1917.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 79a 



the identification of these specimens required considerable time 

 in some cases, the importance of the knowledge thus gained 

 is so evident as a necessary working knowledge for a depart- 

 ment deaHng with the insect Hfe both already present and 

 liable to appear in the State as to make it well worth while. 



Last year the ravages of the strawberry crown girdler {Otior- 

 rhynchus ovatus L.) in a forest nursery were recorded at some 

 length, the loss caused being large, the outbreak novel in its 

 nature and the subsequent possibilities serious. During 1916, 

 therefore, conditions were followed as they became evident, and 

 at the close of the season the following summary of the situa- 

 tion for the season was obtained from the local manager of the 

 nursery, Mr. C. C. Bray. 



There was no direct loss from the attacks of these insects, 

 though they were present to some extent and were seen during 

 the spring digging and transplanting season. The beetles could 

 be found during the summer, but did not gather under the trap 

 boards as in 1915, perhaps because of much dark, damp weather. 

 In one block next to one of those seriously injured in 1915 

 larvae are known to be present now (January, 1917) but not as 

 abundantly as in the block adjoining, a year ago. 



From these and other statements available it seems probable 

 that the period of extensive destruction by this insect is draw- 

 ing to an end at this place, and that the methods of treatment 

 advised were at least to a large degree successful in checking 

 further injury. The initial loss was of course large, but had 

 been practically all caused before the nature of the trouble was 

 known and assistance asked. 



The experimental work of the year has been carried on as 

 usual. Treatments for the control of the onion maggot were a 

 failure, there being not enough maggots present to give the 

 experiments any value. Progress along the other lines of 

 investigation has been satisfactory, when the large amount of 

 routine work done by the department but really belonging to 

 the extension service is taken into consideration. 



