REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST ig\6 6l 



pests were generally present and more or less destructive throughout 

 the Hudson valley, this being particularly noticeable in southern 

 Rensselaer and northern Columbia counties. An interesting con- 

 dition obtained on the heavier soil of Dutchess county east of 

 Poughkeepsie, the tree growth there being such as nearly to offset 

 the feeding of the caterpillars, while south of Newburgh the lighter 

 soil appears to have nullified to a considerable extent the value of 

 the heavy rains, and in. that section caterpillar depredations were 

 decidedly more evident. The wild cherry trees in that locality were 

 commonly defoliated, some apple trees were severely injured and 

 there was considerable feeding on oak. 



The elimination of the wild cherry and adequate care of orchard 

 trees, either by systematic spraying or the early removal or 

 destruction of the nests, are the most satisfactory methods of 

 dealing with this pest. 



Red bugs (Heterocordylus malinus Reut. , L y g i d e a 

 mendax Reut.). Red bugs appear to be increasing somewhat 

 in numbers in certain Hudson valley orchards, and reports of serious 

 injuries were received from some localities. This is probably due 

 in part to an actual increase of the insects, and partly also to a more 

 general recognition as to the cause of the trouble. These two insects 

 appear to be increasing in numbers though relatively somewhat 

 more slowly in orchards in the western part of the State, especially 

 those of Monroe, Orleans and Niagara counties. 



Reports received the past season indicate very satisfactory results 

 from thorough and systematic spraying with a tobacco extract, 

 40 per cent nicotine, using 1 pint to 100 gallons of spray and applying 

 it either with soap or in combination with the so-called deferred 

 dormant spray. The latter may be held until the pink shows in 

 the blossom and applied at winter strength without serious injury 

 to the foliage. Spraying at this time seems to be fully as effective in 

 controlling red bug as later applications, though in the case of serious 

 infestation it is by all means advisable to add the nicotine to the 

 codling moth spray and make the latter as soon as possible after the 

 falling of the blossoms. 



Pear psylla (P s y 1 1 a pyricola Forst.). This serious pest 

 of the pear grower was moderately abundant in many Hudson 

 valley orchards, and in some decidedly injurious, especially about 

 midsummer. Examinations of a number of orchards in northern 

 Columbia county and near Athens and New Baltimore, Greene 

 county, showed a comparatively light deposition of eggs, and the 

 delayed dormant spray evidently destroyed so many eggs that there 



