REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I9I4 6l 



what marked invasion by flight or drifting with the wind, other- 

 wise the serious injury of one season could hardly be preceded by 

 almost complete immunity the previous year. 



The most evident signs of the insect's presence are the sticky buds, 

 the brown, blasted appearance of the blossom buds and the unusual 

 drop of bud scales followed later by small, crinkled, spoon-shaped 

 leaves. In the earlier stages of the attack a slender, dark brown 

 insect only one-twentieth of an inch long may be seen upon the 

 opening fruit buds and especially in crevices between the stems of 

 the partly expanded fruit clusters. 



Badly infested orchards should have the lime-sulphur spray for 

 San Jose scale delayed until the buds have started and then add to 

 this preparation a tobacco extract, such as black leaf 40, 1 to 800. 

 This will destroy many of the thrips before they have had an oppor- 

 tunity to find shelters in the buds which have opened just sufficiently 

 so that the insects can make their way down between the stems of 

 the young fruit. Later, if the thrips are numerous, it is advisable to 

 spray with a tobacco extract, at the above given strength, to which 

 have been added 4 to 6 pounds of soap, just as soon as the young 

 pears have separated sufficiently so that the insects at the base of the 

 fruit stems are exposed. This spray, in particular, should be directed 

 so that the insecticide will be driven down into all crevices of the 

 fruit clusters. Another treatment with the tobacco extract and soap 

 may be advisable after the blossoms fall. This insect works so 

 rapidly and seeks shelter so persistently that timeliness is a prime 

 essential in control work. 



Pear midge (Contarinia "pyrivora Riley) . Although this 

 insect became established in this country about 1877 and its dissemi- 

 nation has been recorded in more or less detail, records of serious 

 injury are comparatively few. It has been known in southern 

 Albany county for a number of years. It appears to thrive on the 

 heavy lime soils of that section, and last spring, according to the 

 statement of Mr Robert McHench of Clarksville, was responsible for 

 the destruction of probably 90 barrels of pears, the pear thrips blast- 

 ing an equal amount of an estimated crop of 200 barrels. Under 

 ordinary conditions the pear midge would not have been particularly 

 injurious, the destroyed fruit representing a rather severe and some- 

 what desirable thinning. It is interesting to note in this connection 

 that this insect (and the same is true of the pear thrips) appears to be 

 unknown on the light soil of the extensive pear-growing region of 

 Kinderhook and vicinity. A summary account of the pear midge is 

 given in the report for 191 2, N. Y. State Museum Bulletin 165, pages 

 97 to 99. 



