FOREST INSECTS AND FUNGI 



I0 9 



Appearance. The moth is a small orange-red insect about 

 one-half inch long with three-quarters inch wing spread and may 

 be observed in July and August. In the buds and new shoots a 

 dark brown larva with a black head can be found. When mature 

 it is two-thirds of an inch in length. The dying shoots with larva 

 inside are the best indication of the presence of the insect. 



Life History. The moths in the late summer lay eggs singly 

 on new buds for next year's growth. Ordinarily the terminal 

 cluster of buds are selected. A minute larva soon hatches and 

 eats into the bud and hollows out a cell inside. It may devour 

 the inside of one bud and tunnel into another adjoining. The 

 larva winters in one of the buds. As soon as the sap starts in the 

 spring the larva resumes work and eats more buds, and, as the 

 buds develop, the inside of the young shoots. Since only very 

 young and tender shoots can be devoured, some may not be 

 killed but are injured on one side. They bend over at the 

 injured point and form a permanent crook in the tree. Finally 

 the larva builds a chamber in one of the hollow shoots and 

 pupates. In about three weeks the moth emerges. 



Treatment. Removal of the* infested twigs and buds is the 

 best method of control. This work may be done at any time 

 in fall, winter or early spring. Fall and winter are best. Buds 

 containing larva can be identified by small exudations of pitch 

 near the base of the bud. In the spring injured shoots can be 

 easily found. Since the pine-shoot moth spreads slowly the 

 work of extermination may be possible. It should be attempted 

 immediately on location of an infestation. In Europe several 

 parasites prey on the pine-shoot moth. Several native species 

 of shoot moths are known to injure pines, but none are so vora- 

 cious and dangerous as the European variety. 



THE SPRUCE-DESTROYING BEETLE 1 (Dendroctonus piceaperda). 



Form of Damage. This insect, which has been prevalent in 

 New England and New York since 1818, has destroyed much 



1 See "Some of the Principal Insect Enemies of Coniferous Forests in the 

 United States," by A. D. Hopkins, from Yearbook, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1902. 



