INSECT PESTS 79 



blackish-brown in colour and partly yellow (or pink 

 when freshly emerged). 



The adult beetle appears from early summer onwards, 

 and may be found clinging to the rod with its trunk 

 buried in the soft growing portion, which subsequently 

 bends over as if broken by the wind. At the smallest 

 disturbance the beetle falls to the ground and remains 

 motionless, looking very like a bird dropping. Eggs 

 are laid in the stumps or rods (?) and produce white, 

 grub-like larvae which burrow in the stumps and 

 sometimes up into rods of two years' growth. Cryptor- 

 rhynchus larvae have no legs, which distinguishes them 

 from the larvae of the clearwing moths, and they are 

 round and somewhat short, and so differ from the 

 larvae of the Musk Beetle, which are rather long and flat. 

 When full "fed they pupate in the burrows and the 

 beetles emerge from the pupae in the autumn, but,seem 

 to remain in the burrow until the following spring. 



Cryptorrhynchus lapathi attacks alder as well as 

 willow, and is common in all willow-growing areas, 

 notably in Somerset. It is a serious pest, for in 

 addition to the annual destruction of a large number 

 of rods by the adult, the larva does great injury to the 

 stumps. 



Musk Beetle (Aromia moschata}. This insect is a 

 large, shining blue or green beetle with long antennae. 

 When disturbed it gives out a strong musky smell. 

 The larva is a large white grub, legless, and rather 

 long and flat in shape. It feeds in pollard willow trees 

 and in old willow stumps, especially when these are 

 grown with a " long leg." It can hardly be regarded 

 as a serious pest when willows are well grown, but is 

 worthy of mention as it is so large and conspicuous 

 that it is apt to excite interest. 



