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NE\V YORK STATE MUSEUM 



specially to young trees. This beetle also occurs in the eastern United 

 States, though it is rarely credited with causing much damage. 



Injuring European willows. This species has proved a very serious 

 enemy of the European osier or basket willow, grown in Onondaga, 

 Cayuga, Seneca and adjoining counties, where many are raised for basket 

 purposes. The small village of Liverpool, Onondaga co., depends almost 

 entirely on the basket industry for its existence. Willows are grown there 

 in large quantities, most of the inhabitants are basket makers, and nearly all 

 the members of each family have a part in transforming the willow shoots 

 into finished baskets. The extent of this industry is further evidenced by 

 the fact that over 3000 tons of willows were grown about this village 

 in one year. 



Early injuries in New York State. This pest was known as early as 

 1875, and according to Dr Lintner. 57 acres of willows were destroyed in a 

 swamp in Clay, Onondaga co. This discouraged the growers and for a 

 time, fewer willows were raised. Dr Lintner's attention was next called to 

 the insect by a gentleman who collected some of the beetles in 1887, and 

 from that time up to 1894, it had increased in numbers steadily, and in the 

 latter year caused so much injury as to attract general attention. The 

 ravages of this insect in 1894 were serious enough to reduce the yield by 

 looo tons. One grower raised 65 tons in 1894, and was able to secure only 

 25 the following year. Many fields were abandoned at this time and 

 ploughed up and others were cut only in hopes that a better yield would be 

 secured another season. The insect has been more or less abundant from 

 1895 to the present, 1902, and has been prevented from inflicting serious 

 loss only by active measures. 



Life history and habits. The beetles appear in the early spring with 

 the development of the leaves and begin feeding at once. The most 

 serious damage is done at this time, since they show a decided preference 

 for the tender shoots, and by eating them make the willows branch very 

 earl\-, thus rendering them nearly useless for market purposes. After feed- 

 ing for a time, oviposition occurs, and the yellowish or reddish eggs are 



