TEE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 



produces the beetle, represented at Figure 16, which is of a greenish 

 black color with brassy lines and spots above, the underside appear- 

 ing like burnished copper. This beetle flies by day instead of by 

 night, and may often be found on different trees basking in the sun- 

 shine. It attacks not only the apple, but the soft maple, oak, peach, 

 and is said to attack a variety of other forest trees ; though, since the 

 larvre of the family (Buprestid.e) to which it belongs all bear a strik- 

 ing resemblance to each other, it is possible that this particular 

 species has been accused of more than it deserves. 



It is, however, but far too common in the Valley of the Missis- 

 sippi, and along the Iron Mountain and Pacific railroads, it is even 

 more common than the preceding species. Mr. G. Pauls, of Eureka, 

 informs me that it has killed fifty apple trees for him, and Mr. Votaw, 

 and many others in that neighborhood have suffered from it in like 

 manner. It is also seriously affecting our soft maples by riddling 

 them through and through, though it confines itself far the most part 

 to the inner bark, causing peculiar black scars and holes in the trunk. 

 Unless its destructive work is soon checked, it bids fair to impair the 

 value of this tree for shade and ornamental parposes, as effectually 

 as the Locust borers have done with the locust trees. 



Remedies. — Dr. Fitch found that this borer was attacked by the 

 larvre of some parasitic fly, belonging probably to the Chalcis family, 

 but it is greatly to be feared that this parasite is as yet unknown in 

 the west. At all events this flat-headed fellow is far more common 

 with us than with our eastern brethren. As this beetle makes its 

 appearance during the months of May and June, and as the eggs are 

 deposited on the trunk of the tree, as with the preceding species, the 

 same method of cutting them out or scalding them can be applied in 

 the one case as in the other ; while the soap preventive is found to be 

 equally effectual with this species as with the other. It must, how- 

 ever, be applied more generally over the tree, as they attack all 

 parts of the trunk, and even the larger limbs. 



THE PEACH BORER— jEgeria exitiosa, Say. 



(Lepidoptera, iEgeridae.) 



This pernicious borer I find to be quite common throughout the 

 State. It is withal an insect so familiar to the peach-grower, and its 

 history has been so often given in current entomological works that I 

 should let it go unnoticed, were it not for the numerous letters of in- 

 quiry about it that have been sent to me during the year. For a com- 

 plete and lengthened history of it, I refer the reader to the first of Dr. 

 Fitch's most excellent reports. 



From the Round-headed Apple-tree borer, to which it bears some 

 resemblance both in its mode of work and general appearance, it is 



