Abstract
IN the Report of the Dominion Entomologist and Consulting Zoologist for the years 1917–18 the late Dr. C. G. Hewitt presents a record of much useful work carried out on behalf of the Canadian Government. During the two years under review the work of controlling the brown-tail moth in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is regarded as satisfactory, but it is solely due to the careful scouting for, and destruction of, the winter webs during each winter. The control of several indigenous insects is being attempted by means of the introduction and dissemination of their parasites. The “mussel scale” is largely preyed upon by the predaceous mite Hemisarcoptes malus, and colonies of the latter have been liberated in infected orchards; the future of the experiment will be awaited with interest. The cabbage-root maggot continues to extend its ravages, and not only was the value of tarred felt-paper discs again demonstrated, but promising results were also obtained with bichloride of mercury. A remarkable and extensive outbreak of the sugar-beet web worm, Loxostege sticticalis, occurred in the Prairie Provinces. The millions of migrating caterpillars caused much alarm among the farmers, but, as usual, they confined their attention in the fields to weeds, and the only cultivated crops attacked were garden plants. Owing to the increasing prevalence in many parts of Canada of insects affecting livestock, special attention is now being given to these pests, in conjunction with the Health of Animals Branch of the Department of Agriculture. A joint study has been entered upon with reference to the bot-flies of horses, and many new facts have been discovered relating to their life-histories from the point of view of preventive measures. Entomologists will also be interested in the plans of an underground insectary which are appended to this report. It is hoped by such a contrivance to overcome the difficulties in conducting investigations on soil-infesting insects, particularly during the high temperature which prevails in the summer months.
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Canadian Insect Pests. Nature 108, 261 (1921). https://doi.org/10.1038/108261b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/108261b0