308 Fiftieth Report on the State Museum 



when in former years hundreds could have been captured. The Argynnids 

 were very few and mainly Atlantis. Feniseca Tarquinii/s, for which 

 Keene valley is a noted locality, was not seen. Colias Philodice was 

 comparatively rare, while Pieris rapce was abundant in the fields and 

 about the blossoms of the burdock. The presence and capture of sev- 

 eral examples of Pieris oleracea was welcomed as evidence that our once 

 familiar native species had not been entirely driven away by the hosts of 

 the foreign invader. In part compensation for the absence of so many 

 of our diurnals, the beautiful "red admiral," ^7'(7;//m Atatanta, was un- 

 commonly abundant in the last week of July and in early August. 



The night-flying species — the moths— were also very few, and it Avas 

 only possible to secure a few of the attractive Plusias that abound at 

 these high elevations; but among them were several examples of the 

 resplendent Phisia balluca Geyer. 



In each of the other orders was there an equally poor representation 

 of the species commonly met with — quite noticeable in the families of the 

 Cicindelids, Coccinellids, Cerambycids, in the BombylidcB and Syrp/iid<e, 

 in the dragon flies, and many others. 



What particular climatic conditions had resulted in so marked a 

 reduction in the usual abundance of insect life is beyond our knowledge. 

 It would be interesting to know if any other class of the animal kingdom 

 was similary affected, and if it also extended to the flora. 



The following are brief notices of some of the insect attacks that have 

 come under observation : 



Tenthredo rufopectus (Norton). 



, An example of this saw-fly was received May 25, from Mr. Thomas 

 Tapper, of Corning, N. Y. It operates in the stems, after the manner 

 of, and often in association with, the current-stem girdler, Janus 

 integer (Norton). It had been common in his garden for many years 

 past, but by cutting off and destroying each wilted tip last year as soon 

 as seen, he had nearly checked its operations. 



The insect appears to have an extended distribution. Norton gives it 

 from New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Cresson, 

 later, gives United States and Canada. It has been taken in a number 

 of examples in Canada — at Ottawa and vicinity, between June 5th and 

 July ist. In my collections made at Schoharie, N. Y., it occurred as- 

 late as July i8th. 



