174 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the season and but 21 of them rendered reports. This is largely 

 due to the general scarcity of forms which lend themselves readily 

 to observation, and the depredations of plant lice are so similar 

 that most observers were unable to report on the outbreak in 

 a satisfactory manner. It will be noted that the following re- 

 ports contain some negative statements, which are of value 

 because they emphasize the abnormal scarcity of various species. 

 Too much dependence can not be placed on these reports, because 

 with some exceptions they may be called local and not repre- 

 sentative even of the county. It will also be observed that there 

 are a number of conflicting statements, due to the belief by some 

 parties that dry weather is favorable to the development of plant 

 lice, while others state most clearly that the great increase in 

 numbers of these pests was subsequent to the rains. It may be 

 stated that we have not enough data to explain this difference 

 and we are content at present to give opinions as they are trans- 

 mitted. The observers all agree in reporting very cold, inclement 

 weather in the early part of the season, and this undoubtedly 

 had considerable effect in checking the appearance or in reducing 

 the destructiveness of some of our more common injurious species. 



Albany county [E. T. Schoonmaker, Cedar Hill] — Forest tent 

 caterpillars (Malacosoma disstria Hiibn.) hatched in 

 limited numbers Ap. 23 and apparently have not suffered by the 

 freeze. These insects caused practically no injury later in the 

 season and consequently no report was made regarding the same. 

 Elm leaf beetles (Galerucella luteola Mull.) occurred 

 in limited numbers but were not abundant enough in the country 

 to cause material damage. 



Cattaraugus county [C. E. Eldredge, Leon] — Complaint of a 

 looper caterpillar, probably a species of canker worm, was re- 

 ceived June 10 with the statement that they had been observed on 

 forest trees in that vicinity for several years, and that previously 

 they had not appeared on appletrees. These insects were so near 

 maturity that on June 17 no specimens were to be found. A soft 

 scale (Lecani u m ? p r u i n o s u m Coq.) was taken in some 

 numbers from a trumpet vine. The unusually cold, inclement 



