65 



there are several large orchards in certain localities where the scale has 

 a firm foothold, and the owners are doing nothing to destroy it. It is 

 consequently spreading to other orchards in the vicinity, and one 

 becomes a source of infestation for another. Steps are now being- taken 

 to destroy, it' possible, these local centers where the pest exists. 



Next to the San Jose scale the melon plant louse (Aphis gossypii 

 Glover) has caused more damage in our State than any other insect 

 this season. Hundreds of acres of canteloupes were destroyed by it in 

 Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Prince George, Charles, Calvert, St. Marys, 

 AYicomico, and Dorchester counties the latter part of June and early in 

 July. Many winged individuals were abundant July 20, and in many 

 instances the lice thickly covered both sides of the leaves. CJnder- 

 spraying with kerosene emulsion diluted with twenty parts of water 

 was the most convenient method of treatment where a large number of 

 vines Avere infested. 



The asparagus beetle ( Grioceris asparagi) has been exceedingly abun- 

 dant and destructive over a large part of the State this season. I saw 

 large numbers of larvae on asparagus near Chestertown, in Kent 

 County, August 11. The 12-spotted species (G. 12-punctata) is also 

 becoming quite common. I have collected it in Prince George, St. 

 Marys, and Kent counties this month. 



The potato-stalk weevil (Trichobaris trinotata) has done considerable 

 mischief to potatoes in Baltimore and Harford counties. August 10 I 

 visited a (>-acre potato field in the vicinity of Greenwood, in Balti- 

 more County, and found nine-tenths of the vines had been killed by 

 this insect. Xearly every stem contained one or more larvae or pupa?. 

 Potatoes all over the State have also suffered great damage from the 

 attacks of the Colorado potato beetle (Doryphora 10-lineata) and the 

 blister beetle, Epicauta cinerea. 



To cabbage, the cabbage worm (Pieris rapcv) and the harlequin cab- 

 bage bug (Murgantia histrionica) have beeu particularly destructive 

 over the entire State. The latter, however, has been by far the greater 

 pest. 



The strawberry weevil (Anthonomus signatus) appeared in great abun- 

 dance early this season and was very injurious to certain varieties. Mr. 

 E. A. Miller, director of the experiment station, tells me. that on the 

 station grounds and in Montgomery County the "Sharpless" and other 

 staniinates were more severely injured than the pistillates, especially 

 the "Crescents." 



The peach has suffered greatly from the attacks of the plum curculio 

 (Conotrachelus nenuphar). Much of the fruit has ripened prematurely 

 and fallen from the trees. The codling moth (Garpocopsa pomonella), 

 aside from doing much damage to apples, has this season been very 

 common in pears. 



August 17 I found the fruit bark-beetle ( Scolytus rugulosus) at work on 

 plum trees in an orchard in Prince George County. The adults were 

 busily at work perforating the trees. 

 5850 — Xo. 5 



