46 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



The Branded or Small Brown Fir Beetle 

 [Pissodes notahis.) 



On the 1 8th March last the Board of Agriculture received 

 from Ferryside, South Wales, some young Scotch fir trees 

 which showed signs of serious injury. It was stated that the 

 spot from which these affected specimens were taken had been 

 three times planted unsuccessfully ; it was situated on a steep 

 bank near the sea, well protected from the wind. 



Upon examination of the trees it was found that the bark 

 had been punctured in many places during the preceding 

 summer and autumn, evidently by an insect, and that from 

 these punctures there had been a flow of turpentine which was 

 congealed in white masses. On stripping off the bark 

 there were found under it passages caused, as it seemed, by 

 the larvae of an insect feeding as it progressed, and at inter- 

 vals there were oval or elliptical holes like cradles [h), in some 

 cases the sixth of an inch deep, reaching to the pith of the 

 young trees. Over these cradles were coverings made of the 

 fibres of the wood bitten off by the larvae before pupation, 

 which looked as if they were made of chewed string [c). In 

 the bark immediately above each of these cradles there was a 

 small hole about the size of a No. 6 shot through which the 

 beetles had escaped [a). In a few cases, however, these holes 

 were wanting, and larv^ w^hich had passed the winter in this 

 state were found under the bark. 



From the appearance of these holes, the peculiar pupal 

 coverings, and the larvae, there can be but little doubt that the 

 insect which caused the injury is Pissodes 7iotatus. The larvae, 

 the holes, and the escape holes were too small for those of 

 Pissodes pin i. 



