﻿some of the most remarkable occurrences affecting entomologists, 

 which have taken place during the period that has elapsed since we 

 last met, and I shall also endeavor to direct your attention to one 

 special matter connected with the future of the science, which, it 

 seems to me, can be discussed to advantage during the present 

 meeting. 



When last year you conferred upon me, what I felt was the 

 too great honor of electing me, the first Canadian, to fill the chair 

 of the Entomological Club, I accepted that position as tendered to 

 the President of the Entomological Society of Ontario in recogni- 

 tion of the good work that has been done by that Society, which I, 

 on that occasion, together with Dr. Bethune, had the honor of 

 representing as delegate. 



The chief attacks by insects upon cultivated crops which have 

 demanded the attention of entomologists during the past season, 

 are the following : In all parts of Canada and the United States the 

 noctuid larvae known under the name of ' ' Cutworms, ' ' were ex- 

 tremely abundant in the spring. In the maritime provinces of New 

 Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as Quebec, the Tent Caterpillars 

 did much injury to orchard and forest trees. In central Ontario 

 Meromyza americana was unusually abundant, but it was also ac- 

 companied by its parasite, Coelinius vieromyzce. Not only were 

 certain kinds of wheat and barley severely attacked, but also a single 

 instance of the attack on oats was observed, and I made the further 

 unpleasant discovery that the species bred freely in various wild 

 grasses, chiefly of the genera Agropyrmn, Deschampsia, Elyvius 

 and Poa. Upon the experimental grass patches of the Experimental 

 Farm at Ottawa, the species of Agropyriim and Elymus, and Poa 

 serotina were the grasses most attacked, while only a single instance 

 of injury to Setaria viridis was noticed. An interesting point was, 

 that while Poa serotina was so severely injured, Poa pratensis, Poa 

 ccesia and Poa compressa were almost exempt. The species of Ely- 

 mus and Deschampsia were attacked in the young shoots close to 

 the root, but the others mentioned in the top joint of the flowering 

 stems, by which the appearance known as " Silvertop" was pro- 

 duced. The name " Silvertop" is also applied to the results of the 

 ravages o{ Phlceothrips poaphagus, which is now becoming a "first- 

 class pest" in many parts of Canada. The grasses which suffer 

 most from this insect are, early in June, Poa pratensis, and later in 

 the month, Phleuin pratense. A much more serious matter, how- 

 ever, was a new injury to oats by a species of Thrips, which has 



