42 MAINE AGRICULTURAL e;xpERIMENT STATION. 



have not been given very much attention, only about 150 spe- 

 cies for the whole United States having been previously reared 

 and studied. 



In order that our Maine species might be adequately handled, 

 this Station invited Dr. A. D. MacGillivray of the University 

 of Illinois to work on the group in this state this summer. As 

 Doctor MacGillivray has made a special study of adult saw- 

 flies, his systematic knowledge of the family put him in a posi- 

 . tion to work up the earlier stages of these insects as only a 

 specialist could. 



. The task is not a simple one as these larvae present certain 

 difficulties. Some species for instance are powdery white 

 during one stage and after molting become yellow with black 

 spots. As several molts occur during the growth of the larvae 

 and as closely related species resemble each other, "the precau- 

 tions necessary in rearing large collections of these insects art 

 evident. 



However, about 150 species of larvae have been taken and 

 recorded, between 40 and 50 species have been reared to the 

 adult stage and others are in their cocoons to emerge next 

 spring. These 150 species have been collected from and reared 

 on the leaves of 36 kinds of trees, shrubs, and plants of eco- 

 nomic value either for their products or as ornamental vege- 

 tation or because they are so closely related to plants of eco- 

 nomic value that their pests should be known. 



As a result of this season's work the Maine Agricultural 

 Experiment Station is in possession of an exceedingly fine 

 reference collection of sawfly larvae and their respective records. 



From time to time it is proposed to publish bulletins on such . 

 species as are of most significance in the state. On account of 

 their prevalence and the constant inquiries concerning them, the 

 first to be treated will be the sawfly infesting conifers. The 

 spruces, pines and larches in Maine have suffered severely over 

 large areas from the depredations of these insects. 



CRANEFLY INVESTIGATIONS. 



This family of insects had been almost entirely neglected in 

 Maine, nor had they anywhere received the economic attention 

 which seems their due. There was reason to think that Maine 

 possesses a very extensive fauna in this family and as the 



