108 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



and during the summer and fall this insect seemed to increase 

 in abundance more rapidly than usual. 



During the year 1902 a new plum pest appeared in the 

 Connecticut valley, spinning its webs entirely over the trees 

 in May and early June. On investigation it proved to be a 

 saw fly hitherto known only from South Dakota and Mani- 

 to))a. Of this insect, which is known as jSfem'otoma ritjipes 

 Marl., the life history has been worked out at this station 

 during the present year and published. "While this insect 

 has already shown great possibilities as a serious pest on the 

 plum, it is too soon to predict that it will actually become 

 such ; but the results of the studies made here show that, if 

 treated when it first appears, it should be easily controlled. 



The plum curculio is always in evidence on the plums, 

 and to some degree on the apples ; but this 3^ear it has paid 

 particular attention to the latter fruit, and by its punctures 

 has reduced many thousands of bushels of apples from fii'st 

 class to a lower grade. Whether the unusually large amount 

 of injury to apples by the curculio this year was due to a 

 greater number of the insects which succeeded in passing 

 through the preceding winter alive, or whether it was due to 

 an insufficient supply of plums for them to attack last spring, 

 is difficult to determine ; possibly both factors occurred. 



For several years the imported willow-borer (Oiypto- 

 rh>/nchus Icq^athi) has been present in great abundance. 

 The injuries which it causes to willows, poplars and similar 

 soft-wooded trees are frequently serious ; and it is now al- 

 most impossible to raise these trees in some localities, thus 

 greatly reducing their value for planting as holders of the 

 soil in such places as on sandy beaches. No satisfactory 

 method of combating this insect has as j^et been discovered. 



The brown-tail moth has continued to enlarge its area of 

 occupation, and it is only a question of time how soon it 

 will be a pest all over New England. 



The gypsy moth has now to a considerable extent recovered 

 from the attacks made upon it by the State, which ceased in 

 1899, and in many places is as abundant as it ever was. A 

 careful examination of a large part of the infested territory 

 shows one change from former conditions; then, in towns 



