File:Annual report of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, 1897 (1898) (19338262366).jpg

• Fig. 25 Pelidnota punctata

Title: Annual report of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, 1897
Identifier: annualreportoffr1897frui
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario
Subjects: Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario; Fruit-culture; Fruit-culture
Publisher: Ontario Dept. of Agriculture, (Warcick Bros.
Contributing Library: Brock University
Digitizing Sponsor: Brock University - University of Toronto Libraries

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ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 33 being free from the attacks of these destroyers. In 1896 the tussock worms were few in numbers, as might have been expected from such wholesale destruction, and did little injury to the trees, but this year they have increased in numbers again owing to the destruction of the parasites themselves by others which prey upon them—secondary parasites, as they are termed. Thus was verified the old rhyme : " Big fleas have little fleas to bite 'em. And so on ad infinitum." The " Army worm " (Leucania unipunctata) which was so abundant and did so much damage throughout this Province and the neighboring States last year, was, as Mr. Moffat predicted, conspicuous by its absence this year. As far as my own observations are concerned, I did not see a single caterpillar and not more than half a dozen of the moths, nor have I heard of any injury being done by the insect in any part of the country. This immunity is undoubtedly owing to the friendly work of parasites, especially the Tachina flies mentioned in the Report for last year. The Grape vine Flea- beetle (Graptodera chalybea) [Fig. 24], has been very destructive of^late years to the foliage of the Virigina Creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia). Where spraying with Paris green was not resorted to several times during the season, the vines
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Fig. 24. Fig. 25. were completly stripped of their leaves before the end of August. Strange to say, a grape-vine against a fence only a few yards from some badly affected creepers was not attacked at all. Among the interesting records of the year may be mentioned the capture of a speci- men, for the first time at Port Hope, of the Spotted Pelidnota (P. punctata, Linn.) [Fig. 25], which feeds upon the grape-vine. I have never before met with this insect east of Toronto, but Mr. Evans tells me that he has taken it at Trenton. A specimen of Papilio Marcelhis was again seen in the town park on the 24th of July—the same locality where it had been observed last year. Several species of Plitsia have been common throughout the summer, visiting flowers in the day-time and attracted indoors by light at night, and have continued until late in the autumn; P precationis and simplex [Fig. 26], were the most abundant, and several of the rare P. biloba were captured, one as late as Novem- ber 5th, when it was found sipping nectar from the few hardy flowers left in the garden. Dr. Fletcher upon being called upon by the Chairman, gave a full and interesting account of the appearance of the

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