REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IQI7 57 
recorded as injuring carnation buds. Afungus, Sporotrichum 
poae Peck, is frequently associated with the work of this mite in 
both grass and carnations and it may be that the fungus is the more 
important enemy of the plants, though it appears to depend for its 
establishment largely upon the activity of the mite. Moderately 
early cutting of grass would very probably assist in checking the 
development of this mite and the associated fungus. 
GARDEN INSECTS 
Rose beetle or rose chafer (Macrodactylus subspi- 
nosus Fabr.). This insect is preeminently an inhabitant of 
sandy and grassy areas and almost invariably outbreaks occur in 
the immediate vicinity of such surroundings. The grubs live on 
roots of grasses growing in sandy soil and the swarms of beetles 
simply feed upon the nearest attractive vegetation, most frequently 
grape vines and apple trees, beans, corn and other crops. There 
have been more complaints of this insect than ever before, stimu- 
lated, in part, probably, through the intensive campaign to secure 
a maximum production. Most of the damage, as might be expected, 
occurred in regions where there are considerable sandy areas, notably 
Essex, Fulton, Suffolk, Warren and Washington counties. 
The elimination of wild grassy areas in sandy sections is a most 
effective though unfortunately not often a practical preventive 
measure. The appearance of swarms of beetles on young plants, 
such as corn or beans, can hardly be otherwise than disastrous, owing 
to the fact that it is impossible to k'll the pests with poison before 
they have destroyed most of the vegetation, and under field condi- 
tions resort to hand picking or s‘m'lar measures is impractical. It 
has been shown that heavy applications of arsenate of lead, 5 to to 
pounds to 50 gallons of water, espec‘ally if glucose or some chean 
sweetening is added, is of considerable value not only in destroying 
the beetles but in protecting the plants from attack. This can 
hardly be advised, however, for field crops, though it may be recom- 
mended for vineyards and the more valuable apple trees. Orna- 
mentals etc., frequently can be protected at very slight expense by 
the use of ordinary mosquito netting. 
Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus Fabr.). 
Grubs of this weevil were received in December from L. F. Strick- 
land, agent of the State Department of Agriculture, accompanied 
by the statement that they had seriously injured primroses and 
cyclamens in a large greenhouse belonging to Fred G. Lewis of 
