INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 



365 



larvae of these two species cannot be separated, though the young of this 



form api>car to excrete the milky Huid more freely than its ally. 1 he 



parent insect may l)e recognized by its red Cfilor 



above and conspicuous black markings, and were it 



not for its rather elongated, pear-shaped form, it 

 might be mistaken for a lady- 

 beetle. This insect feeds on 

 willows and poplars and appar- 

 ently has very similar habits to 

 those of M. scripta b'abr. 

 Mr Chittenden states that in 



>-»M^ 



some seasons it is just as abun- 



Fi^. 13') M c 1 ;i s o m a I a p p o n i c .t, 

 common New York form, fn- 

 lar;;fd (■>ri;;inal> 



Fie 140 Spoiled willow leaf Jant as the more injurious cot- 



bcctle, .Melasoiiia lap- ., ,,, 



pnnici. southern form, five touwood Icat Ijectle. -Mr I . \\ . 



chii,e,uier'c"'"s. d!p-1 Hubbard recorded it as being destructive to willows at 



,\«ric. Bur. For. Hul. ■ 40. ,.,,._ I. 1 U... ...^^f^A -,. ^^n.-r. 



Ak 



I'yO[» 



Lvons N. V. in 1902. It has been rej^orted as gener- 

 ally distributed in New Jersey by Dr Smith, who also gives alder as a 



""' Remedial measures. This species, like its ally, is a leaf feeder and can 

 be controlled by a thorough application of a i.oisoned spra>-. 



Melasoma tremulae babr. 



WThis species is very closely allied to M. scripta Fahr. 

 It may be recognized by its brownish, finely ])unc- 

 tured elytra, and greenish head and thorax. This form 

 is exceedinglyab undant and injurious in the northwest- 

 ern states writes Dr Lugger, who adds that it sometimes 

 yf V. Strips the leaves from willows of Minnesota windbreaks. 



He ranks it as next to M. scripta 1-abr. in economic 

 importance. This species was taken by Mr I). P.. Young 

 at Newport X. V. in 1898, where it was stripping the leaves from small 

 poplars and willows. 



Fig. 141 Melasoma I r c m- 

 iilac enlarged (original) 



