THE ELM-LEAF BEETLE IN I^EW TOKK STATE O 



THE ELM-LEAF BEETLE IN NEW YORK STATE 



Galerucella luteola Mtiller 



Ord. Coleoptera: Fam. Chrysomelidae 



This imported insect has committed such extensive injury to 

 the elms in the cities and villages along the Hudson river that it 

 is v^orthy of extended notice. The residents of places where this 

 pest has established itself have repeatedly observed the grubs 

 working on their elms and in many instances have seen two or 

 even three crops of leaves destroyed in a single season without 

 taking steps toward the protection of the trees. 



The causes for this condition of affairs are not hard to find, 

 as the majority are inclined to trust in providence and hope that 

 the ravages of the insect will not be as severe the next season. 

 Many others see the grubs at work on the underside of the leaves 

 but not being quite sure of the best method of controlling them, 

 and as there is no way of doing this without labor, they usually 

 make no effort to subdue the pest. 



Bad reputation of its family. This beetle is a member of 

 the large, leaf-eating family of Chrysomelidae, which comprises a 

 number of our most injurious insects. It includes such well- 

 known pests as the asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi Linn., the 

 Colorado potato beetle, Doryphora 10-lineata Say, the 12-spotted 

 Diabrotica, D. 12-punctata Oliv. and the striped cucumber beetle, 

 Diabrotioa vittata Fabr., all well-known insects against which 

 perpetual warfare must be waged. Another member of this 

 family, the cottonwood-leaf beetle, Lina scripta Fabr., recently 

 inflicted serious damage upon the large basket industry in the 

 willow growing districts about Syracuse, Rochester and other 

 localities in that part of the state. Judging from the well-known 

 records of its allies, we may expect that the elm-leaf beetle will 

 continue to be very destructive. 



Inaction means death to the elms. The elm-leaf beetle was 

 known in Albany in 1892, probably having made its way to the 

 city a year or two earlier, and since that time its ravages have 

 become more and more serious, until in 1897 most of the numer- 



