CHAP. CIII. SALICA‘CEA., SALIX. 1479 
various species of Misc, were frequent attendants. On the 10th of June, 
Mr. Curtis took the Cerambyx moschatus on the trunk, but saw only one. 
“ These extraordinary appearances,” Mr. Curtis continues, “ strangely ex- 
cited my curiosity; I therefore often visited the tree, and, on minutely 
examining its bark, I discovered several small coleopterous insects in its 
crevices, which at first, from their great similitude, 1 mistook for the Cimex 
lectulirius: a more close inspection, however, soon convinced me that it was 
Silpha grisea [Nitidula grisea Fab., §c.). On examining the sawdust-like 
substance in its moist and fermenting state, I discovered many small larvee 
feeding amongst it, which, when fully grown, were about a barleycorn in 
length ; the body somewhat flattened, of a dirty white colour, having 6 fore 
feet and 2 hind ones; the head of a brightish brown colour, furnished with 
two jaws; each joint of the body projecting at the sides, so as to give it a 
kind of serrated appearance; the neck of a blackish brown colour, with two 
or more rows of small dots running therefrom down the back to the tail, which 
was terminated by four small setz, turning a little upwards, the two lowermost 
by much the longest. The larve were generally found in considerable numbers 
together, and, on being disturbed, ran pretty briskly. From their size, and 
other concurring circumstances, I had no doubt but they were the larve of 
the Silpha grisea, feeding on the 
spoils of the tree’s grand internal 
enemy, Céssus Lignipérda.’’ Mr. 
Curtis, being determined to get 
a sight of the N. grisea, with a 
hatchet chopped out a piece of 
the tree, sufficient for the disco- 
very; when the large maggots re- 
presented in fig. 1288. at a,b, were 
found in perpendicularly cylin- 
drical cavities, corroding the sub- 
stance of the wood: they were 
about twice or thrice as large as the maggot of the hazel nut, and very much 
resembling it in shape; of a yellowish white colour, gross body, apparently 
without any legs, having a shining head of a chestnut colour, armed with 
strong jaws. 
On the 25th of July, cutting out a piece more of the tree, Mr. Curtis “ dis- 
covered several Silphz [Nitidulz] as represented in fig.1289.; and, at the same 
time, found on the bark of the tree the Curculio (Cryptorhynchus J/kg.) 
lapathi (fig. 1288. d, ¢); and, on cutting further into the tree, found the same 
species just broken forth from its pupa(c).” Mr. Curtis “was then satisfied 
that all the mischief which had been done to the tree was effected by this spe- 
cies of Curculiénid,” viz. C. lapathi (d, e) ; and which he “ had some years 
before found in great plenty on the leaves of the same species of Salix,” 
viz. S. viminalis. | Having succeeded in discovering the principal circum- 
stances of the history of this insect, Mr. Curtis was not a little anxious to 
find the Nitidula in its pupa state; and, after searching for it in vain on, and 
under, the bark of the tree, “I found,” he says, “ plenty of them under the 
surface of the ground, among the moist earth and sawdust, and several, also, 
of the same insect in its perfect state. I had no opportunity of observing in 
what manner the female Curculio lapathi deposited her eggs: most probably 
they are laid under the bark at first, or in some crack or crevice of the tree, 
arising from an injury; at least, that is the mode in which the female Cés- 
sus Lignipérda deposits its eggs, and to prevent which, we cannot be too much 
on our guard; for, if the larve have once entered the tree, we shall in vain 
seek a remedy. If the tree, therefore, sustain any injury from lopping, or 
from any other cause, a piece of canvass, spread over with some adhesive 
resinous substance, should be applied to the wound ; or the nurseryman may 
find his account in matting over the bodies of his young trees during the 
months of June and July, when the moth comes out of its chrysalis; or, 
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