[copyright secured to thh author.] 



NOXIOUS INSECTS. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENTOMOLOGY. 



READ BEFORE THE MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT ITS ELEVENTH 



ANNUAL MEETING, BY C. V. RILEY, CHAIRMAN OP 



THE COMMITTEE. 



In the preparation of my Annual Report, I have dwelt in detail on 

 many insects that have attracted attention during the year, either by 

 their injuries or benefits. In that Report numerous illustrations will 

 be used to appeal to the eye of the reader, and as it will be published 

 in the same volume with your transactions, I deem it superfluous at 

 the present time to dwell on the natural history of any one insect 

 Permit me, therefore, to cursorily refer to a few of the prominent en- 

 tomological events of the year, and afterwards to make a few gener- 

 alizations, which it is hoped will prove ol some little interest and 

 value. 



The year 1869 may be set down as one in which our crops, as a 

 general thing, have suffered less than usual from insect depredations. 

 At least such has been the case in Missouri, and, judging from ex- 

 tensive correspondence, the same statement would hold true of most 

 of the northern and middle States of the Union. 



True, the Army-worm (Leucania unipuncta,JI&w.),&n(l the Grain 

 Plant-louse (Aphis avence, Fabr.), appeared in many parts of the State 

 in sufficient force to do considerable damage, and these two insects 

 may always be expected in a tolerably wet year that was preceded 

 by a very dry one. But most insects, and especially those which 

 afflict you as horticulturists, have behaved exceedingly well, though 

 it is difficult to say whether we are to attribute this good behavior 

 on their part, to the increased knowledge of their habits which has 



