86 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



copper color, with rather large wings. He thought it the same insect 

 that defoliated sections of the orchard the j^revious season. 



Being unable to identify the insect from this description, a visit 

 was made to the orchard on June 14. It was found, as expected, that 

 the common rose-chafer {MaerodactyluH svl)i<pinosus Fab.) was eat- 

 ing the young peaches; but flying around among the trees were a 

 mmiber of sawflies which the owner pointed out as being the insects to 

 Avhich he had referred. Although not more than ten or twelve saw- 

 flies were seen around a tree, the owner stated that they were much 

 more numerous a few days before. Some of these were caught to 

 bring back for identification. 



On examining the trees carefully, numerous eggs were found on 

 the underside of the leaves along the midrib and usually on the basal 

 portion of the leaf. These eggs were nearly white in color, about 

 1.6 mm. in length and 0.75 mm. in width. Some of these had 

 hatched, and small greenish-white larva? Avere feeding on the leaves. 

 They eat a narrow section, beginning at the edge, and Avork toward 

 the midrib of the leaf, then roll one of the corners over, thus forming 

 a case Avithin which they conceal themselves, as shown in the illus- 

 tration (PI. I, fig. 2). Some of this material was collected for rear- 

 ing, but through neglect the larva* all died. 



The writer was unable to visit the orchard again until July 2.. 

 The larva' had all disappeared, but the Avork of this insect Avas seen 

 throughout the 80-acre orchard, though only in small sections Avere 

 the trees badly defoliated. The owner thought that the injury Avas 

 as severe as during the previous year, and that the insect had spread 

 over a much larger area this season. 



No remedy Avas tried against this pest. As peach foliage in Con- 

 necticut is usually injured by any spray, it seems to the Avriter that 

 the most practicable treatment would be to keep the soil Avell stirred, 

 especially near the base of the trees, for a fcAV Aveeks after the larva^ 

 begin to go into the ground to pupate. Spraying the ground around 

 the trees with kerosene emulsion might also kill many of the larva». 



It might be Avell to state that this is an old orchard. Avhich Avas 

 someAvhat injured by the Avinter of 11)04, and has not been cultivated 

 as thoroughly as the owners usually cultivate their orchards. 



Specimens of the saAvfly Avere sent to Dr. A. D. MacGillivray, who 

 pronounced it a ncAv species. The female is about 9 mm. (three- 

 eighths of an inch) long, Avith a Aving expanse of 19 mm. (three- 

 fourths of an inch). Head and thorax black, Avith pale-yelloAv mark- 

 ings. Antenna^ about one-fourth of an inch long. Abdomen Avith 

 two black basal segments, the remainder being brown-ocher in color. 

 Legs Avith pale yellow femora, tibia and tarsi broAvn-ocher. 



It is hoped that this insect can be studied another season and notes 

 made regarding its life history. 



