140 



Having thus prepared a means of escape for itself, it goes 

 back in its tunnel a short distance, turns so as to face out- 

 ward, and changes to a pupa, from which the following June 

 or July the beetle escapes, follows the tunnel to its end, and, 

 gnawing aAvay the thin layer of bark, begins its life outside 

 the tree. 



That this insect is capable of causing great damage is 

 shown by the fact that neglected trees are often completely 

 girdled by the tunnels of the borers, and are killed ; and even 

 those not so seriously affected have their bearing power 

 and general vitality greatly reduced. Yet treatment for 

 these insects is simple, and takes but little time. In order 

 to carry out this treatment, it is first necessary to remove 

 any borers already in the tree; and this should be done in 

 October, by searching for " sawdusi," and then locating and 

 killing the borers either with a knife or a pointed wire. 

 Each tree should then be protected by wire mosquito netting, 

 placed around the trunk so that it w^ill not touch the trunk 

 except at the top, about two feet from the ground, where it 

 should fit tightly enough to prevent the beetle from crawling 

 down inside. The wire should form the surface of a cone, 

 the trunk coming up through its center, while the lower edge 

 of the wire should enter the ground. With wire so placed, 

 and with no holes in it, the beetles are unable to reach the 

 lower part of the trunks on which to lay their eggs; and 

 rather than lay them higher up they will in most cases leave 

 such trees, and, crossing the line fence, attack the unpro- 

 tected trees of neighbors. Such a protection will not only 

 keep out borers for several years before it gives out, but will 

 protect the trees in winter from the attacks of mice and rab- 

 bits, while also permitting light and air to reach this portion 

 of the trunk. 



Plant Lice. 



During the fall months the fruit grower frequently finds 

 certain parts of the limbs of his fruit trees more or less cov- 

 ered with a white wool, beneath which investigation shows 

 the presence of large numbers of small plant lice (Schizo- 

 neura lanigera Haus.). These lice suck the sap from the 



