NOXIOUS INSECTS. 



NOTES OF THE YEAR. 



Of the more prominent and important of onr insect enemies prolonged 

 experience is continually teaching us something new, and of some of those 

 already treated of in former Eeports, I shall, hereafter, under the head of 

 '^'Notes of the Year" bring together such additional facts and discoveries as 

 are worthy of being recorded. These notes are therefore intended to sup- 

 plement the original articles, and I shall endeavor to avoid anything like 

 repetition of what has already aj^peared. By thus adding the observations of 

 the year the original reports will be rendered more complete and circum- 

 spect. 



THE COLOEADO POTATO BEETLE. 



In its onward march across the continent, this insect attracts, perhaps, 

 more attention than any other. In extending over new territory we find 

 that its enemies increase and that even its habits become more varied ; while 

 our means of counteracting its injurious work become more numerous and 

 efficient. For these reasons it demands prominence in the ^'Notes." 



Its Injuries in 1871. — Never before was the insect so numerous with 

 us as last spring and summer. In March the beetle was turned up in great 

 numbers while the ground was being plowed, especially in fields that had 

 been planted the previous year to late potatoes. During the warm days of 

 April they were seen everywhere sailing through the air — their striped ely- 

 tra or wing-covers raised and held motionless from the thorax, while the 

 more gauzy wings, unfolded and vibrating, reflected pleasantly to the eye as 

 the sun intensified their rosy hues. 



Before the potatoe leaves were fairly out of the ground the beetles were, 

 as usual, after them, and the fighting on the part of potato-growers com- 

 menced with vigor, for it seemed that twenty bugs came to the funeral of 

 every one slain. It had become very generally known that no powder unless 

 it had Paris green as its base, was efficient enough to be of any practical 



