Life Historij Notes of Cranherrij Lake Hoinopiem 



99 



is perhaps little of importance to the species as there is no evi- 

 dence that it can cause injury to growing trees and the effect of 

 its feeding upon the decaying tissue of fallen timber is entirely 

 negligible. 



PINE CHERMES 

 Chermes pinicorticis Fiteh 



Many years ago Dr. Fitch recognized this species (Fig. 42) as 

 injurious to pine and indicated its potential possibilities as a forest 

 pest. Since the time of his publication the species has shown itself 

 at many localities and frequent intervals to be capable of serious 



Fio-. 41. — Pine blight (Chermes pinicorticis Vh.) showino a]ihids 

 clustered on twig. Photo by Fivaz. 



injury to pine trees and it deserved attention in any discussion 

 of insects connected with forest problems. The species was ob- 

 served on a number of small trees in the vicinity of the summer 

 camp and in some instances in sufficient numbers to be counted 

 injurious. If in large numbers on older and larger trees they 

 were too far from observation to be recognized. In nurseries at 

 the Ranger School it is frequently a very serious pest. 



The infested trees are readily recognized by the appearance of 

 numerous small flecks of white cottonv material covering the 

 bodies of the insects and adhering to the bark especially around 

 the bases of the branches or in the axil of the twigs. They do not 

 occur on the leaves but the twigs, branches and even the trunk 



