376 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



This species appears to be quite prevalent in the Adirondacks, judging both 

 from observations and reports and as it frequently concentrates its attack 

 on one or two trees, the inner bark is soon repeatedly traversed with 

 interlacing burrows of beetles and grubs. 



This species appears to exist wherever its favorite tree, the balsam, 

 grows, though it does not hesitate to attack spruce and white pine. It has 

 been found in the Adirondacks in both of these latter trees several times, 

 once in arbor vitae, and it has been reared from hemlock. There is 

 little doubt of this insect's ability to kill healthy trees. A balsam 10 

 inches in diameter just beginning to die, as was shown by its reddening 

 top, was cut down Aug. 14, 1900. This borer was found in all stages and 

 in large numbers from the base of the tree almost to its tip, some 50 feet 

 high. The bark along much of this distance appeared to be healthy and 

 the lower limbs had not begun to show any signs of weakness. No other 

 insect had affected the vitality of this tree, so far as could be determined. 

 Such balsams were to be met with here and there in the woods and it was 

 stated that many of these trees had been affected in this way a few years 

 earlier. Numerous dead balsams here and there, attested the truth of this 

 assertion. 



This insect was associated with Tomicus p i n i Say and species of 

 Pityogenes, in white pine. It was obtained with Cryphalus stri- 

 atulatus Mann, and also with Polygraph us rufipennis Kirby 



from spruce. Tomicus c a e 1 a t u s Eich. was found 

 x ^ * . _ with it in balsam. It was taken by the writer at Flood- 

 wood, at many places about Saranac Inn, at Axton an 

 ? vicinity and at Ampersand pond. 



Description. This is our smallest species of Tomi- 

 cus, the adult beetle being only about 3/ 32 inch long. 

 Fig. 80 Dcciivi.y of To m i- j t j s ra ther slender in form and varies in color from 



cus balsameus (author's 



illustration) light brown to almost black. The rather coarse, light 



brown hairs are quite conspicuous near the posterior end of the elytra 

 and the possession of these enables one to separate it from the allied 



