2O REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



burned, but as the caterpillars leave their burrows on slight provocation, their 

 destruction should not be delayed long after cutting. Limbs broken off by storms 

 should be collected and burned, as they frequently contain caterpillars of this pest. 

 The borers in larger branches or in the trunk should be cut out and destroyed whenever 

 possible. In some cases they may be killed in their burrows with a flexible wire. 

 Dr. E. B. Southwick, who has had considerable experience in fighting the pest in 

 Central Park, Xew York, has found that it pays to use carbon bisulfid on the more 

 valuable trees. The insecticide is carried in an oil can and when a caterpillar can be 

 located, the chemical is inserted in the burrow and the hole sealed with putty. The 

 deadly fumes soon make their way to the borer and kill it with little or no injury to the 

 tree. As the carbon bisulfid is very volatile, its vapor inflammable and explosive, 

 great care must be taken to keep it from all fire. Mr. M. F. Adams of Buffalo, N. V., 

 who has tried some experiments in fighting borers, recommends the use of newly made 

 hard soap in the place of putty for plugging the holes after the carbon bisulfid has 

 been inserted. 



?\aple 



Sesia acerni Clem. 



The riddling of the new tissues around healing wounds on maples is usually the 

 work of this borer. The round holes through the injured bark and the brownish, 

 powdery borings are very characteristic of this insect's work. This pest has a special 

 fondness for the tissues growing over wounds, though occasionally it may be found 

 operating on comparatively smooth trunks. It is generally distributed over the state 

 and evidences of its work occur in many localities. Trees wounded from any cause 

 find great difficulty in the comparatively simple process of covering exposed wood 

 with bark after being attacked by this insect. Thus relatively insignificant wounds 

 result in scars constantly increasing in size and finally in a badly disfigured, gnarled 

 maple. When' abundant, these creatures may nearly girdle a' tree. Very serious 

 complaints regarding this pest have been made in Michigan, Missouri, and even in 

 Buffalo, N. Y., and it has been stated that this insect annually causes much damage 

 to hard maples. 



Description. These beautiful, wasp like, red tailed moths (Plate 2, figure 16) are not 

 often seen by the casual observer. An infested tree frequently presents the appearance 

 represented on plate 2. Near a partly healed wound there may be found a number of 

 round holes (Plate 2, figure 12) and considerable brownish, powdery matter (Plate 2, 

 figure 1 7), the excrement or frass of the borers. Empty pupal cases may frequently 



