Eighth Report of the State Entomologist. 143 



visited by Mr. John B. Smith of the Entomological Division, who 

 made I'eport upon it, as published in the Annual Report of the Depart- 

 ment for that year. A more extended report was made by Dr. Riley 

 in the year following, embracing figures of the insect, its life-history 

 and habits, and detailed descriptions, under the name of Dijylosis f nigra 

 Meigen. From this report the figures of the insect herewith presented, 

 are drawn, as also the facts relating to its introduction as above 

 given. 



Identity with the European Species. 



Although there seems to be but little question of its identity with 

 the species desci'ibed by Meigen as C'ec/^omym wi^ra, yetasnot asingle 

 specimen of Meigen's nigra can be found for comparison in any of the 

 European collections, and a> the original description is quite imperfect, 

 Dr. Riley was advised by the European authorities to redescribe and 

 rename it, which he has accordingly done, designating it as Diplosis 

 pyri'oora. The name was subsequently accepted by R. H. Meade and 

 other eminent dipterologists in Europe. 



Efforts for Its Extermination at Meriden. 



Realizing the importance of suppressing so destructive a fruit pest 

 while confined in its limited locality, the Messrs. Coe resorted to the 

 heroic treatment of picking off their entire crop of pears in 1883, it 

 being an " off year" when the yield was comparatively light, and 

 burning it with the contained larvae. But before the entire completion 

 of the task a heavy rain set in, which caused the infested fruit to break 

 open and rel<^ase the inmates. When the work was resumed it proved 

 to be too late, as all of the larv;e had deserted the fruit and entered 

 the ground. It was also discovered that a neighboring orchard had 

 become infested. But for these two unfortunate circumstances — or 

 if the effort had been made a little more timely, there is every proba- 

 bilit}' that the insect might have been exterminated, and losses to our 

 fruit growers which may run into the millions of dollars might have 

 been prevented. 



It was hoped that the spread of the insect had been largely arrested 

 by the above means, as nothing had been heard of its presence in other 

 -localities for the ensuing six years. 



