48 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



weather prevented spraying on the morning of the 2 ist and evidently 

 nothing was done until Monday, the 23d, at which time conditions 

 were such that spraying could not be advised. 



The main difficulty in the control of this insect, as is evidenced 

 by the above, is to make the application at the time it will be most 

 effective, since there is no question but that thorough spraying 

 with a nicotine soap preparation will destroy the thrips, provided 

 they have not sheltered among the partly opened blossoms. The 

 early spraying just before the buds start or " crack " is perhaps 

 the best of all and it is certain that a considerable degree of pro- 

 tection can be obtained from the dormant lime sulphur application 

 containing 60 to 80 pounds of lime, provided the spraying is done 

 before the buds have opened sufficiently to permit the thrips to 

 enter. Treatment should be delayed as late as possible in order 

 to secure maximum results. There is a very close time limit and 

 the successful execution of this method requires preparation before- 

 hand and quick treatment, something that is not always possible 

 under present conditions. 



There is some evidence to justify the belief that repeated spray- 

 ings in an infested area result in a general betterment, though this 

 may not be very marked in any one season. 



Red bugs. There are two very similar species, namely, the 

 dark-red bug, Heterocordylus malinus Reut. and the 

 bright-red bug, Lygidea mendax Reut. The eggs of both 

 are deposited in the bark of the smaller branches during the stimmer 

 and remain unhatched till the following spring. The eggs of the 

 former hatch soon after the leaves of the fruit buds start and those 

 of the latter about a week later. Consequently it makes a difference 

 which species is abundant in the orchard and observations show 

 that apparently one species may be numerous and then the other. 

 This has resulted in much confusion among fruit growers and more 

 or less unsatisfactory control. 



These insects are becoming increasingly abundant in many orchards 

 in widely separated parts of the State and in not a few instances 

 have proved very injurious, occasionally destroying one-fourth of 

 the fruit. 



Reports received during the past season indicate either a general 

 prevalence, a local abundance or in a few instances somewhat 

 general injury in the following counties : Allegany, Broome, Colum- 

 bia, Dutchess,* Monroe, Niagara, Ontario,* Orange,* Orleans,* 

 Rockland, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben,* St Lawrence, Ulster,* 



