REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I906 59 



details regarding its life history are still wanting. These insects 

 were rather abundant on hard pine at Nassau, N. Y. April 19, 

 1906, showing that the beetles appear very early in the spring. 

 Some were feeding, a few pairing, and it is probable that breeding 

 begins early in the season and is continuous to a greater or less 

 extent until late in the fall, though there may be somewhat larger 

 numbers appearing in earty spring and possibly another brood in 

 midsummer. 



Hickory tussock moth (Halisidota caryae Harr.) . 

 The caterpillar of. this moth is a very general feeder and specimens 

 were received from the latter part of July to early in September, 

 from localities in various parts of the State where the pest was 

 devouring the foliage of a considerable variety of trees and shrubs. 

 The depredations were in no instance exceptionally severe, and 

 ordinarily repressive measures are not necessary. This leaf feeder 

 is best controlled, when advisable, by timely applications of arseni- 

 cal poisons. 



Black v^alnut worm (Datana integerrima Gr. & Rob.) . 

 Specimens of this caterpillar were received during the last of July 

 and throughout August, from different sections of the State. It is 

 a more or less common species upon black walnut and butternut, 

 occasionally becoming so abundant as to defoliate entire trees or 

 groups of trees. It is possible to destroy many of the insects by 

 cutting off infested branches while the caterpillars are still young 

 and crushing them, or if the trees be of sufficient value, it is amen- 

 able to arsenical sprays. Unfortunately these appHcations are not, 

 as a rule, practical in the case of large trees. 



Witch-hazel cone gall (Hormaphis hamamelidis 

 Fitch). The peculiar gall of this plant louse is ordinarily somewhat 

 rare in the vicinity of Albany. The latter part of July and August 

 it was seen that many of the witch-hazel clumps were badly infested 

 with the galls of this species. They were so abundant on some 

 shoots as to seriously injure and almost destroy the foliage. It was 

 not at all difficult to find five to seven galls upon a single leaf and 

 in some instances 20 to 25 could be counted. 



Miscellaneous 

 Violet gall midge (Contarinia violicola Coq.). 

 This insect is undoubtedly a very serious pest of the extensive violet- 

 growing industry in and about Rhinebeck. There must be close to 

 $500,000 invested in this business and the gross annual income 



