SOME DESTRUCTIVE SHADE TREE PESTS. 



THE OAK PRUNER. 



Elaphidioii villa sum Fabr. 



Fig. 36. The Oak Prune r, Ulaphidion villosum Fab. Beetle, larva, and lavra 

 in burrow. Original. 



However desirable it may be to have a judicious pruniug of our 

 oaks, we can hardly trust to this beetle to do the work as we wish it 

 done, and during the summer of 1908, Elaphidioii has certainly exceed- 

 ed the limit and caused much anxiety to owners of oak trees in various 

 parts of the state. Further, since it sometimes attacks the apple and 

 other c[uite valuable trees, it calls for some attention. 



During July of the present year one may have observed beneath 

 our oak trees many fallen twigs, and in some instances small branches, 

 with leaves still attached, and generally withered, though sometimes 

 still green. A glance into the tree would reveal possibly other twigs 

 hanging suspended, with wilting or wilted leaves, not yet dislodged by 

 the wind. The pieces on the ground, when examined, exhibit a clean 

 cut or break at the large end, and if one cuts into the twig with a knife, 

 a whitish worm is disclosed lying in the burrow thus opened. This is 

 the larva of the Oak Pruner, which when full grown, is a little more 



