58 



INSECT REGISTER FOR 1878. 



March 6th. — ^Yeather warm and beautifully spring-like, several small insects on the wing in 



the bright sunshine, and the honey bees are swiftly flitting across the fields. 

 March 7th. — Observed several insects in activity, both on the ground and on trees. 

 March 9th. — Found some fine moths, both male and female, of what are supposed to be 



Aiiisoptery Yernata ; also caught the first fine buzzing mosquito. 

 March 21st. — Discovered mature May beetles about an inch from the surface of the ground. 

 April 11th. — Observed the first young tent-caterpillars in activity on the cluster. 

 April 15th. — Grape vine flea beetles observed at work on the buds of our grape vines; we 



commenced our war of extermination by vigilant hand picking. 

 April 20th. — May beetles remarkably thick on the wing this evening; a loud buzzing is kept 



up by their activity and numbers. 

 April 27.— Currant worms, [Nematus ventricosus) first observed at work on the young 



leaves of the gooseberry and currant bushes. 

 May 1st. — Great numbers of currant worms are feeding on the bushes and threatening to 



totally strip them ; applied powdered white hellebore in solution. 

 May 2nd. — First potato beetles' eggs observed on the rising young plants. The beetles wait 



patiently for their appearance. 

 May 3rd. — Flies, butterflies and moths on the wing in great numbers and joyful activity 



Spring has certainly advanced. 

 May 4th. — Young tent-caterpillars first moult ; they are thriving well. 



!May 5th. — Bark lice, Woolly aphis and cherry aphidians are present on young growth in 

 great numbers. 



Ma} 6th. — Measuring worms and leaf rollers began to work ; their numbers are threatening 

 to be great, inspiring alarm. 



May 10th. — We assisted our first Cecropia moth (Attaciis cecropia) in its release from im- 

 prisonment and winter confinement. It is a great beauty, admired by all. 



May 15th. — The gooseberry bushes are literally alive with ra enous currant worms, totally 

 denuding them of all their foliage. This is the^^s^ of the season. 



May 20th. — Plum curculios first observed in their attacks on the young fruit. We tried 

 jarring and smoking them. 



May 25th. — First full grown tent-caterpillar observed ; these worms begin to travel, but are 

 not nearly so numerous or so destructive as they were last year. 



May 26th. — First observed the eff"ects of ^the gooseberry fruit worm, Pempelia grossularia, on 

 the young gooseberries ; many berries are dying and emptied of contents. 



June 15th. — First tent-caterpillar observed as a chrysalid. 



June 19th. — The pea beetle, Bruchus pisi^ observed at work on the young peas. 



June 20th. — The second brood of currant worms hatching very thickly ; they are very abun- 

 dant and quite discouraging. 



June 24th. — The tent-caterpillar pupae appear to be very generally injured by the larvae of 

 ichneumon flies ; those flies are very abundant and very searching in their 

 operations. 



June 26th. — Observed first perfect young tent-caterpillar moth, active and on the wing. 

 June 29th. — Captured a fine hellgramite flj. 



July 1st. — Stag beetles, Lucanus, began to be active and abundant, especially in the 

 evening. 



July 2nd. — Captured first grape vine beetle, Pelidnota punctata, on the grape vine; they are 



not very abundant or very injurious. 

 July 10th. — Observed first new collection of tent-caterpillar's eggs on apple shoots. 

 July 19th — Codling moth larva first observed to be preparing for pupation in an old rag in a 

 / branch of a tree. 



July 24th — Captured a fine young moth. Sphinx quinque-maculata, just released from its 

 confinement. 



July 27th. — Captured some fine larvae of the moth, Attacus cecropia, on young apple 

 branches. 



