102 



often going around a circle. Even their strong instinct for ascend- 

 ing the nearest tree was thus overcome, and in several instances those 

 upon the base of the tree descended toward the light Though I was 

 unable to make a trial of it, this suggested that a bright light m the 

 center of a sunken pan containing water and kerosene might make an 

 efficient trap upon badlj- infested lawns. 



During the season of 1901 the white-marked tussock moth and fall 

 webworm were unusually injurious and seem to be almost equally so 

 this year. The apple-tree tent catei-pillar was more abundant tliis 

 spi-ing than for many years. Apples have been unusually injured by 

 the plum curculio, eight or ten scars on an apple not being uncom- 

 mon. Arsenical sprays seem to have no effect whatever in preventing 

 this injury, apples being badly stung in an orchard which has been 

 carefully sprayed for many years. On the same place, however, the 

 fruit of an old cherry tree, which was formerly entirely destroyed by 

 the curculio, is now untouched, owing to its being sprayed with 

 arsenites and Bordeaux mixture. 



Orambus caJiginosellm continues to be one of our worst f>ests of 

 young corn. Systena tieniata often destroys replanted com and is 

 our worst pest of newly set tomatoes, one for which we have as yet 

 no very satisfactory remed}'. 



The strawberry weevil {AntJumomus signatus) was excessively inju- 

 rious this year for the first time since 1898, and cut the early staminate 

 varieties about one-third, and in some instances practically ruined the 

 crop. A remedy for this pest would be of great value to berry grow- 

 ers, but it seems invulnerable to attack. 



NOTES FOE THE YEAR IN NEW YOEK. 



By E. P. Felt, Albany, N. Y. 



The season has not been marked by any unusual demonstrations by 

 injurious insects, except in the case of a few species which will be 

 noticed briefly. 



The grape root- worm, Fidia viticida Walsh, has caused a great deal 

 of injuiy in the Chautauqua grape belt during the last two yeai-s. It 

 was estimated last spring that fully 80 acres had been practically 

 destroyed by this insect and that at least 200 acres were more or less 

 infested. Subsequent observations have shown that, in all probability, 

 the infested, area must be greatly extended. The insect has been so 

 veiy injurious during the spring that certain vines which developed 

 leaves in an apparently normal manner began to wilt about the middle 

 of June and b\' the latter part of the month had died. This was attrib- 

 uted to the grape root-worm. The depredations appear to be more 

 serious upon gravelly than upon heavy clay soil, and some recent 

 experiments would appear to indicate that a considerable number of 



