125 



Chrysanthemums, Mimuhises, Cinerarias, and Fnchsias. The attacked 

 leaves turn white and become distorted. Kerosene emulsion very much 

 diluted has proved effective in destroying them. 



Tlie larvie of Hmlena devast((trU' were abundant at the roots of 

 grasses and did considerable harm. Several larvai of Gortyna cata- 

 phracta were found attacking the young slioots of some of the large- 

 stemmed grasses, as Fhalaris arnndmacea and Elymns canadensis^ a 

 curious and unusual attack by the same insect was upon the fruit of 

 the Gooseberry. It is a regular pest every year in the stems of toma- 

 toes, potatoes, and other succulent plants, particularly lilies. Gortyna 

 nitela I have not so far found in the Ottawa district. Another species 

 of the same genus, Gortyna immanis, has developed into a serious pest 

 in the hop-growing districts of Ontario, and has been studied during 

 the past summer. The Qgg is laid on the young shoots when about a 

 foot above the ground, and for a short time the young larva bores in the 

 center of the leading shoot and causes the distortion known as " bull- 

 heads." After this it drops to the ground and attacks the plant at the 

 collar just beneath the surface of the ground, and is then the '' collar- 

 worm " of hop-growers. The perfect insect, a large, handsome moth, 

 of a rich, warm brown, shaded with darker lines, and a rosy tinge, ap- 

 pears during August and September, and hibernates in the perfect 

 state. Ichneumon suhdolus has been bred from the pupa:',. 



Canker-worms have been abundant in the Ottawa district on ashes 

 and basswoods, but not on apple trees. These same caterpillars {A. 

 pometaria) have again this year been injuriously abundant in Winnipeg 

 upon the ash-leaved maples used as shade trees. 



A serious attack upon grass lands, by an insect which has never be- 

 fore, in my experience, been noticeably injurious, was that of Ctenucha 

 mrginica, which was reported from Is^ova Scotia. The larvai are inter- 

 esting from their very different coloration during the last moult, when 

 they are yellowish wliite, and the preceding ones, when they are black 

 and white, with yellow ornamentations. Phytoptus pyri, the Pear-leaf 

 Blister Mite, has been frequently complained of, and I fear is spreading 

 in Canada. 



The Zebra Caterpillar of Mamestra picta has been unusuaUy abun- 

 dant, and is, I believe, hterally omnivorous, almost every plant being 

 eaten by it. It has proved injuriously abundant upon cabbages, aspar- 

 agus, peas and sweet peas, clover, and several trees in the Botanical 

 Garden, as Menzies and Douglas Spruces, Willows, etc. 



Another pest which has been remarkably abundant tliis year, is the 

 i Fall Web-worm, Hyphantria cunea. 



Hcematohia serrata, tlie Horn Fly, has at last made its appearance in 

 Canada. First reported at Oshawa, Ontario, it lias now appeared from 

 the extreme west of the Province of Ontario down to Boucherville, some 

 miles east of Montreal. The same exaggerated statements as to injuries 

 caused by it have, of course, accompanied its appearance as in the 

 United States. 



