65 



From the maple was leareel the Cerambycid borer Acanthoderes 

 decipiens. It was fouiul as a pupa in tbe rude chip case just under the 

 bark. The cylindrical burrow made iu its exit extended well in toward 

 the heart of the tree and through quite souiul wood. 



Another Cerambycid, Lcptura proxima, was found quite numerous in 

 blocks of hard maple sawed from the tree the winter previous. The 

 grubs were quite large, and it was thought that they would pass 

 through the transformations that season, but it was not until a year 

 from the following May that the first beetle issued. From the data 

 given it seems that the borer must require two or more years to reach 

 maturity. 



In " Forest Insects " Dr. Packard mentions Lyctus striates under 

 the list headed "Found in rotten oak wood; not known to be injuri- 

 ous." We have quite recently found them issuing trom a red oak 

 floor in one of our college halls. The floor was laid two years pre- 

 vious to the time of this appearance, and the lumber was seasoned 

 at that time. The beetles issued from the sap wood only, and prob- 

 ably were feeding there when the tree was sawed into lumber. 



In order to learn more of their habits quite a number were ])laced 

 in a glass jar containing a branch of green oak, one of dead oak, 

 and a seasoned stick from the shop. The beetles preferred the lat- 

 ter when first introduced, and made themselves at home by boring 

 a hole entirely through it diagonally the first night. Mating took place 

 In a few hours after issuing and eight days later ovipositing was first 

 noticed. Mating again took place before each c^g was deposited. This 

 seems essential, as a female was placed by herself immediately after 

 mating the first time, and, although watched for several weeks after the 

 others had died, no sign of ovipositing was noticed. The branch of green 

 oak was preferred in depositing the eggs, and none were placed on the 

 stick from the shop. Ovipositing occurred about once in half an hour 

 and lasted but one day. One week after oviposition young larv.Te were 

 found. We are in hopes to get the complete life history from them. 



From the oak posts of one of our summer houses were taken quite a 

 number of Phymatodes dimidiatus along with P. varius. Four different 

 kinds of wood — elm, maple, hi(;kory, and ironwood — besides the oak, 

 enter into the construction of the chalet, but none of the others showed 

 signs of borers, while the oak was well i^erforated. The species seein 

 to work mostly just beneath the bark. 



Two specimens of Alans oculatus were taken in the trunk of a white 

 oak near the partially decayed heart. A full-grown larva of this was 

 also found in the trunk of a "sappy" aspen. 



On the 10th of June a piece of bark was torn from an aspen {Populus 

 tremuloides) that had but recently died, and under it signs of insect 

 depredations were quite evident. Upon further investigation the bark 

 and wood were found to be almost entirely separated. Underneath, the 

 wood was yet sound and quite green. Here were found galleries pene- 

 79U— :No. 1 5 



