NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Albany where a considerable proportion of narrow strips of pine have been 

 killed by this and related bark borers in recent years. 



Life history. The development of this insect requires about 10 weeks. 

 Aug. 5, 1901 a slender pine was observed in which this species was entering 

 in large numbers. The needles were somewhat thin at that time, pitch 

 tubes were rather abundant and many small masses of pitch were to be 

 found on the foliage of surrounding shrubs. The beetles were running 

 their primary galleries at this time, the bark of the tree was alive 

 along practically its entire length, and many eggs were being laid by the 

 beetles. About eight weeks later, or -Sep. 26, two thirds of the needles 

 were brown and the remainder were changing rapidly. Oct. 16 practically 

 all the needles were brown and dead, the bark had been killed and its inner 

 layers consisted of little else than borings. Practically all of the living 

 Tomicids had forsaken this tree though some were found in those near by. 

 During this short time the entire life cycle was completed as the inner bark 

 had been entirely destroyed by the work of beetles and grubs. Dr Hopkins 

 states that Hister cylindricus Payk is a common predaceous enemy 

 of this species. 



Habits. It is not intended by the above account to give the impression 

 that this insect normally attacks living trees, but the evidence submitted 

 above proves conclusively that, under certain conditions, it may and does 

 cause serious injury. It is undoubtedly true, as stated by other writers, 

 that this species, like some of its allies, attacks by preference diseased or 

 dying trees and that only when it becomes exceptionally abundant is there 

 danger of its injuring healthy pines. The writer has observed this insect 

 in the vicinity of Albany where it has caused more injury to white pines 

 than to the equally abundant, though smaller, hard or pitch pine. The 

 latter occurs almost entirely on Long Island and therefore this species can 

 attack no other pint: in that section. 



Preventive measures. There is very little that can be done for trees 

 which have been attacked by this and related borers other than cutting and 

 burning the infested parts before the beetles have emerged. If this cutting 



