49 



PUBLISHED RECORDS. 



The identification of this species as an enemy of poplar, and what 

 appears to be the first record of its food habits, was made by the late 

 Dr. Lintner in his report as State entomologist of New York for 1883 

 (p. 50), the observation having been made at Elk Lake, Essex County, 

 K. Y. It is as follows : 



Upon some cut poplars {Pojndus tremuloides) piled by the wayside a large number 

 of a wood-boring beetle, Agrilus iorpidus (Lee.), which I had never met with before, 

 were observed alighting from their flight in the bright sunshine and running in jerk- 

 ing motions actively over the bark. Its larva is doubtless a borer in the poplar. 

 Sixty-two examples of it were taken. 



Practically the same statement is repeated in the same writer's fifth 

 report (p. 283). Again, in his tenth report (p. 407), this same occur- 

 rence is referred to, the original identification of the species as torpidus 

 being altered to anxius, as the latter is now known to be a synonym. 



Mere mention is made of what is probably this species by Mr. W. H. 

 Harriugton, who includes Agrilus torpidus ( ?) in his list of insects taken 

 on willow, published in the Canadian Entomologist for June, 1884 (Vol. 

 XVI, p. 101). 



In the list of the Buprestidre of Massachusetts compiled by Dr. 

 Frederick Blanchard and published in Entomologica Americana (Yol. 

 Y., p. 32, Feb. 1889) appears the following concerning this species, 

 also mentioned as torpidus Lee. : "A few specimens were taken on the 

 summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire, whither they had 

 flown from below. The form described as gravis occurs in Massachu- 

 setts on poplar sprouts and trunks." 



In Insect Life for October, 1891 (Yol. IY, p. 66), Mr. G. C. Davis con- 

 siders this species in its aspect as an enemy of willow growing at 

 Agricultural College, Michigan, as follows : 



Galls made on branches of the willow, Salix discolor, by Agrilus torpidus have 

 been found quite common in certain districts near here, and in other districts was 

 found Saperda concolor in galls equally as numerous. In no case yet noticed have 

 the two been found in close proximity. The galls niade by the Buprestid are an 

 oval swelling of the live branch very similar to the one made by Saperda. Inside 

 there is a difference in the architecture of the home. While the Saperda remains 

 mostly within the swelling and makes its exit through it, the Agrilus bores an oval 

 gallery downward from the gall, sometimes in the pith, but ofteuer indiscriminately 

 through the wood, and makes its exit often an inch and a half belovr. The imago 

 issued about a month later than the Saperda. 



Our first positive notice of attack upon birch appears to be that of 

 Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of this Division, who mentions this species in con- 

 nection with injury ascribed to the scolytid, Xyloterus politus (Proc. 

 Ent. Soc. Wash., Yol. II, p. 78). In the case mentioned, trees of silver 

 birch, Betula alba, were destroyed at Detroit, Mich. Mr. Schwarz is 

 now of the opinion that this Agrilus was probably the insect responsible 

 for the subsequent destruction of all the trees of this species known to 

 be growing at Detroit. 



8193— No. 18 4 



