Division of Entomology. 



Robert A. Cooley. 



THE IMPORTED ELM LEAF BEETLE. 



Galerncella luteola ( Mull. ) 



The elm leaf beetle is a native of Europe, but made its first appear- 

 ance iu this country about sixty years ago and, though it has long 

 been present in the sea-board states south of us, it was not known tO' 

 occur in Massachusetts till the summer of 1895. So far as is known 

 the occurrence in this state is confined to the valley of the Connecti- 

 cut river, apparently having been introduced along the lines of traffic 

 from the state of Connecticut, where it has been present in destruc- 

 tive numbers for several years. 



The American elm, Ulmus americcma, is noticeably exempt from^ 

 attack when the European elm, Uhnus ccmipestris, is at hand. When 

 the two stand side by side the latter may be seriously eaten and the 

 former untouched. In the absence of the favorite species, however, 

 the American elm is unhesitatingly attacked. 



The insects pass the winter as perfect or adult beetles (Fig. 1, c 

 and A;.), in cracks of fences, piles of boards etc., as well as in 

 houses, barns and other accessible places. They begin toappearthe 

 following spring, a little before the buds of the elm open and con- 

 tinue to come out for two or three weeks. The females lay their 

 eggs in clusters of from five to twenty, on the under side of the 

 young leaves and then die. The eggs are orange yellow in color 

 and oblong-oval in shape, tapering toward one end, the opposite end 

 being attached to the leaf, and the surface, when highly magnified, 

 is seen to be reticulated with hexagonal figures (Fig. I,/.)- Iti 

 about a week these eggs hatch and it is in the larval stage that the 

 greater part of the feeding is done. The young larva is elongated 



