350 >>'E\V YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Albany where a considerable proportion of narrow strips of pine have been 

 killed by this and related bark borers in recent years. 



Life history. The development of this insect recpiires about lo weeks. 

 Aul;-. 5, iQOi a slender pine was observed in which this species was enterinir 

 in large nunil)ers. The needles were somewhat thin at that time, pitch 

 tubes were rather abundant and many small masses of pitch were to be 

 found on the foliag'e of surroundiuL,'' shrubs. The beetles were runnint^r 

 tlieir primary galleries at this time, the bark of the tree was alive 

 along practically its entire length, and many eggs were being laid l:>y the 

 beetles. About eight weeks later, or Se]). 26, two thirds of the needles 

 were brown and the remainder were changing rapidly. Oct. ib ])ractically 

 all the needles were brown and dead, the bark had been kilknl antl its inner 

 layers consisted of little else than borings. Practicallv all of the living 

 I omicids had forsaken this tree though some were found in those near by. 

 During this short time the entire life cycle was completed as the inner bark 

 had been entirely destro)ed by the work of beetles and grubs. I)r Hopkins 

 states that Hister cylindricus Payk is a common predaceous enemy 

 of this species. 



Habits. It is not intended b\' the above account to give the impression 

 that this insect normally attacks living trees, but the evidence submitted 

 above proves conclusivel\- that, under certain conditions, it may and does 

 cause serious injur)-. It is undoubtedly true, as stated by other writers, 

 that this species, like some of its allies, attacks by preference diseased or 

 il\'ing trees and that onl)- when it l)ecomes exceptionally aljundant is there 

 danger of its injuring healthy pines. The writer has observed this insect 

 in the vicinit)' of Albany where it has caused more injur\- to white pines 

 than to the eciuall)' abundant, though smaller, hard or pitch pine. The 

 latter occurs almost entirel)- on Long Island and therefore this species can 

 attack no other pine in that section. 



Preventive measures. There is xttvy little that can be done for trees 

 which have been attacked by this and related borers other than cutting and 

 burning the infested parts before the beetles have emerged. If this cutting 



