ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



27 



up the trunks by means of sticky bands or funnel-shaped collars of tin. When thus 

 stopped they often deposit their eggs below the obstruction, where they may be easily 

 scraped off or destroyed by brushing with coal oil. When the attack is not observed 

 until the worms are feeding, they may be sprayed with Paris green (one pound to 200 

 gallons of water), or may even be jarred from the trees and then destroyed. If they 

 have been allowed to become full grown, and have buried themselves, plowing to the 

 depth of a few inches, late in the autumn will expose thern to the frost. The spraying of 

 the trees when the young larvie are feeding is the most effectual means of destroying the 

 insects. 



Miscellaneous Insects. 



~^'Mf^\ 



The Tomato- worm, the large caterpillar of the Hawk-moth, Sphinx quinquemaculata, 

 Fig. ] 5, which last year was reported in some portions of Ontario vBry destructive to both 

 tomatoes and potatoes (Fletcher, Kept. Exp, Farms, 1892, p, 161), has not proved so 

 troublesome this season. The decrease of this obnoxious caterpillar may be largely due 

 to the increased abundance of the little Braconid fly, Apanteles congregatus, with the 

 little white cocoons of which the worms may be sometimes found almost covered, as many 

 as 200 larvte of the parasite feeding and developing in one caterpillar. The Fall- Web- 

 worm, Ilyphanfria cuvea, Fig. 16, continues to be very abundant, and its unsightly webs 



disfigure a great many trees throughout the 

 country, although there is no reason why its 

 ravages should be permitted in gardens, orchards 

 or lawns, where a little care in removing the 

 colonies of young worms would soon greatly 

 reduce the pest. In the Maritime Provinces 

 it seems fully as common as in Ontario and is 

 one of the most noticeable insects. 



The handsome " Mourning Cloak " butter- 

 fly, Vanessa Antiopa, whose rich purple wings 

 are broadly margined with golden yellow, has 

 been in unusual abundance this year, and its 

 black spiny caterpillars have seriously defoli- 

 ated the elms and willows. Because of its 

 "beauty and of the cheerful appearance it makes in the early days of spring, we can forgive 

 this species for a considerable portion of its depredations. It is also so subject to the 

 attacks of a small parasite, Pteromalus puparum, of which a single chrysalis contains 

 liundreds, that its increase is kept well under control without the interference of man. 

 Another beautiful butterfly which was unusually abundant, was Limenitis Arthemis, 

 which has a most charming garb of purple, variegated with shimmering blue and broadly 

 banded with white. It is a woodland butterfly, flitting gracefully along the paths through, 

 woods or about their margins, and thus hiding its beauty from the city residents, whereas 

 the more hardy Antiopa enjoys both city and country life. 



riant-lice of various species are a continual source of trouble and loss to plant 

 growers and fruit-raisers, and the Apple-aphis may be cited as one of the more injurious 

 species. Another plant-louse has badly infested the ornamental shrub known as Snowball, 

 and much disfigured them by curling and shrivelling the leaves. The attacks of such 

 insects can be easily treated with a spraying of the kerosene emulsion recommended by 

 Mr. Fletcher, in Bulletin 11, Central Exp. Farm, which tells how to prepare and apply 

 the most efficacious remedies for many injurious insects. 



Several species of beetles have come under my notice as having been injuriously 

 :abundant during the year. Among those were two of our common Blister-beetles — 

 Macrobasis unicolor, the Grey Blister-beetle, Fig. 17a, was reported as infesting potatoes, 



Fig. 16. 



