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Ccmtarinia 'pyrkora, Riley (pear midge) appears to thrive on the heavy 

 lime soil in southern Albany county and is said to have caused con- 

 siderable losses. Psylla pyricola, Forst. (pear psylla) caused an unusual 

 amount of injury in some Hudson valley orchards. In spraying with 

 winter strength lime- sulphur or with miscible oil, the important point 

 is to delay the application until most of the eggs of this pest have been 

 laid, i.e., just before the opening of the blossom buds. Practical tests 

 showed that a midsummer spray of Black-leaf 40, using | U.S. pint to 

 100 U.S. gallons of water and 4 to 8 lb. of soap, would severely check 

 the insect, if not entirely destroy it. Lygidea mendax, Rent, (lined 

 red bug) is the species responsible for most of the red bug injury in 

 the Hudson valley. Black-leaf 40 is one of the most efficient controls. 

 With reference to Paracalocoris scrwpeus, Say (banded grape bug), 

 Mr. L. F. Strickland considers that the dropping of immature grapes 

 may have been caused by a weak pollination rather than as a result 

 of insect injury. The Jassid, Idiocenis maculipennis, Fitch, was 

 active and abundant on apple trees at Arlington in May, but did not 

 seem to cause any particular injury. Observations on the San Jose 

 scale [Aspidiotus perniciosus] and its parasites were continued ; for 

 the present it is recommended that spraying with lime-sulphur be 

 continued without regard to parasites. The most efficient of the latter 

 is the recently discovered Prospaltella perniciosi, Tower, w^hich is 

 widely distributed in certain parts of the State. 



Grass and garden insects :■ — Cramhus luteolellus, Clem, (grass web- 

 worm) has been complained of. An almost unprecedented grasshopper 

 outbreak occurred in the summer, mainly in the sandy areas bordering 

 the Adirondacks. Poison baits proved very effective. Melanoplus 

 ■atlantis, Riley, was by far the most destructive species. M. femur- 

 rubrum, De G., M. femomtus, Burm., Camnula pellucida, Scudd. and 

 Dissosteira Carolina, L., also occurred. A yellow field ant was reported 

 as injuring recently planted maize. An examination on 16th July 

 showed that the kernels had been attacked here and there by a small 

 ant, presumed to be Solenopsis debilis, Mayr. Pomphopoea sayi, Lee. 

 (Say's blister beetle) was unusually abundant and injurious in the 

 vicinity of Albany in May and June. The grubs feed on grasshopper 

 eggs and it is probable that this species is on the whole decidedly 

 beneficial. Jarring or smoking may be employed to drive the beetles 

 away from valuable fruit trees. The Pentatomid, ChlorocJiroa uhleri, 

 Stal (jumper plant bug) was stated to be present in unprecedented 

 abundance in Schenectady county and to be causing serious injury. 

 Sunflower seeds were practically destroyed. Green maize, small peas 

 in the pod, tomatoes, currants and blackberries also suffered. Macro- 

 noctua onusta, Grote. (iris borer) worked havoc in an iris bed at Catskill. 

 The outbreak of Cirphis {HeliopJiila) unipuncta, Haw. (army worm) 

 approached in severity that of 1896. Poison baits, similar to those 

 used against grasshoppers, proved useful. The rearing of a rather 

 scarce Asilid fly, Promachus fitcliii, 0. S., was an interesting develop- 

 ment in the study of white grubs and June beetles. This beneficial 

 robber-fly was unusually abundant in the summer at Nassau. 



Ornamental and shade tree pests :• — Vespa crabro, L. (European 

 hornet) has become well established in southern New York and 

 throughout New Jersey and has attracted attention through gnawing 

 off the bark from the small branches of various trees, especially birches. 



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