Eighth Report of tee State Entomologist. 283 



suggested by the inquirer, would prevent cut-worm attack, but not wire- 

 worms. The best preventive in infested fields is starving out by crops of 

 buckwheat or pease. A good preventive is, preparing the seed corn with soft 

 soap and plaster according to directions given: this method has been very 

 successful. Soaking the seed corn in kerosene for twenty-four hours before^ 

 planting might be tried. 



Destructive to Pears. A Pest Discovered in a Catskill Orchard. 



(Albany Evening Journal, for May 30, 1891, p. 8, c. 1 — 17 cm.) 

 The Diplosis pyrivora. (The Sun [New York], June 1, 1891^ 



p. 3, c. 5 — 9 cm. I 



An insect destroying almost the entire crop of Lawrence pears and attack- 

 ing other varieties is discovered in the Catskill orchards. It is an European 

 insect, first observed in this country at Meriden, Conn., in 1881. This is its 

 second known locality in the United States. Its life-history is given. Can. 

 not be reached by the ordinary insecticides. The danger apprehended from 

 its spread. Picking the infested fruit and burning it, recommended. 



Insect Pests. (Oswego Daily Times, for June 2, 1891, vol. 49, p. 



4, c. 2 — 12 cm.) 



Contains notice of a new case-worm or Coleophora feeding on apple leaves; 

 the eye-spotted bud-worm, Tmetocera ocellana ; the cocoons of the apple- 

 tree Buccalatrix, B. pomifoUella; and of Aspidisca splendoriferella in its 

 case: together with remedies for the several pests. 



Another Formidable Insect Pest. (Oswego Daily Times, for 

 June 3, 1891, vol. 49, p. 5, c. 2, 3 — 50 cm.) 



The pear-midge, Diplosis pyrivora, discovered at Catskill, N. Y. , hitherto 

 known only at Meriden, Conn., where it was introduced about 1880. Infests 

 the Lawrence pear and other species named; how it affects the fruit; not 

 within reach of insecticides: its life-history; importance of its control; 

 recommendation to pick and burn the infested fruit; other methods that 

 may be effective against it: amount of injury done. 



Melon and Strawberry Pests. (Country Gentleman, for June 4,. 

 1891, Ivi, p. 457, c. 2, 3 — 18 cm.) 



A request from Wellham's Crossroads, Md. , for a remedy for ' ' lice " destroy- 

 ing melons and cucumbers, is answered by recommending the appUcation 

 of kerosene emulsion, pyre thrum in powder or in water, or strong tobacco 

 water — the insect probably being Aphis cncumeris Forbes. The Vermorel 

 nozzle would best apply the spray to the aphids on the underside of the 

 leaves. Collecting and burning the dead leaves in autumn would doubtless 

 destroy many of the eggs of the aphis. 



The insect injuring strawberry plants by puncturing the stems [no- 

 specimens sent] is probably the flea-like negro-bug, Corimelcena pulicaria 

 Germ. It is difficult of control from its large number of food-plants. The- 

 applications recommended for the aphis would probably kill it. 



[See in pp. 212-214 of this Report (viii).] 



