398 



The ravages in the principal cotton States of the Cotton Worm have amounted to a 

 loss of about $30,000,000 in years of great abundance, while for many years the aver- 

 age annual loss was not less than 15 millions. A more recent estimate than those 

 given may be mentioned. 



The damage occasioned by the Chinch Bug in the year 1887 was estimated in the 

 Annual Report of this Department for that year at not less than $60,000,000. I have, 

 in fact, repeatedly published the general estimate that the average annual loss to the 

 United States from injurious insects exceeds $300,000,000. 



The investigations of the U. S. Entomological Commission and of the Division of 

 Entomology, Department of Agriculture, and also of State Experiment Station 

 Entomologists and private workers, have led to the discovery of remedies and pre- 

 ventives which, if properly and thoroughly applied, result in saving a large percent- 

 age of the loss occasioned by insects, and your statement that these investigations 

 have paid for themselves many thousand fold is indubitably true. — [March 2, 1891.] 



The Long Scale and the Wax Scale. 



You will confer a great favor if you will kindly inform me of the nature of the par- 

 asites on the inclosed slips of orange (No. 1 infests the whole plantation of youug 

 trees planted this spring ; No. 2 is the only sample so far found). Also the remedies 

 to be applied as well as what means can be taken to prevent the spread to other 

 trees. * * * — [H. Fitz Hart, Avory Post-office, Louisana, March 14, 1891. 



Reply. — * # * The scale-insects you send are the following: (1) Long Scale 

 (Mytilaspis gloveri) ', (2) Wai:s. Scskle (Ceroplastes JIo7'idensis). This is the first time the 

 latter insect has been reported from Louisana. It is not a dangerous pest in Florida, 

 and occurs mainly upon the wild plant known as the Gall Berry {Ilex glabra). Occa- 

 sionally, however, it is found upon citrus trees, but never in sufficient numbers to be 

 known as a pest. The Long Scale, however, is quite a serious enemy to the orange 

 and lemon in difi'erent parts of the world. The best remedy will be found in the free 

 use of a dilute kerosene soap emulsion, made according to the formula, a copy of 

 which is inclosed on a separate sheet, and this should preferably be applied in your 

 locality in the month of April, when the young lice are hatching and migrating from 

 the parent scales. — [March 19, 1891.] 



Ducks and the Colorado Potato-beetle. 



I notice in Vol. iii of Insect Life, " Bird Enemies of Potato-beetle." I wish to 

 add my experience in that line. Several seasons ago my potato field was almost 

 ruined because I could not use Paris green, as my stock was in danger from it. A 

 large pond of water attracted about twenty of my neighbor's ducks to its shore. I 

 never did fancy ducks very much, and I told him so. He said he would give 

 them to me if I could care for them, as he could not keep them at home. The next 

 morning I went down to the pond at sunrise to try and drive said ducks in a pen. I 

 saw a very curious sight. Headed by an old drake, the twenty ducks were waddling 

 off in a bee line for my potato field. I crawled into some bushes and awaited devel- 

 opments. As they came to the end of the rows they seemed to deploy right and left, 

 and such a shoveling in of bugs I never beheld. They meant business, and for fully 

 one-half hour did they continue, until every duck was filled up to its bill with 

 bugs. Then they went for that pond and I went for their owner and paid him $1 for 

 the entire bunch — this being all he would accept. When I returned, every duck 

 seemed to be trying to outdo its fellow in noise. This expedition was repeated about 

 4 p. m. and kept up until every bug went under. I have tried these ducks and others 

 since and find they all like them and seem to get fat on Potato bugs. I have been 

 an ardent sportsman all my life and never saw quail eat the bugs in this western 

 country.— [E. H. Kern, Mankato, Kansas, February 17, 1891. 



Reply. — * * * Your note concerning the ducks and the potato bugs is very in- 

 teresting, although quite in line with some observations of my owu which I have 

 published in my book on Potato Pests, and elsewhere. * * * — [February 24, 1891.] 



