— ee. 
193 
The following paper was then read: 
NOTE ON SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT INSECTS OF THE SEASON. 
By HERBERT OSBORN, Ames, Towa. 
The present season has so far been marked by a rather exceptional 
abundance of several common pests. During the fore part of the sum- 
mer the Clover Hay-worm (Asopia costalis) attracted considerable at- 
tention, many of the larvee and specimens of their work being sent to 
me from different parts of the State. It would seem that the species 
has been increasing rapidly along with the increase of clover hay put 
up in this region. In some cases the injury has been caused by Asopia 
farinalis, although from many of the specimens Asopia costalis has 
been bred. 
The Wheat-head Army-worm (Leucania albilinea) has also attracted 
considerable attention, causing serious losses to timothy seed crop, but 
its distribution has been different from what it has usually been in 
the State. This season the injuries reported have been mainly in the 
northeast quarter, and but few reports and probably less injury has 
occurred in other sections. Formerly its greatest damage has been 
known in the southeast quarter. 
The Potato-stalk Weevil (Trichobaris trinotata) has been, if anything, 
more common and destructive than before and is probably to be cred- 
ited with considerable injury to potatoes that has been assigned to other 
causes or referred to dryness. 
Severalspecies of Acriididz have been very plentiful and their injuries 
much more noticeable than in ordinary seasons. Melanoplus femur 
rubrum has been the most abundant species, but differentialis and bivittata 
have been unusally common and other species of the family have also 
been present in abundance. Pastures and meadows have suffered 
from their great numbers and they are affecting cabbages and other 
garden plants and have also completely stripped a number of apple 
and other orchard trees, a phase of injury which I have never before 
observed at Ames. 
The Horn Fly, which has been rapidly spreading over the country, 
has appeared in large numbers at Ames this season and is proving 
quite troublesome to cattle. ~~~ 
In discussing these three papers Mr. Riley remarked that the arsen- 
ical poisoning for the Blister Beetles was effective so far as killing the 
beetles was concerned, but that the difficulty in the case was that they 
continued to come from day to day. In large potato fields the driving 
and burning methods have proved at times quite effectual, but during 
years when the insects are very numerous it is almost impossible 
to protect given plants or smaller areas. He had found this to his 
