ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOE THE SEASON OF 1891. 



By Mary E. Murtfeldt. 



LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 



Kirkwood, Mo., October SI, 1891. 

 Sir : I herewith inclose a record of some of my observations and experiments for the 

 past year relating to economic entomology. 

 Eespectfully yours, 



Mary E. Murtfeldt. 

 Dr. C. V. Eiley, 



Entomologist, 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



Taking one locality with another, this State may be said to have 

 suffered less from the ravages of insects during the season of 1891 than 

 for many years previous. The climatic conditions from early spring 

 until the middle of August, a period covering the growing season of the 

 most important crops, was exceedingly favorable to the perfection of 

 vegetation. As a consequence, the yield of grain, hay, fruits, and many 

 sorts of vegetables has been abundant and the quality unsurpassed. 



In certain localities there were irruptions of injurious insects which 

 for a time caused anxiety, but these were, as a rule, over limited areas, 

 and the aggregate of loss occasioned by them was less than had been 

 anticipated. 



The most annoying pests of the spring and early summer were Aphi- 

 didae of numerous species. The punctures of the fruit-infesting forms 

 produced on the new growth of grapes, peaches, and plums consider- 

 able blight and deformity. 



The Woolly Aphis of the Apple (Schizoneura lanigera) is an almost 

 invincible enemy of young orchards in some sections of the State, es- 

 pecially on gravelly soils. On such specimens of diseased roots as were 

 sent to me I could find no trace of parasites or other natural enemies. 

 Drenching with strong, hot soapsuds was recommended, and was re- 

 ported as quite successful in checking the work of the insect, but in 

 some of the orchards the roots were so warty and diseased that recupera- 



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