12 P.D. 123 



ker" is of European origin, and according to scientific reports has in 

 some instances caused considerable damage. Comparatively little is 

 known about the disease, either in this country or in Europe. It appears 

 that it might have been in the country for several years and attacks not 

 only European and American Larch, but Douglas Fir. The Douglas Fir 

 is of great economic importance in this country, especially throughout the 

 west, and for that reason the infection in Massachusetts is looked upon 

 with considerable concern. 



Since the original infection was discovered five additional infections 

 have been located in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island. So far as 

 is known these are the only infections in this country, although it is felt 

 that more thorough scouting should be carried on in some of the eastern 

 states where importations from Europe have been quite extensive. The 

 infections in Massachusetts were all on private estates and in cooperation 

 with the owners the Division has been able to entirely eradicate three of 

 these while the actual work on the remaining three is now in progress. 



The Japanese Beetle Menace 



The Japanese Beetle has been present in the United States for several 

 years, but was first discovered in Massachusetts this past summer. It 

 was found in Springfield at Stearns and Court Squares; two municipal 

 areas less than one-fourth of a mile apart and both located near the center 

 of the city. These two squares comprise only about 5 acres and are sur- 

 rounded by buildings with very little chance for feeding or breeding of 

 the beetles nearby. Because of these apparently isolated infestations it 

 is hoped that effective control measures may be practiced. 



The total life cycle of the Japanese Beetle is one year, five-sixths of this 

 time being spent in the soil as an egg, larva, or pupa. The winter is 

 passed as a larva in the soil at a depth of two to four inches. They be- 

 come active in late March and early April, and feed until sometime in 

 May or June. The larva at this time does considerable damage to the 

 roots of living plants. About two weeks is spent in the pupa, after which 

 the adult appears. The average date of emergence is about June 20. The 

 beetles are present through a period of four months, but are most abun- 

 dant during July and August. This long period of occurence is due to the 

 fact that the beetles appear over a considerable period, rather than that 

 each one lives that length of time. The beetles feed on the leaves and 

 fruit of orchard trees as well as on ornamental trees, shrubs and plants; 

 also on corn, cereal, forage and vegetable crops. The insect in other 

 states where it is established, often completely defoliates the trees in ad- 

 dition to causing severe damage by feeding on the early ripening varieties 

 of fruit. In addition to the destruction by the adult beetles, the larvae 

 have damaged lawns, pasture and golf courses through the feeding which 

 they do on the roots of various grasses. 



The adult Japanese Beetle is a brightly colored insect, varying in 

 length from 5/16 to 7/16 of an inch. The color is bright, metallic green, 

 except for the greater part of the wing covers, which are coppery brown. 

 They are active on clear, warm days. More than 5,000 of these beetles 

 were collected in Springfield this past summer, and it seems fair to pre- 

 sume that they must have been present at least two or three years. 



The European Corn Borer 

 The European Corn Borer is one of the major pests in Massachusetts. 

 The two-brooded corn borer has probably been present in eastern Massa- 

 chusetts for at least fifteen years. It is believed that the Legislation 

 passed in 1923 which required that all corn stubble in the infested area 

 be plowed by December 1, has been very effective in checking the spread 

 of the insect and in reducing its numbers. It is gratifying to note that 

 only one new town has been added to this infested area in Massachusetts 

 since 1923. It has been the practice during the past two years to sum- 



