REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1918 65 
with loose husks, devour the kernels and in case of a serious infesta- 
tion may destroy from one-fourth to nearly one-half of the kernels 
of the ears, rendering them unmarketable and usually totally 
unfit for human food. The full-grown caterpillars are about 14 
inches long, vary greatly in color from a light green through a rose 
color and brown to almost black. They may be either striped, 
spotted or perfectly plain. They and their work are easily dis- 
tinguished from the European corn borer by the small black not 
brown tubercles or warts on the body of the caterpillar and the 
limiting of feeding to the surface of the ear. It is not a borer. 
Dusting the developing silk with powdered arsenate of lead has 
given excellent results in controlling this pest, though the deadly 
nature of the poison should be recognized and due precautions taken. 
Ordinarily such measures are not necessary in New York State. 
Frequent examinations should be made to detect the early work of 
the pest and care taken not to loosen the husks at the tip of the ear 
and thus facilitate the entry of this caterpillar. Partial stripping 
of the ear is also favorable to attack by the bumble flower beetle, 
Euphoria inda Fabr., an insect occasionally somewhat 
troublesome. 
MISCELLANEOUS 
European calosoma (Calosoma sycophanta_ Linn.). 
Two specimens of this beneficial and recently introduced insect were 
taken in Capitol Park, Albany, one July rath and the other July 
tgth. Both the large, black, ungainly grubs of this insect and the 
brilliant greenish beetles are noted for searching out and devouring 
caterpillars of many kinds. Unlike a number of related ground 
beetles, both grubs and adults ascend trees and are therefore valuable 
aids in destroying leaf-eating caterpillars. It was this habit which 
led authorities of the United States and Massachusetts to spend 
considerable sums to secure the introduction of this species in an 
attempt to utilize insects for the control of the very destructive 
gypsy moth. This introduced beetle has proved itself one of the 
important checks upon the notorious pest just mentioned. 
The finding of two beetles in Albany indicates the local estab- 
lishment of the insect and under favorable conditions it may increase 
and be of material service in destroying shade tree pests. This 
new-comer is an active, moderately stout, brilliant greenish beetle, 
about an inch long. <A closer examination shows that the head and 
thorax are a dark purplish blue, the latter bordered with greenish 
blue while the brilliant green wing covers show gorgeous purplish 
