REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1916 9 



191 5. This is probably due to one of the natural and frequently 

 unexplainable oscillations in insect life. 



Red bugs. Observations of the past year indicate that these 

 two somewhat new insects are becoming more generally established 

 in the fruit-growing sections of the State and here and there are 

 causing serious injury. The practical work of the past two years 

 has demonstrated nothing to be more effective than the use of a 

 tobacco extract, 40 per cent nicotine, just before the blossoms open. 

 This may be applied simply with soap to aid in spreading the 

 insecticide or added to the delayed dormant spray, and in case of 

 bad infestations, this treatment should be supplemented by 

 the use of tobacco in the usual calyx spray for the codling 

 moth, applying this as soon as possible after the dropping of the 

 blossoms. 



San Jose scale. This greatly feared pest of earlier years has 

 caused comparatively little injury in the Hudson valley and in 

 some sections has been remarkable for its scarcity. This reduction 

 is probably attributable in large measure to the activities of various 

 small parasites though climatic conditions may have some influence. 

 Unsprayed orchards, even though they have been infested with 

 the scale for a series of years, are in somewhat better condition, 

 generally speaking, than they were eight or ten years ago, and a 

 few fruit growers have been encouraged by this comparative 

 scarcity of the pest to omit the early spring application for the 

 control of the scale. No serious consequences have followed this 

 omission to our knowledge though it is a practice which can not be 

 recommended unqualifiedly. 



Pear thrips. This minute and destructive insect has been 

 abundant here and there in the Hudson valley and has caused 

 serious injury in a few localities, particularly where it appeared 

 in numbers before the grower could give the requisite treatment. 

 Through a combination of fortunate conditions we were able to 

 secure a somewhat satisfactory test of the value of a thick lime- 

 sulphur w r ash as a means of controlling the thrips. The results 

 are most encouraging, though owing to the erratic habits of the 

 pest there can be only a qualified recommendation. The details 

 of this work are given below. 



Pear psylla. Injuries by this pest have not been serious as a 

 rule in Hudson valley orchards, and in many comparatively few 

 eggs were deposited in early spring. The late application of the 

 winter lime-sulphur wash for the destruction of the eggs is the 

 most satisfactory method of controlling this pest and occasionally 



