72 PROTECTION OF PLANTS — 1925-24 



INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN SOUTHERN QUEBEC FOR THE YEAR 1924 



C. E. Fetch & T. Armstrong, Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Hem- 



mingford, Que. 

 Cutworms. 



Cutworms were not so numerous as in 1923 and the damage effected there- 

 fore was unimportant. Some individual cases of infestation were reported. 

 A number of the growers have learned a lesson from past experiences, and they 

 scattered poisoned bait just as soon as the first injury was noted, this method 

 giving control in all cases without exception. The red-backed cutworm {Euxoa 

 ochrogaster Gor) was the most important species around the Hemmingford 

 District. 



Cabbage Maggot. (Hylemyia brassicae Bouche) 



The little white eggs were to be found clustered around the young plants 

 about the third week of June, which was a week later than last year. Shortly 

 afterwards the young cabbage plants began to wilt and die. From the num- 

 ber of plants at which eggs were found the infestation seemed to be serious, but, 

 due to the lateness of the season and the good start the cabbage plants had 

 made before the appearance of the insect, the injury was considerably reduced, 

 Some gardens in the Hemmingford district had 50% of the plants destroyed. 



Onion maggot. (Hylemyia antiqua Meig.) 



The onion maggot was more prevalent than last year, and in some localities 

 the loss to seedling onions was over three times that of 1923, but in other places 

 the loss was somewhat reduced. Small tin pie plates containing a bait made by 

 boiling ^2 oz. Sodium arsenite in 1 gal. water and adding 1 pint cheap molasses, 

 with excelsior for the flies to light on should be placed in the onion fi Ids to 

 control this pest. Gardeners still persist in delaying the placing of the pans 

 until the fly has commenced to lay eggs, whereas they should be distributed 

 when the seedlings are about 13^ inches high and before egg-laying has com- 

 menced. 



Potato beetle. (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say.) 



As in the past this pest was present in all districts where potatoes are grown 

 but the infestation was not very serious. 



Beet leaf- miner. (Pegomyia vicina Lint) 



The beet leaf-miner severely injured a large percentage of the leaves of 

 beets in all districts visited. It was present more especially in the Montreal 

 district and on one 2-acre field 80% of the leaves were infested. The eggs are 

 laid on the underside of the leaves and the maggots bore into them and eat out 



