64 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Spruce aphid (Mindarus abietinus Koch. ) . Specimens 

 of the work of this aphid were received through the State Conser- 

 vation Commission under date of June 14, 191 3 from Air John 

 Nill of Star Lake, N. Y. The balsam shoots had the tips to a 

 length of I to 2 inches badly curled and twisted, while the foliage 

 as a whole was very sticky, indicating an abundant earlier in- 

 festation by this plant louse. Mr Nill stated that the infested trees 

 upon his place were all young and thrifty and not more than 20 

 years old. Some are uniformly infested all over and others only 

 in part, there appearing to be no difference between those standing 

 in groups and isolated trees. The shoots submitted for examination 

 had numerous Syrphid larvae and practically no plant lice, indicat- 

 ing that the attack so far as these particular trees are concerned, 

 is at an end. The affected balsam tips, however, will probably 

 wither and perish. 



Specimens of the work of this aphid were also received under 

 date of June 9th from Lake Clear, N. Y., through Mr George L. 

 Barrus, state forester. These latter tips bore a number of 15- 

 spotted lady beetles, Anatis ocellata and practically no 

 aphids, indicating that natural enemies were checking the pest early. 



MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS 



Drug store beetle (Sitodrepa panicea Linn.). The 

 stout, light brown beetle, only about one-eighth of an inch long and 

 its white, curled grub is well known to entomologists as a feeder 

 upon a considerable variety of substances, such as flour, meal, break- 

 fast foods, condiments, roots and herbs and animal matter. It has 

 even been known to colonize itself in a human skeleton which had 

 been dried with the ligaments on, and has been recorded as per- 

 forating tinfoil and sheet lead. Only two months are required to 

 complete the life cycle, and in warm buildings breeding may be 

 continuous throughout the year. 



Last summer a ledger bound in half morroco was received from 

 a local manufacturing company, with an inquiry as to the source 

 of certain insect injury. It developed that the sample was from 

 a California dealer who had held some of the books in storage for a 

 period of about fourteen years. The infested ledgers were fumi- 

 gated prior to their return to the manufacturer in the same manner 

 as is customary with citrus trees in that section. An examination 

 resulted in our finding nothing alive. It was seen that the insects 

 confined their operations largely to making sinuous galleries in the 



