REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IQI7 61 
Mr J. James de Vyver. Through the kindness of Dr L. O. Howard, 
chief of the United States bureau of entomology, Mr Harold Morri- 
son determined the mealy bug, after comparison with specimens 
which in turn had been compared by Mr Ferris with cotypes of 
Pseudococcus comstocki Kuwana in the entomological 
collection of Stanford University, and as a result he feels fairly 
safe in the above identification. Mr Morrison adds that there are 
at present in the collection upon a number of hosts and previously 
unnamed, specimens of this mealy bug from various points between 
Washington and New York City. It is reported from Japan on 
both mulberry trees and maples. The approximate date of its 
introduction is not known. 
The material received from Mr de Vyver indicated an extreme 
abundance, since both photographs and specimens showed masses 
of the insects in the forks of the limbs, one mass being several inches 
long and composed of white, indistinct, waxy fibers and debris. This 
indicates great prolificacy under American conditions and as it lives 
upon a variety of food plants, we may find in this recent intro- 
duction another serious insect pest. It is probable that control 
measures recommended for the common mealy bugs of the green- 
house would be equally successful in checking this species. 
European earwig (Forficula auricularia Linn.). This 
well-known European insect has’ become established in numbers 
at East Aurora, N. Y., according to a report, accompanied by 
numerous specimens, received the latter part of August from Miss 
Hattie C. Wallenwein. The earwigs appear to be abundant and to 
have established themselves over a considerable area. This insect 
was first noted in America at Newport, R. I., in 1911 and is said to 
occur there now in vast numbers. 
The earwig is a rich reddish brown, apparently wingless insect 
about three-fourths of an inch long and most easily recognized by the 
conspicuous curved forceps of the male. The adults feed almost 
entirely on the petals and stamens of flowers, although many other 
kinds of food, such as clover, grass, terminal buds of chrysanthemums 
and other fall flowers, are eaten. They congregate in large numbers 
in crevices or behind vines near a good food supply and are very 
annoying on account of their invading porches, establishing them- 
selves under cushions and even entering houses, to the terror of the 
occupants. They are harmless though not agreeable. 
Experiments conducted by Mr D. W. Jones of the United States 
bureau of entomology show that a poisoned bread bait (consisting of 
