178 FORESTRY WORK 



practically every conifer, and does most damage in 

 plantations up to six or seven years of age. The insect 

 does damage in the mature stage by gnawing the bark 

 and cambium of the young trees. The full-grown 

 beetles measure about ^ inch in length. This takes about 

 two years. Smaller beetles may be found in company 

 with the larger ones, these probably being those that 

 emerged in the same summer as they are found. They 

 are very dark brown or black, with small patches of 

 yellow hairs upon the wing-cases, thorax, and abdomen. 

 Their eggs are laid on roots of freshly felled trees or in 

 sawdust heaps, and the larvae hatch out about four weeks 

 later, and bore galleries in the cambium and sapwood, 

 pupating at the end of them. 



When the beetles emerge in June and Julj'^, they fly 

 to their feeding ground (viz., any coniferous plantation 

 near). The best method of preventing attacks is to 

 " grub fell" conifers and burn the roots, which may be 

 full of eggs, larvse, and beetles, before the latter emerge in 

 the summer. Another, though not always advisable 

 method is to allow the felled area to he bare for three 

 years before replanting, or planting any area near it. 



The beetles may be trapped by heaps of sawdust or 

 pieces of bark placed here and there throughout the in- 

 fected area. These traps should be examined every 

 morning. 



The beetles may be collected from the young trees at 

 feeding-time, generally in the afternoon when the sun is 

 shining. When it is dull they may be found in any tuft 

 of grass near the trees or in spaces between the stems and 



