58 
ete., which, to any one familiar with the great number of insects now 
infesting grass land in this region, tell a certain story as to at least one 
of the great sources of loss. 
Frequent mention is made of the Cutworms, Grubworms, Wire- 
worms, etc., and it is evident that a very great variety of species are 
included in this list; but while I am certain that many species of Cut- 
worms belonging to the common species of Noctuidz are included in 
this list, I believe that much of this injury is due to the species of 
Crambus treated in detail in my report for 1887, the Dried Crambus 
(Crambus exsiccatus), or as called in the larval stage, the Sodworm or 
Turf Webworm. ‘This has been very plentiful here in the adult form 
the present season, though by no means so abundant as in 1887, and I 
have no doubt that it has been as abundant in other parts of the State. 
The work of this species in meadows, however, would not be readily 
distinguished from that of Cutworms by those unfamiliar with the 
habits of insects, and even in corn the effect on the plants is not easily 
to be distinguished from the effects of Cutworms, Wireworms, or other 
forms of insects attacking the stalks at or near the surface of the 
ground. 
LEAF HOPPERS IN GRASS. 
In my report of last season I mentioned a number of species of leaf 
hoppers (Jassidw) that are destructive in grass land. Further observa- 
tion and collection in this same line has served to strengthen my opin- 
ion as to the great amount of injury to be attributed to these minute 
insects. A number of species particularly of the genus Deltocephalus 
occur in immense numbers in grass land, and among the most common 
of those observed here are the Deltocephalus (Jassus) inimicus Say, 
treated of in last year’s report, but associated with these are D. debilis 
Uhler., D. Sayi Fitch, D. Melsheimeri Fitch, and a number of species 
apparently as yet undescribed. <A fuller report upon these I hope to 
make a little later when material on hand can be more fully examined 
and a more complete statement of results given, but it may be in place 
to mention as one of the results of this study that I have been con- 
vinced that these insects are a very important factor in the production 
of ‘‘ silver-top ” in grass, this being one of the effects produced by their 
suction of the juices of the plant and resulting when they penetrate the 
succulent portion of the stem.at the base of the terminal node. That 
other insects may and do cause this same form of withering and injury 
to grass I do not deny, but in a great number of examinations of injured 
stems I have in the great majority of cases found no insect within the 
sheath of the injured part, and feel positive that for these the injury 
could not have been produced by Thrips or Meromyza or any insect 
working within the stem while the presence of immense numbers of the 
leaf hopper on the affected plants and the presence of punctures show 
clearly the possibility of the injury being due to them. 
