75 



advanced the ApMdidce gradually disappeared and where seasonable 

 rains followed the unfortunate plants measurably recovered, though 

 the growth of trees and shrubbery Avas much retarded and distorted 

 by them. 



Codling Moth, not seriously destructive in the northern part of the 

 State, but in the vicinity of St. Louis and in the southern counties, as I 

 have been apprised by various correspondents, fully 50 per cent, of the 

 fruit, on trees not sprayed, was destroyed by it. 



The Stalk-borer (Gortyna nitela) committed its usual depredations in 

 the leaf stalks of rhubarb and in shoots of blackberry and peach. 

 Mr. S. W. Gilbert wrote me that it was so abundant in his young peach 

 orchard that in the course of one walk among the trees he cut off twenty- 

 five or thirty bored shoots. He says : 



The worm seems to enter at the second or third bnd from the tip and bore through 

 the heart as far as the body of the tree but does not enter the hard wood. 



In the flower garden this insect has done considerable damage by 

 boring the stalks of dahlias, cosmos, and other flowers. 



The Flea like Negro-bug {Corimelcena pulicaria). — Mr. E. S. Pollard, of 

 Cameron, northwest Missouri, under date of May 22, sent specimens of 

 this insect with the information that they were very abundant in his 

 strawberry beds, and doing much damage by puncturing the bearing 

 stems, causing the fruit to shrivel. As it was the fruiting season, I 

 was at a loss to suggest a remedy, since this insect is not susceptible to 

 the effects of pyrethrum, or other non-poisonous applications. In Kirk- 

 wood it appeared in great numbers on hollyhocks and various other 

 flowering plants, for which the easiest remedy seemed to be to jar it 

 into basins of soap-suds to which had been added a small quantity of 

 kerosene. 



Lygus lineatus appeared here and there on tufts of clover, about the 

 middle of May, injuring the foliage to considerable extent. It inhabits 

 the under surfaces of the leaves which it speckles with transparent dots 

 and small patches which cause the leaves to curl and shrivel. Its broad, 

 flat larva is of a dull, pale green color, variegated with a few ferrugin- 

 ous marks and shadings. The pupa is very similar, with the addition 

 of the wing-pads. 



The Tarnished Plant-bug (Lygus pratensis Linn.). — This insect was more 

 abundant than usual throughout the State, and from numerous corre- 

 spondents 1 received bitter complaints of its injuries to apple and pear 

 buds and to strawberry beds. During the autumn it appeared in con- 

 siderable numbers on chrysanthemums, on which its peculiarly poison- 

 ous punctures produce most disastrous effects. I was quite successful 

 in driving it from our own plants by liberal applications of X. O. dnst, 

 which proved at the same time a good remedy for the brown aphis, 

 which is such a common and unmanageable pest on these beautiful 

 flowers. The plants were not injured in the least by the insecticides. 



