86 [Assembly 



The Round-headed Apple-tree Borer — Saperda Candida (Fabr.). 

 (Country Gentleman, for July 16, 1885, L, pp. 590-1, c. 4, 1 — 

 33 cm.) 



Borers in liawtliorns [in Westchester Co., N. Y.], are probably the Saperda 

 Candida; its burrows and method of destroying the grubs with a strip of flexible 

 steel; recommendation by Dr. Fitch of cutting out the grub ; discovering the 

 location and crushing the egg; killing the eggs by application of lye; benefit of 

 mounding about the tree; washing with soap, and soap placed in the forks of 

 the trees for preventives; principal jHiblications upon the insect. 



Entonioloo'ical. (Country Gentleman, for July 16, 1885, L, p. 592, 

 c. 2-3—20 cm.) 



Paris green recommended for killing the potato-beetle infesting egg^ 

 plants; road-dust may prevent their attack. For the injuries of the rose-bug, 

 at Waddingtou, N. Y., to apples and cherries, beating them from the trees rec- 

 ommended; to the former, Paris green might be applied. The abundance of 

 this insect upon fruit trees at times, cited. 



The Cause of Black-knot. (Country Gentleman, for July 23, 1885, 

 L, p. 607, c. 1, 2—26 cm.) 



It is not, as is popularly believed, of insect origin, but is produced by a 

 fungus, originally named Sphmria morbosa, but recently transferred to the 

 genus Plowrightia. There are not "three distinct species," but the same one at- 

 tacks Prunus domestica, P. Americana, P. cerasus, P. Virginiana, P. Pennsyl- 

 vanica and P. serotina — two plum trees and four cherry trees. Six species of 

 insects have been bred from the black-knot. The remedy is to cut off and de- 

 stroy attacked twigs and branches early in July. [Printed also in this Report, 

 see page 120.] 



The Cncumber Moth. (Country Gentleman, fox- Julj^ 23, 1885, L, p. 

 607, c. 2, 3—28 cm.) 



The borer attacking a melon patch in Carp, Tenn., is, from the descrip- 

 tion sent, probably the larva of Phakellura nitidalis (Cramer), popularly 

 known as the " pickle- worm." In New York and the Eastern States the squash- 

 vine borer Melittia cucurhitm takes its jjlace. The appearance and the habits 

 of the pickle-worm are described. The moth is also described. For remedies, 

 destroy the bored melons, sprinkle with London purple or Paris green water 

 while the moth is ovipositing. Figures of the insect are referred to. The 

 borer may possibly be P. hyalinataUs, of which the habits are different. 



Appro Insects and the Khinoceros Beetle. (Country Gentleman, 

 for July 30, 1885, L, p. 623, c. 2, 3—25 cm.) 



Of apple insects sent from Coffee, Va. , one is Orgyia Icucostigma, and the other 

 had spun up in cocoon [subsequently emerged and proved to be Acronycta. 



]. The information sent of the Dynastes Tity us, that the beetle 



comes from the ground among the ash trees where its larva had probably been 

 feeding on living vegetable matter, is a new and interesting fact. The record 

 of the manner in which the beetle eats the bark of the ash is also interesting, 

 as also the mention of their being very destructive to tobacco plants, killing all 

 that they attack. 



