268 



llEPORT OF THR ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE 



SEASON OF 1884. 



To the Council at the Ottaiva Field-Naturalists Club : 



As predicted in the report submitted last year, the depth of snow 

 which covered the ground was followed Vjy a great abundance of insects, 

 the hibernated forms of which had been well protected from harm. 

 Although the spring was rather backward and the snow slow in dis- 

 appearing, the season was earlier than in 1883, and hibernated insects 

 were observed in the beginning of April. The summer was unusually- 

 cold and wet, and tended, doubtless, to check in some degree the increase 

 of many species, although, perhaps, favorable to others ; the influence 

 of such seasons being yet i;ncertain. The unusually severe frost of 

 28th May, which, especially on the north side of the river, was such as 

 to destroy the new wood of many native trees and shrubs, must have 

 destroyed immense numbers of insects, either directly or indirectly. 

 One instance of its effects may be noted. Mr. Pellissier, who lives 

 about three miUs frOm the Wakefield cave, informed ns that the fail- 

 ure of the flowers of the raspberry {Ri/bi(S stri^osus), from which his 

 bees gather the greater part of cheir spring honey, was so complete that 

 he was afraid he would have to sacrifice many of his colonies. The 

 same cause must have been very disadvantageous to our native bees. 



While tlie entomological branch remains deplorably weak in num- 

 bei's we are able to record the addition to its ranks of two or three 

 members who will doubtless be of great assistance in its'work. 



During the last .session of Parliament the Committee on Agricul- 

 ture summoned us to give evidence as to the injurious effects of insects, 

 and also as to the advisability of a practical entomologist being appointed 

 by the Government to investigate their ravage'. The committee has 

 since published its re])ort, and having recommended that entomological 

 investigations should be made under the control of the Department of 

 Agriculture, one of your leaders has been appointed Entomologist to 

 that department. 



HvMENOPTKR.v. — The collections in this order have been largely 

 increased, and a paper on one section of ihe species injurious to vege- 

 tables is announced on the programme of our soirees. A considerable 



