35 



Concerning the time occupied l>y tliis borer in passing through 

 its various transformations there arc many statements of a con- 

 tradictory character. It would appear that the time may vary 

 from one to four years, although the writer believes that one 

 year is the rule in this region. Dr. Hamilton,* in his criticism 

 of the writings of Peck, Harris and Fitch on this insect, states 

 that in cases coming under his observation from three to four 

 years were required for the development of the mature insect. In 

 the summer of 1896 a number of branches infested by this insect, 

 collected soon after falling from the trees, were placed in an out- 

 door breeding cage at the insectary of the gypsy moth committee. 

 Maiden, Mass. From these branches, at the time of writing (June 

 12, 1897), the mature beetles are emerging, thus showing that the 

 round of life may be completed in a single year and corroborating 

 the statements of Fitch and other early writers concerning this 

 point, t 



Natural Enemies. 



As natural enemies of the oak pruner Mr. F. H. Mosher records 

 the downy wood-pecker, the blue jay and the chickadee. I have 

 found a spider, determined by Mr. J. H. Emerton as Theridiitm 

 tepidariorum C. Koch, feeding upon the mature insects. 



Remedy. 

 Preventive measures are the only ones of value in combating 

 this insect. The fallen branches should be gathered and burned 

 at once, thus destroying the borers which otherwise might trans- 

 form and appear as beetles the following year. A common mis- 

 take made by many property owners is that of gathering the in- 

 fested branches and leaving them on some convenient rubbish 

 heap. This procedure is worse than useless, since under such 

 conditions the transformations of the borer are not hindered. 



The Imported Elm Bark Louse. | 

 In cities and suburban districts the damage to young elms by this 

 insect is a frequent and increasing cause of complaint, and while its 

 life history has been so well treated by Lounsbury in Bulletin 28, 

 Massachusetts Hatch Experiment Station, a brief statement con- 

 cerning its habits and the remedies we have found effective in 

 destroying it may be properly given at this time. 



* Canadian Entomologist, August, 18S7. 



t Statements also vary concerning the time of the appearance of the mature bee- 

 tles. In 1896 the majority of the beetles captured at Maiden were taken in June. 

 Mr. A. F. Burgess has taken specimens of this" borer as early as^April 11. 



J Gossyparia ulmi GeoflF. 



