1907 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 17 



removed, was engraved with numerous little cliannels running in different 

 directions but not going deep into tlie sap-wood. (Figs. 2 and 3). It was in 

 these channels that the larvae (small, legless, white grubs) were found (Fig. 

 1 d), often more or less concealed by the sawdust-like castings. The holes 

 leading through the bark of such trees into the wood M^ere small and such as 

 would be made by fine shot (Fig. 2); hence the beetle is often called the 

 "Shot-hole Borer." This sort of hole on dead or almost sapless trees and the 

 gummy exudations on healthy trees make the presence of the beetle in an 

 orchard feasy to discover. That the insects were still at work late in Septem- 

 ber was evident from the number of adults discovered and the fresh castings 

 at some of the holes. In one of these holes I found eggs but whether laid by 

 a beetle or some other insect I could not s,ay. I find, however, that some 

 writers state that tlie winter is passed both in the egg and larval stages. I 

 have not been able to find a reliable account of the life-history of the insect, 

 but it looks very much as if there were more than one brood in a season. I 

 should have mentioned earlier that the first evidence that the cherry tree leaves 

 were beginning to die was about August 1st. 



When asked by the fruit-growers what could be done to check the beetles, 

 I told them that the plan ordinarily recommended was to cut down all dead, 

 dying, and badly infested trees and burn them. I said that I believed that 

 spraying was also resorted to as a preventive, but that having had no exper- 

 ience with fighting this insect myself, I should bring the question up at the 

 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societj^ and endeavor to discover the 

 best method to be pursued in fighting it, and would then send full particulars 

 to the newspapers of the different districts. 



Dr. Fyles : Is it possible for such a small insect to do so much injury? 



Dr. Fletcher : Yes, quite possible. We should like to know the life 

 history of the beetle better to be able to give more definite methods of treat- 

 ment. The first thing to do, however, is to cut out and burn all dead and 

 dying trees and branches. No branches pruned from any kind of tree should 

 be left in brush heaps to become a breeding centre. Any wash applied must 

 necessarily be in the form of a deterrent on account of most of the insect's 

 life being passed under the bark. Carbolic washes have given satisfaction 

 in some places; they are applied in spring. 



Mr. Caesar : The State Entomologist of Georgia thinks that lime- 

 sulphur carefully applied in late spring should be equally good. 



Dr. Fletcher : Possibly. It looks as if lime-sulphur were being con- 

 sidered a panacea for all ills. It is helpful in so many things that we may 

 be expecting it to do everything for us. 



Mr. Jarvis : A few of the Fruit-tree Bark-Beetles are to be found in 

 nearly every district each year on dead fruit-trees, such as cherry or plum. 

 Some healthy apple-trees near here which are badly infested with the Oyster- 

 Shell Scale have been attacked. 



Dr. Fletcher : It is important to know that Mr. Caesar's observations 

 go to show that healthy trees may be attacked. It used to be thought that 

 it was only diseased or dead trees that were infested. It is from the latter 

 kind of trees that the beetles spread to the healthy ones. According to 

 Webster this Scolytus follows bad attacks of the vSan Jose Scale ; it has been 

 very abundant at Leamington where the scale is common. 



The Codling-Worm. 



Mr. Caesar : I cannot help feeling particularly interested in this ques- 

 tion of the Codling-worm. I saw its ravages in the apple orchards of the 

 Niagara district last year and again this fall. I believe that the damage 



2 EN. 



