THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



627 



THE DESTRUCTIVE ELEODES. 



(Eleodes omissa var. borealis Blaisd.) 



During the month of May, Mr. K. S. Knowlton, Coiinty Horticultural 

 Commissioner of Kern County, sent specimens of a tenebrionid beetle, 

 which he reported as doing much damage to orange trees around Bakers- 

 field. Later he also sent specimens to the writer. On June 9, 1913, 

 Mr. E. F. Siegfried of Wasco, Kern County, wrote that a black beetle 

 had stripped quite a number of apricots and plum trees in his orchard. 

 He reported that they were so thick as to entirely cover the ground. 



Fig. 356. — The destructive eleodes, Eleodes omissa var. borealis Blaisd. Collected at 

 the base of an apricot tree. (Photo by E. P. Siegfried.) 



Figure 356 was taken by Mr. Siegfried, and shows the beetle at the 

 base of an apricot tree. Watermelon vines are also severely injured by 

 this beetle. 



Poison bran did not seem to offer a ready means of control, inasmuch 

 as the insects preferred plant food. Poison sprays strongly applied 

 are not as effective against this beetle as against some other insects, due 

 to its highly resistive powers. 



Its occurrence in such numbers is probably due to the dry season, 

 which was apparently very favorable to breeding. — E. 0. EssiG. 



