INSECTS OF L906 IN NEW YORK STATE. 41 



that an injury of this kind could be helped by bridge grafting, and 

 it is presumable that extremely beneficial results would have been 

 obtained even if this means had not been employed until two or three 

 years after the initial injury, provided the bridge grafts were inserted 

 in rather vigorous tissues. 



The white-marked tussock moth (Hemerocampa leucostigma S. & 

 A. ) has been the cause of extensive injury the past season to shade trees 

 in Buffalo, Lockport. Geneva, Rochester, Syracuse, CJtica, Albany. 

 Troy, and Brooklyn. They were so abundant in many of these places 

 as nearly to defoliate a large number of trees. An extremely inter- 

 esting* phenomenon was observed in Capitol Park. Albany. July 5. 

 Many of the trees were then badly infested by the tussock moth, some 

 being almost entirely defoliated. On that morning the ground was 

 thickly strewn with leaves and leaf-bearing twigs. Most of the lat- 

 ter bore from 3 to 5 or C> leaves, and the cut end had invariably been 

 completely girdled for a distance ranging from one-fourth inch to 

 nearly an inch in length. This peculiar form of injury was first 

 observed by the late Doctor Lintner in 1883, he having actually seen 

 the caterpillar engaged in the girdling operations. Subsequently 

 questions arose as to whether the depredator was correctly identified. 

 It i< gratifying to state that the trees in Capitol Park, mentioned 

 above, were infested by practically no other insect. The tussock 

 moth caterpillars were in several instance- observed upon the fallen 

 twigs, and there is. therefore, every reason to believe that this larva 

 was the author of this somewhat anomalous injury. The girdling 

 was limited, a- was also observed by Doctor Lintner. to the new 

 growth, and as the past summer has been exceptionally moist ii 

 is barely possible that there is some connection between a rapid, suc- 

 culent growth and this form of injury, since it is only occasionally 

 that the larva' girdle the twigs as reported above. 



The elm leaf-beetle (Galerucella luteola Mull.) has been abundant 

 and injurious in certain section-, such as Oyster Bay. Ossining, 

 Albany. Troy, Fort Edward, and Ithaca. 



The false maple scale (Phenacoccus acericola King) appears to be 

 establishing its claim as one of the most serious pests of the hard 

 maple in New York State, since it has been injurious to trees in the 

 vicinity of New York City in particular during the past four or live 

 years. It was very abundant last summer at Port Chester. Middle- 

 town, and probably in other village's in the southern part of the State. 

 The elm bark-scale (Gossyparia spuria Mod.) continue- quite de- 

 structive, displaying a marked preference for the Scotch elm. 



The violet gall midge (Contarinia violicola Coq.) is a very serious 

 pest of the extensive violet-growing industry in and about Rhine- 

 beck, X. Y. The crop in infested houses, according to estimates of 

 growers, is reduced from one-third to one-half by the operations of 



