246 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
severely pruned by this insect that the shape and appearance of the 
tree is altered. It is not unusual to see the ground thickly strewn 
with these severed twigs (McDaniel, 282). For control measures 
see page 25. 
The adult of LVaphidion mucronatum (Say), the spined bark borer, 
is larger than that of Hypermallus villosus, measuring from 15 to 20 
mm. in length, is more robust, and has stronger spines. The larva is 
not so hairy and feeds beneath the bark, exuding much granular frass. 
It attacks many hardwoods throughout the Eastern States. 
The adults fly early in the summer, laying the eggs beneath bark 
scales of dead branches of various hardwoods exposed to the weather. 
For the first year the larva feeds beneath the bark, exuding great 
quantities of granular frass, entering the sapwood the second year 
and making a ‘long pupal mine at the end of which a cell is shut off 
with a plug of fibrous frass. The pupal gallery has an opening 
through the bark where the frass was exuded, Many species of hard- 
woods used in the construction of rustic work are attacked by this 
insect. Rustic furniture is frequently injured. For control meas- 
ures see page 42. 
Plaphidion incertum Newm., the mulberry bark borer, closely re- 
sembles £’. mucronatum, but the larva feeds in the outer bark of living 
mulberry trees throughout the Eastern States. It does not cause 
serious damage but, because it is found in living bark, it is frequently 
mistaken for an injurious insect. 
Aneflomorpha subpubescens (Lec.), the oak-stem borer, is a very 
elongate, slender beetle, from 15 to 22 mm. in length, and of a uniform 
light-brown color. The thorax is elongate, subeylindr ical, and widest 
in the middle. Both the basal joints of the antennae and the tips of 
the elytra are provided with spines. The larva is very elongate and 
slender, having the head wider than long, and the apex of the mandible 
rounded. On each side of the head are one prominent ocellus and six 
very long curved hairs. The rear edge of the pronotum is abruptly 
raised and finely striate, and the ampullae project prominently. Legs 
are present. The oak-stem borer feeds in the stems of shrubby plants, 
exuding the frass through a series of holes. 
This species is found in the Southeastern and South Central States 
on oak and chestnut. The adults appear about the time the oak foliage 
is fully formed and lay the eggs at the leaf bases near the tips of twigs 
on small seedling plants. The larva mines in the center of the twig, 
working downw: ard and suce essively cutting off sections of the branch. 
The frass is exuded through a straight series of small round holes. 
Toward fall, the full-grown 1 larva burrows to the base of the main stem 
and often enters the root, making a pupal cell between two wads of 
fibrous frass. The stem is usually cut off near the surface of the ground 
by a nearly transverse incision. It rarely attacks branches of larger 
trees. The development is completed the following spring. Young 
seedlings and sprouts oe 14 to 1 inch in diameter are attacked and 
destroy ‘ed by this larva. Occasionally this borer becomes very abun- 
dant and kills large cates of plants. It may be controlled as indi- 
cated on page 23 “94, 
In the Southwestern States another species, Anepsyra tenue Lec., 
the western oak pruner, the adult and larva of which resemble Ane- 
flomorpha (Elaphidion) subpubescens, is found girdling oaks, much 
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