TOMICUS TYPOGRAPHIC. 24-3 



This species of Tomicus is therefore extraordinarily destructive 

 to spruce forests, and may be considered the most destruc- 

 tive of all European forest insects. The beetle prefers trees 

 freshly felled during the season of growth and also sickly 

 standing trees, but when it appears in large numbers, even 

 perfectly sound trees are attacked. It avoids barked logs, and 

 rarely attacks stools ; it utilises only the upper layers of fire- 

 wood-stacks for oviposition. Its favourite resorts are thinly 

 stocked woods, and the borders of felling-areas, generally in 

 sheltered, dry warm places with a southerly aspect. Its dis- 

 tribution extends far north and high on the mountains, which 

 it prefers to the plains ; it is hardy and but little affected by 

 unfavourable weather. 





 d. Protective Rules. 



i. Spruce-trees should be grown only in suitable localities. 

 They should be mixed with silver-fir, and there should be early 

 and frequent thinnings. 



ii. The woods should be inspected every May, and all sickly 

 trees should be removed. 



iii. All rules applicable to the locality for protection against 

 windfall, snowbreak, etc., should be observed, as all broken 

 wood affords good breeding material for bark beetles. 



iv. All broken wood should be speedily barked and worked 

 up, including semi-erect trees the roots of which have been 

 loosened by the wind. In this operation standing trees should 

 be injured as little as possible. 



v. Damage by game, especially peeling, should be guarded 

 against. 



vi. Extensive clear-cutting areas should be avoided, and the 

 felling areas should be cleared as soonlis possible. Above all, 

 the woods should be kept clean. 



Small felling-areas as are usual in the Thuringian forests 

 should be adopted, in contra-distinction to the large felling- 

 areas in the Harz, where the insect has been notoriously 

 injurious. 



vii. All logs intended to remain for any prolonged time in 

 the forest should be barked. 



It is imperative that this should be done to all larger logs, 



