oO B.C. ExTO.\i()i.o«iCAL Society. 



The Cutworms (Peridroma saueia, Hbu. ; Eupsephopoectes prochictus, Grt.). 



Are both recorded for the Lower Fraser Valley. These troublesome insects are 

 known to all, and at times, in years of jirevalence, become very destructive. Tbe.v 

 can be c-ontrolled when their damage is observed by the use of a mixture of bran, 

 molasses, and Paris green. The " worms " as a rule only feed at night, so if this 

 mixture is placed near the plants in the evening many cutworms will suffer from 

 the effects of the arsenic. 



The Onion-waggot (Pliorhla ccpctoniiii. ileade). 



Is a .species very similar to the cabbage-maggot in characteristics and habits, 

 and can be controlled the same way. with the addition that affected plants can be 

 pulled up whenever .seen during the season. 



Greenhouse and Garden Insects. 



The Chrysanthemum Leaf-mineb (Phytomyza chrpsanthemi, Kowarz). 



This insect is very common in and around the City of Vancouver. It is princi- 

 pally destructive as a greenhouse insect, attacking white daisies and chrysanthemums. 

 It is believed also to breed in the leaves of wild plants in the open. 



The adult is a very small black fly, somewhat sluggish in its movements. It 

 la.vs its eggs just beneath the epidermal layer of the leaf, and the larvjp mine and 

 feed between the two surfaces. PupjB are formed in the leaf and can be observed 

 to have punctured the epidermis of the leaf to render the escape of the fly somewhat 

 easier, and possibly also for breathing purposes. From the pupje the fly eventually 

 emerges, to again begin the cycle of life. Tlie generations appear to be very rapid, 

 especially under the heated conditions of greenhouses; consequently a continuous 

 watch must be kept for the fly and the larvfe. 



It is believed that the nicotine extracts would prove beneficial as a control for 

 the larvre and pupaj within the leaves. Hand-picking of the affected leaves is of 

 value, but is troublesome. Both measures followed closely by sulphur or hydro- 

 cyanic-acid, gas fumigation to prevent the flies from depositing eggs would probably 

 reduce the numbers of the insect effectively.' 



The Tarnished Plant-bug (Lygus pratensis, L.)T 



This Capsid has been reported and observed destructive to dahlias, carnations, 

 and chrysanthemums in British Columbia greenhouses. From its proven omnivoi'ous 

 habits it probably attacks many more plants than observed. The adult is about 1,4 

 inch long, somewhat shield-shaped in outline, brown in colour, marked with black, 

 red, and yellow. The displacement of the colour and markings is variable. 



Unlike the majority of insects mentioned throughout this jiaiier, which iiass from 

 an egg to the larva, to the pupa, and thus to the adult, this Capsid passes from the 

 egg to the nymph, which grows and moults several times before attaining the size 

 and appearance of the full-grown adult. Consequently we may find stages of the 

 nymphal period all at work on our plants conjointl.v with the adults. 



Messrs. F. H. Chittenden and H. O. Marsh, in the Journal of Economic Ento- 

 mology, Vol. 3, 1010, claim that the eggs of this species are laid on a variety of plants, 

 among them being the kale, turnip, and mullein, on the upper side of leaves, in 

 petioles of leaves and in the stems of plants. From these eggs the nymphs hatch 

 and commence to suck the juices of the host-plants. This insect, while being of 

 economic importance to the farmer, has become a nuisance to the greenhouse 

 gardener. It will attack the young developing buds and flowers of the plant, suck- 

 ing the juices from one side, so that as the bloom opens up it will be found to have 

 developed on one side only, or malformations in a variety of ways takes place, 

 which hinders the market value of the cut bloom. 



As a control in tlie greenhouse, Icerosene emulsion or one of the nicotine 

 extracts sprayed in weak dilution, perferabl.v as earl.v in tlie morning as possible. 



