68 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



Loxostege similalis Guen. — During the spring of 1905 this insect 

 was terribly destructive over many of the cotton-growing counties 

 of Texas east of the ninety-eighth meridian. In Texas it is primarily 

 a cotton insect. It can be controlled with Paris green. 



Epicauta vittata Fab. — In Texas this insect is associated with 

 alfalfa. It appears in June and continues to the middle of July. 

 Severe injury was wrought during the season of 1905, owing to the 

 fact that growers were reluctant to use Paris green on alfalfa. 

 Paris green dusted in the usual manner is thoroughly effective, and 

 there is little danger of injury to stock by poisoning, especially where 

 rain occurs before harvesting. The chief trouble in the application 

 of Paris green by Texas farmers is that it is applied too profusely. 

 Very often a hundredth part would be sufficient. The chief injur} 7 

 is done in the area between Austin. Wharton, and Houston. 



Aphis gqssypii Glov. — This aphis is the most destructive insect to 

 garden crops in Texas. There is no satisfactory remedy known. 

 Spraying with kerosene emulsion in the early stages is very effective, 

 but reports of injury rarely reach the entomologist before the insect 

 has become very destructive. The Texas department of entomology 

 has experimented considerably with a dry tobacco fumigant, which 

 gives promise, provided it can be operated practicably on a large 

 scale. The chief source of reliance in securing a melon crop is in 

 the abundance of parasitic enemies of the aphides. Experiments 

 have been inaugurated for the coming spring to determine whether 

 a supply of these parasites can be kept on hand to suppl} 7 regions 

 where they are scarce or absent. 



Pomphopcea texana Lee. — This blister beetle is a serious plum and 

 peach pest in the territor} 7 lying between meridians 98 and 99 and 

 between parallels 33 and 34. Its chief injury is done in Clay County, 

 where it is spreading from Thornberiw as the chief center of infesta- 

 tion. It feeds on the petals, doing greatest injury at night. It is 

 noticed when the plum and peach blossoms are in their prime. 

 Feeding, mating, and egg laying go hand in hand. The female when 

 engorged with several hundred eo-o-s moves clumsily from blossom to 

 blossom, scattering her yellow eggs as she goes. No observations on 

 the larvae are recorded in our notes on account of the impossibility 

 of visiting the infested area at the proper time. The best reined} 7 

 known at present is to jar the insects from the trees in the morning. 

 They are clumsy, drop very easily, and are conspicuous, which makes 

 it an easy matter to gather and destroy them. 



Scolytus rvgtdosus Ratz.— During 1904 and 1905 this pest has 

 spread considerably, and is now infesting nearly all of northeastern 

 Texas east of Fort Worth and as far south as Terrell. It attacks 

 chiefly apple and peach. 



