AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF I907 AND I908. 93 



intelligence does this philosophical little carpenter vary his proceedings to meet 

 the circumstances of his situation in each particular case ! But by tracing the 

 next stage of his life we shall be able to see how it is that he probably per- 

 forms these feats which appear so much beyond his sphere. 



"Having cut the limb asunder so far that he supposes it will break with 

 the next wind which arises, the worm withdraws himself into his burrow, and 

 that he may not be stunned and drop therefrom should the limb strike the 

 earth with violence when it falls, he closes the opening behind him by in- 

 serting therein a wad formed of elastic fibers of wood. He now feeds at his 

 leisure upon the pith of the main limb, hereby extending his burrow up this 

 limb six or twelve inches or more, until he attains his full growth — quietly 

 awaiting the fall of the limb and his descent therein to the ground. It is quite 

 probable that he does not always sever the limb sufficiently, in the first instance, 

 for it to break and fall. Having cut it so much as he deems prudent, he with- 

 draws and commences feeding upon the pith of the limb above the place 

 where it is partically severed, until a high wind occurs. If the limb is not 

 hereby broken, as soon as the weather becomes calm he very probably returns 

 and gnaws ofif an additional portion of the wood, repeating this act again and 

 again, it may be, until a wind comes which accomplishes the desired result. 

 And this serves to explain to us why it is that the worm severs the limb at 

 such an early period of his life. P'or the formidable undertaking of cutting 

 asunder such an extent of hard woody substance, we should expect he would 

 await till he was almost grown and had attained his full strength and vigor. 

 But by entering upon this task when he is but half grown he has ample op- 

 portunity to watch the result, and to return and perfect the work if he dis- 

 covers his first essay fails to accomplish the end he has in view." 



Fitch claims that the entire larval and pupal stage is passed within 

 the twig. From personal observation, however, we are led to believe 

 that such may not always be the case. Our attention was called by 

 a. correspondent in August, to the fact that many fallen twigs exam- 

 ined contained no worms. Later, in September, we noted this also, 

 and were not able to find a single larva in any twigs examined, a large 

 number being cut open for examination. This can hardly be accounted 

 for b}^ the work of insectivorous birds, since they would be unable to 

 reach them in their burrows. In any event the larva is in its burrow 

 when the twig first falls, and can then be easily cared for. We there- 

 fore, suggest the following: 



Remedy : Collect and burn all tzvigs cut off by this insect as soon 

 as they are found on the ground in July or August. Do not leave this 

 li'ork until the folloiuing spring. 



