INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 



28: 



ous specimens of the insect and its work, totjether with ol)scrvations 

 regarding its habits, were received from Mr M. V. Adams of that city in 

 1899 and 1900, and injury to cut leaved l)irches was reported from Roches- 

 ter. A serious difficulty at this time with white birches in St Lawrence 

 county, was considered as probably the work of this species. 



Early history. This insect was till recently comparatively unknown to 

 economic entomologists. The first record concerning its haliits is that 

 given by Dr Lintner, in his report as state entomolo- 

 gist for 1883, published in the 37th annual report of 

 the -State Museum. Dr Lintner states that he met 

 with this insect on some cut poplars piled by the way- 

 side. The beetles were observed alighting from flight 

 in the bright sunshine and running actively about. 

 62 specimens were taken at the time, and Dr Lintner 

 adds that the larvae is probably a borer in poplars. 

 Dr F"red Blanchard in 1889, records the taking of a 

 fjw specimens of this insect on the summit of Mt 

 Washington N. H., where they had flown from below, 

 and states that the form described occurred in Massa- 

 chusetts on poplar sprouts and trunks. Prof. (i. C. 

 Davis records this species as making galls in branches 

 of the willow, S a 1 i x l1 i s c o 1 o r. Prof. Da\is 

 describes those made by this l)irch borer as an oval 

 swelling on the stem, very similar to the one made 

 by S ape r da c o n c o 1 o r, found at work on tlu- same trees. He states 

 that the latter insect remains mostly within the swelling and makes its exit 

 from it, while this species excavates an oval gallery downward from the gall, 

 sometimes in the pith, but; oftener indiscriminately through the wood and 

 emerged therefrom, frequently '.' inch below. Mr K. A. .Schwartz men- 

 tions this species as injuring birch in connection with .\ y 1 o t e r u s poli- 

 tus in 1890, and Mr J. G. Jack in 1896 records injur}' to birch trees in the 

 Arnold Arboretum, by what is probably this insect. 



Fig. 49 Hron« birch borer: ,.-fc- 

 m.ile beetle; *=.first abdominal 

 segments of male from below; 

 c-larv.T from above, all enlarged 

 about 3'A times. (After Chitten- 

 den, U. S. Dep't Agric. Div. Ent. 

 niil. 18, n.s.) 



