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THE HICKORY BARK-BEETLE 
WitHiPLates CXVIII anp CXIX 
For several years past the hickories have been dying at an 
alarming rate in the northern and eastern United States, and 
in fact almost throughout the range of the growth of these trees. 
The city parks, including the New York Botanical Garden, have 
suffered their share of the loss. While there may be a complication 
of causes it is usually agreed that the bark-beetle is responsible 
for a large part of this loss 
MEANs OF DETECTING ITS PRESENCE 
One of the first evidences of the presence of this insect is the 
premature dying and falling off of the leaves of the trees in mid- 
summer, July and August. Frequent inquiries as to the cause 
of this premature defoliation ie the hickories have been ae 
to the Garden during the past summer. The leaves may fall to 
the ground or may be only ik eee and remain hanging 
in a dead condition, greatly injuring the appearance of the tree. 
If the ria leaves are closely examined it will be found that 
there is a small cavity at the base of the petiole which has been 
made by the adult beetle, which feeds upon the buds and soft 
tissues of the smaller branches of the tree. These cavities so 
weaken the petioles that the leaves are easily broken from the 
tree by the wind. If the insect would confine its attacks to the 
smaller branches, twigs and leaves the damage resulting from 
its work would be comparatively slight, but they also attack the 
large branches or main trunk and it is here that the principal 
part of the damage is done. 
Lire History AND HABITS 
The adult beetles emerge in June or early July and feed upon 
the smaller branches or bore directly into the bark of the tree. 
Both the males and females enter the tree, the males for food 
and the females to deposit their eggs. In depositing her eggs 
the female confines herself to the main trunk or larger branches. 
The hole through which she enters is bored inward and upward. 
