264 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



If the presence of the carpenter worm is suspected in the trunk of 

 the tree, examine carefully and locate all of the burrow openings which, 

 as a rule, will be noted to be partially closed with bits of wood, debris 

 and a damp sap-like material. With a sharp tool cut away a small 

 amount of the burrow down to the living wood (this will afford an 

 opportunity for the tree to quickly heal over the wound caused by the 

 worm). A stiff wire may be employed at this period in the operation, 

 the thorough prodding about of which may kill the worm. The use of 

 the wire, at leaSt, assures the opening of the burrow and will allow the 

 gas to penetrate more readily. With the use of a syringe place a few 

 spoonfuls of carbon bisulphide in the open hole and immediately seal 

 with mud or a sticky clay, which will prevent the escape of the gas. 

 The mud cap should be removed twenty-four hours later and the hole 



Fig. 78. — The adult male carpenter worm, natural size. 

 The male is much smaller than the female, and instead 

 of being- entirely gray the anterior part of the hind wings 

 have a decided orange-red coloration. (Original.) 



allowed to remain open for a few days, during which time, if the worm 

 is not killed by the penetrating gas, more waste material will be found at 

 the opening. In case the worm is still found to be present, duplicate 

 the above procedure. It is often best at this time to slightly increase 

 the amount of the carbon bisulphide in the second dose. Continue this 

 process until the worm is destroyed ; assured of this fact, remove all the 

 mud or clay and carefully seal the cavity with grafting wax. This 

 precaution will in a large measure prevent a reinfestation. The use 

 of wax should always be employed during the time that the adults are 

 on the wing. 



It is an extremely commendable procedure to remove all the trees 

 of little importance which are known to harbor the pest. In so doing 

 the numbers that take flight are greatly reduced, which will ultimately 

 result in far less numbers of almost priceless trees becoming the host 

 of this pernicious borer. 



Host Plants. The following trees have been reported in California as 

 suljject to the attack of the carpenter worm : Oak, locust, elm, willow, 

 Cottonwood and carob. 



