Eighth Report of the State Entomologist. 255 



accepted by many entomologists. Dr. Packard and otliers regard 

 it as properly placed among the Hemipi era, to some of tlie families 

 of which it seems to have a close affinity. Their habits vary 

 greatly; for while many of the species are unquestionably vegetable 

 feeders, and injurious in their operations, others, from their carniv- 

 orous propensities, are serviceable in their destruction of gall- 

 insects, the eggs of the curculio, the red spider {Tetranychus tela- 

 Wi^*'), the clover-seed midge {Lecidomyia leginninicola), the wheat 

 midge {JJijyIosis iritici), and other insect pests. 



The method commonly resorted to for the prevention of the 

 ravages of the so-called " Thrips " in graperies, has been fumigation 

 with burned tobacco. This has proved to be partially successful. 

 A still better method has been for some time employed in France, 

 but not to my knowledge to any extent in this country. It is 

 the vaporization of a strong extract of tobacco. One who has 

 thoroughly tested it bears this testimony to its efficacy: "Ever 

 since I adopted it, it has been absolutely impossible to find a 

 'thrips' in my houses, and other insects have likewise disappeared." 

 The following method of use is given : 



Every week, whether there are insects or not, I have a number 

 of braziers containing burning charcoal distributed through my 

 houses. On each brazier is placed an old saucepan containing 

 about a pint of tobacco juice of the strength of fourteen degrees. 

 This is quickly vaporized, and the atmosphere of the house is 

 saturated with the nicotine-laden vajwr, w hich becomes condensed 

 on everything with which it comes in contact. T\Tien the contents 

 of the saucepan are reduced to the consistency of thick syrup, about 

 a pint of water is added to each, and the vaporization goes on as 

 before. I consider a pint of tobacco juice sufficient for a house 

 of about 2,000 cubic feet.. The smell is not so unpleasant as that 

 from fumigation, and tobacco juice can be used more conveniently 

 than the leaves. 



When the operation is completed, if the tongue is applied to a 

 leaf, one can easily understand what has taken place, from the 

 very i>erceptible taste of tobacco. 



The process requires to be repeated in proportion to the extent 

 to which a house is infested. Such troublesome guests are not 

 to be whoUy exterminated by a single operation, A new brood 



