VOL. XL LONDON, ONT., JANUARY, 1879. No. 1 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF COSSUS CENTERENSIS. 



BY JAMES S. BAILEY, A. M., M. D., ALBANY, N. Y. 



Although Cossus centerejisis has only recently been discovered, it must 

 have existed for many years in the vicinity of Center, N. Y., its present 

 home. More than twelve years ago, while riding in a Central R. R. coach, I 

 noticed certain species of Poplar, the central shoot of which had perished 

 from causes then unknown ; later, while on an Entomological tour near 

 the same place, I found a group of the Populus tremuloirfes which were 

 similarly affected, as were also many other trees of the same species in 

 the vicinity. 



On closer inspection many perforations were found in the trunks of 

 these trees, some of which were of recent origin, but nothing then was 

 discovered to explain the cause and consequent unhealthy condition of 

 this species of timber ; several times each year afterwards this group of 

 Poplars was examined, but nothing definite was learned until during the 

 month of July, 1876, when a brittle pupa-case was found protruding from 

 one of these openings. This gave a clue which revealed the true nature 

 of the destroyer of this woody growth. On the 10th of June, 1877, a 

 fresh pupa-case was discovered, removed and examined, but the Cossus 

 could not be found, although probably resting upon the tree at that time. 



It now remained for the youthful and keen eyesight of my son, Theo- 

 dore P. Bailey, to discover the imago. The facts as related were com- 

 municated to stimulate him to vigilance, and the trees were examined 

 daily, every foot of them being closely scrutinized. June 14th of the 

 same year he found a fresh pupa-case, and but a short distance from it a 

 male Crssus, which had apparently just emerged. This insect was 

 given to Mr. Lintner, who subsequently described it in the Canadian 

 Entomologist. I am now enabled to add a few facts in reference to the 

 natural history of this borer, to give a description of its earlier stages 



