360 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



cultural College, was appointed assistant Ap. i, and has been 

 mostly engaged in field investigations of the grape root worm in 

 Chautauqua county. Correspondence indicates a continued and 

 healthy interest in our work, the slight decrease easily being 

 accounted for by causes mentioned above. 1522 letters, 881 

 postals, 280 circulars and 1757 packages were sent through the 

 mail during the past year. 



Special investigations. The investigations of the grape root 

 worm. Fidia viticida Walsh, have been continued and the- 

 results and conclusions of last year's work largely confirmed. 

 Our studies show that by far the most effective method of con- 

 trolling this species in badly infested vineyards, particular!}- those 

 where vines are making a rapid growth, is by the employment of 

 beetle catchers, the utility of which was abundantly demonstrated 

 last year. Experiments with arsenical poisons indicate consid- 

 erable protection if the applications be very thorough. 



Investigations of methods of controlling the San Jose scale ^ 

 Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst., particularly with lime- 

 sulfur washes, have been vigorously pushed and our earlier results- 

 confirmed. It is particularly gratifying to state that we have 

 discovered a new and much easier method of preparing a wash,. 

 w^hich appears to be just as efficient as more expensive compotmds. 

 A third instalment of the beneficial Chinese lady beetle, C h i 1 o- 

 corus similis Rossi, was obtained in early July through 

 the courtesy of Prof. Wilmon Newell, state entomologist of Georgia, 

 and established in an infested orchard at Kinderhook. It was- 

 expected that they would multiply rapidly, as had those obtained 

 in preceding years, but for some cause or other there was very^ 

 little breeding and no lady beetles were to be found on the trees 

 in the fall. It is possible that they spread to other sections and 

 that the species has become established in that vicinity. Scale 

 insects are abundant enough there to maintain the lady beetles, 

 and the species has certainly been given sufficient opportimitv to 

 establish itself in this latitude and to demonstrate its value as an 

 aid in controlling the dangerous San Jose scale. 



The studies on aquatic insects, begun by Dr James G. Needham 

 in 1 90 1, have been continued as opportunity off'ered and an exten- 

 sive monographic account of the stone flies of the State is now in. 

 preparation. 



The investigations of mosquitos have been continued and our 

 results are embodied in a bulletin of 164 pages, illustrated bv over 

 300 original drawings or photomicrographs, giving the life history- 



