INSECTS AFFECTIXG PARK AXD WOODLAXD TREES 57 



sionally it may be found operating- on comjjarativeh- smooth trunks. It 

 is generally distributed over the State and evidences of its work occur in 

 many localities. Trees wounded from any cause find great difficulty in the 

 comparatively simple process of covering exposed wood with bark, after 

 being attacked by this insect. Thus relatively insignificant wounds result 

 in scars constantly increasing in size and finally in a badly disfigured, gnarled 

 maple. These creatures, when abundant, may nearly girdle a tree. Very 

 serious com.plaints regarding this pest have been made in Michigan, Mis- 

 souri, and even in Buffalo N. Y., and it has been stated that this borer 

 annual!)' causes mucli damage to hard maples. The distribution of this 

 insect has been given by Mr Beutenmuller as Canada, New England and 

 Middle States and westward to Nebraska. 



Description. These beautiful, wasplike, red-tailed moths | [)!. 4, fig. i6j 

 are not often seen by the casual observer. .\n infested tree frequently 

 presents the appearance represented on plate 4. Near a partly healed 

 wound there may be found a number of round holes [pi. 4, fig. 12 | and con- 

 siderable brownish, powdery matter [pi. 4, fig. i 7J, the excrement or frass of 

 the borers. Empty pupal cases may frequently be seen in early fall pro- 

 jecting from the trunk as represented at plate 4, figure 14. On cutting into 

 the injured wood, a whitish, brown-headed caterpillar [pi. 4, fig. 18) about 

 ^ inch long may be found in the latter part of the summer. In the early 

 spring the silken frass-covered cocoons [pi. 4, fig. 15] occur in the burrows. 



Life history and habits. The moths are most abundant at Buffalo N. Y., 

 from May 20 to June 15, according to the observations of the late Dr D. .S. 

 Kellicott. The males have been seen by Mr L. H. Joutel flying up and 

 down the trunks of infested trees looking for a partner in much the same 

 way as do the males of the lunate long sting, T h a 1 e s s a 1 u n a t o r Fabr. 

 The eggs are deposited on the bark of both soft and sugar maples, the 

 female preferring as a rule to place them on roughened areas, specially in 

 the vicinity of wounds, if one may judge from the injury inflicted. The 

 eggs soon hatch and the young borers commence operations in the bark and 

 sapwood. In the fall most o( the caterpillars are about '2 inch long and 



