ENEMIES. 63 



FUNGI. 



Frequently fall-grown trees are found to show signs of rapid decay. These are recognized by 

 the gradual dying of the smaller limbs and their falling off, in consequence of the rotting of the 

 wood surrounding their base; and after having been cast off a hole or diseased spot remains in 

 the trunk, which is infested by a large fungus of the genus Polyporus (punk holes, punk stools). 

 The heartwoo*! of such trees is of a reddish color, soft, sappy, and full of small channels, caused 

 by the breaking down of the walls of the wood cells, filled with the mycelium, the so-called spawn 

 of the fungus, the threads of which also penetrate the medullary rays. Such punky or red-heart 

 timber is found mostly on the ridges in the poorest soil. Apparently superannuated trees are most 

 frequently found afflicted with this rot. 



INSECTS. 



The Longleaf Pine, throughout its existence, is exposed to the danger of destruction by the 

 ravages of insects, hosts of which, belonging to various orders, are found to infest it from the 

 earliest stages of its development. Upon the tufts of the tender primary leaves of the seedling 

 are often found feeding large numbers of a yellow, black-striped caterpillar, the larvae of a species 

 of sawfly (Lophyrus). 



The cambium of trees felled in the latter part of the summer is soon found swarming witli the 

 larval brood of bark beetles, which after a short time infest the trees growing near by, causing, as 

 has been again and again observed, the death particularly of the trees of younger growth over 

 extensive areas. Hence the necessity of stopping the practice of felling trees during the summer 

 season. According to information kindly furnished by Mr. Schwarz, of the Entomological Division 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture, most if not all the species of the bark beetles 

 of the family Tomiddm have more thanoneannual generation, and in the Southern States they have, 

 in all probability, three. The summer generation develops in a very short time, possibly within 

 four or live weeks, and the perfect beetles issuing from the trees felled in August will in Septem- 

 ber attack the healthy trees near by for want of more suitable food. The ravages spoken of by 

 Michaux refer, no doubt, to these species of Tomicidce beetles which enter the solid wood of trees, 

 e. g., Gnutliotrichua materiarius and Xyleborm pubescens. The galleries of these timber beetles 

 or allied species are found to penetrate the wood to the heart. The grating noise made by the 

 larvae of the large ceramboid beetle, the Monohammm, while engaged in its work of destruction 

 frequently strikes the ear in the forest. That there is a large number of species belonging to 

 different orders preying on the Longleaf Pine and more or less destructive to the life of this tree is 

 apparent from the following communication from Mr. Schwarz: 



The number of insects to be found on the Longleaf Pine is very large and comprises species of most orders, but 

 a complete list of them has never been published and the habits of most of them have never been carefully studied. 

 Only those which are really injurious to the tree need to be considered. 



Order Hymenoptera: Several species of sawflies (Tenthredinidce) , occasionally very injurious to the younger tress, 

 the larvio defoliating the branches. The species thus far observed are Lophyrus abbotii, Leach ; Lophyrus lecontei, 

 Fitch, and three or four less common species. 



Order Coleoptera: Round-headed borers (larvae of Cerambycida) affect the trees similarly to the Buprestidce, 

 but their burrows are always cylindrical, and some species bore only under the bark. The most abundant and 

 destructive is Monohammus tititlator, Fabr.. but there are many other species, of which the following is a partial list: 

 Kcaphlnui spharicollif, Lee. ; Asemum moestum, Hald. ; Cnocephalus nubitim, Lee. ; Eiipogonius tomentosus, Hald. ; Acantho- 

 einiin nodosim, Fabr. In the family Curciilionidir, the worst enemy of the pine tree in the more Northern States, 

 Pisnoden utrobi is rare in the region of the Longleaf Pine, but another species, Pachylobius picivorus, Germ., the larvae 

 of which bore under the bark, is quite common and greatly injurious to the Longleaf Pine. Of its more dangerous 

 enemies the Scolytid beetles, which mostly bore their galleries under the bark, only a few species entering the solid 

 wood, the following are known to infest Pinus palnntrin: PUi/ophlhuriinpiilicariuH, Zim.; P. nnnectens, Lee. ; Tomicus 

 caU'njraii1mx,C,er.; T. anilsut, Eich. ; T. cacographus. Lee.; Crypturgus atomun, Lee.; Dendroctonus terebrans, Oliv. ; 

 D.frontalis, Zim.; Hi/lastes porcidus, Er. ; H. enlix, Chap. 



The few species entering the solid wood are Platypus quadriAentatuH, Oliv. ; Gnathotrichus maieriarius, Fitch, and 

 XyleboruH pnbeacenx, /im. Most of these Scolytidse are extremely numerous in specimens, and although they usually 

 infest rnjured or diseased trees, yet in cases of excessive multiplication or for want of proper food they often attack 

 healthy trees, which within one or two years succumb to their attacks. 



