30 N.S. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Injuries. The chief seat of injury of the rosy aphis is to the leaves 

 about the blossom clusters. The most serious effect of this is to dwarf 

 the apples borne on these clusters. The dwarfing may only be slight or 

 the apples may not grow any larger than acorns. In cases of bad in- 

 festation, large bunches of these small dwarfed apples, so well known by 

 farmers who have had any experience with this pest, will be found hang- 

 ing on the tree. 



A curious effect of the aphis work about the fruit cluster is the re- 

 tention of many apples that would have dropped to the ground had they 

 not been so attacked. This was particularly noticeable during the past 

 year, when clusters of these gall apples would be seen where the insect 

 had been at work, while elsewhere on the tree, the crop was in many cases, 

 very light indeed. In fact in some orchards, the only fruit that could be 

 found on certain trees was the clusters that had been attacked by the 

 Rosy Aphis. The fruit itself may also be attacked, causing similar in- 

 juries to that produced by the green aphis. 



Control of the Green and Rosy Aphis. 



Several species of Syrphus Fly larvae were observed feeding^upon 

 both species of aphids. Also a predaceous mite (Anystis agilis Bks.) 

 destroyed a large number. Considering its small size, this mite can ac- 

 count for an enormous number of aphids. It is bright red in color and 

 travels at an amazing speed. According to Mr. Banks, who determined 

 the specimen,it is found all over the eastern portion of the United States. 



During the summer click beetles (Elateridae),were frequently found 

 in curled leaves containing aphids, under circumstances that gave rise 

 to the suspicion that they were preying upon the aphids. Accordingly a 

 careful watch was kept, and it was found that the click beetles undoubt- 

 edly destroyed a large number of aphids, and are an appreciable factor 

 in their control in this province. The species chiefly responsible for this 

 work was determined by Dr. Van Dyke as Dalopius lateralis, one of our 

 most common species. 



Several species of lady bird beetles w^re also captured feeding upon 

 the aphids but the most common species in the summer of 1915 was the 

 twice-spotted-lady-bird-beetle, (Adalia bipunctata). Accordingly, ex- 

 periments were conducted to ascertain the life history of the species and 

 the number of aphids destroyed by them. 



Accordingly, on June 12th, a pair were captured in copulo and placed 

 in a rearing cage. On June 15th a batch of eggs was laid, and on the 18th 

 the pair were again observed in copulo, followed by the deposition of 

 another batch on the 20th. In all the female deposited 32 eggs. How 

 many eggs, if any, were deposited before capture, we cannot say. The 

 insects hibernate in the adult condition in houses and other shelters and 



