94 REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I92I 



recognized by the rusty colored burrows in the roots or the thicker 

 portion of the stem of infested plants. When the insects are abun- 

 dant, the whole root may be riddled with burrows, which run in 

 every direction. Seriously affected carrots decay and the lower 

 part breaks oflf when one attempts to pull them. Frequently, the 

 outer leaves of infested plants turn yellowish and in the more 

 serious cases, the whole top may wilt down and die. In the case 

 of celery the fibrous roots are eaten ofif and the infested plants 

 become stunted and take on a sickly whitish color. 



No very satisfactory control measures have been demonstrated, 

 though it seems advisable to rotate crops in such a way that those 

 susceptible to attack will be on ground remote from that which may 

 have become infested in earlier years. This should be supplemented 

 by late sowing whenever it is practicable and if necessary the use 

 of a repellent, such as carbolic soap wash, during the month of 

 June at a time when the flies are abroad and depositing eggs. The 

 use of a sweetened sodium arsenite mixture for the destruction of 

 the flies has been tentatively recommended. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



European hornet (Vespa crabro Linn.). The reception 

 October 26, 192 1, of a large nest of this recently established Euro- 

 pean insect from F. E. Adsit, a resident of the town of Schodack, 

 Rensselaer county, is a new record for this hornet and indicates a 

 considerably greater northern extension of its range than has here- 

 tofore been recorded, although it is well known as common in the 

 vicinity of New York City, and as having extended its range in an 

 easterly direction to New Haven, and as occurring throughout New 

 Jersey. It was received in 1920 from Highland Falls. The nest, 

 according to Mr Adsit, was some 30 feet from the ground, attached 

 to the underside of a large limb, and was about 3 feet long and 

 18 inches in diameter. 



This insect is easily distinguished from the well-known and 

 rather common American white-faced hornet, Vespa macu- 

 lata Linn., an insect familiar on account of its nearly globular, 

 paper nests rather commonly seen hanging from the eaves of 

 buildings or the branches of trees. This European species is even 

 larger and unlike its American relative, commonly nests within 

 cavities in trees, in confined places in buildings, as between rafters, 

 and underground. The nests in trees may consist of a series of 

 combs occupying the entire cavity, entrance to which is usually 



