10 



Fig. 8. 



Fig. 9. 



and is about the size and shape of a split pea. It is repre 

 sented, magnified, in Pig. 8, the hair-line at the side show- 

 ing the natural size. Fig. 9 represents its larva, which is a 

 dark grey prickly creature, extremely active and voracious 

 in its habits. Its pupa may often be found on the trunks 

 of all sorts of trees, partly covered and surrounded by the 

 prickly larva-skin. This fruit growers' friend, and all the 

 other species of Lady-birds (Coccinellidce), should never be 

 destroyed, but always cherished and protected to the utmost. 



5. The Apple-tree Pruner (Stenocerusjoutator, Peck ; S. villosus, Fab.). — At a meet- 

 ing of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, held at St. Catharines in July, 1866, a 

 portion of an apple-tree branch, that had been cut off by some insect, was exhibited by 

 Mr. Charles Arnold, of Paris, Ont. After the meeting, the specimen was forwarded to us 

 for examination. We found, upon cutting into the branch, which had been neatly severed 

 by some insect, that the culprit was a. long, cylindrical grub, who was quietly concealed in 

 his burrow, from which he had evidently no expectation of emerging into daylight till 

 ready to issue forth as a perfect beetle. Prom the appearance of the grub, as well as of 

 the burrow, we were led to believe the insect to be a specimen of the Pruner Stag-beetle 

 (Stenocerus putafor, Peck), which has for some time been known to attack oak trees, and 

 -which, Dr. Fitch (3rd Rep., N. Y., p. 12,) states, occasionally affects apple-trees also. 



The larva, or grub (Fig. 11), of the ap- 

 ple-tree Pruner is a little over half an inch in 

 length when full grown, and about a seventh 

 of an inch in breadth across the neck, which 

 is its thickest part, and from which it tapers 

 gradually backwards. The head is small and 

 black, the neck and remaining segments of 

 the body, yellowish white, with some slight 

 blackish markings. The segments, or rings, 

 are thirteen in number (including the head), 



Fig. 10. 



Fig. 11. 



Fig. 12. 



as is usual amongst all larvae, but the last two 

 are frequently concealed in the one before 

 them, the insect apparently assisting its pro- 

 gression by drawing them in and out. It has 

 six very minute legs, attached to the anterior 

 segments. From this larval state, it turns into a somewhat active pupa (Fig. 12) in the 

 spring of the year, and completes its final transformation into a beetle in the month of 

 June. It is then a cylindrical beetle (Fig. 10), of a dull black color, with brownish wing- 

 covers ; the antennas in the male are longer than the body, and in the female, equal to it. 

 The whole body is covered with short, close gray hairs, which, from being denser in some 

 places than in others, form spots on the thorax and elytra ; its total length varies from 

 half an inch to three-fifths. The above illustrations represent the female beetle (Fig. 10) ; 

 the larva, magnified (Fig. 11); and the pupa, enclosed in its burrow, also magnified 

 (Fig. 12). 



The particular habits'and instincts of this insect render it one of the most curious and 

 interesting that we have. The following is an account of them, that we gave in the Canada 

 Farmer at the time above referred to : The parent beetle, with a view to provide soft and 

 easily masticated food for the tender jaws of the infant grub, lays its eggs in the green, 

 fresh growth of a twig proceeding from a moderate sized limb. The young worm, imme- 

 diately upon its exit from the egg, burrows down into the centre of the twig, and consumes 

 all the soft, pulpy matter of which it is composed. By the time it reaches the main branch, 

 it has become sufficiently matured to be able to feed upon the strong meat of the hard- 

 wood, and accordingly makes its way into the branch, leaving the hollowed twig to gradu- 

 ally wither and drop off. It now eats its way downward a short distance (half an inch 

 in the specimen before us), through the middle of the branch, and proceeds deliberately to 

 cut off its connection with the tree, and make its way to the earth by the shortest pos- 



