94 DR. HARRIS'S REPORT. April, 



bark, the larvse bury themselves beneath it before winter, and in the 

 spring attack the solid wood, which they perforate deeply in various 

 ways, but most usually in the direction of the fibres. The places of 

 their operations are known by the oozing of the sap intermixed with 

 the castings of wood, which are every now and then thrust back- 

 wards by the insects out of the external apertures. According to 

 the observations of Gen. Dearborn, who has given an excellent ac- 

 count of this insect, the larvae attain their full size by the 20th July, 

 soon become pupce, and appear in the perfect state early in Septem- 

 ber. Thus the existence of this species is limited to one year. 



White-washing, and covering the trunks of the trees with grafting 

 composition, may prevent the female from depositing her eggs on 

 them ; but this practice cannot be employed to any extent. Perhaps 

 it will be useful to head down young trees to the ground, with the 

 viev/ of destroying the larvae contained in them, as well as to promote 

 a more vigorous growth. In nurseries and plantations, much evil 

 might be prevented, by employing children to collect the perfect in- 

 sects while in the act of providing for the continuation of their spe- 

 cies. A common black bottle, containing a little water, would be a 

 suitable receptacle for them, and should be emptied into the fire in 

 order effectually to destroy the insects. The gathering should be 

 commenced as soon as the insects first appear, should be continued 

 daily as long as any are found on the trees, and furthermore should 

 be made a general business for several years in succession. I have 

 no doubt, should this be done, that, by devoting one hour every day 

 to this object, we may in time rid ourselves of this noxious insect. 



The genus Callidium is nearly allied to that of Clytus. The 

 head nods forwards ; the body is flattened ; the antennae are propor- 

 tionally longer than in Clytus ; the thorax is orbicular, not convex 

 above, and is depressed or indented on the disc, and the thighs are 

 much more swelled in the middle. I have never found any species 

 upon flowers, though they are not uncommon in the day-time upon 

 wooden buildings and fences. The larvae do not differ much from 

 other borers of this family ; they live in the trunks of trees, and in 

 timber ; their passages aie more or less tortuous, and are filled with 

 castings of the wood as fast as the insects advance. The larva state 

 is said to continue two years. 



