102 THE REPORT OF THE [19 



to withstand these combined attacks ; this is called the locust tree carpenter-moth 

 (Prionoxystus robinice Peck). The larva, when full grown, is between two and three 

 inches in length and nearly half an inch in diameter ; its borings through the solid 

 wood are consequently very large and cause much injury to the trees. Fortunately 

 the timber is of no commercial value, the trees being grown for shade or ornamental 

 purposes, and being attractive chiefly from the fragrance of the blossoms and the ease 

 and rapidity with which they can be grown. The moths of this species are very 

 singular in appearance ; the females are of a grey colour, similiar to the bfcrk of a 

 locust tree, the fore wings being closely covered with a net work of black lines and 

 having also some irregular black spots ; the hind wings are of a uniform dusky 

 color ; the wings expand about three inches. The male moths are much smaller, expand- 

 ing only about two inches, darker in colour and distinguished by a large bright yel- 

 low patch on the hind wings. They are so unlike the other sex that they might easily be 

 taken for a different species. The females come into houses attracted by light in June, 

 but the males are rarely seen. 



The sou ash bug (Anasa tristis) fig. 23 has been very abundant this year on the 

 squash plants, great colonies of larvae in all stages of growth being found ; these are 

 of an ashen grey colour with pink antennae. When they have reached this stage in 

 their career, it is not easy to find a remedy ; in the case of a few plants in a garden 

 hand picking may be resorted to, that is they can be brushed off into a shallow tin 

 dish and then destroyed. But where they are grown on a large scale for marketing, 

 kerosene emulsion might be applied but would involve a good deal of trouble as the bugs 

 are concealed and somewhat protected by the leaves towards the base of the plant. 

 As the insect passes the winter in the full grown state, many may be destroyed in the 

 autumn when they are wandering about in search of shelter ; and in the early summer, 

 when they come out to lay their eggs, they may be trapped by placing chips or small 

 pieces of board close to the young plants ; under these they will hide in the day time, and 

 may then be readily captured and destroyed. 



An interesting capture in London was made by Mr. Short, one of the city postmen. 

 On September 26th, when going his rounds he found a perfect specimen of the large and 

 handsome sphinx moth, Phlegethontius cingulatus, which is distinguished by the series of 

 rose-red spots on each side of its abdomen. 



NOTES ON THE SEASON OF 1899. 



By Eev. T. W. Fyles, Levis, Quebec; 



The season of 1899 was, at Quebec, a strangely variable one. The thermometer 

 under my verandah recorded 93° in the shade on July 25th, and 43° in the shade on 

 October 2nd — a difference of 50°. On the latter date there was a slight flurry of snow. 



The weather was dry when rain was needed, and wet when fine weather would have 

 been welcome. So dry was it, for a time, that the leaves of some exposed trees withered 

 and fell untimely, without having taken the autumn tints. For the same reason the 

 potatoes on the high land have been found to be small and few to the hill. 



Insect Pests. 



Early in the season the tent-weaving caterpillars of Clisiocampa Americana Harris and 

 G. disstria, Hbn. were exceedingly numerous and troublesome. On the railway, in parts of 

 the eastern townships, their crushed multitudes are said to have made the rails slippery, 

 and retarded the progress of the trains. | 



On the Island of Orleans, early in June, the larvte of Hybernia tiliaria, Harris, 

 defoliated many young trees. (Fig. 64.) 



