100 

 The following paper was presented : 



GYPSY MOTH AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH CONDITIONS DURING 1904. 



By C. L. Mablatt, Washington, D. C. 

 [Withdrawn for puhlioation elsewhere.^] 

 The following two papers were read by title: 

 BLACK-FLY STUDIES. 



By A. F. CoNBADi. CoJlri/c Station. Tex. 



The black-fly {Simulhnn renrtf^tum Say) is responsible for much 

 annoyance in many parts of New England, especially about inland 

 summer resorts. For some time it has threatened the business of 

 summer hotels in such localities. This pest becomes troublesome 

 about May 1 in southern New Hampshire and about May 20 in the 

 northern parts of the State, according to data gathered from different 

 hotel managers interested in the extermination of the scourge. 



There is no distinct detinition of broods; all stages can be found 

 during the entire su.mmer. The life history lasts from five to nine 

 weeks, depending upon the conditions of the breeding places. Shal- 

 low, sunlit water rippling over a pebbly bottom forms the ideal 

 breeding groinid. The first experiments for the purpose of extermi- 

 nating this insect that were uiade in Ncav Hampshire were at Dix- 

 ville Notch, in the 'northern part of the State. The results were 

 recorded in the sixteenth annual report of this Association. Since 

 that time ex]Deriments have been continued by the Avriter in several 

 parts of the State, all of which go to show that this species can be 

 reduced to an inconsiderable pest in all localities where it occurs. 



The methods of extermination consist: (1) In applying phinotas 

 oil to the breeding grounds; (2) scrubbing with stable brooms 

 where the breeding place covers a small area, and especially when 

 the bottom of the stream is composed of solid rock; (3) damming 

 streams; (4) raking with iron rakes. 



The last three methods are to be employed when there is danger 

 of killing the fish in such streams as feed lakes reserved for fish 

 culture. 



The first oil experiments were conducted at the Hotel Balsoms, 

 Dixville Notch, N. H., in the waste way of the hotel lake, which is 

 the source of Mohawk Creek. The breeding ground from which 

 the hotel was infested was about 5 feet wide and 20 feet long in the 

 sunlit Avaters of the Avaste Avay. Here the immature stages Avere 

 present at the rate of 64 to the square inch, making a total of about 



« Published as Circular No. 58, Bui-eau of Entomology. 



