68 



time thei'c lias been no cxtciisivo ,si)reci(l, iti liaviii.i;" mad(^ its way 

 tlii'ou.yh a luiiiibcr of small gardens only aboulone-eii^hlh of a mile in 

 one (lireetion, Avhile it lias failed to cross a road to orchards even 

 nearer in another direction. 



One infestation was dis(^overed fully a quarter of a mile distant in 

 another direction, but this was due to its having been carried ujion 

 trees and not to a normal spread. It should be stated that in both 

 of these cases the scale has been kept in control as a rule, and as a 

 consequence the spread has not been nearly so rapid as if the reverse 

 had been true. On the other hand, investigations and inquiries in a 

 peach-growing section where the scale had become established in a 

 few places three or four years ago reveals the fact that the pest has 

 already obtained a foothold in some orchards from half a mile to 2 

 miles or thereabouts from others, and in this instance we are inclined 

 to believe that tiiese colonies established at a distance are due to the 

 fact that no very adequate control of the insect has been maintained. 



The distribution of insects is one of considerable im]3ortance to 

 economic entomologists, and it is interesting to report the presence of 

 the common asparagus beetle {Crioceris aspurdgi Linn.) at Glens 

 Falls, Warren County, where it has become established over an area 

 several miles in extent. This is the northernmost New York locality 

 we know for this species. The cabbage maggot {Pegoniya hni.'i.s-ica'- 

 Bouche) has been unusually injurious in various sections of the State, 

 and has been reported as destroying one-fourth of the crop in St. 

 Lawrence County, besides causing damage in other sections. The 

 onion maggot has also been very injurious, and in St. Lawrence 

 County it ruined one-fourth of the crop, besides causing considerable 

 damage in the vicinity of Albany and i)robably in other sections. 



The saw-toothed grain beetle {Silvanus surinamen^>is Linn.) is a 

 well-known species, and in this country has attracted little attention 

 as a household pest, aside from its annoying j)resence in cereal prep- 

 arations and similar materials. The past summer our attention Avas 

 called to a curious condition in which this species figured as a house- 

 hold pest. The conditions were as follows: The insects bred in 

 immense numbers in a bin of a brewery containing several thousand 

 bushels of oats, and on warm days appeared in large numbers and 

 invaded nearby dwellings. They were so numerous in infested houses 

 that they made their way into everything, and the housekeeper could 

 sweep up nearly a pint on any warm day. They were found in 

 all parts of the dwellings, resting upon ceilings, crawling upon walls, 

 under mats, tablecloths, etc., and even invaded wearing aiipai'el. 

 They were found in shoes and made their waj^ into beds, and caused 

 not a little discomfort by a slight biting or possibl}^ pricking by the 

 serrate edges of the prothorax. 



Shade-tree pests have not attracted special notice on account of 

 their depredations, though the elm leaf beetle {Galerucella luteola 



