484 SKVENTII KhPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



2, figures I and 2. These two pines were photographed September 28, 1901, and it 

 v»'ill be seen that the top of one has very little foliage, and, as a matter of fact, it 

 was entirely dead at that time. The thrifty lower limbs were somewhat infested at 

 the time the photograph was taken. The other tree bore rather abundant foliage 

 and gave little indication of weakness. It was attacked to some extent by the 

 borer. The same trees are represented at plate 2, figure 2, as they stood the follow- 

 ing April. It will be observed that the partly dead tree has been entirely killed, 

 and that very few needles are to be seen on the one which showed little injur\- the 

 preceding fall. Both have been killed by borers, and arc remarkable instances of 

 the rapidity with which insects may destroy trees. Plate i shows how seriously this 

 insect and its associates may affect strips of pine in the vicinity of Albany. 



Life History- The development of this insect requires about ten weeks. 

 August 5, 1901, a slender pine was observed in which this species was entering in 

 large numbers. The needles were somewhat thin at that time, pitch tubes were 

 rather abundant and many small masses of pitch were to be found upon the foliage 

 of surrounding shrubs. The beetles were then making their primary galleries, 

 the bark of the tree was living along practically its entire length, and many eggs 

 were being laid. About eight weeks later, or September 26th, two-thirds of the 

 needles were brown and the remainder were changing rapidly. October i6th practi- 

 cally all the needles were brown and dead, the bark had been killed and its inner 

 layers consisted of little else but borings. Practically all of the living Tomicids had 

 forsaken this tree, though some were found in those nearby. During this short 

 time the entire life cycle was completed, and the inner bark had been entirely 

 destroyed by the work of beetles and grubs. 



Habits. It is not intended by the above account to give the impression that 

 this insect normally attacks living trees, but the evidence submitted above proves 

 conclusively that, under certain conditions, it may and does cause ser'ous injury. 

 It is wndoubtedly true, as stated by other writers, that this species, like some of its 

 allies, attacks by preference diseased or dying trees and that only when it becomes 

 exceptionally abundant is there danger of its injuring healthy pines. The v/riter 

 has observed this insect in the vicinity of Albany, where it has caused more injury 

 to white pines than to the equally abundant, though smaller, hard or pitch pine. 



Natural Enclitics. The two Clerids. T/iaiiasiiiiiis ditbius Fabr. and Clcrus qiiad- 

 riguttatus Oliv. were met with by the writer in greater or less numbers in the 

 galleries of this bark borer. The former species was especially abundant and is 

 undoubtedly one of the most efficient natural checks upon the undue increase of 

 this borer and its allies. Histcr Iccontci Mars, and a species of Hypoplilocus was met 



