THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



683 



bred the beetles from mesquit cord wood and believes that in all 

 probability they would attack living trees if in an unhealthy condition. 

 He further states that "there is no doubt, however, that they could 

 do a great deal of harm to woodwork in the Southwest, particularly if 

 the wood was mesquit, acacia or any wood that was to their liking."^ 

 In the early part of September Mr. B. R. Jones, Deputy County Horti- 

 cultural Commissioner of Los Angeles County, sent in twigs of apricot 

 trees which were seriously injured by these beetles and which contained 

 four living adult beetles at work in the burrows. He stated that many 

 burrows were made at the crotches of the trees and were filled with 

 gum. He does not state that Ihe affected trees are in poor condition, 



Fig. 373. — Adult female of the Western twig borer, 

 Aniphicerus punctipennis Lee. Dorsal and side views. 

 Twice enlarged. (Original.) 



and the writer infers that they were in a normal, healthy state. Mr. 

 Jones further states that should the attacks become common in an 

 orchard, much damage would be done. 



Slight attacks of the beetle are reported by Mr. Geo. P. Weldon on 

 pears in Humboldt and San Joaquin counties. 



From all the data at hand, it does not appear that the attacks of this 

 beetle are either serious or common. In the view of ascertaining these 

 points, it is sincerely hoped that all occurrences and attacks will be 

 reported to this office. 



Appearance and Life History. 



The adult beetles (Fig. 378) are dark brown, with feet and other 

 portions of the body clothed with fine yellowish-brown hairs. The 

 head is held at right angles to, and directly beneath the prothorax. 

 The front of the prothorax is covered with many distinct tooth-like 

 projections, which make this beetle easily distinguishable from the 

 branch and twig borer. The wing covers are coarsely punctured and 

 consequently very rough. 



iln letter dated Berkeley, Cal., Sept. 26, 1913. 



