FOUBTH EEPORT 0^ INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FOREST AND 



SHADE TREES. 



By Dr. A. S. Packard, Special Agent. 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Providence, November 1, 1886. 

 Sir : I herewith submit my report on insects injurious to forest trees, based on ob- 

 servations made during the past season in Rhode Island, Maine, and New Hampshire. 

 This report contains observations on the Spruce Bud-worm, a new enemy to that tree, 

 with notes on other forest insects. Other notes on incomplete larval histories do not 

 necessarily appear until they have been completed. 

 Respectfully yours, 



A. S. PACKARD. 

 Prof. C. V. Riley, 



U. S. Entomologist. 



THE SPRUCE AND HACKMATACK WORMS IN 1886. 



During the past season, as in 1885, no traces of the caterpillar or moth 

 of Tortrix fumiferana, formerly so destructive to Firs and Spruces, were 

 discovered. The moths must be now as rare as before 1878. Great 

 progress has also been made by the younger growth of these conifer- 

 ous trees in repairing the desolation caused by the attacks of this worm. 



The Larch Saw-fly was, on the other hand, found to be still not un- 

 common. It was observed July 1 at Brunswick, Me., locally, the worm 

 having freshly hatched upon a few trees, but it did not do any more 

 harm than the previous year. 



During the early part of September, however, it was observed in 

 abundance along the Cherry Mountain road from Fabyan's to Jefferson, 

 E". H., a few miles north of the White Mountain house. The Larche s 

 had been ravaged rather severely and many of the worms were still 

 lingering on the branches, feeding upon the leaves j while many young 

 trees bad been stripped, wholly or in part, of their leaves. Some dead 

 Larches were also to be seen. 



We call attention below to a Phycid caterpillar which was observed 

 in Maine preying upon the young cones of the Spruce, no lepidopterous 

 insect with similar habits having before been observed. 



We have also given more attention than forme rly to the insects infest- 

 ing the Willow and Alder, as these trees are the prolific source of many 

 species which spread from them to other forest as well as to ornamental 



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