91 



renc3 in that vicinity, and it was put down as an accidental importa- 

 tion, which is probably the truth. The collector resides in a district 

 where there are numerous lumber j^ards, and shipping is carried on to 

 a great extent. The exact location is described as being around North 

 Second street and Metropolitan aveiuie, near a creek which adjoins 

 that portion of the baj^ running through the eastern part of Brooklyn. 

 As onl}^ five of the insects were captured it does not necessarily 

 imply that the species has been introduced, but we may have here a 

 parallel case to that of the gj^psy moth, which was known to have beeu 

 actually introduced in this country twenty-five 3' ears before it attracted 

 the attention of economic entomologists. As the two species are 

 related and have similar habits, there is reason to believe that if the nun 

 moth does become permanently located in the vicinit}^ of New York, 

 it will prove a national calamity, and more troublesome even than the 

 gypsy moth, as it will be difficult to deal with the pest in such a local- 

 ity. The gypsy moth is established inland, while the nun moth, if it 

 has obtained permanent foothold (which may not be ascertained for a 

 number of years), will pr()l)ably have spread to the immediate vicinity 

 of waterways on either side. It is a matter that should be made public 

 at once, that all persons interested in entomology and in agriculture 

 may be warned to keep a sharp lookout for this species during the 

 coming years. The Division of Entomology should l)e notified of cap- 

 tures of anything suspicious, and an}?^ insect suspected of being the 

 nun moth should accompan}' the letters. 



ESTIMATED LOSS OCCASIONED BY THE VARIEGATED CUTWO«M IN 1900. 



In looking over accounts of injuries recently occasioned by various 

 well-known species of noxious insects, the writer noticed the lack of 

 reliable estimates of money losses sustained. The question of the 

 extent of the damage due to the ravages of the variegated cutworm 

 {Peridroma saucid) in 1900 was entirely lost sight of, by the writer as 

 well as by others who published in regard to injuries. 



Occasion was therefore taken, in writing Dr. James Fletcher, 

 Dominion entomologist of Canada, to make inquir3'in regard to injuries 

 in the Dominion. Through him we obtained information from Mr. J. R. 

 Anderson, deputy minister of agriculture for the province of British 

 Columbia, as follows: "Rephdng to Mr. ('hittenden's inquiry as to 

 the loss from the variegated cutworm last year — from all the informa- 

 tion obtainable and making an addition for unreported districts, the 

 losses foot up to $168,000." 



Next, Prof. C. V. Piper was written to in regard to damage inflicted 

 by this cutworm in the State of Washington, and he obtained from 

 Mr. David A. Brodie an estimate of $1,012,500 in western Washington, 

 this being based upon the estimate of damage in British Columbia. In 

 commenting on this, Professor Piper stated that he could well believe 



