49 



A Leaf-roller on Shade Trees in Colorado. 



We send specimens of the Canker-worms which infest our trees. In all cases they 

 seem to start on the Box-elder trees, and from that drift over to the Maples, Elms, 

 and finally even affect the Spruce trees. We have found the spraying you recom- 

 mend to be very efficacious. — [The Roberts Hardware Company, Colorado, June 23, 

 1892. 



Reply. — # * * -Pl^g larvoe which you send and which were infesting your 

 Box-elder shade trees can not be called Canker-worms, as they belong to the so-called 

 Leaf- rollers (family Tortricidae). The species is in all probability the Box-elder 

 Leaf-roller ( Caccecia semiferana), described and figured by Professor Gillette upon 

 Images 10 to 15 of Bulletin No. 19 of the State Agricultural College Station, Fort Col- 

 lins, Colo., although it differs in some respects from the published description. I 

 would advise you to send to that station for a copy of this bulletin. — [June 28, 1892.] 



Coloring Matter of the Plant-louse of the Golden Rod. 



Two or three plants of Golden Rod have appeared in my garden, and have been 

 allowed for variety to remain. During the last two years I have noticed immense 

 gatherings of a reddish insect. A kind of ladybird assembled with them, and I 

 noticed that whenever any of the insects were crushed a deep-red fluid remained. As 

 I got the impression that these insects were " Buffalo Moths " I destroyed them. This 

 year, however, they appear again, and now I find myself impressed with the idea 

 that these insects are similar to. if not the actual Cochineal of commerce. As you 

 are aware, the Cochineal bugs feed on the Cactus plant, are scraped off, killed' in 

 hot water, dried and sold for dye. This merchandise comes from Mexico. As I can 

 not decide this matter I send you, for inspection, a cluster. I do not know that the= 

 ladybird is a progenitor — she may be only a visitor. — * * * [John P. Ellis, Flush- 

 ing, N. Y., May 10, 1892. 



Reply. — * * * The reddish insect which you notice upon Golden Rod is a plant- 

 louse known as SipJionophora rudhecMce, and has no connection whatever with either 

 of the insects you mention. The ladybirds which you notice among the plant-lice 

 were feeding upon them. I can not refer you to any published account of any exper- 

 iments with these bright-colored plant-lice in view of utilizing the coloring matter 

 commercially. Some twelve years ago some experiments in this direction were 

 instituted by the late Dr. W. S. Barnard, then of Cornell University, with this iden- 

 tical species, but they resulted in failure, from what cause we are unaware. — [June 

 14, 1892.] 



NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 



Spread of the Horn Ply. — A correspondent in Uniontown, Pa., writes us that 

 the Horn Fly has made its appearance in that vicinity, having first been noticed 

 last season and having become very abundant the present summer. While spending 

 a few weeks in Greene County, N. Y., we noticed this insect in comparative abun- 

 dance, but not yet numerous enough to attract attention to the habit of congregating 

 upon the horns. Another new locality has been given us by Mr. J. H. Woodruff, of 

 Watertown, Conn., who has found the fly to be very abundant in his vicinity, and 

 still another locality is Waller County, Tex. We are indebted to Mr. F. W. Thurow 

 for specimens from this region. During the month of August complaints have also 

 come in from quite a number of correspondents, among others from the following : 

 Elisha Slade, Bristol County, Mass.; Miss E. J. Phillips, Cuyahoga County, Ohio: 

 George L. Oliver, Otsego County, N. Y. ; Devoe and Shumway, Montgomery County, 

 N. Y. ; T. C. Ross, Jefferson County, Iowa; B. F. Koons, Tolland County, Conn.; L 

 N. Rauls, Citrus Comity, Fla. 



