90 



Mo7iaTtliTuin fasciatum has been sent me the present j^ear in the 

 adult stage boring in both bark and wood of the maple. 



Erlococcus azalem occurs quite abundantly this year on Rhododendron 

 catawhleiise. The shrub had been g-rowing on the station grounds since 

 1897, therefore, it had stood one more severe winter, that of 1898-99. 

 The shrub was isolated and the insect not at all likel}^ to have been 

 introduced since it was planted. 



Colaspis hrimmea has been excessively abundant this year and has 

 been reported as destroying young buckwheat and beans. I have also 

 noted it attacking f our-o'clocks. 



Pseudoccocus aceris has attacked the hard maples, Acer saccharlna 

 to quite a serious extent in New Philadelphia. No other varietj^ of 

 maple was injured. 



NOTES FROM CALIFORNIA. 



By C. W. WooDWOETH, Berkeley, Cal. 



This being, I believe, the first time a member from California has 

 attended a meeting of this Association it will be quite appropriate to 

 give a general account of the entomological situation in the State rather 

 than the usual notes on the insects of the year. 



California is not comparable with any other one State, for there are 

 included within her boundaries nearly as many climatic conditions as 

 are found in all the remainder of the United States. 



The great agricultural region of the State is a large valley surrounded 

 on all sides by mountains. The Sacramento Kiver flowing from the 

 north and the San Joaquin from the south meet and empty their waters 

 in the Bay of San Francisco. This valley is the region of our great- 

 est grain fields, orchards, and vineyards. Cut off as it is by mountains 

 from adjoining regions, not only does it form a unit as regards its 

 climate but the native fauna and flora are quite distinct. Fortunatel}^ 

 most of the native insects are developed for vegetation of a more or less 

 desert type and few have made themselves felt by their injury to cul- 

 tivated plants. A few cutworms, some native beetles of several kinds, 

 but with habits of the eastern JVIacrodactylus, and two or three species 

 of migratory grasshoppers from the surrounding highlands are the 

 most abundant, though small local injury is occasionally done by many 

 species. 



There is some variation in the great valley. It is well watered to 

 the north and along the eastern side, becoming quite a desert in the 

 south and west, except as reclaimed b}' irrigation. The largest irri- 

 gation systems in the State water the southern portion of this valley. 

 The trough of the valley is more or less frosty, but along the foothills 

 and in the south, even partly on the plains, there runs a thermal belt 

 on which oranges are grown to perfection. Still higher up on the 

 hills these are replaced by the hardier fruits of the temperate zone. 



