78 



Second letter. — Since writiiifj you I find that nearly all the maple trees in the 

 streets of Astoria, Long Island, a suburb of this city, are filled on the under side of 

 the branches with what look like little spots of white cotton wool about a quarter 

 of an inch apart. They are so thickly lined with these that the branches on the 

 under side look white. I find upon examination that these are the eggs of the moth, 

 ■which, judging from one I have in my possession, must lay a mass of them in 24 

 hours. This being the first time I have noticed what 1 describe above and the 

 first year that they have made their appearance iu that section, I fear we are doomed 

 to a great deal of trouble unless something can be used, not too costly, to destroy 

 them.— [Thomas R. Clark, Riverside Park, New York City, July 13, 1891. 



Third letter. — This year I have noticed a great number of the European Leopard 

 Moth, the larvte of which attack the Maple of every variety, except the Rock Maple, 

 in the upper part of the ciiy. The ]ar\ a; generally enter the trunks of young trees 

 about two inches from the ground, although the height varies iu some instances. They 

 seem to bore upward very rapidly, attacking the heart of the tree, and rendering it 

 so weak that a strong breeze will break it off. 



This spring I have found in at least sixteen instances, within an area of 3.5 feet, 

 the shell abandoned by the larvae on its transformation into the moth state. The 

 moths are large, and those confined lay large quantities of eggs in coils or ribbons, 

 immediately upon emerging from the shell ; they seem to exist without any suste- 

 nance for a week or more in confinement. 



As this species is very new to this country I am watching the developments with 

 interest, and will report later. The moths seem very tenacious of life, although 

 sluggish. This insect, unless some effective plan of extermination is found, is going 

 to prove very destructive to shade trees iu this vicinity. Already I notice that the 

 larviE have developed to half the size of the moth, iu the crotches of tree=, covered by 

 a very thin gauze or webbing only, so that the elements do not seem to affect them 

 very much. — [Frederic F. Culver, 80 Broadway, New York City, July 17, 1891. 



A Phycitid Moth attacking Pecan Buds. 



I have mailed you to-day a box containing some of the chrysalides from the worms 

 that attacked the pecan bud in the early spring, which may help to determine the 

 kind. I would suggest that it may be what we call the "Careless Weed worm." 

 Please let me hear from you as to what remedies to apply in early spring so that I 

 could eradicate same. — [F. A. Swiuden, Brownwood, Tex., June 17, 1891. 



Reply. — I have bred the moth, and find that it is probably new to science. I have 

 reared the same thing here iu the District of Columbia from the twigs of hickory 

 It is entirely different from the insect which is the parent of what you call " Careless 

 Weed worm," and is probably a specific enemy of the hickory. Knowing the habits 

 of this early generation only it will be impossible to suggest an efiicacious remedy.— 

 [June 26, 1891.] 



A Corn Crambus in Delavrare. 



I send you by this mail two specimens of the insects reared from the larvae that 

 were working on corn. These are the first that have appeared in my breeding cages. 

 The larvi© can seldom be found at this date in the corn fields. I have made a thor- 

 ough search and have been able to obtain a very few specimens of the larvje. — [M, H. 

 Beckwith, Newark, Del., July 17, 1891. 



Reply.— The specimens which you send show that the species damaging corn is 

 Cramhua caJiginoseUns, an insect which does precisely the same damage at Benning, 

 Maryland, a few miles from Washington. We wrote up this insect in 1886, and had 

 figures made, but the account has never been published.— [July 22, 1891.] 



