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reported in another place. Another one was a flea beetle, Systena 
teniata var. blanda, which was first reported to me May 2 as doing 
serious damage to a block of Kiefer pear grafts, in which more than a 
hundred thousand were planted. The insects did the injury by eating 
out the terminals, thus stunting the growth. June 1 an insect was 
reported as having destroyed about 40 acres of tomatoes in Dorchester 
County. -An examination of specimens showed that it was S. teniata 
var. blanda. The injury by this species to tomatoes was widespread, 
and serious damage was done in the Eastern Shore counties. 
Early in April I discovered a small mealy looking insect upon roots 
of young Kiefer pear trees in Kent County. The trees were dying in 
Some instances, while on others the bark was turning black in spots, 
resembling blight, but did not extend into the bast. An examination 
of the roots of all trees with these blackish spots showed the presence 
of these insects. They evidently belong to the genus Dactylopius. I 
have a colony under observation, and hope to determine the species 
later. The roots of the young trees were laid bare and a solution of 
whale-oil soap, 1 to 14 pounds to a gallon, was poured around each. 
June 2, my assistant, Mr. Sanderson, observed a hemipterous insect 
sucking the juices out of ripening strawberries in Dorchester County. 
June 5, I received the same insect from a correspondent at Rapidan, Va., 
through the Strawberry Culturist. He wrote as follows: 
My whole crop of strawberries is being destroyed by an insect, a few of which I 
inclose for your inspection. Will you please tell me their name and advise me what 
to do to save the few berries remaining. ‘They begin to eat the berries soon after the 
bloom drops and continue until they are consumed. They do not eat the plant, only 
the berry. There are from 50 to 100 on and around eachvine. Please reply quickly. 
An examination of the insect showed that it was Myodocha serripes, 
and, so far as I know, this is the first report of its injury to the straw- 
berry. An examination of the berries on the experiment station grounds 
showed that the insect was present in considerable numbers. It was 
injuring only those berries that were lying on the ground. 
May 8 a correspondent from Washington County sent me specimens 
of Odontota dorsalis, stating that it was defoliating several valuable 
apple trees on his place, near the woods. 
The tarnished plant-bug, Lygus pratensis, was sent to me from Stew- 
artstown, Pa., May 9, with the information that it was seriously damag- 
ing the unfolding buds of young Kiefer pear and plum trees in the 
nursery. The plum was more severely injured than the pear. May 14 
the same pest was observed by me destroying the terminals of young 
pear trees in a Frederick County nursery. We sprayed them with a 
15 per cent solution of kerosene and water successfully. 
Colaspis brunnea was sent to me, through the Strawberry Culturist, 
from Chester, Vt., with the information that it was destroying the 
leaves of strawberries, beans, and buckwheat. He says, “They first 
begin to eat a small round hole, enlarging it until the whole leaf is 
