REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1902 



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ENTOMOLOGY 



The state entomologist reports that very important results 

 were obtained in 1902 though the season was comparatively poor 

 for the development of many insects, and relatively few destruc- 

 tive species were brought to notice. 



Investigations. The studies on insects injurious to forest and 

 shade trees have absorbed much time, and the results of several 

 years' work are embodied in an extensive, well illustrated 

 memoir, in which the forms affecting shade trees receive special 

 attention. This work not only contains many original observa- 

 tions on species of importance in New York State, but gives a 

 summary of our previous knowledge and will consequently 

 prove of great value to subsequent students of this group. A 

 critical, biologic study of certain wood borers belonging to the 

 genus Saperda, undertaken in cooperation with Mr H. L. Joutel, 

 has been completed, and the admirably illustrated account will 

 appear as a separate bulletin. The grapevine root worm, a most 

 serious pest in vineyards in the Chautauqua grape belt, has 

 been closely studied, and the results of the investigation are 

 presented in a bulletin on this insect. 



The study of aquatic insects, begun at Saranac Inn in 1900 

 and prosecuted at Ithaca in 1901, was continued during the past 

 season by Dr James G. Needham and his associates. The 

 second report on this work treats largely of the damsel flies, 

 Odonata-Zygoptera; the insect food of brook trout; certain 

 aquatic beetles, Donacia; the Chronomidae, a group of much 

 importance as food for fishes; and the neuropterous family 

 Sialidae; and is now in the printer's hands. Dr Needham is at 

 present engaged in the study of other material, and his next 

 report will be concerned largely with the stone flies, Perlidae, 

 and Chironomidae. 



Experiments with remedies for the San Jose scale have been pur- 

 sued during the season on a more extensive plan than formerly, 

 and control was secured of another orchard near the original 

 experimental ground and also of one in the lower part of the 



