68 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



The Fall Web Worm (Ilyphantria textor), (Fig. 8) which has been for many years 

 excessively abundant on ash, elm and many fruit trees, has this year been quite scarce 

 about Port Hope, but in the neighborhood of London, — as our president Mr. Dearnesa 

 relates — it has been conspicuously prevalent and many tree have been covered with 

 immense webs. How to account for these remarkable changes in the numbers of injurious 

 insects from scarciiy or abundance in one year to the reverse in the next is one of those 

 puzzles which may well employ the attention of the thoughtful entomologist. Sudden 

 changes of temperature as wehave seen in the case of the apple-tree tentcaterpillar, very hot 

 and very dry weather, an unusally wet and cold season, violent storms, all these no doubt 

 have great influence in reducing the numbers or favoiing the increase of some species of 

 insects, and in addition, — peihaps most of all — the increase of the parasites that prey 

 upon the noxious species, and the spread of infectious diseases are great factors in the 

 problem. It can only be solved by patient daily observations of a particular species 

 carried on from year to year by more than one investigator. This is a field of work open 

 to all and one that may result in the acquisition of a knowledge that will be of very 

 great scientific and practical value. 



Dr. Bethune also referred to the large number of rare butterflies that had been 

 captured this year and gave a list of their names, with localities and dates. He then 

 read a paper by Prof. Webster, of Wooster, Ohio, who was unable to be present, on 

 " Warning colors, protective mimicry and protective coloration." 



It was then moved by W. E. Saunders, and seconded by J. A. Balkwill, that " The 

 Entomological Society now in Session at its annual meeting, having learnt of the sympa- 

 thetic statement of its work and aims made by the Hon. John Dryden, Minister of 

 Agriculture, at the time when the grant to the Society was under the consideration of 

 the Committee of the Ontario Legislature, desires the Secretary to convey to the Honor- 

 able Minister its sincere appreciation of his kind interest." — Carried. 



Moved by J. A. Balkwill, seconded by W. E. Saunders, that the Secretary be 

 requested to communicate with the Board of the Western Fair Association, requesting 

 them to continue to offer encouragement to the Schools to make exhibits of the life-history 

 of insects, and that their influence be used on the Fair Boards to encourage similar 

 exhibits. — Carried. 



Moved by D. Arnott, seconded by W. E. Saunders, that Messrs. Rennie, Balkwill 

 and the President, be appointed a committee to meet the Board of the Young Men's 

 Christian Association, and endeavor to make satisfactory arrangements with regard to 

 the renting of a room for the Society, and the approaches thereto. — Carried. 



The meeting then adjourned, after having spent much enjoyable time during the 

 sessions on both dajs in exhibiting rare captures, examining the books and specimens 

 of the Society, and comparing notes on many interesting entomological subjects. 



INSECT INJURIES TO ONTARIO CROPS IN 1896. 



By James Fletcher, Dominion Entomologist, Ottawa. 



There is never a season when serious loss does not occur in some part of Canada 

 from the attacks of our numerous insect enemies. There is, however, during a succession 

 of years great fluctuation in the amount of insect presence in any one locality. New- 

 pests develop or old ones reappear after a period of absence, and then again sometimes 

 suddenly disappear. Day by day additions are being made to the mass of accumulated 

 knowledge by the use of which the injuries of insects can be prevented. The importance 



