STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
717 
PINE. TRUNK 
ris's Treatise. Whilst it is old and decaying or dead trees that 
most of the larger borers which we have described above attack, 
this small insect is liable to invade trees that are in full health 
and vigor, those that are young as well as old, mining beneath 
the bark and loosening it from the wood, so completely separa¬ 
ting it that it breaks off in large pieces. Frequently, on eleva¬ 
ting this loosened bark, its inner layers and the whole outer sur¬ 
face of the wood is found plowed in every direction, and the fur¬ 
rows are so intricate and confused that it is impossible to follow 
the track which any one individual has traveled. Butin places 
where they have been less numerous, the work which each in¬ 
sect has performed is distinctly marked and is so regular and 
artistic in its appearance as to have suggested to Mr. Say the 
name of the wood-engraver as a most appropriate designation for 
this beetle. The cut on the following page is an exact copy of 
the tracks made by one of these beetles and its young, tlieir 
natural size. It will be seen to consist of a main central track 
running nearly straight, from which numerous-smaller short ones 
branch off at nearly right angles. Though I have not observed 
the habits of these insects sufficiently to be perfectly certain 
respecting all the points in their operations, the course they 
pursue in forming these tracks appears to be as follows: The 
female having selected a situation which will furnish suitable 
sustenance to her young, bores through the bark to the outer 
surface of the wood, and then mines a passage between the bark 
and the wood, in a straight line lengthwise of the tree or limb 
where no obstructions occur to cause her to deviate from her 
course. The male probably accompanies her and shares with 
her in this labor, each working by turns. Thus a long slender 
cylindrical gallery is formed, which is excavated about equally 
in the outer surface of the wood and in the inner layers of the 
bark. In some instances, two, three or even six tracks will be 
seen to start from one point, running in opposite directions, but 
always lengthwise of the tree or limb, and with lateral branches 
so similar to those in the figure, thatT am in doubt whether they 
are the work of this or one of the other species which belong to 
this tree. Upon each side of the main track, little notches are 
excavated at intervals, whilst the work is in progress, similar 
