Twelfth RErouT of the State Entomologist 255 



In the preceding Report, the observed progress was given of the elm- 

 leaf beetle along the Hudson river from Newburg northward until it 

 reached Albany in 1892, and its subsequent spread in a portion of the 

 city. It is proposed in the present article, to present some additional 

 observations made upon this insect, which, from its serious injuries to a 

 favorite shade-tree, is exciting much interest. 



This insect was very destructive the i)resent year to the foliage of the 

 English elms ( Ulinus cainpesiris) in both Albany and Troy. A second 

 brood of the beetle was observed in 1895, but, owing to absence from 

 town, it was impossible to make the continuous observations upon it 

 desirable. The i)resent year an effort was made to settle some of the dis- 

 puted, points concerning the habits of the insect so far north. Two 

 annual broods were known to occur in the southern part of New Jersey, 

 while, according to the observations of Dr. Smith in successive years, 

 the insect was limited to a single brood at New Brunswick, in the 

 northern part of the State. On this account it had been taken for 

 granted that but a single brood would develop further north, and obser- 

 vations made by Dr. Howard in Connecticut in 1895, seemed to con- 

 firm this belief. It was, therefore quite a surprise when, beyond question, 

 two well marked broods were observed by me in Albany in 1895, 

 and a small third one the present year (1896). Instead of retiring in 

 midsummer to hibernating quarters, there to remain until the following 

 spring, as at New Brunswick, the beetles continued their feeding and 

 oviposition so late in the s'eason that larvae were to be found so long as 

 any leaves remained suitable for their food. 



Broods in 1896, in Albany. 



The larvae of the first brood, those from eggs deposited by the over 

 wintered beetles, were observed descending the trees for pupation on 

 June 19th. On the 22nd a number of the pupge were collected. The 

 first beetles of this lot appeared the 30th, and by July yth they had all 

 transformed. 



Most of the English elms in the vicinity of South Hawk street, Albany, 

 were completely defoliated by the first brood. A close watch of this 

 district was maintained throughout the remainder of the season. July 

 nth a cluster of eggs was found on the large lower leaves of one tree. 

 Unfortunately the tops of the tall trees were so inaccessible as to make their 

 close observation impracticable. It is probable that numbers of eggs 

 were laid on the foliage of the higher branches during the month of July, 

 as eggs were found from day to day on the rather fresh lower leaves at a 

 time when the upper appeared to be in even better condition. 



