592 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



the loosening bark of the dying limbs of large trees, as they 

 infest not only the trunks, but the lower limbs. The adult beetle 

 is about one-half inch long, dull metallic brown above, and the 

 wing-covers taper sharply at the tip, somewhat like a click beetle. 

 The wing-covers are ornamented as shown in the figure, arid 

 beneath them, as seen when in flight, the body is a bright metallic 

 greenish-blue. The male is smaller and the head is green. The 

 beetles are active during the heat of the day and may often be 

 found on logs or injured trees. 



Life History. The beetles emerge from the middle of May until 

 mid-summer. The eggs are deposited in crevices of the bark, 

 several qften being laid together. The eggs are yellowish, 

 irregularly ribbed and about one-fiftieth inch long. The species 

 receives its name from the shape of the larva, the thorax of which 

 is very broadly expanded, so that it looks like the head, which is 

 very small and almost concealed by it. The abdomen is much 

 smaller and the whole body is flattened. The larva is about 

 one inch long, and usually rests in the curved position shown in 

 Fig. 446. The larva becomes full grown in a single year and in the 

 South may pupate in November, but in the North does not pupate 

 until the next spring, when it remains as a pupa about three weeks. 

 The beetle emerges through an elliptical exit hole, in contrast to 

 the round hole of the round-headed borer. 



Control. As this beetle is everywhere present, injury may 

 always be expected if trees are not kept in a healthy condition, 

 but if the orchard is well cared for it seldom does much damage. 

 The same measures for preventing oviposition as suggested for 

 the previous species are advised, but the repellant washes must be 

 applied higher on the trunks and should extend to the lower 

 branches as high as can be reached. 



The Oyster-shell Scale * 



Not infrequently young apple and pear trees are encrusted and 

 killed by the Oyster-shell Scale, as are young poplars and maples. 



* Lepidosaphes ulmi Linn. Family Coccidce. See Quaintance and 

 Sasscer, Circular 121, Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. Agr., and refer- 

 ences there given. 



