52 



THE CLOVER-SEED MIDGE. 

 (Cecidomyia leguminlcola.) 



Quite serious complaiuts cauie to me concerniug this insect, princi- 

 pally from counties lying north of the central portion of the State. It 

 was not noticed at all in this vicinity, and so far as I know has never 

 been found here or in the southern part of the State. Last year it was 

 quite destructive in the same region reported from this year. 



Definite facts as to extent of injury were not to be obtained, yet good 

 farmers reported it as destroying a large part of the crop in their sec- 

 tions. 



THE MAT BEETLE. 



(Lachno sterna fusca.) 



The larva of this beetle has destroyed a large portion of the sward 

 on the university campus during the present summer. The attack 

 began some three years ago and has become worse each year, until this 

 season a large part of the lawn was left bare and brown, not even the 

 first growth of bluegrass coming to maturity. From the spots where 

 attack is most severe the sod can be rolled up in bundles. Clover is 

 not injured and is consequently spreading spontaneously over the lawn. 

 Examinations frequently showed as many as a dozen grubs to the square 

 foot. There were three broods plainly to be noted ; the two-year and 

 one year were the most numerous, there being comparatively few grubs 

 from eggs laid the past spring. 



A large number of examinations showed no case of disease. Grubs 

 began descending to winter quarters about September 20, but October 

 20 there are yet quite a number to be found. They were reported at 

 work in lawns and strawberry gardens from many localities around the 

 city, but were nowhere so numerous as here. 



PTEROMALTJS PUPARUM AND APANTELES GLOMERATUS. 



A few observations on these two parasites may be of interest. Many 

 specimens of each were bred. P. puparum issued on an average in fif- 

 teen days from date of ovipositing. From one pupa of the Cabbage 

 Worm I bred fifty-two flies and from another one hundred and eleven. 

 These last issued in just sixteen days from the time the females ovi- 

 posited. This I considered a remarkable number to issue from one 

 pupa, but of the fact there is not the possibility of a doubt. I observed 

 three of the females ovipositing in one larva on tbe afternoon of August 

 24. These I watched for some time, intending to take the larva when 

 they had done with it, but as they were still at work late in the after- 

 noon I marked the spot and visited it the next morning to find a pupa 

 formed. From this issued the tlies, as noted above. In two instances 



