1 
THE FRUIT BARK BEETLE. 
(Scolytus rugulosus , Ratz.) 
Order Coleoptera. Family Scolytid.e. 
(Plate I.) 
The discovery made in June, 1888, by an assistant of the of- 
ce, of the occurrence in Southern Illinois of a European fruit- 
ree insect not hitherto known in this State, and the publiea- 
ion the following year of an article on the subject in the 
transactions of the State Horticultural Society,* seem to have 
3d to a somewhat general examination of fruit trees tlirough- 
>ut the region interested, with the result to show that this in- 
idious insect was not only somewhat widely distributed, but 
hat it had evidently been for some years at work. This fact 
)ecame almost alarmingly apparent at the meeting of the State 
lorticultural Society at Cairo in December, 1890, when the 
iresentation of specimens of the injury and a general compari- 
on of experiences made the horticulturists present personally 
acquainted with this subject. A special committee of the Society 
ms appointed there, which prepared resolutions requesting im- 
nediate legislation for the destruction of this insect, but on 
liscussion, these resolutions were changed to one of reference to 
he State Entomologist, with the request that he recommend 
uch action concerning the matter as he might deem advisable. 
Tuit-growers of long experience in that part of the State have, 
n fact, become apprehensive of serious loss, one going so fai¬ 
ls to say that unless prompt and decisive action is taken, 
very orchard in Southern Illinois is doomed.! While these 
ears are probably somewhat extreme, as is likely to be the case 
m the first discovery of a new attack, it is evident that the 
abject should receive immediate and thorough-going investiga- 
ion, and I prepare this article with the view of presenting an 
exhaustive summary of everything of importance known con¬ 
cerning this insect and its work, as a basis for intelligent in- 
estigation and experiment. 
* Trans. Ill. Hort. Soc., 1889 ( Vol. 23), p. 245. 
+ See letter from Mr. Theodore Goodrich, in “Prairie Farmer” Jan. 10,1891, p. 20; also in 
'Orange Judd Farmer” of same date, p. 28. 
