40 REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS. 



ing out whatever larvae were contained therein. I have not been able 

 to learn that much was done in the State in the way of spreading or 

 liming the manure but this will doubtless in time become one of the 

 regular duties of our herdsmen ; while the use of the repellant sprays 

 and other applications, when necessary, will serve to protect the ani- 

 mals, not only from the particular insect under consideration, but from 

 the attacks of bot-flies^ Tabanids, Stomoxys, and other biting flies from 

 which they ordinarily suffer exceedingly. 



The Fruit Baric-beetle. — Previous to the current year there is but one 

 brief reference to the presence of the above-named insect, the Scolytus 

 rugulosus of Ratzeburg, in Missouri. This is found on the last page of 

 the third volume of the American Entomologist, published in 1880, 

 where Prof. Riley mentions, after determining the insect for various 

 localities in the Eastern States, that he " had received the insect some 

 years ago from Hillsboro, Mo., attacking the peach." Probably it has 

 occurred, unrecognized, in many orchards since that date, where its 

 work was referred to that very comprehensive affection termed " blight." 

 However, during the past spring several correspondents of the Rural 

 World and the St. Louis Republic discovered the minute beetles emerg- 

 ing through the pin-hole-like orifices in the bark of twigs and small 

 branches of peach, plum, and cherry, and specimens were sent to me 

 for determination and for the purpose of finding a remedy. From Clay- 

 ton, in St. Louis County, Mr. J. W. E. Bellville, one of the county offi- 

 cials, sent me specimens of the insect early in May, emerging from 

 twigs of cherry, with the information that one or two of his trees had 

 already been killed by them and that the beetles were so numerous 

 that he feared the destruction of his entire orchard. An examination 

 of the twigs revealed a large number of the beetles, and under the bark 

 a few full-grown larvae and pupae. The beetles were engaged in boring 

 back into the twigs, in every case, so far as noticed, entering through 

 the latent buds and even through some that were unfolding. By 

 August the trees severely affected had lost most of their leaves, the 

 bark of the branches was shrunken, and the twigs were breaking off*. 

 Beetles were again found making their way back into such twigs and 

 branches as showed a measure of vitality. Very few larvae were found 

 in the portions of the trees examined, and such as were discovered were 

 ready to transform, indicating the double-broodedness of the insect. 

 Mr. Bellville wrote me that he thought he had protected some of his 

 trees by spraying at this time with Paris green. So far as I have been 

 able to find out by personal examination and inquiry the insect is yet 

 quite local in the State, and if horticulturists can be brought to realize 

 the danger of neglect in this case it can no doubt be held in check, if 

 not entirely stamped out. 



The Pear-tree Clear-wing Borer in Apple. — This iusect (JEgeria pyri 

 Harr.) appears for the first time, I believe, to swell the ranks of the almost 

 innumerable pests of the apple tree, upon which it may prove more 

 injurious than it has hitherto done upon the pear. 



