428 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



pest were not known. We took up investigations at once, and dis- 

 covered that its native food plant was the wildfire cherry (Prunus 

 Pennsylvanicus) . 



In our investigations we found that its larva feeds only upon this 

 plant, while the adult beetle feeds upon other trees and shrubs, as 

 mentioned above. The adult beetles come forth in the latter part 

 of the spring, feed upon the leaves, mate, go down the trunk of the 

 tree to near the surface of the ground, and lay their eggs in rubbish, 

 or on the ground, or on the bark of the trunk just above the ground. 

 The larvae hatch and crawl up the trees to the leaves of the wild 

 cherry on which they feed. After they become grown they come 

 down the trees again to pupate at the surface of the soil. After 

 they transform the adults go to the leaves to feed again, and then 

 scatter and find protected places to pass the winter, chiefly in rub- 

 bish. Thus its life cycle is worked out showing one brood per year, 

 and here published for the first time, with statements as to its native 

 food habits and remedies. 



The remedies are easily applied as they consist in spraying with 

 nothing more than arsenate when either the adult beetles or the larvae 

 are feeding. We recommend one ounce of arsenate of lead in one 

 gallon of water. On the peach make it half as strong. The destruc- 

 tion of the fire cherry is also recommended to effect the destruction 

 of this pest, as it would then be exterminated or obliged to change its 

 larval feeding habits, if possible. 



In this connection I am glad to report that our Field Assistant, 

 Mr. H. B. Kirk, had opportunity to make observations on a closely 

 related beetle, which likewise is not generally known. Because this 

 pest feeds on the Aspen or Trembling Poplar (Populus tremuloids) 

 we call it the Poplar Beetle (Lina tremula). Altho other species 

 of poplar were near at hand this insect was found to feed only upon 

 the poplar correctly called the Trembling Aspen. Of this beetle 

 there is but one brood per year, with habits similar to those of the 

 Red Leaf Beetle. 



(e) Some Insect Friends 



We must not lose sight of our beneficial insects, as there are really 

 more species that perform services for mankind, than there are that 

 destroy his property. For example, we well remember when the de- 

 struction of bumble-bees was thought to be the proper thing. We have 

 known farmers to carry straw to burn their nests. Now we know 

 that clover and allied plants are essential in building up soil fer- 

 tility, and that to produce the seed of such plants the bumble bee is 

 an essential agency. Whether they be internal parasites, like the 

 effective destroyers of the San Jos6 scale, or predaceous insects, like 

 the Lady Bug, the Lace Wing larva, or the ground beetle or whether 

 they be scavengers, like burying beetles and flesh flies, dragon flies 

 destroying mosquitoes, or whether they be pollen carriers for the 

 fertilization of blossoms, there are hundreds of insects worthy of our 

 study and preservation. 



(f) Effects of Verte'brate Destroyers of Insects 



Attention must be called to the efficiency of birds, mammals, rep- 

 tiles and amphibians as destroyers of insects. The spray pump is 



