1»01 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 71 



pieces of willow could be found, it was presumed that the Ichneumon was a parasite on the 

 beetle. In the "Canadian Entomologist," Vol. XXIIL, p. 221. 1891, Prof. John B. Smith 

 stated that nearly all of the clumps of willows near Arlington and Newark, New Jersey, and 

 also some fancy garden trees had been killed by the insect. The next published notice is by 

 myself in "Journal of the New York Entomological Society," Vol. V., p. 30, March, 1897. 

 In company with Mr. Ottomar Reinecke, of Buffalo, I had, on August 24th of the preceding 

 year, taken the insect in considerable numbers near that city, where it had only just been 

 discovered by Mr. Reinecke. Dr. A. D. Hopkins, of Morgantown, W. Va., also accompanied 

 us, and larvse (Plate, fig. 2), pupae (figs. 3 and 4) and adults (fig. 1) were all secured. My 

 beetles were collected in a cyanide bottle, strongly charged and freshly made. The beetles 

 remained in this bottle some six or seven hours, when they were removed and placed in small 

 tin boxes. The following morning, the 25th, they gave no signs of life, but after I had returned 

 home, on the 29th, not only were all of them found alive when I opened the box, but several of 

 them were pairing. They were then placed on willow, but, though they did a large amount of 

 puncturing, and would remain for hours with their snout3 embedded in the bark, as has been 

 observed in Europe, I was not able to secure a single egg, though some of the beetles survived 

 until early in November (loc. cit., p. 204). 



The next contribution to American literature relative to the pest, is by Mr. J. G. Jack, of 

 the Arnold Arboretum, in " Garden and Forest," Vol. X , p. 394, October, 1897. Mr. Jack 

 states that the insect had been known about Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, for many 

 years, and for several years had been destructive to almost all species of willows growing in the 

 Arboretum. It had been found burrowing in nearly all of the native willows except a few 

 mountain or very slender stemed species, too small to afford suflicient tissue in which to excavate 

 their chambers or feed freely. (Plate fig. 6.) Of the foreign species of willows, the white 

 willow, cracked willow and laurel leaved willow, were all affected, but less seriously than the 

 Babylonian weeping willow. All of the species of poplar in the Arboretum, particularly while 

 young, had been attacked, and to a less extent the dwarf birch, Betnla pumila, and the Red 

 River birch, B. nigra. So abundant was the pest, f»nd so extensive its ravages, that it was 

 hardly possible to find a good healthy plant among the scrubby willows about Boston. The 

 beetles were found on the bark, and sometimes on the foliage, in July and August. Other 

 information is given, taken from European authors. 



In "Psyche," Vol. VIII., p. 371, June, 1899, Mr. A. 11. Kirkland calls attention to the 

 fact that, about some of the shore towns in eastern Massachusetts, this insect has become a 

 serious enemy to the Balm of Gilead trees, which, on account of the somewhat marshy land, 

 constituted by far the most common shade tree, and so great was the injury that at that time 

 it was almost impossible to find a sound tree of this species, all having been weakened by the 

 attacks of this borer, and later broken down by the ice storms and high gales. Serious damage 

 in nurseries is also recorded. Mr. Kirkland began in June, 1897, a study of the life history of 

 the species in this country, and as he has very kindly placed his notes in my hands for use in 

 the preparation of this paper, I take pleasure not only in appending them herewith, but in 

 thanking him most heartily for allowing me to use them. I am also further indebted to 

 Mr. Kirkland for translations of the European authors from which I have so freely drawn. The 

 notes just mentioned are as follows : — 



June 30, 1897. Larvae abundant at Winthrop, Massachusetts, boring in Balm of Gilead 



trees ; larvae nearly full grown, and some forming cells to pupate. 

 Before pupating they enlarge their burrows to the outlet, then retreat 

 to the upper end and transform in a neat chamber. 57 larvae taken 

 from a stick Ij inches in diameter, and 2 feet long. 

 July 3, 1897. Larvae common at Saugus, Massachusetts, in our native trembling poplar. 



