PLUM SCALE 



117 



FIG. 140. Divar- 

 icated buprestis. 

 (U. S. Bu. Ent.) 



Control. Blighted trees or limbs should be cut off below the 

 injured part and burned before the beetle emerges. 



The Divaricated Buprestis (Dicer ca divaricata Say). The 

 grub of this beetle, when full grown, resembles, in a general way, 

 the flat-headed borer of the apple tree. It lives 

 in the sap wood and destroys it by burrowing and 

 feeding upon it. Pupation takes place just below 

 the bark. The adults appear in June, July, and 

 August, and at that time they may sometimes be 

 seen in the bright sunshine on the trunks of the 

 trees. The eggs are deposited in the crevices in 

 bark of old plum and cherry trees; it also attacks 

 the peach. The adult is a copper-colored beetle 

 nearly an inch long, with brassy reflections. Its 

 back is thickly pitted and also exhibits several 

 depressed lines and small elevated spots. The posterior ends of 

 the wing-covers are separated (Fig. 140). 



Control. Control measures similar to those used for the flat- 

 headed borer of the apple tree apply equally to this species. It is 

 seldom very troublesome. 



The American Plum-tree Borer (Euzophora semifuneralis 



Walker). This moth appears in 

 early spring and deposits eggs 

 on the larger limbs of the 

 plum trees. Tl^e young caterpillars 

 eat their way into the tree, feed- 

 ing upon the inner bark, and re- 

 maining under the bark until the 

 following spring, when they 

 emerge as adults. 



Control. When possible, de- 

 stroy this borer with a sharp wire. 

 A strong solution of soap and 

 crude carbolic acid may be ap- 

 plied as a repellent. See also 

 remedy fo*r round-headed apple- 

 tree borer. 



The Plum Scale (Eulecanium sp.). This is a large scale attack- 

 ing the leaves and bark of the plum tree. The eggs are deposited 

 in great numbers under the old scale in early summer. The young, 

 when hatched, crawl about the tree, reaching the leaves and twigs, 



FIG. 141. Lecanium scale on plum. 



