Report of the State Entomologist. 



305 



An Entomological Friend. (Orange County Farmer, for July 12, 1888, 

 vii, No. 45, p. 8 — 12 cm.) 



Ad insect sent for name from Port Jervis, N. Y., as destructive to the 

 plum crop, by eating into the fruit, is identified as the harmless 15-spotted 

 lady-bug, Anatis 15-punctata (Oliv.). [The parti-colored singular looking 

 pupae, fastened to the fruit, were probably mistaken for excremental mat- 

 ter thrown out by borers within.] The service rendered by the insect is 

 stated, and the importance of its protection. 



The Ash-Grey Blister-Beetle. (Country Gentleman, for July 19, 1888, 

 liii, p. 547, c. 2-3 — 47 cm.) 



Beetles very destructive to the foliage of potatoes at Charlottesville, 

 Va., are Macrobasis unicolor (Kirby), one of the four common species of 

 blister-beetles of the Northern and Middle United States. Their blister- 

 ing properties are referred to and compared with that of the imported 

 Spanish fly, Cantharis vesicatoria, a notice of which is given. M. uni- 

 color is described and its habits and food-plants stated. Becent study of 

 our blister-beetles is mentioned, and observations which have shown 

 them to possess carnivorous habits. A remedy is found in Paris green ; 

 preventives in lime, plaster, or road dust. 



Insects on Apple Trees. (Country Gentleman, for July 19, 1888, liii, 

 p. 548, c. 1 — 8 cm.) 



Insects sent from Norfolk, Va., and represented as causing the 

 so-called "black knot" on apple trees, particularly on the "Early Har- 

 vest," can not have caused the injury complained of, as one is the apple- 

 worm of the codling-moth, and the other an unknown Lepidopterous 

 pupa. What is commonly known as the " black knot," does not occur on 

 apple trees., and what this " knot " on the apple trees is, can not be told 

 without examination of specimens. 



The Light-Loving Grapevine-Beetle. Anomala Lucicola. (Country 

 Gentleman, for July 26, 1888, liii, p. 565, c. 3^ — 23 cm.) 



Beetles from grapevines at Hightstown, N. J., are Anomala lucicola 

 (Fabr.). Their general features are given and colorational characters 

 which apparently indicate the sexes. Instances are narrated of their 

 fondness for, and injuries to, the foliage of the grapevine. Preventives 

 of attack are dusting the leaves with air-slacked lime. Spraying at 

 night when collected on the vines, with pyrethrum water, should be 

 serviceable. 



The Black Long-sting. (New England Homestead, for August 4, 

 1888, xxii, p. 286, c. 5 — 30 cm.) 



Thalessa atrata (Fabr.) is described and illustrated in a figure from 

 Harris' Insects Injurious to Vegetation. It and T. lunator (Fabr.), in 

 their larval stage, feed externally as parasites on the larva of Tremex 

 columba within its burrows in maple, elm, etc. They are usually to be 

 found associated with Tremex attack, and are very serviceable in its 

 arrest, 



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