KEPOET (Xtf INSECTS OF THE SEASON IN IOWA. 



By Prof. Herbert Osborn, Special Agent. 

 letter of transmittal. 



Iowa Agricultural College, 



Ames, December 11, 1889. 



Sir: I beg to submit herewith rny report upon the season's observations and study 

 for 1889. 



I have during the season made a series of tests ofX. O. Dust under directions from 

 your office; reports of which were transmitted immediately on completion of the 

 tests, and have continued to work, conjointly with yourself, on the insects affecting 

 domestic animals. As bearing upon the same general subject, and connected with one 

 of the most important industries of the State, and, indeed, of a large part of the 

 United States, I have given such time as I could to the study of insects affecting 

 meadows and pastures. Believing, however, that more could be accomplished by 

 giving attention to some particular group, and considering the great importance 

 of the Leaf-hoppers and other Homoptera, and the fact that they have been but 

 slightly studied in this connection, I have spent most of the time upon this group. 



The study of these is rendered more difficult in consequence of the great number 

 of species as yet undescribed, and the lack of any complete literature upon known 

 American species. But for these very reasons there is the more need of their being 

 investigated. My results seem meager for the time devoted, but I believe that with 

 the material now brought together much more rapid progress can be made in future 

 studies. 



Thanking you for the many favors received from your office, I am 

 Very respectfully, 



Herbert Osborn. 



Prof. C. V. Eiley, 



U. S. Entomologist. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



While no wide-spread devastation has occurred in the State during 

 the past season there has been a considerable amount of damage from 

 a number of different species affecting various crops and operating in 

 different parts of the State. 



Cut- worms of different species were unusually abundant, and I re- 

 ceived specimens aud inquiries regarding them from different parts of 

 the State. They were quite troublesome in gardens, nurseries, and 

 fields in this locality. 



The Turf Web- worms (Crambiis cxsiccatus), reported on in detail two 

 years ago, were again quite abundant, but not so numerous or destruc- 

 tive as in 1887. An allied species (Gr ambus laqueatellus) was quite 



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