296 WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Eichhoff of Strassburg, Germany, a renowned specialist in the 

 study of European bark beetles (Scolytidae), who desired to 

 obtain a large series of specimens of bark beetles from this 

 country for study. After sending him specimens of all the 

 species I had then collected, which he kindly examined and 

 identified for me, I made the following request which was the 

 first active measure taken towards the contemplated importa- 

 tion of parasites, as a means of controlling distructive bark 

 beetles. 

 Extract from letter to Mr. Eichhoff, dated Oct. 12th, 1891: 



"I regard to a further sending from you I would sa} r that if after you 

 have named for me the beetles in both of my sendings, you desire to send 

 me any more, I would be pleased to have some specimens of insects which 

 are known to destroy your most injurious species of Scolytid ; in fact, I 

 would like to arrange to have you select and send me live pupae of some 

 of the parasites of your scolytidae, which you think might be of benefit to 

 us in destroying some of our injurious species here. 



Parasites which would attack Scolytus ruyulosus, Polyyraphus rufipennis, 

 Dendroctonus terebrans, or D.frontalis, might prove of great benefit to us, 

 if we can succeed in propagating them." 



Mr. Eichhoff, in reply to this letter, kindly sent me a large 

 number of pinned specimens of parasitic add predaceous in- 

 sect enemies of European Scolytids. 



THE PINE AND SPRUCE THREATENED WITH TOTAL DKSTRUCTION. 



After making a thorough investigation of the spruce and 

 white pine forests in June and July, 1892, as previously men- 

 tioned, and having ascertained beyond all question that the 

 true cause ot the trouble was due to the attack of the pine bark 

 beetle, which was materially aided by numerous other species 

 of bark beetles, 1 realized that the early and total destruction 

 of the pine and spruce timber of the State, as well as of the 

 eastern and southern United States, was not only possible but 

 probable, if the progress of the invasion was not in some way 

 abated or checked. 



Finding that the trouble had just commenced in the spruce, 

 and that there were large bodies of healthy white pine which 

 had not been invaded, I was led to believe that the previously 

 contemplated experiment of introducing natural enemies of 

 bark beetles from Europe was worthy of a trial, and that possi- 

 bly such enemies, if successfully located around the borders 



