— 43 — 



It may be of interest to note that the robber fly, Dasyllas flavicollis was 

 observe preying on the adults of M. disstria, but these flies were not sufficiently 

 abundant to be of any practical importance in the destruction of this pest. 



The Codling moth {Cydia pomonclla) was as usual quite abundant in many 

 orchards last season. 



The Bud moth {Tnietocera occllana). Considerable injury was done by this 

 insect during the past season. At the college the larvae were found on apple, plum, 

 cherry and pear, but only the apple suffered sensible injury. The pest was abund- 

 ant throughout a 'large part of the province, and in several orchards apple-trees 

 were so badly affected that they assimied a brown parched appearance, owing to 

 the large number of dead leaves and buds in which the bud worms had made 

 their nests. The adult moths were found in the field froni June 21st to July 

 22nd. 



Many eggs parasitized by a minute chalcid were found at Ste. Anne's, Como, 

 Bale d'Urfe and Abbottsford. From the pupae were obtained four differents 

 hymenopterous parasites. In spite of these parasites, however, there was a "large 

 number of young larvae skeletonizing the leaves in the late summer. Detailed 

 studies of the insect were started last season and will be continued during the 

 coming season. 



The second brood of the Pear-tree Slug (Eriocampoides limacina), did con- 

 siderable injury to plum, amelanchier and cherry. On some plants it was diffi- 

 cult to find any uninjured leaves during the fall. 



The Apple Maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) continues to be a pest at Como, 

 Covey Hill and other places. At Abbottsford I found it in orchards in which 

 it had not been known to occur before, but as it was quite generally spread 

 throughout the orchards it was evident that it had been present for some time, 

 but had been overlooked by the orchardists. In spite of the fact that this insect 

 has bred for years in thorn bushes adjoining the college farm, the college orchard 

 has thus far escaped infection owing to the extremely local habit of the insect. 



Mites (Tetranychus, Bryobia, &c.) were very evident throughout the season. 

 Shrubberries and ornamented borders suffered most. 



LET US INSTRUCT THE FARMERS 



Germain Beaulieu, Ottawa. 



People in general, who have never had occasion to become initiated into the 

 mysteries of entomology, can form no idea of the enormous toll taken through- 

 out the world every year by insects on the products of the earth. If any statis- 

 tics with regard to the matter happen to fall into their hands they content them- 

 selves by glancing rapidly over them and shaking their heads as a sign of incre- 

 dulity. If they are told that the damage caused throughout the entire world by 

 these insects mounts up into millions of dollars; that in the United States alone 

 the cotton boll weevil costs annually v$20,ooo,ooo and more ; that In a single year 

 the Hessian fly, a very small Diptera that attacks wheat, has caused a loss to the 

 farmers, at the lowest estimate, of $100,000,000, they almost laugh in our faces. 

 To them these figures seem fanciful, and the entomologists visionaries or enthu- 

 siasts, like the astronomers. 



A little reflection, however, will teach these sceptics to form a better judg- 



