ENTOMOLOGICAL FEATURES OF I908. 769 



cases was killed so that it has not spread as much as usual. The 

 reason apparently must be due to climatic conditions rather than 

 to any particular predaceous or parasitic enemies which are effect- 

 ing its control. At least, no such enemies have been observed 

 in Connecticut which have not been present for several years, and 

 those have not seemed to be more abundant than usual. In some 

 instances the pest has not made any appreciable spread in two 

 years, and some persons believe that it is no longer to be feared 

 as a dangerous enemy to orchards ; but in other cases, especially 

 in young orchards and in some nurseries, the San Jose scale 

 has multiplied sufficiently to leave no doubt in the minds of the 

 owners or of any observer that it still must be reckoned with as 

 the chief insect enemy of orchards in Connecticut. There should 

 be no "let-up" in the thoroughness or regularity of the remedial 

 treatment. 



Canker worms, as predicted, were more abundant than in 1907, 

 and defoliated many apple orchards and shade trees. They will 

 doubtless be even more abundant in 1909, and everyone who 

 wishes to save the foliage of his trees should band them. A 

 detailed account of the two species of canker worms will be 

 found on page Tjy of this report. 



The elm leaf beetle was more abundant and caused more injury 

 to shade trees throughout the state than for several years. The 

 precipitation was below the normal, especially during June and 

 July, and this, following a dry season in 1907, prevented the 

 development of the white fungus that normally kills large num- 

 bers of pupse and adults. Many of the beetles, though of course 

 a small proportion, were killed by the spined soldier bug, Podisus 

 malculiventris Say (=^spinosus Dall.), which was more than 

 usually abundant. The elm leaf beetle may be expected to do fully 

 as much damage in 1909, and a.11 trees which were defoliated 

 during the past season should be sprayed with poison next 

 summer. 



In the vicinity of New Haven beans were attacked and injured 

 by a green striped caterpillar, which on rearing the adults proved 

 to be the green clover worm, Plathypena scahra, which has not 

 before been reported on beans in Connecticut. An article on page 

 828 gives an account of this insect. 



Tussock moths of all kinds were abundant, but late in August 

 and through September many dead caterpillars were found on 



