238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Three Shade-tree Insects. 



BY A. II. KIRKLAND, M.S., ASSISTANT ENTOMOLOGIST TO THE COMMITTEE 

 ON GYPSY MOTH, INSECTS AND BIRDS. 



The Sugar Maple Borer.* 

 One of the largest and most gaily colored beetles of our 

 New England fauna is responsible for injuries of a most seri- 

 ous character to the sugar maple, a tree which, from beauty 

 of form and as a source of sugar, justly holds a high place 

 in popular estimation. The damage resulting from this 

 beetle, commonly known as the sugar maple borer, shows 

 itself in gnarled and distorted trunks, dying branches and, 

 too frequently, in the gradual death of the entire tree. This 

 pest is not a new one to this region, although its ravages 

 appear to be most severe in more northern latitudes. The 

 habits of the insect were first noticed and described by a New 

 Hampshire pastor, the Rev. L. W. Leonard, who is quoted 

 by Dr. Harris in his " Insects Injurious to Vegetation." 

 The latter author gives an excellent description of the mature 

 beetle. Other writers have given many interesting notes 

 upon the habits of the insect, but perhaps the best account 

 of the life history of this borer is that by Prof. A. S. Pack- 

 ard, in the fifth report of the U. S. Entomological Commis- 

 sion. From this article, as well as from the writings of 

 Saunders, Bethune, Weed and others, the writer has drawn 

 liberally in the preparation of this paper. 



Life History. 

 The eggs are laid by the mature beetle on the trunks of 

 sugar maples during the months of July and August. Ac- 

 cording to Packard, the beetle cuts obscure gashes in the 

 bark and in them deposits the eggs. The eggs hatch in a 

 short time and give rise to small white grubs, which " mine" 

 the bark for a short distance before attacking the cambium 



* Plagionotus speciosus Say. 



