1914.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 57 a 



the time of day, and nectar-jielding conditions. Earlier experiments 

 with bees in reaction to tissue paper flowers evinced that either touch 

 or odor was a factor as well as color. Here again odor apparently was 

 involved in the case of clover. Apart from the jurisdiction of the 

 college, it was reported that significant finding's had been made concern- 

 ing dissemination, persistency, and especially the incipient stages of 

 the brood diseases of bees, respectively European foul brood, American 

 foul brood and sac brood. Observations were also made concerning the 

 curative value of the so-called '*' dequeening process," and the impor- 

 tance of Italianization. Equipment has been procured for an experi- 

 ment the current month concerning stimuli which attract bees. 



The discovery of an active and very efficient parasite of the 

 San Jose scale was made at this station during the year, and 

 deserves somewhat more than casual mention. 



Numerous specimens of this scale are examined each year. 

 Generally only a few parasites have been noted, these being 

 the well-known Aphelinus fuscipennis How., and not sufficiently 

 abundant to be of any importance. In the fall of 1912, how- 

 ever, a large amount of parasitism was observed, and the para- 

 sites were accordingly bred. They proved to be an unknown 

 species which is described and published in the Annals of the 

 Entomological Society of America for March, 1913, by Mr. 

 D. G. Tower, a graduate student at the college, in whose hands 

 this subject had been placed to follow up. During the year 

 Mr. Tower has continued his observations on this insect and 

 has its life history nearly completed. 



During 1913 this parasite has been extremely abundant, and 

 in many cases has parasitized over 90 per cent, of the scales 

 on the branches of the plants examined. It has also been foimd 

 in other parts of the State, and has been reported from Con- 

 necticut, 'New York and Pennsylvania, and is probably still 

 more widely distributed. The station has sent out supplies of 

 parasitized scales to a number of other States and is still supply- 

 ing material on request. 



That this insect may be of great value is evident by its work. 

 It is only fair, however, to call attention to the fact that such 

 insects often appear in great abundance for a time, after which 

 they become less numerous and accordingly far less important. 

 In any case, so long as a single San Jose scale can srive rise to 



