74 



by the mature beetles. A top-dressing of wood ashes with a slight ad- 

 mixture of Paris green was recommended, but I was not informed with 

 what results. 



In company with this flea-beetle on the leaves of late radishes in our 

 own garden, I was surprised to find great numbers of a species of 

 Podura. I could not determine whether it produced auy effect on the 

 radish foliage independently, or why it should have appeared there so 

 numerously. 



Canker-worms (Anisopteryx vernata), except in orchards thoroughly 

 plowed and harrowed the previous autumn, were quite abundant. 

 Owing to the very warm winter, and consequent irregularity in emer- 

 gence of the moths, cotton band traps, applied even as early as the first 

 of March, did not capture as large a proportion of the females as usual. 

 On some trees, therefore, the worms were numerous and where not 

 killed by spraying were quite injurious. 



The Plum Curculio, which last year caused scarcely any damage to 

 the fruits usually affected by it, appeared this season with recruited 

 ranks ; and on peach and plum trees, where spraying was not prac- 

 ticed, or where the frequent rains washed off the arsenites, a large pro- 

 portion of the fruit was stung. As confirmatory of the single brooded- 

 ness of the species, I observed that all the very late peaches, whether 

 free or cling stones, even when so severely punctured on the surface as 

 to prevent the development of the fruit, were entirely free from worms, 

 showing that the cuts had been made for food only. 



Aphididce. — It would seem as though all known and unknown species 

 of this group of insects appeared in myriads throughout the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, during the spring and summer. In many instances trees 

 and shrubbery were killed outright by the punctures of their countless 

 beaks, and the closing of the stomata of the leaves by their sticky 

 exudations. So badly infested were the elms, maples, lindens, box- 

 elders, and other shade trees, in and around Minneapolis, Minn., during 

 the latter part of June that to pause or even pass beneath them was to 

 endanger one's apparel from the honey dew that continually dripped 

 from them, and from the black mold that soon covered trunk and 

 branch and which u smutted " everything touching it. All other insects 

 seemed to be repelled from the aphis-infested trees ; not even a leaf- 

 roller or leaf-miner could I see. In the September number of Insect 

 Life, mentioning the prevalence of Aphis avenw in the grain-fields of 

 many of the Middle and Western States, I observe that Missouri was 

 omitted from the list. The insect, however, occurred quite extensively 

 in the middle and northern portions of the State, but it appeared 

 rather late, and but comparatively little damage was done so far as I 

 have been able to learn. 



Syrphus fly, Coccinellid and Chrysopa larva? waged a fierce, but, at 

 first, unequal warfare with the tiny hosts, assisted by Aphelinus and 

 probably other smaller as well as larger allies, so that as the season 



