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ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



a crop which is not infrequently attacked by this insect, and in New Brunswick it was 

 also found destroying horse-beans, which are now being somewhat extensively grown with 



corn for ensilajije. The favorite native 

 food of this beetle appears to be the 

 Meadow-rue (^Thalictrum cornuti), but it 

 is also quite satisfied with the foliage of 

 the Basswoods. The Black Blister-beetle, 

 Eflcauta pennsylvanica, Fig. 176, has 

 been reported infesting German asters 

 and mangels, and has been previously 

 known as attacking carrots, cabbages, 

 and beets. The method of attack by 

 these two species of Blister beetles is 

 much alike, and they sometimes may sud- 

 denly appear in very great numbers. 

 Their depredations need not, however, be much feared, as they are only committed by 

 the adult, or fully developed insects, and are of comparatively short duration. They may 

 be readily checked by dusting with lime or plaster^ or in extreme cases by sprinkling 

 with paris green. In the larval stage the Blister-beetles are parasitic in their mode of life 

 and some of the species render good service in destroying the eggs of grasshoppers. In 

 Manitoba and the N. W. Territories a larger species, Ccmtharis Nutalli, is very abundant, 

 and at times troublesome, and one or two species have been recorded as pests in British 

 Columbia. 



The Spotted Tortoise-beetle, Chelirnorpha argus, Licht, was brought to me several 

 times as a destructive beetle, but its presence on some of the plants said to be attacked 

 was undoubtedly accidental. The larva) of this beetle feed, in common with those of our 

 species of Helmet beetles (Coptocycla) on the common wild convolvulus. They are dis- 

 agreeable looking spiny grubs, carrying their cast-off skins upon their backs like a bundle 

 of old clothes. Before pupating, if their food plant has been pretty well destroyed, they 

 may wander off and attach themselves to adjacent plants. Thty have been said to feed 

 on potato, and on raspberry, but, if these were carefully made observations, it is prob- 

 able that the proper food plant had been exhausted, and the larva*, had sought the nearest 

 plants. The Morning-glory, which belongs to the Convolvulacea^, is subject to their at- 

 tacks, and one instance came to my notice this season, in which serious havoc was made 

 with the form of this creeper known as the Rose of Sharon. 



In the Maritime Provinces the Pear-blight Beetle, Xylohorus dispar, which belongs 

 to the Scolytidfe, or family of small bark-borers, continues to cause much alarm to the 

 proprietors of the famous apple orchards, as it appears to attack healthy trees as well as 

 those whose vigor has been impaired. If it continues to spread, this minute beetle will be 

 the source of much loss, and will be extremely difficult to combat. 



Grasshoppers, which two years ago were unusually abundant and destructive, especi- 

 ally in oat-fields, in this section of country, were, probably on account of the very wet 

 spring and summer, much less numerous this season and comparatively harmless. In the 

 western parts of the Province, as for instance in the neighborhood of Lake Simcoe, where 

 dry weather prevailed, they proved very destructive ; the season being favorable to their 

 development, while at the same time reducing the vigor of the plants subject to their 

 ravages. The three common species occurring were Melanoplus femur-ruhrum, M, atlanis^ 

 and M. femoratus. 



The Cattle Horn-fly, Hcematobia serrata, has continued to extend its area during the 

 past season, and has undoubtedly caused a very serious loss to the stock-raiser and dairy- 

 man. While the animals may not be dangerously or permanently injured by its attacks, 

 the irritation is so great that sores are produced by the rubbing and licking by which 

 they strive to relieve it, and the general effect is to cause the beasts to " fall off rapidly 

 both in flesh and in yield of milk." For further information regarding this recent and 

 serious pest, I would refer you to the excellent paper by Mr, Fletcher in our last Annual 



