NOTES FROM MISSOURI FOR THE SEASON OF 1886. 

 By Mary E, Murtfeldt, Special Agent. 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Kirkwooi), Mo., December 1, 1886. 

 Sir: I submit herewith the more important of my notes on the injurious insects of 

 this locality, for 1886. 



MARY E. MURTFELDT. 

 Prof. C. V. Riley, 



U. S. Entomologist. 



Climatically the past season was characterized by excess of moisture 

 during May and Juue, followed by unusual drought and heat through- 

 out July and August. That these extremes had a certain effect on the 

 development of insect life is not to bo questioned, and, in a general 

 way, may be attributed to them the unusual numbers of all sorts of leaf- 

 feeding and sap-sucking species early in the season, and a correspond* 

 iug dearth of Lepidoptera and some families of Coleoptera later in the 

 year. So great was the scarcity of nocturnal Lepidoptera in August 

 and early September that one might sit evening after evening in a 

 brightly-lighted room with open windows and not a single moth would 

 appear. 



Tenthredinid larvce were especially conspicuous during May and June. 

 These included not only such familiar pests as the Rose, the Raspberry, 

 and the Cherry slugs, the Birch and Willow False caterpillars, but sev- 

 eral species on Ash, Oak, Elder, White-fringe, &c, which I have not 

 yet reared to the perfect state. A peculiar and interesting species, de- 

 termined by Professor Riley from the larvre as Lyda cerasi, appeared 

 in large numbers, in July, on Wild Cherry. This is a gregarious web- 

 worm, and its colonies covered quite large branches with their brown, 

 viscid webs, in which were mingled the castings and exuvhe, forming, 

 altogether unsightly and disgusting masses, which greatly disfigure 

 the trees. 



Another species of somewhat unique habit bores the new shoots of 

 Roses, aud for the past two years has proved quite injurious, especially 

 to Hybrids and Teas. Its effects may be seen, late in June and early 

 in July, in the blackened stems and withered leaves of the second 

 growth, and the consequent destruction or prevention of the midsum- 

 mer blooming. The larva is one-third of an inch in Length, when ful] 

 grown, by about one-twelfth inch in diameter, nearly equal throughout, 

 except that it tapers abruptly toward the head. Color cream white, 



5'J 



