INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 



Xylina antennata \\ alker 



129 



Light green, white marked ealer|iilhirs aliout 2 inches long fonietinies occur in 

 immense numbers on soft maples in the early summer. 



The extensive defoliation of soft maples in 189S by the larvae of this 

 species at Schenectady and presumably at other places in the State, is 

 another instance of how destructive comparatively unknown species may 

 become provided conditions are favorable. 



Recent injuries. The numerous soft maples at Schenectady were 

 practically stripped of their foliage by hordes of light green caterpillars. 

 On June 20, many were to be seen on the affected trees, not infrequently 50 

 to 100 on a single trunk. On the sidewalks, along the curbing and in the 

 roadway, larvae were crawling hither and thither. Even were one deprived 

 of sight, the peculiar odor arising from the thousands of larvae gave ample 

 evidence of their presence, and the abundance of the caterpillars called to 

 mind forcibly the niunert)us fields swarming with arm\- worms in 1896. At 

 Albany, only 17 miles distant, there was no sign of injury to the soft 

 maples. A search at that time was not rewarded by a single caterpillar. 

 As far west as Herkimer, on the Mohawk river, on the Raquette river in 

 St Lawrence county, and in .Schoharie county, man)- soft maples were 

 defoliated. In some cases this was probably the work of Xylina larvae, 

 though the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria lliibn., was 

 abundant and may have caused the mischief. In Massachusetts a green 

 larva was quite destructive to soft maples, as stated l)y Mr R. H. Cooley. 

 This depredator may be the same species that proved so destructive in 

 New York. In a letter referring the larvae to Xylina, I)r I)\-ar states that 

 in 1897 they were (jiiite common on maples at Hell[)ort L. 1., and less 

 abundant though plenty the following season. 



Comparatively unknown. ;\n examination of the literature relating to 

 this insect shows that it is comparatively unknown to economic entomology, 

 specially as a defoliator of maple or other trees, though Dr Rile\-, in his 3d 

 report on the insects of Missouri, states that for several years he had 

 known the larvae to be common on apple, poplar, hickory and some other 



