346 Forty- SIXTH Report on the State Museum, 



on the Insects of New York, 1889, pp. 256, 257. It was important that 

 these applications should be made as early in the season as the first 

 aphides were seen upon the leaves, and before they are partly sheltered 

 from the spraying liquid within the curls or folds of the leaves result- 

 ing from their attack. 



The preference shown by this aphis for the ox-heart cherry is inter- 

 esting. Dr. Fitch has stated that it never invades any of our native 

 or wild cherry trees. It was for a long time believed that it was limited 

 to the cultivated garden cherry, but within late years it has also been 

 observed feeding on the plum by Dr. Thomas, in Illinois, in 1878 ; and 

 in the Country Gentleman for May 26th, 1892, I have identified the 

 species in specimens taken from the wild-goose plum in Central Ken- 

 tucky. It has also been found in Europe on the black currant. 



The life-history of this common and destructive species was fully 

 worked out by Professor C. M. Weed, w^hile connected with the Ohio 

 Agricultural Expermient Station, and was published in the Bulletin of 

 the Station, Technical Series, i. No. 2, May, 1890. By the kindness of 

 the Director of the Station, the plate illustrating the several stages of the 

 insect which accompanied Professor Weed's article, is herewith given. 



Pemphigus tessellata (Fitch). 

 The Alder -blight Aphis. 



This alder aphis has been unusually abundant the present j^ear (1892) 

 in various localities in the State of New York. Mr. John D. Lyons, of 

 Monticello, N. Y., has written me that during the month of August it 

 occurred in such numbers on the swamp alders that "it was hanging in 

 strings from the branches." 



A larger number of their white patches and of larger size than usual, 

 were observed at Keene Valley, N. Y., during July and August. On 

 removing a colony of the aphids from a branch of alder, on July 23d, 

 thirteen of tlie eggs of Feniseca Tarquiniiis were found scattered singly, 

 or in twos and threes on the bark beneath. For the manner in which 

 these eggs are placed among the aphides, — for the interesting habits of 

 the caterpillar while living among and subsisting on the aphides, and 

 for a detailed account of the insect, the second volume of " Scudder'a 

 Butterflies of the Eastern United States," pp. 1016-1026, may be 

 consulted. 



Professor Comstock, in writing of F. tessellata^ has stated:* "There 

 is a curious fungus which grows in large spongy masses immediately 



* Introduction to Entomology, part 1, 1888, p. 166. 



