New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 159 
THE MITE, PEDICULOPSIS GRAMINUM REUT}! 
The insect pests and fungus diseases incident to the commercial 
growing of carnation blooms may usually be held in check by cer- 
tain recognized practices and as far as the common pests are con- 
cerned no especial difficulty has been experienced in raising plants 
free from important injuries. But within the past few years, con- 
siderable uneasiness has been experienced by a number of florists 
because many carnation buds fail to mature and the growers are 
unable to prevent losses by the usual greenhouse practices. An ex- 
amination of diseased plants showed that the failure of the buds 
to produce perfect blossoms was due to the presence of a mite and 
fungus, which together cause a decay of the tenderer tissues that 
eventually arrests the growth of the buds. rf 
The mite has been recognized as Pediculopsis graminum Reut., 
which is a European species and has not heretofore been recorded 
in this country. This is one of the forms assisting in the prema- 
ture ripening of meadow grasses in Finland, and in the United 
States is partly responsible for the silver top of June grass. Its 
presence in the greenhouse appears to be accidental but its associa- 
tion with the fungus enhances its importance and hence the eco- 
nomic status of the mite. 
Acknowledgments are due to Dr. Enzio Reuter, Helsingfors, Fin- 
land, who has verified the determination of the species and has 
furnished valuable information concerning the grass mites. Mr. J. 
J. Davis, Field Entomologist for Northern Illinois, very generously 
allowed me the use of all his notes on the occurrence of the mite 
in that state and has from time to time contributed other important 
facts, as opportunity has been afforded for making observations. 
Dr. F. D. Heald, Botanist of the Nebraska Experiment Station, 
very kindly sent infested carnation buds from Lincoln, Nebraska, 
from which adult mites of both sexes were obtained. 
HISTORY. 
The importance of this species as an active agent in the pre- 
mature ripening of grass stems was first indicated during the year 
1900 by Dr. Enzio Reuter** under the caption “ Ueber die Weissih- 
ib yetl. .. Hodgkiss. 
* Acta Societatis pro Fauna et Flora Fennica, 19: N:0 1. 1900. 
