194 Practical Forestry 



the leading shoots of the tree it attacks. It enters by boring 

 a hole into the side of the shoot until it reaches the pith, 

 after which its course is directed upwards, and an exit made 

 at the terminal bud. This tunnelling of the shoot so weak- 

 ens it that frequently during stormy weather it is broken 

 across at the point where the beetle entered. Not only are 

 unhealthy trees attacked by the pine beetle, but young and 

 robust-growing specimens frequently fall a prey to its 

 insidious depredations. 



June, July and August are the months when it is most 

 commonly found. 



The only remedy is to collect and burn the affected shoots 

 work that requires to be done with the utmost care to 

 prevent the escape of the wary insect. Burning all brush- 

 wood in plantations is a great preventive. 



The Pine Weevil (Curculio (Hylobius) Abietis) is another 

 destructive insect, which differs from the former in waging 

 its attacks against the buds of the leaders and branches, as 

 also by eating patches of the bark here and there on the 

 stems and branches. The various species of Abies suffer 

 most, but the pines are occasionally attacked as well. It is 

 always most destructive in young plantations growing on 

 the margins of old woods, and equally bad amongst trees that 

 have been planted on the site of a former pine plantation. 



The beetle is about half an inch long, and nearly black. 

 One remedy, probably the best, is to place fresh pieces of 

 pine bark on the ground, beneath the infested trees. By 

 > linking the trees and examining the traps the following 

 morning, many may be destroyed. 



Bostrichus typographus is another pest of our wood- 

 lands, and may frequently be seen, like fine white wool, 

 spreading over the stem and branches of the silver and other 

 firs. It spreads with terrible rapidity, first appearing in 

 small patches here and there on the bole, and particularly 

 on the under sides of the branches. The tree infested soon 

 becomes unhealthy, and frequently dies off prematurely. 

 Trees growing in low-lying, heavy ground would seem to fall 

 a first prey to this insect. 



Bostrichus laricis is nearly allied to the former, but its 



