The Fruit Bark Beetle. 



Although not as well known as the peach tree borer, the 

 fruit bark beetle is almost as widely distributed through the 

 South. At Auburn it is very abundant. Inquiries regarding 

 it have come from other portions of the state also. Dr. Riley 

 reported it from Macon, Georgia, as early as 1883. It has 

 proven a serious pest in many portions of the eastern United 

 States, and has been the subject of extended investigations, 

 especially by the entomologists of Illinois and New Jersey. 



The evidences of its work are very characteristic. A 

 badly infested tree looks as if it had received a charge of fine 

 shot (see Fig. 3), the holes being about the size of the head of 

 a pin and larger. This appearance has given rise to the names 

 "shot-hole borer" and "pin-hole borer." 



As far as has been observed in this section, its attacks 

 have been confined largely to peach, plum and cherry, the first 

 mentioned being usually most affected. However, it is known 

 to attack most other fruit trees also, including the apple, pear, 

 quince, nectarine, etc. A close examination only will reveal 

 its presence, although a casual glance may show the general 

 health of the tree to be poor. It is, however, often the case 

 that trees apparently in perfect health are found affected. 



The fruit bark beetle is a very small dark brown beetle (see 

 P'ig. 4) about a tenth of an inch in 

 length. The female, when ready to de- 

 posit her eggs, forces a hole through the 

 bark, after passing which it turns 

 sharply at right angles, and runs but a 

 short distance farther. Along the sides 

 of this tunnel, which has been called 

 the " brood chamber," she lays (accord- 

 ing to Prof. Smith) about eighty eggs. 

 The eggs hatch in about three days 

 ''letue^'gr'eV'tiy^^urgec? though this occurs before the last eggs 

 in the same brood chamber are laid. Each minute white grub 



