— 3— 



been found to be undescribed. This insect attacks the flowers of 

 oats just before they leave the sheath, in consequence of which they 

 turn white and die. 



An outbreak which may prove to be one of great importance is 

 the appearance, during the past summer, in one of our Canadian 

 towns, of large numbers of the European flour moth {Ephestia 

 kuhniella). Radical measures have, however, been taken by the 

 provincial government for its suppression, and I trust that it may be 

 stamped out before it spreads to other centres of the milling industry. 



In the United States the attacks of most interest were the fol- 

 lowing : The appearance, in very large numbers, of Siphonophora 

 avencE in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, drew forth many 

 notices in the public press. Perhaps next in importance was the 

 outbreak of an imported fly of the genus Hcemotobia, which has 

 increased so as to become a serious pest to cattle. It has occurred 

 in injurious numbers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Mary- 

 land and Virginia. Its life history has been studied by the ento- 

 mologists of Washington, and Prof J. B. Smith, in New Jersey. 

 The salient points are already discovered, and successful remedies 

 have been made known. The Army Worm [L. unipiincta) has 

 done restricted damage in Indiana, and has also occurred in Florida. 

 Brood VHI of Cicada septendecim has appeared in Massachusetts, 

 Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ken- 

 tucky, Maryland, north Virginia and North Carolina. The Chinch- 

 bug {Bliss7is leucopterus) has been abundant in Missouri during the 

 past summer, and the Hop Aphis {Phorodon hurmdi) is reported as 

 more abundant in New York this summer than it has been since 

 1886. Attacus cecropia has been remarkably abundant in the tree 

 planted regions of the West and Northwestern States. 



The Cotton Worm and Boll Worm have been very abundant 

 and injurious in the cotton-fields of the South. Trees and shrubs 

 of all kinds, both in the United States and Canada, have suffered 

 much by the attacks of various leaf-hoppers. These attacks will 

 doubdess all be dealt with by the United States entomologist, or the 

 State entomologists in their reports, so I shall not now speak of 

 them at greater length than I have done, but will beg you to give 

 me your special attention while I speak to you upon a subject which 

 appears to me to be, at the present time, one of very great impor- 

 tance. It has lately been brought prominently before the entomo- 

 logical world in the pages of " Insect Life." This is no less than 

 the organization of the active, working, economic entomologists of 

 North America into a permanent association or union, so that an 



