THE COTTONWOOD BOREE. 3 



liquely downward and backward, passing between the body and the 

 first two pairs of legs, tlie tips extending under the posterior pair of 

 legs. The antennae curl outward and backward clorsally to the two 

 anterior pairs of legs, then ventrally and inward nearly to the 

 median line and forward along the tarsi, where they end with the 

 apices or tips pointing nearly outward just below the legs. (Fig. 2.) 



LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 



OVIPOSITION. 



The female deposits her eggs in the trunks of cottonwoods and 

 willows at, or a little below, the surface of the ground. A prelimi- 

 nary examination is made, which, 

 among very small trees, may in- 

 clude the bases of several. Wlien 

 satisfied with her selection, the 

 female clings securely to the bark 

 with her head toward the ground, 

 and by means of her strong jaws 

 loosens the surface soil. This she 

 pushes away with her head by 

 straightening her front legs and 

 thrusting her body outward from 

 the tree. In this manner the 

 soil may be removed to the depth 

 of half an inch. A hole is then 

 made in the bark to receive an 

 egg. In small trees, especially in 

 cuttings set during the preceding 

 spring, this hole may extend 

 through the bark well into the 

 wood. In any case the bark and 

 wood are torn to shreds by the strong jaws of the insect, and some 

 of these shreds usually remain attached to the small round cavity 

 intended for the egg. 



After completing the egg cavity the female turns round and backs 

 into the excavation, locating the cavity with the tip of her abdomen. 

 She then secures a firm hold on the bark and remains in this posi- 

 tion for several minutes, during which time much muscular activity 

 is evident at the tip of the abdomen. The egg is finally extruded and 

 pushed firmly into the cavity intended for it. A quantity of a 

 dark gelatinous sub.stance is deposited around and over the egg, and 

 the adhering wood fibers are patted into place with the tip of the 

 abrhirnon. TIk* wound is then covered and the depression usually 



Fig. 2. — The Cottonwood borer : Pupa, ven- 

 tral view. Enlarged. (Original.) 



