116 



The Southern Corn Koot-worm {Diahrotica 12-punctata). — This insect 

 has been noted in southern Kansas. It may be working- northward. 

 The Western Corn Eoot-worm (D. lonyicorniti) is not an uncommon 

 pest iu the State. In 1891 they were reported from many localities. 



The Ham Fly {Piophlla casei). — The packing houses of Kansas City, 

 JNlo., are seriously troubled by this pest. The larvje, or "skippers," live 

 in and on the smoked meats, ham and bacon. The fly is x)robably iden- 

 tical with the Cheese Skipper fly, although larvae kept in breeding cages 

 with ham and bacon did not take at all kindly to cheese to which they 

 were removed. As shown by breeding-cage data, the egg stage lasts 

 about four days, the larval stage about two weeks, and the pupal stage 

 one week. The flies lived from six days to two weeks inbreeding 

 cages. 



The Bag Worm {Thj/ridoptcryx tphemeraformis). — This pest of ever- 

 green trees is at present doing much damage iu the State. Cedars and 

 Arbor Yitai seem especially attacked. Box-elders sufler somewlmt. 



Locusts {Acridiid(c). — Melanophis hivitttdus and M. differentialis annu- 

 ally do some damage in extreme western Kansas. From Hamilton 

 County reports come of their presence now (August 1) in large num- 

 "bers. The pests are attacking fruit trees, Mulberry and Catalpa trees. 

 Bissosteira longipmnis, which last year alarmed residents <^)f eastern 

 Colorado and western Kansas, is at present locally hurtful, but no 

 serious crop destruction is threatened. 



Bihio sp. — A species of Bibio closely allied to 7>. femoratiis, but 

 probably distinct from it (Dr. Williston on casual examination pro- 

 nounces the species undescribed), appeared iu large numbers in many 

 Kansas wheat fields during the last week of April. It was reported 

 from seven western counties. Larvte were found, February 10, in large 

 numbers in a wheat field in Pratt County; some were found also in soil 

 in some hotbeds where flowers were growing. Adults were rei)orted 

 April 17 and fi-om then constantly until the end of the first week in May. 

 A correspondent in Lincoln County noted that pupation began about 

 April 20, the adult flies appearing by April 27. After the adults ap- 

 peared he could not find a single larva. 



The flies were very abundant wherever present and occasioned much 

 alarm. However, no injury to the wheat has been definitely traced to 

 them. The fields most badly infested gave no signs of unusual injury. 

 The flies disappeared suddenly and simultaneously. With the Bibios 

 several Anthomyiid species iu lesser numbers appeared. Sciara sp. 

 was sent in from several fields. 



Other injurious insects of the season noted are Melon Aphis {Aphis 

 cucumeris), last week in July on cucumber and melon vines ; Angoumois 

 Grain-moth ((7e7«7mf«Tert7f'?/a), attacking corn two years (dd in crib; 

 last year's corn under same roof with 10 feet alleyway between was not 

 attacked. 



