RUPRESriD BEETLES. 57 



every week or so till the middle of July, when the danger from 

 these flat-headed borers may be considered at an end ; and it has 

 the advantage of protecting the branches as well as the trunk. 

 The admixture ^f a little glue or salt will improve its adhesive 

 and lasting qualities. 



"A strong fish-oil soap, say one pound in one gallon of water, 

 is also effective, and may be applied in the same manner. It 

 forms a film of soap over the bark, and is repellent to the beetles 

 as well as fatal to the young larvae. The admixture of an ounce 

 of crude carbolic acid to a gallon of suds is advantageous. This 

 mixture should not be applied to leaves or on yovmg shoots, as 

 it would probably cause injury. As these remedies are all 

 preventive rather than curative, they nnist be promptly and 

 thoroughly applied, and success w-ill be in proportion to the 

 thoroughness with which the work is done. Instead of any of 

 the preceding methods, "insect lime," or "dendrolene," may, with 

 proper precautions, be employed on the trunks and larger 

 branches, and, practically, this is the best material for use against 

 the "sinuate pear-borer." It can be easily applied, remains ef- 

 fective for weeks, and one application, properly made at the 

 right time, \\ ill protect the trees for the season. As against the 

 pear-borer, it should be applied not later than May 15th, and 

 kept intact until June 15th, when all danger from that pest is 

 over." 



Among the smaller species of beetles of this family are some 

 that are very destructive, and it seems that more and more of 

 them become so where the country is more densely settled, and 

 where the native forests give place to cultivated fruit-trees. 

 Still other species find their way to this country with imported 

 trees and plants ; and they soon become more destructive here 

 than in their native home, very likely because their insect-enemies 

 do not follow tliem at tl'te same time. 



The genus Agrilits contains a large number of species, which 

 differ from those mentioned before by their slender, cylindrical 

 form, with a squarely truncate head, seemingly cut ofY in front, 

 and with elytra much narrower at the tips. 



