56 BUPRESTID-BEETLES. 



larvse, if present, ma} often be detected by the discoloration of the 

 l)ark, which sometimes has a flattened and dried appearance, or 

 by a sHg-ht exudation of the sap, or by the presence of the saw- 

 dust-Hke castings. Whenever such indications are seen, the 

 parts should at once l)e cut into with a knife and the intruder 

 destroyed. As a preventive measure tliere is perhaps nothing bet- 

 ter than coating" tlie l)ark of the trunk and larger branches with a 

 mixture of soft soap and a solution of soda." 



Professor John B. Smith, in his valuable l>ook. "Economic 

 Entomology,"' in speaking of remedies against this or similar 

 borers, says : 



"In general we are very helpless against boring larvae once 

 they get into the trunk of a tree. Cutting out is a tedious pro- 

 cess, even if the location of the larva is easily discoverable, which 

 it often is not. We must, therefore, try to prevent their entrance, 

 and this may be done more or less completely by mechanical 

 means. As against the larger species — i. e., against all except 

 Agrilns — a wire mosquito netting loosely encircling the trunk, so 

 as not to touch it anywhere, is a complete protection. The in- 

 sects lay their eggs under a bark scale, or on smooth bark gnaw 

 a little hole in which the egg is laid, and if access to the l)ark is 

 prevented, they seek other localities. The wire must be tied at 

 the top to prevent beetles from getting under it, and must extend 

 under ground an inch or so. In this way we not only prevent 

 new infestation, but any beetles that may emerge from the trunk 

 will be hopelesslv imprisoned, and will die without a chance to 

 reproduce. 



"Instead of wire-netting, tarred paper or even newspapers 

 tightly wrapped around the trunk and branches will answer an 

 excellent purpose, needing renewal each year, however, where 

 the wire-netting lasts several seasons. Thorough white-washing 

 offers a large measure of protection, since the adults will not volun- 

 tarily eat through a coat of it, and the larvas can not do so when 

 first they emerge from the tg^^. The whitewash can be applied 

 with a knapsack pump through a Vermoral nozzle, and a little 

 Paris-green adds greatlv to its effectiveness. It should be renewed 



