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SECOND LETTER.—Since writing you I find that nearly all the maple trees in the 
streets of Astoria, Long Island, a suburb of this city, are filled on the under side of 
the branches with what look like little spots of white cotton wool about a quarter 
of an inch apart. They are so thickly lined with these that the branches on the 
under side look white. I find upon examination that these are the eggs of the moth, 
which, judging from one I have in my possession, must lay a mass of them in 24 
hours. This being the first time I have noticed what I describe above and the 
first year that they have made their appearance in that section, I fear we are doomed — 
to a great deal of trouble unless something can be used, not too costly, to destroy 
them.—[Thomas R. Clark, Riverside Park, New York City, July 13, 1891. 
THIRD LETTER.—This year I have noticed a great number of the European Leopard 
Moth, the larve of which attack the Maple of every variety, except the Rock Maple, 
in the upper part of the city. The larve generally enter the trunks of young trees 
about two inches from the ground, although the height varies in some instances. They 
seem to bore upward very rapidly, attacking the heart of the tree, and rendering it 
so weak that a strong breeze will break it off. 
This spring I have found in at least sixteen instances, within an area of 35 feet, 
the shell abandoned by the larve on its transformation into the moth state. The | 
moths are large, and those confined lay large quantities of eggs in coils or ribbons, 
immediately upon emerging from the shell; they seem to exist without any suste- 
nance for a week or more in confinement. 
As this species is very new to this country I am watching the developments with ‘| 
interest, and will report later. The moths seem very tenacious of life, although 
sluggish. This insect, unless some effective plan of extermination is found, is going 
to prove very destructive to shade trees in this vicinity. Already I notice that the | 
larve have developed to half the size of the moth, in the crotches of trees, covered by | 
a very thin gauze or webbing only, so that the elements do not seem to affect them | 
very much.—{ Frederic F. Culver, 80 Broadway, New York City, July 17, 1891. 
A Phycitid Moth attacking Pecan Buds. 
I have mailed you to-day a box containing some of the chrysalides from the wornis | 
that attacked the pecan bud in the early spring, which may help to determine the © 
kind. I would suggest that it may be what we call the ‘‘Careless Weed worm.” | 
Please let me hear from you as to what remedies to apply in early spring 80 that I | 
could eradicate same.—[F. A. Swinden, Brownwood, Tex., June 17, 1891. 
REpiy.—I have bred the moth, and find that it is probably new to science. IL have | 
reared the same thing here in the District of Columbia from the twigs of hickory 
It is entirely different from the insect which is the parent of what you call “¢ Careless | 
Weed worm,” and is probably a specificenemy of the hickory. Knowing the habits | 
of this early generation only it will be impossible to suggest an efficacious remedy.— 
[June 26, 1891. ] 
A Corn Crambus in Delaware. 
I send you by this mail two specimens of the insects reared from the larve that | 
were working on corn. These are the first that have appeared in my breeding cages. 
The larve cau seldom be*found at this date in the corn fields. I have made a thor- 
ough search and have been able to obtain a very few specimens of the larve.—[M. H. | 
Beckwith, Newark, Del., July 17, 1891. | 
REPLY.—The specimens which you send show that the species damaging corn is 
Crambus caliginosellus, an insect which does precisely the same damage at Benning, ; 
Maryland, a few miles from Washington. We wrote up this insect in 1886, and had) 
figures made, but the uccount hag never been published.—[July v2, 1891. ] | 
