CHAPTER IX. 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE KOOT. CROWN, TRUNK, AND 



BRANCHES. 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE ROOT AND CROWN. 



TAP-BOOT nOHERS. 



A grub or "Sawyer" is sometimes found boring into the tap-root of 

 the Orange. No specimens have been examined, but from the descrip- 

 tions given by competent observers, it can only be the larva of some 

 longicorn beetle of moderately large size. 



Mr. William H. Ashmead, in the Florida Agriculturist, Februarv 10, 

 1881, mentions and gives a tigare of a larva, which is possibly lluit of 

 OMon einctus (Drury), found boring in the tap-root of a Bit toi' sweet 

 orange tree. It was only discovered upon taking up the tree in order 

 to transplant it, and may therefore be presumed to have done little 

 damage. 



A larva which appears to belong to this species has also been sent in 

 Orange roots to the Department of Agriculture from Florida. 



Other borers of this numerous and destructive family are likely to 

 occur in the trunk and branches, as well as in the roots below the sur- 

 face of the ground. It is difficult, without a previous kno\Yledge of 

 their habits, to suggest a remedy for these subterranean borers, but 

 should they at any time become troublesome they may be removed by 

 uncovering the roots and destroying the borer in its gallery with a 

 pointed wire. 



WHITE ANTS OR "WOOD-LICK" 



Habits. — Termites or white ants are small, soft bodied insects resem. 

 bliug ants and living in numerous colonies. They shun the light and 

 travel to great distances through galleries constructed beneath the sur- 

 face of the ground. They feed for the most i)art upon dead wood and 

 decaying vegetable matter, but sometimes attack living plants, espec- 

 ially those parts which lie below the surface of the ground. A certain 

 amouul of moisture is necessary to their existence, and very dry wood 

 is usually free from their attacks. 



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