J^ 0# 1 ] Mtitcelfanenrt* Kotrs. 57 



middle of July. On account of the limited amount of infection material on band, J 

 required each applicant to send me a box of live bugs, which I placed in the infection 

 jars, returning in a few days a portion of the sick bugs to the sender. The thre" 

 applicants above noted reported, the complete success of the experiments 



" Before the close of the season of 1890 it became evident that there were at least 

 three diseases at work in our infection jars, the white fundus (En torn op hthor a or 

 Empusa), a bacterial disease (Micrococcus), and a fungus considered by Dr. Roland 

 Thaxter to be Isaria, or perhaps more properly Tvichoderma 



" The following is a summary of the results of the field experiments in the season 

 of 1890 :— ■ 



"Number of boxes of diseased bugs sent out, thirty-eight. Seven of these lots 

 were either not received or received and not used. Reports were received from twenty- 

 six of the thirty-one remaining cases. Of these twenty-six reports three were un- 

 favourable, nineteen favourable, and four doubtful concerning the success of the 

 experiment. These doubtful cases are not to be looked upon as unfavourable, but 

 more evidence is needed to transfer thein to th« list of favourable reports. Thus 

 nineteen out of twenty-six reports, or 73 per cent., were decidedly favourable. The 

 experiments will be continued during the season of 1891. In presenting this paper 

 I wish 1o acknowledge the invaluable aid continually received during the progress of 

 the work from my assistants, Messrs. W. C. Stevens and V. L. Kello^cr, 



"The laboratory experiments have been continued through the season. Of the 

 three diseases identified, that produced by the Trichoderma appears to be less fatal 

 than the other two 



" To Mr. Riley's question as to which of the three diseases mentioned was most 

 common in destroying the bugs in the field experiments, Mr. Snow said during the 

 dry summer of the present year he thought the bacterial disease did most of the work, 

 but in 1889 he thought the fungous disease were most destructive. 



" Mr. Kiley said that the fact that Mr. Snow had been able to carry healthy huo-s 

 through the season without infection in the same room with diseased hugs was a rather 

 discouraging one, as it would indicate eirhpr that the germs were easily kept from 

 reaching the hugs or that they were not carried long distances. Close proximity to, 

 or actual contact with, diseased individuals, if necessary, would materially lessen the 

 value of their use in the field, while the evidence of farmer's experience in the field 

 needed very careful weighing, because of the possibilities of error. Mr. Snow said that 

 it had been found by his experiments that the diseases would spread over laro-e fields 

 and destroy nearly all the bugs within ten or twelve days after the diseased bugs had 

 been introduced, and that the expense was very light" (Insict Life, Yol. Ill, pp. 

 279-285) 



" In response to your circular le ter asking for notes of work done in economic 

 entomology during the past year (1891), I beg to submit the following brief and 

 incomplete account of the work done in Kansas this year under my direction in the 

 matter of the artificial dissemination of a contagious disease or diseases among clinch 

 bugs: 



'■ The legislature of the State of Kansas at its last session in the winter of 

 1890-91 made an appropriation of 3.500 dollars, available during the year 1891-92, 

 for the purpose of carrying on these experiments. With this money 1 have been enabled 

 to largely increase the facilities of my laboratory, and to conduct on a rather extended 

 scale practical experiments in the field. According to a provision in the act of 

 appropriation, T am required to make a monthly report to be printed in the official 



