REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1905 



139 



27, and cucumber beetles (Diabrotica vittata Fabr.) were 

 abroad May 23 in sufficient numbers, so that serious injury will 

 result if they are not kept in check by poisoned sprays. Currant 

 worms (Pteronus ribesii Scop.) are becoming very destruc- 

 tive to both currants and gooseberries. Hellebore and insect 

 powder seem to be of little value compared with the arsenical spray. 

 Ants of various kinds are proving very troublesome and promise 

 to become as serious an annoyance as last year when they overran 

 everything and it was almost impossible to protect victuals and 

 other articles from their ravages. — May 20. The small black flea 

 beetle (Epitrix cucumeris Harr.) is abundant on every- 

 thing in the garden, particularly tomatoes and cucumbers though 

 not very destructive. The currant worm is one of the most destruc- 

 tive species at present and the larder beetle (Dermestes 

 lardarius Linn.) is quite numerous. — June 6. Potato beetles 

 have appeared in small numbers and have been recorded as feeding 

 on tomato plants. The striped cucumber beetle is at work on both 

 squash and cucumber vines but is not doing much injury. — Tune 

 to. The striped cucumber beetle is very numerous and destruc- 

 tive. — June 17. The rose beetle (Macrodactylus sub- 

 spin o s u s Fabr.) appeared in very large numbers during the 

 last few weeks, attacking trees, grapevines and a large number of 

 other plants. Previously they have been present in small numbers 

 and their depredations confined largely to rosebushes. This year 

 they occurred in swarms in some places, literally covering grape- 

 vines and fruit trees, exhibiting a decided partiality for plum. 

 Potato beetles are not very abundant. — June 24. The white frothy 

 masses of spittle insects (probably Philaenus lineatus 

 Linn, and P. s p u m a r i u s Linn.) are exciting considerable 

 attention because of their abundance. Tent caterpillars (Mai a- 

 cosoma americana Fabr.) are unusually scarce. The 

 small black flea beetles are very numerous on potatoes, tomatoes, 

 cucumbers and other garden plants. — June 2/. Potato beetles are 

 very abundant and a second brood of currant worms has appeared. 

 The striped cucumber beetle is present in some numbers and the 

 black flea beetle has nearly disappeared. The latter is also true 

 of the rose beetle. 1 lorn flies (H a em at b i a s e r r a t a Rob.- 

 Desv.) are present in swarms and are proving a serious annoyance 

 to cattle. — July S. Cabbage worms (Pier is rapae Linn.) 

 are riddling cabbage plants. The striped cucumber beetle is fairly 

 numerous on both cucumber and squash vines. Potato beetles 



