240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Dr. Harris describes the mature beetle as follows: "The 

 beetle is black, with a yellow head, with the antennse and the 

 eyes reddish-black ; the thorax is black, with two transverse 

 yellow spots on each side ; the wing-covers for about two- 

 thirds of their length are black, the remaining third is yellow, 

 and they are ornamented with bands and spots arranged in 

 the following manner : a yellow spot on each shoulder, a 

 broad yellow curved band or arch, of which the yellow scutel 

 forms the keystone, on the base of the wing-covers ; behind 

 this a zigzag yellow band forming the letter W, across the 

 middle another yellow band arching backwards, and on the 

 yellow tip a black curved band and spot ; legs yellow, while 

 the under side of the body is reddish-yellow, variegated with 

 brown, nearly an inch in length." 



Nature of the Damage. 

 The cambium layer, the layer of living wood just beneath 

 the bark, is the growing part of the tree and contains vessels 

 which serve a function similar to that of the arteries and 

 veins of an animal. The grubs or larvsB of the borer feed 

 in the cambium and cut off the circulation of sap. This re- 

 sults in the death of the trunk near the burrows, the bark 

 falls off and areas of dead wood are exposed to the disin- 

 tegrating influences of the air. In the mean time, however, 

 the tree attempts to overcome the injury by throwing out an 

 additional growth at the wounded places, and thus the 

 gnarled and unsightly trunks are produced. An early yel- 

 lowing and falling of the foliage is another indication of the 

 presence of the borer and betrays the weakened condition of 

 the tree. The largest or so-called "first growth" maples 

 are nearly exempt from the attacks of this insect, possibly 

 because the roughness and thickness of the bark may prevent 

 the beetle from depositing its eggs. Younger trees, with 

 smoother bark, are frequently attacked, and upon such trees 

 throughout the State the ravages of the beetle are apparently 

 on the increase. 



Natural Enemies. 



As natural enemies of this insect it is probable that vari- 

 ous species of woodpeckers render the greatest service. At 

 Huntington, Mass., I have seen the hairy woodpecker, the 



