INSECT NOTES FOR IQIO. 21 



of this fir and white spruce trouble was chanced upon. At this 

 (late the new growth of both these conifers on the Maine Cam- 

 pus was noticed to be badly ruffled and upon examination found 

 to be thickly packed with Mindarus abietimis. Only apterous 

 viviparous forms were present, those on the fir being mature and 

 already producing, while those collected on the spruce molted on 

 the night of May 25 and were producing by the 27th. The ten- 

 der new growth was the only part of the tree infested, the aphids 

 feeding upon the shoots and the needles becoming curled, rough- 

 ened, and uneven from the disturbance. The infestation was 

 so severe that these trees could not be touched without a heavy 

 shower of honey dew ensuing and the branches were wet with 

 the sticky globules. 



In the vicinity of Orono these aphids were so very generally 

 attacked by Syrphus maggots that by the first of June scarcely 

 a Mindarus could be found, and in their stead hungry syrphids 

 were vainly seeking for food. Practically the whole infestation 

 in this locality was therefore wiped out about two weeks before 

 the usual time* for the development of the winged forms and 

 their migration from white spruce and fir. 



The 1910 growth of both white spruce and fir retained their 

 ruffled appearance during the season and many of the twig tips 

 died. Typical work of Mindarus was received July 8, 19x0, 

 from Caribou, Maine, from the owner of a fine spruce hedge 

 who reported that it had made excellent growth for about 12 

 years but that this present season the tips of nearly all the upper 

 branches were dying. 



The work of this insect is illustrated by Figs. 34-36, these 

 photographs being taken July 11 of spruce and fir twigs which 

 were thickly infested late in May. 



Specimens of Mindqriis abietimis upon Abies balsamca were 

 sent from Highspire, Pa., on May 25, with the comment that 

 they were present in 4 different localities. These were winged . 

 which would indicate that the migrants develop some 3 or 4 

 weeks earlier in that region than in Maine. 



The summer generations of M. abietimis have not been found 

 in Maine. Of special interest in this connection is the record by 

 Doctor Felt (25th Report) of the abundance of pinicola Thomas 



*Me. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bulletin 182, p. 244. 



