1905.] 



The Felted Beech Coccus. 



755 



This insect (Cryptococcus fagi, Baerensprung) confines its 



attacks exclusively to the beech {Fagus sylvatica)^ and is one of 



' , „ , , the most destructive pests against which the 



The Felted Beech" . . / : s . 

 COCCUS. arboriculturist has to contend. It is widely 



distributed throughout England, and has 



occurred in many parts of Scotland. It is common in the 



counties of Flint and Denbigh in North Wales ; while in 



Ireland it has,' so far, been recorded from one locality only. 



Its attacks are often restricted to a comparatively small area, 



or even to single isolated trees, this being especially noticeable 



where the tree-trunks are sheltered from the prevailing winds. 



Fig. i.- 



-Felted Beech Coccus on Fragment of Beech Bark 

 (natural size). 



In some localities it is almost entirely absent, as, for instance,, 

 in the large beech woods on the Witcombe Estate in Gloucester- 

 shire. It has, however, done a considerable amount of damage 

 to trees in the district of Newcastle-on-Tyne ; and to the magnifi- 

 cent beech trees in the eastern districts of Surrey, where many 

 of the finest trees have been destroyed ; and has caused extensive 

 injury in the Maidenhead district. At Hexham it was found 

 upon beech trees from 150 to 200 years old, and was first noticed 

 upon them eight or ten years ago when they looked perfectly 

 healthy ; since then the insect has made steady progress, and 

 the trees named above were in 1901 nearly dead. From Hert- 

 fordshire comes the report that it is spreading rapidly, and 

 causing the death of the trees. It is prevalent throughout the 



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