94 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



down and bring it into contact with the grubs. A successful 

 treatment of this character should result in destroying these insects 

 within a few days. 



Saddle-back caterpillar ( S i b i n e s t i m u 1 e a Clem.) . This 

 slug caterpillar about an inch long may be recognized at once by 

 the light green "' saddle cloth " thrown over a chocolate-brown 

 body, both the " saddle " and the " saddle cloth " being margined 

 with white. It is somewhat flattened in shape and bears four con- 

 spicuous spiny processes, two near each end and a number of 

 spiny tubercles at each extremity and along the margin of the 

 body. Ordinarily this larva is rare, and we were somewhat sur- 

 prised to receive a communication in September from Mr F. R. 

 Calkins of Ossining to the effect that the larvae were abundant 

 on his corn and devouring the leaves very rapidly. This species 

 is a general feeder, having been recorded on such diverse plants 

 as apple, cherry, rose, raspberry, currant, chestnut, oak, grape, 

 sumac and beet. This caterpillar is also interesting because of 

 its urticating powers. Mr Calkins states that he was severely 

 stung by a larva. It is therefore necessary to handle the cater- 

 pillars with caution. This species when at all abundant can be 

 easily controlled by timely spraying with an arsenical poison. 



Stalk borer (Papaipema nitela Guen.) . This stalk 

 borer is commonly reported as affecting a number of thick stalked 

 plants, especially corn, potatoes, tomatoes and sunflowers. The 

 latter part of June we received a report, accompanied by specimens, 

 of this larva working in the stems of scarlet runner beans, and only 

 a few days before we removed a nearly full grown caterpillar from 

 the succulent tip of a raspberry shoot. 



Spittle insects (Philaenus lineatus Linn, and P. s p u - 

 niarius Linn.). Conspicuous frothy masses of spittle on grass 

 were unusually abundant in different sections of the State and 

 have attracted a corresponding amount of notice. The two com- 

 mon species upon grasses in New England, according to Professor 

 Fernald, are those above named and it is very probable that the 

 young of these two forms produced most of the spittle masses. 



These little insects are very peculiar and possess marked charac- 

 teristics. The eggs are said to be laid in the stems of plants in 

 the autumn, remaining unhatched until the spring. The young 

 establish themselves on various grasses usually at the joint, and 

 begin drawing the juices therefrom. A clear liquid is extruded 

 from the posterior extremity and this is beaten into a froth by the 

 insect extending the tip of its abdomen and drawing bubble after 



