REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IQI7 TE 
Potato aphis appeared in July on Long Island and became quite 
abundant and very injurious in some fields of many counties, Lewis 
being one of the last to report infestation. This insect breeds very 
rapidly, has a considerable range of food plants and under certain 
conditions is most destructive. It is usually checked by parasites, 
which appears to have been the case in many localities, though 
severe losses were reported for individual fields. The estimated loss 
in Dutchess county was placed at 5 per cent. It was ranked as 
a plague in Orleans county. It caused serious trouble for some large 
growers in Ulster county and was very injurious in gardens, the 
estimated decrease in the crop ranging from 1o to 75 per cent, with 
total loss in isolated cases. Growers agree as to the beneficial results 
following early and thorough spraying with a tobacco soap 
preparation. 
Shade tree insects. The urgent necessity of producing large 
crops the past season has resulted in more attention being given to 
their insect enemies than to those occurring upon shade trees. It is 
perhaps fortunate that the season was exceptionally favorable to the 
growth and development of trees and consequently there was com- 
paratively little damage by shade tree insects. 
Forest tree pests. The statements made above in relation to 
shade trees apply in large measure to forest trees, though the latter 
part of the season was marked by an unusual abundance of hickory 
tussock moth caterpillars and some of their allies and a correspond- 
ing anxiety as to the probabilities of injury, not only during the 
present season but in the future. 
Greenhouse and garden pests. The injurious Florida fern 
caterpillar, recorded in the last report as having become established 
in a Lockport greenhouse, appears to have been exterminated. 
Reports have been received of this insect having become established 
in other portions of the country, and now that its destructive nature 
is more fully appreciated the probabilities are that it will be effectually 
excluded by the exercise of a moderate degree of care in preventing 
the introduction of infested plants. 
The destructive chrysanthemum midge has been reported during 
the year from a number of localities in the United States and Canada, 
several being in Massachusetts and adjacent states. It has not, to 
our knowledge, been found in New York, though as pointed out 
earlier it is likely to be brought in with infested plants and when 
thoroughly established is capable of causing serious damage. 
Another introduction, though not new to the continent, is the 
establishment of the European earwig, Forficula auri- 
