INSECTS AFKECTING FOREST. TREES. 5PI 



PITCH TIP MOTH. 



Piiiipcs/?-is ziiinncruiaiii Cirote. 



The tips of hard jjines at Karner not infrequently begin to wilt, gradually turn 

 brown and break off and investigation reveals burrows in the center of the tips. 

 At the right season of the year, a reddish-brown and a somewhat livid green cater- 

 pillar, about .V4 of an inch long, armed with linear series of dark brown chitinous 

 spots on its body segments, may be dTscoN-ered in the burrows. 



The work of this species is very characteristic and may be recognized by the 

 small pellets of pitch which are thrust out from the hole a few inches from the tip 

 (plate 12, figure 20). The pretty slate gray moth (plate 12, figure 19). with a wing 

 spread of about 'i/^ of an inch, appears in midsummer. This insect has been 

 recorded as attacking a number of pines, the most important of which are the 

 white, pitch, red and austrian pines. Dr. D. S. Kellicott has observed the work of 

 this borer and states that it sometimes completely girdles the stem of a tree 

 with its burrows. The operations as observed by him are very different from 

 those met with by us at Karner and it is possible that two insects have been 

 confused under the same name. 



NANTUCKET PINE MOTH. 



Rctinia frnstra)ia Scudd. 



There is a small insect which operates in the tips of hard pine twigs and causes 

 the death and subsequent dr\'ing of the terminal leaves, plate 12, figure 3. The 

 small web at the base of the terminal bud is frequently the onl\' indication of 

 insect presence, but ' if the injury is investigated at the proper time, a small 

 yellowish caterpillar may be found within its burrow. 



The work of this insect was met with by the writer on hard pine at Karner in 

 1901. It is a species which was first brought to notice on account of its extensive 

 depredations upon the hard pines of Nantucket Island in 1883. Many trees were 

 very seriously injured at that time. The insect was closely studied then by Prof. 

 Scudder, and in later years attractetl the attention of Prof. Comstock. 



Life Ilislorr and Habits. The following condcnsctl account of the life history 

 and habits of this insect is that given by Prof. Comstock: "About the middle of 

 May, 1879, the scrub-pines (Pinus inops) in Virginia, near Washington, were found to 

 be greatly injured by small Lepidopterous larvre. On many trees there was scarcely 

 a new shoot to be found which was not infested at its tip by from one to four 

 yellowish, black-headed caterpillars, ''"hey were so comi)lctely concealed while at 



