14 MISC. PUBLICATION 7 4, U. S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE 



THE FLAT OAK BORER 



Smodicum cucujiforme Say A 



The flat oak borer is a typical heartwood feeder that attacks sea- 

 soned oak and hickory products. Its work is also often found in old 

 fire scars on oak trees (18). 



THE POWDER-POST BEETLES ^ 



Lyctus planicollis Lee. and other species of Lyctus 



Several species of the so-called lyctus powder-post beetles are ex- 

 tremely destructive to seasoned hardwoods, particularly oak, hickory, 

 ash, persimmon, etc. The annual loss to such stored products as 

 billets, lumber, handles, and spokes runs into millions of dollars (61). 



THE LEAD-CABLE BORER 



ScoMcia declivis Lee. 



The lead-cable borer is a serious pest of oak stave wood on the west 

 coast and has an interesting and expensive habit of boring into sus- 

 pended lead-sheathed telephone cables (10). 



THE RED-SHOULDERED POWDER-POST BEETLE 



Xylob iops basilare Say 



The red-shouldered powder-post beetle is of considerable economic 

 importance, causing large losses to partly seasoned wood products 

 used in the manufacture of shuttle blocks, mallets, mauls, etc., as 

 well as to small poles and saplings used for rustic furniture. 

 Hickory and persimmon blocks and poles are destroyed by both 

 adults and grubs and literally reduced to powder in a few months' 

 time (4.0, 53). 



OTHER BOSTBICHID POWDER-POST BEETLES 



Apatides fortis Lee. 

 Dendrobiella aspera Lee. 



Other powder-post beetles occur in the Southwest and attack 

 mesquite, reducing the wood to powder within a short time. The 

 large form, Apatides fortis, prefers wood which has dried for sev- 

 eral months, but the smaller form, Dendrobiella aspera, shows a 

 decided preference for freshly cut wood. Fence posts, poles, and 

 cordwood are severely damaged (20). 



THE CARPENTER ANT 



Camponotus herculeanus pennsylvanicus DeG. 



The carpenter ant is widespread and abundant in the United *~ 

 States. It attacks living trees through wounds, dead trees, logs, and (^ 

 forest products, frequently entering the wooden parts of buildings. 



TERMITES (NONSUBTERRANEAN) 



Kalotermes spp. 



In certain sections of the United States, namely, the South At- 

 lantic, Gulf, Southwestern, and Pacific Coast States, nonsubter- 



