June, '08] journal of economic entomology 181 



red clover, white clover, alfalfa, several species of native locos and 

 lupines, Avax beans, black locust, licorice {Glycerrhiza lepidota), ap- 

 ple, pear, plum, soft maple, boxelder, shepherd's purse (apparently 

 its favorite over winter plant here), Lepidium virginicum, Chenopo- 

 dium sp., Bumex sp., Malvastrum coccineum, primrose {Anogra alhi- 

 caulis). Tansy mustard (Sophia sp.), dandelion and lawn grass 

 f'Poa sp.). 



THE CATALPA BUD MAGGOT 



By H. A. Go.ssARD, Woostcr, Ohio 



For several years the tender growing twigs of catalpa have been 

 attacked by insect larvte, causing the twigs to become slightly swollen 

 and to blacken and wilt at the terminal end. This trouble was so 

 pronounced and excited so much complaint among the catalpa grow- 

 ers in various sections of Ohio, that the questions relating to it were 

 referred to Mr. J. S. Houser for special investigation. 



From an investigation made in the spring of 1907 of all the twigs 

 on 15 three-year-old trees growing at Wooster, 49 per cent of them 

 were found to have been damaged by this pest. ]\Ir. Houser 's descrip- 

 tion of the injury is as follows : 



"The tender growing twigs of catalpa are attacked by maggots, 

 causing the twig to become slightly swollen and to blacken at the 

 point of injury. This occurs usually about three or four inches below 

 the tip during the early part of the season, and at a lesser distance 

 down later on when the twig is growing less rapidly. The twig above 

 the injury dies. Following the death of the tip in early summer, the 

 next node below develops one or more tips and frequently a cluster 

 of leaves, giving the twig a bushy growth (Plate 1) ; following the 

 later attacks the stem appears as in Plate 2. figure 1. The ultimate 

 result after continued topping is a stunted, crooked, forked growth. 

 (Plate 2, figure 2.)" 



A large series of infested twigs were enclosed in breeding jars, the 

 cuttings being sunk into moist earth. The specimens were collected 

 at various periods of the growing season and through two summers. 

 Though it seemed quite certain from some larvie found in the affected 

 terminals that a Cecidomyid would be obtained, it was not until the 

 second summer that a midge was reared that seemed to agree with the 

 description of Cecidomyia catalpa', hitherto recorded as infesting the 

 pods and destroying the seeds of catalpa. The few specimens ob- 

 tained have been examined by Mr. Coquillett and Dr. Felt, and while 

 both are agreed that the specimens are near C. catalpa?, they reserve 



