1923 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 25 



found that larvae of all instars up to the fifth, were abundant in the oats, feeding 

 right inside the stems or between the stems and the leaf sheaths, so as to rob 

 the oat heads of proper nourishment and to kill and bleach them. The estimated 

 loss of grain from these bleached and unfilled heads (in this one field only) 

 amounted to half bushel per acre. At the time of oat harvest, no larvae were 

 over the fifth instar, and when the oats were cut all larvae died within two 

 days after cutting. In some cases it was found that the more mature larvae 

 had left the cut oat stems and had attempted to enter weed stems in the field, 

 but even these all perished within three days. Thus what threatened at first 

 to be a serious situation ultimately amounted to nothing. Within 300 yards 

 of this oat field which was so heavily infested, was a large early-planted field of 

 dent corn which was lightly infested, at harvest, even for dent. Thus the in- 

 festation of oats promises to be a fortunate occurrence as far as corn is concerned, 

 because if moths will oviposit freely on oats, they will be content to remain there 

 and neighboring cornfields will escape what would otherwise be an added 

 infestation. 



Also in 1922, a slight infestation was found on sugar mangels growing 

 alongside a fairly heavily infested cornfield. With the exception of three cater- 

 pillars found in one mangel, which all circumstances pointed to having been 

 hatched from eggs laid on that mangel— all the larvae found in this field had 

 migrated from the corn alongside. The total damage to the mangels was neglig- 

 ible. Experiments conducted all through September, of trying to establish 

 mature borers on large mangels, amounted to nothing, although as many as 

 40 larvae were caged over a single tuber. The borers did not seem sufficiently 

 attracted to induce them to make more than temporary tunnels in the leaves, 

 which they vacated shortly afterwards. 



In reply to a vote of thanks moved by Mr. Gibson and Prof. Caesar, 

 and carried, the following was said: 



Mr. Crawford: The expression of appreciation of the work and results 

 obtained in the Corn Borer investigations were most encouraging to all those 

 directly engaged in the work. That for myself, I am glad of this opportunity 

 to publicly thank the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. Grisdale, Deputy 

 Minister of Agriculture, for their support of the work, Mr. Gibson, Dominion 

 Entomologist, Mr. Treherne, Chief, Division Field Crop and Garden Insects, 

 for their never ceasing encouragement, support and directive suggestions, and 

 Mr. L. S. McLaine, Chief Division Foreign Pests Suppression, for support, 

 suggestion, and loan of assistants. In particular, I wish to mention that in a 

 large measure the quality and quantity of work has been due to the tireless 

 application and effort of my two assistants, Mr. Painter and Mr. Oliver. Further, 

 the professional value of the remarkably close inter-relation between the Federal 

 and Provincial Investigations cannot be too greatly stressed. Nor can the 

 contribution to the study arising out of the constant discussion, comparison 

 of notes and inspiration due to our intimate association, personal and professional, 

 with Prof. Caesar and Mr. Spencer, be too highly evaluated. 



Mr. Spencer: I greatly appreciate what Mr. Gibson and Mr. Caesar have 

 said. The work on the borer has been largely inspired by them. Mr. Caesar 

 especially has helped us in every way and at all times; I cannot thank him suffi- 

 ciently. Mr. Crawford has helped me tremendously — he knows that I appreciate 

 it. Continuous co-operation with him has alone made possible what results 

 we have obtained. I would like to thank my assistants, Mr. Twinn in 1921, 

 and Messrs. Brink and Wishart, this year, for their never-failing loyalty, hard 

 work and keenness, sometimes to all hours of the night. The farmers in the 

 neighbourhood, too, helped us in every way; we all owe them thanks. 



