122 Forty- fifth Report on the State Museum. 



study, and in such rapid succession that hardly a tithe can be 

 given proper investigation. 



The present year, even more markedly than the preceding, has 

 been exempt from severe insect attacks upon the grain crops of 

 the State. These agricultural staples have been almost entirely 

 free from the destructive midges — the wheat-midge and the 

 Hessian-fly, that in former years have often occasioned such 

 serious losses ; and but little harm has been inflicted by the grain- 

 aphis. The hop crop was not greatly injured by the hop-vine aphis, 

 Phorodon humuli. The potato beetle has been less abundant 

 than usual, and in most localities where mention has been made 

 of its presence, it was so late in making its appearance that less 

 than ordinary effort was required for keeping it within control. 

 In some of the Hudson river counties, injuries from it were first 

 reported in the early part of July. In portions of Cattaraugus 

 county it is said to have been unusually abundant during the 

 month of July. 



With the large acreage devoted to fruit-growing in the State 

 of New York, its annual extension, and the increasing care which 

 is required in order to insure a good degree of protection from 

 insect and fungus attack — it might naturally be expected that 

 fruit insects should claim the foremost place among our insect 

 foes. They have certainly taken such rank the present year, for 

 among the hundreds of inquiries received of name, habits, 

 remedies, etc., through personal application and a correspondence 

 largely in excess of any former year, more than three-fourths 

 have been of the insect depredators of orchards and of the smaller 

 fruits. And to no inquiries have a more cordial welcome been 

 given by your entomologist than to these, for, thanks to progress 

 made in applied entomology, and the earnestness with which this 

 useful science is being studied — in almost every instance there 

 has been the ability of returning answer that could hardly fail of 

 substantial benefit to the inquirer. 



Referring to a few of these fruit insect attacks: The apple- 

 tree tent caterpillar, Clisiocamjpa Americano Harris, which has 

 been unusually destructive for several years past, has not been 

 the cause of as frequent complaint as in the preceding year. 

 This may have resulted from the more general c-av^ that has been 

 given to the collecting and burning of the eggs during the winter, 



