REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IQIO 53 



Harlequin cabbage bug (Murgantia histrionica 

 StaL). This insect, though well known as a common and injurious 

 pest of cruciferous plants in the South, is rare in the northern 

 states. Dr John B. Smith, in his hst of Insects of New Jersey, 

 published in 1899, reports its occasional presence in destructive 

 numbers in southern New Jersey. We find on referring to our 

 records, that in the report of this office for 1900 this species was 

 reported from Elmira and Oswego, and Jamaica, L. I., the two 

 latter localities being brought to our notice through the courtesy of 

 Dr L. O. Howard. The past summer specimens of this bug were 

 received from Mr Roy Latham at Orient Point, the extreme eastern 

 end of Long Island. This latter record is interesting, showing the 

 continued presence of the insect on Long Island and its extension 

 over practically all of that section. It is hardly probable that this 

 species will ever become abundant enough in New York State to 

 cause material injury. 



SHADE TREE INSECTS 



Elm leaf beetle (Galerucella luteola Miill.) . This 

 pest continues to attract a great deal of notice on account 

 of its serious depredations, especially in the Hudson valley. 

 Numerous trees almost defoliated or with badly skeletonized leaves 

 were rather common in the cities and villages of the valley from 

 New York city northward to Stillwater and vicinity. A noteworthy 

 feature was a report of serious injury accompanied by numerous 

 specimens received from Mr Frank T. Clark of Ticonderoga. This 

 appears to be the northermost record for the occurrence of these 

 beetles in numbers in New York State. The injury by this pest was 

 severe in the Mohawk valley at Schenectady and locally at Amster- 

 dam. The elms of Ithaca, judging from reports received, have also 

 been seriously injured. 



The season of 1910 has been remarkable in the Hudson valley 

 because of the prolonged drought following a scarcity of water the 

 preceding season. This condition undoubtedly had an important 

 influence upon the thrift of the trees, a fact easily demonstrated by 

 examining elms where there were practically no elm leaf beetles. 

 The foliage on many of these trees was thin and, though not skele- 

 tonized, was in a far from satisfactory condition. As a conse- 

 quence, trees suffering from drought and exposed to a further 

 depletion of energy through the attacks of a voracious leaf feeder, 

 were more seriously affected than usual by this latter injury. Many 

 trees will go into the winter with a reduced vitality, and it is to be 



