104 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. XIII, 



clover worm, Plathypena scahra, occurred from Long Island to 

 Lake Erie and was destructive to vegetables. The old-fashioned 

 potato beetle, Lema trilineata, came into prominence for the 

 first time in many years while that other increasing potato pest, 

 the potato leafhopper, Empoasca mali, was present in injurious 

 numbers in many localities. The pear slug, Eriocampoides 

 limacina, became abundant in certain regions and, in one 

 instance at least, nearly defoliated five acres of cherry trees. 

 The lined corn-borer, Hadena fractilinea, scarcely heard of since 

 Webster discussed it in 1894, appeared generally over the State 

 and caused considerable injury. Other examples might be 

 mentioned, but we wish to speak more specifically of the clover 

 leaf-weevil, Hypera punctata, and its activities in the spring 

 of 1919. 



In some localities the clover leaf -weevil had evidently passed 

 the winter very successfully and in large numbers, and what 

 interested me most regarding it was the numbers of fresh active 

 adults that we found in the fields in the spring. The larvae were 

 abnormally abundant in many fields in the State and in one or 

 two localities bid fair to cause serious injury. On a farm near 

 Warsaw, N. Y., in a field of eight acres of clover sown the year 

 before to wheat, the larvse occurred in enormous numbers and 

 for a time devoured the clover about as fast as it grew. On 

 May 17 I visited the field and found the larvae in all stages of 

 growth although many were nearly full-growni From six to 

 eight grubs were present at the base of each plant but the 

 conspicuous thing about them at this time was the large numbers 

 of individuals that were dead or dying from the attacks of the 

 fungus Empusa sphcerosperma. The sick larvae had climbed the 

 blades of grass, stems of clover, and stubble of wheat around 

 which each had curled in the characteristic horizontal position. 

 The larva would turn white at first but later would become 

 green and soon die. The progress of the larvae and of the disease 

 to which they were subject was watched by D. S. Dilts, Assistant 

 Farm Bureau Agent. He informs me that the grubs were so 

 effectively checked by the fungus that they caused no material 

 damage after the middle of May and that the clover recuperated 

 from the early injury and made a fine growth. Similar condi- 

 tions were observed here at Ithaca. Other observers have 

 recorded the effectiveness of this fungus in holding the larvae in 

 check in seasons of abnormal abundance. For instance, Folsom^ 



