I'U.H'KEDINCS, 1914. 39 



All attempt was made to tiMiisfer the mites from diseased to lieultliy fruit. 

 Though negative results were i)l)taiiie(l in most cases, the typical mite-blisters were 

 produced in a few instances and the mites again recovered from the inoculated fruit. 

 From this it would seem that these mites are probably responsible for the foregoing 

 symptoms on apples, apricots, and plums. 



From inifuiries which we have received, and from notes taken regarding the 

 distribution and destructiveness of tlie •'apple-blotch mite." there seems to he no 

 doul)t that this pest is one to 1h> reckoned with liy fruit-growers in all parts of the 

 I'rovince. 



A number of corresiiondents claim to have exhausted every means of control 

 without efl'ect. A careful study should undoubtedly be made of the life-history of 

 the mite, and experiments i-onducted with n view of olitaiiiing some satisfactory 

 method of (dutrol. 



ANTS AS FRUIT-TREE PESTS. 

 P.v W. H. F.KiTTAiN. B.S.A.. Provincial Entomologist. 



I first noticed the work of these ants, which were determined by Dr. Wheeler 

 as Foniiica lupi. Linn., subs. oliscitrii)cs. upon peach-blossoms at Pentlcton on May 

 3rd. 1032. The ants were boring into the nectaries of the blossoms, destroying the 

 pistil and feeding upon the nectar. In some cases small round holes were eaten iu 

 the petals, and iu a few instances the young tender foliage was injured in a similar 

 manner. 



In an orchard at Summerland on May 10th. 1913. I noticed a Morello cherry-tree 

 in which 7.") per cent, of the blossoms were destroyed by the.se ants, which swarmed 

 over tlie tree and ate out the pistil of the flower to get at the nectar. 



At Kelowna on May 12th. 1912. Mr. Lionel Taylor, of the Bankhead Orchards, 

 called my attention to apple-blossoms injured in the same manner as above. 



In no case where I have seen this injury has there been any aphides present 

 on the tree.s. It is conceivable that herein lies the explanation for this strange 

 l>ehaviour of the ants. In a German paper (Vosseler J. Verhinderung des Fruchtan- 

 satzes bei ("obipa durch Ameisen. Zeitschr. Wiss. Insectenbiol. 11. 190G. pp. 204-200) 

 mention is made of an ant boring into the blossoms of Cohaa acaiidcns to get at the 

 nectar. 



Though this species is an abundant one everywhere in the North-west, little 

 seems to be known of its habits and life-Iiistory. I have only one note on the habits 

 of the species, taken at Vernon on .lune l.jth, 1013. A large number of the ants 

 were swarming around the base of the a]iple-tree, busily engaged in destroying and 

 carrying off the cutworms whicli were abundant iu the soil of the orchard. Though 

 the insect is a very small one. it seemed capable of handling a laitworm considerably 

 larger than itself. 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



(G. O. Day. F.E.S.) 



(lentlemen. — When I was casting about in my mind for a subject for an address 

 this evening, it appeared to me that a review of the study of entomology iu the 

 Province would be suitable and useful and perhaps acceptable to our members, 

 especially to those who have joined our Society in recent years. On mentioning the 

 matter to our Secretary. Mr. Treherne. I found that be had already written a paper 

 covering much the same ground that I had intended to deal with, and snppleni<aitiug 

 the information contained in Mr. Tom WiI.son"s address in 1911. 



I urged Mr. Treherne to read the paper himself, and I would content myself with 

 a few general remarks on otiier matters. However, with great generosity he placed 

 the results of his labours at my disposal. So you must please understand that the 

 following is a joint production. I feel extremely reluctant to approiu-iate another 

 man's work for my address to-day. but as Mr. Treherne w.is down on the programme 

 to read .mother paper, and also becausi' I am confident that the notes he has gathered 



