116 



Tlie Sontliem Corn Eoot-worm [DiahroUca l:^-puRctata,. — Tliis insect 

 has been noted in sontliern Kausas. It may be Tvorking northward. 

 Tlie Western Corn Eoot-woim {D. Joiigicornis) is not an nncommon 

 pest in tlie State. In 1891 tliey were reported from many localities. 



Tbe Ham Fly [PiopTtila casei). — Tlie pactbig lionses of Kansas City, 

 Mo., are seriously troubled by tliis i^est. The laxvie. or •• skippers,'' lire 

 in and on tbe smoked meats, bam and bacon. Tbe dy is X)robably iden- 

 tical with the Cheese Skix>per jiy. althongh larvie kei>t in breeding cages 

 with ham and bacon did not take at all kindly to cheese to which they 

 were removed. As shown by breeding-cage data, the Qgg stage lasts 

 about four days, the larval stage about two weeks, and the pupal stage 

 one week. The liies lived from six days to two weeks inbreeding 

 cages. 



The Bag ^^orm (Thyridopteryx epJienierwformis). — This i>est of ever- 

 green trees is at present doing much damage in the State. Cedars and 

 Arbor Titie seem especially attacked. Eox-elders suffer somewhat. 



Locusts {Acridiidce). — Melanophis hirittatus and Jf. differentiaUs annu- 

 ally do some damage in extreme western Kansas. From Hamilton 

 County reports come of their presence now (August 1) in large num- 

 bers. The pests are attacking fruit treeSj Mulberry and Catalpa trees. 

 Dissosteira longij^ejinis, which last year alarmed residents of eastern 

 Colorado and western Kansas, is at present locally hui-tfiil. but no 

 serious crop destruction is threatened. 



BWio sp. — A species of Bibio closely allied to B. jemoratus. but 

 probably distinct from it (Dr. WiUiston on casual examination i^ro- 

 nounces the species undescribed), appeared in large numbers in many 

 Kansas wheat fields during the last week of April. It was reported 

 from seven western counties. Larvie were found. February 10. in large 

 numbers in a wheat field in Pratt County: some were found also in soil 

 in some hotbeds where flowers were growing. Adults were reported 

 Ax)ril 17 and from then constantly until the end of the first week in May. 

 A correspondent in Lincoln County noted that i^upation began about 

 April 20. the adult files appearing by April 27. After the adults ap- 

 peared he could not find a single larva. 



The flies were very abundant wherever present and occasioned much 

 alarm. However, no injuiy to the wheat has been defijiitely traced to 

 them. The fields most badly infested gave no signs of unusual iujury. 

 The flies disapx>eared suddenly and simultaneously. With the Bibios 

 several Anthomyiid species in lesser numbers appeared. Sciara sp. 

 was sent in from several fields. 



Other injurious insects of the season noted are Melon Aphis (Ajjhis 

 cucumeHs), last week in July on cucumber and melon vines ; Angoumois 

 Grain-moth {GeJechia cerealelJ<i), attackmg com two yeai^s old in crib: 

 last year's corn under same roof with 10 feet alleyway between was not 

 attacked. 



