REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1 93 



Preference for Different Species of Elms. 

 The preference shown by the elm-leaf beetle for certain species of elms 

 has often been stated by those who have written upon it. While all 

 agree in the statement that the European elms are the more infested by 

 it than our native ones, yet there is conflicting testimony in regard to the 

 liability to attack of the American elm, Ulmus Americana. Dr. Riley 

 has stated of it in Bulletin No. 6 of the Division of Efitomology (1885), — 

 " this species is practically free from the ravages of the beetle." In 

 Circular No. 8, May 1895, of the same division, Mr. Marlatt has written: 

 " The American species, Ulmus Americana, is notably exempt," but add- 

 ing this qualification : — " All species of elms, however, are attacked more 

 or less, and in absence of sufficient foliage of the favorite varieties, the 

 injury to less palatable sorts becomes almost equally marked."* 



Decided Preference for the English Elm. 

 The decided preference of the beetle for the Ulmus campestris has been 

 strikingly shown during its presence in Albany. A number of trees of 

 this species have died and are being cut down in this the fourth year of 

 their attack, while others — notably the row previously referred to as op- 

 posite my residence, will unquestionably share the same fate the coming 

 year, unless conditions should prove unfavorable to the beetles' multipli- 

 cation. None of the Scotch elms, Ulmus fnonia?ia, so far as I have dis- 

 covered, have been killed, and although the foliage of some of the 

 smaller trees has been about one-half destroyed, there is little probability 

 of their succumbing to the attack, unless they should finally yield to par- 

 tial defoliation through several succeeding years. Just across the street 

 from the doomed elms above mentioned is a large American elm (their 

 branches almost intermingling), which seems to be entirely free from the 

 insect. Not a larva has been detected upon its trunk, or indications of 

 it upon the foHage, when its branches were carefully examined from the 

 house-top. A quarter of a mile from this point are the Capitol and the 

 Boys' Academy parks, in which all of the trees, according to the State 

 Botanist, are American elms. No trace of the insect was found in these 

 parks when search was made for it during the last week of August. 

 These three species of elms are the only ones which have been identified 

 by me in the infested section of Albany. 



* In the discussion that followed the reading of this paper, it was stated that the U. Americana 

 under certain circumstances had been known to be quite as badly injured by the insect as the 

 European species. 



