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advanced the Aphididw gradually disappeared and where seasonable 
rains followed the unfortunate plants measurably recovered, though 
the growth of trees and shrubbery was much retarded and distorted 
by them. 
Codling Moth, not seriously destructive in the northern part of the 
State, but in the vicinity of St. Louis and in the southern counties, as [ 
have been apprised by various correspondents, fully 50 per cent. of the 
fruit, on trees not sprayed, was destroyed by it. 
The Stalk-borer (Gortyna nitela) committed its usual depredations in 
the leaf stalks of rhubarb and in shoots of blackberry and peach. 
Mr. S. W. Gilbert wrote me that it was so abundant in his young peach 
orchard that in the course of one walk among the trees he cut off twenty- 
five or thirty bored shoots. He says: 
The worm seems to enter at the second or third bud from the tip and bore through 
the heart as far as the body of the tree but does not enter the hard wood. 
In the flower garden this insect has done considerable damage by 
boring the stalks of dahlias, cosmos, and other flowers. 
The Flea-like Negro-bug (Corimelena pulicaria).—Mr. B.S. Pollard, of 
Cameron, northwest Missouri, under date of May 22, sent specimens of 
this insect with the information that they were very abundant in his 
strawberry beds, and doing much damage by puncturing the bearing 
stems, causing the fruit to shrivel. As it was the fruiting season, I 
was at a loss to suggest a remedy, since this insect is not susceptible to 
the effects of pyrethrum, or other non-poisonous applications. In Kirk- 
wood it appeared in great numbers on hollyhocks and various other 
flowering plants, for which the easiest remedy seemed to be to jar it 
into basins of soap-suds to which had been added a small quantity of 
kerosene. 
Lygus lineatus appeared here and there on tufts of clover, about the 
middle of May, injuring the foliage to considerable extent. It inhabits 
the under surfaces of the leaves which it speckies with transparent dots 
and small patches which cause the leaves to curl and shrivel. Its broad, 
flat larva is of a dull, pale green color, variegated with a.few ferrugin- 
ous marks and shadings. The pupa is very similar, with the addition 
of the wing-pads. 
The Tarnished Plant-bug (Lygus pratensis Linn.).—This insect was more 
abundant than usual throughout the State, and from numerous corre- 
spondents I received bitter complaints of its injuries to apple and pear 
buds and to strawberry beds. During the autumn it appeared in con- 
siderable numbers on chrysanthemums, on which its peculiarly poison. 
ous punctures produce most disastrous effects. I was quite suecessful 
in driving it from our own plants by liberal applications of X. O. dust, 
which proved at the same time a good remedy for the brown aphis, 
which is such a common and unmanageable pest on these beautiful 
flowers. The plants were not injured in the least by the insecticides. 
