46 



That the effects of such a season should be plainly marked on insect 

 life is not surprising. The following memoranda show considerable 

 deviation from the records of preceding years. 



Chinch Bugs were not reported as injurious in any part of the State, 

 and scarcely a specimen could be found during midsummer and early 

 autumn. 



Canker Worms. — Very few, and found mostly in orchards or on trees 

 standing somewhat above the general level. The male moths were fly- 

 ing every month during winter, and an occasional female was also seen 

 in January and February. Probably the severe cold of March destroyed 

 a large proportion of the very young larvae, more perhaps by retarding 

 the development of the apple leaves than by the direct effects of the 

 cold. 



Of the few worms that were found later in the season taking their 

 noonday siesta on the trunks and larger branches of the trees, quite a 

 number were seen which had evidently been attacked by some Carabid 

 or other predaceous species, the skin having been punctured and the 

 fluids oozing out with every motion. All injured worms perished, but 

 what the assailant was I was not able to discover. 



Cutworms (Agrotis and Madena). — Vegetable gardens in the spring 

 enjoyed an immunity from these pests that was most welcome to the 

 gardener. This was probably due to the fact that some of the most 

 destructive species hibernate in the larva state, and the degree of cold 

 not being sufficient to reduce them to complete dormancy they perished 

 of starvation and dampness or fell victims to the birds, which remained 

 with us in greater numbers than is usually the case. My memoranda 

 show that very few Noctuid moths of any kind were taken at light 

 previous to the middle of August. To this scarcity of Noctuid pests 

 there were, however, two notable exceptions — that of Gortyna nitela and 

 Heliothis armigera, which have seldom committed so great injuries to 

 certain crops as during the present year. About the middle of June 

 many samples of young corn and potato stalks were sent me that were 

 being bored by the first-named larva, and it was then reported from 

 some localities — among others from Kidder, Missouri — as having de- 

 stroyed fully one-half the crop of potatoes. Its injuries to young corn 

 were also extensive, but I have no data for making an estimate. It was 

 also found in considerable numbers, when very small, in small grain. 

 In this it could scarcely reach maturity, and probably migrated to the 

 stalks of such more succulent plants as were conveniently near. In the 

 case of the attack on potatoes a treatment with Paris green and flour 

 was recommended, on the probability that in passing from one stalk to 

 another the worm would obtain a sufficient quantity of the poison to 

 destroy it. Of the success of this experiment, if tried, I have not been 

 informed. It did not occur in any noticeable numbers in the vicinity 

 of Kirkwood. 



Heliothis armigera was very destructive on both early and late corn, 



