Forest Insects 81 



finally, without them, die. Wood borers kill 

 others, and when they are cut down the wood 

 can only be burned, for it is full of thousands 

 of small holes. The damage done to American 

 forests by insects and tree diseases amounts to 

 fully fifty million dollars every year. 



Trees injured by fire are an easy prey for the 

 insects of the forest. Sometimes the forest fires 

 come first, sometimes the forest insects; but 

 forest fires are always followed within a short 

 time by hordes of insects which feed upon the 

 dead or dying timber, and soon make its de- 

 struction complete. 



In certain sections of the country only an oc- 

 casional tree may be injured by these insects. 

 Whole forests have been killed by them, and it is 

 said that there are five hundred different insects 

 which attack the oaks alone, and half as many 

 others which prey upon the pines. 



STORY OF THE FOREST- 6 



