nursery inspection. 267 



Entomological Features of 1907. 



Entomologically, the /most interesting feature of the season 

 was the outbreak of the peach sawfly in an orchard at Yales- 

 ville. This insect proved to be a new species, which has been 

 described as Pamphilius persicum by Dr. A. D. MacGiUivray, 

 and was so abundant as to threaten the defoliation of a large 

 number of trees. Consequently the owners sprayed between 

 four and five thousand trees with lead arsenate, with satis- 

 factory results. Mr. Walden has made a careful study of this 

 insect, an account of which appears elsewhere in this report. 



Good progress has been made in controlling the g3^sy moth, 

 which was discovered in Stonington last year. (See Report for 

 1906, p. 235.) Over 13,000 trees were banded i;i 1907 as against 

 1,300 the previous season, and though twice as many men were 

 employed and much scouting done, only 2,936 caterpillars were 

 found in 1907 where 10,000 were taken in 1906. The work was 

 also strengthened and supported by an act of the legislature 

 giving authority and making an appropriation. This entire 

 matter is treated in detail on another page of this report. 



The fall canker worm, Anisopteryx pometaria Harris, was 

 more abundant at the station than since 1900, and the large 

 number of males clustering on the trunks of trees on warm days 

 in November and December indicate that this species will be 

 even more abundant and destructive in 1908. 



The spiny elm caterpillar, Euvanessa antiopa Linn., and the 

 apple leaf miner, Tischeria malifoliellti Clem., which were so 

 common in 1906, did little damage in 1907. 



The apple aphis, Aphis pomi DeGeer, was quite injurious, 

 especially to nursery and newly set orchard trees, and in several 

 cases spraying was necessary to prevent a marked checking of 

 the growth. 



The hickory tussock moth, Halisidota caryae Harris, was more 

 abundant than for several years, and the caterpillars were found 

 feeding upon apple, hickory and a number of other trees. A 

 separate illustrated article treating of this insect is printed on 

 a later page of this report. 



In spite of an extreme drought extending through July and 

 August, mosquitoes were exceedingly abundant and annoying in 

 certain localities, and many complaints were received regarding 

 them. In compliance with a request, the region about Niantic 



