RTE n eee 
REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I9Q07 39 
and then prevent the invasion of other caterpillars by using a cotton 
band, sticky band or other device to prevent caterpillars from climb- 
ing the trees that have been cleaned. 
Elm leaf beetle (Galerucella lmieole MICE) eee ls ins 
destructive leaf feeder continues to hold its position as one of the 
most important insect enemies of elms. Many magnificent trees 
were seriously injured in Albany, despite the fact that a city forester 
had been appointed. Part of the trouble was undoubtedly due to | 
the deceptive character of the season, its extreme backwardness 
possibly leading some to believe that the pest would not be par- 
ticularly destructive. There were the usual troubles at the in- 
ception of operations and this delay was accentuated by the diff- 
culty of securing properly qualified men to do the actual spraying. 
This latter is very important. The work is disagreeable at best 
and only conscientious workmen can be relied upon to do the spray- 
ing properly. Serious injury to the foliage is the inevitable result 
of engaging unskilled help, and the condition of the trees in late 
summer showed that in many instances the application must have 
been far from thorough, not to mention streets where no spraying 
was done, owing to lack of time. It seems to be a custom to start 
one spray cutfit and then, if the insect threatens serious injury, to 
put the second one in commission. This may be somewhat eco- 
nomical of help, but so far as protecting the trees is concerned, a 
reverse of this policy would be decide“ly more beneficial. It would 
. be much better to start two spray outfits at the beginning of the 
season and keep them going until developments showed that the 
pest was well under control, rather than to delay and attempt to kill 
the grubs with poison after they have become nearly full grown and 
consequently done most of the damage they are capable of inflict- 
ing. 
Many of the elms in Troy, Watervliet and adjacent cities suffered 
considerably from this insect, and the same is also true of the mag- 
nificent trees of Saratoga Springs. The city of Ithaca suffered 
greatly from this pest, and unless scme radical measures are 
adopted, many of the elms will be ruined or destroyed within a few 
years. A spraying outfit was provided in this latter city, through 
the cooperation of public-spirited individuals, and trees sprayed for 
all who were willing to meet the bare cost of the treatment. Un- 
fortunately many neglected this opportunity and as a consequence 
this provision was not so beneficial as might have been the case. 
The experience of Albany, Troy and other cities along the Hudson 
