REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I913 21 



Mountain laurel and azalea are also attacked, though according 

 to the observations of Mr Engelhardt only when they grow with 

 rhododendrons. 



This insect is subject to attack by a parasitic wasp, apparently 

 a species of Macrocentrus which Mr Engelhardt' reared from in- 

 fested branches. The downy woodpecker destroys many of the 

 larvae, though not without inflicting deep wounds which may result 

 in more injury than that caused by the operations of the insect. 



Description. Larva, partly grown. Length 8 mm, diameter 1.3 

 mm. Head yellowish red, the anterior portion and the mouth parts 

 a variable reddish brown. Antennae biarticulate, light reddish 

 brown ; eye spots dark brown. Thoracic shield semitransparent. 

 The body sparsely and finely haired, smooth, and mostly whitish 

 transparent, except for the reddish brown intestinal contents ; ter- 

 minal segment yellowish transparent and bearing a series of moder- 

 ately stout, yellowish brown hairs ; true legs yellowish brown ; pro- 

 legs on segments 3 to 6 whitish transparent, the booklets light brown, 

 the anal pair apparently rudimentary. 



Control measures. The most effective method of controlling 

 this insect is to prune out thoroughly and burn all dead or infested 

 portions of bushes during the winter or fall. If it is desirable to 

 preserve large plants, Mr Engelhardt suggests first scraping the 

 injured portions and then applying a coat of thick tar paint, one 

 application in the fall as a repellent to woodpeckers, and another 

 in the spring, preferably in late April or early May, to prevent the 

 emergence of the moths. 



Bibliography 



1909 Beutenmueller, William. Ent. News, 20:82-83. 



AZALEA LEAF SKELETONIZER 



Gracilaria asaleae Busck 



1914 Busck, August. Insec. Inscit. Menstr. 2:1-2. 



Several complaints were received during the winter of 191 1 from 

 men interested in greenhouses in Yonkers and Rochester, to the 

 effect that azaleas were being seriously injured by a small cater- 

 pillar. Mr August Busck of the United States National Museum, 

 a specialist in the Microlepidoptera, concluded that the species was 

 not of European origin but represented a new American form. 



Life history and habits. The small, yellowish, nearly full-grown 

 caterpillars only about one-fourth of an inch long, usually turn over 

 the tip of an azalea leaf, webbing it down with fine, silken strands 



