65 



Further reports of conditions at Buffalo, N. T. — In a letter dated 

 December 2, 1898, Mr. M. F. Adams stated that the trees in Delaware 

 Park, Buffalo, N. Y., were infested at a time prior to those in which the 

 insect was first discovered and subsequently reported to this office. It 

 was learned from some of the park employees that the health of the 

 birch trees there were impaired by a little sapsucker presumed to be 

 Picns (Bryobates) pubescens. This bird was believed to have seriously 

 injured the trees, which brought the condition of the sap to the liking 

 of the borer, and it multiplied so freely that it was afterwards driven to 

 attack and has been the primary cause of the death of many healthy 

 trees. This was effected through the carelessness of allowing the first 

 trees attacked to remain standing, or in wood piles, all of which aided 

 in the accumulation of the pest. 



On the other hand, our correspondent states that a tree which he had 

 under observation during the past few years, and which is located on 

 the outskirts of the city, was until very recently in apparently vigorous 

 condition. It did not show the attack either by a plant-louse (presum- 

 ably a species of Callipterus), which was found in a central part of the 

 city, nor the sapsucker which injured the trees in Delaware Park. It 

 had plenty of fertilizer in the way of manure water, etc., and many 

 remarked what a beautiful and healthy tree it was. Toward fall, how- 

 ever, it began to show signs of infestation by this insect and upon 

 examination it was found to be seriously affected in the larger limbs. 



In the central part of the city our correspondent believes that this 

 plant-louse has brought the trees to a condition that has subjected them 

 to the attack of the birch borer. 



Reported occurrence in the West. — June 11, 1899, Prof. F. 0. Newcombe, 

 of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., wrote that what was 

 without doubt this species, and which he designated as the white-birch 

 borer, had been in that locality for two or three years and had killed 

 half the white birches in the city of Ann Arbor. 



Recent office observations. — From samples of infested wood sent from 

 Buffalo by Mr. Adams the following spring and kept in a cool place in 

 as near natural conditions as possible the beetles began issuing the 

 second week of May. Possibly in a more sunny exposure they might 

 issue as early as the first week of May. 



A single parasite was reared, the chalcidid Phasgonophora sulcata 

 Westw. which began issuing about two weeks after the adult beetles 

 and continued after they had all issued from the wood. 



This parasite has other hosts as it has been reared by the writer from 

 Japanese reclbud (Cercis japonica) infested by Chrysobothris femorata, 

 the most likely host. Adults issued July 8, Washington, D. C. 



AGRILUS OTIOSUS SAY : A SPECIES LIKELY TO PROVE TROUBLESOME. 



March 12, 1887, pieces of bark of maple infested by the larvae of a 

 species of Agrilus were received from Mr. F. M. Webster, at that time 

 located at Lafayette, Ind. Mr. Webster stated in his accompanying 

 11608— Ho. 22—5 



