REPORT. 



INTRODUCTION. 



To the Legislature of tJie State of New York : 



The Entomologist, in presenting his Second Report on the Injurious 

 and other Insects of the State of New York, begs leave to state : 



The delay of nearly a year in the printing of the First Report afforded 

 the opportunity of earlier publication of considerable material that had 

 been prepared for the following report. Much of this material was ac- 

 cordingly incorporated with the first, which, still longer delayed by the 

 additions, was not published until in October of 1883. 



The present publication presents mainly studies and observations 

 made in the years 1882 and 1883, although embracing some of those of 

 a later date. During these two years, the agricultural interests of the 

 State did not suffer from insect depredations to an extent equaling that 

 reported for the preceding year. No formidable insect pest pre- 

 sented itself for the first time, as a depredator upon any of the principal 

 field or garden crops, to be added to our already large list of insect 

 enemies. The years, of late, in which such additions have not been 

 made, are unfortunately exceptional ones. 



The zebra caterpillar of Mamestra picta Harris, was unusually 

 abundant during the autumn of 1883, not only in the State of New 

 York, but also in some of the adjoining States. A severe attack of it on 

 beets (mangolds) was reported by Secretary Harison, of the New 

 York State Agricultural Society, as occurring upon his farm at Morely, 

 St. Lawrence Co. The caterpillars were first observed feeding upon 

 the leaves in September. They continued their destructive work into 

 October, until they had devoured all of the tender leaves and reduced 

 the aggregate of the foliage at least one-half. After this had been done, 

 they attacked the roots, into which they made large surface excavations 

 similar to those eaten by crickets into fallen apples. When the man- 

 golds were taken up on the 15 th of October, the caterpillars, as stated 

 by Mr. Harison, were still at work upon them, although some severe 

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