54 ^'EW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The pear thrips, as shown by investigations of the last season, 

 continues to be a serious pest of the grower in the Hudson valley, 

 appearing here and there in a most erratic manner and injuring 

 Seckel and Bartlett trees in particular. It was found that orchards 

 practically free from the pest one season may be seriously afifected 

 the next. A detailed account of this insect has been given in the 

 Entomologist's report for 1912. In at least one case pear midge 

 injury, supplementing the damage caused by the thrips, resulted 

 in an almost total loss of the crop. 



The pear psylla has continued a serious enemy of the grower, 

 being particularly abundant and injurious in certain extensive 

 orchards in the vicinity of ]\Iilton and ^^larlboro. The practical 

 value of late spring applications of a lime-sulphur wash for the 

 control of this insect, was demonstrated earlier, and observations in 

 these orchards showed the necessity of carefully eliminating artificial 

 shelters, such as stone walls, brush heaps and even check trees, 

 if the best results are to be secured. 



The banded grape bug, Paracalacoris scrupeus Say, 

 noticed in detail in the Entomologist's report for 1913. has continued 

 its injurious work. Through the cooperation of ^li L. F. Strick- 

 land of the State Department of Agriculture a series of nymphs 

 were received and detailed descriptions of the early stages have 

 been drafted and are included in the report for the present year. 



Gipsy moth. One of the worst infestations of the gipsy moth 

 yet discovered in the State was located by the Entomologist last 

 spring, with the cooperation of I\Ir F. A. Bartlett, at Blount Kisco. 

 The infestation was of several years' standing and a few tgg masses 

 were found at a considerable distance from the center of the colony. 

 Prompt and vigorous action by agents of the Department of Agri- 

 culture has resulted in nearly exterminating this menace, and it is 

 most earnestly hoped that in another year or two this outlying 

 colony will be entirely destroyed. 



Brown-tail moth. A scattering infestation of the brown-tail 

 moth was discovered early in the year on Fisher's island and the 

 eastern end of Long Island. The pest very probably drifted with 

 the winds from the adjacent infested mainland of Connecticut. 

 Systematic scouting and the destruction of overwinter nests, by 

 agents of the State Department of Agriculture and the Federal 

 Government, have prevented extended multiplication the past season. 

 The abundance of oaks on Long Island renders it very probable 

 that this pest will breed freely in that section unless checked 

 artificially. The prevalence of this insect in large numbers would 



