INSECT PESTS OF TIMBER 129 



The Girdlers are not numerous in this country. 

 A rare species is mentioned by Theobald and is 

 known as the Beech Agrilus, Agrilus viridis ; 

 apparently it only occurs in the South of England 

 and is destructive not only to sapHng Beeches, 

 but to Oaks, Aspens, Alders and Birches. Damage 

 is done by the larvae which tunnel beneath the 

 bark and, at times, girdle the tree, though they 

 can hardly be termed true girdlers, as are some 

 of the other insects we shall mention. " As a 

 rule the bark over the larval tunnel sphts and 

 leaves behind a ragged crack, which is very 

 characteristic of the damage done by this 

 beetle." 



According to Theobald, the adults, which are 

 metallic green in colour, appear in June or 

 July and fly in bright sunshine. The eggs are 

 placed on the bark of the saplings near the 

 ground, usually singly, and exposed to the sun. 

 The larvae appear in August ; they are white 

 and legless, with broad first segment, usually 

 somewhat flattened. They live in the trees for 

 two or three winters, and pupate in April and 

 May in the bark or sapwood, the cocoons being 

 made of fragments of wood. The beetles emerge 

 through holes which are oval below, straight 

 above." 



In America, the closely related Agrilus politus 

 girdles small branches of Oak trees, whilst 



