemies have shown themselves in unusual numbers. Of household pests the common 

 Clothes Moth (Tineola hiselliella, Hum ) was for some reason extremely abundant and 

 injurious in many parts of the Province. Two of the most interesting attacks which 

 have been brought under my notice are : (1.) The gall-making larva of a small moth which 

 passes its larval life in the young twigs of the ash leaved maple, Negundo aceroides 

 Several specimens of the swollen twigs containing caterpillars were sent to me from Mr. 

 W. G. Fonseca, of Winnipeg, who has observed the insect for some years. I was able 

 to breed the moths this year as well as two distinct parasites. None of these have yet 

 been named. About half the larvse were found to be parasitised. (2.) The other attack 

 alluded to is of the larvie of one of the Cirrion beetles, Sil/jha bituherosa, Lee, upon 

 squashes and chenopodiaceous plants at Saskatoon in the North-West Territories. In 

 England a closely allied species, S. opaca, is sometimes a serious enemy of the beet- 

 root. It is this fact which giv-es the present record importance, from the possibility of 

 S. hituherosa developing a taste for cultivated plants as the country becomes more 

 settled. The larv;e are nocturnal in their habits, black, half an inch in length, shaped 

 like wood-lice and are veiy active. I received the larvfe when nearly full-grown and soon 

 afterwards they buried themselves in the earth, About two weeks later the beetles 



