\W THE REPORT OF THE [19 



The moths seemed lees abundant around the electric lights, but in the woods there are now 

 to be found many fresh egg-masses, so that the plague promises to continue next spring. 

 The Yellow-necked Caterpillar (Datana ministra) did some damage to birches and was 

 occasionally seen on elms. Vanessa antiopa, which is frequently a serious pest on our 

 ornamental elms, seemed this year to confine itself to the willows. Elms, however, 

 suffered very much from the attacks of plant lice, which were so numerous that the trees 

 dripped moisture to such an extent that the sidewalks beneath them were kept quite 

 wet for several weeks. The White Cedar Lecanium (Lecanium Fletcheri) was abundant 

 upon some Arbor-vitae trees, but was severely attacked by the parasites which Dr. 

 Howard bred from specimens which were sent to him some years ago from the Experi- 

 mental Farm. Nematus JErchsonii, the Larch Saw fly, seemed to be more abundant there 

 last year, although by no means in such numbers as it was several years ago, when its 

 ravages resulted in the destruction of the greater part of our larches. The Spruce 

 Kermes (K. abietis) has become more abundant and does serious damage, but the 

 Spruce Sawfly (Lophyrus abietis) seemed less numerous. Canker Worms were little in 

 evidence. 



Miscellaneous. — There was a remarkable abundance everywhere of Dermestes 

 lardarius (Fig 58) and some houses were so infested that the beetles were a veritable 

 plague After the July rains mosquitoes made their appearance all through the city 

 in great numbers and were especially troublesome in the sections where lawns and gar- 

 dens are moft numerous. Many of the residents on such streets kept smudges burning 

 every evening during the period of the abundance of these irritating flies. Kiseing-bugs 

 of various orders were brought in for identification, generally on the principle that the 

 bigger the insect the more likely it was to be dangerous ; the favorite competitor seem- 

 ing to be the male of Corydalis cornutus, (Fig. 59). 



NOTES ON THE SEASON OF 1899, DIVISION NO. 2. 



By J. D. Evans, Trenton, Ont. 



Owing to pressure of duties the writer's opportunities during the past season for 

 observing the presence of destructive insects were extremely limited. 



One insect (Clisiocampa sylvatica) was, however, so numerous and destructive to 

 the foliage of forest trees that the most unobservant person could hardly avoid noticing 

 the destruction going on. From Trenton northerly to Bannockbnrn, a distance of about 

 46 miles, but more especially from Chisholm's Rapids northerly to the same point some 

 33 miles, the depredations were most severe. In many places the trees were nearly de- 

 foliated, but in some sections, blocks of woods were left without a vestige of a leaf. This 

 caterpillar did not confine itself to forest trees, for orchards in the vicinity, although 

 separated by many rods of cultivated land, were badly attacked, and one case can be 

 recalled in the Township of Rawdon where an orchard consisting of from 100 to 200 trees 

 was completely defoliated. 



The caterpillars were in such immense numbers that on the 1st day of June, on the 

 railway track, at a point about two miles north of Marmora station, the passenger train 

 became stalled, and it was necessary to sweep the rails and use sand to enable the train 

 to proceed. Three-quarters of an hour was consumed in making 300 yards. 



The defoliated trees, releaved later in the season with diminutive leaves, in many 

 cases however with large trees only the lower limbs showed signs of life. In sections 

 where the insects had been prevalent in former years it was noticed that the tops of large 

 trees were generally dead. 



The Tent Caterpillars (C. Americana) were prevalent in neglected orchards; they 

 were also observed to attack the mountain ash, their nests being seen on the trees, 



