48 

 CHAPTER V. 



LARVA OF BEETLES BORING INTO THE WOOD OF TREES. 



The flat-headed apple borer— Remedies— The sun-scald beetle— Twig borer— Wire worms. 



THE FLAT-HEADED APPLE BORER. 



Chrysobothris Femorata. Order, Coleoptera; Family, Buprestidas. 



This insect affects chiefly apples, peaches, and pkims, but we have never 

 found it on perfectly healthy trees. 



The larva of this insect is pale-colored, with a brown head; the fore part 

 of the body being greatly flattened. The matured beetle is greenish black 

 or bronze colored, copper colored on the under side. 



If any tree receives any damage to the bark, either by sunburn or other 

 causes, the borer is sure to find it, and it works itself into the tree, its cast- 

 ings being the only guide to its presence. The egg is evidently laid in the 

 surface of the bark, and the young grub hatches, working its way to the 

 heart of the tree. 



Remedies. 



The best remedy is to prevent it from ever infesting the tree, which is done by carefully 

 guarding the tree from being burned or harmed. For this purpose a three-foot long shake, 

 split in two and placed on the south and west sides of the tree, answers the case well; 

 wrapping with sacks may also be used, but it has the objection that the wrapping fur- 

 nishes harbor for other iiiiurious insects, such as the red spider and scale. A coating of 

 w^hitewash, containing some soap and sulphur, is more preferable. 



The training of a tree comparatively low, leaving a trunk of only eighteen 

 or twenty inches, is one of the best preventives, but young trees must invari- 

 ably be protected until the second year at least, and even after that time 

 it will be well to shade the trunk of the tree. 



In training trees low it must not be forgotten to bring out smaller branches 

 on the lower portions of the main branches; otherwise, in a hot and dry 

 climate, these branches will suffer on the main trunk, and become infested. 

 The hotter and drier a climate is, the more care must be taken to protect 

 the trunk. 



If a tree has been only slightly attacked, so that half or two thirds of the bark can be 

 saved, it will pay to take care of a young tree. If it go further than this, a tree will never 

 become thoroughly sound, and will be outstripped ingrowth by young trees planted later. 



Whenever a borer is removed, the debris and dead wood should be entirely cleaned out 

 and the smooth surface left, taking care to preserve the bark as much as possible. Then 

 the wound should be smeared over with grafting wax, and a rag tied about it. In this 

 manner young trees have been saved, but unless only slightly attacked they have never 

 done as well as younger trees uninjured. 



There are other and similar species of borers found in the State, but they 

 all, as far as we can learn, are only invited to damaged wood. 



From time to time we have received a very large larva found boring in 

 decaying roots. The parent of this is a large brown beetle belonging to the 

 Longicorn family, and to the genus Priunos. It will not attack healthy 

 roots. 



