INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 273 



appear in July and August, and lay their eggs on the bark 

 during the latter part of the last-named month. The eggs 

 soon hatch and the larvae or young work a short distance 

 under the surface of the bark, the first season throwing out 

 chips and droppings from their holes. If not molested, 

 the following season they go on feeding and working deeper 



FIG. 156. MAPLE-BORER. 



(Saunders : 5th Report U. S. Ent. Com., p. 375, Fig. 137.) 



through the bark and sapwood, making a tortuous burrow 

 not far from the surface, often nearly J of an inch in 

 diameter and sometimes girdling the tree. As many as 

 twenty have been found in a single tree. 



Remedy. The only effectual remedy is to dig the borers 

 out before they have done much harm, i.e., the first fall or 

 following spring after the eggs are laid. This may be very 

 easily done with little or no injury to the tree. The bark 

 should be carefully scraped and after a few days the surface 

 carefully examined, when the exuded dust or chips will 

 enable one to quickly detect the location of the borer. If 

 the insects have already done serious harm to the tree, all 

 holes or channels made by them should be filled up with 

 putty, grafting-wax, or a thick paint. Possibly the paint- 

 ing of the trunk with lime or Portland-cement wash con- 

 taining Paris green at the rate of 4 oz. to the gallon may 



