412 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Varying Anomala (Anomala varians Fabr.). — In July Mr. 

 Eugene F. Barnes, of Marion, Marion County, Ka&sas, sent specimens 

 of Paria niyrocyanea and Anomala varians, with a letter referring to 

 them as a sample of a class of insects tbat bad been causing great de- 

 struction among the wheat-fields on the highlands this year. The Paria 

 was probably found feeding upon the leaves and inclosed by mistake 

 with the Anomala, to which Mr. Barnes's remarks refer. This iusect 

 first appeared in his wheat-field about June 15, 1884, but on inquiry 

 Mr. Barnes found that it had been at work [in the neighborhood] for 

 nearly two weeks previously, destroying some heads of wheat and leav- 

 ing others amongst them uninjured. They began work as soon as the 

 wheat was in the dough. The wheat of one farmer (Mr. Harrison) was 

 said to have been damaged 1,000 bushels. Upon being informed of the 

 nature of this beetle and that a closely related species (Anisoplia arts- 

 triaca) does great damage to wheat in a similar manner iu Russia, Mr. 

 Barnes replied that in his locality the beetles worked generally in wheat 

 brought from Itus-sia, as that section was peopled considerably by Kus- 

 sians. 



WniTE lined Morning-sphinx (Deilepliila lincafa Fabr.). — Speci- 

 mens of larvae of this hawk moth were sent us from Colorado Springs, 

 Colo., on July 11, 1884, by E. B. McMorris, with the statement that 

 these worms had appeared in immense numbers everywhere on the town 

 site about two weeks previously, eating every kind of leaves on low 

 plants, such as currants, gooseberries, and plums, but not ascending 

 large trees. In confinement they ate each other. Chickweed (Stcllaria) 

 seemed to be a favorite food with them. 



The Apple tree Tent-caterpillar (Clisiocampa americana^.) 

 Harr.). — In July Mr. C. H. Bliss sent specimens of caterpillars which had 

 seriously injured fruit trees in Salt Lake and Utah Counties this year. 

 These were so badly packed as to arrive in very poor condition, but 

 appeared to be closely allied to, if not identical with, the common 

 Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar {Clisiocampa americana) of the Eastern 

 States. The habits, which Mr. Bliss carefully described in detail, were 

 somewhat like those of the species mentioned. However, those 

 worms were said to begin their ravages by devouring the terminal 

 leaf of a twig, and then to spin a web which they lengthened down the 

 limb as the leaves were devoured. When they got to be an inch or 

 more in length they ceased to spin a web, but gathered in bunches on 

 large limbs or the body of the tree. They remained in bunches at 

 night, in rain, and in the heat of the day. When the leaves on one tree 

 were devoured they went to another. When they had attained the 

 length of an inch and a half they scattered everywhere, devouring 

 grass, clover, lucerne, garden vegetables, shade trees, rose bushes, &c, 

 and infested the houses and streets. They were choice in their food. 

 They preferred apple, apricot, plum, and currant leaves ; then next 

 came the cherry, willow, and gooseberry. It was on these that the 

 eggs were laid. The pear and peach suffered no damage. If the 

 worms were disturbed when small they would loosen their hold of the 

 twig and hang by a web. When larger they would throw their heads 

 from side to side, let go of the twig, ami fall to the ground. They were 

 hatched in the first week in May, and dispersed about the 1st of June. 

 About the 8th of June they began to spin their cocoons in the grass, 

 clover, weeds, and trees, but generally on the fences and about buildings 

 where they could get shelter. The first of them developed into moths 

 in nineteen days. On June 27 Mr. Bliss saw some flying around the 



