34 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I9OO. 



appeared in the papers of the State regarding them. The Sta- 

 tion issued a newspaper bulletin on the insect and the writer 

 prepared an article for a bulletin issued by the State Board of 

 Agriculture. It will be impossible to treat this insect in the 

 forests, but an effort ought to be made to prevent its ravages 

 upon ornamental and orchard trees. 



The fall canker worm, though reported from the center 

 of the State, did not do great damage the past season and has 

 become scarce about Orono. 



The monarch butterfly. (Anosia plexippus). This was 

 unusually abundant the past season in the center of the State. 

 The pale green chrysalids with golden spots on them are very 

 beautiful objects and sure to attract attention. This large brown 

 butterfly has black-veined wings on the black borders of which 

 are many white spots. The larvse feed on the milkweed. It is 

 believed that the species dies out each season in the northern 

 states and that the butterflies migrate from the south each spring. 

 We have seen masses of this species as big as a bushel basket 

 clinging together on the branches of a tree. 



The mourning cloak butterfly was exceedingly abundant 

 the past season. It is a very bad elm tree insect, doing much dam- 

 age to the shade trees in villages and cities. It is described in 

 Experiment Station Report, 1888, p. 187. 



The drone fly. (Eristalis tenax). This species was 

 reported as being found about bee hives. These flies feed upon 

 pollen and honey. They may have been attracted to the hives 

 by the odor of the honey, but they would not venture into the 

 hive and could do no harm. 



Anthomyiid flies, probably Pegomyia vicina, were 

 reported as doing much damage to the beet leaves in gardens. 

 The larvae of these flies work between the upper and under sur- 

 face of the leaves, eating the leaf pulp and leaving whitish trails, 

 not only injuring their functions but rendering them unsuitable 

 for greens. 



The currant fruit fly. (Epochra canadensis). This 

 species which has done so much injury about Orono was 

 reported from Augusta, the past season. It attacks the fruit of 

 the currant, causing it to turn red early, and drop prematurely. 

 See Experiment Station Report, 1895, p. ill. 



