October, '14] KING: LESSER PEACH BORER IX OHIO 401 



mere approach to a plant is sufficient cause for them to disappear, 

 yet at times one may approach sufficiently close to observe them feed- 

 ing, and by vibrating a leaf with the rhythm of the wind one may even 

 tear it off finally and examine it by the aid of a lens. The injury done 

 by the spring-tails is in the form of irregular holes sometimes eaten 

 completely through, though more often a thin transparent layer of 

 epidermis separates the upper from the lower surfaces. They also 

 enlarge the holes made by flea-beetles that happen to be feeding on 

 the leaves. 



The species has been determined as a Smynthurus but cannot be 

 positively identified. It is positively not the same as Sm. hortensis. 

 It is a thysanuran of the suborder Collembola. 



Food Plants 



At the present writing this species of spring-tail has been observed 

 and reported* as feeding on the following food plants: Lettuce, spinach, 

 turnip, kale, potato, tomato, cauliflower, cucumber and peas. 



It has also been observed on beans and strawberries, but whether 

 it feeds on these plants has not been determined. 



Feeding on Potato Beetle Eggs 

 While making observations on the extent of their injury to the 

 foliage of potato, hordes of spring-tails were found congregated around 

 the egg masses of the Colorado potato beetle, feeding on them with 

 as apparent relish as on the foliage. 



Control Measures 



During the spring of 1913 arsenite of zinc applied at the rate of 2 

 pounds to 50 gallons of water to seedling cucumbers proved successful 

 in its control. It was also noticed that while using arsenite of zinc as 

 a spray for this species that the arsenical acted as a repellent, driving 

 the spring-tails from cucumber to peas which were grown between the 

 rows, a common practice in tide-water Virginia. Arsenate of lead 

 used in the proportion of 3 to 4 pounds in 50 gallons should also prove 

 effective. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE LESSER 



PEACH BORER IN OHIO 



By J. L. King 



During the summer of 1913 observations were made on the life 

 history and habits of the lesser peach borer, Synanthedon pidipes G. 

 & R., in the lake district of northern Ohio. The most important fact 

 established by these observations is that this species has one full brood 



