due to mosquitoes migrating from breeding places in bordering

towns.

It is recommended that a tide gate be placed in Little River at Middletown Avenue.

WEST HAVEN.

The salt marshes in the town of West Haven seem to furnish the principal salt marsh mosquito nuisance in New Haven. There are yet about 250 acres of marshes in this town which have not been ditched for mosquito elimination, and in some of these areas breeding places exist throughout the season. A sluiceway with tide gate should be installed in the outlet of the Old Field Creek, extending from Beach Street about 300 feet into the bay, and the creek dredged from Beach Street to Peck Avenue. At times the creek and marsh become so heavily polluted that the killyfish, the natural enemy of the mosquito, either perish or are driven back into the bay. Mosquitoes breed here in immense quantities. This public nuisance is entirely unnecessary and should be abated.

EAST HAVEN.

There are about 482 acres of salt marsh in this town. About 150 acres of this have been treated for mosquito elimination and were kept free from breeding throughout the season. The remaining 332 acres should be treated before relief from mosquitoes can be expected.

The State rifle range was inspected on April 15. Every depression in the wooded area was holding water and breeding mosquitoes. Later in the season when the ranges are in use, these mosquitoes are very troublesome. It is then too late to do anything about it. These breeding places should be filled where practical, or drained or oiled during April, May and June.

BRANFORD.

More than 17,000 lineal feet of ditches were recut and graded in this area since the fall of 1923. A 20 x 24 inch ditch about 400 feet long was dug at Sunset Beach to simplify a drainage problem there. The marsh area under State supervision was thoroughly patrolled throughout the season, and all ditches kept free from obstructions. There was no salt marsh mosquito breeding in this area.

The drainage of the Sybil Creek marsh north of the tide gates on the Indian Neck Road could be improved by a new tile outlet about 400 feet long running eastward and emptying directly into Long Island Sound. More than 317 acres of salt marshes in Branford are not ditched or treated for mosquito elimination.`

GUILFORD.

Drainage of the salt marsh areas of this section was well maintained throughout the season. A reported abundance of mosquitoes in one locality led to the discovery of a small corner of salt marsh which will require additional ditches. Repair work was begun on the stone dike at Shell Beach; 25 lineal feet of wall was rebuilt, and this will be continued as funds become available.

MADISON.

Mosquito breeding in Madison was well controlled. Over 8,000 feet of ditches were entirely renewed in the Hogshead Point section. Seven corrugated iron culverts were installed in beaches to replace wooden structures destroyed by storms, and one new 36 inch iron tide gate installed near East River on the Post Road. (See Plate XXXIV

At Hammonassett State Park, labor and oil were furnished by the State Park and Forest Commission to control the breeding in the salt marshes contained in and adjacent to the park. The area was thoroughly patrolled and oiled when necessary, and in addition, more than 43,000 feet of damaged ditches recut. A striking reduction in the number of mosquitoes in the park was reported, due to this work.

WESTBROOK.

The drainage work was started as soon as the weather permitted and continued until the funds were exhausted. This fall more funds were turned over to the Station to continue the work. The ditching of the Fisk marsh and Rushy meadow are practically completed. The culvert draining the Fisk marsh continued to function perfectly throughout the season. The Rushy meadow culvert was relocated and extended 50 feet. Ditching of the Patchougue River marshes near the center of the town was started on December 3 and discontinued on December 20, due to cold weather. Some reduction in the number of mosquitoes was reported this season.

GROTON.

The small ditched area at Groton Long Point was thoroughly patrolled. Ditches were put in good condition by recutting and grading where necessary. No breeding pools existed. The bridge over the marsh outlet should be replaced or a culvert installed in its place.

FAIRFIELD.

The town of Fairfield continues its interest in mosquito elimination and has co-operated with the State throughout the year.

The salt marshes were kept free from breeding the entire season by keeping the ditches cleared and oiling certain pools at the proper time. The fresh water work was continued under the same arrangement as last year, and the drainage work extended and improved. The Fairfield Improvement Association, the town, and individuals supply the bulk of funds for this work from year to year.

STAMFORD.

The Stamford salt marsh area under State maintenance at Shippan Point was well patrolled and the ditches kept open so that the marshes were well drained throughout the season. About 5,500 lineal feet of ditches were recut. No mosquitoes developed on this area. In the meantime, mosquitoes were reported breeding in Southfield marshes, Gourley Tract Swamp and other areas not under State supervision. Upon request of the Health Commissioner of Stamford, an estimate of the cost of treating these breeding places was furnished by the State. The work was started on July 1, and supervised by the State without charge. Eleven thousand feet of old ditches were recut, and 1,300 feet of new ditches and 500 lineal feet of tile and iron pipe were installed. (See Plate XXXIII, b.)

Fresh water breeding places were oiled, and several miles of fresh water ditches cleaned. A reduction in the number of mosquitoes has been reported.

The law passed in 1913, declaring mosquito breeding places a public nuisance and authorizing health officers to abolish them remains on the Statutes and is as follows:

Section 2408. Mosquito breeding places; treatment. Any accumulation of water in which mosquitoes are breeding is declared to be a public nuisance. When it has been brought to the attention of a health officer or board of health, through the complaint of any citizen, or when discovered by any inspector or agent of said health officer or board of health, that rain water barrels, tin cans, bottles or other receptacles, or pools near human habitations are breeding mosquitoes, it shall be the duty of said health officer or board of health to investigate and to cause such breeding places to be abolished, screened or treated in such manner as to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. The health officer, or any inspector or agent employed by him, shall have the right to enter any premises in performance of his duties under this section.

NOTES ON MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS.

Miners in Milkweed Pods: Milkweed pods infested by larvae were collected in Manchester, August 14, 1924, by Mr. J. L. Rogers, Assistant, and were placed in the insectary. On September 27, an adult emerged and another one was obtained on October 25. The adult insect is a black weevil or snout beetle, Rhyssematus lineaticollis Say.

Walnut Bud Moth: On June 11, 1924, we received from Mr. B' M. Gillette, Taintor Hill, Suffield, some specimens of brown larvae infesting a Japanese walnut tree. This insect had prevented the owner from obtaining any nuts and is probably the walnut bud moth, Acrobasis caryae Grote, though it may prove to be some other related species. In 1912, we had no difficulty in holding this insect in check by spraying thoroughly with lead arsenate.

Sawfly on Arbor-Vitae: On July 10, 1923, Messrs. M. P. Zappe and J. L. Rogers, while in Manchester, noticed some sawfly larvae feeding upon small arbor-vitae nursery trees. A few larvae were found on each tree though no particular injury could be detected. The larvae were grayish green in color, without prominent markings. The material was placed in cages in the insectary and adults emerged on March 10, April 24 and May 22, 1924. Specimens were sent to Mr. S. A. Rohwer, who identified them as Monoctenus juniperinus MacGillivray, a species described in 1894 from material collected at Ithaca, N. Y.

Leaf-Roller on Pin Oak: In Fairfield County and in other parts of the State, pin oaks were attacked and in some cases nearly defoliated by a leaf-roller, presumably Tortrix quercifoliana Fitch. This insect was observed in New Haven where it caused slight injury, and in Greenwich and Stamford, where it was much more abundant. One pin oak growing naturally in a field north of Stamford was completely stripped by June 9, and is shown on Plate XXV, b. Probably a thorough spraying with lead arsenate would prevent such injury.

Biting Dog Louse in Connecticut: On April 11, specimens were received from Pomfret, of the biting dog louse, Trichodectes latus Nitzsch, which had infested a collie dog. The dog had been treated by a veterinarian without complete success. The owner was advised to shampoo the dog thoroughly with a miscible oil that will mix with water. Several treatments may be necessary to get rid of the pest, and a few hours after each treatment, the material should be removed by washing in clear water. This insect belongs not to the Parasitica but to the Mallophaga, and though it is supposed to be quite common, this is our first record of its occurrence in Connecticut.

The Azalea Scale: On June 23, a twig of rhododendron was brought to the Station from the neighboring town of Orange, and on the bark were many small white tufts, that resembled felt. This is the azalea scale, Eriococcus azaleae Comst., a species often found on shrubs of the heath family, Ericaceae, and occasionally on Crataegus or hawthorn. We have previously recorded the species from Hartford and New Haven. Both sexes are enclosed in a dense white felt-like sac, ovoid in shape. Should this scale become sufficiently abundant to cause injury, no doubt spraying with a miscible oil, or with nicotine solution and soap would free the plant from the scales.

Tropical Cockroach in Greenhouse: Several adult and immature cockroaches were received from Rowayton, on June 13. They were present in a commercial greenhouse where it had become quite a nuisance. The insect in question is Pycnoscelus surinamensis Linn., the same species that became a pest a few years ago in the rose houses of A. N. Pierson, Inc., Cromwell, Conn., by eating the bark from newly-set plants, an account of which has already been published. It was found that the roaches would congregate under boards and in the corners of the benches where they could be surprised by a spray of clear kerosene which brought them to a quick death. Of course this spray must not come in contact with the foliage.

Spiny Caterpillars on Hollyhocks: During June, hollyhocks in the writer's garden were attacked by spiny caterpillars which fed upon the leaves. Some were killed by crushing but no poison was applied. On June 25, material was brought to the laboratory and some parasites were obtained. The species attacking hollyhock was the hop merchant butterfly, Polygonia comma Harris. The larva is nearly one and one-half inches in length when full grown and is dark brown on the back with two faint lighter median lines; below the spiracles and the entire ventral surface is light brown. Head and legs, dark brown, prolegs light brown. Each segment dorsally bears a transverse row of branched spines, and many hairs which are light brown. Two parasites emerged on July 8.

T

Sawfly Feeding on White Pine: Sawfly larvae on white pine were received on July 19 from Mount Carmel where they had defoliated several pine trees. The larvae were whitish, with black spots, and black heads. There were many pupae in the package and also many larvae which had contracted in size, preliminary to pupation. This material was caged in the insectary and on August 8, 13 adult sawflies and four parasites emerged. The species was formerly known as Abbott's sawfly, and occurs in literature under the name of Lophyrus abbotti Leach, but is now called Neodiprion pinetum Norton. It seems to be quite common 1 Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for 1917, page 302.