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Amaranthe. The present year it was destructive not only to the vege- 

 tables but many other plants. All through Texas, Indian Territory, 

 Kansas and Arkansas, and also Iowa and Nebraska, the insect was most 

 destructive. The larva, though of the usual Pyralid form, is still well 

 distinguished by its pale green color and large piliferous spots. 



During the present year Cicada septendecim has appeared in many 

 portions of our country and I have been able to collect a large number 

 of valuable notes that will enable us to better fix the limit of distribu- 

 tion and the extent of both the sepleiutccim and iredecim broods. 



In Central N. Y, the Hessian fly has done a great deal of damage. 

 For some years past it has not attracted much attention there, and it has 

 been the opinion of some even well known Entomologists that it had left 

 its old haunts and migrated to the west. As a matter of fact however 

 wheat culture has changed its center, and the only reason there have 

 been no complaints in the East, is that there was little or no grain for 

 them to attack; and this year the sudden increase in numbers has again 

 called attention to the fact that the insect has not yet left its old haunts. 

 So much injury has been done that many farmers abandoned the crop 

 and did not harvest it. 



On the Pacific Coast, locusts have been unusually abundant, and 

 have done great damage. Hitherto the injury had mostly be done by 

 Camnula pellucida, but this year the species has been Melanoplus devasta- 

 tor. I regret to say that Mr, L. Bruner, an agent sent to visit Montana, 

 reports a great increase of the Acridida> throughout that region and great 

 fears are entertained of the future; but the prospects are not necessarily 

 gloomy, for the weather has of late been unfavorable to their develop- 

 ment, and unless there is a great change of conditions they will not be 

 unduly abundant. 



Melanoplus spretus is still most abundant, but native species are also 

 very plentiful, and Camnula pellucida was found, indicating that all these 

 species can become very destructive in the west. Many other species 

 were locally abundant or destructive, but these can be considered charact- 

 eristic of the year. 



Dr. Kellicott mentioned that in Buffalo Podosesia syringes has been 

 destructive to the ash trees. Prof. Osborn and Mr. Hy. Edwards had 

 stated in "Papilio" that the young shoots or branches were attacked, but 

 in Buffalo it lives under the bark of the old trees. He has observed a 

 number of the trees, has seen the pupa cases projecting and has watched 

 20 or more from a single tree in a single day. Often ioo or more were 

 in a single tree. 



A gentleman from Goshen, said he knew something about one of 

 the insects mentioned by Prof. Riley. A friend of his had three acres of 



KNTOMOLOGICA AMERICANA. 27 



