62 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Pear psylla (PvSylla pyricola Forst.). This pest has caused 

 an unusual amount of damage in some Hudson valley orchards 

 this year and certain growers seem to have overlooked the fact 

 that it is nearly as important to take care of hibernating shelters 

 near trees, as to destroy the insects which may be wintering upon 

 the trees. Stone walls, piles of brush, hedge rows along fences, all 

 afford satisfactory hibernating quarters for the hibernating psyllas 

 or " flies," and the proximity of such shelters almost invariably 

 means serious injury to orchards. 



Repeated tests with delayed applications of the lime-sulphur wash 

 used at winter strength have given very satisfactory results in the 

 control of this insect. Similar treatment with a miscible oil appears 

 to be equally or perhaps a little more effective. The important point 

 in such work is to delay the application until the psyllas have de- 

 posited most of their eggs. This time coincides very closely with 

 the breaking open of the blossom buds ; the spraying should be done 

 just before this occurs. 



Practical tests last season with a midsummer spray of black leaf 

 40, using three-fourths of a pint to 100 gallons of water and 4 to 8 

 pounds of soap showed that it was possible to check severely, if not 

 entirely to destroy the insect. Wherever some eggs and adults escape 

 such treatment, a second spraying should be given within a week or 

 ten days. 



Banded grape bug (Paracalocoris scrupeus Say) . 

 Observations upon this species, noticed in some detail in the report 

 for last year\ were continued the past season by Mr L. F. Strickland, 

 horticultural inspector of the State Department of Agriculture, and 

 through his cooperation we secured material from which detailed 

 descriptions of the immature stages were prepared. The following 

 observations upon the habits of this species were kindly placed at 

 our disposal by Mr Strickland. 



The first bug was observed May 21st, the second May 25th, and 

 hatching was evidently completed by the 27th. According to 

 observations by Mr Strickland, the first molt occurred from 

 May 27th to 30th, the second from May 28th to June 4th, the 

 third from May 30th to June 8th, the fourth from June 4th to June 

 loth, and the fifth from June 6th to June 17th, adults being found 

 from these two latter dates until June 28th, the last bugs being seen 

 on rosebushes on the last named date. He also observed this species 

 repeatedly on apple foliage. 



^N. Y. State Mus. Bui. 175, p. 41-44, 1913, 191 5-. 



