ANNUAL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 309 



was then considered chiefly as a grape-root borer, but its frequent at- 

 tacks on young apple trees and some other kinds of vegetation also 

 mentioned. 



"The larva in question is fitly described as 'gigantic' — a full grown 

 specimen measuring three inches in length by nearly three-fourths 

 inch in diameter, across the thoracic segments. It is of cream white 

 color except the head, which is small, horny and dark brown. The 

 first thoracic and the terminal joints are smooth and glassy, but the 

 greater part of the surface is much wrinkled and pitted. 



"The borer has never, so far as I am aware, been bred from the 

 egg to maturity, but is is supposed to require about three years for its 

 complete development. It works for the most part in larger roots, but 

 occasionally bores through the collar and upwards into the trunk of 

 the tree, completely excavating it and, of course, causing its speedy 

 death. As this borer is capable of moving freely through the soil, it 

 often passes from one tree to another, if the one first entered does not 

 sutiice for its sustenance. It attains its growth in the autumn of the 

 second (?) year, passes the succeeding winter in a torpid state within a 

 hollowed-out root, changes to pupa late in the following spring and 

 the beetle makes its appearance early in July. The latter is among the 

 largest of our long horned borers, the female measuring from one to 

 one and a fourth inches in length and three-fifths inch in diameter. 

 The male is often much smaller. The color is a shining brown-black 

 throughout. The head is suppled with strong, pointed jaws and many 

 pointed antennae of medium length. The thorax is sharply notched or 

 toothed at the sides." 



While there is no record of this species having been found in 

 large living trees. Prof. Riley states that it breeds in decaying stumps 

 and wood of forest trees, and advises not to plant orchards or vine- 

 yards on land on which any stumps have been suffered to remain. The 

 only remedy that has been suggested is to kill the beetles and larvae 

 wherever found, or to make the attempt to attract the beetles to their 

 destruction by means of bon-fires in summer in the vicinity of ;^oung 

 orchards or nurseries in which this borer has been found. 



THE CASJKER WORM. 



Among the leaf feeding apple tree pests the spring canker-worm 

 {Anisopteryx vernata, Peck) is pre-eminent on account of its general 

 distribution, its constant re-appearance and the difficulty of entirely 

 eradicating it from an orchard in which it has obtained a foothold. 

 This insect is too well known to need re-description here. How to 



