112 



sites in tlie latter ]3art of last season and the effect of tMs depletion is 

 still evident. Qnite likely also the climatic conditions of the present 

 season helped to prevent their increase. 



The '^ bill bugs '' have for the first time caused serious injuries in the 

 State, S2)heno2)Jionis 2)(^>^i'ii^iis being the si)ecies that seems most Avide- 

 spread and destructive. Sphenophorus oclireus is often seen, but has 

 not been reported in the same destructive numbers as parvuJits. It is 

 not likely to cause extensive damage in Iowa, as there are not such 

 large areas of swampy land, producing rushes, as in some neighboring 

 States, the draining and cultivation of which results in such increase 

 of their damage. There is, I believe, so far no evidence of their attacks 

 upon valuable crops except in the imago stage. Splienopliorus parvulus 

 seems, however, to have increased rapidly in late years and threatens 

 to become a very serious pest. 



An outbreak of the Army Worm {Leucama unipuncia) in Muscatine 

 County has been reported to me with the statement that much damage 

 was being done, but I have not as yet learned how extensive an area is 

 affected. 



The common species of locusts ( Acridiidie) have been quite abundant, 

 and though not causing particularly noticeable losses have drawn ex- 

 tensively upon crops. They attacked particularly grass and clover. 



Several species of Lachnosterna were plentiful during the si)ring, 

 those in greatest numbers being L.fusca, implicita^ and. gihhosa; others 

 in less abundance were grandis^ duhia, and arcuata, 



FJufeUa cruciferarum has been unusually x^lentiful on Cruciferous 

 plants and especially destructive on some experimental patches of Eape 

 on the College Farm. 



The Colorado Potato-beetle has not been seen and its absence is so 

 marked as to occasion comment. 



Fieris rapce has been very scarce so far, probably in part at least on' 

 account of the multiplication of the Apanieles (7 ?o??^er«YMS, which became 

 very abundant last year. I hardly think the explanation of a writer in 

 one of the State papers, ^' doubtless due to cold weather,'' need be re- 

 sorted to. 



The Plum CiuTulio has scarcely been seen, but the almost total failure 

 of the plums to set may be sufficient reason for the curculios not being 

 noticed. 



The Clover- seed Caterpillar {GraplioJWia interstinctana Clem.), which 

 was very abundant last year, is stiU numerous, but I think less abundant 

 and destructive than last year. The Clover- seed Midge {Cecidomi/ia 

 JegnminicoJa) has been destructive in some parts of the State, but sam- 

 ples sent me have been found to produce a large proportion of parasites, 

 and I suspect that these will soon serve to check its destructive multi- 

 phcation, as in Eastern States. The samples of Clover with Midge are 

 often accompanied with specimens of the Clover Thrips {Fliloeoilirips 

 nigra) with the question whether they are adult midges, or sometimes 



