94 



THE DESTRUCTIVE AGENTS OF FORESTS. 



where there is a sandy soil in which the insects pass the larva 

 stage. The Locust Leaf Beetle, (Odontata dorsalis) is a com- 

 mon enemy of yellow locust in the lower sections of the state. 

 This insect in both its adult and larval stages feeds on the 

 leaves of locust giving to them a dead appearance about mid- 

 summer. 



Insects That Injure Nuts. 



The larvae of several species of beetles and moths feed on 

 nuts frequently injuring them to such an extent that they are 

 unfit for food and worthless for planting. Two species of 

 snout beetles of the genus Conotrachelus attack the young nuts 

 of hickory and walnut. The beetles pierce the husks of the 

 nuts with their snouts and deposit eggs in the openings. The 

 larvae that issue from the eggs feed on the young nuts caus- 

 ing them to drop by the time they are half grown. Several 

 species of weevils of the genus Balaninus attack chestnuts, 

 hickorynuts, hazelnuts and acorns as they approach maturity. 

 These beetles use their long, slender snouts to make holes 

 through the covering of the nuts in which to place their eggs. 

 The larvae from the eggs feed on the nuts often devouring the 

 entire meat and making them worthless for any use. In West 

 Virginia, two species of these weevils attack chestnuts, one 

 hickorynuts, one hazelnuts and at least six attack the different 

 species of acorn. The common, fleshy, white grubs, or worms, 

 found in nuts are the larvae of these weevils. Chestnuts are 

 sometimes affected to the extent of from 50 to 75 per cent of 

 the whole crop and acorns are even more seriously injured. 

 Hazelnuts and hickorynuts suffer to a less extent. 



How Losses Can Be Prevented. 



In the way of suggestions for preventing loss from forest 

 insects no better directions can be given than those laid down 

 by Dr. Hopkins in Bulletin 58, Part V, Bureau of Entomology, 

 U. S. Dept. Agr. We quote from page 93 of this publication. 



''The results of extensive investigations and of practical 



