REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I912 39 



The false maple scale continues abundant in the vicinity of New 

 York City and was a subject of considerable correspondence during 

 the summer. The cottony maple scale was also responsible for a 

 number of complaints. 



Forest pests. The hickory bark beetle has continued its de- 

 structive operations in the vicinity of New York City. The 

 abundance of this pest and the hearty cooperation of Mr J. Jarnes 

 de Vyver, of Mount Vernon, made possible a series of tests for 

 the purpose of finding some method which could be relied upon 

 to destroy the insect after the beetles had entered the trees. 

 Studies in the field showed that in some localities many of the 

 grubs died within a few weeks after hatching and before they 

 were able to cause material injury. A detailed discussion of this 

 work, together with the Entomologist's investigations upon the 

 biology of the pest and its natural checks, is given in his annual 

 report. 



Many of the white pines in the vicinity of Albany have been 

 killed in recent years by bark borers. The Entomologist's study 

 of the conditions showed that in all probability this attack was 

 the outcome of extreme droughts and very low winter tempera- 

 tures. Parties suffering from the activities of these pests have 

 been advised to cut and burn all infested trees prior to the open- 

 ing of another season. 



Hosts of Ambrosia beetles belonging to the genus Platypus at- 

 tacked freshly sawn, sappy mahogany in the yard of a veneer cut- 

 ting company near New York City and inflicted severe loss be- 

 sides causing grave apprehensions. An investigation showed 

 that the insects originated from a shipload of mahogany from 

 Panama. Upon the advice of the Entomologist, the infested 

 material was removed and the few insects remaining soon disap- 

 peared. 



The destructive work of the locust leaf miner, noticed in the 

 Entomologist's report, was studied the past season and additional 

 information secured in relation to its habits and methods of con- 

 trol. The most severe injury, as in 191 1, resulted from the feed- 

 ing of the beetles. 



The woolly bark louse of the white pines has been the occasion 

 of several complaints during the past summer, and an investiga- 

 tion showed that in some instances at least, large trees were seri- 

 ously weakened if not destroyed by this insect. 



