10 THE FLORIDA FERN CATERPILLAR. 
from Onarga, Ill., in 1907, and later from Chicago. Incidentally he 
mentioned that Mr. A. H. Rosenfeld believed that the same species 
occurred on ferns in Louisiana. In the twenty-seventh report of 
the State entomologist of Illinois, dated 1912’ and received by the 
writer March 10, 1913, after the present bulletin had left his hands, an 
article appears on this subject by Mr. Davis, who is now in the em- 
ploy of this bureau. He mentions injury to ferns near Chicago, IIL, 
gives notes on life history, and adds descriptions of all forms, with 
illustrations of larva, pupa, moth, and sexes. In remarks on remedies 
he states what we have already learned, that arsenicals can not be 
applied to ferns in sufficient strength to kill this so-called cutworm, 
because they are apt to adhere to the surface in such a way as to make 
it difficult to handle the plants. Poisoned baits are also mentioned, 
together with pyrethrum and nicotine preparations. 
July 21, 1911, Dr. Thaddeus McLaughlin, Springfield, Ohio. fur- 
nished specimens of this species, stating that it had destroyed some 
fine ferns. 
What appears to be the first record of the food habit of this species 
was made in the Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for 
1908 (p. 578) and reads as follows: 
The Florida fern caterpillar (Callopistria fioridensis Guen.) has been injuri- 
ous in local greenhouses, one florist reporting damage to his ferns to the extent 
of $4,000. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
Ichneumon extrematis Cress.—This ichneumon fly, which is of 
moderate size, black, lightly marked with white, was reared from a 
pupa of the Florida fern caterpillar from Anacostia, D. C., Septem- 
ber 26, 1907. It was seen in the act of issuing from a number of 
pupal cases, showing a characteristic exit hole. This parasite and 
two other species were seen fiying about the infested greenhouses. 
Sargaritis sp.—This small ichneumonid parasite (Chttn. No. 
2117°°) was reared from Friopus floridensis from Anacostia, D. C., 
September 30, 1907. 
A tachinid fly attacks this species, a single specimen, unidentified, 
having issued from the cocoon of its host August 22, 1907, at Orlando. 
Fla. 
METHODS CF CONTROL. 
Many remedies were tried by the growers at Anacostia, some of 
which were suggested by the writer and others by different persons 
in the city of Washington. Naturally some of these, which were not 
advised by entomologists, did not produce the desired effect. 
Hellebore.—September 20, 1907, one grower sprayed his entire crop 
with a strong decoction of hellebore. This was successful in driving 
away the larvee but it scalded the foliage of the ferns so badly that 
many of the plants died. He was advised to use arsenate of lead. 
