REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST T917 63 



fourths of a pint to too gallons of water, to which are added 6 to 8 

 pounds of any cheap soap to increase its spreading properties. 

 Ordinarily remedial measures are unnecessary. 



GALL INSECTS 



White oak club gall (Andricus clavula O. S.V Speci- 

 mens of this gall were received February 14, 191 7 from the Munson- 

 Whitaker Company of New York, accompanied by the statement 

 that something had been causing one or two trees to die yearly. 



An examination of material revealed an interesting condition in 

 that galls were very rarely found on wood more than three years 

 old, indicating that infested blanches are likely to break off or that 

 the infestation was of limited extent. In addition, a number of 

 enlarged buds were found infested by maggots, possibly the alternate 

 generation of this species. From 90 to 95 per cent of the twigs or 

 branches in the series of samples about 2 feet long either bore galls 

 or had one or more of the terminal buds infested by maggots. The 

 following is a summary of the condition of a few of the branches. 



Branch 1 bore four old and three last year galls and eight infested 

 buds. Branch 2 had six old and six last year galls and five infested 

 buds. Branch 3 had six last year galls and one infested bud. 

 Branch 4 had three old and six last year galls and six infested buds. 

 Branch 5 had one old and five last year galls and five infested buds. 



It is difficult to give a percentage estimate of the number of buds 

 infested, though in most instances the few branches not bearing 

 galls were very likely to show infested buds. This weakening of 

 the circulation due to the development of the galls and the inter- 

 ference with the growth of the tree as a result of the blasting of the 

 buds has very probably reacted upon the vigor of the infested trees 

 and may have been an important factor in reducing their vitality. 

 The conditions suggest that further investigation is desirable in 

 order to determine more accurately the efiiect these insects may 

 have upon the host. 



Ribbed bud gall (Andricus gemmarius Ashm.) . The 

 galls of this insect are occasionally so numerous as to attract hosts 

 of honey-gathering insects, such as bees and flies, due to the abun- 

 dant sweetish secretion exuded during early summer. vSpecimens 

 of these galls were received under date of June 10th from Mrs Wil- 

 liam G. Drake, Newton, N. J., accompanied by the statement that 

 attention was at first drawn to the infestation by the humming or 

 the " roaring " of the numerous insects in the tree and an examina- 



