Ninth Report of the State Entomologist 345 



It is the well-known habit of this curculionid beetle to deposit its 

 eggs in the bark of the topmost shoot of young pines, and also in spruces, 

 the larvae from which burrow into the wood and thence to the pith*, 

 causing the tip to die, and thereby arresting the normal growth of the 

 tree, and producing deformity, in the crookedness produced by the 

 sending out of lateral branches. 



Dr. Fitch has treated of this insect in his usual able manner in his 

 Fourth Report, giving the natural history of the insect, and the serious 

 injuries that it causes to the white j)ine — one of our most valuable 

 timber trees. Dr. Packard has devoted a half-dozen pages to this 

 insect in the recently issued (1890) Fifth Report of the U. S. Ento- 

 mological Commission — on Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade 

 Trees, in which he includes Dr. Fitch's account, with figures of the 

 insect in its several stages, and its work in the deformities caused by 

 it in white pines. In addition to the pine, Pissodes strobi also attacks 

 spruces and hemlocks, nor does it confine its operations to the terminal 

 shoot, but according to Dr. Packard, may " lay its eggs in the bark 

 and mine the sap-wood of large pines and other coniferous trees." 



Perhaps the best remedy for this attack is to cut off and burn the 

 infested shoots before the beetles have emerged — during the months 

 of July and August. 



Myzus cerasi (Fabr.). 

 The Cherry-tree Aphis. 



Notice of a severe attack of this insect was received from Mrs. E. C. 

 Brinkerhoff, of Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y., under date of June 4th, 

 1892: 



We have a large cherry tree of over one foot in diameter. Some six 

 years ago a very few of the cherries ripened that were very fine ox- 

 hearts, but soon the remainder of the fruit was destroyed by a 

 small, black insect similar to the small, black ant, but with wings. 

 The insects almost entirely covered the cherries and the leaves and all 

 were destroyed, but the tree leafed out again and has done so every 

 year since. This year the pest came earlier and not a cherry was half- 

 grown before they were destroyed. I have sprayed the tree twice each 

 year for the past three years with Paris green, but it has done no good. 

 I have two young sour cherry trees about forty feet from it that are 

 not affected by the insect, nor plums, nor currants, nor do I knoAV of 

 any other neighbors who are troubled with it. Can you tell me what 

 I can do to destroy them ? 



The lady was advised that Paris green was entirely ineffective against 

 this or other aphides, but that remedies were found in kerosene emul- 

 sion, tobacco water, or strong soap suds, as given in the Fifth Report 

 1893. 4:i 



