THE OAK PKUNEE. 



The beetle whicli produces this larva is slender and cylindrical, 

 dark brown, and clothed with grayish, somewhat mottled pubescence. 

 The antennae of the female are shorter, those of the male (illustrated 

 at h) longer, than the body; the proximal joints are armed with small 

 spines. Each elytron terminates in two small spines and the femora 

 or thighs are unarmed. The length of the body varies from about 

 one-half to three-fourths of an inch. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Available records show that the typical oak pruner (Elaphidion 

 villosum Fab.) occurs from New England westward to ^lichigan, 

 and probably farther west, and southward through the District of 

 Columbia and Virginia to North Carolina, while there are specimens 

 in the United States National Museum labeled Texas. It is there- 

 fore evident that the species covers the greater portion of the east- 

 ern United States, 

 with the possible ex- 

 ception of Georgia 

 and one or two of 

 the Gulf States, 

 from which the typ- 

 ical form has not 

 been seen. 



FOOD PLANTS AND 

 INJURY. 



The Ust of food 

 plants of this spe- 

 cies includes oak, 

 hickory, pecan, 

 chestnut, maple, fir 

 (Abies) (doubtful, 

 recorded by Halde- 

 man), locust, elm, redbud {Cercis canadensis), apple, plum, peach, pear, 

 quince, grape, orange, Osage orange {Madura aurantiaca), wistaria, 

 climbing bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), black walnut, sweet gum, 

 and hackberry, according to the records of the Forest Insect Investiga- 

 tions of this Bureau. Indeed, this insect or allied species will attack 

 almost every form of deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines with woody 

 stalks. The pruned twigs of various trees and shrubs are of frequent 

 occurrence, and among those which have been noted by the writer 

 in the vicinity of the District of Columbia and in New York are the 

 spicebush (Lindera henzoin), sassafras, sumac, English or white 

 walnut, and beech. Since no other species of insect in the regions 



ICir. 130) 



Fig. 1. — The oak primer {Elaphidion villosum): a, Larva; 6, beetle; c, 

 pupa; d, end of twig cut by larva from tree; e, reverse end contain- 

 ing insect; /, same from side, split to show pupa within; g, leg of 

 larva, a, 6, c, About twice natural size; d, e,/, natural size; g, 

 greatly enlarged. (Author's illustration.) 



