340 



in many localities and probably occurs throughout the State. In a 

 few cases raspberry fields were very badly damaged. The eggs are 

 laid on the under-eide of the leaves and hatch in 7 to 10 days, the young 

 larvae at first eating only the epidermal layer and later destroying 

 the entire leaf. After feeding for about 10 days they become mature 

 and enter the ground, where they remain in pupal cells from June until 

 the following spring, though they do not actually transform into pupae 

 until March or April. The true pupal stage lasts only a few days 

 and the adults emerge in May. It is essential for successful control 

 to discover the presence of the insects in time, as the feeding period 

 is short and the bushes may be stripped during May before the larvae 

 are observed. The presence of the eggs can be detected by the yellow- 

 ing of the tissue above the spots where they are deposited. Fresh 

 hellebore dusted on the wet leaves or 1 oz. in 2 U.S. gals, water sprayed 

 on the leaves when dry is an effective poison, or 2 lb. lead-arsenate 

 paste or 1 lb. dry powder to 50 U.S. gals, water may be substituted. 

 This should be applied soon after the plants bloom, or even before, 

 to prevent defoliation. Macronoctua onusta, Grote (iiis root-borer) 

 has from time to time been reported in Connecticut and in 1918 caused 

 damage in several localities. The life-history of this moth is not 

 apparently very well known ; it seems probable that the adults emerge 

 and oviposit in the autumn, the eggs hatching in the following spring. 

 It has been suggested that the iris leaves should be removed and 

 burned, or the beds burned over in spring to destroy the eggs, but more 

 definite knowledge of the life-history is required before remedial 

 measures can be undertaken with any hope of success. 



The insects attacking the potato crop have already been dealt with 

 [see preceding paper]. In orchards the false red-bug [Lygidea niendax. 

 Rent.] caused damage in some localities. The squash bug [Anasa 

 iristis] was present in usual numbers ; the elm leaf beetle [h'alerucella 

 luteola] is apparently increasing, and tussock moths [Hemerocampa] 

 were abundant on fruit and shade-trees throughout the State. 



Miscellaneous insects include Macrodactylus siibspinosus, F. (rose 

 chafer), which was somewhat less troublesome than in 1917, though 

 it did considerable damage. Bucculatrix canadensisella, Chamb. 

 (birch-leaf skeletoniser) has not been noticeable in Connecticut for 

 the last 5 or 6 years, but in 1918 the larvae were observed in New 

 Haven feeding upon the leaves of paper birch ; it is expected that 

 this moth will increase in abundance for the next few years, and all 

 valuable shade-trees should be sprayed with lead arsenate to preserve 

 their foliage. Tortrix albicomarw., Clem., has been very abundant on 

 rose bushes in some localities, the larvae tying together nearly all the 

 leaves during May. Heterocamjja guttivitta, Wlk., which was well 

 distributed in 1917, was even more abundant in 1918, attacking 

 maple, beach and birch. Malacosoma mnericana (tent caterpillar), 

 after being abundant in 1913, 1914 and 1915, gradually decreased in 

 numbers and was almost entirely absent in 1918. It will probably 

 be abundant again in a few years. Diarthronomyia liyjwgaea, Lw. 

 (chrysanthemum gall midge) is found in many greenhouses, the larvae 

 forming galls on the leaf, flower sepal or shoot. Several generations 

 may occur in a season. Thorough spmying every few days with 

 nicotine sulphate solution (1 : 50U) and soap is said to kill the emerging 

 adults and many of the eggs. Further tests with remedial measures 



