318 WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION 



published in Insect Life, Vol. V. No. 3, p. 187-9, is here pre- 

 sented as an important feature in the history of the work. 

 Extract from proceedings of the Entomological Society of 

 Washington, Oct. 6th, 1892: 



REMARKS AT MEETING OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 1 



"It appears that an unhealthy condition of the pine forests in West Vir- 

 ginia and Virginia has existed in certain points in the Allegheny Moun- 

 tain range and adjacent foot hills since about the year 1888, but had only 

 attracted local attention until within the last two years, when its rapid 

 spread and increasing devastation brought the matter to public notice, 

 and it was referred to this Station, and to me, for investigation. I have, 

 therefore, made two extended journeys through the eastern portion of 

 our State, one in May and the other in Julv of this year, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the character and cause of the trouble and the extent of 

 the damage, and also to discover, if possible, a remedy. 



It was found that when this trouble commences in a healthy forest, 

 groups of trees numbering from two to a dozen or more are noticed dying 

 the first year. The foliage of such trees first turns yellow and then red, as 

 if killed by fire. The second year this pecular condition will have spread 

 until the groups of dying trees extend over one to ten or more acres, and 

 by the third year the entire forest of pine trees of all kinds, on hundreds 

 of acres is often found dead and dying. 



After studying all the conditions found, and a due consideration of all 

 the visible and probable elements which might produce them, I was con- 

 vinced that a single species of Coleopterous insect, Dendroctonus frontalis 

 was to blame for the primary attack and resulting death of the trees. 



From personal observation it was found that the dead and dying con- 

 dition of the pine extends from near the Pennsylvania line in Maryland on 

 the north, through Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, Pendleton, Randolph, Po- 

 cahontas and Greenbrier, to Summers and Raleigh counties in West Vir- 

 ginia on the south, and from inquiry and correspondence I learned that the 

 same condition extends through about an equal area in Virginia. Therefore, 

 it would seem that the ravages of this beetle extends over an area of at least 

 10,000 square miles, including portions of West Virginia, Virginia and 

 Maryland, on which five species of pine and the spruce are being dam- 

 aged and killed to a greater or less extent by them. In certain sections 

 entire forests of pine, including all species on several square miles, are dead 

 and have been a total loss. The greatest destruction has been in the for- 

 ests of the common pitch pine (Finns rigida, Miller) and the scrub pine 

 (Pinus Virginiana, Mill., or inops, Ait), and in the less common but less 

 valuable yellow pine (Pinus echinata, Mill.) 



The extensive and valuable forests of black spruce (Picea mariana), and 

 white pine (Pinus strobus L.) in West Virginia are being invaded by in- 

 sects; therefore, owners who have large interests in such timber are be- 

 coming alarmed. The ravages of the insects in the other pines have been 

 of such a serious character, the spread so rapid, and the destruction so 

 complete, that there is really good cause for alarm, and should this de- 

 structive work continue in the spruce and white pine of our State, and 

 the invasions of this insect extend into the great pine forests of the south- 

 ern States, many millions of dollars will be added to the great loss already 

 sustained. 



"Insect Life," Vol. V, page 187, January, 1893, 



