58 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



VIII 



REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 



The Entomologist reports that the cold and, in some sections of 

 the State, excessively wet spring produced an unusual condition 

 and many of the insects normally destructive were conspicuous by 

 their absence, while a few comparatively unknown forms caused 

 serious losses, though a portion of these, notably in connection with 

 the work of the seed corn maggot, was due largely to climatic con- 

 ditions and the employment of methods poorly adapted to the 

 abnormal conditions prevailing. The apple tent caterpillar has 

 almost dropped out of sight as a serious pest, though late in the 

 season a number of leaf feeders, such as the red-humped apple tree 

 worm, the yellow-necked apple tree worm, the fall web worm, the 

 hickory tussock moth caterpillar and some related species were 

 uncommonly abundant and destructive. 



The following is a brief summary of the Entomologist's work and 

 the conditions he has found in various parts of the State. More 

 detailed information is given in the Report of the State Entomologist. 



Fruit tree insects. An unusually interesting discovery was that 

 of the recently established apple and thorn skeletonizer, Hemer- 

 ophila pariana Clerck, near Irvington and Nyack. This 

 insect was so abundant in some localities as to skeletonize practically 

 all the foliage, even in orchards of considerable size. The Ento- 

 mologist made a study of the situation, worked out the life history 

 of the species and in cooperation with agents of the State Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture determined the approximate extent of the 

 infested area. A special account has been prepared which will be 

 published as an extension bulletin by Cornell University and well 

 distributed throughout the infested area in an effort to secure general 

 cooperation in checking this pest until such time as natural enemies 

 may bring it under control or experience shows it to be an insect of 

 comparatively minor importance. 



Work on the codling moth was continued in cooperation with the 

 bureau of horticulture of the State Department of Agriculture. 

 The spraying operations were continued in the orchard of H. E. 

 Wellman, Kendall. Owing to unfortunate weather and field con- 

 ditions, however, the results, as will be seen by a reference to the 

 detailed account of the work, were not satisfactory. The very cool, 

 wet weather of early spring appears to have prevented the setting of 



