45- NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Peach bark beetle 



Phlocotribiis liminaris Harr. 

 A minute, brownisli, r;ither stout ht-etle about '/„, inch long, runs transverse galleries 

 in the inner bark of jieach, ])him and < herry. 



This little species is better known as a pest of fruit trees than a depre- 

 dator on ornamental or forest trees, tliough it occasionally attacks wild 

 cherry, probably plum and related trees. Its method of work is very char- 

 acteristic. The o^alleries of the adult beetles run transversely or nearly so 

 to the ijrain of the wood, two divcroinj.^ from a common entrance cham- 

 l)er. Each is the work of a single female which deposits 

 a o^reat many e<j(js at close intervals on each side. These 

 liatcli and the young grubs proceed to make channels at 

 approximately right angles to those of the parent insect. 

 The larval galleries are easily recognized because of their 



Fiy. 107 Middle tibiae : & ^ & 



„_Phiocoirib^us ^^|jj^i^j^^|ji^^^. somewhat smuous character. Infested areas are 

 snoiytus ragu- |jjjji\ riddled bv this species, and in many instances the tree 



1 o s u s. enlarged - , 1 ' j 



(originan soou girdled. The work of this borer is more frequently met 



with in early spring, though occasionally beetles are taken in the fall. The 

 easiest way to identify the adidts is by their work. Occasionalh' this is 

 impossible antl then recourse must be had to structural characters, the 

 peculiar antennae | pi. 66, fig. i | being the most striking. This little beetle 

 is rather sparsely clothed with a short, yellowish pubescence, and the elytra 

 are coarsely striate with series of almost confluent punctures. 



Remedial measures. There is no practical method of checking this 

 pest, beyond cutting and burning infested trees before the insects have had 

 an opportunity to escape and enter others. Ordinarily its attacks are 

 confined to unhealthv trees. 



