331 



The Cerambycid borer, Batocera ruhus, is spreading rapidly in the 

 Virgin Islands. It attacks Ficus sp., Carica papaya (papaw), 

 Spotidias lutea (hog plum) and other trees. 



Hewitt (C. G.). Report of the Dominion Entomologist for the Year 

 ending March 31, 1916, — Dominion of Canada, Dept. Agric. , 

 Ottawa, 1917, 70 pp., 9 figs. [Received 31st May 1917.] ^ 



Owing to the disturbed conditions in Europe the number of plants 

 imported during the season 1914-15 was only about half that of the 

 previous year, but the inspection service was much improved owing to 

 a regulation requiring inspection at the port of entry instead of at the 

 point of destination. 



The intensity of the infestation of the brown-tail moth [Euproctis 

 ckrysorrhoea] was reduced in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by 

 careful scouting work, in spite of an increase in the area infested, as 

 well as by the imfavourable conditions at the time of the flight of the 

 moths from the New England States and the heavy mortality of the 

 caterpillars in the preceding winter owing to climatic conditions. 



The natural enemies of the gipsy [Lymantria dispar] and brown-tail 

 moths were collected or reared and imported and liberated during 

 the season, to the number of 72,000 parasites {Compsilura concinnata, 

 Apanteles lacteicoJor, and Meteorvs versicolor) and 3,400 predaceous 

 beetles {Calosmita sycophanta). The natural control of the three native 

 insect pests, the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosorna disstria), the fall 

 web-worm {Hyphaniria textor), and the spruce bud-worm, Tortrix 

 (Harmologa) fmniferana, was further studied with good results, though 

 the investigation is expected to extend over another three years. 



Insects affecting cereal and field crops included cutworms, which 

 were unusually abundant especially in the prairie provinces, the most 

 destructive species being the red-backed cutworm, Euxoa ochroyaster, 

 Gn., which destroyed considerable areas of wheat and oats. E. tessel- 

 lata, Harr., the striped cutworm, and E. tnessoria, Harr., the dark- 

 sided cutworm, were also very abundant, young beets, carrots, onions 

 and large areas of tobacco being destroyed. The glassy cutworm, 

 Hadeyia derastatrix, Brace, seriously damaged crops of wheat, oats, 

 barley, timothy grass and maize. An extensive and dangerous out- 

 break of the army cutworm, Euxoa {Chorizagrotis) auxiliaris occurred 

 for the first time in Canada, but energetic control measures prevented 

 wide-spread loss. Important data have been secured regarding the 

 control of white grubs {Lachnosterna spp.). A study of the distri- 

 bution and life-histories of the grass stem-maggot flies (Oscixidae) 

 which affect grasses and cereals has been begun. The results of 

 investigations on the cabbage maggot, Chortophila {Phorhia) 

 hrassica' ^ch.. , the onion maggot, Hylemyia antiqua, Mg., {Phorhia 

 ceparum), and the seed-corn maggot, Chortophila {Phorhia) fusciceps, 

 Zett., are being published in the form of a bulletin. Locusts, especially 

 the lesser migratory locust {Melanoplusatlantis, Riley), and the pellucid 

 locust {Camnula pellucida, Scudd.) were very abundant and attacked 

 oats, barley, timothy grass, buckwheat, clover, tobacco, potatoes, corn 

 and celery, but organised co-operation in the use of poisoned bait gave 

 markedly good results. The mixture, which killed 90-95 per cent, of 

 the insects, was : — Bran, 20 lb. ; Paris green, 1| lb. ; lemons, 3 ; 



