22 



Mr. Saunders referred to the fact that in the location where he resided large numbers 

 of the larvae of Clisiocampa sylvatica had died from a fungoid disease, and asked whether 

 any of the members had tried solution of yeast as an insect destroyer, as lately suggested 

 by Dr. Hagen. 



Prof. Comstock stated that he had fed several larvae on leaves dipped in yeast, but 

 so far the yeast-fed larvae had thrived remarkably well ; hie experiments had only been 

 continued but a short time, hence he was not prepared to give any definite opinion on 

 this subject. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



On Friday afternoon the closing session of the Club was held. 



Dr. Morris stated that an apiarian in his neighbourhood had been severely censured 

 by some fruit-growers because his bees had pierced their peaches, grapes, etc., and 

 destroyed the fruit ; he asked whether the bees really were the original authors of the 

 mischief, or whether they only attacked such fruit as had been previously pierced by 

 birds, wasps and other insects. He knew that writers differed on this subject, and men- 

 tioned that Prof. Cook and Prof. Kiley take opposite sides here. 



Prof. Macloskie thought that the mandibles of bees were not strong enough to tear 

 the outer covering of peaches or grapes. Prof. Comstock was of a different opinion. 

 Prof. Riley remarked that in some articles which he had published in the New York 

 'Tribune he had proved that bees are the depredators, and made some further interesting 

 statements on this subject. 



Dr. LeConte Bpoke of the destruction of some of our valuable forest trees by various 

 insects, and requested the members during the next year to collect facts and to report 

 them at the next meeting, so that the nature of their depredations may become fully 

 known and further remedies may be suggested. 



Mr. Minot offered some very interesting remarks on the larvae of a number of species 

 of water insects, chiefly Dipterous, illustrated by many beautiful drawings of the larvae 

 highly magnified. 



Mr. Lintner referred to the importance of the study of aquatic larvae, regretting 

 that so little was known of their habits, and hoped that Mr. Minot would continue his 

 studies in this direction. 



From aquatic larvae the conversation turned in the direction of that tiny tormentor, 

 the mosquito, and marvellous accounts of its abundance in certain localities, and the 

 sufferings of man and beast from its bloodthirsty propensities, were related by Mr. 

 Scudder, Dr. Morris and others. 



Mr. Riley made some remarks on the Cotton Worm, and stated that he had bred 

 nine distinct parasites which preyed on this insect. 



The time for adjournment having arrived, the members, after refeiring to the great 

 pleasure they had derived from the interesting sessions of the Club, unanimously ex- 

 pressed the hope that all present might meet again next year in Boston. 



The following articles have been selected on account of their general interest from 

 the piges of The Canadian Entomologist, where they have appeared during the past year 

 as original contributions. 



OBNOXIOUS PESTS— SUGGESTIONS RELATIVE TO THEIR DESTRUCTION. 



BY DR. H. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 



The question how to check the ravages of obnoxious insects is a very important one, 

 and I am very often asked for advice in special cases. While occupied with a close ex- 

 amination of the proposed remedies and looking through a large number of scientific 

 tracts, some of them fell into my hands and induced me to study them again. The 

 present communication is the result of those studies. 



