Entomological Notes. 295 



•which is repulsive to the beetle; and second, the knife. Soap or 

 some form of alkali is generally used for this purpose. It should 

 be applied two or three times in a season (and oftener if washed 

 off by heavy rains), both to the body, the crotch and larger limbs, 

 especially if diseased or injured in any way. Some recommend 

 placing a piece of hard soap in the crotch of the trees, where the 

 rain will wash it down to the places needing protection. A careful 

 examination of the trees in the fall and spring will reveal those 

 that are affected; the rusty colored castings of the worms, ejected 

 from their holes, will indicate where they may be found, and in the 

 fall especially, they can be easily removed, being near or still in 

 the bark. The bark over their burrows is usually shrunken, dry 

 and discolored, and is another way in which their position may be 

 detected. In the spring, further indications of their presence may 

 be seen, and the knife used to destroy them. If they have cut far 

 into the tree they maybe reached and killed by a wire, or what is- 

 better still, a small round piece of whalebone, so flexible that it 

 •will follow the crooks and turns of the holes. While the destruc- 

 tion of the mature larva? will not repair the damage already done, 

 it will be beneficial in preventing their contributing to the perpet- 

 uation of the species. 



Many of these worms are yearly destroyed by the different 

 species of woodpeckers. Were it not for their aid in holding the 

 borers in check, our fruit, and many of our forest trees, would soon 

 be annihilated. The species commonly called sap sucker, is re- 

 garded as causing much injury to the trees, by drilling the bark 

 full of holes. This is doubtless a detriment to the tree, but the 

 purpose for which these holes are made is not to suck out the sap 

 of the tree, as many suppose, but the destruction of insects infest- 

 ing the bark and sap wood. These birds seldom, if ever, attack a 

 sound, healthy tree. Their instinct, or keenness of vision, un- 

 erringly directs them to the trees and places affected, and their 

 natural appetite leads them to seek out and destroy the destroyer. 

 Nature designed them for this work, as may be seen in the sharp,, 

 long bill, for penetrating bark and wood, and the long, wiry tongue, 

 the point thickly covered with hooked barbs, which is run up the 

 burrow made by the worm in search of its occupant. The instru- 

 ment most suitable and best fitted for this work in the hands of 

 man, is one made of whalebone, and is fashioned after, and does 



