REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I917 I3 



cereal and forage crops and truck and garden crops. The importance 

 of this work may be gauged somewhat by an estimate made in 19 13 

 which placed the approximate loss caused by insects in this State 

 to all farm crops at $20,000,000. 



The organization outlined above had one or more active agents 

 in practically every county of the State and has made feasible a 

 closer watch upon insect developments than has heretofore been 

 possible. The experience of the past season repeatedly showed that 

 insect outbreaks in the southern part of the State, especially the 

 lower Hudson valley and Long Island, were likely to develop later 

 in the more northern sections and that hence the conditions in one 

 region could be used to indicate probabilities in others. The fifteen 

 weekly digests not only recorded conditions in various sections of the 

 State and outlined preventive or remedial measures but also estimated 

 the possibility of subsequent damage by various insects. 



Particular attention was paid to the possibilities of preventive 

 or early remedial work. In carrying this out several circulars were 

 issued, especially one on fruit insects and crop pests, mailed May 

 30th, another discussing the destructive red bug and pear psylla 

 was issued June 2d, a third on spraying fruit trees with special 

 reference to the control of the codling moth was mailed June 7th. 

 A circular calling attention to the work of the extraordinarily 

 abundant May or June beetles was issued June nth. One discussing 

 the seed corn maggot so destructive in the bean-growing regions 

 was prepared June iSth and the day outbreaks of the army worm 

 on Long Island were reported was marked by the preparation of a 

 circular calling attention to early indications of attack by this 

 greatly feared pest and giving in summarized form the more approved 

 control and remedial measures. The wheat midge injuring rye and 

 wheat, the midsummer leaf feeders of the apple orchard, the insect 

 pests of domestic animals and the Hessian fly were likewise discussed 

 in timely circulars. 



The correspondence reported above has been largely with county 

 representatives of the New York State Food Supply Commission. 

 Special effort was made to keep these persons thoroughly posted as 

 to the latest developments and the best methods of dealing with 

 various perplexing insect problems. These in turn have passed 

 the information along to their numerous correspondents and the 

 effort can not fail to have greatly increased interest in the problem 

 of insect control as well as promote greater efficiency along these 

 lines. 



Gall insects. The preparation of an illustrated Key to American 



