THE INSECT RECORD FOR 1902 



BY CLARENCE M. WEED 



For several years there has been reason to expect the advent 

 of the San Jose or Pernicious Scale 1 to our state, but I 

 have been unable to find any trace of it until this season. The 

 very fact that there are so few nurseries in the state rendered 

 the finding of the pest more difficult, as well as made it more 

 probable that it would be introduced without our knowledge. 

 At present three infested localities are known, though it is 

 probable that others exist. In the one first discovered on the 

 outskirts of Manchester the insect was apparently introduced 

 on a crab-apple tree set nearly eight years ago. In the same 

 neighborhood the pest appears to have been re-introduced last 

 spring on trees bought of a local agent who had purchased 

 them outside the state. The next infestation to be found is at 

 Dover Point, and originated from peach trees bought of a local 

 greenhouse man who imports trees from outside the state. The 

 third case is at Intervale, where the insect has been present for 

 several years on some pear trees peculiarly sheltered by 

 buildings. 



The passage of a nursery inspection law by the legislature 

 of 1903 will have a tendency to check the further introduction 

 of this pest on nursery stock. No one should accept trees for 

 planting which do not bear a certificate that they are free from 

 insect pests. 



I have been able to get no further evidence of the presence 

 of the dreaded Brown-tail Moth 2 in this state. It has con- 

 tinued to increase to an alarming extent in Massachusetts, just 

 south of our line, and is also reported as being present in 



1 AsfiidioHis pemiciosus Comstock. 

 i-Euproctis chrysorrhcea Linnaeus. 



