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described to me as resembliDg the nit-fly or bee which deposits its eggs on the hair of 

 horses. I shall forward specimens as soon as possible. — [George Wolf Holstein, 

 Box 45, Albany-, Texas, February 14, 1888. 



Reply. — * * * j i^^xve now for nearly three years been aware of the fact that 

 the Heel-fly is a distinct and well-known species, and that it really lays its eggs upon 

 the heels of cattle. It is closely allied to the Warble-fly of the Ox (Hypoderma bovia), 

 belonging in fact to the same genus, and in general appearance it resembles this 

 species very closely. It is the Hypoderma linearis of Villers. This determiuation has 

 been corroborated by our best American authority upon Diptera, Dr. Williston^ of 

 New Haven, and the specimens were received from Mr. W. F. M. Dickson, of Milford, 

 Texas. You are right in saying that the fly will not deposit her eggs in a piece of meat 

 or in a raw spot on the- animal. The eggs are unquestionably laid near the heel 

 among the hair, and my desire is now to get hold of authentic specimens of the larvae 

 or maggots. The very fact that cattle fear this fly so terribly, and run to mud and 

 water to cover their feet and legs, indicates that the attack is exclusively in the 

 vicinity of the heel. I shall be very glad to get further specimens of the fly, and if 

 the maggots or grubs, or larvie can be obtained they will be of the greatest value. 

 The Screw-worm of which you speak is the Lucilia macellaria, and this insect is well 

 known to oviposit only upon raw places, such as open wounds. — [February 28, 1888.] 



Insect Injuries in Ohio for 1888. 



In looking through my berry patch I found that nearly every raspberry cane had 

 been stung by the Snowy Tree-cricket {(Ecanthus niveus). So abundant were they 

 that the canes were verj^ seriously injured. * * * i found one cane 22 inches long 

 which contained three hundred and twenty-six eggs by actual count. In another I 

 counted fifty eggs in a little less than an inch. This fall they seem fully as abundant 

 and do not confine their depredations to raspberry alone, but have used the tender 

 shoots of some plum grafts which I had in my nursery, and these are nearlj- ruined; 

 they are decidedly on the increase with us and will have to be dealt. with very se- 

 verely in order to check their ravages. 



Another pest which seems on the increase is the Grape-vine Leaf-hopper {Erytliro- 

 nenra vitis Haw.), In 1888 and the present year they have been very abundant, 

 eating the leaves and causing the foliage to look very brown. There is also a leaf- 

 miner which works in grape leaves, nearly every leaf having one or more of their 

 paths in them. I have hot reared the insect, so can not describe it. 



The Hog Caterpillar {Philampelus vitis Haw.) and another (Thyreus ahbottii) were 

 very abundant this season on the grape and Virginia creeper, but I could not find a 

 single one of either species that was not parasitized by a Microgaster. 



The Grain Louse (Ajyhis gi'anarius, Kirby) was very bad on oats this season, nearly 

 every head being filled with them. This caused the oats to be light weight, and 

 many straw stacks are green with the heads that were blown over in threshing. 



There has also been an unusual abundance of the Currant Worm (Xematus ventri- 

 cosus), the Rose Slug (Selandria rosn;), the Strawberry Emphytus (Em2)hyti(s maculatus), 

 and above all the Cherry Slug. There was a row of the sour red cherry trees which 

 were so badly infested with this pest that the trees looked as if they had been 

 scorched with fire. 



The Glover Root-borer has done great damage to clover, eating the tap-root and 

 thus destroying the vitality of the plant. It was very wet during the month of Oc- 

 tober, and this caused branch roots to form which keeps the clover alive, but not in 

 thriving condition. This is destined to be one of our greatest pests, and from all 

 appearances it has come to stay. 



The Cabbage Worm (Pieris rapcB) and the Potato Beetle {Doryphora lO-lineata) were 

 not any more abundant than usual, and with proper care were kept in subjection. — 

 [W. B. Hall, Wakeman, Ohio, November 26, 1888. 



