AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 83 



The Wild Carrot is also increasing. We saw considerable of 

 it last summer in meadows in western Maine. This is a biennial 

 and should be pulled by the roots. 



Authemis tinctoria. A relative of the may weed was received 

 from western Maine and reported as quite abundant. 



The Flax Dodder, (CasctUa epilhymum, Murr.) was found in 

 some abundance in a clover field in Bradley. This parasite on 

 clover, so far as we know, has not been before reported from 

 Maine. 



The Common Snow Flea a small blue-black, wingless, jump- 

 ing insect found on the snow on warm days in spring was received 

 from Mr. McKeen. It sometimes collects on the surface of water 

 or is troublesome by getting into sap tubs. These simple structured 

 insects are believed by entomologists to be the lowest. They are 

 like the earliest insects that were on the earth, the ancesters of the 

 varied and complex forms of the present age. 



The Silver Moth (Lepisma) was reported from western Maine. 

 This insect belongs to the same order as the snow flea (Thysanura) 

 though quite different in habits. It feeds upon starchy and sugary 

 matter and frequents closets and pantries often doing much 

 damage. 



The Ring-banded Soldier Bug was found preying upon the 

 larvae of the potato beetle. It is figured in the body of the report. 



The Elm Tree Bark Louse, Lecanium Garym, Fitch ; Var 

 Canadense, Cockerell. There is a bark louse of a mahogany brown 

 color and hemispherical shell. It is very abundant upon elm trees all 

 over the State and must do much damage. The branches in spring are 

 sometimes literally alive with the young lice. These remain active all 

 winter and develop the brown hemispherical scales over themselves 

 the following spring. They can be found during the winter months 

 as small oblong reddish brown objects lying close to the bark on 

 the twigs. The leaves in early summer are often alive with them. 

 The eggs are reddish and oblong. The scales are often punctured 

 by parasites, probably a species of ichneumon, also a species of 

 mite is often found under the scales in great numbers. We have 

 had this species under observation every season for the past eight 

 and there is hardly an elm tree in the vicinity of Orono but what is 

 infested. The scales drop off sooner or later exposing a circular 

 wooly patch. We received specimens from Mr. Moore of Presque 

 Isle during the season showing its wide distribution. We sent 

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