102 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
trees. At this time there were under the bark many grubs, numer- 
ous pupae and a few recently transformed beetles. Some of the 
beetles were about ready to desert the tree and it was evident that 
most of the others would leave the trunk within a week or two and 
attack'some adjacent tree. Observations in 1900 showed that about 
eight weeks were necessary to complete the life cycle, so there was a 
fair chance of the recently emerging beetles attacking other trees 
and their progeny attaining maturity before they would be obliged 
to suspend activities because of approaching cold weather. 
There has been a material increase in injuries to trees by bark 
borers during the past decade or more. Hundreds of pines, most 
of them magnificent specimens, have succumbed to these insidious 
enemies in the near vicinity of Albany. It is probable that the ex- 
cessive droughts and extremely low winter temperatures of recent 
years have had an important effect upon many trees and resulted 
in lowering their vitality and probably making conditions more 
favorable for insect attack. These changes have, furthermore, 
been accentuated in suburban sections by the cutting out of many 
trees and the sudden exposure of previously shaded trunks to full 
sunlight. These factors have probably had an important effect upon 
insects habitually preying upon the trees. 
The recognition of the causes may make it possible, in some 
measure at least, to avoid trouble in the future. It is obviously 
impossible to bring about speedy changes in climatic conditions, 
nevertheless the general adoption of a program which would result 
in the reforestation of areas now producing very little or nothing, 
should eventuate in welcome changes. Well-distributed, thrifty 
forest areas would tend to reduce the violence of our floods, miti- 
gate the extremes of temperatures and conserve much needed 
moisture for the midsummer months. This would result in better 
growing conditions for our trees and enable them in turn to resist 
more successfully their insect enemies. 
There is no practical method of destroying this bark borer if 
it has become well established in the tree, unless possibly in the 
case of highly prized pines standing upon lawns or private grounds. 
The important fact to recognize is that infested trees are not only 
doomed but may produce millions of beetles which will speedily 
attack others in the vicinity. The preservation of pines now re- 
maining must depend in large measure upon the recognition of 
bark borer injury at an early stage and the prompt destruction, 
preferably by burning, of at least the bark with its contained in- 
sects. All should understand that the most dangerous pines, so 
