65 



of the surrounding slirubs. The tree above described is only one of 

 a number which show an attack of this character in one stage or 

 another. The condition about Albany is rather serious because many 

 of the nicest trees in the rather small groves of white pine are dying 

 from the effects of the work of this insect and of its allies. At Manor, 

 Long Island, the hard pines covering an area of approximately 60 

 square miles were largely killed through the agency of bark-borers, 

 and I am inclined to believe that species of Tomicus have consider- 

 able to do with the matter. Tomicus cacographus Lee. and T. pint 

 Say were frequently associated with their larger relatives and in some 

 instances maj^ be the first to attack a tree. This opinion is further 

 strengthened by the fact that Tomicus halsameus Lee. undoubtedly 

 kills many balsam trees in the Adirondacks. I have found this si^e- 

 cies working in immense numbers in the entire length of the trunk of 

 large balsams. The top of one tree examined had browned some, but 

 the lower limbs were apparently unaffected at the time it was cut and 

 inspected. Adults of this beetle were found throughout the tree run- 

 ning transverse galleries in green tissues, eggs had been deposited in 

 many instances and larva? of various sizes and even pupae were found. 

 A very interesting case of complete girdling was discovered. Two 

 beetles, starting from the point of entrance on a green limb about an 

 inch in diameter, worked in opposite directions around the limb, and 

 when the specimen was cut, their burrows had overlapped each other 

 by half an inch. 



Monohammus displays in New York State a great readiness to attack 

 diseased or dying trees, and I have noted a number of cases where 

 grubs belonging to this genus and also Buprestid larvae were Avorking 

 in pines which appeared to have suffered no greater injury from other 

 causes than a slight lowering of vitality incident to drought or other 

 unfavorable conditions. These larvae, though working in consider- 

 able numbers in living tissues, did not as a rule cause much exuda- 

 tion of sap. Dr. Packard records in Bulletin 7 of the United States 

 Entomological Commission, page 220, his belief that members of this 

 genus may kill balsam or fir trees, and from what I have seen in the 

 vicinity of Alban}^, it would appear that this may also be true of pines. 

 Adults of Monohammus confusor Kirby were taken in considerable 

 numbers on one white pine, and it is presumable that most of the 

 iarvae found in infested trees belong to this species. One example of 

 Monohammus titillator Fabr., one of M. scutellatus Say, and one of 

 Xylotrechus sagittatus Germ, were also taken on the same tree. 



Elm leaf-heetle (Galerucella luteola Miill). — This imported species 

 continues to be a serious enemy of European elms in Albany, Troy, and 

 vicinity. The depredations of this pest have been so severe as to lead 

 to the maintenance and operation of two power-spraying outfits by 

 the municipality of Albany. Two are also in operation by a private 

 part}^ in Troj^, where the}^ are kept busy throughout the spraying sea- 



11823— No. 31—01—5 



