122 



MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



FIG 



Larva, pupa and beetle of Maj 

 cTalis olyra. 



THE OAK-BARK AVEEVIL. 



Magdalis olyra (Herbst). 



Order Coleoptera : Family Cdeculionid^. 



Specimens of the above in- 

 sect were received from Mr. B. 

 Walker McKeen and sent him 

 by Mr. Delano Moore of 

 Presque Isle. They were said 

 to be feeding on the leaves of 

 elm trees in that region. This 

 being a new habit for this 

 species we wrote Mr. Moore 

 asking him to send more of the 

 insect and some of the leaves upon which it 

 was feeding. Here we give a cut of one of 

 the leaves showing the nature of the work. 

 Mr. Moore writes that this species was also 

 very abundant upon hazel bushes in June^ 

 destroying the leaves. We sent some of the 

 beetles to Dr. Horn, who pronounced them 

 the above species. 



Dr. Packard says [in Forest Insects, p. 80] 

 that this species infests oak trees, the larvae 

 living under the bark. We do not know 

 whether the larvae attack elm trees or not, 

 but possibly this is so, as the perfect beetle 

 feeds on the leaves. This species can be 

 recognized by the cut and following descrip- 

 tion : Color dark reddish brown to nearly 

 black, clothed with short lighter colored 

 hairs. The base and tips of femora and rest 

 Fig. VI. Elm leaf eaten by of the legs including the autennffi pitchy red- 

 Magdaiis olyra (original). ^^^-^^ Length one-fourth to one-third of an 

 inch. 



We know no remedy. Should it confine its attacks largely to 

 hazel bushes it would be more beneficial than otherwise. 



