1898.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 103 



The scale insects have been and are still being introduced 

 into this country from other parts of the world, and in this 

 way we are liable at any time to find new or unknown species 

 on our fruit or ornamental trees and shrubs and in our green- 

 houses. It therefore seems wise to learn as much as possible 

 about these insects, in order that we may know what to do 

 with those already here, and any that may hereafter be 

 brought into this country. To this end, more than six hun- 

 dred circular letters were sent out to all entomologists whose 

 names and addresses could be obtained, asking for specimens 

 of two genera of the scale insects, and already a large amount 

 of material has been received. Prof. R. S. Lull has under- 

 taken to work up and prepare a monograph of the genus 

 Pulvinaria, and Mr. H. A. Cooley a monograph of the genus 

 Chionaspis. Very commendable progress has already been 

 made by these two gentlemen. 



Army Worm. 

 During the summer of 1896 the army worm (JLeucania 

 unipuncta) was very abundant in Amherst and in many other 

 parts of the State, often in destructive numbers, and in the 

 correspondence with this department information concerning 

 this insect was asked for more than of all others combined. 

 During the summer of 1897, however, the army worm seems 

 to have been present in so few numbers as to have done no 

 harm, and it was not referred to in a single letter received 

 by me. It is a well-known fact that this insect has never in 

 the past appeared in desi^^ructive numbers two years in suc- 

 cession in the same place, and the past season seems to have 

 been no exception. The caterpillars were reported in many 

 cases to have been more or less infested with the eggs of a 

 parasitic fly. These eggs no doubt hatched and the young 

 maggots made their way into the caterpillars and destroyed 

 them, thus reducing the army worm to insignificant numbers, 

 so that the few remaining have been entirely overlooked. 



Plant Lice. 

 While the army worm has been very scarce during the past 

 season, the aphids or plant lice have been very abundant on 

 trees and shrubs, and many letters have been received, asking 



