INSECT NOTES. 41 



Xylebonts dispar (Shot borer). 



In a letter dated June 3, from a correspondent in West Tre- 

 mont, Maine, the complaint is made that this beetle is killing 

 the young apple trees. This beetle is a native species and 

 Kittacks both hard and soft wood trees as well as the apple trees. 

 The young larvae bore into the wood, making deep channels 

 v/hich in the small twigs interfere with the circulation of the 

 sap, and the twigs wither, giving the appearance of blight. 

 The beetle is less than one-eighth of an inch in length, dark 

 brown or nearly black in color, with legs and antennae rusty red. 

 They leave their burrows in July and deposit eggs before Au- 

 gust, according to Harvey. It is a difficult insect to exterminate, 

 especially in orchards in the vicinity of forest trees. Cutting 

 out of diseased limbs and burning is the most satisfactory treat- 

 meiit. Lot 730. 



Monohainmns scntcllatiis (Pine borer). 



Beetles of this species were found quite abundantly, June 30, 

 in Orono, upon the larch. On many of the trees the young 

 twigs appeared as if the bark had been chewed off. In Insect 

 Notes for 1908 (Me. Agr. Exp. Station Bulletin No. 162) there 

 is a record of this species destroying pine needles. The beetle 

 is about ^4 of '^'"^ hich in length with antennae double the length 

 of the body in the male. It is shining black, its wing-covers 

 having small patches of short hairs here and there resembling 

 spots of white mold, their surface rough from coarse confluent 

 pimctures and the thorax similarly punctured across its middle, 

 its base and apex with irregular transverse wrinkles, and its 

 sides with a conical spine, which is not clothed with hairs, and 

 the scutcllum coated over with white hairs. The large white 

 grub bores in the wood. The beetle is rather common in Maine. 

 If anyone should see this insect feeding upon leaves or twigs 

 of any tree, he will confer a favor upon us if he send in a 

 record of his observations. Lot 780. 



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