INSECTS. 301 



and are believed to be several years in reaching the per- 

 fect state. 



LeptOStylus aculiferus, bores under the bark of apple 

 trees. It is a short, thick, brownish-gray beetle, with 

 thorns upon its wing-covers ; hence, the scientific name 

 of needle-bearer. Length, 0.35 inch; season, August. 

 The larvje are small worms, occurring in multitudes under 

 the bark, and making long- winding burrows. 



Tomicus mail, or the Apple-bark Beetle, is described 

 by Dr. Fitch as new. He says, it is a small, smooth, 

 black or chestnut-red, cylindrical beetle ; the larvse feed 

 under the bark, and then enter the wood, killing the 

 young tree. 



Conotrachelus Nenuphar, (Jlerbst), is the noted and 

 notorious and yet little known Plum Weevil, that is such 

 an abomination to plum planters, and which has proved 

 very injurious to our peaches and is even accused of pro- 

 ducing deformities in our pears and apples. 



The egg is deposited in the fruit, where it soon hatches 

 and feeds, approaching the stone. This causes the fruit to 

 fall, and when the grub has attained its full size it de- 

 scends into the ground to perform its transformation. The 

 perfect insect, a small, dark-gray beetle, either crawls up 

 the stem, or flies to the trees. Mr. Walsh reminds us that 

 Dr. Trimble has found these insects hybernating in shel- 

 tered places. 



REMEDIES. It is lamentable that we have been able to 

 do so little to prevent the ravages of this insect. The 

 plan of shaking off, and destroying the affected fruits, 

 promises the best results, by diminishing the next crop. 

 It was suggested by David Thomas, of New York, but is 



