184 



suffered from the Army Worm in Maryland reported the previous sum- 

 mer as dry iu his locality, and these local outbreaks, if we could get at 

 all the circumstances, would doubtless be found not to conflict with the 

 general laws governing Army Worm increase, which I have stated in 

 the third report of the U. S. Entomological Commission, and were pro- 

 moted by the extremely mild winter, which promoted the constant 

 growth and development of the hibernating larvse. 



The notices in Insect Life and the Entomologisfs Monthly Magazine 

 of the damage caused by a new bark-louse to the gardens of Alexandria, 

 Egypt, have attracted considerable attention and Mr. J. W. Douglas 

 has described the new depredator as Crossotosoma a'gyptiacum. A 

 study of Mr. Douglas's description and figures has convinced me that 

 this insect is an Icerya and that its spread is greatly to be feared, judg- 

 ing from our experience v^'ith I. purchasi. Moreover, three additional 

 species of this genus have been brought to my notice during the year; 

 one occurring in Mexico on grapevine, another in Key West, Fla., upon 

 roses and other garden plants, and the third in the island of Montser- 

 rat. West Indies, upon the cocoa palm, the banana, and a species of 

 Chrysophyllum. These interesting and injurious insects have been in- 

 vestigated so far as could be done by correspondence, and descriptions, 

 with figures, will be published in the forthcoming number of Insect 

 Life. 



The sugar-beet industry, after a quarter of a century's vicissitude, has 

 begun a substantial and permanent growth, especially in Nebraska. 

 It has been found that the crop is speedily attacked by insects, and 

 Mr. Bruner, being advantageously located for work of this kind, has 

 during the past summer paid some attention to the insect enemies of 

 this crop and has already a list of sixty-four species, most of them being 

 leaf-eaters and such as are commonly found upon various allied succu- 

 lent plants — one of the worst being the Garden Web-worm {Eurycreon 

 rantalis). 



THE HOP PHORODON. 



One of the most interesting facts of the year has been the occurrence 

 of the Hop Fly {Phorodon humuli) in the extreme Northwest, especially 

 in Oregon and Washington, so soon after my note of warning as to the 

 danger of its introduction to the hop field? of that section, and the 

 need of j^recautionary measures that might prevent such a calamit3\ 

 The soil and climate of souther-n Oregon seem particularly adapted to 

 the growth of the Hop, as it is already the leading crop in Lane, 

 Marion, Polk, and other counties. 



There can be no doubt about the species, because Mr. F. L. Wash- 

 burn, the entomologist of the experiment station, has given it some 

 attention, and I have also received specimens from him and from Mr. 

 A. Todd, of Eugene, Oregon, as also from Mr. Giles Farmin and Mr. 

 G. M. Stratton, of Puyallup, Wash. 



