200 



TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 



reddish or rusty brown spots on the white 

 bark of trunk and larger branches; and 

 under the bark will be found winding 

 channels. Ridges are often to be seen on 

 the bark of branches, over the burrows. 

 These signs show themselves before the 

 top begins to die. 



The injury is due to the burrows in the bark cutting off the passage of the 

 descending sap, death resulting from girdling that may be as thorough as though 

 done with an ax. 



The elimination of this borer demands neighborhood action, as the cutting of a 

 single tree will do no good if other trees are infested. 



THE BOX ELDER 



SAP-SUCKING INSECTS 



Box Elder Plant-bug 



Habits 



and 



Damage. 



This sap-sucking, red insect 

 feeds on the leaves and tender 

 growth of the Box Elder. The 

 bug first appears about the 

 time the Box Elder buds open in the 

 spring, and lays its eggs in the crevices of 

 the bark. On hatching, the young travel 

 to the foliage, and great numbers of them 

 may be seen crawling along the trunk. 

 The late summer is spent in feeding. In 

 the fall the bug becomes a troublesome 

 household pest, because of its habit of 

 crawling up walls and into houses and 

 cellars in search of winter quarters. 



Remedies. Spraying is the best means 

 of controlling this insect. 

 The spray should be applied as soon as 

 the bugs appear in the spring. Soap 

 solution or kerosene emulsion will be 

 found effective. 



When the bugs appear in the fall they 

 should be killed by pouring hot water or 

 kerosene over them. It will also be found 

 comparatively easy to sweep them in 

 quantities into a vessel containing 

 kerosene. 



Box Elder Aphis 



Habits This is a sap-eating insect, 



and the eggs of which hatch in the 



Damage, spring when the tree's buds 

 begin to open. The hatching 

 process takes place on the bark and the 

 young insects migrate at once to the 

 leaves and tender twigs, where they feed. 

 A half-dozen or more generations may 

 develop during a single season. The 

 insects are pale green in color and they 

 cover the leaves and twigs with a soot-like 

 coating, while a sticky liquid will be found 

 on the leaves and on the ground. The 

 feeding stunts the leaves and the fun 

 gus deposit gives the tree an unsightly 

 appearance. 



Remedy. It is not difficult to control 

 this insect. Spraying is the 

 most effectual method. The sprays should 

 be 40 per cent, nicotine sulphate and 

 should be applied in the spring when the 

 tree starts its growth for the new season. 



