REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I907 39 



and then prevent the invasion of other caterpillars by using a cotton 

 band, sticky band or other device to prevent caterpillars from climb- 

 ing the trees that have been cleaned. 



Elm leaf beetle (Galerucella luteola Miill.) . This 

 destructive leaf feeder continues to hold its position as one of the 

 most important insect enemies of elms. Many magnificent trees 

 were seriously injured in Albany, despite the fact that a city forester 

 had been appointed. Part of the trouble was undoubtedly due to 

 the deceptive character of the season, its extreme backwardness 

 possibly leading some to believe that the pest would not be par- 

 ticularly destructive. There were the usual troubles at the in- 

 ception of operations and this delay was accentuated by the diffi- 

 culty of securing- properly qualified men to do the actual spraying. 

 This latter is very important. The work is disagreeable at best 

 and only conscientious workmen can be relied upon to do the spray- 

 ing properly. Serious injury to the foliage is the inevitable result 

 of engaging unskilled help, and the condition of the trees in late 

 summer showed that in many instances the application must have 

 been far from thorough, not to mention streets where no spraying 

 was done, owing to lack of time. It seems to be a custom to start 

 one spray outfit and then, if the inseci: threatens serious injury, to 

 put the second o:ie in commission. This may be somewhat eco- 

 nomical of help, but so far as protecting the trees is concerned, a 

 reverse of this policy would be decide:dy more beneficial. It would 

 be much better to start two spray outfits at the beginning of the 

 season and keep them going until developments showed that the 

 pest was well under control, rather than to delay and attempt to kill 

 the grubs with poison after they have become nearly full grown and 

 consequently done most of the damage they are capable of inflict- 

 ing. 



Many of the elms in Troy, Watervliet and adjacent cities suffered 

 considerably from this insect, and the same is also true of the mag- 

 nificent trees of Saratoga Springs. The city of Ithaca suffered 

 greatly from this pest, and urless some radical measures are 

 adopted, many of the elms will be ruined or destroyed within a few 

 years. A spraying outfit was provided in this latter city, through 

 the cooperation of public-spirited individuals, and trees sprayed for 

 all who were willing to meet the bare cost of the treatment. Un- 

 fortunately many neglected this opportunity and as a consequence 

 this provision was not so beneficial as might have been the case. 

 The experience of Albany, Troy and other cities along the Hudson 



