55 



were without any satisfactory results. My Adirondack collections 

 were unusually limited. Apparently not one-fourth of the usual 

 number of insects were abroad (exceptions to this were the common 

 house fly and grasshoppers). Mosquitoes, the gray gnat (Ceratopogon 

 sp.), and the blade lly (Simulium spp.) were among the rarities even in 

 the month of July. The scarcity of butterflies was particularly notice- 

 able, and was remarked upon by others than entomologists. Not a 

 single Papilio turnus was seen, nor any of the other Papilios except 

 one asterias. No Graptas were taken, when in former years hundreds 

 could have been captured. The argynnids were very few, and mainly 

 atlantis. Feniseca tarquinius, for which Kcene A 7 alley is a noted local 

 ity, was not seen. Golias philodice was comparatively rare, while Pieris 

 rapes was abundant in the fields and about the blossoms of the burdock. 

 The presence and capture of several examples of Pieris oleracea was 

 welcomed as evidence that our once familiar native species had not 

 been entirely driven away by the hosts of the foreign invader. In part 

 compensation for the absence of so many of our diurnals, the beautiful 

 "red admiral " ( Vanessa atalanta) was uncommonly abundant in the last 

 week of July and in early August. 



The night flying species — the moths — were also very few, and it was 

 only possible to secure a few of the attractive Plusias that abound at 

 these high elevations, but among them were several examples of the 

 resplendent Plusia balluca Geyer. 



In each of the other orders was there an equally poor representation 

 of the species commonly met with — quite noticeable in the families of 

 the Ciciudelida?, Coccinellidse, Cerambycidre, in the Boinbyliidre and 

 Syrphida?, in the dragon flies, and many others. 



What particular climatic conditions have resulted in so marked a 

 reduction in the usual abundance of insect life is beyond our knowledge. 

 It would be interesting to know if any other class of the animal king- 

 dom was similarly affected, and if it also extended to the flora. 



The notable entomological event of the year has been the occurrence 

 and the ravages of the army worm (Leucania unipuncta) over the greater 

 part of the State from its eastern to its western borders and from its 

 southern to nearly its northern boundary. It has been authentically 

 reported from forty-eight of the sixty counties of the State. Its exten- 

 sion and the injuries committed by it are believed to be greater than 

 had before been recorded in the State. When it appeared on Long 

 Island and in Westchester County in 1880, although serious harm was 

 done to the crops invaded, it was limited to the southeastern portion of 

 the State, although spreading over some of the New England States, 

 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc. 



Its habits have been similar to the many recorded occurrences else- 

 where, unless that in many instances its operations were first observed 

 in rye fields. From these it spread to oats, to timothy, and corn. 

 Clover has been reported as eaten by if, and pease to a limited extent. 

 Grass, of course, was eon. Mimed in its travels. 



