IXSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 3-5 



bark borer occurred in the limbs of a dying white pine at Saranac Inn, 

 Aug. 19. All stages were present and though the tree was not excessively 

 infested, it may possibly have had a hand in its death, as its burrows 

 were found alono- the entire length of the tree. It was associated with 

 Tomicus balsameus Lee, another species of Pityogenes, Hypoph- 

 loeus and a Chalcid. The two latter were not determined. 



This insect was also met with Sep. 18, 1900, at Bath-on-Hudson, where 

 it was boring the dead limbs of white pine in which were found larvae, 

 pupae and adults. This tree had also been attacked by Tomicus 

 calli graph us Germ. The borings of this species form a rather large 

 irregular central chamber with 3 to 4 or 5 primary or egg galleries diverg- 

 ing, sometimes obliquely and sometimes at right angles to the wood fibers. 

 In one case noticed, several larval galleries originated from the central 

 chamber, showing that the eggs in at least one instance, were deposited in 

 little notches in its wall. The primary or egg galleries are from about 1 

 to 1^2 inches in length, and from them arise the slender, somewhat tortuous 

 larval galleries, which latter may attain a length of about 1 )/ 2 inches [pi. 63, 

 fig. 5]. Pupation occurs at the tip of the mine in a slightly enlarged cell 

 which is sometimes excavated in the sapwood. The beetles emerge there- 

 from through vertical exit holes. 



Balsam bark borer 



Tomicus ba/samcus Lec. 

 Balsam trees with red tops may frequently be observed in the Adirondack region and 

 a close examination may show that a small brownish or nearly black beetle about V 3 z inch 

 in length is working in large numbers in the inner bark. 



The balsam is one of the handsomest trees in the Adirondack region 



o 



and forms a very characteristic feature of the landscape. It is not a specially 

 valuable tree but as a subject of insect attack, it is of interest. Many 

 healthy balsamtrees have probably been killed by this borer though it also 

 works in diseased or sickly trees and hastens their death by its operations. 

 Affected balsams may easily be detected at a distance by their reddened 

 tops though this sign does not invariably indicate the presence of borers. 



