INSECTS ATTACKING LARGE FRUITS. 



ROUND-HEADED APPLE-TREE BORER. 



(Saperda Candida Fabr.; Order, Coleoptera.) 



Diagnosis. — Attacking the apple ; careful examination in fall 

 revealing a discoloration of the bark near the base of the trunk 

 in young trees, the larvae (first year) lyiag beneath the discolored 

 bark ; in spring, cracks in the bark through which castings and 

 reddish wood dust drop. Remove the earth from the base of the 

 trunk, gently scrape the bark, and examine carefully every un- 

 natural-appearing spot. 



Description and Life-historij. — The adult insect is a beautiful 

 beetle, belonging to the family of " long-horns " or wood-borers. 

 It is about three-fourths of an inch long, pale brown above, with 



CO s c 



Fig. 37. Round-headed Apple-tree Borer; a, larva; f), pupa; c, adult. 



two creamy-white stripes running the whole length of the body. 

 The antennse or feelers are almost as long as the body. The eggs 

 are laid, according to G. C. Brackett, beneath the surface of the 

 bark, generally at the crown (base of the trunk) or in the axis 

 of the larger limbs, but also along the body of the trunk and 

 large limbs. It is generally stated that the eggs are deposited 

 on the bark (see Remedies, this insect). The eggs are deposited 

 in Kansas from June until as late as September ( Brackett), the 

 female making a slight incision in the bark and thrusting the 

 egg beneath one of the flaps at right angles to the cut. Most 

 of the eggs are probably laid in June and July. 



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