D 



Two papers were then read, namely: " Notes on Some Species of Hymenoptera occur- 

 ring at Montreal," by F. B. Caulfield ; and one " On Instinct in Insects," by G. J. Bowles. ■ 

 The meeting then adjourned, having spent a most agreeable evening. 



G. B. Pearson, Jr., 



Secretary pro tern. 



The President then delivered his annual address, on the conclusion of which the 

 meeting unanimously tendered Mr. Saunders a vote of thanks, with a request that his 

 address be printed in the Canadian Entomologist. 



ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL 



SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



To the Members of the Entomological Society of Ontario : 



Gentlemen, — While Entomology may be said to deal with small things, the abun- 

 dance or scarcity of the tiny creatures called insects involves great issues. The truth of 

 this statement has been illustrated forcibly in several directions this year, notably in the 

 case of the Angoumois wheat moth, which has played sad havoc among the stores of 

 corn and wheat in granaries in the South-western States. It is said to have destroyed 

 many thousand bushels of grain, and so widespread has the evil become that it is the 

 opinion of the New York Sun that if the Government or the farmers of America could 

 at this time arrest the progress of this insect by expending j&ve millions of dollars, it 

 •would be the best investment ever made by the people. 



The Angoumois grain moth, BiUalis cerealella Oliv., is a small moth, the larva of 

 which is very destructive to all sort^ of grain. The female lays her eggs on the grain 

 sometimes in the field before it is fully ripened, but more frequently in the bins in the 

 granary. The eggs are of a bright orange red colour, and in a few days there issue from 

 them very minute whitish-coloured worms, scarcely thicker than a hair, which bore into 

 the grain and occupy it, one larva in each kernel. Each kernel contains sufficient food 

 •to support one occupant until it reaches maturity, when it changes to a chrysalis ^\ithin 

 the grain, which, although hollowed and almost entirely consumed within, appears out- 

 wardly sound and plump. On pressing between the fingers the grain is found to be soft 

 and yielding, and when dropped into water it floats on the surface. 



When the larva is full grown it spins a white silken cocoon, which occupies one end 

 of the cavity within the grain, the other end being filled with the castings of the worm. 

 The moth makes its escape through a small round hole in the side of the grain, which 

 the larva cuts with its jaws before spinning its cocoon. When preparing this orifice for 

 the escape of the future moth, the larva is careful not to cut entirely through, but leaves 

 a thin tissue-like skin unbroken, which the moth finally ruptures when it makes its 

 escape. The body of the moth is about one-third of an inch long, and its wings when 

 spread measure about two-thirds of an inch across ; the fore wings are of a plain brown- 

 ish-buff colour, with a satin-like lustre ; the hind wings above and below, as also the 

 imder side of the fore wings, are blackish-grey. 



This insect is a native of the warmer parts of Europe, and has long been very 

 destructive in France. It was introduced into the southern portion of the United States 

 more than J 00 years ago, where it has become fully naturalized. It is often brought 

 into New York in cargoes of grain, but the climate of the Northern United States and 

 Canada appears to be too cold to permit it to thrive amongst us, or to permanently 

 establish itself. It has never yet, to my knowledge, been found within the limits of 

 our Province. 



The Chinch Bug, which, although always present in our midst, has happily never 

 yet proved a serious trouble with us, has been very destructive to the corn crop in Mis- 

 souri and Kansas, and combined with the drought, has seriously afi'ected the yield of 

 this cereal in those States. 



