No. 123.] PLANT PEST CONTROL. 73 



for in many cases the shipper is not familiar with insect pests 

 or plant diseases, and would unknowingly cause their spread. 



With the idea of assisting the nurserymen and also as a 

 protection to the public, special visits have been made to the 

 nurseries in order, if possible, to detect any new or dangerous 

 pests. By these inspections certain conditions have been 

 brought to the attention of the nurserymen and, when possi- 

 ble, control methods recommended. In a few instances, pests 

 which were not readily identified were brought into the labora- 

 tory for further study, with an idea of learning their habits, so 

 that measures for control in the field may be practiced. It 

 is believed that inspections of this nature are especially valu- 

 able, and the danger of serious infestations is greatly reduced. 



Miscellaneous Insects. 



Juniper Wehicorm {Phalonia rutilana Hiibner and Ypsolophus 

 marginellus Fabr.). 



Damage to junipers by web-making Lepidopterous larvse 

 was quite prevalent in one nursery. Adults reared from ma- 

 terial brought into the laboratory proved to be of two differ- 

 ent species, both, however, of European origin. 



The webs made by these two insects are very similar. Leaf- 

 lets and small twigs are webbed together by the caterpillars, 

 forming an irregular nest, the leaves and twigs presenting a 

 brownish appearance. Damage was most serious on Swedish 

 junipers. 



Pine W eh worm {Benta melanograminos Zell). 



Webs of this insect were brought in from several nurseries 

 at different points in the State, showing that it must have 

 been quite widespread last season. This insect was found par- 

 ticularly on red, Scotch and Mugho pine. The webs were 

 brought in the last part of September, at which time the 

 larvae were apparently full grown. Soon after this time the 

 larv£e entered the soil and spun rather tough, thick cocoons. 



The webs are constructed of needles lightly spun together 

 and made up largely of fine green larval excrement, which 

 forms an irregular mass in which the larvse live. Webs vary 

 from 1 to 5 inches in length and each usually contains several 

 caterpillars. 



