68 ' NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



greater prolificacy of the elm pest, which sometimes occurs abundantly 

 beneath the bark, while the maple borer is usually present in much smaller 

 numbers. The infested elms are also attacked by other insects, as will be 

 shown in a subsequent paragraph, and the ultimate result is very disastrous 

 to the trees. 



Early history. The earliest record of injury by this insect is that given 

 by Dr Harris' in his report on insects injurious to vegetation. He states 

 that the trees on Boston common were found to have suffered considerably 

 from the ravages of this insect, several of them had already been cut down as 

 past recovery ; others were in a dying state, and that all of them were more 

 or less affected with disease or premature decay. Prof. S. A. Forbes,^ state 

 entomologist of Illinois, records the rapid progress which this pest has made 

 among the elm trees within the last two or three years. He states that it 

 seems extremely likely that it will totally exterminate the elms unless it be 

 checked by general action. Dr J. A. Lintner, late state entomologist of New 

 York, in writing of this insect in 1893, characterized it as being destructive 

 throughout the state, and as one worthy of serious attention, if it were to 

 be prevented from causing serious injury. Prof. H. Garman, entomologist 

 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, records a case of seri- 

 ous injury by this' pest to elms at Frankfort. Several trees were diseased 

 and a number of other valuable elms dying ; those affected being among 

 the largest and finest in the State. A more recent outbreak at Berlin Mass. 

 was brought to the writer's attention in 1898. Several rows of young elms 

 were seriously injured by this insect, the associated M a g d a 1 i s a r m i c o 1- 

 lis Say and M. barbita Say, and a number of trees were killed [see 

 pi. 26J. It is probable that the two latter species were not unimportant 

 factors in making the trouble, though the elm borers were generally 

 present, and undoubtedly caused considerable injury. More recently, Prof. 

 A. F. Burgess has recorded serious damage by this insect to the elms of 

 Columbus O. 



1862 Harris, T. W. Insects Injurious to Vegetation. Ed. 3, p. 111-13 

 ■1885 Forbes, S. A. 111. State Ent. 14th Rep't, p. 11 2-14 



