92 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the floor I do not know, but from the number left on the table fully two-thirds had 

 got away. Take any insect as small as this is that will walk over three feet in the 

 course of twenty minutes, or less. Surely there can be no doubt as to how they 

 spread, particularly when they do not care what they walk over. 



is to the means proposed for destroying this pest, they are various, such as 

 heading in of the branches. (What is the good of this if they do not confine them- 

 selves to the branches 1) Also spraying with whale oil soap this may be effective, but 

 ifc is also very expensive. In my own opinion there is nothing better than kerosene 

 emulsion, which I think is one of the best destroyers of insect life that can be used 

 without excessive expense. There are also parasitic enemies, as there are in every 

 other branch of animal life. 



About the 24th of May last I noticed a small larva feeding on the eggs, but 

 was unable to identify it in this stage Mr. Balkwill, the treasurer of our Society, 

 succeeded in rearing a few, which were identified by Mr. J. Alston Moffat as Hyper- 

 apsis signata. 



The other exception is Graptodera chalybea (Fig. 60), commonly known as the 

 grape vine flea beetle. This insect appeared in great numbers this spring in this 



locality, although this is not a grape- 

 growing district. This insect passes the 

 winter in a mature state, attacks the buds 

 of the vine as soon as they begin to grow, 

 destroying both fruit and foliage at once. 

 In about three or four weeks the mature 

 insects disappear, but their place is taken 

 by a small, insignificant looking larva, 

 generally black in colour, which very 

 soon makes its presence known by eating 

 holes through the leaf, making the leaves 

 look like sieves ; not eating like some larvaa 

 do, starting at one part and continuing 

 until the whole leaf is devoured. They 

 move from place to place on the leaf, 

 apparently selecting parts in the leaf that 

 are most acceptable to the palate of an 

 epicure (as such they undoubtedly are.) 



These larvae attain their full growth 

 about the end of July, pupate in the 

 earth, and emerge in from ten days to 

 two weeks in the mature state. The 

 greatest injury is done in the spring by 

 the mature insect. 



The most effective remedies for this insect are : To remove all fallen leaves in 

 the fall, and whatever other decaying vegetable matter has accumulated around the 

 vines, and burn it ; also in early spring to syringe th9 vines with a weak mixture of 

 Paris green and water. Hellebore may be used in the summer against the larvae. 



In regard t :> other destructive insects, as I mentioned in the first part of my report, 

 they have been lets numerous than usual. 



Fig. 60. 



After remarks had been made by many of those present on the abundance or 

 rarity during the past season of many familiar insects, the following resolution was 

 moved and unanimously adopted : — 



"That a most cordial vote of thanks be tendered to the members of the Montreal 

 Branch for the exceedingly generous reception they have given to the Entomological 

 Society of Ontario on the occasion of their annual meeting." 



