INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 67 



Dr Schwarz states that this species is quite local in habitat and 

 apparently has a decidetl preference for shaded localities where the plants 

 grow on a decayed lojj, or where the soil is covered with a thick layer of 

 leaves. He believes that this species is largely subterranean in habit, since 

 it is rarely met with except in its food plant, and he has obser\ed thai the 

 beetles appear to be perfectly at home in the soil, digging through it with 

 astonishing rapidity. All stages of this insect were met with by Dr Ho])- 

 kins Aug. i8, in Wisconsin. 



Food plants. This insect was first discovered on sugar maple and later 

 found in considerable numbers in huckleberry roots, Ciaylussacia 

 resinosa. Dr Schwarz states that he failed to find it in the two allied 

 species. \' a c c i n i u m s t a m i n e u m and \'. cor y m b o s u m. Dr Hop- 

 kins further records numerous hazel, sassafras and species of dogwood at 

 Dells Wis., which had been killed or were dying from the attacks of this 

 timber beetle, and adds that he has met with specimens in living .sassa- 

 fras saplings over 2 inches in diameter, near Morgantown, two annual 

 growths having been formed over the entrance, showing that this species 

 does not always kill its food plant. Dr Hopkins has also taken this 

 species in water beech. Carpi n us caroliniana and ironwood, O s t r y a 



\' i r g i n i c a. 



Bibliography 



1890 Packard, A. S. U. .S. Ent. Com. 5th Kept. p. 3S9-90 



Elm borer 



Sapcrda tridcntata Olivier 



The unthrifty condition indicated by dead limbs or by dying limbs and diseased or 

 dying areas of bark on the trunk of American elms is the most frequent sigh of the 

 presence of this insect. Most of the injury is caused by the white footless grubs working 

 under the bark. 



This beetle is sometimes as injurious to the beautiful white elm as the 

 sugar maple borer, Plagionotus speciosus Say, is to the sugar 

 maple, and in places where this elm pest has become well established even 

 greater damage may result from its attacks. This is probably due to the 



