BEPOIIT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



207 



The Bronze Apple-tree Weevil {Magdalis cenescens, Lee.).— Some specimens of 

 apple boughs containing the young larvse of this insect were received from Victoria, 

 B.C., and Nanaimo, B.C. Mr. Palmer says of this insect : — " These small bark-borers, 

 larvse of Magdalis CBnescens, continue to do much harm, especially in young orchards on 

 dry lands of the Island. The lime, soap and carbolic acid wash is effective against them, 

 if renewed at the end of May, but one application made early in spring has not proved 

 sufficient. Many young trees were killed outright or so badly damaged that they will 

 scarcely recover, where preventive measures were neglected." 



From what I have seeni of the injuries of this weevil, I am of the opinion that 

 while the eggs are generally laid in trees which are in a feeble condition, at the same 

 time they are also found in young and healthy apple trees. The attack by the beetles 

 feeding upon the leaves of cherries noticed by Rev. G. W. Taylor on Gabriola Island last 

 year was again noticed this season to a lesser extent, but appears to be a regular habit 

 of the beetle. This might be taken advantage of for poisoning the mature insects as a 

 means of reducing their numbers. 



THE BLACK GOOSEBERRY-BORER 



(Xi/locrius Agassizii, Lee), 



Fig, 22.- 



-The Black Goosebeny-borer 



d, larva ; e, pupa — enlarged. 



One of the most interesting attacks which has come under my notice during the 

 past season is by the extremely rare boring beetle {Xylocrius Agassizii), which may be 

 called from the colour of the mature beetle and its habits, the Black Gooseberry-borer. 

 The introduction of this insect into British Columbia, its detection and almost certain 

 extermination by the Inspector of Fruit Pests, and also the successful rearing of the 

 mature insect by Mr, E, A. Carew-Gibson are detailed in the following letters. It is 

 hardly probable that this insect will ever become a serious pest of gooseberries, for it 

 has been so extremely rare in the past that few collections possess specimens, while at 

 the same time its probable native food plants, the various species of Rihes, are abundant 

 on the Pacific slope. 



" Victoria, B.C., March 1. — I am sending you by present opportunity under 

 separate cover a box containing a bottle with borer grub and remains of roots of 

 some young gooseberry bushes, which you will note have been hollowed out. Can you 

 name this borer for me? I have not seen it nor heard of it before." — E. A, Carew- 

 Gibson. 



" Victoria, B.C., March 3. — I am sending you by same mail some specimens of 

 roots of gooseberry bushes infested with a root borer, also a specimen borer in fluid. 

 These plants came from Oregon last fall in a large consignment of plants, part of which 

 — the younger bushes — are not infested, while many of the larger of older growth, are 

 like those sent herewith, I am very glad indeed that the pest has been discovered soon 

 enough to have the infested plants destroyed before the grubs mature, and I am busy 

 now following up this work. I find that to detect the borer the roots must be snapped, 

 which they do much easier thsm sound roots." — [R. M. Palmer.] 



