170 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



[Sept. 1895. 



young beetles and pupse in various stages were found in these 

 cells, which were arranged with some regularity, resembling in 

 some degree the cells of bees. 



Methods of Prevention and Remedies. 



Exposure to heat is a means of freeing infested substances 

 from these beetles. Heat wili cause them to come out from 

 their retreats, when they can be destroyed, The infested oilcake 

 was pat in the sun, and in a few njinutes the beetles swarmed 

 out of it. Infested drugs, herbaria, books, leather, and similar 

 substances might be subjected to considerable heat, which would 

 not injure them and would rout the beetles. 



In the case of oilcakes and biscuits where infestation is 

 noticed, careful examination must be made, and all that are 

 infested should be subjected to heat, or destroyed, as the beetles 

 can run quickly and fly well, and they soon multiply in a store 

 or granary. 



The Pine Beetle {Gurculio abietis, L. ; Hylobins ahietis 



Schon.). 



1. J^eetle, natural size. 



2. Larva, magnified. Line showing natural length. 



In June last, some specimens of an insect, which had caused 

 serious injuries in larch and Scotch fir plantations in Scotland, 

 were sent to the Board of Agriculture for identification. They 

 were found to be pine beetles, known as Curculio (Hylohiiis) 

 abietis, which are great scourges in pliintations and forests of 

 firs, especially of larch and Scotch firs. In this case, the beetles 

 had so injured. the larch and Scotch firs upon a "break" of 

 fourteen acres that the greater part of the trees died during this 

 si^iiimer. 



This "break " was planted in November 1894, two-thirds of it 

 with two-year-old larch, and one-third with two-year-old Scotch 

 fir, with a double row of two-year-old spruce around the margin 

 of the " break." The attack was noticed first upon the i5th of 

 May. It had doubtless begun much earlier, fur althoui^h no 

 great harm I -ad been done when they were discovered, beetles 



