INSECT EXEAIIES OF THE REDWOOD. 



Bv A. D. HoPKi>-s, 

 In Charge of Fared Insect Investigations, IHvision of Entomology. 



In I'^'^l Mr. Henry Edward? described a pitch worm as very destruc- 

 tive to SequuUf semjiervirens.'^ In 1S99 the writer found two species 

 of bark beetles living in the bark of recently felled trees.'' In 19()0 

 the Division of Entomology obtained information from ]Mr. J. E. 

 Norton, through a lumber firm in San Francisco, indicating that Red- 

 wood lumber was immune from attack by termites, or white ants:^ 

 and this was verified by ex]Deriments conducted in the Philippine 

 Islands by 3Ir. D. N. McChesney. as reported by Capt. George P. 

 Ahern. Chief of the Philippine Forestry Bureau. '- 



This embrace- about all that ha- been published relating to Redwood 

 insect-. 



These insects and their work may be described m more detail as 

 follows, the small type indicating information from other authors 

 and ordinary type that based on the writer's observations, whether 

 previously published or not : 



THE SEaUOIA -aEGERINXAN, OR REDWOOD PITCH WORM. 

 ( Vespamima seqiioi&: Hy. E:lw. 



Thi- relative of the common peach-tree borer is described by 

 Henry Edward- ' and other writers' as very destructive to Redwood. 

 Mr. BeutemiiUer say.^ : 



According to Hy, Edwards this si)ecies is devastating the pine forests in Mendocino 

 County, CaUfomia, and is particularly destructive to the Big Tree (Sequoia semper- 

 I'irens), Pinus pondero-ms, and Plnu.^ Jombertiana. The eggs are laid in the axils of 

 the branches, the young caterpillar boring in a tortuous manner about its retreat, 

 thus diverting the flow of sap and causing large resinous nodules to form at the 

 place of its workings. These nodules gradually harden, the branch then dies, and 

 the tree at last succumbs to its insignificant enemies. Hundreds of fine trees in the 

 forests of the region are to be seen in various stages of decay. The moths make 

 their appearance in June and July, during which period the eggs are deposited. The 



«Papi]io, vol. i (ISSl ). p. ISl: also Bui. U. S. Ent. Comm. Xo. 7. Appendix. 



«>Bul. 31, X. S., Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr., pp. 7, 19, 20. 



'Bui. 30. X. S.. pp. 95. 96. 



^'As quoted in Bui. 33, Bur. F.:>restry. p. 20. 



f Beutemuller. Am. Mas. Xat. Hist., vol. i. part vii. pp. 263.264. 



