THE INSECT RECORD FOR 1901 



BY CLARENCE M. WEED 



The season of 1901 was on the whole an average one for 

 insect pests in New Hampshire. There was an unusual out- 

 break of the squash bug, and an extraordinary appearance of 

 a harmless fly called the white-winged bibio, together with 

 much local damage bv cankerworms and railroad worms. In 

 other respects the insect injuries were of the usual sort, 

 though the discovery of the elm leaf-beetle within our borders 

 may well lead us to expect that in the near future we shall 

 have new and more serious pests to fight. A special discus- 

 sion of this phase of the subject is given on the later pages of 

 this bulletin. 



As was to have been expected from the conditions in 1900, 

 no injury was seen or heard of from the work of the Forest 

 Tent Caterpillar^ or the Spiny Elm Caterpillar.^ The 

 American Tent Caterpillar^ was somewhat more abun- 

 dant than during the years immediately preceding, and is evi- 

 dently gradually increasing in numbers. The Choke Cherry 

 Tent- MAKER, ^ on the other hand, was noticeably less abun- 

 dant, the parasites mentioned in my last Insect Record as 

 being so numerous, having apparently reduced its numbers 

 materially. 



During the latter part of May and the early part of June a 

 fly called the White-winged Bibio^ appeared in some parts 

 of the state in enormous numbers. Mr. N. Wentworth of the 

 state Fish and Game Commission sent specimens from Hudson, 



^ Clisiocampa disstria Harris. 

 2 Vanessa antiopa Linne. 

 ^ Clisiocampa atnericana Harris. 

 * Cacoecia cerasivorana Fitch, 

 ^ Bibio albipennis Say. 



