62 



also pretty in its powdery suit of pearl-gray and white. It attacks 

 almost all kinds of vegetation 5 bat was found last summer to be espe- 

 cially destructive to the foliage and stalks of the Dahlia in one garden 

 in Kirk wood, injuring the plants beyond recovery. As it inhabits the 

 under side of the leaves, for the most part, and its punctures cause 

 these to curl somewhat, it is difficult to readi it with insecticides, but 

 applications of air-slacked lime and spraying with an infusion of Pyre- 

 thrum will kill or dislodge it. 



Halticus pallicornis is becoming every year more of a pest in this lo- 

 cality on Clover and many kinds of garden plants. Its punctures cause 

 the leaves to turn yellow and present an appearance similar to those 

 infested by Eed Spider. 



The Flea-like Negro-bug (CorimekenapuUcaria) also this year attacked 

 Composite and Hollyhocks with great virulence. 



AcoloWins falsarius — a congener of the well-known Procris ameri- 

 cana — appeared on all varieties of the Grape in July in such numbers 

 as to merit some attention from the economic entomologist. The larvae 

 are not found in companies feeding in regular ranks, as is the habit 

 of P. americana, although several are often seen on the same leaf. 

 This species feeds exclusively on the upper surface, gnawing off the 

 parenchyma in irregular patches. The handsome little larva, when full 

 grown, is about three eighths of an inch in length by rather more than 

 one-eighth inch in diameter. The form is depressed, almost rectan- 

 gular. The surface is velvety and prettily checkered in dull orange or 

 fulvous, yellow, and two or three shades of purple. Medio-dorsal line 

 fine, interrupted, dark purple, on each side of which is a broad stripe 

 of orange outlined in pale yellow, the dark color being most intense in 

 the center of each square, where, under the lens, is situated a little 

 tuft of silky hairs. The lateral stripe is similar, but contains a larger 

 proportion of purple. A purple band extends transversely across the 

 fourth and ninth segments. The depth of this coloring is quite variable, 

 some larvae being very much paler and less distinctly variegated than 

 others. The under surface and legs are translucent, velvety, white, 

 with a tinge of green. Head very small, brown and retracted under 

 the projecting edge of first segment. It incloses itself when ready to 

 change in a fold of a leaf or between two leaves in a flat flesh -tinted 

 silken cocoon covered externally with lime-like granulations. The moth 

 escapes in about two weeks and is dull black with orange collar like P. 

 americana, but it is considerably smaller than the latter. A slight dust- 

 ing with Pyrethruin powder caused the larvae to drop from the leaves, 

 and this will probably prove one of the best remedies where this insect 

 has become unduly abundant. 



The Saddle-back Caterpillar {Empretia stimulea) is known to feed on a 

 variety of trees and other plauts, but I have seen no record of its oc- 

 currence on Soft Maple. 



