weakened beyond recovery by the work of the caterpillars and 

 the beetles, when present, were secondary enemies, entering trees 

 already dead or sure to die. 



Nearly all of the dead and dying spruce had their bark 

 riddled by the burrows of the spruce bark beetle (Polygraphus 

 nifipenhis Kirby). Several also contained the brood of Dryo- 

 coestes affaber Mannh. (D. piceae Hopk.) another bark beetle 

 attacking the trunk region, while the tops and limbs of several 

 had been attacked by Eccoptogaster piceae S.w. The sawyer 

 Monohammus sculeUatus also breeds in the recently killed spruce 

 although not in such numbers as in balsam. In several dying 

 vpruce examined were found the larvae and young adults of a 

 weevil Pissodes nigrae living in bark not yet dead. There is 

 IHtle doubt that several of these beetles, including Polygraphus 

 'ujipennis, Eccoptogaster piceae and Pissodes nigrae, often 

 hasten the death of much weakened trees, and in some cases at 

 least, insure the death of trees which would otherwise survive. 



One of the most encouraging observations made in connection 

 with this infestation is that the destructive work of the budmoth 

 larvae is decidely on the decrease. In the Chamberlain Lake 

 and Telos Lake region comparatively few spruce trees and much 

 lessened number of balsam trees have been killed during the past 

 year, when compared with the numbers killed in 1917 and 1918. 

 Another very cheering observation is the recuperative ability 

 shown by the spruce especially. Trees which were known to 

 have been nearly completely stripped last year and which then 

 seemed almost certainly doomed, showed a much improved con- 

 dition during July of this past season and will certainly survive 

 unless there is a recurrence of the attack. Such a recurrence is 

 not probable for some years as the parasites of the caterpillars 

 together with other natural checks seems to have the budworm 

 under control. If past history repeats itself, as we have every 

 reason for believing it will, there will be no widespread, serious 

 injury for another period of from 20 to 40 years. It is likely, 

 however, that during the next few years a few trees will con- 

 tinue to be killed in some localities, but there is no reason to ex- 

 pect such widespread devastation as has occurred since 1912. 



While it is undoubtedly possible to control the bud moth by 

 spraying the affected trees in the spring with arsenate of lead 

 (5 Ibs. to 100 gals, water) this is practical only for ornamental 



