REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1906 AI 
for fruit trees and is very annoying on account of the intense irrita- 
tion produced by the urticating hairs of the caterpillar. The 
placard was supplemented by a bulletin [N. Y. State Mus. Bul. 103] 
giving more detailed information concerning these pests, with the 
result that many specimens of various insects were sent to the office 
for determination. The newspapers of the State cooperated most 
efficiently in disseminating information relating to these dangerous 
forms. It is gratifying to state that, so far as we have been able 
to discover, there is no ground for believing that either the gipsy 
moth or its destructive associate, the brown tail moth, has become 
established anywhere in New York State, though it would not be 
surprising were one or both of them to obtain a foothold in the near 
future. It is very important that our citizens should know about 
the gipsy moth in particular and be prepared to suppress the pest 
upon its first appearance. 
Aquatic insects. The earlier investigations of this group have 
been continued. Dr James G. Needham has an extensive mono- 
graph on the stone flies (Plecoptera) nearly completed. This im- 
portant work will prove an extremely valuable addition to our 
knowledge of a hitherto much neglected group. Dr Cornelius 
Betten, who has been giving special attention to the Caddis flies 
(Trichoptera) for the past five years, continued his studies last 
summer at Buffalo and Ogdensburg. These insects are an import- 
ant element of fish food and, in addition, are of considerable local 
importance in the city of Buffalo. They breed in such large num- 
bers in the rapids of the Niagara river that each summer the adults 
belonging to this group and the not distantly related May flies 
(Ephemeridae) swarm by the millions in portions of the city near 
the river front. The insects are so abundant as to prohibit out- 
door painting during certain portions of the season. These flies 
were one of the factors which led to the locating of the Pan-Ameri- 
can Exposition some distance from their breeding places. Dr 
Betten has given particular attention to this local phase of the 
problem and he is now engaged in preparing an exhaustive account 
of this very interesting and in some respects important group. 
Gall midges. These minute, inconspicuous insects, belonging 
to a family comprising a large number of species have been sub- 
jects of careful and extensive investigations by the Entomologist 
and his assistants. Certain forms, like the Hessian fly and wheat 
midge, are of prime economic importance. The former is well 
known as an exceedingly destructive enemy of certain varieties of 
