The pear midge, Contarinia pyrivora Riley, is a small mosquito-like fly, destructive to many varieties of pears in New York State, particularly in the Hudson Valley. The fly is probably of European origin. It was first discovered at Meriden, Conn., in the year 1877. From here it spread rapidly westward and by 1893 was reported in all river counties south of Saratoga and Washington. The flies emerge in the spring about the time Kieffer fruit buds are breaking. The eggs are laid inside the individual cluster buds and under favorable weather conditions hatch in about four days. The larvae find their way into the ovary of the future blossom and feed on the tender tissues, causing the young fruit to develop abnormally. The distorted shapes resulting from midge attack are very characteristic. The small fruits drop prematurely and the mature larvae burrow into the soil a short distance where pupation takes place over winter. The studies so far indicate that the adults are very susceptible to certain spray treatments. These are most efficiently made when the cluster-buds have begun to swell so that the sepals pull apart. In Clapps the faintest trace of pink is apparent at this time. Lime-sulfur, 1-40 or stronger with 3/4 pint of nicotine-sulfate per 100 gallons; Volck oil emulsion, 2% with pint nicotine-sulfate; bordo, 2-10-100 with 3/4 pint nicotine-sulfate and fish oil soap, 6 lbs., water 100 gallons, with 3/4 pint of nicotine- sulfate have shown very promising results. Every part of the tree should be thoroly wetted including trunk and lower limbs so that all possible flies will be reached and killed.