REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I918 65 



with loose husks, devour the kernels and in case of a serious infesta- 

 tion may destroy from one-fourth to nearly one-half of the kernels 

 of the ears, rendering them unmarketable and usually totally 

 unfit for htmian food. The full-grown caterpillars are about i^ 

 inches long, vary greatly in color from a light green through a rose 

 color and brown to almost black. They may be either striped, 

 spotted or perfectly plain. They and their work are easily dis- 

 tinguished from the European com borer by the small black not 

 brown tubercles or warts on the body of the caterpillar and the 

 limiting of feeding to the surface of the ear. It is not a borer. 



Dusting the developing silk with powdered arsenate of lead has 

 given excellent results in controlling this pest, though the deadly 

 nature of the poison should be recognized and due precautions taken. 

 Ordinarily such measures are not necessary in New York State. 

 Frequent examinations should be made to detect the early work of 

 the pest and care taken not to loosen the husks at the tip of the ear 

 and thus facilitate the entry of this caterpillar. Partial stripping 

 of the ear is also favorable to attack by the bumble flower beetle, 

 Euphoria inda Fabr. , an insect occasionally somewhat 

 troublesome. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



European calosoma (Calosoma sycophanta Linn.). 

 Two specimens of this beneficial and recently introduced insect were 

 taken in Capitol Park, Albany, one July 12th and the other July 

 19th. Both the large, black, ungainl}'- grubs of this insect and the 

 brilliant greenish beetles are noted for searching out and devouring 

 caterpillars of many kinds. Unlike a ntmiber of related ground 

 beetles, both grubs and adults ascend trees and are therefore valuable 

 aids in destroying leaf -eating caterpillars. It was this habit which 

 led authorities of the United States and Massachusetts to spend 

 considerable sums to secure the introduction of this species in an 

 attempt to utilize insects for the control of the very destructive 

 gypsy moth. This introduced beetle has proved itself one of the 

 important checks upon the notorious pest just mentioned. 



The finding of two beetles in Albany indicates the local estab- 

 lishment of the insect and under favorable conditions it may increase 

 and be of material service in destroying shade tree pests. This 

 new-comer is an active, moderately stout, brilliant greenish beetle, 

 about an inch long. A closer examination shows that the head and 

 thorax are a dark purplish blue, the latter bordered with greenish 

 blue while the brilliant green wing covers show gorgeous purplish 



