22 



Mr. J. Alston Moffatt here exhibited specimens of the true P. punctatus, which he- 

 had received from Mr. Kilman, Ridgeway. 



Resuming his remarks, Mr. Fletcher said that he had observed enormous damage 

 done by the larch saw-fly, Wematus Erichsonii ; he had first noticed it near Quebec, and 

 had traced it all down the Intercolonial Railway wherever any larch trees occurred, as 

 far as Dalhousie, where he found it abundant. He exhibited interesting specimens of 

 young twigs of Larix Americana, which he had received the previous week from the Rev. 

 Mr. Fyles from Quebec, in which the. leaves of the tree, although eaten down to the base 

 by the larvae, had later in the season, after the attack ceased, been able to grow about a* 

 quarter of an inch. Mr. Fletcher thought that this fact that the tree was able to produce 

 this after crop of foliage was one of very great importance, as the tree might by this 

 means be able to withstand the insect for a much longer period ; he anticipated that some 

 remedy either artificial or natural would be found before long. 



He exhibited a small Hemipteron, Podisus modesfois, which he had found destroying 

 the larvae at Brome, Que., on the estate of S. A. Fisher, Esq., M.P., who had given him 

 assistance and provided him with facilities for examining this pest. 



The Rev. T. W. Fyles, of South Quebec, said it afforded him much pleasure to second 

 the vote of thanks to their President. Referring to the fungous disease upon the cut- 

 worms mentioned by Mr. Fletcher, he said that he had known in England many years ago • 

 of an insect similiar to this being attacked by some such disease as had been described. 

 He spoke of the habits of the cut- worms, saying that as they did not tunnel their way 

 from plant to plant but passed over the surface, a circle of salt placed round each plant at 

 a short distance would probably save it : the larvae would shun the salt. Besides this, 

 there was the remedy of " hilling up " the plant ; he had found that the larvae would not 

 climb a mound on account of the particles of earth giving way. He believed that salt in 

 the early stages of the plants and the mounds of earth afterwards would amply protect 

 corn, etc., from the attacks of the insects. 



He next spoke of the potato beetle D. decem-lineata, and expressed his belief that its 

 numbers and vigour were decreasing in the Province of Quebec. He stated that there were 

 places on the Lower St. Lawrence where it had not appeared. 



He next remarked that Nematus Erichsonii, the larch saw-fly, had extended its 

 ravages along the Beauce Valley to the neighbourhood of Quebec where it had stripped the 

 tamaracks (larch^ bare. A second growth of leaves had appeared, and this probably would 

 save the trees. If, however, the attacks were repeated to the same extent, he believed the 

 trees would die. Mr. Fyles shewed specimens of the insect and of its cocoons. 



Mr. J. Alston Moffatt, of Hamilton, stated that he had lately received from his 

 friend, Mr. J. B. Hay, of Brantford, some specimens of a beetle that had been found 

 attacking hot-house plants, abutilon, roses, plumbago, etc. The insect being new to him, . 

 he sent it to Dr. Horn for identification and received the following letter from him : 



Philadelphia, P.A., Oct. 10, 1884. 



Dear Sir,— The insect you send is Aramiges Fulleri, Horn (Fuller's rose beetle). 

 It is widely scattered over the country and lias been reported to me as damaging many 

 hot -house plants, particularly the thick leaved varieties. It seems a great nuisance and 

 eight years ago appeared to be rare. 



G. H. Horn. 

 Specimens of this insect were exhibited by Mr. Moffatt. 



The President in referring to the work of the special committee appointed by the 

 House of Commons in February last to enquire into the condition of agriculture said that 

 the members would be much pleased to learn that as one of the results of that enquiry 

 Mr. Fletcher had been appointed Honorary Entomologist to the Dominion Department of 

 Agriculture. It was much to be desired that this appointment should become permanent, 

 for the Society cordially recognized the special fitness of Mr. Fletcher for this important 

 position, and believed that he would accomplish much good work in this connection. 



