62 REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1 92 1 



NOTES ON INSECTS 



The spring of 1921 was one of the earliest on record. On March 

 2 1st, blow flies, cluster flies and mosquitoes were out and trouble- 

 some, the morning temperature being 78 F., and on the 27th ants 

 (Prenolepis imparis Say) swarmed in the open at 

 Nassau, this being an extremely early record according to Prof. 

 W. M. Wheeler. 



Weather conditions were also reflected in the unusually early 

 development of vegetation. American elms were in bloom at Nas- 

 sau on March 27th, arbutus blossoms were found April 3d and on 

 the 6th Carolina poplar catkins were falling rapidly. Apple leaves 

 were, about one-half of an inch long, pear buds nearly as long and 

 Forsythia in bloom on the 7th and two days later a few sheltered 

 plum trees were in bloom and many others showed the white petals 

 in the bud. Shad bushes began to show white at this time and an 

 unusually early one was in blossom, though the normal time is the 

 second Sunday in May. 



Similar unusual conditions prevailed on Staten Island. William 

 T. Davis states that white maples blossomed on New Dorp lane 

 February 19th, and little blue butterfles (Lycaena pseudar- 

 g i o 1 u s ) had emerged from their chrysalids by March 28th. 

 Most of the pear trees were in full bloom April 6th and on the 9th 

 some apple trees had commenced to flower. For a time develop- 

 ments were from 3 to 4 weeks ahead of normal, though as the 

 season advanced this became less marked and in early summer there 

 was comparatively little divergence from the normal. 



Shade tree pests were somewhat numerous in 1921. White- 

 marked tussock moth caterpillars (Hemerocampa leuco- 

 stigma) were generally prevalent in the Buffalo area the latter 

 part of June, partially stripping a few trees. Somewhat the same 

 condition obtained on the western end of Long Island. A very few 

 bag worms ( Thy ri do.pt eryx ephemeraeformis) 

 were observed in the vicinity of New York City. At Cold Spring 

 Harbor there was local and serious injury by the elm case bearer 

 (Coleophora limosipennella) and where very abun- 

 dant, some had evidently dropped from the trees and attached to 

 nearby foliage of honey-suckle, dogwood and Forsythia, but without 

 feeding. 



Irregular blotch mines on the upper surface of sweet gale, 

 Myrica gale, leaves were collected at Cold Spring Harbor, Long 



