32 



a number of very small plant 

 lice (fig. 12), — 2, which during 

 the first hot day following, 

 leave the enclosure they have 

 so long occupied and scatter 

 over the branches of the tree, 

 attaching themselves by pre- 

 ference to the succulent ter- 

 minal twigs. For a few days 

 they retain the power of mov- 

 ing about, but after they once 

 attach themselves to any one 

 spot and begin to suck the sap 

 there, they never move again, 

 but remain as stationary as if they were a part of the twig itself. After a time each one 

 becomes covered with a white waxy secretion, that issues from the body in the form of 

 very fine threads (3) and which gradually results in the formation of a scale, such as 

 is shown in the figure. 



Remedies. — As the scale is tough and not easily penetrated, it is evident that the 

 insect is most easily destroyed during the short time that intervenes between the escape 

 of the young insect and the formation of the new scale. At that period, a strong solution 

 of soap in lye applied to the branches with a brush is very effectual. During the winter 

 and early spring months, much good may be effected by scraping the infested limbs, and 

 thus detaching the scales, after which paint the parts with a mixture made by boiling to- 

 bacco leaves in strong lye and afterwerds thickening it with soft soap to the consistence of 

 paint. A coating of linseed oil has also been recommended. Several insects prey on 

 these lice, a very small fly, a species of chalcis, feeds in the larval state on the eggs ; mites 

 also destroy them. 



The Maple Tree Borer {Clytus Speciosus.) 



^io- 13. This destructive insect (see fig. 13), briefly referred to by Mr 



Bethune in our last Report, is increasing rapidly, and in many places 

 proving very destructive to our sugar-maple trees, particularly to 

 such as are planted along our streets. Preventive measures should 

 be resorted to very generally, and we would strongly recommend the 

 practice of painting the bark of the trees late in June or early 

 m July with soft soap, reduced with strong lye to the consistence of 

 cream. If this application is made on a warm day it soon dries and 

 is then not easily removed by rain. An alkaline coating of this 

 sort is extremely objectionable to the insect, who will usually, when 

 selecting trees on which to deposit her eggs, carefully avoid 

 placing her progeny in the way of such pernicious compounds, and even if she should err 

 in this respect, the probabilities are that the newly hatched larva would perish in the 

 effort to eat through the bark thus coated. 



In our Report for 1872 there is an excellent article on this insect, from which, for 

 the benefit of such as may not have access to that document, we condense the following 

 relating to the life history of this troublesome pest. The beetles may generally be seen 

 reposing quietly on the trunks of the trees during the day time. They are more active 

 at night, which period they select for their excursions in search of their mates. The beetle 

 lays its eggs upon the trunk of the maple in the months of July and August. 



The larvae hatched from these eggs are long, whitish, fleshy grubs, with deeply 

 marked transverse incisions on the body. Their legs, which are six in number, are only 

 rudimentary, aud are of no service in locomotion ; it is by means of the alternate contrac- 

 tion and extension of the rings or segments of the body that these little creatures force 

 their way through the wooden tunnels in which they live, and in order to further assist 

 their progress, each segment is furnished with fleshy tubercles capable of protrusion, and 

 which, being pressed against the sides of their retreats, enable them to thrust forward by 



