3o8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, 



curious habit of Obera ruficollis, which makes a double girdling on the 

 twigs attacked by it, and in which it lays its eggs. A lepidopterous borer 

 which has not been determined has become a pest on maples by working 

 in the twigs and causing their death. He has observed that maples in- 

 fested by the oyster-shell bark-louse matured their fruit much earlier than 

 usual, the effect of the insects being to produce premature ripening. 

 Odontota dorsalis has been exceedingly abundant on locust, and has done 

 much mischief. It seems to have possibilities of becoming troublesome 

 in other directions, and has been noticed feeding on leaves of apples, oaks 

 and other trees. It was noted that Xylebortcs celsus in hickory stumps 

 always arranged matters so that one specimen was on guard at the open- 

 ing, presenting the end of the elytra to the outward. Mr. Hopkins sug- 

 gests that possibly this may be the reason for the armature of the elytra 

 in many Scolytids, presenting to an entering enemy the least vulnerable 

 point. It would probably keep out a large proportion of troublesome 

 species that might otherwise invade the burrows and injure the larvae. 

 Lina lapponica has been very injurious to willows, almost defoliating them 

 in some cases. He has been unable to find a single living specimen of 

 Dendroctonus frontalis, and there has been no opportunity for Clerus 

 formicarius to prove its usefulness as against these insects. He finds 

 also, that many wood-borers are killed by a species of Isaria, and he 

 suggested that this fungus may be very useful in keeping down insects 

 of this description under some circumstances. 



Mr. Fletcher agreed with Mr. Hopkins as to the injury caused by fire 

 and its consequences. In his experience trees burned over during the 

 Summer must be cut early next year, as otherwise it would be seriously 

 injured by insects. Among the most troublesome forms in Canada are 

 the species of Monohammus, which enter the trees very soon after the 

 injury. There seems to be some mistake in the general belief as to the 

 length of time required by this larva to reach maturity. He is convinced 

 that in many cases the insect undergoes its development in one year, 

 especially where the eggs are laid early in the season. Where they are 

 laid later, they may need two years to reach their full development. The 

 insects bore into the solid wood after they become partially grown, but 

 seem to have the habit of coming back occasionally and working for a 

 time under the bark and in that way keeping the channel open and of 

 sufficient size, while also enlarging the chamber made by them under the 

 bark. Protection can be secured against many insects by cutting strips 

 of the bark after the trees has been felled. Serious injury is done, un- 

 questionably, each year by the action of insects. 



Mr. Fernald referred to the work done by the Gypsy moth Committee 

 during the past year and to the difficulties in securing the necessary sup- 

 port from the Legislature of Massachusetts. Mr. Forbush and Mr. Kirk- 

 land explained respectively the field work done and the lines of experi- 

 ments that were carried on in the laboratory. There was some general 

 discussion on the importance of the work, as the outcome of which reso- 



