2 BULLETIN" 262/ 17. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



old cavities in the trunk or larger branches for the purpose of rilling 

 with some cement-like material, a practice which is growing in favor, 

 the presence of this borer often forces the operator, in removing all 

 unsound wood, to cut much deeper into the tree than would other- 

 wise be necessary. 



While trees of medium age are sometimes attacked, and old trees 

 that have been somewhat neglected suffer most, the borers have 

 also been reported as occurring in nursery stock. Many old orchards 

 that have passed their prime, but are still capable of producing good 

 and profitable crops of fruit, are hastened to their end by this insect. 



In two or three specific instances the Parandra borer has been 

 recorded as being injurious to fruit trees, and many cases have been 

 reported of the collection of the parent beetle on or about orchard 

 trees. It appears, however, that no recommendations as to reme- 

 dial measures have been made, and it would seem that further 

 information regarding the insect and its habits and possible methods 

 of reducing or preventing its attacks should be available to fruit grow- 

 ers and owners of fruit-producing trees. For the foregoing reasons 

 this brief account of the species is presented. 



HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION. 



The Parandra borer has been referred to by previous writers as 

 the "ash root-borer," "chestnut telephone-pole borer," and "heart- 

 wood borer." These names, while significant with regard to the 

 habits of the insect, are regarded by the writer as being too 

 restrictive in their meaning to be appropriate as common names, 

 since the borer does not confine its attacks to ash roots, chestnut tele- 

 phone poles, nor entirely to the heartwood of trees in which it feeds. 

 In fact, it is a very general feeder, attacking the live and dead heart- 

 wood and sapwood of a great variety of trees, including pine, black 

 walnut, hickory, willow, beech, chestnut, chinquapin, oak, elm, tulip, 

 apple, pear, plum, wild and cultivated cherry, locust, Ailanthus, soft 

 maple, basswood, and black ash. 



The Parandra borer belongs to the Spondylidse, a small family 

 closely related to the Cerarnbycidee which includes many of the 

 wood-boring larva?. The species was first described by Fabricius, 1 

 in the year 1798, and given the technical name which it still bears. 

 In the year 1861 Dr. George H. Horn 2 made the following record: 

 "The larva of this insect maybe seen in almost every locality in which 

 decaying wood may be found. It appears to prefer beechwood, at 

 least I have always found greater numbers in that particular kind of 

 wood." In 1880 the American Entomologist for the month of 

 August acknowledged the receipt by Dr. C. V. Riley of larvas of this 



1 Fabricius, J. C Supplementurn Entomologise Systematica, p. 49. Hafniae, 1798. Tenebrio brunneus. 



2 Horn, G. H. Observations on the habits of some coleopterous larvae and pupae. In Proc. Ent. Soe. 

 Phila., v. 1, p. 43-44, Sept., 1861; p. 43, Parandra brunnea (Fabr.). 



