Proceedings, 1915. 



due rii-oiiortion. tt) the eontfol of the !i,i)hicles. I cannot tlo better than ilraw yoiii- 

 attention to the very excellent article written by Mr. Palmer and published in 

 Bulletin Xo. 3, N.S.. British Columbia Entomological Society, on " Some Problems 

 of Aphis-control in the Okanagan." 



Obviously, all insects that feed, more or less, on portions of plant-tissues or on 

 p)ant-e.\udations affected iljy fire-blight are capable of transmitting the disease to 

 healthy plants. Such insects, as numerous flies, wasps, bees, ants, bugs, borers, all 

 effect their quota in transmitting the disease. Pruning alone may Ije practi.sed with 

 any degree of success against such visitants, wliich in ver.v man.v cases are known 

 to be a benefit to a tree rather than otherwise. The veterinary slogan " Remove 

 the cause " may well apply. 



There is one insect, the name of which heads this article, the tarnished plant- 

 bug, which requires some attention. Mr. W. H. Brittaiu. who during the past 

 summer held tlie iwsition among you as Provincial Entomologist and Plant Patholo- 

 gist, records this insect among his papers (printed in Bulletin 4, British Columbia 

 Entomological Society) as noted " attacking a wide range of crops " in the Okanagan. 

 ■' Probably," tie states, " the most damage was done to nursery stock. Leaves that 

 are attacked when young become wrinkled and curled. Sometimes small areas of 

 the leaves become brown and die. subsequently dropping out and producing a ' shot- 

 hole ' effect. Blossom-buds attacked on fruit-trees are retarded in development, if 

 not killed. Leaf-buds, when pierced at the base, frequently die and drop off." 



In the same issue of our Proceedings (Bulletin No. 4) I have recorded this 

 insect as being prevalent in the Lower Eraser Valley, and especially noted as a 

 serious pest in greenhouses. Its presence is also noted in the orchards of the Lower 

 Eraser Valley, although during the past Uxo years I have not observed it as being 

 especially destructive to fruit or blossom buds or to the leaves. 



In view of the undoubted presence of this insect in our orchards, I beg leave to 

 quote Professor Stewart, of the Cornell E.xperiment Station. In Bulletin 329, 1913, 

 "it is believed that the most important agent in transmitting the 'blight' parasite 

 to health.v trees has been the tarnished plant-bug (Ljitius pratensis)." I would 

 suggest, therefore, that those of you who are especially interested in the control of 

 the fire-blight organism pa.v attention to the presence, prevalence, and control of 

 this bug. 



The adult belongs to the Heteroptera and to the family Capsidre, or leaf-bugs. 

 When fully mature the adult measures about C mm. long, and is shield-shaped in 

 general outline, brown in colour, and marked with black, red. and yellow. There 

 seems considerable variation in the colouring: some are inclined to be greenish or 

 yellowy brown. The winter is passed in the adult stage beneath rubbish in the 

 orchard or in such places as fence corners, clumps of leaf-mould, etc. Early in the 

 spring, and possibly to some extent in the fall previous, oviposition commences. 

 For a long period of time the season of the year and the place of oviposition ha\e 

 been in doubt, owing to the difficulty of successful breeding in captivity. 



Within the past few years steps have been taken to more fully determine this 

 point in the life-history, for obviously it is most important. In the JournnJ of 

 Economic Entoinolofiji, 190S. Professor E. P. Taylor has recorded the fact that 

 injuries to young developing fruit. " formerly classed as that caused by the plum 

 or apple curculio, was instead the result of egg-punctures made by the tarnished 

 plant4ing." Professor Taylor has not observed oviposition in apples at any time 

 except in the very early spring imme<liately at or .lust after blossoming, and then 

 particularl.v on the early-blooming varieties. Peculiar "dimples" are produced in 

 the after-fruit, which outgrows the iu.iury caused from the spring attack. 



In 1910. Professors F. IT. Chittenden and H. O. JIarsh. in the same .Tournal. 

 stated that they found eggs laid in the following places, viz.: (1.) April 19th — 

 deposited on kale " slightly inserted on the upper side of the leaf." (2.) May 23rd — 

 oil volunteer turnips, deposited " in the seed-stalks, stems, and leaves, scattered 

 about singly and in irregular rows or groups, sometimes three being placed close 



