REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I912 33 



middle and the latter part, the total for September amount- 

 ing to 4.39 inches. Such conditions are obviously well adapted to 

 the early starting and vigorous growth of volunteer wheat and 

 would result in the production of an abundant succulent tissue 

 and thus produce a condition almost ideal for the development of 

 this pest. There may easily have been a supplemental brood on 

 many areas prior to the appearance above ground of the regularly 

 sown wheat. This extra brood would mean a more severe in- 

 festation in the fall and consequently serious damage in the spring. 

 It would appear as though the elements had combined to bring 

 about an abundant crop of volunteer wheat, practically an extended 

 sowing of a trap crop, which latter had not been plowed under 

 early enough so as to destroy the pests and prevent further damage. 

 , Losses in 1912. Winter injury should not be overlooked at the 

 outset. Mr F. C. Walker of South Byron stated that ice remained 

 on some of his fields from February through March and killed 

 most of the grain. The writer saw many low wet spots through- 

 out the region where grain had evidently been killed during the 

 winter. Some growers held winter injury responsible for from 

 one-half to all the loss. The writer is hardly prepared to accept 

 such a high estimate for sections where the Hessian fly was rather 

 numerous. There were places where this insect was abundant and 

 its presence practically ignored. Severe damage appeared to be 

 confined largely to Genesee county, though reports of injury were 

 received from Livingston county, and the pest was observed some- 

 what abundant in Orleans county. We are unable to learn of ex 

 tended injury in Erie or Niagara counties, including sections 

 severely affected in 1901. 



Erie county. At East Lancaster and east of Crittenden a very 

 poor stand of wheat was observed from the train. Mr Gilbert 

 Ayers of the latter place considers winter injury to have been 

 responsible for most, if not all the damage. 



Genesee county. Mr W. E. Harding, of Linden, reports, under 

 date of July 3d, that at first he was inclined to believe there was 

 no injury, but on further investigation learned that there was con- 

 siderable damage. Later he estimated the crop for 1912 at 13 bushels 

 an acre, the normal yield being 25 bushels, and stated that over 

 90 per cent of the fields were infested. He estimated the loss in 

 the town at 40 per cent at least, and adds that one field of six 

 acres showed no injury by the fly, though it was seriously damaged 

 by ice and water, while in another of seven acres the yield was 



