42 



t 



o closely'' resemble those of Tremex, which are slender cylindrical worms with a pointed 

 horny tail. I have obtained from maple logs small larvae of this description and pro- 

 bably of Xiphydria, but have not yet succeeded in breeding them. In Vol. XI. page 15 

 of The Canadian Entomologist, Mr. W. H. Pattoii mentions finding the pupa and larvae 

 of A", attemiata (Norton), in a stick of black birch, but he does not describe the larva, or 

 the nature of its workings. In July last I found in a neighbouring wood a dead tree on 

 which the bark had become shrivelled and loosened. On removing a large patch of the 

 bark, the surface of the wood was found to be thoroughly riddled with the holes of X. 

 alhicornis, either empty or still containing dead insects. These had evidently been pre- 

 vented from leaving their bm-rows by the death of the tree and consequent drying and 

 hardening of the bark. Many others had partly penetrated the bark, and then perished 

 from the same cause. The holes were slightly larger than would be made by an 

 ordinary knitting-needle, and penetrated the solid wood perpendicularly to some depth. 



The use of an alkaline solution, as proposed by Mr. Saunders for borers in fruit- 

 trees, would probably be a sufficient preventive of the attacks of these insects. JSuch 

 a preparation is made by diluting soft-soap with a saturated solution of washing soda, 

 and must not be made too thin. It is liberally applied with a brush, so as to fill all 

 crevices in the bark and give it a good coating. A.s the female of Xiphydria, like those 

 of the apple-borers, seems always to deposit her eggs in the trunk below the branches, it 

 would be quite feasible to protect in this manner shade trees in towns or districts where 

 the insect was observed ; especially recently transplanted trees, which the insect seems 

 to single out as offering special advantages for her future offspring ; perhaps because 

 she can perceive in them a weaker vitality, even when they are apparently flourishing. 

 The coating would have to be applied in the early part of June and again a month later,, 

 as the insects occur during the greater part of June and July. 



INJURIOUS INSECTS INFESTING THE HICKORY. 



coleopteka. 

 By W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa. 



The vital importance of a systematic preservation and renewal of our forests and 

 groves is now widely acknowledged, and has become of late years a subject of deepest 

 intere>t to those having at heart the welfare of their country, and movements in this 

 direction have been initiated which will, if vigorously prosecuted, be productive of 

 incalculable good. The Ontario Government, with its usual prompt desire to advance 

 the agricultural and allied industries of the Province, has issued large editions of very 

 valuable reports bearing upon the question in its different aspects. One of the aims of 

 the Entomological Society is to further this good work by collecting, through the 

 original investigations, or the studies, of its members, reliable information in regard to 

 the injurious insects preying upon our forest and shade trees. This information plainly 

 presented, (with a minimum of scientific terms to perplex the non-entomological reader,) 

 will gradually give to the tree-planter that knowledge of insect-foes to be looked for that 

 has been hitherto so liberally offered to the farmer and the fruit-grower. 



So long as the forests are left in a state of nature (or recklessly destroyed), such 

 knowledge is both difficult to acquire and to apply ; but when timber trees are planted 

 and cared for as fruit-trees are now, it will become necessary to pay close attention to 

 insect enemies if the best results are to be looked for. Forestry reports will lack oom- 

 pleteness until they contain trustworthy information regarding the appearance and 

 life-history of all the insects which infest each tree. This in the present state of 

 entomological knowledge is to a great extent impossible, and it is really surprising, 

 when we consider the number of entomologists throughout the country, to find how 

 little information is accessible in regard to the great majority of species. The model 



