104 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



were surprised at finding the large cicada-killer, Sphecius 

 speciosus Drury, comparatively abundant. 



Another southern species, P o 1 y p h y 1 1 a variolosa Hentz, 

 was found at Karner Aug. 4, 1902, by Mr Young. The specimen 

 was dead, but in a good state of preservation, and was evidently 

 native. This southern species has not, to our knowledge, been 

 taken so far north in this state at least. 



Another interesting capture was that of Oincindela 

 punctulata Fabr, which was taken at Albany Aug. 4, 1902, 

 by Mr Young. 



The notes regarding the various species mentioned below have 

 been grouped under convenient heads, as last year, so they may 

 be of greater service to parties interested in the more practical 

 aspect of this work. 



Fruit tree pests 



Appletree tent caterpillar, Clisiocampa americana Fabr. 

 This species is annually more or less destructive in various sec- 

 tions of the State, and the season of 1902 has proved no exception 

 to the general rule. Accounts of some severe injuries have been 

 received from certain counties, and in others relatively little 

 damage has been inflicted. Something out of the ordinary and 

 worthy of record is reported by Mr J. F. Rose, of South Byron, 

 who states that this common pest was extremely rare in Genesee 

 county, and attributes the scarcity to the large number of way- 

 side bushes killed by mice, which girdled them while protected by 

 the heavy snows of last winter. The injury by mice was so ex- 

 tensive that almost every bush for considerable distances along 

 the highway was killed in this manner; and the young cater- 

 pillars hatching from eggs on these bushes perished from lack of 

 food. 



Forest tent caterpillar, Clisiocampa disstria Htibn. The 

 severe injuries to forest trees by this pest during the past four 

 or five years have been gradually decreasing, and areas where the 

 insect has been extremely destructive in earlier seasons have 

 suffered comparatively little. The zone of greatest damage is 

 apparently moving eastward in the case of Greene county. Some 

 damage was inflicted on maple and orchard trees in eastern 

 Greene and western Columbia counties during the past season, 

 but the depredations generally speaking were not nearly so 



