REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST igi2 lOj 



marsh mosquitos in 191 1, contracted with a company for the thor- 

 ough drainage of the salt meadows and such upland territory as 

 afforded natural breeding places for mosquito larvae. The work 

 on the salt meadows, we are informed by a local correspondent, 

 proved particularly effective and throughout the entire village mo- 

 squitos were very scarce during the season. The scanty rainfall of 

 the early summer was also of service in that breeding pools re- 

 mained small, and though the drainage work was not completed 

 until September, a marked decrease in the number of mosquitos 

 was observed. The expense of this work was $4250. This was 

 met m part by subscription, the village contributing $2000 from 

 the tax budget. 



Other shore communities in New York State have obtained strik- 

 ing benefits as a result of systematic drainage, which latter involves 

 a moderate annual expenditure for the maintenance of the ditches 

 in good condition. The value of this work, owing to the migratory 

 habits of the common salt marsh mosquito, is greatly increased if 

 it be made general throughout a section where such breeding con- 

 ditions obtain. The pioneer work of communities along this line 

 can not be indorsed too highly and should serve as a marked stimu- 

 lus to those adjacent. There is no question as to the practicability 

 of eliminating almost entirely the mosquito nuisance, even in the 

 immediate vicinity of salt marshes. The village of Lawrence, with 

 salt marshes almost contiguous on three sides of the residential 

 section, is a striking example of what may be accomplished by 

 systematic and thorough work. The material benefits accruing 

 from such undertakings will become more evident with the progress 

 of time and we confidently expect that within a few years mosquito- 

 ridden salt marshes and the almost intolerable mosquito nuisance 

 will be found only near a few unprogressive communities. 



Cotton moth (Alabama argillacea Hiibn.) The re- 

 markable flight of this insect in 191 1 was duplicated in considerable 

 measure the present season, though in some localities the moths 

 were not so numerous as a year ago. The first record of the season 

 we have is September 18th, based on an observation made by Mr 

 E. P. Van Duzee at Buffalo. Mr Bird reports the largest number 

 at Rye, Westchester county, from October 8th to 12th. The moths 

 were seen by a number of competent observers in widely separated 

 sections of the State between October 10th and 12th and later. 

 The fresh, unrubbed condition of the insects was noted by several, 



