46 INSECTS INJURIOUS IN 1902. 
probably, that the insect is called alder blight. Directly under 
the colonies of the insect, where the honey dew is the thickest, a 
thick, sponge-like fungus grows, which is said to grow nowhere 
else.* A pest of this sort is hard to eradicate, and calls for most 
radical treatment. The destruction of the worst affected trees 
and repeated sprayings with some such agent as kerosene emul- 
sion, resin wash or whale oil soap, a treatment of the roots with 
the same agent would probably in time exterminate them. As 
will be seen from the photograph, they are a striking looking in- 
sect, for, while the bodies are dark green or black, they are so 
covered with this white woolly growth that the colonies look, for 
all the world, like patches of snow upon the branches. 
In October I found the young swarming over the trunks and 
it would seem as if the Alders in that vicinity were doomed unless 
measures are taken for their relief. 
THE STALK BORER. 
Hydroecia (Gortyna) nitela. 
The Caterpillar of this moth has been extremely troublesome 
this season. I found it in tomato vines, in hollyhocks, catalpa, 
golden glow, etc. It has also been known to work in potato, 
Fig. 43.—Gortyna nitela Gu. From Div. of Entomology, Dept. of Agriculture. 
aster, dahlia, castor bean; in short any plant with soft center is 
apt to suffer. It is even reported as attacking twigs of apple, 
peach, currant, etc., and is to be classed as a general nuisance. 
Mr. Freeman of the University has identified this fungus as Scorias 
spongiosa, Schw. Harshberger, in Vol. ° of the Journal of Mycology, 
reports it as occurring in the honey dew of Schizoneura imbricata, found 
on the Beech. 
